Type · Firm Specific
Barclays recently advised on [specific recent deal, e.g., a tech IPO or a large cross-border acquisition]. What are your thoughts on this transaction and Barclays's role in it?
How to Pass the Barclays IB Analyst Interview in 2026
The Barclays DNA (TL;DR)
Barclays assesses analytical rigor and commercial acumen, focusing on how candidates structure complex financial problems and articulate trade-offs. They look for candidates who can connect technical solutions to business impact, often referencing their 'Integrity' principle.
The Barclays Interview Loop
Your onsite loop will typically consist of 4 rounds.
- 1
Round 1
Recruiter ScreenMotivation, fit, GPA, deal interest. - 2
Round 2
Technical ScreenAccounting, valuation (DCF, comps, precedent transactions), enterprise vs equity value. - 3
Round 3
Market KnowledgeRecent deals, market events, sector outlook, why this firm. - 4
Round 4
SuperdayMultiple back-to-back interviews with MDs/VPs covering technical + behavioral + fit. - 5
Round 5
Behavioral / LeadershipPast evidence of ownership, influence, resolving conflict.
The Danger Zone: Top Reasons Candidates Fail
Based on our database of Barclays interview outcomes, avoid these common traps:
- Focusing solely on compensation or prestige without demonstrating genuine interest in the work.
- Inability to explain how net income flows from the income statement to retained earnings on the balance sheet.
- Failing to provide specific reasons or supporting data.
- Providing a superficial summary of the deal without critical analysis.
Test Yourself: Real Barclays Questions
Three real prompts pulled from our database.
Type · Market Trends
What is a recent M&A deal (within the last 6-12 months) that you found interesting, and why?
Type · Teamwork
Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle the situation, and what was the outcome?
+ many more questions, signals, and worked examples
Sign up to unlock the full Barclays grading rubric
Barclays Interview Question Bank
A sample from our database, grouped by round. Sign up to see the full set.
9 of 15 questions shown
1
Recruiter Screen
1- 1
Type · Motivation
Why are you interested in investment banking, and specifically at Barclays?
2
Technical Screen
3- 2
Type · Valuation
Walk me through a DCF analysis. - 3
Type · Valuation
What are the different ways to value a company? - + 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)
3
Market Knowledge
3- 4
Type · Market Trends
What is a recent M&A deal (within the last 6-12 months) that you found interesting, and why? - 5
Type · Market Trends
What are your thoughts on the current macroeconomic environment and its potential impact on investment banking activity? - + 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)
4
Superday
3- 6
Type · Technical
Imagine a company is considering acquiring another. How would you approach valuing the target company, and what are the key considerations for the acquirer? - 7
Type · Technical
Explain the concept of Enterprise Value and Equity Value, and how they relate to each other. - + 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)
5
Behavioral / Leadership
5- 8
Type · Behavioral
Tell me about a time you had to work with a stakeholder from a non-technical background (e.g., business analyst, product manager) to deliver a technical solution. How did you ensure clear communication and alignment? - 9
Type · Behavioral
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a decision made by your team or manager. How did you approach the situation, and what was the outcome? - + 3 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)
Unlock all 15 Barclays questions, free
No credit card. Every question with its framework, the grading signals interviewers score against, and a worked answer for each.
Interview tracks at Barclays
How Barclays's DNA translates across functions. Pick your role.
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Practice Barclays interviews end-to-end
Barclays Mock Interview
Run a live mock interview with our AI interviewer using Barclays-style prompts. Get scored on structure, signal, and answer length - exactly how the real loop grades you.
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STAR Stories for Barclays Behavioral Rounds
Build a Story Bank of your past wins, mapped to the leadership signals Barclays interviewers grade on. Reuse them across every behavioral round.
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Barclays Interview Prep Hub
The frameworks behind every Barclays round: CIRCLES for product sense, hypothesis-driven debugging for analytical, STAR for behavioral. Learn each one in 10 minutes.
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Interview Frameworks
CIRCLES, STAR, AARRR, RICE, MECE. The exact frameworks that make Barclays interviewers nod instead of frown. Step-by-step playbooks with the moves and the pitfalls.
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Sample answers
What a strong answer to these Barclays interview questions shows.
Barclays recently advised on [specific recent deal, e.g., a tech IPO or a large cross-border acquisition]. What are your thoughts on this transaction and Barclays's role in it?
A strong answer shows: Demonstrated research into Barclays's recent deal activity.; Ability to analyze the strategic and financial implications of a transaction.; Understanding of the firm's market position and capabilities..
What is a recent M&A deal (within the last 6-12 months) that you found interesting, and why?
A strong answer shows: Awareness of current market activity.; Ability to analyze deal rationale and implications.; Interest in the strategic aspects of corporate finance..
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