Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

Working on the Algorithmic Trading Desk, I create software tools to help algorithmic trade researchers visualise and experiment with trading strategies.

A typical day involves talking to researchers and other developers, writing code, testing code, deploying code, and repeating that cycle.

Pay is very good, lots of freedom in how to solve problems. A lot of fairly complex problems to solve.

Staring at a computer for 8 hours a day is not great for you physically and it would be nice to be outside more.

I kind of fell into it to be honest. I ended up taking a web design job (using architecture graphic design skills), taught myself to programme and went from there.

Obvious skills like teamwork, verbal and written skills, and many self taught things like programming languages / operating systems etc.

Nothing formal really, you learn as you go. You're never "finished"!

I recently moved back to the UK after 6 years in the US. I guess I will be back in the US eventually (my wife is American and I am dual). I don't make long-term career plans, things change too quickly.

Try and find a small company where you have responsibility to actually deliver things to customers directly, you will learn far more and be happier for it.