Capital One |

I joined Capital One full time after studying computer science for four years at the University of Nottingham. Up until my second year of uni, I had no specific work experience in my field of study, more particularly in the software engineering domain. I wanted to explore the opportunities available to help me apply what I had learned at uni in a workplace environment. I saw that Capital One had posted a Software Engineering Intern role lasting for 10 weeks in the summer and thought I’d give it a go. I completed a second internship the following year. My only other work experience up to that point had been during sixth form, shadowing an IT team at Froneri (a business behind major ice cream brands). I got some exposure to tech in the workplace there and saw what was involved, but it was not like my Capital One experience. I was able to learn so much as a result of the 10-week programmes I completed. The teams helped me develop my interest in software engineering and taught me to collaborate effectively to deliver amazing work as part of a team.

What I do now

My current rotation is software quality engineering, which involves liaising with product owners and software developers to create suitable tests that ensure we are making high quality products for our end users. One of my favourite projects so far has been working on QuickCheck (our online credit card eligibility checker) experiments to see how we can increase engagement with our credit card eligibility forms to acquire more customers.

Key skills for success

Communication, teamwork and a willingness to learn have been big factors in helping me get where I am now. Whenever I am assigned a task, I really try to understand the problem, so I always reach out to people with any questions that I may have and learn from them. This enables me to focus on delivering a solution better and more effectively.

What is it really like working at Capital One?

I am based at the Nottingham office, which is vibrant and fun. When I first joined, it felt really modern and I knew from that point onwards that it would be a cool place to work. We have a variety of spaces to help boost work productivity and to socialise, such as tech-friendly meeting rooms, games rooms and mini kitchens, along with equipment like standing desks and monitors.

What kind of support do you get (and give) at work?

As graduates, we get a lot of support and encouragement, not just to help us progress well and accomplish projects in-team, but with regards to growing our own careers and thinking about the goals we would like to achieve. This approach has really made me think about work not just in the short term, but with a more holistic perspective. I have regular catch-ups with my manager and mentor, both of whom help me to focus on my career progression as well as become a better software engineer.

Besides that, I have joined the Engage team for the early careers group, which organises outreach events and helps acquire young talent. For instance, I have helped at Nottingham Trent University’s first-ever Hackathon as well as its STEM careers fair. There have also been many team games, both in and out of the office, like table tennis and bowling, which I really enjoy!

Why I applied to Capital One

One of the main reasons I chose to apply for a job here was because I had heard the business had a good working culture – and I can confirm that it has! The people around me are very friendly and smart, and it feels like a really healthy working environment.

How did you find the application process?

The most challenging aspect of the application process for me was completing the group interview, largely because I had to cooperate with strangers!

If you are looking for ways to improve your answers and perform well for interviews, I suggest asking a group of friends to practice with you beforehand – a good way to prepare yourself.

What does your job involve?

My day-to-day role currently involves making improvements on the valuation model that values the accounts we’ve booked. In the past I’ve worked on UK high street acquisition, monitoring framework improvements, for example. I also perform monitoring on Capital One’s model and historical accounts. One of my favourite projects so far has been working on introducing a new framework into our monitoring which allows us to understand the credit performance change in a much more straightforward way.

What part does technology play in your job?

On the team I work in we use Python, SQL and GitHub to build our models, but different Business Analyst teams rely on technology differently, so I wouldn’t say you would feel at a disadvantage if you joined without a specialised tech background.

Has anything surprised you about working at Capital One?

Something I’ve been pleasantly surprised to discover since starting work here is the wide range of teams that a business analyst can rotate to – for example, fraud, customer acquisition, customer management and finance, to name just a few. I hadn’t fully appreciated the variety of opportunities open to me before I joined the graduate programme.

Has anything in particular helped you in your role?

The key skills I have found most useful so far have been problem solving and communication. It may sound obvious, but both are important as in this role achieving your goals will depend on being able to solve a problem and communicate with others about how to go about solving it. Plus, communication is the key to getting support from others when you need it.

What I do day to day

I’ve been working as a Graduate Product Manager at Capital One since graduating from university in 2023. The role of Product Manager combines a blend of strategy, technology and innovation, and enables me to interact with a variety of stakeholders from all over the business: we come together and work as a team.

My job entails recognising what a customer needs and the business objectives that a product or feature will fulfil. I help define the criteria for success and work closely with various stakeholders such as design, tech, business analysts, legal and many others within the business, to turn a vision into a reality. My current rotation is in the acquisition space, which involves optimising web journeys to help maximise our customer conversion rates.

Why I applied here

I applied to work at Capital One because it had an inclusive, diverse and collaborative culture. The flexible hybrid working policy really appealed as it offered the best of both worlds, working from home and in the office. I was also impressed by the company’s investment into graduate development and the ongoing training to help expand our skillset and set us up effectively for our careers. The role I applied for, Product Manager, excited me because I could see it offered a lot of variety. Another aspect of it that appealed was the opportunity to make meaningful contributions through innovative products and features that solve real life problems for consumers. I could see it would have a positive impact on their lives.

I am based at Nottingham Trent House, and the best things about the location are the gym, the café and the comfy places to sit and work. The biggest (and best) surprise about working here has been the wide range of good food options available for breakfast and lunch!

Training in the workplace and developing my career

The product management graduate scheme gives me the opportunity to rotate to different parts of the business. Getting exposure to different teams and products and growing my experience as a Product Manager were key aspects of the training that attracted me to the firm in the first place. One of my favourite projects so far has been the opportunity to work in a team with other product management graduates to solve a realistic business scenario over a number of months. We were responsible for exploring different consumer needs, devising our own strategies and testing different solutions. The project took us through the product management lifecycle from ideation to delivery and helped us develop skills, tools and techniques used by product managers at the company.

I do want to emphasise that while technology is a key part of being a Product Manager at Capital One because you work closely with software engineers to deliver projects, a tech background is not necessary for success – neither are you disadvantaged if you don’t have one. Many of the Product Managers here (myself included!) have not come from a tech background.

As a graduate trainee you will have many onboarding sessions to help you get started and understand the business and ways of working. As the graduate scheme progresses you also have opportunities to partake in different skill development workshops, for example presentation skills. You have weekly one-to-one check-ins with your allocated mentor (who is an experienced Product Manager) and a buddy (a product manager who has recently completed the graduate scheme). They are there to help you adjust to your new role and to support you throughout the graduate scheme.

The key skills for success

If anyone reading this is thinking of applying to be a Graduate Product Manager here, my advice is, don’t be afraid if you do not have product or tech experience because you will have plenty of opportunities to learn the ropes, and Capital One will help you every step of the way! Focus on building strong foundations such as teamwork, analytical thinking, communication, problem solving, adaptability and leadership skills.

I would say the key skills that foster success in a Product Manager’s role are:

• Communication skills, which are crucial and enable us to articulate our vision and strategies to other stakeholders; we align cross-functional teams and create a shared understanding to ensure everyone is on the same page
• Analytical skills, because they help us interpret data effectively, make better informed decisions and refine strategies where needed
• Teamwork, as we often work with people with different skillsets and perspectives, so knowing how to collaborate effectively helps lead to better problem solving, creative thinking and successful product development.