57 total interview insight submissions
The Interview Experience is a score from 1 star (very negative) to 5 stars (very positive) generated based on the Interview Insights at this company.
The number you see in the middle of the doughnut pie chart is the simple average of these scores. If you hover over the various sections of the donut, you will see the % breakdown of each score given.
The percentile score in the title is calculated across the entire Company Database and uses an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates (to account for companies that have few interview insights). Simply put, as a company gets more reviews, the confidence of a "true score" increases so it is pulled closer to its simple average and away from the average of the entire dataset.
The Interview Difficulty is a score ranging from very difficult (red) to very easy (green) generated based on the Interview Insights at this company.
The number you see in the middle of the doughnut pie chart is the simple average of these scores. The higher the number, the more difficult the interviews on average. If you hover over the various sections of the doughnut, you will see the % breakdown of each score given.
The percentile score in the title is calculated across the entire Company Database and uses an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates (to account for companies that have few interview insights). Simply put, as a company gets more insights, the confidence of a "true score" increases so it is pulled closer to its simple average and away from the average of the entire data set.
The % of Interns Getting a Full Time Offer chart is meant to provide a realistic estimate of the hiring practices of the company based on the reviews at this company.
The number you see in the middle of the doughnut pie chart is the simple average of these scores. If you hover over the various sections of the doughnut, you will see the % breakdown of each score given.
The percentile score in the title is calculated across the entire Company Database and uses an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates (to account for companies that have few reviews). Simply put, as a company gets more reviews, the confidence of a "true score" increases so it is pulled closer to the simple company average and away from the average of the entire data set.
| Year | Position | Location | Group/Division | Experience | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Quant Analyst | Chicago | N/A | Neutral | Difficult |
| 2022 | Quant Researcher | City of Chicago | Quantitative Research | Neutral | Average |
| 2022 | Sector Data Analyst | New York | N/A | Positive | Average |
| 2023 | Fundamental Analyst Intern | Champaign | Securities | Positive | Difficult |
| 2023 | Fundamental Analyst Intern | Champaign | Securities | Positive | Difficult |
| 2022 | Quantitative Research Intern | Chicago | Quantitative Research | Neutral | Difficult |
| 2022 | Quantitive Researcher Intern | Stanford | Quantitative Research | Negative | Difficult |
| 2022 | Fundamental Research Intern | New York | Trading | Neutral | Average |
| 2022 | Analyst | London | Generalist | Positive | Difficult |
| 2022 | Software Engineer | New york | Prop Trading | Neutral | Easy |
Outcome
Interview Source
Length of Process
Application
Interview
Outcome
Interview Source
Length of Process
Application
Interview
Outcome
Interview Source
Length of Process
Application
Interview
Interview Questions
Outcome
Interview Source
Length of Process
Application
Interview
Interview Questions
Outcome
Interview Source
Length of Process
Application
Interview
Interview Questions
Outcome
Interview Source
Length of Process
Application
Interview
Interview Questions
Outcome
Interview Source
Length of Process
Application
Interview
Outcome
Interview Source
Length of Process
Application
Interview
Interview Questions
Outcome
Interview Source
Length of Process
Application
Interview
Interview Questions
Outcome
Interview Source
Length of Process
Application
Interview
Interview Questions
Citadel is a prominent American hedge fund and financial services company. Founded in 1990 by Kenneth Griffin, Citadel has grown to become one of the world's largest and most successful hedge funds, with over $57 billion in Investment capital as of March 1, 2023.
They operate across various asset classes and geographies:
The company has its HQ in Miami, Florida, and offices throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. Founder, CEO, and Co-CIO Griffin own approximately 85% of the firm.
From Seasoned leaders to recruits, every team member helps develop and execute powerful insights. They bring together brilliant minds to do what others consider impossible.
Citadel employs some of the best and brightest minds in the industry. So because of this, Citadel has a reputation for being a difficult place to interview.
As a result, candidates face tough and complex questions designed for the sole purpose of testing the candidate's knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
The recruitment process of Citadel can vary depending on the role you are applying for, but generally, it consists of several stages, including:
1. Application
The first step is to apply for a job at Citadel through their career website.
Once you get there, fill in all the required information they ask you to submit, i.e., Resume/CV and all the other important job-related documents.
Also, try to ensure that your Resume/CV is strictly one page only, as this makes the process a lot easier, and your probability of clearing the round increases.
2. Online Assessment
If the candidate's application meets Citadel's requirements, they will be invited to take an online assessment.
The online assessment is designed in such a way that they can evaluate your, that is, the candidate's analytical and problem-solving skills and how the candidate is working under pressure.
So ensure you are prepared nicely to ace the round and move further to the next round, i.e., Phone Interview.
3. Phone Interview
Those who pass the online test will be invited to the next round, which is the phone interview with a recruiter or a hiring team member.
The interviewer may also ask questions about the candidate's motivation for working at Citadel and their understanding of the financial markets.
4. Technical Interview
Candidates who pass the phone interview will be invited to a technical interview. The technical discussion evaluates the candidate's ability to solve complex problems and their knowledge of financial markets and quantitative methods.
You may be asked about macroeconomic factors and how they impact financial markets and your decision-making.
5. Super Day
The guys who pass the technical round will be invited to a Super Day; it's an all-day event that includes a series of interviews with Citadel's hiring team.
The Super Day aims to assess the candidate's fit with Citadel's culture and values, as well as their technical skills and problem-solving abilities.
6. Final Decision
After Super Day, the hiring team will decide whether to extend an offer to the candidate. If the candidate is selected, they will receive a job offer from Citadel, which will contain further details about the compensation package and benefits.
Below are some of the behavioral questions that will help you ace the interview at any stage of the recruitment process:
"In a Job where I was given a task of completing a project in just two weeks which was very cut to cut in terms of deadline. To manage my time effectively, I broke the project into smaller tasks and created a detailed project plan with deadlines for each task.
I also made sure to prioritize the most important tasks and worked on those first. To ensure that I met the deadline, I was in touch with my team by communicating regularly and by keeping them updated on my progress. When unexpected issues arose, I was able to adjust my plan and reprioritize tasks to stay on track."
"In a previous role, we faced a complex problem with one of our software systems that was causing delays and errors in our data processing.
To solve the problem, first, I collected all the necessary data and information related to the issue to understand what caused the problem. I then communicated with the cross-functional team to come up with a plan to test the potential solution.
We prioritized the most promising solutions and implemented them in stages to minimize the impact on our operations.
The outcome was a significant reduction in errors and processing times, which improved the efficiency and accuracy of our operations."
You can structure the example in your personalized use case, but ensure it's in the form of the STAR method:
" In a previous role, I had to convince my manager to adopt a new approach to our sales strategy.
I first researched and collected data to support my proposal and then scheduled a meeting with my manager to present my ideas.
When I am in a meeting, I focus on all the benefits the new approach provides and how aligned it is with our team's goals.
By the end of the conversation, my manager was convinced, and we implemented the new approach, which resulted in significant growth in sales."
"In a previous role, I worked in a cross-functional team to launch a new product. My role in the team was to coordinate between the team members on all the efforts that they were making toward the project to stay on track with our collective goal.
To collaborate effectively with the other teams, I regularly communicated with them and kept them updated on our progress.
I held weekly meetings to discuss any problems or roadblocks with the teams; the meeting was mainly to focus on coming up with solutions to the problems.
By working closely with the other teams and communicating effectively, we were able to launch the product successfully and on time."
"In a role where I was promoted to a new position that demanded me to work in a different department with a new team.
So to adapt, I first made an effort to get to know my new team and understand their working style and preferences. I also asked for feedback from my manager and colleagues and made adjustments to my approach based on their input.
I will take my time out to learn new skills and knowledge that will be in need for the new role."
These are only a couple of examples here; we hope you understand how the questions will be, remember the STAR method of answering the questions, and incorporate that into your personalized use case.
Below are some common Citadel technical interview questions and sample answers to help you prepare for your upcoming interview.
A potential answer could be.
"The Black-Scholes model is a mathematical formula used to estimate the price of European-style options.
This formula allows traders to calculate the fair value of an option and assess whether it's overvalued or undervalued."
A potential answer to this question could be:
"To value a company, I would start by analyzing its financial statements and ratios to assess its growth potential, profitability, and cash flow.
I would also look at the market trends and the company's position to determine its market share and potential for growth.
Then finally, to assess its risk profile, I would look at the company's debt-to-equity to get an idea of its level of financial leverage."
A potential answer to this question could be:
"Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility in relation to the overall market.
A Stock Beta of 1.0 is in line with the market, a stock beta greater than 1.0 is more volatile than the market, and a stock beta of less than 1.0 is less volatile.
Beta is used in finance to assess a stock's risk profile and to help investors make informed investment decisions."
A potential answer to this question could be:
"To approach risk management effectively, I would start by identifying potential risks and assessing their likelihood and impact on the business. I would then develop strategies to mitigate those risks, such as diversifying our portfolio or implementing hedging strategies.
Finally, I would like to see the effectiveness of those strategies over time and manage the risk effectively; I will adjust those strategies accordingly."
A potential answer to this question could be:
"The WACC is the weighted average cost of a company's debt and equity capital, considering the proportion of each in the company's capital structure.
To calculate a company's WACC, you first need to determine the proportion of debt and equity in its capital structure. You then need to calculate the cost of debt and the cost of equity and weigh them based on their respective proportions. The formula for WACC is:
WACC = (E/V x Re) + (D/V x Rd x (1-Tc))
Where:
- E = Market value of the firm's equity
- D = Market value of the firm's debt
- V = Total market value of the firm's equity and debt
- Re = Cost of equity
- Rd = Cost of debt
- Tc = Corporate tax rate".
WACC is an essential component while making a discounted cash flow model. You can learn more about DCF in the free DCF crash course offered by Wall street oasis, or if you are interested in DCF modeling, you can check out the DCF modeling course.
Here's a general summary of their interview process:
1. Phone screen
Candidates are first contacted for a phone screen with a recruiter. This call is usually brief and is used to assess the candidate's general fit for the role.
2. On-site interviews
Candidates who pass the phone screen will be invited to the firm's headquarters for in-person interviews. These interviews typically involve meeting with multiple team members, including portfolio managers, researchers, and senior leaders.
3. Technical interviews
During the on-site interviews, candidates are also typically given technical interviews. These interviews may include case studies, brainteasers, and other exercises designed to test the candidate's analytical and problem-solving skills.
4. Behavioral interviews
In addition to technical interviews, candidates will also likely face behavioral interviews. They are designed in such a way that they evaluate the candidate's personality, communication skills, and ability to work with others in a team.
5. Culture fit
Citadel strongly emphasizes cultural fit, so candidates will be evaluated on their ability to align with the company's values and work ethic.
The best places to know about the company:
During the research, you can reach out to the current or former employees working there to get the gist of how life is at Citadel. You can set up an informal chat over coffee, video chat, or call as per the person's choice as if he's available or not.
This is a good way to learn how they got in and their experience after getting in. This will give you an edge plus a good insight into the company from a different third-party perspective which you may need to think rationally about the company you are applying for.
Good Luck!
Researched and Authored by Sahil Shaikh
Reviewed and edited by Parul Gupta
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
or Want to Sign up with your social account?