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WHAT QUALITIES DO EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR?
continuous learner
The cyber security landscape is evolving continuously and rapidly, so employers need people who can do the same – people with natural curiosity and who enjoy learning throughout their lives.
PERSISTENT
In the cyber security sector, the problems people face are ever-changing and complex, so persistence and an ability to problem solve are key.
PERCEPTIVE
The ability to think like a ‘bad guy’ enables security professionals to anticipate what hackers might try and to identify weak points in system defences. Being perceptive will make it easier to build a strategy to defend against external threats.
INQUISITIVE
People who work in cyber security often like to understand how things work and how they were designed.
GOOD COMMUNICATION
The ability to communicate issues in non-technical terms is very important. This skill is particularly important if you want to become a leader in the field and is increasingly valued by employers at all levels.
HOW DO I UPSKILL?
Pathways into cyber security careers are varied. They might include traditional tertiary or vocational education, but also come from self-learning and demonstrating your practical skills.
A good way to plan your pathway into cyber security is to start by considering the types of activities you like to do and your natural skills base, then match that with the jobs on offer.
For technical cyber security roles, we are advocating for the use of a standard national workforce framework to help people identify, work roles, skills requirements and career opportunities.