Hire Your Next Cyber Security Pro by Using these Eight Tips
Posted February 8th, 2016
High profile security breaches in recent years have revealed just how essential cyber security is to today’s enterprises. And in most cases, the strength of your security is determined entirely by the quality of your cyber security staff. That’s why you can’t afford to make a bad hire. Use these eight tips to find and hire the pro you need.
Get Active of Social Media
You are probably already using Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to aid your recruiting efforts. Take things a step further, and get active on specialized networks and discussion boards that are focused specifically on cyber security. You’re likely to find a greater number of qualified professionals.
Be Willing to Hire Young
Experience is important in cyber security, but so is enthusiasm. Don’t write off young and entry level talent simply because of their relative inexperience. If you find someone impressive you can always train/develop them into a cyber security expert.
Look Past Degrees
You’re looking for cyber security professionals that can produce results. Whether or not they have a degree, or the right degree, shouldn’t matter. If a candidate is able to convince you that he is the right person for the job, don’t dismiss him simply because he lacks formal education.
Think Like a Marketer
There is stiff competition for cyber security professionals, which means you need to stand out as an employer. Use the techniques of marketing to make your recruiting messages more enticing, more descriptive, and more accurate. You need to sell the candidates as much as they need to sell you.
Guide the Conversation
Cyber security professionals want to work for employers that take security seriously and give it a priority. You can establish yourself as that type of employer by publishing blogs, speaking at industry events, hosting hackathons, and generally staying engaged in the cyber security community.
Offer More than Salary
Compensation is important, but so are perks. You can attract more talent by offering flexible scheduling, tuition reimbursement, or the opportunity to work on exciting and ambitious projects.
Project Honesty
Cyber security professionals tend to be serious and suspicious by nature. If your recruiting messages are heavy on sales pitches, marketing gimmicks, and obvious exaggerations and fabrications you will turn a lot of talent off. Try to be exciting, but always be honest.
Take Your Time
In your rush to shore up cyber security it’s tempting to hire the first candidate who seems qualified. But until you thoroughly vet the candidate and the candidate pool as a whole, there’s not way to know if it’s a good hire. Take your time and do all of your due diligence.
Adding cyber security talent to your ranks doesn’t have to be difficult if you rely on the right strategies. Learn about more ways to recruit and retain this talent by contacting Bayside Solutions.
