# FORESIGHT (2021) | Graduate Analyst at Barclays Global Services | Shishir Shahi

Student Welfare Group, IIT Kharagpur
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Brief Introduction:
I’m Shishir Shahi. I graduated from IIT Kharagpur in 2021 from the Department of Electrical Engineering. I was enrolled in the 4-year B.Tech course. I was a boarder of Rajendra Prasad Hall of Residence. Currently, I am working in Barclays Global Services as a Graduate Analyst in a technology role.
How did you get into Barclays? What was the selection procedure?
I was selected in Barclays through the campus placement drive in 2020. The selection process consists of a test and two rounds of interviews. The test consists of various questions ranging from statistical analysis, mental ability, personality-based questions, and coding. The test gauges a candidate’s knowledge in different fields.
The interview consists of two rounds- the first round is usually a non-technical round with questions like “Why do you want to work in the banking industry” to gauge the candidate’s genuine interest in the company and work profile. There are also questions about the recent technological advancements in the financial sector.
The second round is the technical round, where the interviewer asks about the technological skills of the candidate. There is a discussion on the candidate’s CV if it contains projects/interns in a technology role. A good grasp of algorithms and data structures is essential to go through this round. Knowledge about Linux, operating systems, and database management is also appreciated and helps the candidate score more points. Still, they are not essential, and the interviewer will not ask questions if you mention that you don’t have experience in those fields beforehand. Strong knowledge of JAVA and Object-Oriented Programming is a huge plus for this round.
How to prepare for them?
Good CV preparation is essential to crack the Barclays interviews. A large number of questions are based on the candidate’s experiences and skills related to technology. You should explain every project/internship you have worked on end-to-end and the technological skill-set you gained from those experiences. A firm grasp on algorithms and data structures is also important, and you should be able to solve any problem put in front of you in the most efficient way. Apart from this you should also have some understanding about the role of technology in the banking industry and the challenges/opportunities in the field.
How would you describe the work culture in your company? How is the work-life balance?
I have really liked the work culture at Barclays ever since I joined the organization in August this year. You will be working with incredibly talented people, and every person in the organization is helpful. Some exciting projects are going on which provide a great learning opportunity to every newcomer. The aspect I particularly like in the work culture in Barclays is that even in the technical role, the emphasis is not only on the “How?” of things but also on the “Why?” of things. The business and technology side work very closely, which creates a perfect work culture allowing people to grow more through their work. The workload is not too much, and as a policy, they try to maintain an excellent work-life balance for the employees through proper workload management. You get ample time for your personal life after work.
How was your experience working from home? What difficulties did you face?
Work from home can be a little tedious as you have to work alone in a room without any of your co-workers. The companies have adapted to this work-from-home routine very efficiently as there are regular team meetings and regular interaction between people. Luckily for me, by the time I joined Barclays, the complete lockdown was over, which made it a little easier as we could go out and hang out with our friends. But even then, working from home can be a real challenge for people who like to work in teams and constantly interact with others. Working in an office is a unique experience of its own as you get to meet new people, exchange ideas, and physically interact with your colleagues. Hopefully, soon we will be able to join our offices physically.
According to you, who should ideally apply for this job?
People who have a passion for technology and are interested in the Fin-tech field should apply for this job. The culture at Barclays also promotes understanding the project from both the business and the technology side. So, if you are interested in technology and its business implementation, Barclays will be a good fit for you.
Any specific advice you want to give to the junta sitting for placements this year?
My advice to the people sitting for placements will be to remain calm and focus on their goals. The placement season can be very disheartening and frustrating at times, and we all who have gone through it have felt it. It is vital to stay calm and keep your cool during tough times. It is usually the people who persevere and keep working hard even after setbacks during the stressful times who crack the placement season. Have faith in your preparations and be confident. Confidence is the key to cracking any interview. It is imperative to note that you must get placed in the company and profile you want to work in. When you get placed is irrelevant to your future. So, it is entirely all right if you don’t get placed in a Day 1 or 2 company.