"We are trying to catch them right before they go to business school to give them a different opportunity," said Paul Burroughs, global chief operating officer and North America head of corporate banking for the New York-based global bank. Banks have for years recruited candidates from liberal arts programs for entry-level jobs like interns and analysts. Citi's effort is novel, said Patrick Curtis, chief executive of online career forum Wall Street Oasis, because it seeks to bring in associates, who manage analysts, from outside of the business world. "The associate role is typically a post-MBA role, and it is considered a career-track role," said Curtis, referring to the Master of Business Administration. Citi is betting that non-MBA candidates will bring different, sector-specific expertise that will help their investment and corporate banking teams.