Meet the Associates
Profiles
Over the years we've built a distinctive culture. The pace is exhilarating and the challenges varied. It's fair to say that
our people work very hard. They're an extremely bright group, who expect a lot of themselves - and each other.
But we believe in giving friendly support and all that you need for a proper work life balance.
We can tell you all this, but we know how easy it is to feel cynical about companies that make extravagant claims. So please
read on for some honest first hand accounts of what it is truly like to be one of our graduate hires.
Gaurav Chopra
Business Analyst
Which University did you attend?
I studied Mathematics at St. Stephen's College, Delhi, India, followed by an MSc in Operational Research at the London School
of Economics.
Tell us about your career at Capital One
I joined Capital One in September 2005 and was quickly promoted.
I'm currently working in the Product Strategy team for our Credit Card business. I am responsible for analysing and determining
which products are best suited for the UK market. The work involves generating new ideas, proposing them to management, finalising
marketing material and then testing it out on a sample population to analyse results. Once satisfied with the results, we
open the product to the market. The job is definitely challenging and involves continuous interaction with different departments
like Brand, Legal, Operations, IT.
What do you get from working at Capital One
You get an insight into various parts of the business, exposure to senior management, and a vast amount of training and support
all the way. All this comes in an environment that gives you responsibility, challenges and recognition accordingly.
Anything else to add?
In my view, Capital One is a place for people who like to be constantly tested in their careers, seek early responsibility,
but nevertheless believe in maintaining a balance between work and fun. There is a great social side to Capital One, which
varies from table football, table tennis and play-stations at work, to fancy dress parties and water skiing 'Fun Days' every
couple of months.
Jess Holdcroft
Business Analyst
Capital One "enables you to learn a lot from the people you work with directly."
Which University did you attend?
I went to Exeter University, where I studied economics. I was also a member of the wine society and took part in RAG (raising
and giving).
What do you enjoy most about Capital One?
Cliché, but it is the people. One instance that really stands out for me is when I visited the US. My director had arranged
for me to have a catch up with a Vice President there, to see if he could offer any guidance on our approach to modeling TV
response. I ended up meeting him for an hour and a half, where we white boarded the problem. It was such a fantastic experience
to be able to work so closely with someone at that level and to see how they think about a problem.
What do you get from working at Capital One
You can pretty much get from Capital One whatever you want. The opportunities are there if you want to go and get them.
Anything else to add?
It's really great that every quarter we have a team fun event, where I have done a whole host of things, from long-boating
to going to Madrid. There are also department-wide fun events, which are also quarterly and always provide entertainment for
both the evening and the drinks machine the next day.
Al Smith
Business Analyst
"I've felt that I'm moving forward the whole time."
What do you enjoy most about Capital One
Capital One has a pretty relaxed working environment. This doesn't mean they hire just anyone though. Last year they received
over 1300 applications for the 20-odd Business Analyst places. They really do try to find the brightest and best grads to
recruit, but unlike the big consultancies and investment banks, they don't just burn grads out once they've hired them. They
try to get the best work out of you, not the most and there's real interest in making things fun.
There's loads of training (from IT skills to MBAs). Progression can be very rapid if you've got the motivation (I made Manager
in 18 months, which nearly doubled my pay).
What do you get from working at Capital One
I've felt that I'm moving forward the whole time, building a valuable and transferable skill set and having fun at the same
time. I can see paths open to me within the business that appeal for the future.
I'm working towards a promotion to senior manager and maybe director. I'm hoping to get sponsorship to take my MBA too.
Whatever I do, I hope that I'll still have time to go and read with the kids at my local primary school once a week and to
be a school governor - both of which Capital One helped to set up.
Anything else to add?
The kind of person who would be suitable for this role is someone who really enjoys solving puzzles. A healthy dose of intellectual
curiosity and the enthusiasm and problem solving skills are the keys to getting the most out of a job like this.
Amy Warren
Business Analyst
"The calibre of people is so high that you have to develop all the time."
Which University did you attend?
Studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University.
Tell us about your career at Capital One
I first joined Capital One as an intern in 2000. I had a great summer so was keen to accept their offer to return permanently
the next year. I've held a number of roles at analyst and then manager level. In one of my roles I worked on initiatives to
attract balance transfers from existing customers - I was responsible for coming up with ideas for special offers, setting
up customer research and in-market testing to assess their effectiveness, and then making recommendations for which propositions
should be used in future. I was promoted to Senior Manager at the end of 2006 and currently head up a team which develops
innovative new credit card propositions.
What do you enjoy most about Capital One?
My favourite moments in this job are when you get the first data results in from a new proposition that you've been responsible
for, right from coming up with the idea, to designing the test and persuading senior management to let you invest in it. It
doesn't always work out how you predict, but it's always exciting to see many thousands of customers reacting to your idea.
What do you get from working at Capital One?
The great thing about Capital One is that you're constantly learning new stuff. Instead of months of training courses you
get real responsibility right from the start and a direct manager who provides you with plenty of support and one-on-one coaching.
It also makes for a fun work environment. A lot of people who come to Capital One are new to Nottingham and eager to meet
new people - the result is a lively social scene and a buzz round the office.