Here's how BarCap tries to keep the jerks out
BarCap's 'no jerk policy' is as old as Bob Diamond's penchant for sitting on the edge of desks with his jacket over his shoulder. As we mused in 2008, it was first unearthed by BusinessWeek in 2006.
This hasn't prevented the Financial Times from running an exposé on the 'no jerk policy' this week, citing, among other things, BarCap's rapid ejection of someone who liked travelling to work in a limo.
The crux of the 'no jerks' approach is, however, a tortuous interview process known as 'Topgrading,' involving interviews with 15-20 people and a deeply repetitive CIDS interview (Chronological Indepth Structured Interview) lasting many, many, many, hours.
If you know nothing about Topgrading, it's all to do with hiring and retaining only the top 10% of people, and was thrust upon the world by the Bradford D Smart.
If you know nothing about CIDs interviews, you are fortunate indeed, but just in case you come across one, here's what you ought know:
- According to Bradford, CIDS interviews are all about... looking for patterns of behaviour, assuming that strengths can become shortcomings, assuming that recent past behaviour is the best predictor of near term future behaviour, weighing negatives more than positives and assuming that all behaviour is motivated. Bear all of this in mind.
- Bradford also says strong feelings and beliefs are to be avoided (only the mild- mannered need apply).
- Favourite CIDS interview questions include: 'What were your high and low points at school/university?'; 'For every single job you've had in the past 15 years, what were you hired to do, what did you accomplish, what were the low points, who can provide a reference, why did you leave?'
Assuming you pass these and other tests, you may be admitted to Barclays Capital. As various people have pointed out, however, BarCap has grown massively in recent years, with headcount rising from 16,200 at the end of 2007 to 23,200 at the end of 2009. CIDS interviews or not, it seems likely that at least a few jerks have crept in.
