If you’re looking to start a 2016 graduate job or internship at Citi in Asia, now is the time to apply – deadlines across the firm’s various divisions are looming.
Despite a turbulent six months in Asian markets, the US bank – which employs 60,000 staff in Asia – is looking to ramp up its regional intake of interns and analysts next year, says Rivekie Ho, Citi’s Institutional Client Group campus lead for Asia Pacific. Ho spoke to us about Citi’s Asian recruitment plans.
How many people is Citi hiring for 2016 summer internships and graduate analyst roles in Asia?
More than 250 people, approximately, for internships and about 500 for graduate jobs – both of which are increases over 2015. But while we have these numbers in mind, our actual recruitment figures will be driven by the calibre of candidates we see through the hiring process. And our graduate roles are generally converted from summer internships.
Where are you hiring in Asia?
APAC financial hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore will always have a strong representation in terms of hiring, but we are seeing a growing need in markets such as China and India for campus talent. Our focus is always changing to meet the needs of the business and to ensure we have a strong talent pipeline throughout the region. We often see people from graduate programmes move from region to region so we view our graduate class as a global workforce rather than just country or APAC specific.
Which universities and degree courses does Citi target for Asia-based jobs?
All universities – local and overseas. For some geographies, however, there are visa restrictions which mean we can only hire local nationals with full working rights. We are able to recruit foreign nationals into Hong Kong, but we have restrictions in Singapore so we need to abide by the rules and regulations of each country we recruit in. We hire from all degrees. We’re very focused on driving diversity and looking at different candidate populations, so while there will still be a strong pool of candidates from finance degree backgrounds, we’re hoping to attract top talent from other areas as well. Difference of thought and perspective is an important element in candidates as there’s no ‘one size fit all’ profile at Citi.
Tell us about your application and assessment process
Our needs are across the bank – both front-office and support roles at an intern and graduate level. Candidates need to apply online. And they will be shortlisted for phone interviews or first-round in-person interviews and then they proceed to a final round. There will be differences between locations and businesses on recruitment processes, but generally there will be phone screening and final-round assessment centres.
How important are extracurricular activities to getting graduate jobs at Citi?
Extracurricular activities are a great way to demonstrate personal interests and skill sets, especially for candidates who have not had much work experience, so they are very important. Your application will be viewed holistically – your CV, cover letter and academic results will all be considered as part of screening – so having extracurricular activities will add extra depth to your application.
What’s your advice for preparing for an interview at Citi?
Articulate why you’re interested in the role. Students are often interested in joining the finance sector but can’t say exactly why the industry or business area appeals to them. This question will often come up in interviews so understanding why investment banking, markets, consumer banking etc appeals to you is critical. Interviewers want you to have the right motivation for the role.
It’s a conversation. You should remember to engage with your interviewer by asking questions and making sure your personality comes through. Viewing it as a conversation may alleviate the pressure of an interview.
Practice. We often see candidates being nervous at interviews, which is completely understandable. Try practicing not only the content of what you will say in an interview, but also pacing your speech – this should help with hiding the nerves on the day.
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