BUILD YOUR PROFILE

Training companies and certification providers with the biggest advertising and marketing budgets – those who will appear at the top of any search engine – are not necessarily the correct ones for you. Chasing certifications – especially when you have no proof they will help you find a job – can be an expensive waste of time. It’s important therefore to find a mentor who is already in the field of cyber you wish to enter. This person should be able to provide you with objective opinions about self-learning, which practical skills you will need, how long it will take you to find a role, how to present at interview and more. They may – if you’re lucky – be able to introduce you to potential employers, but this shouldn’t be your priority. Instead find someone who is happy to support you, to listen and to impart wisdom. Taking the time to find the correct mentor for you can be invaluable in gaining the correct, impartial advice you need.

Where do you find someone like this? Join membership organisations such as CIISec, SASIG and the UK Cyber Security Council (if you don’t know what these organisations are, here’s a timely reminder that curiosity, self-learning and awareness of the industry are crucial in getting a job – so now’s the time to start researching). Engage with them wherever possible. Attend security shows and – instead of visiting the trade stands where you will only talk to sales people – attend the talks held by industry experts.

Create a LinkedIn profile and become a voice people want to hear. Don’t worry about being a beginner; your opinion is just as valid as someone who has been in the business for decades. Think “What can I do for you?” Not “What can you do for me?”. The more you offer insight and curiosity to someone in this industry, the more likely you will build a rapport with them.

You can share resources, source articles, include links to white papers and offer opinions on other people’s posts – all this establishes you as an independent thinker who engages with the cyber community and isn’t afraid of contributing. Your profile will definitely be taken into consideration by potential employers so it’s a valuable selling tool – but don’t just use it as a job hunting platform.

Tips to help you build your profile

• Aim to post original content a couple of times a week – this can be reposted, or shared from a news site.
• Sign up for relevant emails from companies in your field and share their content – it establishes you as an expert.
• Set up Google Alerts for relevant phrases – for example new stories about breaches or cyber attacks – and share the stories as they happen.
• Follow industry leaders and engage on their posts, follow their followers and aim to be consistently growing your follower count.