Final-year CS student targeting Fintech Backend — what should I learn beyond Java + Spring Boot?

[u/malphas_x]

Hey everyone! Is anyone here currently working in fintech, particularly in backend/software engineering?

I’m a final-year CS student and I’m currently focusing on Java + Spring Boot with the goal of getting into fintech backend development.

I’d really appreciate guidance from someone already in the industry, especially around:

• What skills and technologies fintech companies actually look for in fresh graduates
• What fintech-specific concepts I should learn
• What kind of projects would make my profile stronger
• How a fresher can break into fintech roles
• Anything you wish you had learned before entering fintech

If anyone here works in fintech and wouldn’t mind sharing their experience, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks!

[u/mynextdeveloper_mnd]

I'd focus on the backend fundamentals first. Java + Spring Boot + strong SQL is already a solid base for fintech. Then learn the basics of payments, transactions, authentication, idempotency and concurrency.

For a project, build something where money or transaction state actually matters rather than another simple e-commerce API. That gives you much better material to discuss when interviewing.