Is Cybersecurity a Good Career?
Over the last few years, the job market has shifted drastically across all industries, making it difficult to land the dream role. The field of cybersecurity is no exception. With more and more candidates being added to the pool every year, the competition has become increasingly intense. You might be asking yourself is cybersecurity a good career?
Because you are considering this field, it is only fair to give you realistic advice about the industry so you don’t get blindsided as you try to find the proper role. With the increase in competition, entering cybersecurity may require some sacrifices. To land a role and succeed in this field, you need to be ready for the long haul. It will help if, like an Olympic athlete, you have an intense passion for the work, you don’t give up at the first challenge, and you are quick to adapt.
Unfortunately, with the current job market, having a fundamental interest in cybersecurity and a degree is not enough. These things will not necessarily make you stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. There are just too many other people entering the job market in that same situation.
Consider these three areas to see if you will be a good fit in the Cybersecurity space:
Passion
Resilience
Adaptability
Passion
Now more than ever, you need a passion for cybersecurity to succeed. Because job searching can be long and tedious, love for the topic and the work are essential. Some sacrifice is involved in making it.
I’m sure you have heard the saying, “You are what you consume.” This also applies when it comes to showing passion for cybersecurity. Someone with a passion for the industry will live and breathe this field. You will stay informed on industry news by regularly reading articles and journals. In addition, you will surround yourself with like-minded people.
Following and interacting with cybersecurity experts on social media and in person can go a long way. Connecting with those already in the field can speed up landing a role. A great place to find these thought leaders is on sites like Medium and LinkedIn.
Engage as much as you can in cybersecurity forums and online communities. Try to create genuine relationships with these professionals and learn as much as possible from those who have already reached your goal.
Participating in cybersecurity conferences and continuing your education through webinars or online courses can deepen your knowledge. These activities can help you create real-life examples of your work to showcase to recruiters.
If recruiters and hiring managers can’t see that you exude passion for the field, they might pass you up. You will stand out and prove you are passionate when you have tangibles to prove it. Don’t keep everything you are learning to yourself. Share it anywhere. A cybersecurity community is ready to listen, and it is in a place like LinkedIn where you know headhunters are around.
Those who genuinely have a passion for the field and are ready to give 110% to the job search process will have no problem being resilient when things don’t happen immediately.
Resilience
Resilience is a soft skill you will need to develop early in this career. You will encounter many setbacks during the job search and even in your day-to-day role at any company. You can practice resilience by learning to manage your emotions effectively. When there are setbacks or complex challenges, it's essential to self-regulate. A resilient person does not let their negative emotions eclipse them. You will need to learn to cope with disappointments and failures effectively. To stay employable in this field, it’s good to develop the ability to bounce back quickly from setbacks and keep moving forward.
Like riding a bike, this skill is acquired through consistent practice. Whenever you encounter a challenge or setback, practice not focusing on the feelings of failure or disappointment. Instead, analyze what went wrong in the situation, what you learned, and how you can prevent this in the future.
Practice focusing on the positive part of every situation. Consider what invaluable knowledge you have gained from the experience and remind yourself that you are constantly learning new things. There will be moments when you may not have the best answer right away, and let’s face it, sometimes we just get it wrong.
Setting realistic goals and expectations is critical. Everyone in the field started at zero, just like you. Resilience can give you the added motivation not to give up when you face a challenge that a senior-level professional could solve quickly. You have to be realistic about what you can do at your level and continue to have the drive to keep learning and improving.
Managing feelings of disappointment, focusing on lessons learned, and having realistic expectations will improve your resilience and help you embody adaptability, another skill crucial to cybersecurity.
Adaptability
Every Cybersecurity professional has to be adaptable. Since this field changes and develops constantly, you must be ready to change. Adaptability will be a skill you use continually in your day-to-day role. However, it can even benefit you in the job search process.
Years back, there was a significant need for additional professionals to join the job market in this field. However, the landscape has changed drastically in recent years. Landing an entry-level role by simply applying with basic qualifications is no longer feasible. Though not impossible, you will have to be adaptable. For example, you may have a role in mind in a specialty you enjoy, but when you apply, you find out that the experience requirements are far greater than you expected. You can adapt by looking for roles that fit your current qualifications. Initially, you may have to assume an entry-level role with a less-than-ideal shift. Then, with time, transition to the specialty and change of your choice. This may take more time and effort, but by adjusting, you can land a role and gain the additional experience and knowledge you need to be competitive in the job market.
Another thing that can help is to build a support system of colleagues and friends. Those who have gone through a similar experience can give you tips and “tricks of the trade” to help you get through these situations.
Being willing to adjust your career plan is a way to practice resilience. Remember, there is a solution for every problem, but it may not be what you initially thought of. This can help you stay motivated in this career. Since there will be ups and downs in the job search process, being able to quickly shift and take in feedback from others who have made it to where you want to go is invaluable.
Navigating the cybersecurity field and its job market will require a deep-seated passion, resilience, and adaptability on your part. As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, it's crucial to cultivate these skills to stand out. Passion will drive you to stay informed and engaged. Resilience will help you bounce back from setbacks and maintain a positive outlook. Being adaptable ensures that you can pivot your strategies and expectations in response to the changes in the industry. By actively practicing these skills, you can position yourself for success in the job search process and your future career.
I don't want to leave this KB article without leaving it on a high note. We can summarize the recent demand for cybersecurity changes to AI and automation, but I want you to see the big picture. The big picture is that the demand for cybersecurity persons is an ebb and flow, and right now, we're just ebbing. In the next few years, there will be another flow, another significant demand for cybersecurity, and that is when quantum will make its leap, and there will be a massive need for individuals to fix the encryption that will break overnight. This is but one example, one we know of, that will shift the demand, but there is always that groundbreaking technology that will come up when we least expect it. The demand isn't stagnant. Stick with it.
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Tyler Wall is the founder of Cyber NOW Education. He holds bills for a Master of Science from Purdue University and CISSP, CCSK, CFSR, CEH, Sec+, Net+, and A+ certifications. He mastered the SOC after having held every position from analyst to architect and is the author of three books, 100+ professional articles, and ten online courses specifically for SOC analysts.
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