The recent rise in high-impact cyberattacks has sharply highlighted the cybersecurity talent gap across businesses today. Cybersecurity Ventures reports that the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs rose by 350 percent, from one million positions in 2013 to 3.5 million in 2021.
57% of businesses state that they currently have unfilled cybersecurity positions on their teams. Leaders at Fortune 500 firms as well as top cybersecurity recruiting firms across the country affirm that the importance of hiring stellar cybersecurity talent is higher than ever. It’s vital for companies to know where to find good talent, how to access it, and how to retain it.
Here are 5 top tips from our recruitment team on how you can source the best cybersecurity talent.
1. Take A Closer Look At Your Job Descriptions
One of the most critical aspects of cybersecurity recruitment is getting the job description spot-on. Research shows that in several cases, poor job descriptions are to blame for why a suitable candidate doesn’t apply for a position.
Cybersecurity employers frequently post job descriptions that have highly specific demands or are worded in confusing and intimidating ways. This causes candidates to feel less confident about applying or give up during the hiring process. At times, a job description may not even have the right job title mentioned, causing it to go unnoticed by potentially perfect candidates who are searching for other titles.
Cybersecurity is a relatively younger field, and recruiters need to remember that the applicants do not have the decades of experience customarily required for other positions. Limit the description mainly to broad guidelines, and list the must-haves of the position.
2. Look For Skills Beyond Formal Education
Getting too hung up on degrees is a common mistake when it comes to cybersecurity recruiting. Many great candidates have so much to offer, yet are at risk of being eliminated simply for not having the requisite college degree. Companies are increasingly discovering that other skills like experience, trustworthiness, and innovation are more important.
It’s important to focus on applicants who display a willingness to learn and develop. Cybersecurity issues change and evolve over time, so skills like creative problem solving, the ability to think on one’s feet, and having a hacker’s mindset can be invaluable. Other abilities such as soft skills and team fit should also be given due consideration. Hiring managers need to look at strengths and weaknesses in their existing cybersecurity teams and figure out how a new hire can make the most impact in making the team stronger.
3. Invest In Training And Continued Upskilling
Finding the perfect cybersecurity recruit is not always easy, so it’s a good idea to invest in specialized cybersecurity training for new hires.
Cybersecurity is a broad area and includes multiple skills. While hiring, it’s possible to come across plenty of people who might not be the exact right fit, but could become just that after training. Instead of honing in too much on extremely specific skills during recruitment, it’s often better to provide intensive on-the-job training after you hire.
Alongside new recruits, it’s vital to grow the skills of your existing cybersecurity team. As cyber-crimes rise, the most prepared organizations are the ones who are developing their employees for the threats of tomorrow. Implement new training opportunities and build upon existing professional development initiatives. Ensure that you include these upskilling opportunities as part of your cybersecurity recruitment strategy.
4. Diversify Your Candidate Pool
While seeking out that ideal cybersecurity professional, it’s important to think outside the box and widen the net in terms of diversity. Not only can this be a huge advantage in closing the cybersecurity workforce gap, but it’s also the right thing to do.
Research shows that one in five people in the U.S. with a disability faces challenges in getting hired. A 2021 report from ISC2 surveyed cybersecurity professionals across the U.K. and North America. Only 24% of survey participants were female, and 28% were non-Caucasian.
Women, veterans, minorities, people with disabilities, or a non-traditional education are substantial untapped markets in the cybersecurity field. Companies need to ensure they have well-outlined inclusive initiatives in place to recruit and retain a diverse cybersecurity workforce.
5. Don’t Hesitate To Take Professional Help
Your organization might be great at marketing top-quality services or products but might lack the necessary experience, expertise, or bandwidth required to acquire quality cybersecurity recruits. This is where specialized recruitment firms such as Employvision can be invaluable.
Building connections, attending networking events, and locating the right hire take time. When you have an urgent need, outsourcing the recruitment process to a specialized IT recruitment agency can be the most effective hiring strategy. A good cybersecurity recruiting firm can invest resources into finding suitable candidates, saving your business time and ensuring that you end up with the right recruit. This enables your company to focus on other important tasks such as providing quality solutions and services to your customers and generating revenue.
At Employvision, we help smooth out the cybersecurity recruitment process and find you the right employees by engaging our expert IT recruiters, utilizing our proprietary IT talent resume pool, speeding up resume screenings, validating skills, and providing better candidate experiences.
Contact Employvision and start hiring the right cybersecurity talent today!
