If you value transparency and open communication throughout the interview process, do NOT apply to Barclays.
I applied to Barclays over a month ago, and was contacted relatively quickly about a phone screening. During this, the recruiter said she would pass my info onto the hiring manager, who would then give the go-ahead for another round. I was told this decision would be made in a few days.
Barclays ended up not responding to me for several weeks but ultimately got back to me with the go-ahead for an interview with the program manager. Since I hadn't heard back from the company in a timely manner, I was under the assumption Barclays just wasn't interested, so I began applying elsewhere. I told the recruiter that I would entertain an interview with Barclays, however at the time I was in the final consideration for other firms and I would need to accelerate the interview timeline so I would be able to properly decide on any potential offer.
Once again, the recruiter ghosted me for over a week. I finally heard back from her, and she again was insistent that I schedule my next round. Since more time had passed, I ended up receiving an offer from three of the other firms I was interviewing with. I reiterated that I would still consider Barclays, but now with three offers on the table, not only would I need to accelerate the interview timeline, but I would also need to have the compensation range disclosed. If the potential comp for the Barclays role is lower than my current offers, then I would be withdrawing from consideration.
This spun off a very unnecessary and horribly communicated chain of emails where the recruiter brought in two other people from HR to discuss the comp. The first HR person said she would "find out" the compensation range, and the other was brought on to help me schedule my interview (??? what??!). Thank you Barclays, but I'm fully capable of filling out my availability. I don't understand what is so unclear about "Can you please give me details about the compensation range so I can consider whether or not to schedule my interview". Oh, and even with the two additional HR people that were brought on to "assist" my inquiry, it was never answered.
The recruiter I have been in touch with the entire time emailed me again this morning, saying she's sorry I "never got the chance to schedule my interview" and if I could just "please provide some times that I will be free".
Talk about INCOMPETENT. It took 3 people from HR to dance back and forth with "we will assist you with your inquiry" and "oh, we didn't get you the info? Ok well please schedule your interview". Enough of the HR scripted responses. If you can't be transparent and answer a simple question about compensation so I can save both parties time by simply walking away from this opportunity, I can only imagine the absolute hell it is working at the unorganized bureaucratic mess that is Barclays.
