3 Help wanted, skills in a hot market

 

This chapter covers

  • Current state of jobs in cybersecurity and the common challenges we face
  • Seniority progression within cybersecurity
  • Common technical job skills employed in cybersecurity roles
  • Common soft skills and how they apply to cybersecurity

In its “2019/2020 Official Annual Cybersecurity Jobs Report,” Cybersecurity Ventures looked at open cybersecurity jobs. The report predicted that by 2021, more than 3.5 million cybersecurity jobs would be unfilled globally. Another report conducted by industry association (ISC)2 released in 2018 estimated the number of open jobs at that time to be 2.93 million. Although the numbers may vary, every study agrees that the number of unfilled jobs in cybersecurity is a problem that’s not getting better.

For those looking to begin a career in the space, this sounds like good news. A negative unemployment rate should make finding a job much easier. But not so fast. The reality is that many first-time cybersecurity job seekers struggle to find their first role. So to help better prepare you for your job search, let’s discuss the current job market, some of the roles in cybersecurity, and the skills needed to land those jobs.

3.1 Job seekers vs. job openings

3.2 Cybersecurity job role progression

3.2.1 Entry-level roles

3.2.2 Senior roles

3.2.3 Architect roles

3.2.4 Security leadership

3.2.5 Executive leadership

3.3 Common skills for security roles

3.3.1 Common technical skills

3.3.2 Soft skills

Summary