We recently caught up with Filippo about how he secured a Software Engineer role with Capital One, his top tips for the application process and how Bright Network helped him secure the role.
What stood out to you about Capital One?
Capital One really stood out to me because of the culture and the people. The job description was very focused on the applicant and what the job offers them, rather than what the applicant can offer the company. This was a refreshing change from the usual job descriptions that I had seen. It was described as a 'Masterclass in software development' with the possibility of working on a variety of projects ranging from Cloud to Mobile to Data. It just felt so different to the other companies I had applied to and I knew I had to apply.
What part of the application process did you find the most challenging?
The most challenging part of the application process was the programming test. This is not to say that it was difficult, but rather that it was very different to the other tests I had done. In fact all of the other interviews talking to the recruiters and the technical interview were very enjoyable. I felt welcomed and supported throughout the process. The programming test was challenging because it was a hard leetcode question, but I had prepared for this by doing a lot of leetcode questions.
How did Bright Network help you secure this role?
It was through Bright Network that I found out about the Capital One internship. I had been looking for a summer internship for a while and had been applying to a lot of companies. I had not heard of Capital One before, but after reading the job description I knew I had to apply. Bright Network is a great resource for finding out about opportunities they are actively trying to help students find jobs and internships. I once received a call from a Bright Network employee who was checking up on me and seeing how my applications were going. This was very helpful and encouraging.
Did you get any feedback in the past that helped you with your application?
I completed quite a few mock interviews with my university careers service. This helped me to get used to answering questions and also helped me to see where I needed to improve. I noticed speaking habits and how I was portraying myself. I also noticed that I was not giving enough detail in my answers. This helped me to improve my answers and also helped me to prepare for the interview. I also got feedback from friends and family who helped me to improve my CV and cover letter. Make sure to tailor it for the job!
What are your top tips for tackling tough interview questions?
The best way to tackle tough interview questions is to practice. I would recommend doing mock interviews with friends or family. Most universities have a careers service that can help you with this. I would also recommend doing a lot of research on the company and the role. This will help you to answer questions about why you want to work for the company and why you want the role. Finally, I would recommend thinking about your past experiences and how they relate to the role. This will help you to answer competency based questions and also help you see yourself fitting into the role.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
- Look at the job description and tailor your CV and cover letter to the role and the company. This will help you to stand out and show that you are passionate about the role and the company.
- Make sure to not restrict yourself to one type of role. I was looking for a software engineering role, but I also applied to roles in data science and cyber security. This helped me to get a better understanding of what I wanted to do and also helped me to get a better understanding of the industry.
- Practice for interviews. This will help you to get used to answering questions and also help you to see where you need to improve.
Let us know where you've secured your work experience, internship or graduate role. We want to celebrate your success with a gift from us and exclusive invitations to evening networking drinks throughout the year.
