Cybersecurity is a growing field with vast opportunities. The world is changing. Some careers will be left behind, while others leap to the front. Those who work in cybersecurity as ethical hackers are the first-responders of the modern world. They will only become more critical as our world expands its digital dynasty. But, is it hard to get a job in cybersecurity?
It is not hard to get a job in cybersecurity. The number of positions is growing, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics expecting the field to increase more than 30% over the next ten years. Most hiring managers emphasize soft skills for entry-level candidates, with most of the technical skills learned on the job.
Individuals interested in internet technologies will find specializing in cybersecurity a rewarding career path. Here are 11 solid reasons to pursue a career in cybersecurity.
1. A New Career with Open Positions at Every Company
Cybersecurity is specialized but far from monotonous. This means you will need to learn specific skills, but there is no limit to where and how you apply your skills in this career path.
If you love sports, you could work as a cybersecurity expert for their website. If video games are your hobby, you can be a security analyst protecting developers as they design the next blockbuster game.
Every company in the world has data security requirements, and security engineers are key cybersecurity positions in any company, regardless of the industry. Your skills are transferrable to any organization.
If you’re currently in a dead-end or unreliable job and want something that realizes your full potential, then a cybersecurity career is for you. You’ll be thrust into a new universe.
2. Cybersecurity Equals Job Security
With the exploding need for online security, cybersecurity will be as secure as a job can get. There is a gap in the hiring of cybersecurity professionals. Tons of jobs are available; however, there aren’t enough qualified individuals to fill them.
If you push forward to become one of the elite cybersecurity professionals, you will never cease to have companies begging for your service.
With an increasing number of data breaches and phishing on the rise, digital and email forensics, can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to excel in cybersecurity.
3. Technical Understanding Puts You on the Cutting Edge
The world is in a techno-digital age. Times are changing, and having a technical understanding will help you change too. Not only in the job market, but also in your personal life.
As life becomes increasingly digital, having experience with the various information security threats will help you function efficiently in this modern day. You’ll have a very particular set of skills useful in private life and your professional career.
4. You Want to Help People
Many businesses beginning their journey in the world are unaware and unequipped to deal with the growing threats hidden behind the internet.
As a cybersecurity professional, you will stand between people’s lives and the hackers and scammers that seek to wreck them. You aren’t just keeping computers secure; you’re protecting families and their livelihoods.
If you work hard to become an ethical hacker, you will find the holes in information systems before the bad guys can. And in the process, you’ll be helping everyone sleep better in your security analyst role.
5. You Want to Make a Good Living
There is a broad range of salaries in a cybersecurity career. Most people in the field earn an average salary between $68,683 to $163,462, according to PayScale.com. There is a wide range of specialties in the cybersecurity realm, so the amount you can make is limited by how much you want to learn and work.
One thing is sure; cybersecurity is a career that will grow with you and reward you for hard work and increasing your information security knowledge. As you get better, your salary will reflect that. This quality stands out in a world of dead-end jobs and low wages. When you choose to work in cybersecurity, you will be helping your family as well as others.
6. You Love to Learn
You may think that cybersecurity is too complicated. Don’t let this scare you away. It’s true, cybersecurity requires a new skill set, and you will need to spend some time learning. However, if you think pursuing this career will be too hard, think about reading.
Is reading hard? Perhaps it is. There are many things you need to learn to be able to understand a language. However, it can be learned – and if you’re spending time reading this article, it means that you learned how to do it.
A career in cybersecurity is the same way. It may seem hard at first, but you can do very well as your skill with information security compounds.
7. You’re Interested in Technology
If you have a fascination with technology, a career in cybersecurity will provide plenty of substance to satisfy your appetite.
As you pursue this career, you will become an expert in computers, network connections, and programming. These skills will serve you for the rest of your life at work and at home.
8. You Like Working with People
Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a “techie” or a geek, you can still thrive in this environment if you can work with others. Being able to communicate a problem in clear terms is vital to any role in cybersecurity.
While a degree in computer science or information systems will jumpstart your entry, hiring managers want solid soft skills. Many of the cybersecurity concepts can be learned with hands-on work experience as you work alongside security engineers and learn the technical skills on the job.
As you progress in your role, you will be viewed as the authority regarding your company’s information security. This will mean answering others’ questions and explaining the risk and benefits of different operations. It also means you will sometimes need to gently convince those in your care of the dangers of various actions. This takes tact and people skills.
9. Cybersecurity is Interesting and Ever-changing
Every job has a daily grind. However, information security professionals are always surprised by novel, incident response situations. You may be merely scrubbing malware from operating systems, or part of an elite team architecting and scripting new network security measures to mitigate cyber threats.
You’ll progress from your entry-level cybersecurity job as a Security Analyst to Security Architect, designing holistic data security protocols across the computer network. Later, you can rise over security management as CISO or Chief Information Security Officer, setting out information assurance policies. Talk about a LinkedIn experience builder.
As technology morphs, so will you in a cybersecurity role. This can be a nice change of pace from jobs that seem to be the same old thing every day. Occasionally, you will wake up to something new, which will keep your mind sharp, creativity flowing, and interests engaged.
10. Cybersecurity is More than You Think
You might hear the word cybersecurity and think of a particular job position that can be learned and earned. However, there are hundreds of different jobs under the umbrella term “cybersecurity.”
Saying, “I work in cybersecurity” is like saying, “I work in healthcare.” If someone told you that they work in healthcare, your next question would be, “What do you do in healthcare?” “Are you a doctor, nurse, PA, phlebotomist, or respiratory therapist?” The list goes on.
Similarly, if you say you work in cybersecurity, someone might ask, “What do you do in cybersecurity?” “Do you work in security operations, threat intelligence, or risk management?” There are many facets to the career path.
This is good news. It means, regardless of what type of person you are, there is likely a cybersecurity job for you. There might be some you like and some you don’t like. That’s the adventure—explore and discover what fits your skills and what industry matches your interests.
11. Cybersecurity is Cool
This isn’t the make-or-break reason. Many fantastic jobs aren’t that cool. However, infosec and cybersecurity are high on the cool spectrum.
Learning how to hack, understanding what the bad guys know, and then stopping the latest types of attacks will fill you with confidence and satisfaction.
There will be parts of a cybersecurity position that won’t always seem cool, like meetings and policy development. Still, these are far outweighed by the knowledge and skills you will acquire as a security engineer.
Final Thoughts
Cybersecurity is a career for a motivated individual who wants to make a positive difference in the world. This career will provide you with the opportunity to help others and take care of your family.
The number of job openings for cybersecurity professionals is growing. It’s easy to find an entry-level position. If you have solid communication skills and a love for technology and solving puzzles, landing a spot in any industry as a cybersecurity professional is easy.
Be willing to put in the time and effort to learn some basics or have experience in a related field. An infosec position in the cybersecurity field can be a great career move. You will be able to grow with the job and stay at the cutting edge of the world’s advances. On top of this, you will acquire a technical skill that applies to modern life.
This video (3m20s@2x) from the InfoSec channel introduces you to career cybersecurity and how to get started.
