February 2025: Application

Introduction

In this article, I’ll share my progress on the tasks I planned for February.

1. Applying to 20+ Graduate SWE?Roles

As my graduation in May approaches, I’ve been focusing on applying for graduate software engineering roles across the UK. In February, I submitted applications to 33 roles through platforms like Gradcracker , LinkedIn , Indeed , and company websites.

Out of these applications, 8 were rejected after resume review, 2 were rejected after online assessments, 1 is still in process after the online assessment, and 22 have not yet responded.

Here’s a summary of the online assessments I’ve completed so far:

1. 亚马逊 - Graduate Software Development Engineer

I applied through Gradcracker, and after passing the initial application, I received an invitation for the online assessment along with a preparation guide.

The first part was a HackerRank coding challenge with two problems: splitting a string based on character conditions and optimizing server cluster throughput by calculating medians.

The next day, I was invited to complete Part 2, which included the SDE Work Simulation and Workstyles Assessments, both based on Amazon’s Leadership Principles. I reviewed materials on YouTube and Google to prepare, but unfortunately, I did not progress past this stage, and my application was rejected.

2. Experian - Graduate Software?Engineer

One week after applying, I was invited to take the online assessment, which had two parts. I completed both tests on the SHL platform and prepared using the practice tests available there.

The first part was the Situational Judgement Test, which evaluated how I would handle different work-related situations. The second part was the G+ Test, which assessed my problem-solving and logical reasoning skills.

Unfortunately, a few days later, I received a rejection email stating that they would not be progressing with my application.

3. Citadel - Software Engineer Graduate?2025

After applying, I received an invitation to take the online assessment, which consisted of two coding problems on HackerRank. I solved both problems within the time limit and passed all test cases. I’m now waiting for their response.

2. Personal Project → University Courses

This month, I continued exploring AI and responsible computing. Here are my key learnings:

1. Intelligent Adaptive Systems → we learned how systems stay steady through feedback, like a thermostat controlling temperature, and how filters improve predictions, like GPS adjusting location estimates.
2. Machine Learning and Neural Computing → we studied how neural networks work, including how they learn from data and correct errors. We also explored techniques like unsupervised learning and PCA to simplify complex data.
3. Responsible Computing → we studied ethics in technology, including privacy laws like GDPR and the social impact of computing. Each week, we discussed real-life scenarios, exploring how to make responsible decisions in technology.

3. My LeetCode?Journey

In February, I continued solving daily coding challenges on LeetCode to improve my skills in data structures and algorithms. I worked on problems involving Arrays, Hash Tables, and Trees, and also explored more complex topics like Dynamic Programming, Graphs, and Depth-First Search to enhance my problem-solving abilities.

You can check out my LeetCode Profile to see my progress and contributions.

4. UK Graduate Job Applications

To support my job application process, I took several steps to improve both my preparation and organization:

1. While preparing for Amazon’s online assessment, I created a document in STAR format to outline my experiences. This approach helped me reflect on past tasks and organize my responses more effectively.
2. As the number of applications grew, I set up a Google Spreadsheet to track them all. This helped me stay organized and avoid confusion.
3. I familiarized myself with the SHL platform, which I encountered during the Experian assessment. To get comfortable with its format, I practiced using some of the platform’s practice tests.

Regarding my resume, I realized I should tailor it more for each role. Currently, I have 2–3 versions for similar roles, but I’m considering further customization for each application. In March, I will continue refining my applications and apply to more graduate software engineering and AI roles.

5. My February Medium?Article

This month, I published two articles as part of my 4-article series on my study abroad experience in Canada.

Here are the articles:

• How I Got My Canadian Visa - 6 min read - I share the documents, steps, and tips to help you get your Canadian visa
• Preparing for Student Life in Canada - 7 min read - I cover everything you need to do before and after arriving in Canada

I hope you find them useful. Follow me on Medium to stay updated.

Conclusion

Looking forward to making more progress in March.

Thanks for reading?:)