How an internship at a Clinical Research Organisation will set you up for success

ICON is a market-leading, technology-led Clinical Research Organisation. Since our inception, we’ve made it our mission to help our clients accelerate the development of drugs and devices that save lives and improve quality of life. That’s who we are as a company but our people are what sets us apart. 

Aishwarya has now been with ICON for a year and she is a valued member of our Information Security Team. We spoke with Aishwarya to hear about her experience doing an apprenticeship at ICON and to provide some insight for anyone thinking of joining our IT team. Here’s what she has to say:   

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step” 

If Aishwarya had to choose one famous quote that has helped guide her, both professionally and personally, she told us that the one quote that sticks with her is one of the many pieces of wisdom that Martin Luther King imparted to us. The quote, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step” flashes up in her mind whenever she is faced with a new challenge, particularly when she started her career.

From Intern to Information Security Associate

After completing a Masters in Information Security and Cyber Forensic, Aishwarya was excited to find an opportunity at ICON. She joined us as an Intern in Information Security which enabled her to gain the experience she needed, all while working alongside talented people who were there to help her develop her existing skills. With the support of her team, Aishwarya completed the programme and she’s now working as an Information Security Associate where she says every day is a chance to learn something new. 

A great team and immense opportunities 

Aishwarya tells us how lucky she is to not only enjoy her work but to work with such great people. Since she started at ICON, her team have been a great support and has helped her to prove - even to herself - that she is ready for more responsibility. She doesn’t want to sugarcoat anything and explains that the environment she works in is really challenging, but with that comes the opportunity to develop her knowledge every day. It’s this constant learning that keeps Aishwarya engaged, and of course, it helps that she loves what she does.

ICON: a place where you can grow professionally and personally

As part of her job, Aishwarya builds relationships with third-party vendors and collaborates with them to meet security requirements. She explains that working in many different settings has helped her develop new perspectives and approaches to her work, and has broadened her experience considerably. Aishwarya is proud to say that as a team, she and her colleagues protect ICON’s data from the evolving cyber-attacks and that is really gratifying work. For her, one of the best things about ICON is that it’s a place where everyone can develop and grow.

Join our team of IT experts

If Aishwarya’s story has inspired you to join the ICON community, start your job hunt by browsing our IT jobs. Our IT team are experts in their respective fields and what unites them is their mission to build better solutions. ICON has come to be known for delivering best-in-class information, solutions and performance, with an unyielding focus on quality and each one of our colleagues plays an essential role in maintaining this reputation. A career with us is an opportunity to make a real difference.

Want to know more about working in the IT team? Read Balaji’s story to hear why he loves working as an Application Support Analyst in the global arena that is life sciences.