IT Services Student Placement Review

Initially, I spent some time on the Service Desk to get to grips with the different technologies and systems the society use, as well as the main technical issues end users have with them. After that, I moved to the IT Infrastructure team where I worked with the network, including contributing to the Wireless LAN refresh project. Finally, I moved to IT Security where I am responsible for helping to protect the cyber security of the business.

I have developed lots of new skills, including working with Cisco switches and the Cisco IOS Operating System to built/configure switches. Within IT Security, I've had exposure to: the latest threat intelligence feeds, our SIEM solution, Nessus, Mimecast, Azure and Active Directory - I have substantially developed my skill with all of these technologies. As part of my placement, I am sitting the Azure Fundamentals certification, as well as the new (ISC)² entry-level cyber security certification.

I have been given a lot of responsibility during my placement. Within IT Infrastruture, once I was shown how to do a task, for example how to configure VLANs on the network or setup a Cisco switch, I was given complete autonomy to finish the tasks. These were very meaningful tasks as they were network configurations for all 1000 colleagues at our head office.

A lot of support and guidance has been available during my placement. At the beginning, I was given a buddy to help me adjust during the first few weeks, as well as a mentor within IT. I have stayed in regular contact with both and they have always given me guidance with problems, checked in regularly and supported me in any way they can. The Early Talent programme is exceptional and provides you with the warmest welcome at the beginning of your placement, forming a close-knit group with others who joined the society at the same time as you.

Everyone who works at NBS says that the culture and atmosphere is the absolute best part about working at NBS, and I couldn't agree more. Everyone is so friendly and you find yourself having a chat with anyone when walking around the office, even if they aren't a familiar face. The amount of fundraising and volunteering that NBS do for the local community is also something I've not seen at any other business I've looked at.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement at NBS, so much so that I am staying on 1 day a week within my team, during my final year of university. It has exceeded my expectations, and if I was to go back in time with the knowledge I have now and make my decision again, I would not hesitate in picking NBS as the company to join.

Yes

Stay calm in the interview and just be yourself. Have questions prepared to ask at the end to show interest. Before applying, I would love to have known how much fundraising and volunteering work NBS does within the community.