5 ways Fidelity invests in your technology skills—and your career

Why you should focus your technology job search and career on fintech

From 2019 to 2023, publicly traded fintech companies doubled their market capitalization. Fintech revenues should grow three times faster than the traditional banking sector by 2028. Technology trends such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital assets (like blockchain), and quantum computing will reshape the fintech industry in the near future.

Getting into fintech now puts you at the forefront of massive industry changes playing out at record speeds. You’ll help craft the future, solve challenging and complex problems, and be part of a growing, fast-paced industry that has a real impact on people’s day-to-day lives.

With technology jobs in software engineering, cloud computing, architecture, data science, cybersecurity, and Web3, you’re sure to find a fintech job that meets your skillset.

Why you should grow your career as a fintech technologist at Fidelity, a privately owned firm

“We are digital in nature,” said Manish, Fidelity principal, full stack engineer. Finance is now synonymous with technology.

“Fidelity leverages technology to create advanced financial products and services,” said Lakshmi, chapter leader, wealth solutions experiences.

“Fidelity continuously challenges the status quo and explores new technology to enhance customer experiences and deliver more value,” said Lakshmi. Our work is all about making a positive impact on people’s lives and their finances.

At Fidelity, you get access to the latest technologies like the cloud, AI, blockchain, and quantum computing. “I don’t see a difference between what technologies leading tech companies use and the ones Fidelity use. We’re at their pace and adopting new technologies now,” said Bhargav, principal, full stack engineer.

This table shows the various languages, frameworks, and development tools Fidelity fintech associates use in their day-to-day work.

Unlike other global technology or fintech firms, Fidelity is privately held. That means we aren’t beholden to the whims of the stock market. We can plan for the long-term in a sustainable way with strategic, large-scale investments in technologies, platforms, and people. 

We offer job stability coupled with career growth and mobility, so you can challenge yourself by learning new skills and taking on new challenges as you help create the next generation of financial products and services.

We also offer best-in-class benefits like a 7% 401(k) match, student loan assistance, and extensive parental leave among other great benefits. You’ll work in an inclusive, collaborative, and energizing environment.

“No other company I’ve worked for invests in learning like Fidelity.”

How Fidelity’s fintech learning efforts support your technology skills and career

1. Tech Learning Days mean on-the-job fintech learning and skills development for technologists
   

   As a learning organization, Fidelity takes an investor mindset when it comes to technologists, giving them ample time to develop their technology skills. “The company not only invests in technology but also in people, through Tech Learning Days. This dual focus ensures you can thrive professionally and personally, making Fidelity a great place to build a fulfilling career,” said Lakshmi.

   “No other company I’ve worked for invests in learning like Fidelity,” said Lakshmi. “Fidelity embraces mobility and career development. If you’re interested in a specific project or acquiring a new skill set, all leaders support that, which is unique to Fidelity.”

   Tech Learning Days give technologists the chance to level up their skills for 1 day at the end of every 2-week long sprint. Those days are free from business meetings, so all tech associates can focus on their personal learning projects through a host of online platforms*, group sessions, and/or individualized coaching or mentorship sessions.

   Technologists can learn any technology from scratch to become eventual experts through hands-on labs. Skills assessments help associates identify gaps, after which point the platform creates personalized learning paths to address them.

   Other platforms give associates access to both technology-focused learning and nontechnical learning for soft skills like storytelling, communication, stress management, and more. 

   Associates can earn certificates and even work toward master’s degrees. Bhargav completed 10 certifications through Fidelity’s Tech Learning Days on machine learning, Python programming, JavaScript, U.S. design, and project management. Every 6 months, he chooses a new focus area.

   Tools can help associates and their managers track performance improvements and achieve career goals with key milestones. Other platforms help you get up to speed on your reading list with essential summaries such as articles or audio clips of great learning and development books. 

   Associates can choose to spend their Tech Learning Days on internal side projects Fidelity calls “gigs.” “These side projects can be ideas that come up from an innovation hack-a-thon,” said Lakshmi. “Someone leads the project and then a subset of people works on that project part-time.”

   There are many ways to spend your Tech Learning Days—2 per month. Imagine how much you can learn for your next Fidelity tech job in 192+ hours (that’s more than four 40-hour weeks) per year.

   *Please note: Available Fidelity learning platforms are subject to change.

2. Fidelity protects technologists’ work/life balance through a stable, collaborative, and well-being-focused culture
   “I stay with Fidelity because of the work/life balance,” said Bhargav. Unlike other fintech or technology firms, Fidelity doesn’t burn out associates with unsustainable expectations, timelines, or workload. “We have a very balanced workload, especially when floating work between onshore and offshore teams. It’s very equally divided,” said Bhargav. Fidelity believes in collaboration without competition. There’s transparency and cooperation with associates working toward the same goal—improving the financial well-being of our customers.

   “I’ve never had a day where I felt burnt out and didn’t have good work/life balance. I have worked at Fidelity 8 years, and some of my peers have been here for 20-plus years. That shows how stable the jobs are,” said Lakshmi. “My husband works at a different global tech firm, and almost every day he is worried he’ll lose his job if he doesn’t perform well. That’s not the case for me.”

   While we don’t burn tech associates out, we do give them intellectually and technically challenging projects. Our tech associates have ownership of their time and their talent, steering both to meaningful outcomes and real-world results. At Fidelity, you’ll be able to start projects and see them through to the finish line. That’s a gamechanger in software development.

   If someone experiences a performance issue, their manager supports them and provides guidance in identifying skills gaps and creating an action plan. “As long as you have the right mindset to accept that feedback, you can learn and grow from it,” said Lakshmi.

   Fidelity’s hybrid work environment and management style give Fidelity associates flexibility. “If you work late one or a few nights to complete a project, managers are supportive in giving you flexibility later to get some time back with your family and friends,” said Lakshmi.

   It’s not just flexibility but a willingness to put employees’ well-being first that sets Fidelity apart from other tech firms. “The team members at Fidelity are different, compared with other companies,” said Bhargav. “Fidelity associates create a friendly environment. Fidelity concentrates on associates and their happiness.”

   Transparency and care make a difference for the well-being of associates. “Fidelity takes care of its associates and is very transparent with decisions. Fidelity tries to find out what associates need and act on that. Those things matter to me,” said Manish.

“Fidelity provides access to cutting-edge technology, which keeps my skill set relevant.”

3. Fidelity stays on the cutting edge of technology so our technologists can too
   “We don’t know which technologies will win out in 2050, so it’s always important to learn new things. Technology will evolve,” said Bhargav. “We think beyond the right now. What will this product be like in five or 10 years, with the current pace of the world’s technologies? We want to think about integration and merging current products with what’s upcoming.”

   “Fidelity provides access to cutting-edge technology, which keeps my skill set relevant,” said Manish. With tech changing faster than ever, it’s vital for technologists to stay sharp and up to date. As Manish said, “It helps me grow personally and it helps the company grow as well.”

   “We have pilot programs to test that tools are secure and helpful for us to use. We believe in innovation and maintaining security,” said Manish. Unlike other tech companies that have philosophies like “move fast and break things,” Fidelity knows that trust and stability are essential to finance and the economy at large. That’s why we thoroughly test new technologies, especially ones with the power to radically change the way financial transactions are made, before implementing them.

   Fidelity regularly hosts hack-a-thons where associates can come up with ideas that solve real business problems for Fidelity and its customers. One such event was called Ignite 2024. Technology associates contributed multiple ideas to help their business unit and Fidelity as whole. Many were implemented and some have since gone live.

4. Coaching and mentorship help your Fidelity technology career develop and thrive
   Coaching and mentorship are essential elements of Fidelity’s learning culture to grow associates’ skills, helping them navigate their career paths and achieve their financial goals. “Having a strong mentorship culture promotes both innovation and collaboration,” said Lakshmi.

   Fidelity gives associates the chance to coach and/or be coached and mentor and/or be mentored. As Lakshmi explained, “Mentorship fosters mutual growth. Mentees gain valuable insights and skills, while mentors learn how to refine their leadership and communication abilities.”

   “Coaching and mentorship can lead to higher job satisfaction and retention rates, especially when employees feel valued and supported, which enhances their commitment to the organization,” said Lakshmi. Studies show mentoring increases job satisfaction, retention, career outcomes, and even salaries and promotions.

   Coaching and mentorship also make performance less theoretical and more tangible. “Sometimes we know our areas of improvement, but we don’t always know how to work on them. Coaching helps with that,” said Manish. “You have access to multiple coaches with different skills, so you can find what you want to work on and grow in your career.” Fidelity can help you find coaches and mentors through the Fidelity myCareer Center, an internal resource that helps employees achieve their career goals.

5. Fidelity Labs is an incubator for innovative and experimental fintech solutions and technology jobs
   Fidelity Labs is Fidelity’s in-house software business incubator, intended to increase the pace of innovation at the firm and disrupt the status quo in finance in smart, sustainable, and secure ways. As Manish said, “At Fidelity, ideas matter. We work toward continuous improvement.”

   “Fidelity Labs plays a critical role in driving growth and innovation by providing a safe space to explore new business ideas and quickly test them with customers,” said Lakshmi. Since 2005, we’ve leveraged Fidelity Labs to shape the future of Fidelity and the fintech industry at large. 

   Here are a few of our many successes:

   • An AI-powered software to help financial advisors grow their business
   • An end-to-end ESG investing solution for financial advisors
   • A secure and fully managed document-sharing platform for life’s most important documents
   • A modern, digital-first stock transfer agent platform

“At Fidelity, ideas matter. We work toward continuous improvement.”

Find your Fidelity with a fintech technologist job today and grow your technology career tomorrow

Now’s the time to break into fintech with a technologist job at Fidelity. Get access to on-the-job learning twice a month, work/life balance, cutting-edge technology, coaching and mentorship, and Fidelity Labs in your technology job. Make your fintech dreams come true with our winning interview tips. Find your next technology job here.

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