Technology > Analyst

Business Description

We have designed these sections to aid you in your understanding of what Technology within a Investment Banking means, the services we provide to our clients and how we are structured. In the subsequent tabs we have asked for input from our Analysts/Summer Interns and also the recruiters describe the type of person we are looking for as well as the recruitment process.

What is Technology?

As one of the key enabling forces behind Citi, Technology supports all areas from multi-million dollar international trades to individual investors' portfolios. Our objective is to deliver seamless services to meet today's needs, while at the same time ensuring our technology and systems are flexible enough to seize opportunities in the future.

What services do we provide to our clients?

The Technology division is a vital business function solving problems, enhancing services, finding more efficient ways to build business, raise productivity, boost our competitiveness and expand globally. Our commitment to technology is unprecedented: we put massive financial resources behind our information infrastructure, whether it's a ground-up development project, the acquisition of a technology partner or the enhancement and operation of our day-to-day systems. The investment results in technological advancement unheard of outside of the industry.

Our technology division:

• Develops sophisticated worldwide trading operations, financial systems, databases and internal and external communications networks
• Designs and develops the firm's websites and the architecture of our global applications, databases, networks and hardware
• Customizes and recommends software in response to changing business needs

How we are structured?

We broadly distinguish between Software Development and Technology Infrastructure.

Within Citi Markets & Banking:

Software Development is closely aligned to the business areas in Citi Markets & Banking such as Global Transaction Services, Fixed Income, Equities and Corporate Operations & Technology. You will work hand-in-hand with the world's leading computer and software technologies to develop new, customized platforms. That often means you're not only involved with some of the hottest breakthrough technologies before they become available, you may actually be integral to making them happen in the first place. Some of the technologies that we use include Web Services (WS), Web Services Enabling – SOAP, WSDL, UDDI, Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), Java/J2EE, BEA Weblogic, IBM Websphere, Oracle, Sybase, XML, .Net, C/C++, and Unix.

Across Citi:

 

Technology Infrastructure provides telecommunication products and services to all Citi's business units, including Citi Markets & Banking, Global Consumer Bank and Global Wealth Management. Technology Infrastructure offers exciting opportunities in business analysis, project management and business continuity. In addition it provides voice, e-mail, Internet, data processing and desktop support as well as specific functions, including real-time market and historic market data services, the operation of data centers, command and customer service centers, security control devices, gateways for remote access and mobile computing technologies, and host and server systems.

Roles of an Analyst

To give you a better understanding of what you can expect if you join the Technology division, we asked for some input from our Analysts. Here they describe the main tasks they undertake as well as their career progression and an insight into an execution project. 

Roles an Analyst may undertake in Software Development

System Enhancement - Most technology roles involve making changes to Citi systems to enhance functionality and capability. This can range from database manipulation (extracting complex data from databases and creating new database instances), hardware configuration (setting up a new sever cluster) through to code development (JEEP, C#, .NET etc).

Producing technical specifications/documentation - As our businesses evolve, changes are often required on the systems which support these businesses. This must be carefully planned and documented to ensure there are no ambiguities in each request and the vendor is sure of the exact business requirements, for example working alongside our business Analysts to produce documentation for our vendors indicating the changes or enhancements required. Additionally, producing other documentation such as risk assessments, post-implementation reviews and testing plans.

Operation Groups Coordination - It is often necessary to coordinate with many cross-business groups to check on the progress of tasks, to inform them of changes or updates and to obtain input on a decision from a larger audience. For example, discussing the current status of a particular testing stream or discussing a proposed change to a database infrastructure. This can take many forms including conference calls, face-to-face meetings and Net meetings with upwards of 30 participants.

Project Management - A large amount time is spent planning, organising and coordinating my project. This encompasses several key elements including producing project plans and timelines, assigning tasks to relevant teams or individuals and producing management information for the project manager.

Vendor liaison – an Analyst can be in frequent contact with our team of vendors to plan releases and organise code changes. This ranges from requesting small pieces of code to fix a specific issue (for example a button is not working), to large-scale new releases (for example if the software is being released in a new country with different laws and regulations). It is often necessary to liaise with 'offshore resources' which are vendors based in different locations such as Tampa Bay, Mumbai and Barcelona.

 

Roles an Analyst may undertake in Technology Infrastructure

Our EMEA team of approximately two thousand people manages technology infrastructure in a huge and diverse region, with fifty countries, thirty-eight thousand customers, speaking many different languages.

We have an excellent record in providing a reliable and efficient infrastructure, achieving high standards of customer service, meeting demanding financial targets and maintaining the highest levels of security. We also invest time and resources into various initiatives such as diversity and volunteering schemes, which are rewarding for everyone involved.

With a Global presence of about 10,000 staff in some 100 countries, Citi Technology Infrastructure

(CTI) provides technology infrastructure products and services for approximately 80% of Citi businesses. Products and services include: data centers, network, desktops, voice systems, etc.

CTI has a regional construct for service delivery with centralized global functions that provide strategic focus to the regions.

 

Michael McCarthy

Strategic Support

I joined Citi in September 2003 as a UNIX systems administrator, responsible for the day to day upkeep of many of the servers on which Citi's financial applications run. Citi provided a number of training courses for me, and after four months of being hired I felt confident enough to join the overnight support rota. After six months as a systems administrator I spoke with my manager about the possibility of seeing how projects are initiated and servers built, and within a month a role was found for me within the UNIX projects team, where we helped build the servers the systems administrators would eventually look after.

In my current role I am responsible for the development of an internal website, which includes a number of web-based tools. As well as improving my general programming and database knowledge, my job function involves analysing and trying to improve processes across Data Centre teams, aiming where possible to develop solutions that will be of benefit to the widest number of people. As well as the numerous training courses provided for me, Citi are currently financing a part-time MSc in Computer Science I am undertaking outside work, as well as allowing me to work a flexible schedule to ensure I can attend my evening lectures.

  

Hany Al Wardi

CTI EMEA Distributed Systems Strategic Support

“My role is about identifying opportunities for process improvements. My main work is to architect and develop Strategic tools/applications, which would allow the people in my department to do their job in a more efficient, more convenient and easier way. This involves analysis, design and implementation. And the final product gets widely used almost immediately after release which is very rewarding to see!”

 

Claire O'Sullivan

CTI EMEA M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions)

“My primary role is in the investigatory stage of M&A activity, known as Due Diligence. Due Diligence involves conducting a high level analysis of a target company’s technology infrastructure, technology financials, operations, facilities, and management & staff, and is a critical step in determining the feasibility of any deal. The CTI EMEA M&A team was newly formed in Sept '05, thus my role has also involved assisting in the creation of a standard process and governance model, as well as participating in key global collaboration efforts to establish a 'Best Practice' due diligence process.”

 

Niamh Lynes

CTI EMEA Management Office (MO)

“As a member of the MO, my primary role is the production of weekly and monthly reports, which are used by CTI and O&T senior management to gauge the health of our infrastructure. Communication is the essence of this role, interacting with employees at all levels to produce high-quality documents which paint an accurate picture of CTI's Operating Performance, Risk Management, Financial Management and People Management.”

 

Simeone Stubbs

Enterprise Management Systems (EMS)

“As a member of the EMS team, I assist my team in providing the necessary monitoring infrastructure, which ensures the various business applications, batch jobs and computer services are up and running within our business environment. Within my current role, my responsibilities include the production of both weekly and monthly reports, which effectively review our Change and Problem Management metrics as well as assess our Performance Management capabilities. In addition, my technical role has broadened to include Continuity of Business (COB) planning as well as vital Controls and Compliance support.”

 

Rizwan Khan

EISS - SI (EMEA Information Security Services- Security Infrastructure)

“As a member of EISS projects team, my primary role is to provide consultancy on various TI projects from an Information Security perspective and to ensure that the solutions are in line with Citi standards. The project work sometimes involve hands-on work with various devices and often involves travel to various countries within EMEA.”

 

Duygu Tasdelen

Data Centre Management Office

“As a member of the Data Centre Management Office, I am mainly responsible for maintaining and improving the quality of regular and ad hoc reporting. In the Management Office, we are aiming to effectively translate the technical data into meaningful and useful information for the better management of the Data Centre. Within my role I have been exposed to many different aspects of TI and been provided valuable opportunities to enhance my responsibilities and improve my skills.”

 

Chee Ann Gan

Infrastructure Engineering

“As a member of Infrastructure Engineering, my role involves defining standards in conjunction with Global Engineering partners and provides technical support to operational staff in specific technical disciplines. A project I am working on at the moment is the Password Auto Repository (PAR), which enables management of administrative of system passwords in a controlled environment.

In addition to that, I am also the developer of the Engineering Workslate Management Tool. This tool allows various Engineering teams to track projects, provide weekly updates and forecast resources. It is satisfying to see the implementation the tool in EMEA and ASPAC and how it has greatly improved the Workslate management of the Engineers in Citi.”

 

Sarah Forster

Project Office

The CTI EMEA Project Management Organisation is supported by the Project Office. The Project Office provides assistance and training to help Project Managers manage CTI SILC Projects and complete work according to SILC Best Practice. The Project Office formalizes and standardizes project management practices. Work in the Project Office promotes the awareness of the value of project management and creates a project management culture within the organization. It develops the formal procedures, documentation and tools for managing a project.

 

Ugo Iromantu

Controls & Compliance

After having studied Computer Science as an undergrad and written a master’s dissertation on international trade, I was keen to be in an environment where I could remain close to both fields. The graduate scheme at Citi started off with a program of financial training. We were also given personal effectiveness and other forms of soft skills training, all before starting with our teams. I appreciated the breadth of the material because it reflected that fact there were functional opportunities along that spectrum. The analyst program has been a enlightening experience and I am still learning a great deal.

 

Why technology?

Technology offers a vast range of roles, each unique in its own way, each presenting the opportunity to utilise a different set of skills. One can choose to work in varied roles depending on one's interests - for someone looking to hone in on their technical skills, database management, software development, networking and Unix/Windows server management would be ideal areas to work in. Similarly, for those more interested in the business side, production support, business analysis and project office roles prove to be a good platform to start off in. Every role provides the chance to liaise with and expand networks within both the technology and business areas and develop all-round skills. (Aastha; joined 2005)

There are many reasons why a career in Software Development or TI at Citi is an excellent opportunity however there are two reasons which makes Citi stand out from its competitors. Firstly, following your initial training, you are given responsibility early on. You will be responsible (with help from your colleagues) for decision-making and will take ownership of your own tasks and projects. The second great thing is the diverse set of skills you will develop quickly - from technical skills to communication skills and building the ability to work on your own initiative.

I have always been fascinated by the ever-evolving world of technology and a career in technology at Citi allows you to work with cutting-edge technologies and methodologies. What particularly excited me was the large amount of diverse opportunities available - from software development to project management to production support. The Analyst programme helps you to develop transferable skills which can be applied in all areas of technology - both now and in the future. (Barry; joined 2005)

My university background was in technology, and I always had an interest in finance, so the natural progression was to work in technology for a bank. I knew that the training programme was very varied and interesting - with generic financial training via workshops, lectures and a finance qualification, together with soft skill training on project management, team work and leadership. This was complemented well by tailored technology training specific to each role. I also knew that I would gain a great deal of exposure to the various businesses and the financial world, which suited me perfectly. (Mehul; joined 2002)

 

 

 

 

Our Programmes

Investment Banking in EMEA has three programmes you can apply for: 

• Full time Programme

• Placement Programme

• Summer internship 

Full time Programme 

The year long Technology Analyst training programme is also one of the most demanding and comprehensive programmes we offer. It begins even before you join us with our Buddy Scheme to help you manage the transition into work.

Your formal training will start at the end of the summer with a one-week orientation in London designed to provide you with an overview of Citi as a whole and Citi Markets & Banking in particular. You join trainees from other divisions for this week to learn about the structure of the company, the global marketplace in which we operate and the resources available and how to access them. After orientation you will embark on a longer programme of industry and product training, technology specific training and personal development. 

The technical training we include in the programme is tailored to your own individual needs and you will be able to access the most relevant training for your position and current level of skill to ensure that you develop quickly. Some of the technologies that we use include Unix, Linux, mainframe, Sybase, MS SQL Server, DB2, Java, C/C++, .Net, VB, XML, Powerbuilder.

In addition to the above training, you will also be required to study towards the Securities Institute Investment Administrative Qualification (IAQ). This is a course that is recognised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and is designed to provide you with a further understanding of the industry, securities and investments business, and the regulatory environment. 

Technical training will be complemented with generic personal development training in areas such as business communication, influencing, and presentation skills and team-building events. 

In fact you will find we have a commitment to constant personal development, at every level. Analysts are assigned a mentor and ongoing self-driven development is encouraged. Through our training website hundreds of internally run courses are advertised. The courses cover business, industry and product programmes, web-based training, technical and personal development courses. Rest assured you will be supported by the organisation in your development and in your career with us. 

Placement 

The Placement Programme operates in the same way as and is part of our Summer Analyst Programme. Although placements normally start in April/May, before the rest of the summer intern class join, we don't wait to start training you in key business skills such as communication and time management, to name just a few. You will attend a half-day induction where you will be introduced to Citi and learn about the structure of the organisation as a whole and Technology division in particular, followed by regular product awareness presentations. From the onset of your placement you will be given the opportunity to meet senior heads of the Technology business and not only learn about our successes but also question them on current challenges we face. 

Your training will continue throughout the summer when the rest of the summer interns join (as per below). 

Summer Internship

For summer interns that are based in the London office, the Summer Internship Programme runs for 10 weeks from the end of June. 

You will start the Internship with an induction to Citi along with 200+ Summer Analysts joining Citi Corporate and Investment Banking divisions in London. We provide a three-day induction and training programme to teach you the basics before you join your teams. The initial training covers a review of important processes that you should know as a new employee and an introduction to Markets & Banking, where you will have the opportunity to engage in interactive trading simulations and portfolio management. You will also attend specific business presentations. The orientation will also assist you in gaining an understanding of the products and services offered by the Citi and you will see how the Technology division works alongside the business to improve the service and products delivered to customers. 

Throughout the summer we will continue to provide you with training and networking opportunities to make sure you gain an in depth knowledge of the whole of Citi. These events include a weekly Business Presentation series, networking opportunities with senior managers, and various intern-wide social events. A buddy will be also allocated to you to give you an informal advice and support network over the summer with us. 

After the initial training you will then be assigned to a team within the Technology division, where you will be allocated a project/projects to work on. During the summer we will be evaluating you for a full time position on the Analyst Programme the following year. We do this through a mid term evaluation, a project presentation to senior management, and a final term review. Remember that this is a two way process – it is an opportunity for you to evaluate whether this is where you want to take your career as well. 

Summer Diaries

Name: Zhichao Wu
Division: Technology
Group: Regional Storage
School: Queens University

 

Weeks 1 & 2

Before joining the firm, we could access to the ‘After Joining’ session on the application page that contains the profiles of the other interns and some comprehensive information/tips about living and working in London.
During the fist week of the internship, we have a series of presentations and some entertaining events at the highest floor of one of the tallest buildings in UK, really gained a deep impression by treating as official.
The first week was intensive, including introduction to Citi, to the current financial market and to the technology department. The training was well organized, the interns from different departments sitting at the same table which provided us the opportunities to make friends with each other and to get to know more about the other departments within the company.
From the very beginning of the internship, Citi, acting in a very professional way, really impressed me and I am fortunate that I made a right decision to do my internship in here

Weeks 3 & 4

I am working in EMEA Regional Storage and Backup team during the internship. First day of joining the group, I was took around and introduced by my manager to all the teams and colleagues within the group that made myself feel included.
I have really appreciated that both managers (Gary Battersby, Sarah Gunn) and colleagues are nice and helpful. They have trusted me and treated me as an official member in the team. As a result, I have been involved in the Auditing process – the most important task for our team this summer. By attending the meetings with the audit and the clients, I gained a more comprehensive understanding about our clients’ needs and increased my business awareness of Citi.
Besides, I also took the opportunity to take charge of the regional MARS issues and hosted weekly conference calls across the whole Europe collecting updates. I am so glad that I have got the opportunity to work with people from different teams, different countries during all these meetings. In addition, I used my IT skills to do some day-to-day support. i.e. using Perl in UNIX to analyze Storage Area Network (SAN) billing/utilization reports, using Morello Media surface (taught by myself) to build our storage team’s website which did not exist before.

Weeks 5 & 6

Apart from daily work, I have been to all the business briefings organized by the firm and the business area specific events held by our technology department.
Business briefings are the introduction to all the departments in Citi given by the senior managers within their departments and following with a FAQ section that provide a chance for us intern to directly chat with the SMT. We also have some lunch events with the analysts and managers, the presentations given by CMB Technology and Technology Infrastructure within technology department.
By attending the events and meeting managers from all areas, I have a clearer idea about Citi, i.e. the organization structure, the well designed Citi products, etc.
As part of the programme, we have mid-term review and final appraisal with our manager during the internship, the idea of these are getting some feedback regarding to our performance from our manager and help us to develop and progress. Besides this, I also have weekly basis meeting with my manager to summary the work I have done for the previous week and plan the tasks for the next week which I found really useful when I look back at the end of the internship.

Weeks 7 & 8

As the EMEA Regional Storage team, we have to look after the storage for five main datacenters London/Warsaw/Zurich/Frankfurt/Meerbusch/ and 52 countries’ distributed operations infrastructure (RDOI). In this case, we have regularly teleconference with the colleagues from all over the region, which provided me a great chance to exposed to the EMEA experiences.
To be honest, I would say working with colleagues in different cultures and have various backgrounds from the whole region as a team is the most interesting part of my day. I would also say this might be the biggest/unique experience that could only gained in such a global company like Citi.

Weeks 9 & 10

During the ten weeks internship, I not only got the chances to contribute what I have got (my personal skills, my technical skills etc.) to the company but also learnt a lot from my colleagues, from the projects I have been involved in.
Last impression, a sad phase to come up with, but we had a good time during the ten weeks together; we had a leaving drink party and had a farewell lunch.
I do not have many expectations for my ten weeks internship within the company before I joined. But now, at the last day of my internship when I write down these words, I do appreciate that Citi to provide such a great experience for me this summer.
Generally speaking, every moment I have spent in technology within Citi this summer is exciting and enjoyable. I would really like to continue contributing every piece of my ability to Citi in the coming year.

Finally, really appreciate for all your efforts during the summer, HR team. Thank you very much!!

 

Name: Lidia Medhin
Division: Technology
School: Imperial College London

 

Weeks 1 & 2

I was an intern last summer, working in GTS technology, so I had an idea of what to expect and I already knew what the first few days will be like. Upon joining my team my first impressions were very good and I felt welcomed. I have been introduced to many people both in my team and in my floor in general.

Networking with peers has been fun as usual. I was able to meet people who are/will be working in many divisions. So far I have tried to make the best of all networking opportunities and I look forward to the ones to come.

My college is in London and I have been living here for about 6 years. Apart from the public transport, I very much enjoy life in London.

Weeks 3 & 4

I have been assigned tasks contributing to a bigger project that my team had been working on for a while. They spent a lot of time with me explaining what it is, what it does and what my task is. I quite liked the idea of already getting involved in something my team was producing and adding value to it. Everyone in my team is very helpful and approachable and this is helping a lot to do my work well.

In terms of exposure to management, I work next to my manager’s office and it is very easy to talk to him about any issues. I have been introduced to but have not had much contact with more senior managers in my area.

Events have been quite good and good opportunity to get to know interns and normal employees across department. Presentations from different divisions have been ok. Some were quite informative and fun. However some, I have found, were too deep for someone with my background and role to understand.

Weeks 5 & 6

I have been given additional responsibilities and I am quite enjoying the challenges. My mid-term review was good in helping me understand where I was, what my strengths and weaknesses were and gave me a chance to improve for future.

In terms of exposure, I am making a lot of effort to arrange meetings and shadowing with other teams. So far people have been quite co-operative when I approached them. The fact that we don’t have many social events with other divisions, I have found, makes it a bit hard to form connections and requires quite a lot of effort on my side. But I have managed to meet a variety of people, which I enjoy very much and continue to do so!

Weeks 7 & 8

I have not been yet been exposed to any global experiences and have not had a chance to meet any clients. The most interesting

The most interesting part of my day will have to be the morning when I am making plans of what I am going to be doing for that day, set small goals and look through my objectives to see how I am progressing.

Weeks 9 & 10

I believe I have picked up the new skills I required for my tasks quite quickly and have delivered all the work on time. Seeing the project I contributed to going into the testing and the release stage is a really exciting thing. I also get the regular e-mails of a ‘daily reporting system’ I have worked on and this is quite rewarding.

My last impressions I can happily say are good. I have been very lucky to be allocated to a great team, I have learned a lot and I have contributed my best to my team. The experience, apart from exposure to other areas of the firm and more social events, has met my expectations. People have been very helpful and this has made my time at citi a really enjoyable one.

The advice I would lend a student coming into citi is to really find out about the different areas and opportunities in technology and in citi in general because citi does cater for a really wide variety of interests and skill.

A few of the memorable times for me are the first few days when I got to meet all the interns which was really exciting, the Dragon boat racing which was absolutely fun, the community day when we got absolutely soaked and last but not least the leaving drinks when we got to dance the night away!!

 

Name: Faheem Osman
Division: Technology
Group: Commodities (FICC - Fixed Income Currencies & Commodities)
School: King’s College London – BEng Electronic Engineering Systems (Telecommunications)

Weeks 1 & 2

My first impressions of Citi Centre Canary Wharf were overwhelming. The excitement I felt as I took a deep breath before stepping into reception on my first day at work gave me butterflies. The walk from Canary Wharf tube station through the shopping centre and into the building gave me a good idea of what to expect. Mobs of people in power suits rushing to get to work on time with briefcases and polished shoes reminded me of scenes from a movie. The fantasy of the ideal ‘corporate world’ became a reality as I walked through the security barriers at reception passing the Costa café to the lifts to reach the 42nd floor.

The 3-day training received on joining Citi was extremely exciting and interesting. The lecturers were fantastic and you could immediately tell that they knew what they were talking about. The reason I found the training interesting was because before my internship began I read a number of books on how to trade stocks and on fundamental and technical analysis. A lot of what was taught in those 3 days related to what I had previously read so I felt comfortable interacting and attempting to answer questions during the training. Perhaps if we had a one-week training program instead of just 3 days, it would have given us a better grounding and insight into how the business operates.

Networking with peers is made very easy due to the large number of social events Human Recourses have organized for us. It is great fun meeting new people from different backgrounds in different parts of the business. I think networking is very important in broadening your knowledge and sharing ideas.

I have been living in London for the past 2 years, since I started university. London has an amazing vibe with numerous opportunities available to those motivated individuals. The multicultural and metropolitan culture in London is a great benefit because you are exposed to so many new and different things. The only negative aspect of living in London is the costs.

Weeks 3 & 4

I have been assigned to working in the Commodities Fixed Income Tech division, which involves working with a team of roughly 22 people. My main responsibilities are to develop and maintain a Microsoft SharePoint collaboration website to implement throughout the different divisions of Citi starting with Commodities. This is to enable users to share information, documents and ideas through the different features of SharePoint. Also I will be researching the UK Gas and German Power markets and preparing a presentation for delivery to my team. In addition to this I will be devising a method to keep track of status register entries by designing a GUI to capture this data and store it in an easily retrievable format.

During my internship, my business objectives will not involve much teamwork although I am looking forward to collaborating with colleagues when working on a particular project.

Your manager is most likely to be your mentor or someone who you aspire to be in a few years time. We have also been assigned a buddy who is there to support you and help you settle in. I met my buddy during my first week. Since he works on the same floor it is very reassuring knowing there is someone you can turn to if you need help.

Dragon boat racing is a fun way to get to know the other interns. Your team consists of about 15 people, and in order to do well you need to communicate well to other team members. Also, at the end of the race, you can socialize with the rest of the interns from the other competing teams.

The community charity day is also a great way to meet people while contributing to the community. It is very admirable that Citi focuses on giving something back to the communities in which it operates. If over 300 000 Citi employees dedicated one day in the year for a charitable cause, collectively we can really make a huge difference.

I am involved with management on a day-to-day basis, which involves meetings and discussions. Exposure to management will vary depending on your enthusiasm and commitment. I would say it is largely up to you on how involved you get with management.

Weeks 5 & 6 

Yes, arranging meetings with other business areas with regard to the SharePoint site and meeting colleagues within technology to find out more about certain projects or tasks I have been asked to complete (e.g. Integration of Oracle Data onto SharePoint). I have also been asked to deliver a presentation on SharePoint towards the end of my internship to my team to familiarize them with use and features.

Yes this was very helpful since I am a strong believer of continual self-assessment in order to identify your strengths and weaknesses so that you can build on those weaknesses and refine your strengths.
The aim is to accurately predict your mid-summer review before it actually happens so that you can work on achieving full marks. My manager gave me constructive feedback, which I could then build upon in preparation for the next review. The mid-summer review should indicate whether you are performing to your manager’s expectations.

The weekly business briefings help to understand the different business areas, but the most effective way to learn about the different business areas is to speak to people working within those divisions. During some of the business briefings and other events I got to know a number of people working in different business areas. By arranging appointments with these people and by asking the right questions it was quite easy understanding types of divisions within Citi. It is very important to be exposed to other divisions so that you understand how the business operates and also at the end of your internship you have sufficient knowledge about the division and sort of role you would like to apply for.

Much of the information about the firm can be found on the website, however the longer you work at Citi the more you get to learn about the firm. Only once you work at Citi you will understand how the business operates and how the different divisions fit in. I found that the easiest way to gain a better understanding of the firm is to speak to employees who have been working at Citi for a number of years. These employees will be able to describe how the firm has changed over the years and will have a better understanding of the goals and missions of the firm.

Weeks 7 & 8 

No, although I have a training day scheduled during the last week of my internship.

The most interesting part of my day is understanding the business and how it related to technology by meeting with different kinds of people, whether it is with Microsoft representatives, or Business Unit Managers within Fixed Income & Commodities. Since I have been given the task of developing the Commodities SharePoint site, I enjoy selling the idea to others within the firm and encouraging them to start using SharePoint. This could involve demonstrating the use of SharePoint or through a presentation that I have prepared or taking someone through the use of SharePoint on his or her desktop. This is unique within my division because of the front-office role where we get to interact with traders, quants as well as back office (development and support). Meeting with various managers from across the firm broadens your network and knowledge of the business.

Weeks 9 & 10

My main contributions to my group have been the development of the SharePoint collaboration site. This will enable my team to share ideas and come up with innovative solutions while working on team projects and tasks.

I have managed to familiarize myself with the use of SharePoint designer in order to create, manage and develop these sites and in addition have worked on finding methods to integrate oracle information onto the site for the Traders and Quants. Also, I have researched how email attachments can be sent to a SharePoint site to be automatically uploaded so that users can access these attachments via the site.

I have thoroughly researched the UK GAS MARKET and prepared a 30-minute presentation to my team. My slides were then sent to a number of new starters within Commodities to help them learn about the UK Gas Market & Trading.

During my internship I designed a data entry system for Status Registers using Microsoft Access. Information can be entered into the database using the GUI-form entry method. This information can then be displayed in a report format for future reference. Also, the system picks out certain bits of information from the database and presents this information in a summary table without the user having to type in the details.

My last impressions of Citi were very similar to my first impressions. There is a strong sense of professionalism, commitment to the company and to your department, hard work ethics instilled in employees within the firm and excitement to work in a large company as diverse at Citi.
These impressions matched my expectations. Expectations of the quality of people, the nature of the job, the atmosphere within Citi and the vast array of opportunities available to motivated and enthusiastic individuals. Citi provides a meritocratic atmosphere where employees are rewarded according to the amount of effort they put in.

You will hear the words “Network Network Network!” being told to you by everyone who you meet. I cannot express how important it is. Speak and get to know as many people as possible within the firm from across the business. Find out more about what they do, ask questions and show motivation and enthusiasm. Always walk into the office with a smile and be confident that whatever work you have to complete for the day will be complete before you leave in the evening. At the end of every week assess yourself and think of ways to improve. Try and make as many friends as you can with other interns because it is likely most of these people will be starting with you on the graduate program after obtaining your degree.

There are numerous memorable moments during my internship. These included meeting with various managers across the firm, spending time on the Trade floor seeing and learning how trading takes place, going for lunch with my manager, meeting friendly and helpful colleagues in my division and being asked to attend a training day towards the end of my internship to name a few.

Throughout the summer in general the most memorable moment has been actually acknowledging and realizing exactly HOW MUCH I have learned over the last 10 weeks and how my focus is now concentrated on progressing my career upon graduating

 

Name: Callum Noble
Division: Technology
Group: Equities Connectivity
School: UCL
 

Weeks 1 & 2

My first impressions were being overwhelmed with the sheer amount of interns, I thought only technology interns would be present but no there were around 200! I felt a bit intimidated by all the other interns as everyone had obviously been through the same grueling process to get here, however practically everyone I met were very nice and like minded. Coming from a non-financial degree background the financial training given was really interesting, even though it lasted 3 long days, and was taught very well. My first impression when I came to the office was being daunted, a sea of work cubicles, everybody was speaking purely in acronyms, this is something you inevitably have to deal with but doesn’t take too long to get up to speed.

Weeks 3 & 4

I was given 6 projects, the main one was to connect new stock brokers to Citi so that traders could use them for European business. This was really interesting as it gave me a chance to gain experience in using the trading programs, also project management and people skills were involved. I developed my communication skills significantly, written and spoken, by working with brokers around the world, conveying technical problems which I myself didn’t initially feel that comfortable with. It was great because this project has a direct business relation and it was very satisfying to have thanks from business side when completed on schedule. All the events have been really fun with Dragon boat racing and the treasure hunt as highlights, I also branched out into some of the company wide events which were really good fun also. My projects were given to me personally but I have received an incredible amount of backing from the others in my team which has helped immensely. My manager has been very hands on and supportive throughout which has really helped me understand the reasoning behind my projects and has assisted my ideas/conceptions of what to do.

Weeks 5 & 6

As you become more familiar with your projects, and the processes involved, you integrate into the team and I think your responsibility naturally increases. As I’ve gained more experience other people from around the floor have come to me for advice on my expertise gained during projects. My mid term review was helpful in the way that it gave me confidence I was doing most things well, more importantly it gave both me and my manager a good chance to reflect on what areas I could improve on. In my case this helped me to be more focused when asking questions and using others to help my problem solving. I have personally been exploring other areas within equities, quantitative trading etc. Going down and seeing other businesses is very valuable as well as interesting, other interns in Tech have also got together and organised meetings independently of HR which has been good. This helps also as, when you become more familiar with your role in Citi you become more familiar with the firm and the way it works with respect to your area. However with many varying opinions it is extremely important to meet a diverse group of employees, graduates to regional managers, to gain an honest picture of the business as a whole and where you will fit in.

Weeks 7 & 8

Global exposure is a given when working at Citi, even though I have not left London for the duration of the program I have had to conduct my work with stock brokers in Greece, Spain, Ireland and London, also I have had to work internally with Citi employees from USA, Mexico and India. The most interesting parts of my day are meeting new people in technology or from other divisions and learning what they do or gaining their help and perspective on a particular problem I may have. This is not unique to Technology but is a testament to the team work and cooperation required to make such a large broad corporation work. However from my experience interns in technology have had a greater chance to explore all the businesses as project based work allows this as opposed to trading for example where you must be present at the desk all day.

Weeks 9 & 10

I have contributed 5 deliverables during my term. These include user acceptance testing, creating an internal data feed for broker’s entitlement data and stock broker set up directly relating to production. As a well as the measurable achievements I have fitted in well with my group and have been able to help and push on projects they wouldn’t have been able to solely devote their efforts towards.
My last impressions of Citi are a huge company in which you really have to shine to get noticed, I think that the meritocratic culture here is a result of the necessity to stand out from the (big) crowd. As I expected extremely hard work and dedication as well as natural ability are core to be being noticed.
I cannot stress enough the importance of taking control of your time here at Citi. All opportunities are available and you can see, do or experience anything within the bank if you have the aspiration to do so. My manager said “as well as doing meaningful work to benefit Citi the summer program is here for you to explore”. As Citi are trying to attract you I think you are treated in a class of your own and are able to experience many things that a regular employee would rarely have the chance to do, it is imperative you take advantage of the opportunities available.
Going and spending time with the quantitative traders and witnessing first hand their computer program’s making significant amounts of money in the space of 2 minutes was extremely interesting. Also the community day was great fun, it got rained off half way, through but it was brilliant fun being out in the park and letting off some office steam.

Who we are looking for

Going forward we see our business continuing to flourish, and the challenges and opportunities facing our clients around the world mean challenges and opportunities for our people. We are looking for people who can face these challenges and help us to continue to succeed and meet our business goals.

We are unwavering in our commitment to investing in our Analyst programmes. We ensure that they have superior financial knowledge and are equiped with the necessary skills to successfully develop and maintain profitable client relationships.

We asked our technology recruiters to describe what makes a good candidate and what specific skills they are looking for:

We encourage applications from all backgrounds. We look for highly motivated individuals with strong academic performance and excellent communication skills. Having a genuine passion for the industry is crucial to becoming a successful Analyst.

We recruit into Development and Infrastructure roles, and as such we are actively looking for candidates with both IT and non IT-related degrees. Successful Analysts often have a background in a variety of disciplines including computer science, physics, business and engineering. They are recruited into areas such as Fixed Income Development, Information Security, Network Engineering and Project Management.

A Technology related degree is not a pre-requisite to join the programme however a genuine interest in and aptitude for Technology is.

Some of the key skills we look for are: 

• Strong academic performance

• Solid problem solving and analytical skills

• Effective communication, interpersonal and relationship building skills

• The ability to work independently and in a team environment

• Drive and motivation

• Flexibility, adaptability and resilience to work in a challenging environment

• Leadership potential

• You should also be aware of and comfortable with working in the regulated environment of the financial services industry.

 

Recruitment Process

We open for applications on the 1st September 2007

 

The application deadlines are: 

 

Analyst Programme: 11th November 2007

Summer Internship Programme: 27th January 2008

Placement Programme: On-going 

 

Our interview process for the full time programme will commence in November 2007, for summer internships it will commence in January 2008. 

We recruit for placement candidates to join us in May and September 2007. The interview process will commence in late October for entry onto the February 2008 programme and for entry onto the September programme interviews will commence in May 2008. 

Technology Full Time Analyst

Below is an outline of the recruitment process from application received to offer: 

Stage 1: Application is reviewed by Graduate Recruitment

Stage 2: Invited to an online Numerical Reasoning Test

Stage 3: Further review by Graduate Recruitment

Stage 4: First round interviews:

               Two 1:1 competency based interviews

               Numerical Reasoning Test

               Diagrammatical Reasoning Test

Stage 5: Assessment Centre:

               Two 1:1 competency based interviews with Senior Managers

               Written Case Study Analysis/Presentation & Group Discussion

Stage 6: Offer extended by Graduate Recruitment; follow up by business 

Technology Summer Internship/Placement

Below is an outline of the recruitment process from application received to offer: 

Stage 1: Application is reviewed by Graduate Recruitment

Stage 2: Invited to an online Numerical Reasoning Test

Stage 3: Further review by Graduate Recruitment

Stage 4: Assessment Centre

               Two 1:1 competency based interviews with Senior Managers

               Numerical Reasoning Test

               Diagrammatical Reasoning Test

               Written Case Study Analysis/Presentation & Group Discussion

Stage 5: Offer extended by Graduate Recruitment; follow up by business

 

Where

Western Europe

• UK – London & Belfast

• Spain – Barcelona (Technology Infrastructure only)

Middle East

• United Arab Emirates - Dubai (Technology Infrastructure only)

Poland

• Poland – Warsaw (Technology Infrastructure only)

Hungary

• Budapest (Technology Infrastructure only)

Our People

Janani Joharatnam BEng (Hons) Computing, Imperial Senior App Support Analyst

What advice would you offer prospective candidates on transitioning from school to the workplace?

There are a lot of roles out there, especially in an industry as large as this – even within Technology there are a number of different jobs you can do, so make sure you look for the one that best fits you! Its worth taking the time to read the websites, go to careers fairs and maybe even do an internship so you can work out what you’re most interested in. I believe that if you enjoy something you will do much better at it, if only because people appreciate working with someone enthusiastic!

What about your career excites you the most - gets you out of bed in the morning?

I never really know what the day is going to bring! We’re obviously more busy if the markets are busy, but there are always new systems, new issues, new scenarios, new people, new problems…I enjoy taking it as it comes, and having to think on my feet - my job is challenging and interesting as each day is different. In the longer term, I feel like there are a lot of doors open to me, especially as its such a large company – I just need to decide where I want my career to go.

How would you describe your team and the people you work with?

Intelligent, motivated, dedicated, sociable, helpful, with plenty of initiative and a good work-life balance.

What other groups do you liaise with regularly within the Firm?

We sit on the trade floor, which means we’re in constant contact with our users in the Equities business. Within Technology, we’re in close contact with the Equities development teams, but also regularly need to liaise with the Market Data team, System Admins and DBAs, as well as the other support and development teams around the globe. Finally, when our bookings don’t agree with the exchange we also need to speak to Operations.

How do you apply your degree to what you're doing now?

Although I read Computing at university, I don’t directly need much of what I learnt there now. Most of what I’ve needed (both when I was in a development role and now in production support) I’ve picked up doing the job, and much of the rest I learnt on training courses. Having said that, Computing teaches you logic and to reason, which has definitely helped my analysis and problem solving skills.

What skills have you found to be the most useful in your position?

Good problem solving and communication skills are key, as is decision making and initiative. When things are busy or you’re in the middle of an outage (e.g. for example when the traders can’t access the markets they trade on), it’s important to be able to think on your feet and keep a calm head.

How did your summer internship help you make the decision to pursue a career at Citi?

My internship blew away all the preconceptions I had about what it is like to work in this industry, and gave me a realistic idea of what a full time position would involve. It was made clear that the projects given were real business requirements on my team’s workslate and at the end of the three months I felt like I had an accurate view on what it would be like to come back as an Analyst – and that it was the right choice for me.

Elina Kotamaki BSc (Hons) Management, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), MSc Information Systems, Organisations & Management, Manchester Business School IT Analyst

How do you apply your degree to what you're doing now?

A lot of my coursework at University included analyzing information – this is definitely a skill have been able to apply at work. In addition, presentation skills that I practiced throughout University have come in handy, as well as being able to write clear and descriptive documents.

For my degree I studied a lot of organizational theory, economics, finance etc. This has definitely helped my understanding of the way Citi works. More directly, my work involves a lot of UML modeling, which is one of the areas I studied for my Masters.

What advice would you offer prospective candidates on transitioning from school to the workplace?

As well as studying hard whilst you are at University, try to participate in as many sports clubs, societies, part-time employment, internships or any positions of responsibility (e.g. Student Union activities) as you can. These will provide you with the necessary skills you will use once you start your career, as well as giving you excellent examples to discuss in graduate job interviews.

Once you start your career, keep grabbing every opportunity to participate in different things going on around the workplace – social committees, clubs, networking groups. You will be surprised how much experience and skills this gives you, as well as expanding your group of contacts.

If asked about your career at a dinner party, how would you describe it?

I have only recently started my career, but I have quickly achieved enough responsibility and challenges to make my days interesting. The key has been to always ask: “what else I could do?” and, more importantly, “what could I do better?”. I have a good work-life balance, but also enough on my plate never to get bored.

In terms of actual activities, I started off in a more technical role but then moved into Business Analysis role within the same team. I am currently working on a development project - gathering requirements from our business client, building UML models to communicate these requirements to the developers, as well as presenting prototypes and coordinating testing.

What non-work related activities do you get involved in through Citi (community, mentoring, charity)?

Everything! I am involved in Citi Women Networking & Communications (diversity group), organizing various events for our members and anyone who wants to come along. Our recent events have included Speed-Networking, Quiz Night, and a Scavenger Hunt & Barbeque. I also go to events organized by Citi Wine Appreciation Society, which are great fun! Recently, I have taken part in some volunteering at a primary school (Young Enterprise Programme, supported by Citi) – this was great fun and encouraged by management. In addition, I have a few mentors who I meet on a regular basis to discuss everyday issues at the workplace, as well as my long-term career plans. Through events and contacts at Citi I have also found other groups to get involved with, like Toastmasters, where I practice public speaking. Finally, I am involved in a group called the Technology Graduate Council, which attempts to address any improvement issues related to the graduate programme, as well as organizing social and networking events for graduates.

How has Citi supported your career development?

When I joined Citi I took part in the initial graduate training programme, and after that I have been given the opportunity to take all the technical training courses I have needed for my role. I have a couple of mentors who constantly support my personal development, and all the extra things I get involved in have also given me opportunities to network and to develop my skills. Ever since I joined, my Manager has been very attentive in listening to my training needs, and supportive of me joining in any activities that I have found useful. We have a regular feedback and goals review session where we discuss my career development.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself having learnt more about Citi as an organization, about the products and services we provide to our clients, and how all the business areas fit together. I will have become more competent in my area of technology, as well as in general management skills. I also see myself having gained seniority and working for Citi in a new role, hopefully in a position where I am contributing to IT strategy and/or process improvement projects.

What is the most interesting fact about yourself?

Although I don’t use any of these skills in my current role, I can actually speak five languages (to varying levels), one of them being Mandarin Chinese.

George Tomkins BSc (Hons) Information Management & Computing, Loughborough University, UK. Major: Market Research Business Analyst

What advice would you offer prospective candidates on transitioning from school to the workplace?

Prepare for the role/area you’re going into.

Be confident; don’t be scared.

Challenge conventions.

Never be afraid to ask questions and learn at every opportunity.

Build relationships with everyone you feasibly can.

Describe the most memorable experience you've ever had at Citi.

I think one of the most memorable experiences at Citi was being taken out to the woods and tied to 7 analysts as part of a ‘team-building’ exercise. It didn’t help that it was morning (some sleepy souls) and that we’d never met each other before! Before long we’d worked out what to do and were making progress. Everybody had a lot of fun meeting each other and it was a great way to learn about ourselves and some of the people we’d be working with.

What do you consider Citi's competitive edge?

Citi’s competitive edge stems from its size, its global reach and its local presence in over 100 countries. This coupled with the drive, intelligence and excellence of its people ensure that Citi is competitive in all markets and areas touched. To ensure Citi stays ahead of the competition, there is a strong change culture and emphasis on various initiatives helps to constantly improve our business based on feedback from employees at all levels. Employees are encouraged to come up with ideas and take ownership for implementing them, and are rewarded for doing so. The legacy, reputation and culture of respect built over 200 years means that the firm is best placed to deliver on client expectations, push beyond our competitors and deliver innovation that matters.

What other groups do you liaise with regularly within the Firm?

A key part of the business analyst role is interacting with and understanding needs across the firm. Due to this I regularly liaise with groups in technology, operations and the front office in the various regions. It’s crucial to look at problems from each of these viewpoints; Citi encourages a holistic approach and this demands that analysis is done considering all affected groups. This is an excellent approach, and it ensures you are always pushed to be thinking, learning and challenging conventions in a consistent effort to deliver innovation on demand. Different groups however require different approaches and similarities can be found between this and the way Citi works across the world. In the same way different markets have different expectations, different groups have different concerns and this must be addressed at an individual level.

What skills have you found to be the most useful in your position?

Communication, influence, actively listening and relationship management are some of the most useful skills generally for anyone, but certainly the skills I’ve found to be the most useful. It’s essential to have and maintain a good working relationship with those around you, and sometimes that can come naturally (to you and them), and sometimes it needs some time and development. It doesn’t always matter how good you, or someone else is, a lot of valuable time and effort can be lost if those ideas can’t be communicated and the team doesn’t work effectively together.

What non-work related activities do you get involved in through Citi (community, mentoring, charity)?

Citi has a wonderful range of programmes which encourage employees to be active in the community and with charities. As a part of this I am currently involved with two charities close to Citi Centre in East London. Citi not only recognizes my efforts but goes further and endorses them through the support programmes. This allows the devotion of more time to these organizations. The financial grants made to these charities strengthen this commitment and makes me proud to work for Citi.

What do you enjoy doing outside work?

I simply adore film, and love going to the cinema or kicking back with friends and watching something by David Fincher, Alejandro Iñárritu or Luc Besson. Whilst I appreciate some classic Hollywood blockbusters, my real passion is for films with a more international flavor. Attending the BBC Four World Cinema Award (and the after party) earlier this year was great fun.

In recent years I’ve developed a real taste for international travel, and although I have experiences of travelling through Europe, Asia and South America, I have yet to satisfy the insatiable thirst I have for different cultures and different experiences. Next on the list is northern Africa, maybe Morocco, and after that I’m thinking Central America.