Umesh Subramanian, Indian-origin Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Citadel, has shared insights into the qualities he looks for in prospective hires, including fresh graduates.
Speaking to Business Insider, Subramanian revealed that he personally calls some of the firm’s most sought-after candidates to understand their motivations and decision-making process.
“I get on the call with them to understand how they’re going to make the decision — what is driving their decisions,” he said. “And oftentimes we win those candidates.”
Subramanian leads the technology teams powering Citadel’s investment, research, and risk-management platforms. He highlighted four core qualities he values in potential hires: intellectual curiosity, a passion for winning as a team, interest in practical and commercial applications, and a strong engineering background.
He emphasised that these calls do not always lead to offers. In some cases, he has advised candidates to pursue opportunities elsewhere if their goals align better with another company.
“I’ve had a couple of conversations where I’ve said, ‘Look, I think you should take the other job,’” Subramanian noted. He added that while Citadel is highly selective and an excellent place to start a career, it may not be the right fit for everyone.
Subramanian’s hands-on approach reflects Citadel’s culture of executive engagement in recruiting. The practice is similar to other tech leaders, such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who has personally called candidates, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has involved himself directly in recruitment and candidate interactions.
