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Harvir studied Mathematics and Computer Science at King’s College London. In June last year, he joined mthree as an Application Development trainee before starting his role on-site at a global investment bank.

We caught up with Harvir over a coffee in Central London to learn about his journey from graduate to developer and hear any advice he has for students looking to follow in his footsteps.

Thinking back to when you were a student, how did you feel about taking the leap from education to the working world?

“I was looking forward to it, but I also didn’t know what I didn’t know. I thought the way you code, delegate time, and work with other people would be the same as university, but in reality it’s quite different, so I’ve definitely learned a lot!

What attracted you to join the Alumni Programme?

 “It was mainly the training. I studied a joint honours degree with Maths and Computer Science, which meant my coding skills may not have been as strong as other graduates who studied purely CompSci.

University taught me a lot of concepts and theories, whereas the training helped me become a professional developer. I think working as a Software Developer or Engineer is different from being a Computer Scientist. Theory doesn’t always help you in a job, so I knew I was going to need help putting what I’ve learned into practice.
For example, during the Alumni training, we looked at how to work as an Agile team which involved using scrums and sprints for our development projects. Doing stuff like that, which I now use in my role, helped a lot.”

What other areas of the training helped prepare you to go on-site?

“The technical training was really useful, like how to use Git for software version control. On top of that, there was a lot of training around soft skills and how to do well in interviews. It’s difficult to prepare for technical interviews unless you hear from someone who has been through it before.

Our trainer gave us loads of advice on what to do in the first week. It’s really helpful to learn from an expert who has done it all before.

What was it like when you first went on-site?

“There was an induction period with more training. I wasn’t expected to code right from the start. I also got to meet a lot of people! I met the rest of the Credit Risk team, the Credit Risk Quants, Market Risk team, and the Business Analysts. You get to know everyone that you’re going to work with.”

What projects are you currently working on?

“There are three different systems that I work on. One is a netting engine ETL which retrieves trade data from upstream systems and nets the trades with respect to their Master Agreement IDs. So if two banks do multiple trades, the system will net their pluses and minuses. Day to day, I make sure the system runs well in production, take requirements, change logic, and set-up new entities. Recently, I’ve been mentoring a member of the team in Shanghai to help with the workload.

The other system is Trade ETL, which is a web service that helps traders and quants query for data. Essentially, if a trader or quant asks for a list of trades, it will complete subtasks to create the file they want. For the last few months, I’ve been developing a mechanism called “what-if scenario analysis” which allows quants and traders to see how exposures and prices of potential trades will affect the market and other existing trades. Currently, this is a very tedious task which is limited to a few users. My project will allow anybody to do it within minutes.

The third system I work on is Mongoose, which is the Python code for the trade pricer.”

Can you describe how you and the teamwork together?

“The QA and BA team look at issues or areas that can be improved to assess their level of priority. You can follow the tasks all the way through the chain and see the BA’s notes. This helps keep everyone organised, and gives visibility to all teams working together.

Jira is really useful. You can mark a task as prioritised, in development, in UAT and then as resolved when it is in production. The project managers can quickly look at its status to see whether the software is ready for release.”

What do you find rewarding in your role?

“I make people’s lives easier. Recently, I worked on an optimisation that reduced the time to complete a task from 10 to 2 minutes. And when teams are doing this 10 times a day, it really does help. Also, our technical changes give trading teams more reliable data more quickly, which improves our pricing calculations and helps reduce capital requirements which otherwise may have inhibited the team from trading.”

What do you find challenging?

“Time management is something I struggled with at first. I was really keen to impress, so I would agree to take on too much. I’ve had to learn that it’s OK to say no to people if I’m really busy. People are never offended and it’s something I’ve gotten used to!”

Do you have any advice for current students or graduates?

“Take your time! It can be quite uncomfortable hearing your peers talk about their jobs, but you don’t need to rush into the first opportunity you get. I had opportunities before mthree, but you’ve really got to understand what you want.

Q&A WITH ALUMNI AND KDB+ SOFTWARE DEVELOPER, SUZANNE

Thinking back to when you were a student, how did you feel about taking the leap from university to the working world?

At the time it felt like this huge void that I had no idea if I would be able to cross. I heard horror stories of people who spent years at university only to never use their degree. I’m glad to say it was nowhere near as bad as I expected! Some aspects were harder than I anticipated, some were easier, and others I just didn’t see coming at all. It has been quite an adventure!

What attracted you most to join Alumni?

Hands down, the support. Knowing that I wouldn’t just become another number after applying and that someone would be there to help me through every step of the way was a huge comfort for me.

How do you feel the Alumni training prepared you for your role?

Very well, I wouldn’t be where I am without it. The training introduced me to a whole new area of development that I don’t think I would have even attempted to go into without mthree. The knowledge I learned has been used and put to the test since day one!

What aspects of the training did you find most useful?

I found the introduction to finance by far the most helpful! I’m a developer, I know how to write code, and if I don’t, I know how to find out and teach myself. I cannot say the same about the financial industry. Having someone to point out the key aspects and differences was invaluable. I use that part of my training every single working day.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your role?

That feeling you get when you write a piece of code and it works! Tackling a problem that a user has, taking a concept from just an idea and bringing it to life, then seeing it being used daily, for me, that is the best part of the whole job!

What are your career goals and ambitions over the next 2 years?

I want to continue to learn KDB+ and expand my network. In the next two years, I see myself fully integrated into my team and becoming an invaluable member that they cannot do without!

What skills are you looking to develop?

My KDB+ skills first and foremost. As anyone who is a software developer will tell you, the industry is always updating and changing. New languages come out, existing languages are updated, and there is just too much for one person to know everything even if they spent a lifetime learning. I plan to keep on my toes.

Do you have any advice for graduates considering to join the Alumni programme?

If you are at the stage of “considering”, then just go for it! What’s the worst that could happen? Nothing. Which is exactly what will happen if you don’t apply. It’s the best thing I’ve done for my career (the Alumni programme literally started it), so give it a go.

After completing her Master’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from The University of Bath, Georgia-Mae joined mthree as a Production Support Trainee. She then began her role on-site where she helps maintain and improve the applications traders use to buy and sell derivatives. 

We caught up with Georgia-Mae over a coffee in the centre of busy Canary Wharf to find out how she’s been getting on in her role.

When you were at university, how did you feel about starting your career?

“In my final year, I kept putting off finishing my CV and applying for jobs. I was scared! But once I started, it was absolutely fine. I got to know the process and it helped me understand the different types of opportunities out there.

I found that a lot of the engineering jobs were purely technical and often based outside of cities. I was keen to find something in London which utilised both my technical and people skills, so I decided to transition from engineering into technology.”

What areas of your degree have been useful for your role?

“I studied a module on Networking which has been really useful. Also, the general problem-solving skills used in engineering are completely transferable to the world of technology.

I also learned about AI at University, so as we start to incorporate Artificial Intelligence into our systems I’ll be able to use more of the knowledge”.

What was important for you when searching for a graduate programme?

“Moving into technology, I knew I needed an opportunity that offered training and would help me prepare for the world of work. I also wanted to find something with a social aspect, where I could develop my technical skills while also working in a team environment.

mthree Alumni just seemed to tick all the boxes.  It’s technical, offers a social aspect, there are loads of opportunities to learn and progress quickly and it’s in London. Plus, Financial Services is  an area I’m interested in!”

How did the training at mthree Academy prepare you for your role on-site?

“The Finance modules were the biggest help for me. I did my own research, but it’s a massive topic with so much lingo that it can be difficult to learn by yourself. I remember reading articles before I started and there would be 10 different buzzwords that I’d have to look up! So going through all the basics in the first week was a massive help for me.

Also, being able to practice different technical languages was super valuable. I learned a bit of programming in my degree, but not loads, so it was really helpful to get comfortable with the languages I was going to use on-site in my role.  Compared with University, the training was more like a job. It was fast-paced and hard work!

Three of the people I trained with joined the same team. So there were already familiar faces, which made the process of going on-site a lot less daunting. We also still have a WhatsApp group and go for drinks with everyone we trained with.”

Can you describe your role to someone who has never worked in Finance or Technology?

“I provide technical support to applications that are used within the bank. Software Developers create the apps, we then look after them and make sure they work correctly. We’re IT Support, but we’re not fixing keyboards and screens, we’re fixing technical applications so we need to understand both the technology and the business”.

I support the applications traders use to buy and sell derivatives. There are different types of derivatives, like options where you can buy or sell the option to purchase a commodity, which can be anything from corn to an Apple stock. Then there are other types like credit rate swaps where you’re swapping the amount of credit you’re paying on things”.

What would be a typical problem with an application and how do you resolve it?

“Market Makers create products which are then sold on various exchanges. This morning, some of the products didn’t update correctly, so we had to look through the log files to investigate what data is missing and why. That involved using Linux to read through log files and find out where we can get the missing information from.”

What do you find rewarding about your role?

“I find it really rewarding when someone asks me a question, and I say ‘Yep! I can do that’ because I know exactly what they’re talking about. I can prove to myself that I’ve actually learnt something and I can already use that knowledge after only being on-site for a few months.”

Do you have any career goals?

“I just want to keep learning. I work with someone with five years’ experience and they’re super knowledgeable. When I ask a question, he’s happy to spend the next 45 minutes talking me through the answer to make sure I get both the technical and business side. My goal is to get to his level of understanding over the next few years!”

What surprised you when you went on-site?

“While it’s quite corporate, everyone is so friendly and laid back, which I didn’t expect!”

What advice do you have for current students and graduates?

“Decide your own tick boxes, understand what you want out of a job and stay open-minded to any industry. A year ago, I hadn’t considered Finance, and it’s now something I really enjoy!”

Joel graduated with a first-class Chemistry degree from Durham.

Since then, he’s completed the Software Development Training at mthree before joining Amadeus as a Software Engineer.

We caught up with Joel at the Amadeus offices near Heathrow to find out how he’s been getting on in his role.

When you were a student, how did you feel about taking the leap from university to a career

“I was apprehensive! It’s a big step going from university to the working world. When you’re a student, there’s a lot of work towards the end, but it’s still pretty relaxed compared with working which takes up the majority of your day. It can feel like a big contrast.

There’s also a lot of uncertainty, you don’t know what you’ll find or whether the company will be good.”

How did you find out about mthree Alumni?

“My friend actually recommended the programme to me. This was the first one I found out about. You said you wanted honest answers!”

Absolutely!

What did your friend tell you about the programme? And what caught your ear?

“It seemed like an opportunity where a company wanted to mould me. With the training and the opportunity to transition to a permanent employee at a software company like Amadeus at the end was really appealing to me.”

How did you first hear about Amadeus? And what did you learn?

“When I applied, George at mthree told me who they were and what a great company they are. Then I also did my own research.

I remember a piece of advice I was given once was to always work at companies which are in the top 5 of their particular industry. In terms of companies who create software for airlines, Amadeus is the biggest, so I was definitely interested. I also liked the fact that they’re global and  scattered all over the world in cities like Sydney, Bangalore and Boston.”

So the fact they’re international was interesting for you?

“Definitely. I’d like to experience another country and culture, and Amadeus has that to offer in leaps and bounds.”

What aspects of the training at mthree were useful?

“Getting to know the company I’d be working at was really useful. Also, we learnt about the airline industry which meant I wasn’t totally lost when I went on site. 

The Linux and SQL training helped refresh my memory, and towards the end, we moved onto the more advanced C++ which is the primary language I use here.”

Can you describe what you do to someone who has never worked in Aviation Technology?

“I’m a back-end developer, so I work on the server-side. Day-to-day, I check if there are any errors in the code by running tests, I fix any issues I find, and then I work on big changes such as the communication between two systems as well as developing new services.”

You’ve mentioned C++, what are some of the other languages you’re working with?

“C++, Python and SQL are the main ones, we also use a bit of Perl.”

Can you describe your team?

“There are around 10 of us, made up of back-end and front-end developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Business Analysts.

Everyone works really well together, we’re a cohesive unit. If the QAs or BAs need any help with the tech, they come to us, and if we need to get a better understanding how the business will be using the application, we go to them.”

What tools do you use to communicate?

“We all sit together, so we mainly communicate verbally. You can’t beat talking to someone in person about a question they have. Everyone in the team can look at the code we’re writing on their own screens, so if they have any issues, we can help them in person really easily.

We also use an application to record issues and bugs. So when someone reports something, there’s a unique reference number for each problem, which makes our lives easier!”

What do you enjoy about your role?

“The myriad of different problems we get. I like coming to work every day with a task to work on, and testing my technical skills, knowledge of the server, and ability to solve problems.

What do you find challenging?

“The application I work on is huge. Sometimes, when you see a new functionality you’ve never really heard of, it takes a bit of time to understand what’s going on.  

So the biggest challenge is trying to understand new areas of the application. There are always people around to help out, but the first couple of days of getting to grips with what’s going on is testing!”

What advice would you have for current students and graduates?

“Update your CV and cover letter, obviously… Also, it’s definitely worth talking to the careers service at your university, they’re really useful at helping you understand the types of careers available!”

Following her Master’s degree in Investment Banking, Judith joined mthree to pursue her goal of working in financial markets. 

She completed the Alumni training, went on-site at Nomura in London, and now plays a vital role in helping execute trades by working closely with front and back-office teams.

We caught up with Judith in a cafe opposite The Shard to learn about her career journey so far and goals for the future.

Why did you choose to study a Master’s degree in Investment Banking?

“I’ve always had a love for Finance, so initially I was looking to work in Commercial Law.

But as I progressed in my Law degree, I felt like I would miss out because I wouldn’t work directly in the financial markets. Instead, I’d form contracts which usually come after the fact.  

I decided to make a move so I’d be more involved. Even though my role now is minuscule in comparison to the industry as a whole, it doesn’t matter, because everyone plays a part”.

How did you feel when you finished education and were looking to start your career?

“I felt nervous because I didn’t know how to navigate it all. There’s so much advice on how to find a job and write a CV, but it’s never as specific as you need it to be. Plus it wasn’t an easy thing shifting from education to working 9-5. It was a bit of a shock!”

What was the mthree Alumni training like?

“Once I landed the role, the training literally started the week after. I learnt a lot of technical skills and got an in-depth understanding of the financial services industry. It was intense! But very necessary, because I was a lot more confident about the role I was going to step into.”

What was it like going on-site?

“Investment banks are not like everything you read or see in movies. It was a lot more chilled than I expected. For example, my team is great! We have jokes, and often go out for meals and drinks.”

How would you describe your role to someone who has never worked in an investment bank?

“In the simplest terms, we support the trading desk. I’m in the repo middle office team, so we look after repurchase agreements, which is when counterparties agree to buy a bond back at a certain price. 

In the middle office, we are the middle man. We make sure trades settle on the right day at the right price by liaising between the front and back-office teams.”

What have you improved since going on-site?

“Definitely my practical knowledge of Finance.

When you study a Master’s, it’s all quite theory-based. But now I’m putting my knowledge into practice every single day.

Also, my confidence and communication skills have improved massively. Before starting, I dreaded having to cold call someone, but now that’s just part of the job!”

It’s great that you’ve learnt so much in your role! 

Who are you having to cold call?

“If a trade doesn’t match, and the value date is today, it’s urgent and needs to get sorted. So, you can’t just send an email and wait for a response, you have to follow up which involves calling the counterparty. The bigger the trade, the more urgent it is!”

What do you find rewarding in your role?

“Trades can take a day, a week, or even a month to settle. We have a daily call to talk through certain trades that have not settled and determine why. If they take too long, it’s because something doesn’t match.

During that time I’m calling the middle or back office team at the other company, trying to get it sorted so everything goes through. When it finally does, it feels amazing! Because I can see that my hard work has paid off. It’s always great to cross one off the list!”

What do you find challenging?

“Keeping up can be tough sometimes. There are days when query after query comes into the team and they’re all important. So it’s challenging, but in a good way, because it keeps you on your toes and means I’m always learning.”

What advice do you have for graduates looking to begin their careers?

“University can feel like a bubble, so I’d say it’s important to figure out what you want to do in your career. Then you can focus on how to get there. For me, it was completing a Master’s, but for someone else, it might be learning certain skills and getting experience in an area. 

Also, set some goals. Once you start your career, it’s easy to get caught up in the 9-5 and not do anything else. But you should keep pushing yourself to do more.”

Goals are definitely important! Do you have any goals for the next year?

“Definitely. On top of progressing in my role, I would like to get an external qualification, whether that’s through the CISI or CFA.”