Associate Software Engineer

How I found this job:
I spent a summer in Toronto, Canada and ended up getting a contract position working with Fidelity's helpdesk there. That was where I first heard of the company. After that, while studying in Trinity, Fidelity had a stall at an IT careers fair on campus. I went along to this and found out all about the graduate program for IT graduates.

Training provision in this company:
The graduate program lasts for 12 months and involves both classroom training and also project work. A post-graduate diploma is awarded at the end of the training which is a nice bonus. The training is very comprehensive and very much focused on practical use of technologies.
It also gives a good insight into the challenges of developing large-scale applications.

Most important skills and knowledge I use in my job:
Solid foundations in programming, software engineering, problem solving and analytical skills are important. I think a general enthusiasm and interest in learning new technologies will also help a lot. Also general people skills for working in teams and within a large organisation are probably equally important.

Most interesting part of my work:
There's a great opportunity to work with the latest technologies and also to work on large-scale projects within a large multi-national company. There's also an excellent opportunity to travel and work abroad in the US and other locations.

Most challenging part of my work:
Getting used to the difference between college projects and projects developed for actual use within a business. Getting used to the size of the organisation and the large number of different departments within it

Advice for current TCD students entering the employment market:
I think enthusiasm for the job is the most important thing to have. If you can show that you're keen to learn and to do well, then this will help in getting a job and also once you start a new job.

Associate Software Engineer

How I found this job:
The Careers Advisory Service emailed this job opportunity to me.

Training provision in this company:
GIFT is a graduate program which offers extremely good training after which employees are awarded a post graduate diploma in web development. The first four months is classroom based training which brings you from beginners Java right through to advanced web development technologies as well as covering Relational databases and XML. I found this period to be a perfect transition from college life to a professional working environment.

Most important skills and knowledge I use in my job:
College gave me a firm foundation in the principles of Object Oriented Programming as well as Relational Databases. In saying that the training was incredible and started from the basics before working through to the more advanced features of each technology.

Most interesting part of my work:
To be honest every aspect of my job is interesting, each project brings opportunities to work with new technologies. If a project requires a new technology the company will provide training in this area.

Most challenging part of my work:
As anyone who has developed software will know it is always challenging. However there is always support available when needed and people available to help you through any problems you may be having.

Advice for current TCD students entering the employment market:
The Careers Advisory Service is a good place to start. Have a good knowledge of what the company does and a little background on them before going to interview. This program is an excellent opportunity to start working in an interesting and rewarding environment with the added bonus of receiving a post graduate diploma.

Associate Software Engineer

How I found this job:
After attending a careers fair in the computer science department I obtained information about Fidelity and afterwards applied for a job.

Training provision in this company:
The Graduate program runs over the course of 12 months. The first 3 months includes an intense but enjoyable training program where a lot of the technologies that are used in Fidelity are taught in the class room then applied in assignments. The next 9 months still have an element of class room based learning but are mostly spent working on business related projects.

Most important skills and knowledge I use in my job:
The most important skill in this job would be the ability to adapt to new technologies and increase your knoweldge on already familiar technologies. Personal skills that are essential would be the ability to solve problems and be willing to try new ways to achieve this.

Most interesting part of my work:
Most interesting part to date has been the chance to dive right into a lot of new technologies and learn a huge amount about developing in java specifically for web based projects although this is only a part of what I have been learning. We hae also been set many challenges in the training which has helped maintain my interest in the class room based learning.

Most challenging part of my work:
The most challenging part of the job so far has been absorbing the amount of new knowledge I have been taught and seeing how all these technologies can work together and prove to be very powerful development tools.

Advice for current TCD students entering the employment market:
The single most important thing in this job would have to be the willingness to learn. If you can show yo are a good team player and looking to learn this job would suit you.

IT Analyst

How I found this job:
Careers Fair (Deutsche presentation)

Training provision in this company:
As part of the DB Graduate Programme there was an extensive technical and business training over a 2-month period. There is continual on-the-job training and both internal and external training provided when needed.

Career development / progression in this company:
Deutsche are concerned about employee career progression and ensure all graduates complete a career development plan. I have just completed the Graduate Programme and I am available for promotion next year, there are yearly reviews that are based on Deutsche ‘Core values’.

Most important skills and knowledge I use in my job:
I think the most import skill is how to effectively manage and prioritise my daily workload. I work within the Equity Derivatives Group and after the graduate training I went on numerous courses (financial and technical) to further my knowledge of the derivatives market.

Most interesting part of my work:
The most interesting part of work is designing applications and then seeing them been use within the ‘Production environment’.

Most challenging part of my work:
There can be times when workload is considerable and prioritising tasks can be difficult.

Advice for current TCD students entering the employment market:
I think the students should investigate everything about a potential employer and during the interview stages ask any questions that may concern them.

Lending Executive

How I found this job:
I found an advertisement for the Bank of Scotland Graduate Programme on the Careers Adivory Service website, applied online and after a rew rounds of assessments and interviews, I was offered a job.

Training provision in this company:
Training is a combinaton of both on-the-job and classroom training. A key element of the programme is the mentoring from your senior team members. Classes on relevant areas such as financial analysis, negotiation skills, sales tactics and personal development complement this and assist yo to grow into your role.

Most important skills and knowledge I use in my job:
The most important skill Iuse in my job is the ability to communicate effectively with clients and colleagues. This combined with a strong analytical ability and in-depth knowledge of the Bank's products and processes ensures you provide the best service for your clients.

Most interesting part of my work:
I specialise in financing developments in the tourism and leisure sector, so the most interesting part of my work is meeting with new and prospective clients to talk about a new hotel, pub or restaurant and trying to ascertain if it will be a success and how the Bank can assist.

Most challenging part of my work:
The most challenging part of work is dealing with scenarios where you have to say "no" to a client. However, if you are professional, give a reason why the Bank can't support the project in its current form and try to provide alternative solutions, the clients are usually appreciative.

Advice for current TCD students entering the employment market:
Research the prospective employer thoroughly to ensure the company and the job is the right fit for you. Also gaining experience in the relevant sector through internships will ensure you have an advantage over your peers in interviews.

Portfolio Manager - Indexed Equities

How I found this job:
The BGI graduate website (www.bgigraduatecareers.com)

Training provision in this company:
3 week core training programme in San Francisco and 17 months on the job training in London.

Most important skills and knowledge I use in my job:
Numeracy, attention to detail, in depth market knowledge, teamworking and communication skills.

Most interesting part of my work:
Making million pound trades!!

Most challenging part of my work:
Managing a fund worth hundreds of millions of pounds is like assembling a giant jigsaw puzzle. It's crucial that I understand the consequences of every decision I make.

Advice for current TCD students entering the employment market:
3 things: 1. Understand the job you're applying for. 2. Understand the company you're applying to and how that job fits in. 3. Understand your skills and how those skills differentiate you from the competition.

Technical Analyst

How I found this job:
In third year, looking for a summer job, I attended a couple of presentations by investment banks. Seeing the importance of technology in their business, I applied to several banks in London for a summer internship. Deutsche Bank offered me a place on their summer program which lasted ten weeks. The summer program is seen as a feeder to the full-time graduate program. My manager was happy for me to come back and work for him so, after a couple of interviews in the final week, I had a full-time offer.

Training provision in this company:
The graduate training program lasts eighteen months but the bulk of the formal training is during the first eight weeks. This comprises the basics of finance and banking and technical training in Operating Systems, Databases, Software Design, Programming etc. There's also a group project to work on during the training. Over the remaining sixteen months, graduates work with two different teams in different roles so they can see and experience as much of the bank as is possible.

Career development / progression in this company:
When the program finishes, graduates usually return to work for their hiring manager although it's also possible to stay with your second team or move to a new role. Graduates are well regarded in Deutsche Bank and there are plenty of opportunities to show what you're capable of.

Most important skills and knowledge I use in my job:
Good communication skills are important since it's necessary to deal with other teams, clients or vendors on a daily basis. Requirements and deadlines change quickly so it's good to be able to keep things in perspective and prioritise work - otherwise, you might never leave the office! Technically, I've found my knowledge of databases to be very useful.

Most interesting part of my work:
Learning about and using new technology and then finding useful applications for it in the bank.

Most challenging part of my work:
Dealing with other teams or clients can sometimes be daunting, particularly if it's someone important or it's an area I'm not familiar with.

Advice for current TCD students entering the employment market:
Don't start off with stereotypes or preconceptions. It might be difficult to get into the career/industry you most associate with your degree but there are others out there - Don't ignore them.