Resettlement Success - From Vehicle Maintenance to Cyber Security
Category: Success Stories
Publish date: 27/03/2019
About Vikki
Vikki served five years in the REME as a Vehicle Mechanic, which included a deployment to Afghanistan maintaining and servicing equipment in support of troops on the frontline. Now she is a Cyber Security Analyst at KPMG, a professional services firm with extensive experience helping businesses and governments solve their technology and information security issues. As someone who loves hands-on tasks and a technical challenge, Vikki was a natural fit for the REME; it also meant that she was drawn to the prospect of a new career in cyber.
“In the REME I got a massive sense of job satisfaction in finding faults with vehicles and then getting them back on the road. My mindset of wanting to solve technical problems has always applied more widely so it made sense for me to have a look at career opportunities in cyber.
I was worried that my lack of relevant academic qualifications would prevent me from being given a chance but I was determined to show employers that I have a strong passion for tech and the potential to succeed. To put myself in the best possible position, I taught myself a foundation level of knowledge from CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+ courses and completed work experience with the Financial Conduct Authority’s cyber department.
I joined KPMG as a Cyber Security Analyst in September 2018 and have been working with a corporate sector client to enhance their cyber resilience capability by conducting security assessments, reviewing their policies, systems and procedures and working towards running cyber-attack simulations in the near future. Of course, the Army taught me how to look after myself but also how to succeed as a team. Working in IT is sometimes perceived as a job for individuals but it’s so important to collaborate and, in my new role, I make every effort to bring people together and ensure I am communicating effectively with them.
I’m working hard but it’s incredibly rewarding to be intellectually stretched and I feel KPMG are really investing in my development, providing far more than just on-the-job training; I’m now working towards qualifying as a Systems Security Certified Practitioner.
Flexible working at KPMG has also meant I can balance my responsibilities at work with being a mum of three young children. Although I work full-time, my team are incredibly understanding and supportive if I need to adjust my working hours as things always come up at short-notice.
We’re definitely seeing more women join and stay in technology roles and initiatives such as KPMG’s Military Leavers Programme are helping build momentum. A few years ago I never thought I’d be immersed in reviewing a company’s cyber systems and procedures, but if you have a technical leaning and get excited about understanding how things work, roles such as mine could be for you.”
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