The US is experiencing a dire skills gap when it comes to cybersecurity. Universities simply can’t turn out relevant graduates fast enough to keep pace with demand – this talent shortage will culminate in an estimated 700,000 cybersecurity related jobs remaining unfilled by the end of 2022. This huge deficit in workers is great news for graduates, however – whether they have a cyber-based degree or not. A career in cybersecurity can be both financially lucrative and professionally rewarding, and there’s never been a better time to ride the digital wave to professional success.
But before we get into the how, let’s look at the why: what is it about a cybersecurity career that is so appealing to graduates?
A wealth of opportunity
The dearth of available talent in the country’s cybersecurity sector means that those entering the jobs market will have no shortage of opportunities to choose from. The cybersecurity space is creating jobs at more than five times the rate of the wider economy.
If you’ve got the right skills and the right mindset, you’ll be a valuable commodity for any business looking for talent and will likely have your pick of jobs.
Great pay
Skills + demand = high salaries, so it’s no surprise that pursuing a career in cybersecurity can be extremely financially rewarding.
A recent survey found the average wage of a cybersecurity professional is around £116k, rising significantly higher for those with specialist skills. Cybersec analysts, malware specialists and forensic data experts are among the highest paid professionals in the US right now, with many workers with really in-demand proficiencies essentially able to name their price.
Massive range of specialisms to choose from
‘Cybersecurity’ encompasses a massive range of roles and job types, so no matter what your skills are or what you’re interested in, there’s almost definitely a role out there that suits you down to the ground.
Though analysts and testers are some of the most in-demand professionals in the cyber sphere, you don’t have to be a coder to land a job. There’s also a major need for people who can monitor and administrate platforms, make sense of data, or help users make the best choices for system defense.
Future-proof role
The skills in demand by employers are evolving rapidly; a huge number of today’s highest-paying jobs didn’t even exist when recent graduates started university. Zdnet.com has reported that around 12 million US jobs, primarily those in sectors such as manufacturing and transport, could be supplanted by AI by 2040 – but forecasts suggest that more than 50 million new tech jobs could be created over the same period.
In this transformative time, there aren’t many jobs that could be called future-proof, but a career in cybersecurity is your best bet for long-term professional success. Systems analysis, familiarity with cybersecurity architecture, exposure to dealing with ransomware and other online threats are becoming gold dust on a resume. Any roles that ensure sensitive data remains safe from malicious interference are set to grow exponentially in the next few years.
So, if that sounds like something you’d be interested in, how do you get started?
Graduate schemes
If you want something done right, sometimes you have to do it yourself. With many companies being forced to think outside the box when it comes to plugging the cybersecurity skills gaps in their workforce, there are a lot of graduate schemes or training programs out there for those looking to kick-start their careers. Many of these schemes don’t even require graduates to have a computer-related degree to take part, just some keen soft skills and an enthusiasm for learning. These schemes tend to have pretty good pay packets too; for example the National Grid Co pays graduates up to $84k as a starting salary.
Certifications
Faced with a growing skills gap, employers are less concerned about how you got your skills when applying for a cybersecurity job. Self-directed study and accreditations earned on your own time put you in a great light, demonstrating not only your tech skills but your willingness to constantly develop them. There are tons of useful tech certifications out there that you can earn independently, and having a few relevant badges on your resume will do wonders for your employability and pay check.
Cisco accreditations are popular and cover a huge selection of technology areas that will pique an employer’s interest, such as data centre management, security, cyber ops, and cloud computing. Speaking of cloud, the increasing uptake of cloud business services means certifications from vendors like Google and AWS will certainly stand you in good stead to start your cybersecurity career.
Soft skills
Employers are putting increasing stock in soft skills too.
Given that cybersecurity is fast-moving and extremely competitive, employers often value culture fit and enthusiasm as highly as technical skills, so demonstrating that you’re keen to take charge of your personal development is a big plus for hiring managers. Being able to communicate effectively, build relationships, solve problems and adapt to change will make you enormously valuable, no matter how green your cyber skills.
