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Helping protect the magic: what it’s like to do a placement year at Disney

Hi everyone!

I'm Binita, a final year Cyber Security student and ambassador at the University of Staffordshire London.

I have recently returned to university after completing a 12-month placement at The Walt Disney Company, and also a 10-week summer internship at Vocalink, a Mastercard Company.

I would love to share my experiences with you about what it’s like to work as an Information Security Intern at Disney, on a mission to help protect the magic! Also, if you're on the search for placement or internship opportunities, I've got you! I'll share some of my top tips that helped me secure a role with a company I've grown up adoring.

What a day/week on placement was like?

During my placement as an Information Security Intern, I worked within the EMEA InfoSec Team, which formed part of the wider Global Information Security Team.

The biggest highlight for me was the opportunity to get involved in multiple projects, each carrying real responsibility and having a meaningful impact on the organisation.

My primary responsibilities throughout my placement included working on vulnerability management, third-party risk management, and security training and awareness initiatives. In vulnerability management, I supported ongoing risk identification and assessment, leveraging scanning tools to monitor company environments and coordinate remediation with technology teams. In third-party risk management, I assessed the security controls implemented by external vendors before they engaged with the company to ensure compliance. Also, to strengthen Disney's overall security culture, I delivered Security Champion sessions, produced monthly newsletters, and assisted in developing user guides and playbooks.

A typical week for me involved a combination of meetings, recurring touchbases and independent project work.

Every Monday began with a team meeting that helped me set priorities for the week ahead, raise any challenges, and align progress across our team.

Throughout the week, I attended regular calls with technology teams to review vulnerabilities in their environments, as well as cross-regional meetings with the US, LATAM, and APAC InfoSec teams, an experience that taught me to work effectively across different time zones.

Alongside these meetings, I dedicated much of my time to ongoing tasks and longer-term projects. This included progressing through third-party security reviews for my assigned vendors, drafting documentation, developing content for the Security Champion programme and our monthly newsletter, and following up with teams on remediation activities. I always enjoyed catching up with the other technology interns during lunch; it was an excellent opportunity to learn about the projects they were working on.

One of the best parts of the experience was being part of a cohort of 200 interns, meaning there were always fun events and activities to get involved in after work – especially on Thursdays! Throughout the year, I also set aside time to participate in the Intern Development Programme, which helped me strengthen key soft skills, such as presenting and navigating a matrix organisation, skills I applied directly in my daily role.

How your degree prepared you for placement?

For me, working at Disney was the first time I was stepping into the industry, and I was both excited and a bit nervous. Although I found myself drawing on the knowledge and skills I had begun developing in my first and second years of university to help me settle in quickly. When working in industry, especially in Information Security, every decision revolves around the company's policies and standards. I remember one of my very first tasks at the company was to review and understand Disney's documented policies, and I found that I had covered much of the foundational theoretical knowledge at university. Therefore, going forward, my focus was on how to apply the theory practically in a business context.

Also, by completing group assignments and balancing multiple assignments, I entered my placement with strong teamwork, written communication, and time management skills, all of which I continued to strengthen during my time at Disney. I think it's important to remember that employers aren't expecting you to know everything when you start a placement; they want to see that you're keen and willing to learn. When reading job descriptions, don't feel that you cannot apply because you don't meet all of the points specified on the job description – as long as you have the large majority, absolutely go ahead and apply!

Another significant advantage that I believe helped my CV stand out during the initial screening process is the certification opportunities offered at the University of Staffordshire London. Before applying for placements, I had completed both the CCNA 1 (Introduction to Networking) and the Linux Essentials certifications. Not only did these certifications help me deepen my knowledge in cyber security, but they're also another way for employers to see that you're passionate about your subject and willing to go beyond the university course itself. During my placement year, I also had some time to take the ISC2 Certified in Cyber Security exam, where both my university knowledge and practical experiences at Disney helped me succeed.
Tips on securing a placement for future students.

Having been through the process of searching and applying for placements (and also facing rejections along the way), here are my top tips and tricks that I'd recommend to help you secure a role.

#1 Start looking early. Don't wait for the university to start sending placement adverts; be proactive and begin searching early. Placement and internship roles can be advertised as early as August. By the time you return to university in October, you may have already missed out on opportunities you would have been interested in applying for.

#2 Take your time to read the job description carefully and do a bit of research about the company before starting your application. For each role that you apply for, don't rush your application. I'd highly recommend researching the company to understand its core values, objectives, and mission. Also, when reviewing the job description, highlight every key skill mentioned and reflect on times when you've demonstrated them, which you could use in your application or interview.

#3 After you've conducted your research, leverage this information to your advantage and tailor your CV and cover letter to showcase your interest in the company and the role. I've attended numerous career events, and when speaking with employers or listening to panels, there's always one piece of common advice: never use the same CV and cover letter when applying for different companies. Tailoring your application helps to present your enthusiasm for a role!

#4 Be clear on your personal motivations as to why you've applied for the role. Upon reflection, after receiving feedback on some of my unsuccessful applications, I soon realised that in my interviews, I wasn't always answering the following three questions clearly – I seemed to miss one every time. The employer doesn't tend to ask you these questions directly; however, they want to be able to infer from your responses:

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- Why would you like to work at the company?

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- What interests you about the role?

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- Why would you be a good fit?

#5 - Don't give up – resilience is key! From personal experience, I know that receiving a rejection email or call can be disheartening, and you may feel discouraged from continuing to apply. However, I will say that eventually, the right role will find its way to you! Where possible, reach out to the company to request feedback; use this as a learning opportunity to improve your approach for the next application or interview.

Are you considering applying for a placement year or internship opportunities?

I would 100% encourage you to do so, and my biggest piece of advice is to always be true to your authentic self throughout the application process.

After all, it's a two-way process – it's a chance for you to see whether the company is right for you, but it also allows the employers to get to know you and assess whether you'll be a right fit for the role. Individuality and diversity are highly valued at any company, and it's essential to feel comfortable bringing your whole self to work – it's your greatest strength!

Most importantly, when you do succeed and receive your placement or internship offer, make the most of every opportunity and have a magical time – be curious, connect with others across different departments, and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone!

When the time comes, best of luck with your applications. You've got this!