Barclays Online Assessments: Ace Your Recruitment Process with Guide and Practice Tests

Barclays looks for employees with a high numerical ability. Applicants have to pass a numerical test before being offered a position.

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Josh Hancock Updated:

About Barclays online assessments

Barclays is a multi-national investment bank and financial services company that operates in over 40 countries worldwide. As part of their recruitment process, Barclays use online assessment tests to evaluate candidates' skills and abilities. These tests are designed to help Barclays identify the most suitable candidates for their available roles.

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Barclays have most recently used SHL as the test publisher for their assessments, however, this may have changed. You can often find out who the test publisher is by looking at the assessment invite link in your email. The function of the tests is to screen out candidates without the adequate skills Barclays desire, ensuring that only those suited to a career in banking progress with their application.

Barclays' graduate programmes and jobs are highly sought after, so the application process can be tough for many applicants. Here we will discuss the application process, the different assessments involved, and provide advice on how to pass them all to reach the final stage.

Barclays Application Process Stages

Stage 1

Application

The first step is to create an account on the website and complete an online application form. As part of the application form, you will be required to provide personal information, such as your contact details and employment history. You will also be asked to upload your resume and cover letter, and answer some questions about your skills and experience. The questions will be standard application questions, such as 'why do you want to work at Barclays?'

PRO TIP

Familiarise yourself with Barclay's core five values: Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence (innovation), Stewardship (sustainability). Have these in mind whenever you are answering any questions where there are opportunities to demostrate these values in the form of achievements/stories.

Stage 2

Barclays Online Assessments

Barclays online assessments consist of several different tests designed to evaluate a range of skills and abilities. These tests may vary depending on the role you have applied for. There is generally around 3 assessments you will have to take, and will be a selection of the following:

Numerical Reasoning Test

Barclays' numerical reasoning test is designed to evaluate your ability to understand and interpret numerical data. You will be presented with a series of questions that require you to perform basic mathematical calculations and analyze graphs and tables.

Verbal Reasoning Test

Barclays' verbal reasoning test is designed to evaluate your ability to understand and interpret written information. You will be presented with a series of passages and asked to answer questions based on the information provided.

Logical Reasoning Test

Barclay's logical reasoning test is designed to evaluate your ability to think logically and solve problems. You will be presented with a series of questions that require you to identify patterns and relationships between different objects or ideas.

Situational Judgement Test

Barclays' situational judgment test is designed to evaluate your ability to make decisions in a work-related context. You will be presented with a series of scenarios and asked to select the best course of action from a list of options.

Personality Questionnaire

A personality test may be used by Barclays to evaluate your personality traits and how well they match the requirements of the job you have applied for. You will be asked to answer a series of questions about your behavior, preferences, and attitudes. They might opt for an SJT instead as this also covers behavioural tendancies and attitudes.

Stage 3

Video Interview

Often taken at the same time as the assessments, you may be asked to complete a video interview. This will be the first chance Barclays have to see your personality and behaviour, outside of a test. Barclays use HireVue to conduct their video interviews. You will be asked 3-5 questions and your responses will be recorded (you will not be talking to a person in live-time). Barclays will assess your video answers and decide who progresses to the next stage.

Stage 4

Assessment Centre

The final stage is an assessment centre. The assessment centre will be either in-person or virtual. You will undertake various exercises such as: role-play exercises, presentations and interviews. This is your best opportunity to showcase your personality and presentation skills. The interview conducted here will be a motivational interview with a member of the leadership team... and that's it! Successful candidates will be given an offer of employment from Barclays.

How to pass Barclays' online assessments and application process

Research Barclays and the role

Before you start the application process, take some time to research Barclays and ensure you fully understand them and the role you have applied for. This will help you understand the company culture, values, and requirements for the role, and tailor your application accordingly.

Take time and read the instructions

It's important to take your time when completing the assessments. Read each question carefully and make sure you understand what is being asked before selecting an answer. Don't rush through the tests, as this can lead to careless mistakes.

Eliminate distractions

Make sure to find a quiet time and place to complete your assessments. It's important that you have enough time to complete the assessments in peace, and will not be distracted by people or your phone.

For your video interview, make sure there aren't any distractions in the background. The viewer should be presented with a clean and neat backdrop.

Practise, Practise, Practise

Practise is key to passing Barclays' online assessments and interview. We have a practice test platform for you to take mock tests and track your results. For interview preparation, practise answering questions either with yourself or with a friend.

PRO TIP

Practise recording common answers to interview questions with the tech that you will use to submit your answers. You will then be able to find out the quality of your video and how you will come across. Be sure to look into the camera when speaking and make sure you appear comfortable and present yourself clearly.

Barclays FAQs

How long does the Barclays assessment take?

The total time of all the Barclays online assessments will be 60-90 minutes. The time will vary depending on how many assessments you are asked to complete and the speed in which you perform them.

What are Barclays core values?

Barclays five core values are: Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship.

Practice for Barclays' online assessments

Our practice platform is suitable for preparing for Barclays' online assessments.

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