Insider Q & A: Citi Recruiting VP Amy Ng on How to Get Hired

Amy Ng is a Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Citi where she independently provides creative social recruiting solutions for a staffing community of more than 200 members.  Under her leadership, Citi’s recruiting professionals effectively engage online, increase sourcing opportunities, and create a pipeline of potential candidates. Additionally, Citi has emerged as a leader in social media talent recruitment among financial services providers.

We asked her to provide us with the inside scoop on hiring at Citi, as well as to provide us with a few tips on job search strategy.

Citi employees manage 200 million customer accounts across six continents in more than 100 countries. How do you find candidates?

We recruit 24/7 because anyone not currently working for us is considered a candidate. We have websites for active and passive jobseekers, we actively engage via social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Brazen Careerist, YouTube), we attend online job fairs, use job boards, place online/print ads, and encourage employee referrals.

How does a candidate get your attention?

On average, recruiters spend less than 20 seconds reviewing a resume. Candidates need to differentiate themselves from among thousands of others.  We look for a well written and formatted resume from candidates who are knowledgeable about Citi (our goals, culture), and who can articulate how their relevant skills and work experience can be an immediate asset to Citi.

What types of positions are you hiring for right now? Any subsidiaries of Citi that job seekers should also be on the lookout for – and might not know about?

While we do have the full complement of traditional banking jobs (Teller, Branch Manager, Personal Banker, Business Banker), we are a full-service operation with career opportunities in Technology, Finance, Customer Service, Anti-Money Laundering, Sales, Analysis, Marketing, Human Resources, Home Lending, Risk Management, Operations, Compliance and Control, Underwriting, and more!

What makes a great candidate beyond doing research on Citi? Does it help, for example to know how to analyze financial data?

Great candidates are prepared for the interview and have strong financial industry knowledge of who Citi’s competitors are and what sets Citi apart.  Candidates who come prepared with questions about Citi, our culture, and the hiring manager show a true interest in our organization and the position.

Citi has built a strong online presence in social media. What do you look for when you meet candidates online?

I seek people with good communication skills who are clear about what they are looking for so that I can help them narrow their job search and get them connected to the right people. I should not have to decipher cryptic messages or guess what a candidate wants.

Do you have any “never do” tips for individuals for working with recruiters?

Never assume that a recruiter owes you anything or will just give you a job.  Instead, network with recruiters and build a relationship. Be clear about what you want and what uniquely qualifies you for that type of role. Remember: recruiters facilitate connections between candidates and hiring managers, and the candidate closes the deal.

Any bad assumption that you see job seekers make in applying for jobs at Citi?

Our recruiters are not one size fits all; they are specialized and work directly with hiring managers to fill specific roles. That’s why I only connect job seekers with the recruiters who can assist them based on each candidate’s job preferences.  Job seekers also fail to highlight the necessary skills required for the position they are applying for and expect recruiters to make assumptions about their work history.

Are there any questions I haven’t asked that I should be asking? What’s the question, and what’s your answer?

How can I connect with a Citi recruiter?

Find Citi Jobs on Facebook, Twitter, Brazen Careerist, or LinkedIn. Introduce yourself and tell us what you are looking for. We’ll help narrow your search by job type or location. Once you find a job that interests you, we’ll connect you with the appropriate recruiter.

Use it now—actionable—advice for job seekers:

If you haven’t already, create at least one profile on a social or professional network so you can find recruiters willing to connect with candidates. Then, network with them and build relationships. Above all: Be gracious and let them get to know you and your capabilities so they can best represent you to the hiring manager.