Calyon Securities

I have heard mixed reviews about Calyons interview process. From a previous thread here, it was said that they focus a lot on the quants (being a French bank). Then on Vault, I think it was, someone mentioned that the interviews were pretty laid back and more focused on WHY you want to do trading and what your goals are.

Has anyone interviewed with Calyon recently that can shed some light on how the interview went? I have a phone interview coming up with this bank for a junior trading position, and would like to know more about the process and the bank if possible. From what I read about Calyon and their environment, it is definitely a place I would like to work at. Therefore, I want to make sure I crush the interview. Thanks for your help

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I interviewed with BNP, they outsource the first few rounds to an HR firms that has nothing to do with BNP. Given that Calyon is French I would expect the same thing. The BNP interview process went like this: Why derivatives sales? Why BNP? Who are our biggest competitors in the industry? What is your biggest weakness? What is your biggest strength? Give me an example of a situation were you did x and y?

Then we started talking to each other, I cracked a few jokes, and at the end she told me that she hopes I make it all the way. A month and a half later I got called in for a regular interview, but i had already signed somewhere else...

Second interview at BNP was a sit down interview is an HR interview with that firm again. And only then do you get your regular interview with the actual firm. Again since BNP and Calyon are both French I figured they go through the same process. Some buddies of mine went for SocGen and the final round was in a nice hotel in Paris where they got to spend the night and then interview day etc....


Remember, you will always be a salesman, no matter how fancy your title is. - My ex girlfriend

 

A few months ago I had 1st & 2nd rd interviews for an analyst position w/in the cash structuring group at Calyon. It was a new hybrid group they were creating in lieu of laying off their entire CDO department in NYC. Both times I was supposed to interview with the MD of the CLO group, but he never showed. I ended up speaking with the VP of the new group they were creating and both times the mood was very relaxed, i.e. tell me about yourself, some bond and interest rate questions. I was fresh out of undergrad and they made it clear they were looking for someone with experience, so I was more than surprised to make it the 2nd interview.

Once there the 2nd time, I got crushed with questions regarding PAC bonds, PSA, etc... Overall, it was an easy interview for a position that would have had a lot of exposure and deal flow. It was a pain in the ass making the 2 hr commute from S. Jersey for an hour and half interview.

Hope this helps a little. Let me know if you have any specific Q's.

 

Calyon is a French bank 3rd or 4th largest in france, they are getting bigger in the US, i think their trading is based in chicago, expect the interview to be really quantitative, french banks usually hire engineer for trading.

That's all I have.

Good luck.

 

Big french bank - I think the biggest if u include their mutual funds and retail banking, very limited presence in IBD - u might think this is irrelevent to trading but the flows u get from corporate relations can be an important attribute of P&L.

They are well known in futures from their brokerage arm - which recently merged with SG's Fimat and are, both seperately and together, very well regarded in the brokerage industry.

In general u have to understand that the French actively look down on business graduates, the top degrees are considered to be engineering and maths. Law and business/management graduates are considered to lack mathematical rigour.

Interviews can be a little strange, I've had them start with simple 'do u know what a derivateive is?' questions and end in working out how to price binary options and really arcane questions such as how many forwards to I need to hedge out a futures position with.

 

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