Tom McIntosh

• What inspires you?
• What attracted you to Barclays?
• Why did you choose to join HR?
• Can you briefly describe what HR does?
• What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
• Can you outline a couple of projects you've been involved with?
• What support and training have you had since joining?
• What qualities do you need to succeed at Barclays?
• Why join HR?
• Who at work inspires you and why?

What inspires you?

Clive Woodward was a great rugby player and he led England to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. I’d like to learn from his motivational style and management techniques, and apply that to what I’m learning at Barclays.

What attracted you to Barclays?

Barclays appealed to me because of the research I did on the internet, the recruitment fairs I attended on campus and the careers sessions I went to via the careers services at my university. I did an internship in the summer of 2007 and after that I realised Barclays was definitely the organisation for me.

Why did you choose to join HR?

I chose to join my business area mainly because of the internship I did and my degree. During my degree I studied various aspects of business – accounting and finance, marketing and Human Resources. Human Resources really stood out and it was something I wanted to explore further.

Can you briefly describe what HR does?

I work in Group Centre Human Resources and we’re responsible for the policy and procedure of HR-related practices. We also formulate the compensation packages for employees and are involved with retaining, developing and attracting the best talent.

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

The speed and pace of the job is fantastic. The variety and the nature of the work I get given is great. The exposure I have to the senior management at Barclays is something I’m trying to make the most of because I’m aware that these opportunities don’t come around all the time.

Can you outline a couple of projects you’ve been involved with?

As part of Barclays being a responsible employer, I’ve been involved with a project designed to improve the service which redundant employees receive. This involves CV clinics, interview training and helping them prepare for the external market once they finish working for Barclays.

What support and training have you had since joining?

The training has been fantastic. At the beginning of the programme, we received training ranging from how to manage your manager through to financial and product essentials training. Since then, they’ve tailored it to be more specific to my role and that’s included consultancy skills.

What qualities do you need to succeed at Barclays?

The qualities Barclays are looking for are clear communication skills and the ability to change and adapt to the environment. Barclays are in an industry which is constantly changing and I think if you can demonstrate that with your own ability, then you will definitely do well here.

Why join HR?

Human Resources is a department where you can have an influence over the strategic direction of the organisation, and that’s a fantastic place to be.

Who are work inspires you and why?

The management team at Barclays are fantastic for inspiration. They’re constantly communicating what they’re doing and what they’re thinking, and I find that a great influence.