Careers in Cyber

What you have is worth more than you think. For public servants embarking on“what’s next?“, the future of cybersecurity is rich with opportunities—for those who are equipped with the right strategy.  

On May 29^th, The Cyber Guild welcomed 100+ members of the public service community to start their journey with a focus on cybersecurity roles. Understanding what a career path in this field entails may seem daunting, but this is where the Cyber Connect event stepped in to provide our military and government professionals with relevant information and resources they’d need to be successful during periods of transitions. 

Keep in mind this is not going to be a singular approach to a new beginning, but showing up to networking events like this is proving to be most beneficial to those who are eager to connect in-person with experts in the field & gain access to valuable guidance.  

Networking: I’m here now, so what’s next? 

In an increasingly competitive job environment saturated with talent, ‘next phase’ professionals are encouraged to distinguish themselves at high-profile networking events. 

Executive Director, Debbie Sallis and the team at The Cyber Guild knew that in order to truly help next phase professionals enter a new field of work, they’d have to reshape the networking experience for participants.  

If you were asked to think back to a networking event or conference you attended and recall the one thing that helped you to be more successful  in your career, chances are that it would be difficult for most to identify exactly how or who from the event made a true difference in your career trajectory.  

This is where hearing real stories from those in the field can help guide next phase professionals make successful transitions. During the event, former Deputy Director of the  CIA for Digital Innovation, Jennifer Ewbank, shared her tough realities during transition and promising opportunities that she met along the way. Tim  Lo, Founder of Your Next Jump, underscored the importance of presenting measurable achievements to capture  recruiters’ attention earlier in the application process.  

…a moment for self-reflection and embracing the right guidance:

What does this process look like for those who come from a background of refined soft skills acquired through public service roles? Event partner, TekStream Solutions offered timely guidance to participants on best approaches to articulating highly sought after technical and non-technical expertise. For those coming from extensive years serving in the military for instance, transitioning into a role that values mission-focused mindset may feel more natural and serve as an ideal starting point that opens many doors. 

During the event, TekStream Solutions, shared a comprehensive mapping of skillsets that helped participants to start defining what their next career phase could look like. This map was especially helpful for those who may not have had full visibility into the numerous pathways available under the umbrella of cybersecurity.

Their guidance takes a more blended approach, encouraging the community to be intentional about which certifications they pursue to improve in technical skillsets, ways to build a non-exhaustive & action-oriented resume, and learning how to stay informed about emerging threats. 

Making the decision process less complicated… 

To help increase the value of participating in professional networking events, cybersecurity consultants were invited to go even further and help break down the starting phase for next phase professionals to really understand what opportunities would be available to them.

Haystack Solutions helped create a high-impact event providing attendees with access to an individualized CyberGen Assessment, which segments potential roles into 4 different categories: (1) Offensive and  (2) Defensive Operations, (3) Forensics & Analysis and (4) Design & Development. 

From there, it becomes easier to focus on how the skills you already have align with positions in demand; roles in areas such as: Security Architecture, Threat Intelligence, Cyber Audit and Compliance, Ethical Hacking, incident handling and more. Regardless of which path someone chooses, both soft and technical skillsets will be needed.  

This is good news for public service professionals who aren’t unfamiliar with problem solving, critical thinking, leadership qualities and other functional capacities. To strengthen the future cybersecurity workforce, other sources recommend that professionals  take a well-rounded approach to learning. This includes getting practical experience in lab simulations, volunteering to support projects, and continuing to build close networks. 

Don’t be discouraged 

The recent Cyber Connect event is a reminder to those in transition, to embrace a mindset  shift and focus on the opportunities open to a highly competent community of professionals. Developing a strong cybersecurity workforce, one that is well-equipped to face emerging threats head-on, is not without a direct investment in the readily available talent coming out of the military and public sector. Expect some level of challenge during  this transition while staying open to new ways of getting involved and connecting with  practitioners who need what you already have.

---

After a successful in-person event, The Cyber Guild is excited to bring 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 online— so you can access expert insights and career support from anywhere! Check out our upcoming events to learn more and register for free!