Tell us about your Allstate story:

I joined Allstate an Application Security Engineer in the Tempe, AZ office in July. Prior to joining the company, I worked in a similar role in the hospitality industry. The role of an Application Security Engineer (Pen Tester) is to perform security analysis or penetration testing on application(s) for various technology teams. We verify if there are any security vulnerabilities that are exposed and can be breached. If we find vulnerabilities that are exposed, we document our findings and send them back to the team, so they can retrace our steps and reproduce the process to take the appropriate steps to fix the vulnerabilities and mitigate the risk.

What made you decide to join the company and what is different about Allstate?

I decided to move away from the hospitality industry and apply for different positions when I received a call from an Allstate recruiter. As we were speaking, what appealed to me was the work life balance, flexibility and the tools given for career growth. I’ve already experienced how Allstate supports the employees’ wellbeing and professional development through education and training.

Equal opportunity is something that is important with our culture considering we are very diverse. The managers and leaders really support their employees whether they are looking to go into a different role or just want additional training. There are so many opportunities to choose from. Allstate even has offices in my hometown of Pune, India. If I ever go home to visit, I can work from that office.

What work are you most proud of?

I’m proud of how I’ve learned to use new technology, such as open-source intelligent tools, to gather the information needed to complete my work on a day-to-day basis. Working on a remote team was new to me so I’m happy at how I’ve become accustomed to collaborating and communicating with people who are in different locations.

What values are important to you at a job and how do you experience them at Allstate?

Autonomy, freedom to do what you want and how you want. I want to be able to work at my own pace because everyone’s style and way of doing things can be different. I believe professional development is important in any job and there should be opportunities for an employee to learn and grow in their career. Last, but not least, I should be able to voice my ideas and be heard.

At Allstate, I’m given the freedom to choose the tools used to complete my tasks, set my pace and deadlines, without being micromanaged and successfully finish them. The company invests in my professional growth by providing me with training and online courses. If I don’t fully understand something or if I’ve new idea to pitch in, I know I can go to my team for support without hesitation

What are your biggest motivators at work?

My Pen Test team because they are amazingly talented in the work they do, they’re kind and extremely helpful. The Tempe office colleagues are warm and welcoming, which helped me settle in quickly.

The overall all work that we do also drives me because pen testing is about security and protecting Allstate from outside attacks and breaches, so I feel like we are all superheroes in our team. We motivate and help each other to make our applications as secure as possible.

What are your favorite parts about your job, the team, and the workspace?

I enjoy the fact that we all learn from each other as a team and can always count on each other for guidance. The team has been so great to me; welcoming me in with open arms from day one. My manager helped me settle into my new role, mentored me through training and continues to reach out to make sure I’m ok. The work life balance is also great because I have the flexibility to work from home or anywhere else if needed

What qualities do people need to be successful here?

Anyone looking to work at Allstate needs to have the ability to work independently and, on a team, be a self-starter, have perseverance, and be passionate about their work. You need to have good communication skills and have an open mind, as the teams you are work with can be located anywhere in the world within the company that come from different backgrounds.

Any advice for someone who is considering working at Allstate?

If you are thinking about working at Allstate, just do it, and take the chance because there are numerous opportunities to choose from in the company. You can grow in your current career path and keep learning or change your domains to a different career path. The company, its leaders and the team will give you their complete support, regardless of what you want to do. The company will provide education and training in any career field you choose.

Outside of work you can be found doing? 

I love hiking and exploring the beautiful canyons in and around Arizona and taking road trips to national parks- Yellowstone, Bryce, Zion, Moab and others. If I’m not on the road you can catch me at home playing board games with friends, watching anime or gardening.

Fun fact: Right now, I am planning my next trip to South America. Oh, and I own over 300 pairs of shoes!

Interested in joining Allstate Technology and Strategic Ventures? Search open roles today.