Junior tech engineers entering the market are stepping into a quick environment, and sometimes this can overwhelm – requiring a bigger picture of how firms can support those entering their business. Generally, this year we’ve seen Crypto platforms scaling onboarding, AI-driven analytics engines are maturing, Real-time payment systems are expanding. Demand for early-career engineers is strong. Still, momentum often drops when hiring processes lack structure, clarity, or consistent communication.
Morgan Davidofsky, EC1 Partners’ US Tech Consultant, discusses some of the clear patterns in how the rise and fall of engagement in a process can impact early-career engineers.
“For early-career engineers, the hiring experience often shapes how they view the opportunity. They’re motivated when they know what the process looks like, what the next step is, and whether the company invests in mentorship. A long pause after the first interview, or unclear expectations in a multi-stage process, can make them assume they’re out—even when they aren’t.”
Industry data reinforces this. Deloitte’s 2024 Talent Trends report found only 13% of employers feel confident hiring and retaining needed tech talent.
Meanwhile, 70% of fintech leaders cite talent shortages as their biggest barrier to growth (VouchFor). SelectSoftwareReviews 2025 adds further indicators:
- 34% of candidates feel ghosted within a week of applying.
- 47% want salary details before applying, showing how transparency influences interest.
In high-growth areas like crypto, AI, and real-time payments, junior candidates disengage quickly when communication slows or expectations aren’t clear.
Where Junior Candidates Struggle
Many early-career engineers understand their technical foundations but find it harder to articulate how those skills fit into a fintech environment. Multi-stage interviews often require demonstrating both technical depth and the ability to connect that work to market realities, product impact, and regulatory considerations.
Morgan adds:
“Juniors usually know their tech well, but they don’t always show how it applies to the company’s product, clients, or regulatory landscape. They’ll prepare algorithms and coding tests, but they often skip researching the business itself. That makes it harder for them to demonstrate how their work supports revenue, compliance, or user experience.”
Communication and research skills are usually underestimated. Many juniors focus on the technical assessment but struggle to explain how their experience translates into fintech products or customer outcomes.
This becomes more important when the market tightens. This often results in hiring processes becoming more selective and more multi-stage. Candidates who can stay engaged, prepared, and business-aware stand out faster.
Feedback and Communication: The Core of Engagement
Junior engineers are highly responsive to feedback and clarity. Slow communication can cause confidence to drop and encourages candidates to invest more energy in other interviews that feel more active.
“Even short updates – timelines, next steps, a quick note on how the last stage went- make a big difference. When communication is silent, juniors assume the process is over. Consistent updates keep them confident, focused, and excited about the role.”
Structured communication between stages also helps candidates refine their approach. It shows that their time is respected and signals that the company has an organised process.
Sector-Specific Challenges
The vertical itself shapes how easily junior candidates stay engaged.
- Crypto and blockchain: Early-career candidates can feel overwhelmed by technical complexity and changing regulatory frameworks.
- AI and data analytics: Juniors often need clarity on tools, datasets, and how closely they’ll work with product or data teams.
- Real-time payments: Latency-sensitive systems can feel intimidating for engineers unfamiliar with high-pressure environments.
“Roles in trading, risk, or real-time systems can feel dense when you’re early in your career. Juniors stay engaged when they understand how their work affects users, compliance, or system performance—and when they see early wins that build confidence.”
Clear expectations, structured onboarding, and early proof of progress help juniors stay committed in more complex fintech environments.
Keeping Junior Engineers Warm
Simple, consistent touchpoints work best: check-ins, guidance, and content that reinforces product vision and team culture. With hiring platforms increasingly measuring time-to-fill and candidate satisfaction (PaymentGenes 2025), timely communication is no longer optional. It’s a requirement for maintaining engagement in competitive talent markets.
Looking Ahead: Navigating Early Career in Fintech
Junior engineers thrive when they have clarity, mentorship, and a sense of how their work connects to the broader fintech ecosystem. Those who stay proactive-researching companies, asking thoughtful questions, and seeking guidance, stand out quickly, especially in complex areas like crypto, AI, and real-time payments.
Morgan and the EC1 Partners team support early-career engineers with insight into market trends, interview preparation, and role alignment across U.S. fintech. With visibility into vertical-specific expectations and emerging technical skills, Morgan helps junior candidates approach opportunities with clarity and confidence.
US Team
Director, Americas (Fintech Leadership)
Senior Manager (Marketing Specialist)
Technology Practice Lead
Consultant (Technology)
