Supporting students from college to career

A bit of nostalgia came over Dylan, a senior software engineer, while volunteering at a student recruitment event with Capital One. He met a student from his hometown, who was looking for a career in tech. Dylan was able to pass on advice from his own career journey, starting as a first-generation college student and leading to a five-year career at Capital One.

“Talking to that student showed me that what I’m doing at Capital One really matters,” Dylan said. “I’m connecting to communities beyond my immediate network. Knowing where I’m at today, I can give students feedback to help them on their career journey.”

College and early career

Dylan’s career at Capital One started through the Technology Internship Program in 2018, where  he collaborated on web development projects maintaining front-end advertising on Capital One’s website. In addition to gaining valuable hands-on experience through the internship, he also worked on soft skills, such as personal branding and communication.

“That summer was truly special,” Dylan said. “Capital One has a very holistic approach to their internships, and it showed me how much they care for associates. I gained confidence and learned from incredible mentors.” 

After his internship, Dylan knew he wanted to pursue a career at Capital One. He graduated with a degree in Linguistics and Computer Science in 2019 and accepted a position as a Technology Development Program (TDP) associate soon after. 

Dylan spent two years in the TDP, doing rotations in Enterprise Data and Machine Learning, as well as Retail Bank working on the transactions experience.

These two rotations in the TDP, as well as navigating his early career during the pandemic, taught him how to advocate for himself as a leader on his team. 

“At first, I struggled with voicing my opinion,” Dylan said. “But when I went into my second year of the rotational program, I gained confidence, shook it up and decided to speak out loud. That was such a pivotal moment for me. I felt empowered and supported.”

His leaders noticed this growth, along with his passion for tech, which led to him earning a promotion to senior software engineer after finishing his TDP rotations. His current role in Retail Bank involves maintaining and improving the virtual transaction record for customers in the Capital One app–something customers rely on for accurate information.

It’s a full-circle moment for him, as it’s a progression of the web development work he did as an intern. Dylan can say he’s worked on both the frontend and backend of the Capital One website.

“It’s rewarding to see the pipeline of information at Capital One, and that end-to-end flow. I’m able to work with every part of our tech stack and gain that technical perspective,” Dylan said.

Lifting up university students

In addition to his work as a senior software engineer, Dylan is a member of HOLA, Capital One’s Business Resource Group (BRG) for Hispanic associates and allies, and Hispanics in Tech (HIT), a BRG for Hispanic associates in tech-related fields. 

Both BRGs support Dylan by identifying opportunities for him to work with students who come from a similar background. In 2021, he volunteered for a virtual career fair for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, where he spoke on a panel about his career journey and encouraged others to pursue a career in technology at a company where they can be themselves. 

That’s exactly what he’s found at Capital One, and that’s the advice he gives all aspiring technologists he talks to.

“There’s never an expectation at Capital One to know all the answers,” Dylan said. “Be unafraid to ask questions, raise concerns and respectfully challenge assumptions. Be unequivocally yourself.”