How to Prepare for Final Round Interview at Citi (Budapest) for Finance Summer Analyst?

Question

I have a final round interview at Citi, Budapest, for Finance Summer Analyst Programme. The position involves two potential roles: Product Control and Regulatory Reporting.

So far, I've only had a phone screening, and now they've informed me that there will be just one final round. According to the recruiter, the process will start with a group discussion, followed by an individual interview. She mentioned that it won't include hard technical questions but wasn't very specific about the content.

How can I effectively prepare for this interview? What can I expect during both the group and individual discussions?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Answer 1

Hello there,

we are a little late, but hopefully we can still help:

Concerning the group discussion: Usually they want to see how well you communicate and if you are able to work in a team. It's hard to prepare for that, but some things to keep in mind are to be clear, concise and structured in your communication, to listen actively and to keep the discussion on track. It's also important to know that even though leadership skills are usually wanted, it also needs group members that take on other roles in the group to come to a result. So, don't get too competitive, stay calm and most important: Be authentic and yourself.

We also have an article on group interviews in consulting, which are quite similar to what you can expect at Citigroup. Maybe it's worth taking a look at: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/group-interview-consulting

Concerning the individual interview: Since the recruiter mentioned no hard technical questions, the focus will likely be on your motivations, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit. Be ready to discuss why you are interested in Citi, what excites you about Product Control or Regulatory Reporting (even if you’re not 100% sure yet, talk about your curiosity and willingness to learn) and examples from your experiences that show teamwork and analytical skills.

However, even though they might have said that there will be no hard technical questions, prepare for technical questions whatsoever. The definition of "hard" may vary depending on where you're currently at. ?

You can find some practice questions for IB here: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/interview-questions-investment-banking

As a general prep, we also recommend that you read up on Citi's values and recent news. Make sure you know what's going on in the industry and prepare some questions you can ask at the end of the interview to show your interest.

We hope, this helped as a starting point. For a more in-depth preparation, we recommend working with a coach who knows the industry from the inside and can give you some valuable tips and feedback.