Careers at Macquarie
Macquarie is a global financial services group that offers a number of financial services including:
- Asset management
- Retail and business banking
- Wealth management
- Leasing and asset financing
- Market access for commodity trading
- Investment banking
Macquarie operates in 31 markets worldwide, and their global workforce has more than 16,000 employees. Applicants are interested in Macquarie for their exciting career opportunities and diverse and inclusive culture.
There are slightly different application processes for those who are applying for a graduate or intern position, in comparison to those who are applying as an experienced professional; the exact format of the recruitment process might differ for you.
Macquarie Application Process
Applications for graduate programmes and internships open once a year on the 1st September, although the closing dates vary depending on the role. Applying early is always the best way to ensure that you don't miss out.
The online application form will be reviewed by the Graduate Recruitment Team with successful applicants invited to complete a series of psychometric assessments, then complete a video assessment. If you are successful through these then you will be invited to the Macquarie Superday, which is a variation of an assessment centre.
Macquarie Online Application
The online application is broadly the same for graduates/interns as well as experienced professionals - a simple online form including a CV and cover letter as well as some basic personal contact information.
Once you have submitted the application, you will receive a confirmation email that it has been received, and it will be reviewed by the recruitment team.
Macquarie Interviews
If you are applying for the graduate scheme, the next step of the recruitment process is the psychometric assessments, but if you are an experienced professional, the next step will be the interview, either one or more.
If you are selected for an interview, you will receive a call from a member of the recruitment team to find out some more information about you. This is usually a more informal chat about who you are and the information in your CV. You might be asked to come into the office for a face-to-face interview, or this could be completed virtually.
In some cases you might be asked to complete a video interview - there is more about this below.
Macquarie Aptitude Tests
Aptitude tests (also known as psychometric assessments) are used to test your cognitive ability as well as your work behaviour and personality.
Macquarie uses TalentQ assessments, and these are taken online. You will receive an email with a link to the tests that need to be completed - it might not be all of the below. Throughout these tests remember that there is no 'minimum' score, the recruiters are looking for desired skills and attributes that match the role or programme that you have applied for.
Before you get started on these tests, you will receive a practice assessment from TalentQ that will help you to understand what the test will look like.
Macquarie Numerical Reasoning Test
In the numerical reasoning assessment, you will be provided with numerical data presented as tables, graphs, or ratios. You will be asked to answer simple questions about the data with multiple choice options.
Numerical reasoning is not a maths test - in fact, the operations used are at about the same level as GCSE maths - but instead it is an assessment about how well you can read, understand and analyse data.
This assessment has a 20 minute time limit, and there is no negative marking, so answer as many questions as you can.
Macquarie Verbal Reasoning Test
In the verbal reasoning assessment, you will have 20 minutes to answer as many questions as possible. Each question will be based on a paragraph of text, with multiple choice answers.
This assessment is looking at your ability to quickly read, understand and analyse formal information presented as text, and then apply that knowledge to answer a question. There are no specific language requirements here, although a good knowledge of English is important as the language used is likely to be business related and packed full of detail.
Macquarie Logical Reasoning Test
The Macquarie logical reasoning assessment is a test of your ability to assess a series of shapes to find the logical rule or pattern that links them, and then find the next shape in the sequence.
The patterns might be a simple colour change, a directional change, or a combination of different movements, and with a 20 minute time limit it is important that you work quickly to discover the pattern that governs each sequence.
Macquarie Checking Assessment
The checking assessment is a timed evaluation of your attention to detail. You will be provided with some information and you will need to check for errors or mistakes. Attention to detail is very important in financial work.
In most cases, you will either complete a logical reasoning assessment or a checking test, rather than both.
Macquarie Behavioural Assessment
The behavioural assessment used by Macquaries is untimed, but usually takes about 25 minutes. You will be presented with a series of statements, and need to rate them on a scale of how much you think they reflect your personality, preferences and behaviour.
It is important that you take your time to answer these questions so that they portray an accurate representation of your behaviours, but don't overthink the answers or try to 'be' the perfect candidate - truthful answers are better for you because if the role is not suited to your preferred work behaviours, then you won't enjoy it.
In some cases, you might be asked to complete a sales assessment too, but you will be told about this beforehand.
Macquarie Video Interview
If your results from the psychometric assessment match what the recruitment team are looking for in a graduate, an experienced applicant or an intern, then you will be invited to complete a video interview.
This is not like a Skype interview; instead you will be presented with some questions that you will need to video yourself answering under timed conditions. The questions themselves will be about the business area that you have applied for, and you can expect a combination of motivational questions like 'why Macquarie?' as well as more competency based questions.
The video interview is conducted over a specific platform, and full details about how this works will be provided to successful applicants. You will have a chance to practice your answers and make sure that your audio and video equipment is working well.
Macquarie Final Interviews
For experienced applicants, there may be a number of other interviews to be completed with different members of the recruitment team or senior managers from the department that you are applying for.
For graduates and interns, the final interviews take place as part of the Superday, which is an assessment centre. Several applicants, often for different roles and programmes, will be invited to the Macquarie office to complete a number of activities for assessment.
These usually include a group exercise, an individual exercise with a presentation, and sometimes a role play. Each exercise will be based on a case study, or a problem that needs solving.
Throughout the Superday applicants will be assessed on communication skills, interpersonal behaviour and passion, as well as how commercially aware they are.
In the final interview, applicants will be asked to provide evidence of their knowledge and experience with a series of competency-based questions like 'describe a time when you had to work as a team'.
The Superday usually takes 4-6 hours, with a break for lunch, and in most cases you might have to wait a couple of weeks to hear whether you have been successful, especially on popular graduate or intern programmes.
