Page 117 - Cyber Defense eMagazine June 2020 Edition

There are no perfect candidates

Companies also need to be much more flexible in ascertaining who fulfills enough of their job
requirements to deserve an interview. There just aren’t that many people anywhere who know everything
there is to know and have all skills needed to do a cyber security job.

The technology is too new, the skills take too long to refine, the specific niches are too numerous and
disparate. There are no perfect applicants. Applicants who show they can do most of what the job requires
should be given more consideration.

Weak cyber security weakens businesses

Companies also need to be careful not to underestimate the financial impacts of not hiring cyber security
professionals. Granted, this is not a revenue-generating discipline. But it does help reduce revenue
losses, which can be huge when cyber breaches occur.

Don’t overestimate value of certifications

Companies should also not overestimate the value of cyber security certifications. Some people might
take an easy course while others may not. It’s important to figure out which certifications show a job
applicant’s mastery of a skill or subject matter.

Final thoughts

Professionals seeking jobs in cyber security have their hands full. It’s a market moving at blazing speeds.
The dynamics are complicated and tough to synthesize. Above all else, the key is to stay current on the
latest news in cyber security, track market dynamics, and keep taking courses that help you develop
skills valued right now by employers.

Employers need to do their part to really get their minds around what cyber security is all about so they
can hire people to do meaningful cyber security work. They can’t rely on the people they hire to figure all
this out.

And they need to move much faster and get more aligned on their corporate storyline when they interview
candidates. A quick way to turn off a job candidate is to have that person interview four different people
within your company who give the person four different stories about what’s important to the business.

Get your story straight. The applicant will be more inclined to work for you if you are all singing the same
tune. It eases their minds and shows them your company has its act together. Additionally, even if the
role you discuss is not the right match, you’ll earn tremendous credibility and trust with the candidate as
someone who may want to revisit joining your team.

Cyber Defense eMagazine –June 2020 Edition 117
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