ICAP: Voice trading and electronic trading (graduate)

Questions

- Can you name some of our main competitors?

- How willing would you be to relocate?

- What is the company's share price today?

-Can you describe some of the financial products we deal in?

-What is 13 times 3 and a quarter?

-You look a bit serious, can you tell us a joke?

Candidate's response

Reponses to these questions were straight forward. Knowledge of the company background and industry required standard answers, as did the maths question. Although the 'tell us a joke' request was not expected. I think the intention was to throw the candidate off balance. (Also it would be important to have a simple short politically correct joke on hand).

Question

Being from Ireland you speak very quickly, would this be a problem when dealing with clients?

Candidate's answer

I think this would be an advantage in a business where time is of the essence, getting all the information the client needs to make an informed decision in a short, clipped fashion would be appreciated. As long of course, as the client can understand you.

Question

What is the greatest asset you could bring to this firm, how would you create value?

Candidate's answer

In an industry that is highly dependant on client relationships I feel that my ability to form strong bonds with people based on trust would be my greatest asset. I find it very easy to strike up relationships with clients and really understand the situation they're in as well as what they want to achieve. I think the approach of being honest and genuinely interested in a client lets them understand that you're working hard for them.

Question

What do you think the worst part of this job is?

Candidate's answer

From the research I've don into this job and from talking candidly from some of the people working here already...[interviewer interupts]

Who?

....a few of the guys from electronic trading. I think that the worst part of the job would be the danger of getting too caught up in the work and possibly burning yourself out. I think that a certain work-life balance has to exist to prevent workers from making mistakes and being unhappy with their work. This would affect the personal life as well. I understand of course, that in this business you have to work very hard to be rewarded well but I think I have the personal discipline not to let this have a detrimental affect on me.

These questions were provided to us by a candidate claiming to have interviewed at the institution named above. We cannot guarantee that these were the actual questions asked.