Fidelity's Leap Program: A Comprehensive Overview

The LEAP Program at Fidelity Investments is a paid, learner-centered career development program designed for recent or upcoming college graduates pursuing a technology or engineering degree. The program offers graduates an opportunity to develop their technical and soft skills through immersive, high-impact learning experiences and to practice their skills with a full-time role waiting for them upon completion. The program is 20 weeks long and includes comprehensive onboarding, technology, business, and professional skills training, as well as meaningful interactions with senior leaders.

Who is eligible for the LEAP program?

The LEAP program at Fidelity Investments is designed for recent or upcoming college graduates pursuing a technology or engineering degree. The program is also open to international students; however, it does not offer immigration sponsorship.

The minimum requirements for the program include pursuing or recently completing a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or IT. A solid understanding of software development principles and data structures is essential, along with hands-on technical project experience or a technical internship.

Outstanding problem-solving skills and analytical abilities are advantageous, along with the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. Candidates should be passionate about learning new technologies and have knowledge of front-end, middle-tier, and back-end languages and frameworks.

The LEAP program is an excellent opportunity for recent graduates to develop their careers and gain valuable skills in the technology industry.

What is the duration of the program?

The Leadership, Experience, and Advancement Program (LEAP) offered by Fidelity Investments is a comprehensive and lengthy undertaking. The program is designed as a multi-year experience, typically spanning three years, to provide associates with a rich and immersive learning journey.

During these three years, participants are immersed in a variety of challenging and rewarding assignments, each designed to offer unique insights and experiences. This extended duration allows for a carefully curated progression of responsibilities and learning opportunities, ensuring that associates gradually develop the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their careers.

The program is structured to offer a balance of structured learning and on-the-job experience. Each year of the program has specific goals and objectives, building upon one another to foster the associates' professional growth and leadership capabilities. This incremental approach enables participants to gradually master new competencies and accumulate the expertise necessary for long-term success.

The first year of the program lays the foundation for the associate's professional development, introducing them to the company, its culture, and the financial services industry. The subsequent years build upon this foundation, delving deeper into specific areas of focus, such as advanced leadership skills and specialised knowledge in various business domains.

By extending the program over three years, Fidelity Investments ensures that participants have the necessary time to absorb, apply, and reflect on their learnings. This duration allows for a more holistic transformation, empowering associates with the skills, confidence, and strategic mindset to drive innovation and excel in their chosen career paths within the company.

What are the benefits of the program?

The LEAP program at Fidelity Investments is a paid career development program for engineering graduates to transition into seasoned IT professionals. The program offers several benefits to its participants.

Firstly, it provides an opportunity for graduates to develop their technical and soft skills through intensive training. This includes technology, business, and professional skills training, as well as interactions with senior leaders. The program also offers exposure to a wide range of the latest tools and technologies, allowing participants to stay ahead of the curve.

Secondly, the program offers a comprehensive onboarding process, providing a strong foundation for graduates entering the corporate world. This is followed by focused training tracks in software development and data engineering, each lasting four months. During this time, participants gain in-depth knowledge and skills in various areas, including understanding the core business, creative problem-solving, software development lifecycles, database development, information security, and more.

Thirdly, the LEAP program provides a full-time role upon completion. Participants are placed within Fidelity's diverse technology organization, supporting various business initiatives across the US. This ensures a smooth transition from learning to full-time employment.

Additionally, the program offers 23 days of paid time off per year, plus 9 paid federal holidays. It also provides student loan assistance and tuition reimbursement for eligible employees. The program encourages a balanced life with opportunities for volunteering and giving back to the local community during work hours. On-site fitness and wellness centers, along with subsidized healthy meal options at on-site cafeterias, further contribute to the well-being of the participants.

Lastly, the LEAP program fosters a culture of continuous development and offers high-impact learning experiences. Participants are paired with technical coaches and receive mentoring throughout the program. This personalized guidance ensures that graduates can kickstart their careers with a solid foundation and a strong network.

What skills do participants need?

The LEAP Program is designed for recent or upcoming college graduates pursuing a technology or engineering degree. The program is learner-centred and crafted to prepare graduates to become leading technologists. As such, participants should have a solid understanding of software development principles and data structures, as well as outstanding problem-solving abilities and analytical skills.

For the Full-Stack Engineer role, participants should have knowledge of front-end (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), middle-tier (Java, NodeJS) and back-end (SQL) languages and frameworks. Experience with Spring, Angular, or similar technologies is a plus.

The Mobile Engineer role requires Native iOS or Native Android or Hybrid Mobile experience, as well as knowledge in Angular + Ionic (or similar technologies) and MacOS.

For the Data Engineer role, knowledge of SQL and Python is required, as well as experience in data visualization, data integration, and an understanding of database modelling.

The Systems Engineer role requires exposure to a broad spectrum of infrastructure and engineering topics, including systems architecture and administration, cloud computing, networks, information technologies, database technologies, and CI/CD deployment pipelines. Experience with Perl, Python, C#, C++, Java, Linux is encouraged.

Participants should also have previous technical internship experience or hands-on technical project experience related to Computer Science. They should be passionate about learning new technologies and be able to work towards group goals in a fast-paced environment.

What roles are available after completion?

Upon completion of the LEAP program, graduates are placed in full-time roles within Fidelity's technology organization, in multiple locations across the US. The program is designed to prepare graduates for a range of roles in the technology sector, with a focus on engineering and IT.

The four main areas of technology that participants can expect to join full-time are:

• Full-Stack Engineer: This role involves designing and developing digital applications and solutions in an agile environment, using a variety of languages and frameworks such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Java, NodeJS, SQL, and Spring.
• Mobile Engineer: In this role, graduates will design, program, and debug native mobile or web technology stacks, contributing to Fidelity's mobile applications. Experience with Native iOS, Native Android, or Hybrid Mobile is beneficial.
• Data Engineer: As a Data Engineer, graduates will design data-centric software solutions, conduct analysis, and share insights. This role requires knowledge of SQL and Python, as well as experience in data visualization and integration.
• Systems Engineer: This role offers exposure to a broad range of infrastructure and engineering topics, including systems architecture, cloud computing, networks, and database technologies. Experience with programming languages such as Perl, Python, C#, C++, Java, or Linux is encouraged.

Overall, the LEAP program aims to provide graduates with the skills and experience necessary to succeed in a variety of technology roles within the organization, offering a solid foundation for their future careers.

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