"One of the highlights has been building my network within the business and having access to so many different people at all levels. This is something I have found unique to THG compared to my previous experience at other businesses"

David joined our Tech division as a Data Protection Analyst in our Information Security team. Keep reading to find out how networking, learning & development opportunities, and exposure to the wider business have shaped his first 12 months.

As a Data Protection Analyst in Information Security, my role varies daily, from dealing with general queries to completing data protection impact assessments and data subject access requests. One of the things that attracted me to THG was the ability to have a lot of autonomy over the work that I would be doing, and working on a variety of different tasks and projects. It was also the opportunity to learn at a much faster speed in a variety of different aspects of data protection.  

I really enjoyed my onboarding experience from the interview to getting my job offer. My manager and head of department have done everything they can to assist me, provide guidance and support me in all aspects of my role. One of the highlights has been building my network within the business and having access to so many different people at all levels. This is something I have found unique to THG compared to my previous experience at other businesses, which is great.  

I started networking from the first day that I started at THG. One of the tasks within my probation period was to reach out to a variety of stakeholders within the business which enabled me to form a number of professional relationships within Tech as well as in other areas of the business. Recently, I have enrolled onto an internal learning module for improving my presenting skills, which is something I find difficult even though I love to chat! I'm looking forward to improving my skills in that area which I know will be a serious asset for myself and within my team, but also when presenting to stakeholders across the business. 

I think one of the main challenges when I first joined was getting used to all the systems but over time that has improved exponentially. It’s easy to put a lot of pressure on yourself, especially when starting a new job, but I think the way I got around this was by staying very organised and having regular check-ins with my manager really helped. 

My advice to anyone looking to apply to THG, or who is new to the company, is that you really need to be a self-starter and seize opportunities. The more willing you are, the more responsibility you will be given. Second, I would say introduce yourself to as many people as you can, which I know is often daunting, but it really makes things easier. You never know who you could end up chatting to and how vital that could be for future projects or activities within your role. I would also say be a sponge as there are so many people with a vast level of knowledge in the business that can help you so much- listen, make notes, and research to build up your own knowledge.  

Finally, I would say have fun! Work can be tough sometimes but it's rewarding. You will meet a lot of great people through lots of opportunities to network. I met someone in one of my first induction meetings who works in a completely different department, and we're still friends today.