Technology Degree Apprentice Review

Currently I am working as a SOC analyst and reviewing incidents flagged by SIEM and EDR tools used by the company such as Cortex XDR. I am training to use the tools and develop as an analyst by analysing the cases and determine whether an incident is a false positive or potentially malware/ suspicious activity that needs to be escalated to the client.

I have gained a variety of skills such as communication within a team, managing multiple tasks and deadlines, presentation and research skills etc. I have been exposed to a wide range of cyber knowledge including cyber frameworks used by large companies and I am now specifically developing my technical skills of using cyber analysis tools.

My programme has been enjoyable due to many factors such as hybrid working which has helped balance my social and work life, lots of support in balancing college and work tasks and advice from many experienced members of the company. I have rarely felt too overwhelmed to the point where I need to flag it to my career coach but I am always reminded to do so if I feel that it becomes too much for me to handle as an apprentice.

The programme is well organised in terms of college dates and how the modules are spread out. It consists of one week blocks at college followed by assignments due in the next few weeks following on from the learning. At work, my experience has been flexible in allowing me to take part in a variety of work of different nature and I have now chosen to stay within a small team for the remainder of my apprenticeship.

I have received lots of support from my employers and they take into account our feedback as apprentices and make changes to the programme where they feel it is beneficial for future and current apprentices. My senior colleagues ensure to stretch my abilities while not making me feel uncomfortable or stressed from work and are always there for any advice.

There is a good amount of support from the training provider for our qualifications. The lecturers often reply quickly to any emails regarding assignments and do their best to push you in the right direction or clear any concerns. They also give feedback sessions for any assignments you may not have been happy with or when you aim for higher marks in the future modules.

The module prepares you for lots of areas in tech and also focuses in on your specific pathway. Since the 2nd year of my apprenticeship, we are now learning lots of cyber specific modules which help our general knowledge of cyber which can be used in many situations as well as potentially in our own current job roles. For example, our recent module took us through some basics of cyber security analytics and using machine learning.

There are many socials to get involved in at work and network with a large amount of people. The company also has charity events, Christmas activities and lots of different networks for everyone to join. It is a very inclusive environment as their are religious networks, parenting networks, disability awareness, LGBTQ+ network etc that help people make deeper connections at the workplace

Yes

I would recommend PwC because of the opportunity is has given me and how it has boosted my career from an early age, especially from the point of an apprentice. I can finish a degree at the age of 21 with 3 years experience at a Big 4 company and without having to pay for education fees along with receiving a competitive salary

Be true to yourself as a candidate and be honest with your strengths and weaknesses and what you are doing to improve. Show how you are interested in your field and what you are doing to advance your career, what your goals are and study the company's values. Explain what these values mean to you and why PwC is a good place for you to join as well as what you offer to the company.