Barclays Interview Process & Prep
Barclays' early-careers funnel: SHL online assessments, recorded video interview, assessment centre. Its 'interactive' cognitive test: 8 questions in 12 minutes (arrange charts, tap dates, timetable procedures, shape sequences) plus an untimed values questionnaire. Quant/strategist rounds: derivatives pricing, statistics, time series, microstructure, coding.
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The Barclays interview funnel
1. Online Assessment — SHL Interactive Cognitive Test
SHL interactive - 8 questions / 12 min (+ untimed values questionnaire)SHL's 'interactive' cognitive test: 8 activity-based questions in 12 minutes, English (US). Arrange a stacked bar chart from data, resize a pie chart, tap dates meeting availability constraints, drag medical procedures onto a buffer-ruled timetable, fill a shape sequence, drag a line through coded nodes. An untimed values-and-mindset questionnaire (forced-choice triads) usually rides alongside. Timed replica, verified answers: OA page.
2. Video Interview
Recorded video interview - competency + motivationAfter the SHL screen, Barclays early-careers candidates record a video interview: timed, competency-based questions on motivation for the bank and the division, teamwork, resilience and commercial awareness. No technical content at this stage - structure each answer (situation, action, result) and keep it inside the time limit.
3. Technical Interviews — Quant / Strats
Video or in-person rounds - derivatives, statistics, codingTrack-specific technical rounds. For quant analyst and strategist roles the questions cluster into three nearly even pillars: options pricing and derivatives (no-arbitrage reasoning on option surfaces, replication, hedging error), statistics and time series (MLE, Bayesian updating, GARCH, cointegration, change-point tests) and algorithmic coding (clean, correct algorithms with stated complexity).
4. Assessment Centre / Final Round
Group exercise, case, and final interviewsThe final stage is an assessment centre (virtual or in person): a group exercise, a short case or data task, and interviews with senior members of the business. The technical bar carries over from the previous round; the new element is being assessed on collaboration and communication in a group setting.
Barclays interview — FAQ
What is the Barclays interview process?
Barclays' early-careers funnel: SHL online assessments, recorded video interview, assessment centre. Its 'interactive' cognitive test: 8 questions in 12 minutes (arrange charts, tap dates, timetable procedures, shape sequences) plus an untimed values questionnaire. Quant/strategist rounds: derivatives pricing, statistics, time series, microstructure, coding. The loop runs 4 stages: Online Assessment — SHL Interactive Cognitive Test, Video Interview, Technical Interviews — Quant / Strats, Assessment Centre / Final Round.
How many rounds does Barclays have?
4 stages in total, starting with the Online Assessment — SHL Interactive Cognitive Test and ending with the Assessment Centre / Final Round.
How do I prepare for the Barclays interview?
Work the stage notes above, then drill the Barclays interview-questions set and the Barclays online-assessment practice — each problem has a full worked solution.
Barclays round-by-round guides
Barclays interview guide: the firm, culture, roles and pay →
Stage guides for every firm: superdays · behavioral questions · market-making games