After spending five years working in Japan as an English language teacher, Liz returned to the UK ready to take the next step in her career. Like many people coming back from time abroad, she found that the transition wasn’t straightforward. Despite her experience, she was repeatedly told she needed to reskill - prompting her to step back and reassess her direction.
Rather than seeing this as a setback, Liz used it as an opportunity. With a long-standing interest in cyber security, she began exploring how she could turn that interest into a viable career. She knew, however, that moving into the field wouldn’t be something she could do alone. “I didn’t have the skills or knowledge,” she explains, “so I knew I’d need help getting started.”
After researching training options online, Liz came across CAPSLOCK. The structure of the programme and its accessible approach stood out immediately. It offered a clear pathway into cyber security without requiring previous experience - something that gave her the confidence to commit.
“It felt really well organised and like the right fit for someone starting from scratch”
Building a broader understanding of cyber security
As Liz progressed through the programme, one of the biggest shifts in her perspective came from understanding just how broad cyber security really is. Like many newcomers, her initial perception of the industry had been quite narrow.
“People picture a hacker in a hoodie,” she reflects, “but it’s not like that at all - it’s so much more than that.”
A key part of her learning was developing an understanding of how organisations approach cyber risk at a strategic level. Rather than focusing purely on technical concepts, the course introduced her to the business side of cyber security: how companies assess, prioritise, and manage risk across their operations.
“I’d never really thought about how companies actually deal with risk,” she says. “How they decide what’s most critical, how they protect data - it’s something you just don’t consider until you learn it properly.”
This wider perspective proved invaluable, giving her a solid foundation that would later support her transition into a professional role.
Learning through people as well as content
While the course content itself was important, Liz is clear that the people she met along the way played an equally significant role in her experience. From tutors to her fellow cohort members, the collaborative environment helped bring the material to life.
“I met so many lovely people - there was always someone you could go to if you needed help.”
Working with others also exposed her to a range of perspectives and approaches. Different groups would tackle the same problems in entirely different ways, which helped deepen her understanding and encouraged her to think more broadly.
“It really makes you consider things from different angles,” she explains. “You realise there isn’t always just one way of doing things.”
Finding direction in a broad industry
Rather than starting the programme with a fixed career goal, Liz chose to keep her options open. Cyber security is a vast field, and she wanted to use the experience to explore different areas before committing to a specific path.
Through conversations with tutors and sessions with former CAPSLOCK alumni, she gradually developed a clearer sense of direction. These insights were particularly valuable in helping her understand the realities of working in the industry, including the challenges of the job market.
“One alumnus mentioned they’d sent out hundreds of applications before landing a role, and that really helped put things into perspective,” she says. “It made me realise that persistence is key.”
Over time, Liz discovered that she was most drawn to the “blue team” side of cyber security - focusing on defence, monitoring, and protecting systems rather than offensive testing.
“I realised I liked the idea of protecting and defending things,” she explains. “That felt like the right fit for me.”
Stepping into a new role
After completing the programme, Liz successfully secured a position as a Junior Cyber Analyst at Darktrace. Now in the early stages of her role, she is already seeing how the knowledge she gained at CAPSLOCK translates into the workplace.
“A lot of what I’m learning now feels like revisiting things I’ve already covered,” she says. “It definitely gave me a strong base to build from.”
Her role includes a structured onboarding process, designed to gradually introduce her to the tools, processes, and responsibilities of working in a security operations environment. From shadowing SOC shifts to developing an understanding of threats, she is building her experience step by step.
“It’s really helpful having a clear structure,” she adds. “You know what you’re working towards each week, and that makes a big difference.”
Alongside the technical learning, Liz has also found the team environment to be a major positive.
“My team are fantastic,” she says. “I know I can ask for help whenever I need it, whether I’m working remotely or in the office.”
Advice for others considering cyber security
Reflecting on her journey, Liz emphasises the importance of making the most of the support available during the course. For her, the biggest gains came not just from the content, but from engaging fully with the people around her.
“Use every opportunity you can,” she advises. “Speak to your tutors, the careers team, and your cohort - there’s so much knowledge there.”
She also highlights the importance of persistence, particularly when it comes to securing a role after completing the programme.
“The job search can be tough, but it’s worth it,” she says. “You just have to keep going.”
A positive step into a new career
Looking back, Liz describes her experience with CAPSLOCK as both rewarding and transformative. It not only gave her the technical and conceptual foundation she needed to enter cyber security, but also the confidence to pursue a completely new career path.
“I learned so much about a subject I didn’t know much about before,” she reflects. “I met fantastic people, had great support from the tutors, and gained knowledge that’s already helping me in my role.”
For Liz, the decision to reskill into cyber security, and to do it with CAPSLOCK, has proven to be a significant and positive step forward.
“It’s been a really good experience,” she says. “I’m very glad I chose CAPSLOCK.”
Connect with Liz on LinkedIn to follow her journey.
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