Interview Questions / Barclays

Barclays Interview Questions & Process

Investment Banking · Markets

Updated July 2026

Barclays is a leading UK-headquartered bulge-bracket investment bank with major strengths in M&A advisory, debt capital markets, leveraged finance, and Financial Sponsors Coverage. The firm seeks candidates with a strong financial-analysis foundation, structured logic, dependable teamwork, and high professional ethics. Its process combines cognitive screening with competency-based interviews and region-specific final-round exercises.

The cost of walking in unprepared

Barclays's process spans 5 distinct stages, often compressed into a single high-pressure loop. Most candidates only find out they weren't ready once the result lands.

Merra: run the Barclays interview before it counts

Hope, Merra’s AI interviewer, runs a Barclays-style mock out loud — the same question styles, real follow-ups — then scores you on the five dimensions real interviewers use, with a recording and transcript.

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The Barclays interview process

  1. 1Online Application and Resume Screen. Review of academic results, relevant finance internships, and non-academic leadership.
  2. 2Cognitive and Psychometric Tests. Verbal, numerical, and inductive-reasoning assessments completed under time pressure.
  3. 3HireVue Video Assessment. An asynchronous round evaluating argument clarity, alignment with Barclays competencies, and commercial thinking.
  4. 4First-Round Live Technical Interview. A 45-minute discussion with a Barclays finance professional covering valuation and financial-accounting fundamentals.
  5. 5Barclays Superday or Assessment Center. Intensive final interviews with senior bankers. In EMEA, the process may also include a written-case presentation, an e-tray task, and a simulated group discussion.

Real Barclays interview questions

As reported by recent candidates. The same styles Hope asks in a Barclays-style mock.

“Why Barclays, and how does our North American expansion strategy differentiate us from US-based bulge-bracket banks?”
Finance · Behavioural
“Perform an accretion/dilution analysis of post-merger earnings per share.”
Finance · Behavioural
“Explain the Treasury Stock Method for estimating diluted shares from exercised employee stock options.”
Finance · Behavioural
“Discuss a recent leveraged-finance restructuring or acquisition executed by Barclays and explain the financing details.”
Finance · Behavioural
“Tell me about a time you persuaded an academic team to make an unpopular strategic decision for the project's long-term benefit.”
Behavioural
“How would a rise in central-bank interest rates affect the yield to maturity of a Barclays corporate bond?”
Finance · Behavioural

Prepping alone vs with Merra

Without Merra

  • ✕Read questions, rehearse answers in your head
  • ✕First time answering out loud is the real interview
  • ✕No structured feedback on how you actually come across
  • ✕Find out you weren’t ready from a rejection email

With Merra

  • ✓Practise out loud before the real interview
  • ✓Structured evaluation and feedback after every session
  • ✓Review your session history and track improvement
  • ✓Personalise practice by role, company, and focus areas

Pricing

3 interviews free
then £12.99/mo or £29/quarter · Pro from £29/mo
  • ✓No card details for the free 7-day trial
  • ✓Full scored feedback on every interview
  • ✓Company-tuned mocks for Barclays and others
  • ✓Recording and transcript included
  • ✓Cancel anytime
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Barclays interview FAQs

How does Barclays assess alignment with its behavioral values in HireVue?

Reviewers look for evidence of integrity, respect, excellence, stewardship, and collaboration. Relevant STAR stories help candidates demonstrate those values clearly.

How should candidates approach the Barclays Assessment Center group case?

Contribute actively without dominating, listen to other candidates, test arguments logically, and help the team reach a well-supported advisory consensus.

Does Barclays offer off-cycle internships?

Yes. Off-cycle programs may be available to final-year students and recent graduates and can involve analytical and operational support for transaction teams.

Related interview guides

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Merra is an independent interview practice platform and is not affiliated with Barclays. Interview formats vary by role, region, and year.

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