Jahan Koninger

I first came to Baillie Gifford as a summer intern in 2023 and joined the graduate programme the following year.  

What appealed to me from the outset was how personal the process felt. After the initial application stages, I was speaking to real people at the interview rather than jumping through endless hoops or dealing with chatbots. That gave me a strong sense that this was a company interested in people, not just polished applications. 

That impression has held up. One of the programme's biggest strengths is its variety. Because the rotations span different teams and areas of technology, you get the chance to test your interests in practice rather than trying to decide your whole career path before you have even started.  

For someone early in their career, that has been hugely valuable. Each move brings a fresh start, new people to learn from and a different set of problems to get stuck into. 

I am currently on an application development team that takes proofs of concept from our research and development colleagues and helps turn them into robust, production-ready tools.  

I enjoy that balance between experimentation and discipline. There is a lot of satisfaction in making sure something is reliable, well-built and genuinely useful for people. 

Baillie Gifford has also felt like a very good size to start a career. There is enough scale to offer strong benefits, training and opportunities, but not so much that you feel anonymous.  

I have appreciated the trust people place in you. There is freedom to do your work without being micromanaged, which creates a welcoming atmosphere and helps you settle in quickly. 

The learning side has been another highlight. As well as formal qualifications, being part of the Kubernetes working group – a widely used system that helps organisations manage applications in the cloud – has opened the door to further technical development, including certifications supported by the firm.  

For me, the programme stands out because it offers breadth, support and the chance to build transferable skills across very different areas of technology. 

Please note that any references to current teams in bios are as of the time of writing and may not reflect the current situation due to the nature of the programmes.