Texas Cyber Summit II

Talented professionals form the critical infrastructure of any successful business, but how do we ensure successful retention and recruitment in an industry facing talent shortage? The insights shared in this session offer methods to promote a flowing talent acquisition pipeline, supported by the findings from two recent industry surveys, which examine how security professionals search for jobs and the impact of supporting community activities.

In order to recruit tech talent, you first need to know where they search for jobs. However, our cyber security job search survey found discrepancies in the ways that job seekers search for jobs and how recruiters primarily search for candidates. In this session I will discuss the top four reported job search methods to help employers guarantee their positions are visible and accessible.

I will also discuss how to attract and retain talent by tapping into the leading motivators that draw job seekers to a company, spanning compensation, good working environments, career mapping opportunities, support of work life balance, a more transparent hiring process, and remote work.

Shrewd employers also value volunteerism, as they understand that having employees operate in the community is a positive reflection on their company, helping to support their employer brand and recruitment strategy. I will urge employers to re-examine their support of volunteer activities, as over 97% of survey respondents reported they would move to a company that supported their volunteerism.

As we assess the ways that candidates approach their job search, employers will gain valuable insights to increase visibility and interest. By leveraging these findings and supporting community involvement, employers stand to build their employer brand and sustain lucrative retention and recruitment.
Notes: In an industry facing talent shortage, it is more vital than ever that employers utilize the right strategies to locate and recruit prospective candidates. Having personally surveyed the cyber security community and also having coached thousands of job seekers and employers to achieve the mutual goal of employment, I am excited to further share my best practices with Texas Cyber Summit attendees.

Author of the 6 Second Resume and a local security consultant doing resume reviews from 11am to 3pm

Breaking Through the Boundaries of Cyber Security Job Search Challenges
We’ve all heard the old adage that finding a job is a full time job, but who has the time? With the right insights and resources in hand, you can maximize your job search efforts, turning them into successes. This presentation offers tools to take expert control of your cyber security career, by leveraging the findings from my two recent industry surveys, which examine the challenges of job search and the impact of volunteering in your professional community.When asked if they know how to find a job, 45% of survey respondents said no. In order to combat this problem, I will explore my top methods to help professionals evaluate, refine, and improve their job search strategy. These parameters span personally reflecting to know what you want to do, to developing the right career search products, understanding the different types of recruiters, and learning to utilize the right avenues for self promotion and networking.Volunteering in your professional community offers vast opportunities for building an expanded industry network. This is vital to continuous job search success, as 79% of survey respondents reported the most common way they find jobs is by asking their network of friends. Thus you can greatly progress your career by actively engaging in the external community to network, gain experiences, and create opportunities for continued learning.While career progression is typically seen as education, certification, and job moves, we need to build both technical and non-technical skills in order to continually advance and market our ever-expanding abilities. Volunteering provides a venue to learn essential skills that fuel your career trajectory by developing qualities spanning leadership, persistence, time management, problem solving, and more.Though the challenges that job seekers face are not unusual, they can be overcome with the right tactics in hand. By applying the guidelines presented in this session, more individuals in the community will have the tools they need to embark on the road to success in their cyber security careers.