كيفية الحصول على وظيفة مبتدئة في الأمن السيبراني

هذا المنشور هو رد على صديق يبحث عن دور في الأمن السيبراني في سوق شديد التحدي. نظرًا لأن هذه مشكلة واسعة الانتشار في الوقت الحاضر, قررت كتابة منشور بدلاً من الاكتفاء بترك تعليق.

تشير إحصاءات مختلفة من مصادر متعددة إلى وجود فجوة واسعة في وظائف الأمن السيبراني, مع وجود ملايين الوظائف في مجال الأمن السيبراني تنتظر أن يشغلها مواهب جديدة. غالبًا ما تستخدم المعسكرات التدريبية هذه الأرقام للترويج لمنتجاتها. على الرغم من أن مثل هذه الفجوة قد تكون موجودة, إلا أن نقص المواهب يكون عادة أكثر وضوحًا في الأدوار المتخصصة بدلاً من بين المرشحين العامين الذين يسعون لشغل وظائف مبتدئة مع خبرة محدودة.

يتلقى العديد من المتقدمين لا استجابة عند التقديم لوظائف الأمن السيبراني على الرغم من وجود الملايين من هذه الفرص حسب ما يفترض. قد يعتقد البعض أنهم ليسوا على مستوى كافٍ أو أن هناك شيء خاطئ في طبيعتهم لعدم تلقيهم مكالمة رد. لكن, in many cases their applications are simply not reviewed.

If you are looking to enter cybersecurity, know that you are aiming at one of the more lucrative fields in technology and fierce competition typically awaits entry level positions at well-known companies. على سبيل المثال, if you apply to reputable Fortune 500 companies for an entry-level role, each job opening might attract anywhere from 50 to 200 applications or even more. At this level even if you are highly capable and fully qualified, you might not be noticed.

Here are some key points you should consider before applying for these roles:

1. Be mindful of the location of your job search. The region where you reside may not have the largest cybersecurity job market. In contrast, areas such as the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) have the highest number of job openings in cybersecurity. If there are not enough jobs available in your area, your chances of securing a position are reduced.

2. Visa sponsorship is limited. Most companies do not provide visa sponsorship. If you have a foreign sounding name (as I do) and require sponsorship, your opportunities may be even more limited. Conversely, if you do not need sponsorship, consider indicating your immigration status on your resume as clear as possible. I have been personally asked about my citizenship multiple times even though I clearly state that I am a U.S. citizen, implying that some candidates misrepresent their status only to later claim they need sponsorship. Be very clear about your immigration or citizenship status because obtaining sponsorship is not an easy task.

3. Watch out for fake job postings. Out of every 10 online job postings on platforms such as LinkedIn, around 4 may be fake, that is the jobs do not actually exist. You might apply for a posting for which you are fully qualified and receive no response, leaving you to wonder why you weren’t noticed when in fact the job was never real.

4. Many roles are not publicly advertised. For every 10 jobs posted online, there could be as many as 40 positions that are never publicly advertised. These opportunities are typically filled through networking or local channels. Look up local businesses in your area that hire for your role, reach out to them or check their websites. You might also consult lists like the Russell 2000 or Fortune 500 and leveraging AI tools may help you uncover positions that aren’t listed on LinkedIn.

5. Certifications matter but only if they are the right ones. I have a friend who usually pursues certifications first and then complains about their effectiveness. It is important to determine which certifications are valued by HR and pursue those rather than simply accumulating them only to lament that HR isn’t interested. Even the best qualifications won’t matter if employers are not seeking them. The certifications you hold or pursue might not be those most in demand. Refer to this link and choose your state, which shows job openings by required certification in each state. على سبيل المثال, in Missouri, all 30 SANS certifications combined account for roughly 500 openings, while the CISSP certification alone has over 1,200 openings, with Security+ following at around 1,100.

6. Beware of bias. There is a deep sense of distrust and bias against individuals from certain countries due to political tensions especially in sensitive industries. If you are originally from one of these countries, consider removing references to your foreign education or experience from your profile, although the final decision is yours. على سبيل المثال, if you are seeking an internship at a pharmaceutical company, your foreign education might not add value to your cybersecurity credentials or national security expertise.

Below are some steps you can take to improve your chances:

1. You need to follow common job-hunting practices. Common practices such as networking, participating in cybersecurity communities, enhancing your online presence, tailoring your resume, following up on job applications, and even sending a handwritten thank you letter (even if your handwriting is as bad as mine).

2. Consider de-emphasizing your background on your resume. If you are a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident, consider de-emphasizing your background on your resume if you are from a country that does not have a strong relationship with the United States, as this might reduce the likelihood of being viewed unfavorably. First impressions matter, and you never know who will review your resume.

3. Craft your resume specifically for positions for which you are eligible. Read job descriptions carefully to ensure you meet or exceed all the qualifications listed in both your resume and cover letter. Merely being qualified does not guarantee you will secure an interview or the position.

4. Compile a list of job listings for the roles. قم بإعداد قائمة بالأدوار التي ترغب فيها, سجل متطلباتها وقم بتخصيص سيرتك الذاتية وفقًا لذلك. من خلال مراجعة العديد من الإعلانات من شركات مختلفة لنفس الدور, ستكتسب فهمًا أفضل لما تتوقعه الصناعة من المرشح المبتدئ.

5. فكر في متابعة التدريب الداخلي أو فرص التطوع. إذا لم تتمكن من العثور على وظيفة على الفور, فكر في متابعة التدريب الداخلي أو فرص التطوع. يمكن أن يكون دخول مجال الأمن السيبراني تحديًا. إذا لم تتمكن من الحصول على تدريب داخلي في شركة بارزة, ابحث عن فرص في المكتبات المحلية أو المنظمات المجتمعية. قد يكون إضافة المزيد من الخبرة إلى ملفك الشخصي أكثر فائدة من التركيز فقط على خلفيتك.

6. ابدأ في تكنولوجيا المعلومات ثم انتقل إلى الأمن السيبراني. إذا كان الانتقال مباشرة إلى الأمن السيبراني صعبًا, consider starting in IT and then shifting into cybersecurity later. It might be best not to mention this strategy to recruiters; instead, work on your transition while holding a related IT role. After a couple of years, you may have a much better opportunity to break into cybersecurity.

7. Aim at the top. Finally, pursue a certification that distinguishes you. على سبيل المثال, consider aiming for the CISSP certification if you also have a education background. Granted, CISSP is not an entry-level certification and you cannot achieve full CISSP status without five years of experience! But you can become an associate CISSP almost immediately if you pass the difficult exam. It is hard for recruiters to dismiss a candidate with a CISSP (or Associate CISSP) certification. Even if your application is ultimately rejected, على الأقل ستلقى اعتبارات جادة. متابعة شهادة CISSP تتطلب التزامًا كبيرًا, ولكن إذا كنت مستعدًا لإرسال عدة مئات من الطلبات وخطابات التغطية المصممة بعناية والتنافس مع عدة مئات من المرشحين الآخرين, قد يكون الأمر جديرًا بالمجهود تمامًا.