The head of HR at a top Wall Street bank shares the secrets to getting ahead in finance

Before joining RBC Capital Markets as managing director and Head of US Human Resources, Lieberman was the Global Head of HR at the Royal Bank of Scotland. She also held top HR roles at Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, and Deutsche Bank, according to her LinkedIn page. She's been with RBC Capital Markets since October 2016.

The firm finished 2016 ranked 10 for investment banking fees in the US, according to Dealogic, increasing its market share. According to data firm Coalition, it ranked ninth for total investment banking revenues, including banking and sales and trading, in the Americas in the first half of 2016.

Lieberman's extensive experience in seeking out top talent in the world of finance means she knows what it takes to land a spot at a Wall Street firm. Business Insider asked her to share some insights.

She told BI about the qualities she looks for in new hires, the skills she thinks are in high demand, and the interview question that job hunters need to nail.

Frank Chaparro: What qualities do you look for in new hires?

Liz Lieberman:

Chaparro: Has your hiring criteria changed?

Lieberman:

Chaparro: What's the one most important interview question for prospective new hires?

Lieberman: What are you passionate about? That tells me a lot about a person: what their strengths are and what motivates them.

Chaparro: What skills do you expect to be in demand in the future?

Lieberman:

Chaparro: Once someone has started at the firm, how do they stand out?

Lieberman:

I cannot overstate the importance of finding a good cultural fit here at RBC. The best candidates, and long-term employees, understand our culture and complement it: they put the client first, they consider how the broader platform will benefit rather than just themselves or their immediate team. They look to simplify the way we work so we are agile and innovative. Working with these types invariably winds up being the most enjoyable parts of my day!

Chaparro: How do you look at candidates with STEM backgrounds vs those with Liberal Arts backgrounds?

Lieberman:

For some of the technical roles it’s better to have a STEM background. However, some of our best hires have been candidates with Liberal Arts backgrounds who applied themselves and rose the ranks through sheer hard work, perseverance, and a hunger to learn and grow.

The head of HR at a top Wall Street bank shares the secrets to getting ahead in finance

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