Cybersecurity is one of the most in demand careers in the tech sector right now. Businesses are putting more money than ever into their security because the risk of cyberattacks is greater than it has ever been. This means that there are some great opportunities for qualified professionals working in cybersecurity, but it is a competitive field and many people struggle to get ahead. If you find that your career isn’t moving as fast as you thought it would, here are a few tips to get ahead in the cybersecurity field. 

Get Certifications 

Although you may be trained as an IT specialist, you will stand a much better chance of getting a good cybersecurity job if you get more specific certifications. Qualifications like a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) or Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) will help you when applying for higher level positions. Many people find that they get an entry level position but then they are unable to progress because they don’t have the right certifications. If you don’t even have an entry level position yet, you need to look into certifications like the GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF) and consider general certifications, like a Microsoft Certification, as well. 

Invest In Leadership Training 

Sometimes, it’s not just your lack of qualifications that are holding you back. The people that get ahead are the ones that are good leaders, and this is a skill that a lot of people don’t have. Many people claim that you are born with these skills and you are either a leader or you aren’t, but that isn’t true. You absolutely can learn to be a good leader if you invest in EQ training for cybersecurity geeks and follow the program. These leadership courses will give you the tools that you need to progress in your career and make it to the top a lot faster. Unless you are willing to invest in yourself, you will struggle to get ahead in this industry. 

Improve Your Soft Skills 

A lot of people assume that getting ahead in cybersecurity is all about having the most technical experience, but there are actually a lot of important soft skills that you need as well. When you work in cybersecurity, you need to explain complex technical information to a lot of people that don’t work in IT, and that requires very good communication and interpersonal skills. Unless you can effectively explain security measures and the reasons for them to other employees, it is hard to maintain proper security. You also need good organization and time keeping skills so you can manage projects effectively. Working well under pressure will be especially important too because you need to handle time sensitive security situations when a breach occurs. If you want to get ahead, work on improving these soft skills and when you are writing a resume, make sure to include examples of how you have demonstrated these skills alongside information about your technical knowledge and experience. 

Getting ahead in cybersecurity is tough because it’s such a competitive field, but if you follow these simple tips, you can progress a lot faster.