You’ve read our articles, researched the statistics, and determined a career in cybersecurity could be a perfect fit for you. Now, what?
Do you have what it takes to thrive within this comprehensive field of study? Read on to discover what cybersecurity employers are looking for in their next professional.
DO YOU HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS?
Managers are looking to answer one fundamental question: Is this person qualified? A decision to pursue a career in cybersecurity requires proper education, training, and certification.* We provide our students with the opportunity to gain all three attributes.
Degree
According to the (ISC)² 2019 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, you need a degree to qualify for most cybersecurity career opportunities. This includes entry-level positions, as well as those requiring experience. Cybersecurity is an essential function of the contemporary business world. Employers need to know that you are well-trained and knowledgeable in various cybersecurity areas and up-to-date with today’s industry standards.
Experience
Since risk management is critical to the success of modern organizations, employers value real-world cybersecurity experience when making hiring decisions. Candidates who have hands-on experience with simulated cybersecurity risks, threats, and vulnerabilities are better prepared to handle these scenarios when they happen on the job.
Certifications
Earning and maintaining cybersecurity industry certifications* shows employers that you have the knowledge and skills required. Credentials are created by independent, third-party organizations with high-quality standards. By earning these professional certifications, you’re showing employers that you have met these standards.
With these three relevant credentials on your resume, business owners will be more inclined to pursue an interview and begin the screening process. Your educational background assures them that qualified professionals manage their data, programs, and software.
DO YOU HAVE THE SKILLS?
A career in cybersecurity involves a compilation of skills and skill sets that differentiate candidates from their competition and can be used toward the professional success of their company.
Employers need candidates ready to hit the ground running and use their hands-on skills to prevent, detect, and combat cybersecurity threats. Alongside these specific skills, employers will be looking for a set of soft skills that enable candidates to learn while on the job.
Some of those skills include:
Writing Skills
Cybersecurity professionals deal in detail with data breaches, system mockups, and other informative documents. Therefore, the ability to write technically about these areas is necessary for your success in cybersecurity.
Interpersonal Skills
Most cybersecurity professionals work in a team environment and are involved in many functional areas of the organization. The ability to work with others isn’t going away anytime soon, so candidates in this field shouldn’t think of themselves as stuck behind a computer screen and away from human interaction.
Quick Thinking
The ability to think critically and with speed to mitigate potentially threatening damage to network systems is the priority of the cyber manager. Therefore, candidates should assess their ability to act quickly and efficiently under pressure before pursuing a career in cybersecurity.
The cybersecurity field is alive with opportunities and is very competitive. The best jobs go to the best candidates, and the best candidates are often those who are the most qualified, prepared, and motivated.
READY TO BEGIN YOUR CAREER IN CYBERSECURITY? CONTACT WVJC ONLINE TODAY!
WVJC Online offers a Cybersecurity program designed to give you the necessary tools needed to become a valuable asset to many private, non-profit, and government entities.
Do you think you have what it takes to make it in the growing field of cybersecurity? At WVJC Online, you’ll learn to develop and maintain skills under the guidance of qualified educators, undergo the necessary certification* processes, and receive real-world experience through our externship program.
Learn more about our program or give us a call at 877-25ONLINE.
You can also download our FREE Ebook to begin learning about what it takes to get your degree in cybersecurity!
*Certification is contingent upon passing the corresponding industry certification exam.