IT Services Student Placement Review

My role started out on the service desk where I got to grips with the systems the Society uses and it gave me the understanding of how the whole IT department operated. I then moved to the Cyber Security team where I worked with SIEM technologies to investigate threats that posed a risk to the business. I also preformed vulnerability management activities and carried out threat intelligence, which involved monitoring threat feeds, industry reports and security advisories to gather actionable insights.

This placement year has allowed me to develop my professional skills. These include time management, problem-solving, adaptability and industry-specific skills in security tools such as: Azure, Defender, Qualys, Nessus and Sentinel. Therefore, the placement has provided me with hands-on experience and exposure to the practical aspects of Cyber Security. It has also allowed me to learn new skills that were not taught in University. Specifically in JQL query language, which I used to create a Cyber Security dashboard.

During my placement, I was given a lot of responsibility, which has really aided my development. I was able to work on live projects, which allowed me to actively contribute to the team's goals. This experience not only expanded my skills, but enabled me to develop a sense of ownership for my work. I was also given a lot of autonomy to complete work, so this allowed me to complete business as usual and non-business as usual tasks very freely, giving me a sense of accountability for my work. This enabled me to give meaningful contributions to the business.

I received a lot of support and guidance during my placement year, which I appreciated greatly. At the start of your placement, you are given a buddy and a mentor who you can go to with any questions or support you might need. I expressed to my mentor that I would like to join the Cyber Security team and they were able to facilitate my move to that team. A lot of praise must also go to the Early Talent team, who look after you from the day you start to the day you finish with regular support sessions throughout the year.

Newcastle Building Society's purpose is to "connect our communities to a better financial future" and a real community culture is felt when working within the Society with many volunteering opportunities in the local community available. I was able to support the Newcastle United Foundation and also volunteer for a local football tournament. The general atmosphere within the business is one of collaboration and support, and everyone generally just wants you to succeed in your role.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement year and would definitely recommended someone to take the opportunity if offered a role. The opportunities, variety of work, the chance to work on live projects and the great people that you meet, make it a very enjoyable experience and massively helps your personal and professional development. For my final year at university, I will be staying on at the Society for 2 days a week, so I can continue my developed here.

Yes

My advice to others applying to Newcastle Building Society would be to do a lot of research around the company. For example, look on their website and look at their 'who we are' page and 'our guiding principles' page to understand their values. From here, tailor your cover letter and application documentation to any experiences you have had that match these principles. Looking at other resources as well such as Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook, RateMyPlacement (well done if you're reading this as it shows you're doing your research :) ) to understand more about the business and what it does.