Toby Pike's journey
Why did you start the traineeship?
After completing my degree and dropping out of teacher training, I was lost and had no direction. Whilst looking for inspiration for what I was going to do next, I happened to stumble across an advert for the Cyber Security Traineeship. I had always had a mild curiosity for IT, but I’d never imagined pursuing it as a career. I always felt it would be far too complex to try and learn it all from scratch in my twenties. After looking further into the Traineeship, it sounded so simple and accessible for anybody. I decided to give it a go, and I was so right. It starts at the very basics and builds up your knowledge base in a coherent and logical manner.
What did you enjoy most?
The thing I enjoyed most about the Traineeship was the wide range of topics covered during the course. The fact that it covered things from basic hardware and software to security and networking, plus Cisco and Microsoft, meant I felt like I was getting a really comprehensive introduction to the world of IT. I was learning so much about such a wide range of things, and it made it very interesting and enjoyable.
What's your current role like?
My current role is very interesting as there are all sorts of things that come up. I am a junior analyst in a team of 3, so I mostly deal with 1st line issues. My day can range from simple hardware issues like reimaging laptops and dealing with monitor issues, to more complex software issues. No single day is like another, and that makes it a very exciting and intriguing role. The other members of the team are fantastic at supporting my learning, and they are always willing to share their knowledge and help me where they can. I am only a month in, but I look forward to experiencing and learning more as I progress in my career.