Information Security Apprentice Review

I currently work in the solutions team in Information Security within Unilever. Day to day tasks are different, however i am involved in long term projects such as the rollout of a 3rd party web based proxy service in the form of an application to improve security for our users.

I have learnt a vast majority of skills since i have started here at Unilever and i have also improved on many existing skills also. I have gained technical experience and a technical interest which has developed these skills as well as developing my soft skills and public speaking ability which helps in all areas of the business.

I enjoy this apprenticeship scheme hugely. Regardless of all the academic benefits such as the University and the free tuition etc, i feel i have found the space in which i wish to start a career because of this scheme and for that i am really grateful. My day to day existence in Unilever is also a happy one, with nice colleagues and a tightly knit group of apprentices.

It is difficult to fault the structure of my programme, especially if it is taken into consideration that i am govern by three completely separate bodies. (AEA, OU, and Unilever). It is impressive actually how smooth any transitions are and how well all three bodies communicate and allow for all the apprentices needs and requirements to be met whilst giving us space to thrive.

I receive a huge amount of support in work. I am involved in some fairly technical work which i am slowly getting to grips with, but much of which is difficult from the beginning. I feel i am given the perfect amount of independency and responsibility to thrive, whilst always being aware i have people i can directly contact for help. These sources for support are generally very smart people with experience in this area; and if for whatever reason they are struggling themselves or are not certain, they always have another point of contact for me. I cannot stress the amount of support that the business provides, it is excellent.

I am always aware of who i need to speak to in the case that i need assistance. However, as the degree is quite broad in the first few years, i can tend to independent solve issues. However, in the case i do need help i want to stress i know exactly who to speak to for each module // assignment. To answer the question i feel i receive exactly the right amount of support from the Open University (my training provider). The level of independency is important and i am glad i am not being hand held through the course, as this would be detrimental to my learning.

I feel that my training provider provides all the assistance that i require, however in terms of actually helping me perform better in my role i don't think they directly assist with this. The broad IT degree and the training that accompanies it obviously assists in some day to day ETS/IT activities and in a way provides a sort of foundation for me to learn more and specialise in the InfoSec space; but the OU does not directly assist with my improvement of Information Security specifics. However this does not take away from all the befits and positive points i have previously highlighted about the OU.

There are many different extra curricular activities available in Unilever and i have dabbled in some. Whether that be sports, networking actives or even different things such as social pillars or yoga at lunch. I feel that the amount of extra curricular activities available here is brilliant and i don't think i could think of many more they could have on offer.

Yes

Unilever is 100% the most accepting, comfortable yet challenging job i have ever had the pleasure to have. I honestly look forward to work in the morning and really do enjoy my day job. There are obviously days where i cant be bothered or don't want to come into the office as with every other job, however i feel sometimes i don't get a day like this in weeks or even months. There is something about the supportive and positive culture that Unilever fosters that is almost addictive. I really do enjoy coming to work here, even to the extent where i am going to try very hard to achieve a position here once my apprenticeship concludes. I don't think any other company that i know of has achieved the same level of respect and positivity that employees show to the both the company and each other. On top of this i found the field i enjoy after walking through Unsilvers door's. I cannot recommend this place enough.

There are so many steps to get into the apprentice scheme here but a few tips i would give are. - Try and get some work experience (unpaid is better = more willing) and network as best as you can as nepotism is a thing (not what you know, its who you know) - Its important to be smart obviously but the smartest person in the world is useless if he/she doesn't get anything done - so be both smart and have a good work ethic - Prepare well for interviews and other tasks - Put in the effort in every stage of application, it will be noticed even if you think it isn't - Stand out, whether that's work experience you've done, someone you know, something you've done or how you act / convey yourself - Have a prepared and solid answer for the question "Why do you want to work here" - the big element of mine was noticing and explaining how accepting Unilever is of apprentices and the commitment that they show as a company towards us (seemed to go a long way)