These are 50 interview questions you'll be asked at Citi
A lot of people want to work for an investment bank, and a bank like Citi is no exception.
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It’s been a while since the bank discussed how many applicants per role it received, but the last time we had figures (in 2022), it was well over 300 applicants per open role. That tracks with what we know about other applications to other investment banks such as Goldman Sachs.
Getting a job offer against so much competition is very tough, and you’ll need every asset at your disposal – from the perfect CV to extensive knowledge of what HireVue interviews are and how they work.
Luckily, if you’re looking for interview questions, you’ve done the hard work, and the ball is firmly in your court. The interview is usually one of, if not the last step in getting an investment banking job. But falling at the last hurdle is still possible – you’ll want to be prepared. And the best way to be prepared is to know what questions you will be asked.
We’ve pulled the questions below from a variety of sources, including Glassdoor, WallStreetOasis, and Reddit. They’re overwhelmingly (but not exclusively) questions asked of junior applicants such as summer interns. And they’re all for people who interviewed with Citi in the last six months – regardless of whether they were successful or not.
General Citi Interview Questions
Tell me about yourself.
Why do you want to work at Citi?
Why do you want to work in finance?
Why do you want to work at Citi specifically, and not a rival?
Walk me through your resume.
What are your biggest strengths? What are your biggest weaknesses?
How do you handle conflict in a team?
Give an example of a time you worked in a team to overcome a challenge.
Why do you want to work in [team]?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Tell me something that isn’t on your resume.
How do you juggle competing priorities?
Why did you choose your major?
Tell me about a time you led a team.
Why are you suitable for this role?
What hobbies do you have?
Who is the CEO of Citi?
What are your thoughts on our latest investor day?
How do you stay updated on trends in financial markets?
Recount a situation in which you met a deadline.
Sales & Trading Citi Interview Questions
Tell me about a recent development in the field that caught your attention.
Pitch me a stock.
How are financial instruments priced?
How do you explain technical matters to non-technical people, such as clients?
How do you usually work with clients?
What’s the value of the S&P500 today?
What’s happening with the Fed?
What do you think of the market at the moment?
How would [region] bond market affect the [other region] bond market?
How would you allocate a portfolio?
Investment Banking Citi Interview Questions
What are the three financial statements?
Can you explain how a $10 increase in depreciation impacts the financial statements?
Walk me through a DCF valuation and explain the key assumptions you would make.
How do you calculate Enterprise Value, and why is it important?
If interest rates rise, what impact would that have on bond prices and equity valuations?
Explain the difference between EV/EBITDA and P/E ratio. When would you use each?
What market developments would you prepare ahead of a client meeting?
How would you assess the best financing instrument for a specific case?
What are the key metrics you look at when assessing a company's debt structure?
Walk me through a debt raise deal.
Technology Citi Interview Questions
What are some of your favourite new technologies to use?
How do you use IT in your day-to-day life?
Why do you think you’re qualified for this job?
What’s the difference between "=", "==", and "==="?
What are some projects you’ve worked on?
Describe a time you improved a process.
What are the four pillars of OOP?
How you communicate effectively between technical teams and management?
How you handle difficult situations where you may have multiple high priority tickets to resolve at the same time?
What is a Join in SQL?
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