ICAP Telephone Interview

I had an ICAP interview the other day and am through to the AC, they're very quick to reply! To be honest the interview was unlike any other I've had, for a start it was actually ICAP HR on the phone not some call centre, and the girl I spoke to would ask questions related to what I'd just said etc... it was actually like a proper conversation instead of just reading questions off a list in front of her! Obviously the discussion was steered towards certain topics but I thought I actually got something out of it and that they were genuinely interested in me. From what I can remember this is the gist of what I got asked.

Why ICAP?
Why Broking?
What exactly is ID broking and how does it differ to trading, what qualities/skills do you think make a successful broker?
How do you handle clients/what do you think this side of the role requires - specifically meeting them after work etc..?
Where else have you applied?
How is the market and specifically how is ICAP and other IDB's doing?
What do you think the future holds/future challenges for IDB's?
Tell me about a time you've made money (can be for yourself or for a company - thought this was tough, I mentioned something I working last summer that saved money for the business I was with)
Something about a difficult situation or persuading someone, can't remember exactly.

I got the impression they're not looking for perfect answers, more whether or not you can hold yourself in a phone conversation, obviously key to broking. I build up quite a good rapport with my interviewer talked about going to the pub etc... even thought she might have thought this was a good thing (shows I'm sociable)!!!

Any more q's PM me.

Reply 2

OP

lulzcast

I had an ICAP interview the other day and am through to the AC, they're very quick to reply! To be honest the interview was unlike any other I've had, for a start it was actually ICAP HR on the phone not some call centre, and the girl I spoke to would ask questions related to what I'd just said etc... it was actually like a proper conversation instead of just reading questions off a list in front of her! Obviously the discussion was steered towards certain topics but I thought I actually got something out of it and that they were genuinely interested in me. From what I can remember this is the gist of what I got asked.

Why ICAP?
Why Broking?
What exactly is ID broking and how does it differ to trading, what qualities/skills do you think make a successful broker?
How do you handle clients/what do you think this side of the role requires - specifically meeting them after work etc..?
Where else have you applied?
How is the market and specifically how is ICAP and other IDB's doing?
What do you think the future holds/future challenges for IDB's?
Tell me about a time you've made money (can be for yourself or for a company - thought this was tough, I mentioned something I working last summer that saved money for the business I was with)
Something about a difficult situation or persuading someone, can't remember exactly.

I got the impression they're not looking for perfect answers, more whether or not you can hold yourself in a phone conversation, obviously key to broking. I build up quite a good rapport with my interviewer talked about going to the pub etc... even thought she might have thought this was a good thing (shows I'm sociable)!!!

Any more q's PM me.

That was really helpful! Thanks so much...! I still have to schedule my interview by the way can you tell me some competitors of ICAP those who offer internships?

Reply 3

Come on dude, do some research! Off the top of my head Tullett Prebon, GFI, Tradition, although I'm not sure if the deadlines have passed.

Reply 4

OP

Did you apply to any other company other than ICAP for Broking?

Reply 5

No, but don't tell them that :-)

Reply 6

OP

Why not...? Whats the reasoning behind that?

Actually if they ask you where else have u applied...u cant just say for broking icap...

and nothing else...

and then trading...and whatever else u want to do...

coz it will seem like u are not interested in broking that much...

what say?

Reply 7

What I meant was don't tell them you've applied mainly for trading and then just for broking there. Make sure they don't think you've just applied as a backup in case trading apps don't work out, if you say you've applied to over brokerages it at least shows you're more interested then someone whose just applied there.

Reply 8

OP

yes!! u got it...right....

by the way did u get selected for second round interview?

plus...where else did u apply for broking?

Reply 9

Yeah I'm through the AC, I didn't apply anywhere else for broking the only other place that actually had proper app forms was TB and their deadline was November, there are probably more places out there but I didn't spend a massive amount of time researching IDBs.

Reply 10

OP

is ac=assessment center? how was it...and whats it like?

Reply 11

Samoan

1

yes ac = assesment centre

Reply 12

nh5341

I've got the assessment centre on monday, any hints and tips? what stuff do they ask? I hear there is a share trading game, is it hard?

Cheers

Reply 13

The ac's not bad at all: there's a standard psl maths test, followed by a group ex which was actually a lot of fun and about as far from the typical case-study analysis type as you can get. Basically you get this map and loads of clues and have to work out where the buried treasure is by solving them. Then there's a interview with one hr and one broker followed by a trading simulation thing where you watch this video which looks a lot like bloomberg with fx rates going along the bottom and news in the corner etc... and it asks you questions to with shares, fx etc... it's far easier than the first maths test and you get loads of time for each question.

Reply 14

nh5341

Thanks for the advice. Really appreciate it. What kind of questions do HR ask? I've heard they have some trick questions to unnerve you, did you have any of those? If so what were they?

Reply 15

Which company did ICAP take over to get on the FTSE 100?

Reply 16

nh5341

Icap was formed by the merger of Garban plc and Intercapital plc and was previously named Garban-Intercapital plc. Garban-Intercapital plc was changed to ICAP plc in July 2001.

Before that Intercapital merged with EXCO plc and formed Intercapital plc.

Garban was demerged from United Business Media plc and branded Garban plc which was independently listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Lulzcast: How was you assessment centre? Did you get through? Also what kind of questions do HR ask? i.e competency questions? Do they ask you on current events/affairs? I've heard they have some trick questions to unnerve you, did you have any of those? If so what were they?

Any help would be amazing..

Reply 17

OP