Tech Candidate Spotlight: Adam Gerard, Senior Software Engineer

Can you share a little bit about your educational background? 

My educational background is decidedly mixed. I have 40+ skill or knowledge-based industry assessments/certifications along with more traditional degrees including a bachelor’s and master’s.

The assessments and certifications (including Hired Assessments) have had the single biggest overall impact so far. They establish my ability, what I know, and how I compare with others.

What would you like to learn more about?

Computer Science fundamentals! I plan to go back for a second master’s and pick up more certifications in key specialization areas. They include Hashicorp Terraform, Amazon AWS, Triplebyte, and Oracle Java.

What led you to pursue a career in tech?

I have converging interests in computer hardware, IT, logic, language, and machines. I think it’s natural for me to gravitate toward highly technical, thinking-centric, and machine-centric jobs involving the deep use of language.

How has your skillset evolved over the course of your career?

I’ve branched out from Java and SQL to JavaScript, then React, Node, Python, Ruby, WordPress, and so on. I’ve been tinkering around with Haskell, Elixir, and other newer languages too. I’ve also recently prioritized various infrastructure and DevOps tools since they are of nearly equal importance and demand in most roles.

Related: Discover the most in-demand coding skills in the 2023 State of Software Engineers

Do you specialize in a particular area?

I enjoy full stack work since it requires integrated, systems-type thinking. There’s often a clear path through the stack that reveals itself in this type of engineering. It’s more difficult to trace the cause and effect with other, more specialized approaches. I also think full stack specializations align well with Agile practices.

Related: Want to Ace Technical Interviews? A Guide to Prep Software Engineers

Is your new role different from previous ones?

Yes, I’ve been hired as a Senior Software Engineer. I’ve steadily earned promotions or have been hired at increasingly more advanced levels over the years. However, this is the first time I’ve been hired outright as a Senior Software Engineer!

That’s exciting! Speaking of exciting – what are you looking forward to most in your new role?

It’s a great company doing amazing things with a strong engineering culture and reputation. For instance, Capital One is known for pioneering cutting-edge and world-changing digital and financial products (credit cards, mobile banking, online banking, etc.). I’m thrilled about the opportunity to use more Java and Java Spring too since many of my recent roles prioritized other tools and technologies.

What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?

Hired has been decisive in finding great roles. It’s a better job search platform than Triplebyte and HackerRank (both of which added job search functionalities only after the fact). Recruiters reach out to qualified candidates after a vetting process and with the aid of strong testing tools (Hired Assessments are comparable to those of Triplebyte, CodeSignal, and HackerRank).

What’s your best advice for jobseekers on Hired? 

Refine your resume. Be succinct and highlight keywords, technologies, tools, and accomplishments. Take Hired’s assessments too. Supplement them with certifications and strong exam scores from other platforms as well.

What would you tell someone who’s curious about Hired?

Definitely give it a try. It’s a platform that connects recruiters from top VC-Startups, Fortune 500, and other great companies with highly qualified candidates.

Related: How to Get Approved on Hired

Any general advice for other tech professionals?

Keep learning and join different practice sites (Codewars, LeetCode, HackerRank). Practice, practice, practice as you interview and search for a job! Pick up respected industry certifications or skill-based assessments to showcase on your resume (Hired.com, HackerRank, Triplebyte, CodeSignal, AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.).

Congrats on the job! If you’d like to land a great role like Adam did, complete your free profile on Hired today!

If you’re looking for innovative, talented tech talent like Adam, ask for a demo customized to your needs.

About Capital One

Capital One is building a leading information-based technology company. We’re on a mission to help our customers succeed by bringing ingenuity, simplicity, and humanity to banking. Founded in 1988, Capital One has 5001+ employees and is headquartered in Virginia.

Tech Stack

Java, Spring, Angular 2, Node.JS, React, AWS, Python, Spark, Scala, Go

Benefits

Health/dental/vision insurance, 401K plan, performance bonus, paid time off, employee discount programs, career growth, tuition reimbursement. and more.