Technology Spring Week Glasgow Review

I attended the Glasgow Technology Spring Week. The programme was very insightful about what various roles are available in the technology sector of a bank, as well as how a large organisation like a bank of Barclays size is structured.

I felt valued the majority of the time during the insight week. We were regularly reminded that they are on the lookout for new talent and it is very much up to us if we decide to pursue a career at Barclays.

We were reminded that there was no such thing as a bad question so everyone felt comfortable asking for clarification. There was plenty of information provided about the content of the week from within a mobile app that we were asked to sign up to as well.

As it was only a week with two work shadowing sessions we were unable to practice our university module-related skills. However there was a large group work and team building exercise that was very enlightening about the various ways to work with different personality types which I will keep in mind for future workplaces.

The week was well structured with a variety of presentations, insights into various projects, work shadowing sessions and group work. The event was maybe a bit too full on as there is an opportunity to interview at the end for a summer placement, however very little time is available to prepare fully after attending/catching up on uni work/sleeping. I assume they want people that are able to perform under similar pressure though on occasion.

The atmosphere was very positive, containing people from a huge range of backgrounds. Activities and presentations were fun and lighthearted and we were encouraged to come out of our shell and enjoy ourselves from the start.

Barclays is investing huge sums into their technology teams, especially in Glasgow. The week is partly designed to entice you to work for them so the knowledge you gain during the week can be quite in depth, almost to the point where you will feel comfortable walking into a role knowing all the various teams, colleagues and projects taking place. Graduate colleagues also explained that there are a range of opportunities to learn new coding languages and soft skills once you join.

The insight was incredibly enlightening about the structure of the bank, roles available, projects being worked on, as well as where you could fit in should you choose to join. My only negative is that the responsibilities within a technical analyst role is not very clear, and a lot of the same questions are asked to technical analyst graduates before a clear picture is formed. This could probably justify a presentation in itself as no one seemed to be entirely sure but we are offered the choice to interview for either a developer or technical analyst role.

There is a lot of recognition for the people at Barclays, and everyone agrees that the culture is fantastic. People are encouraged to push themselves and try different roles to see what suits. The networking events also allow the chance to ask questions relating to work/life balance etc. and everyone was very pleased.

There is only so much that can be gained from the week without actually sitting down and doing some work for the company. However if you are interested in working in technology (particularly technology in the finance industry) then Barclays is a great place to start and find out if it is for you.

I was paid £250 for attending. I live in the city and cycled but those travelling from afar had their travel reimbursed. Those travelling from really far were also put up in the hotel that the event took place. Breakfast and lunch as well as endless tea, coffee and cakes were provided throughout. Pizza and alcoholic drinks were also provided during the networking evening.

There was a casual networking evening mid-week as well as a second speed networking session on the second last day. There was also two work shadowing sessions throughout the week with different employees who were very happy to help and provide insight. The networking aspect of your career is pushed quite a bit throughout, however after speaking to most employees they can attest that it is only a positive thing and only makes your life easier in the future. Some people are offered jobs through networking purely on the basis that they work in financial technology, the demand is that high.

The events are fun and easy going, with only one main networking evening, as opposed to some banks which have two. Personally I am happy with one, to add more on top of the various presentations and exercises would be too much. There is a broad mix of people at the event, from graduates to PM’s to CTO’s.

I was told me one employee that they provide beer and pizza on the last Friday of the month, however with the opening of the new Buchanan Wharf offices I imagine they will create more opportunities since the workforce will be much more centralised and will hold about 5000 people.

Yes. If you want to learn about working in technology for a bank then the week is very informative. There are plenty of talks on different areas (big data, data architecture, new technology such as Amazon Web Service, technical analyst, developer etc.). If you want to learn about the culture then it is also very informative.