Top tips in giving your best impression and passing your interview at Citi

So you have submitted your application to one of the various roles available within Citigroup and received a response informing you that you have been invited to the next stage… congratulations! What happens next?

Enjee, a Graduate Recruiter at Citi, outlines the recruitment and interview process:

1. Telephone interview, a one-on-one discussion with competency-based questions. If successful, you move onto the next steps:
2. Assessment centre: a face-to-face interview again with competency-based questions
3. Assessment centre: individual presentation on a specific topic relating to commercial awareness and technical details of the role
4. Assessment centre: group exercise based on the same topics as the individual presentation

Unlike other graduate positions and programmes, not all roles have a final Partner Interview at Citi.

What kind of questions to expect in interview

This is broad question that unfortunately has no direct and easy response. The question you may receive during your interview at Citi depend on your academic background (such as your degree subject), the role you have applied to and who is interviewing you.

A question posed recently received a response from an Investment Banking Analyst at Citi that addresses this idea. The Citi employee explains that interviews at Citi tend to concentrate on competency-based and motivational questions. Think: ‘why are you choosing Citi and this programme?’ rather than ‘how would you calculate the increase in ROI for a specific product in 2015 Q2?’

To be prepared

Being ready for the interview is confidently knowing why you applied for a job or internship at Citi and having a general grasp of the industry where you are applying.

You do not necessarily need to have a degree in Finance to apply to Citi, explains Jonathan, a Corporate Banking Analyst, at Citi since 2012:

However, if you do not have a degree in Finance, expect questions from your interviewer about your motivations in joining a bank after completing a degree in Psychology/International Relations/Engineering, etc.

Final interview tips

A former PwC Senior Associate turned Global Engagement Manager Associate at Citi, Mohamed, gives his take on the top three things you need to do to prepare for an interview:

1. Be prepared to share your experiences for all testable competencies (leadership, teamwork, problem solving, etc.)
2. Be familiar with Citi and the programme to which you are applying (get in touch with Insiders, study the corporate website)
3. Have an idea of your medium and long-term career objectives (even if they will probably change over time)

If you are confident you know the role, why you are applying for it and how to convey your interest and experience, you are off to a great start. The best thing you can do is be confident and give it your all. Good luck!