I Got Hired: Ryan

Posted on: 23 September 2025 by Richard Finch in Class of 2024

Ryan, a BSc Financial Computing graduate, is now working as an Investment Banking Technology Analyst at Barclays.

How did you hear about your role?

During my second year of university, I started applying for summer internships. I applied to loads of finance and/or technology internships, went through tonnes of interviews & assessment centres, and ended up getting an offer from Barclays. I completed my 8-week internship in the summer of 2023. Following this, I received an unconditional offer to join Barclays once I had completed my degree.

How did you get to where you are now?

Perseverance! I completed no fewer than 100 applications for summer internships and never gave up at the first hurdle. What helped me improve was constantly asking for personal feedback following rejections by institutions, and building on this feedback. To me it was the most obvious way to land a corporate job – applying to internships and proving my worth over the course of 8 weeks, with the hope of receiving a return offer.

Your favourite experience as part of your current role?

Meeting loads of different people and learning about the incredible use of AI within investment banking…and the hybrid-work split!

The most challenging part of your graduate journey?

Balancing exams & assignments whilst applying to internships in 2023. And, although it was a learning curve, also the overwhelming amount of rejections following applications & interviews.

What's your #1 piece of advice for future grads?

Don’t be afraid of rejection, and learn from your experiences. There are valuable lessons to learn from everything that happens throughout your professional career - what's most important is how you react to these lessons.

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