Why I Pursued Work Experience in Cyber

I’ve always had an interest in computer science as a whole, and this extended into cyber security. It is an increasing area of concern for organisations in both the public and private sectors. Many people my age are attracted at the prospect of a secure job that is constantly in a state of change, providing new and interesting challenges.

I wanted to undertake work experience that would give me some more exposure to the field. Many people taking a glance at cyber security may see it as companies versus hackers. This isn’t entirely wrong, but working alongside a cyber security company like Sapphire has certainly helped me see that it is a big step from what most people expect.

I reached out to Andy Bates, a Technical Director within Sapphire. He kindly arranged for me to be involved in two weeks of virtual work experience and one week on-site at the Sapphire office in Darlington.

What I Did During My Experience

During my two weeks’ virtual work experience, I joined calls to observe interactions between Sapphire and some of their clients. I also talked to various people within Sapphire – who were helpful in giving me chunks of their time to discuss their roles and what they typically got through during a day.

I was also set a few tasks in preparation for my week in the office, including sourcing statistics for use within Sapphire, brainstorming ideas for EmPowerCyber 2024 (a cybersecurity event held to help introduce 12–13-year-old girls to the field) and drafting an outline response to a tender for a Security Operations Centre for a large local authority.

When I arrived at the office in Darlington, the team there was ready to meet me and tour me around the office. I spent the next few days continuing to work on various tasks and gaining experience and observations of the field. Of particular interest was some exposure to ransomware simulations.

Overall, my experience has given me a widespread view of the multitude of occupations within the sector as well as the typical workflows and project demands.

Key Takeaways

I had to quickly adapt to the constant use of communication technology. If you already have a grasp on applications such as Teams and Outlook, it gives you a huge advantage. I also had to quickly adapt to all the terminology and acronyms in the sector – which can be quite confusing at times.

I also took away key lessons in the importance of communication and time management. However, these are skills that develop through experience- and so there is no better way than getting involved.

Alongside that, networking (people rather than computers!) is another area of importance. As put to me by one of the team at Sapphire  “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. This certainly is true within the industry, where I met many new, interesting people that provided a view into their field. 

The key tip I can give to those hoping to get involved is that there is nothing better than delving into cyber security with work experience. If you’re anything like me and would rather be put into the deep end instead of reading information about the sector in your spare time, I heavily suggest contacting Sapphire for advice on how to start or advance your career in cyber!

A young man with short, dark hair is smiling at the camera. Dressed in a blue suit and a yellow tie, he is situated indoors at an elegant event. The background showcases an opulent chandelier, a stylish lampshade, and other attendees milling about in the elegant room.

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