Barclays Assessment & Interview Preparation
Business Insight Stages, Mindset Assessment & RISES Values
Guide country context: United Kingdom · Finance / Banking
Hiring processes can vary by country, role, business unit, and year.
Securing a role at Barclays requires passing their immersive, scenario-based online assessments. The process evaluates cognitive abilities, workplace mindset through a unique personality assessment, and alignment with the bank's core RISES values (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Stewardship).
Hiring Process
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1Online Application officialSubmit application through Barclays careers portal→ Tailor application to specific role track (business, technology developer, or technology analyst)
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2Business Insight Stage 1 (Online Assessment) officialBlended cognitive assessment including numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning tests alongside a unique Mindset Assessment (75 sets of 3 statements, choose most/least like you, ~20 minutes).→ Practice cognitive reasoning and internalize RISES values for the Mindset component
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3Business Insight Stage 2 (Job Simulation / Video Interview) officialJob simulation exercises and/or video interview evaluating competencies like problem-solving and resilience in realistic scenarios.→ Practice scenario-based responses and video interview techniques
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4Barclays Business Meeting (Final Interview) officialStructured behavioral interview assessing alignment with Barclays competencies and RISES values using the STAR method.→ Prepare 4-5 STAR stories demonstrating RISES values
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5Job Offer officialConditional offer subject to background and reference checks→ Complete all required documentation and checks promptly
Assessments
A blended assessment combining cognitive tests (numerical, verbal, logical reasoning) with a unique Mindset Assessment. The Mindset component presents 75 sets of three statements and requires candidates to choose which is 'most like' and 'least like' them (~20 minutes). This evaluates alignment with Barclays' RISES values and workplace behaviors.
Measures: Numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, logical reasoning, personality/values alignment, workplace mindset, RISES values fit
- Practice all three cognitive areas: numerical, verbal, and logical
- For the Mindset Assessment: deeply internalize RISES values before taking it
- Choose responses that consistently reflect integrity, service excellence, and customer empathy
- Don't try to 'game' the personality section — be consistent
Common mistakes
- Inconsistent responses in the Mindset section (the algorithm detects this)
- Not preparing for all three cognitive areas
- Trying to select 'impressive' rather than genuine responses in personality
- Not practicing under time pressure for cognitive tests
Scenario-based job simulations and/or video interview exercises that evaluate how candidates handle realistic workplace situations relevant to their role track. Tests competencies like problem-solving, resilience, and customer focus.
Measures: Problem-solving in context, resilience, customer service orientation, communication under pressure
- Think about how Barclays values (RISES) apply to each scenario
- For video elements: practice speaking clearly and structuring responses
- Show customer-first thinking in all responses
- Demonstrate resilience and composure under simulated pressure
Common mistakes
- Not connecting responses to RISES values
- Appearing flustered under simulated pressure
- Giving generic responses without referencing the specific scenario context
- Not practicing video interview format beforehand
For Technology Developer roles, a code-heavy assessment testing programming proficiency, algorithm design, and problem-solving. The Developer track is significantly more coding-intensive than the Technology Analyst track.
Measures: Programming proficiency, algorithm design, code quality, efficiency
- Confirm whether you're on Developer (code-heavy) or Analyst (data-heavy) track
- Practice data structures and algorithms for Developer roles
- Write clean, efficient code with good structure
- Test your solutions with edge cases
Common mistakes
- Preparing for the wrong track (Developer vs Analyst)
- Not handling edge cases
- Writing correct but overly complex code
Interviews
The Business Meeting is Barclays' final interview stage. It's a structured behavioral interview where you must use the STAR method to demonstrate your past experiences align with Barclays' competencies and RISES values. Questions probe customer empathy, accountability, and ethical judgment.
Format: Structured behavioral interview, approximately 45-60 minutes
What interviewers look for
- Respect — treating others with dignity and empathy
- Integrity — honest and ethical behavior
- Service — customer-first thinking and going above expectations
- Excellence — high standards and continuous improvement
- Stewardship — thinking long-term and acting responsibly
Focus areas to practise
- A time you went above and beyond for a customer or colleague
- A time you made an ethical decision under pressure
- How you handled a situation where service standards were at risk
- A time you took accountability for a mistake
- How you demonstrated stewardship in a project
- Map your STAR stories directly to RISES values
- Show genuine customer empathy in your examples
- Demonstrate ethical decision-making under pressure
- Include examples of taking accountability for outcomes
For Technology Developer roles: coding interview testing practical programming skills. For Technology Analyst roles: data analysis discussion testing SQL, Excel, and analytical thinking. The two tracks diverge significantly.
Format: 45-60 minutes, coding and/or data analysis depending on track
What interviewers look for
- Developer: clean, efficient code and problem-solving approach
- Analyst: data interpretation, SQL proficiency, and analytical thinking
- Both: communication clarity and ability to explain technical concepts
- Alignment with Barclays' technology strategy and values
Focus areas to practise
- Developer: algorithms, OOP, system design basics
- Analyst: SQL queries, data modeling, business intelligence
- Both: explaining technical decisions to non-technical stakeholders
- Clarify which track you're on and prepare accordingly
- Developer: focus on algorithms, data structures, and clean code
- Analyst: focus on SQL, data visualization, and business analytics
- Both: be prepared to discuss how technology serves Barclays' customers
How this differs by role
The process is not the same for every role. Find the closest match to the job you applied for — the assessments and interviews below are the ones reported for that role family.
Business / Finance Analyst
Assessments
- Business Insight Stage 1 (numerical + verbal + logical + Mindset)
- Business Insight Stage 2 (job simulation)
Interviews
- Business Meeting (structured behavioral)
- Data/Excel exercises (role-dependent)
Technology Developer
Assessments
- Business Insight Stage 1 (cognitive + Mindset)
- Coding assessment (code-heavy developer track)
Interviews
- Technical coding interview
- System design (senior)
- Business Meeting (behavioral)
Technology Analyst
Assessments
- Business Insight Stage 1 (cognitive + Mindset)
- Data/analytics assessment (data-heavy analyst track)
Interviews
- Data/SQL technical discussion
- Business Meeting (behavioral)
Customer Service / Operations
Assessments
- Business Insight Stage 1 (may be simplified)
- Situational judgment scenarios
Interviews
- Business Meeting focused on service excellence and customer empathy
Values & Framework
Barclays rigorously evaluates all candidates against its RISES values framework, documented in 'The Barclays Way.' These values must be consistently demonstrated across all assessments and interviews, particularly in the Mindset Assessment and the final Business Meeting.
- Show genuine empathy and respect for customers and colleagues
- Demonstrate ethical behavior and honest communication
- Emphasize customer-first thinking and exceeding service expectations
- Show commitment to high standards and continuous improvement
- Think long-term and act responsibly in all decisions
Recommended Practice Modules
Preparation Plans
- Memorize the RISES values: Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Stewardship
- Complete one practice set each of numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning
- Understand the Mindset Assessment format (75 sets, most/least like me)
- Prepare 2 STAR stories demonstrating customer service and ethical behavior
- Complete daily practice in numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning
- Practice personality/values-style questionnaires (choosing consistent RISES-aligned responses)
- If Developer: solve 5-8 coding problems focusing on fundamentals
- If Analyst: practice SQL queries and data interpretation
- Prepare 4 STAR stories covering different RISES values
- Research Barclays' recent initiatives and strategic direction
- Daily cognitive reasoning practice across all three areas
- Master the Mindset Assessment format through practice (consistency is key)
- If Developer: daily coding practice (10+ problems)
- If Analyst: practice data analysis and visualization
- Prepare 5+ STAR stories comprehensively covering all RISES values
- Practice video interview format for Stage 2
- Study Barclays' approach to customer service and digital banking
- Conduct mock Business Meeting interviews with STAR-format responses
- Build strong cognitive test performance across numerical, verbal, and logical
- Achieve consistent, values-aligned responses in personality practice exercises
- If Developer: complete 20+ coding problems and system design basics
- If Analyst: master SQL, data modeling, and business analytics fundamentals
- Develop comprehensive STAR story bank (6+ stories) mapped to all RISES values
- Practice job simulation scenarios with customer-focused responses
- Conduct multiple full mock Business Meeting interviews
- Study Barclays' competitive position and recent strategic decisions
- Practice explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences
- Refine weakest cognitive areas based on practice performance
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & verification status
3 sources · 2 from the employer or another primary publisher · 1 reported rather than confirmed
See each source and how far it goes
- Employer site The Barclays Way (RISES Values) Primary source, published by the employer
- Employer site Barclays Careers - Experienced Hire Applications Primary source, published by the employer
- Third party Barclays Aptitude Tests and assessment format Third-party summary — treat with caution
Confidence is calculated from each source, not assigned to the page. A source that cannot be opened, or that does not describe what we cited it for, cannot support a claim here regardless of how it was previously labelled.
How this guide was put together
Published by Job Tests Portal. It is compiled from the public sources listed above and has not been independently reviewed by a recruitment or assessment specialist. We are not affiliated with Barclays and this guide is not endorsed by them.
We label where each statement comes from, and we would rather say “we could not verify this” than state something we cannot show you the source for. Hiring processes change often and vary by role, country and year, so treat everything here as a starting point and let your invitation be the final word.