Your Path to the Barclays Internship: What You Need to Know

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I’m Abhinaya Danda, currently in my final year of Information Technology Engineering at Vivekanand Education Society's Institute of Technology (VESIT), Mumbai. Passionate about tech and always eager to learn, I'm actively pursuing opportunities to grow in the field of software.

During my third year (Semester V), we were presented with an exciting opportunity through the VESIT Placement Cell: a summer internship at Barclays. I was fortunate to be part of the hiring process, and I want to share my experience to help others who may be pursuing similar opportunities.

Barclays Internship Hiring Process:

The hiring process consisted of three rounds:

1. Shortlisting based on Resume

2. Coding round

3. Technical + HR Interview

Shortlisting Based on Resume:

After getting shortlisted, I received a test link for the first round, which was conducted on the HackerEarth platform. This round had 30 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and 5 coding questions. The total duration of the test was 45 minutes.

ROUND 1: Coding and MCQ Round

Topics Covered in MCQs:

The MCQs were from a mix of programming languages and database management concepts. Some of the topics included:

• C

• C++ (Object-Oriented Programming)

• Java (Object-Oriented Programming)

• SQL

• DBMS Concepts

Coding Questions:

The coding section focused on SQL queries based on problem statements provided. To prepare, I recommend practicing questions from Leetcode, as many of the coding questions were similar. Here are some tips:

• Read each question thoroughly and focus on understanding the requirements.

• Be careful with syntax, as even small errors can prevent test cases from passing.

• Out of the 5 coding questions, I managed to get all test cases passed for 3 of them, which contributed to my total score.

• Don’t worry if you aren’t able to pass all test cases; submitting even partial solutions can still help.

After submitting the test, I received a confirmation email from Barclays. Three days later, the list of students who cleared the round was shared, and I was one of them!

ROUND 2: Technical + HR Interview

My interview was scheduled for November 21st, 2023. It took place on MS Teams and lasted for about 25 minutes. The interviewer was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Barclays.

Interview Questions:

Here’s a list of the key questions asked during my interview:

• Are you nervous or confident?

• Walk me through your resume.

• Tell me about the development work you’ve done so far. What projects have you worked on, techstack used, and why you chose those technologies?

• How have you implemented data security in any of your projects?

• Why do you want to work at Barclays?

• Do you know how banks operate and how the financial industry works?

• SQL-based questions

• Do you prefer working in a team or alone?

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

• Can you explain the RISES values of Barclays, and share examples where you’ve applied these values?

• Describe a situation where you handled conflicts in a group.

• How would you rate your skills in Data Analytics?

• Do you have any questions for me?

Interview Tips:

• Research the company, especially the RISES values of Barclays (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship). These values were an important part of the HR questions.

• Be honest and straightforward. If you don’t know answer to any of the Q’s, it’s better to admit it rather than bluff.

• Confidence matters. Even if you're nervous, try to stay composed.

The Results:

At the end of the day, the results were announced. Out of 39 students, only 8 were selected for the Barclays internship, and I was thrilled to be one of them!

Four students from the Information Technology (INFT) branch and four from the Computer Science (CMPN) branch were selected.

Points to Remember:

• Be honest: If you don’t know an answer, it’s okay to say "No."

• Be confident: Your demeanor matters just as much as your answers. Answer creatively covering all technical aspects.

• Your resume is your question paper: Make sure it accurately reflects your experience.

• Ask questions at the end: Engaging with your interviewer by asking questions leaves a lasting impression.

Best of luck to everyone preparing for their interviews! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions Email, LinkedIn.