Cyber Security Consultant Review
at CGI
Degree Apprenticeship
Information Technology
Reading
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
4.1 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.6/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
My role consists of many cyber security aspects across a number of projects. No day is the same, but work includes risk assessments, vulnerability management, change management and more. I work directly under the cyber security manager as part of the security team, feeding into key decisions around a developed solution.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
The programme allows me to get hands on experience through work, and the understanding of the foundational theory through university, in a fun and exciting environment. The social side of the degree apprenticeship is also present, with lots of organised events over the weekends and evenings with other students, but also other people across the business.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have developed the majority of my technical and business skills during my time at CGI, most of which have been a direct result of getting hands on experience within the CGI business environment - this is what makes a degree apprenticeship stand out when compared to the traditional university route.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
The work side of the programme is fantastic, they provide plenty of support to ensure that our university work is complete, and provide us with mentors to support us during the course. The university itself, however, is often not very well organised, with poor communication, but this isn't resultant of CGI's actions.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
My manager provides me with plenty of support, but also distance if I need it. Managers are flexible in their approaches depending on the type of student you are. I prefer more of a hands off approach, any my manager completely understands and supports this. Mentors are also provided throughout the whole of the degree.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
1/5
The training provider, the University of Winchester, is often poorly managed. The course itself has some great content, but unfortunately they don't seem to provide lecturers with enough experience to teach the content. Any issues we have generally get swept under the carpet, unless we go through our HR.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I think my work-based learning has really helped me perform, learning all sorts of lessons every day. The university side gives you the foundational information required, and this is build upon within the office through working on projects and working closely with people in the wider organisation.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
There are lots of social events at CGI, which are organised mainly by the Sports and Social Club. These include nights & days out doing all sorts of activities, which allows you to have fun whilst meeting new people in the organisation. There are also student-specific events, which helps to get to know others on your course.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend CGI to a friend?
Yes
Why?
CGI is a great company to work at, with lots of friendly, supportive people who really do care about us and our degrees. It's a great place to gain experience and learn from people who have been working in our industry since before we were even born! I would certainly recommend it.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to CGI?
The assessment days are very relaxed, it's more of an opportunity for us to get to know each other, and where we determine whether you're the right fit for both the company and the degree apprenticeship. Top tip for the assessment centres - be yourself and don't worry too much.
