A Guide to Securing a Cyber Security Degree Apprenticeship

I've managed to receive degree apprenticeship offers from top companies like HSBC, Airbus and Siemens. I ultimately chose the offer from HSBC to pursue my passion for entering the field of Cyber Security and this article has been written so you can replicate my success.

Pre-Application Preparation

Gain Valuable Work Experience

• General Guidance: How to Apply for Work Experience - ApprenticeWatch
• Become a Brand Ambassador: Join as an ApprenticeWatch Ambassador
• Virtual Opportunities: Technology Virtual Work Experience - Springpod
• Find Local Placements: IT & Computing Work Experience - Career Bay
• Networking: Join the Vanguards Society

Proactively email smaller companies and their IT/Digital Departments about placements. You can find email templates online or connect with people on LinkedIn to ask for opportunities.

Foundational Cyber Security Courses

• Recommended Starter Course: TryHackMe - Pre-Security Path
• In-depth Alternative: Cisco - Introduction to Cybersecurity

Remember to add the course completion badges to your LinkedIn profile and mention them on your CV.

Hands-on Learning

• BurpSuite: An all-in-one cybersecurity tool. Download the Community Edition.
  • Video Walkthrough: Learn BurpSuite - Video Guide
  • In-depth Tutorials: PortSwigger Web Security Academy
  • Practice Site: "Hack" the Juice Shop
• My Capture The Flag (CTF): Stentors CTF

Beginner Cyber Security Projects

These are great to talk about in interviews. Python is a good first language to learn.

• Beginner's Python Guide: W3Schools - Python Tutorial

Make sure to upload your completed projects to your GitHub account!

• Project Ideas Video: Top Five Cyber Security Python Projects

Tools

• Password Generator: Create a Random Password Generator - GeeksforGeeks
• Advanced Password Manager: Create a Password Manager with DB/Encryption - LinkedIn Article
• Socket Programming: Socket Programming in Python - GeeksforGeeks
• Port Scanner: Port Scanner Using Python - GeeksforGeeks

Encryption

• Caesar Cipher Tool: Caesar Cipher Program in Python - Instructables
• File Encryption: Encrypt and Decrypt Files with Python - GeeksforGeeks

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Application Tips

• Reach out to current apprentices at the companies you're applying to on LinkedIn for application tips.
• If you apply to HSBC, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn as I might be able to provide you with some advice.
• Keep track of your applications and their stages using the ApprenticeWatch Dashboard.

Stage 1: The CV

Every time you apply, download the job description and use an AI tool or the ApprenticeWatch CV Optimiser to ensure it has the necessary keywords to progress.

• My CV for reference: View Me
• Feel free to contact me for CV reviews at [email protected].

When applications allow you to attach more links, I recommend including:

• GitHub: Create public repositories for your projects and customize your GitHub readme.
  • Example Readme: My GitHub Profile
  • Readme Guide: Guide to Writing a Readme.md
• Personal Website: Showcase your projects. You can build one to learn web development or use an online template.
  • Free Hosting: GitHub Pages

Stage 2: The Video Interview

This involves recording your answers to pre-set questions. You'll see the question, have a moment to prepare, and then 1-3 minutes to record your response.

Key Tips

• Wear smart clothes.
• Ensure a stable internet connection in a quiet, distraction-free room.
• Research sample interview questions for the specific role and company. Student forums can be a good source.

Example Cyber Security Degree Apprenticeship Questions

Company Specific:

• Why do you want to work for ___?
• How do our core values align with your own professional values?

Look up the company's values and prepare examples of how you've demonstrated them. Download the company's annual report, use an AI to extract specific stats about their cyber security team, and refer to these in your interview.

Technical:

• What do you think are the biggest cybersecurity threats today?
• Can you explain the concept of a zero-day vulnerability?
• How do you keep up-to-date with emerging security threats and techniques?
  • Stay Informed: Bleeping Computer - Cyber Security News

Soft Skills:

• Tell us about a time you solved a problem under pressure.
• Tell us about a time you effectively led a team.
• Describe a situation in which you had to adapt to a significant change or challenge in a project.
• Tell us about a time when you received critical feedback and how you handled it.

Stage 3: The Technical Interview

Technical Questions I've Been Asked:

• How would you go about hacking a bank?

• What are some network security considerations?

• What is the benefit of cloud computing?

• What is the benefit of virtualisation?

• What is a big risk companies are facing today?

• What is object-oriented programming?

• Why are Linux-based OSs used?

• Why are you interested in (the specific sector of the company - finance/aviation/transportation…)?

• More Questions: Brainstation - Cybersecurity Interview Questions

• Coding Practice: Use LeetCode and Codility to practice. You might be asked to create a script with the Flask microweb framework to make API calls.

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Final Notes

Legal and Ethical Hacking: When practising hands-on cybersecurity, it is vital that you are aware of the laws and permissions. Only conduct penetration tests on applications you have written permission to test, or stick to websites purposely built for hacking.

I would recommend focusing on hands-on learning, such as mastering Burp Suite and building projects, as it provides much more to talk about in interviews.

Entry-level cybersecurity roles are not abundant because it's a specialized field. Having a basic understanding of computer science as a whole is vital. I would also recommend looking into general computer science or data apprenticeships first, then moving into cybersecurity. This allows for a broader understanding before specializing.