Are you Networking while Building your Cybersecurity Career?
Networking and referrals are something you may want to start doing a little differently. I will share my thoughts on that.
I am Back Again!
Hello again,
Hope you are having a great week ?
I am writing this letter while being tired ( I guess I am learning consistency). I may end up writing nonsense 😂 but “evun thou”, lets get to it.
Before I go in to the main gist for today, Let me share this amazing stuff with you all 😀.
If you know me, you’ll know I have amazing people in my corner - Yes I will brag with them everyday! 💃
One of the star girls - Chikodili Udeh recently published a course on Vulnerability Management for EC- Council . You can check out the course here . Again, my women >>>>>>>>>>>
See, take it from me. You will get so much value from this course because, she knows her stuff and also knows how to teach them.
Now to the main business .
The Power of Networking
Personally, I have harnessed the power of networking with like-minded people . People who you can provide value to and/or who provide value to you( Do not plan to just take sha, please give!).
Anyways, providing value is relative too.
I am not sure about other profession but I feel because of the essential trust required to work for an organization as a Cybersecurity professional, referrals are your best bet especially if you are kickstarting your career.
Who are you Networking with?
When some people hear “networking with people”, the only thing that comes to their mind is networking with the “Ogas at the top”.
“How do I become a part of these people’s network because it is hard”.
Okay, let us take a step back.
*Walks Backward*
Are you networking with your peers who are starting out their cybersecurity career?
No?
This is where you should be starting from.
Before you start looking out for people who have been long in the game. Start with your peers. Why? - I will tell you.
You will learn from them faster.
They are readily available to you which helps you solve problem together faster.
You both have similar mission which will aid your growth (I understand this in my head but I am not sure if this passes the message across).
My first network of people where individuals who wanted to learn and grow as much as I wanted to . Some of them had more zeal than I did but I was able to tap into their energy and it’s been an amazing growth for me(I am still tapping into it ).
“Networking with peers now is much easier than trying to connect with those same people 10 or 20 years down the road once they are well-established and more difficult to get a hold of.” - I cannot find who said this and I do not have the energy to go search😂😂😂😂😂😂
The strong Network you want in the future needs to be built now. While you are trying to connect with those who have long been there. Do not forget to look beside/across you and connect with those who you are currently on the same journey with.
Now to Referrals
Do you know even your peers can refer you for a role?
Yes, they can .
Some of your peers are going to get their first role easier than you and that gives them a good leverage. So do not shy away from talking to your peers about your search for a cybersecurity role.
You never can tell where your next referral will come from.
I am going to leave you all with this “It does not matter how long it will take you, keep showing up and keep putting in the work. It will pay, EVENTUALLY”
Ad-On
I was a judge at CyberGirls open day two-weeks ago and my God!, those girls are the absolute fire!
I was so impressed with their presentation. Everyone understood the assignment - The technicalities were so broken down and gosh, I was blown away ( Not by breeze sha 😂).
You can watch some of the the girls presentation on CyberSafe Foundation’s Youtube page here.
*Whispers* I am currently working on an article with one of my CyberGirls 1.0 mentee and mahnnn!, we are coming
*Does the peace out sign*
Credit: Trenor.com