How can Australia address the estimated gap of 17, 000 cyber security professionals needed in the cyber workforce by 2026? Nationally, tertiary education providers are increasing their cyber security course offerings, with an estimated 2, 000 new graduates expected by 2026 - however, demand still outweighs supply. Cyber employers therefore need to be creative in how they meet their workforce needs.
On February 27, the Canberra Cyber Hub, in partnership with HorizonOne, hosted Cyber Pivot Accelerator - to introduce mid to senior level professionals from other sectors to Canberra cyber employers. With 10 cyber SMEs and 22 candidates in attendance, the night was successful in introducing candidates with in-demand, transferrable skills to organisations seeking their expertise and experience.
The event highlighted the benefit of bringing candidates and employers together to discuss career pathways, identify transferable skills and explore career opportunities in cyber.
But what can other Cyber employers and those looking to transition to cyber learn from this event?
For employers: In an ever-constricting skills market, the event highlighted the need for employers to take an innovative approach when attracting and recruiting talent. Patrick Campbell-Dunn, CEO, Securus Consulting Group reflected that “To further grow the industry skill base, cyber SMEs must mentor the future generations, affording them the opportunities, experience, exposure, and qualifications to be successful [in the sector].” He challenges cyber employers to “Consider what transferable skills would be useful to your business and seek these out next time you’re hiring. Think about ways you can position your business to highlight opportunities for mentoring and support for those starting out in the industry.”
For cyber SMEs interested in mentoring future generations of cyber professionals, promoting upcoming opportunities in their organisation or collaborating on an event to grow the Canberra cyber workforce, please email info@canberracyberhub.com.au.
For employees: For those hoping to pivot to a career in cyber, it’s important to remember the definition of a cyber job is broad. You don’t have to be an expert coder or technically advanced to launch a career in cyber. Transferrable skills from all industries and background can be applicable to cyber roles. The easiest place to start is by researching the different areas of cyber to find your best fit. Listen to the Canberra Cyber Hub podcast series or check out this list of occupations as a place to start. Next step is to identify and talk to businesses you’re interested in. This might seem difficult, but the Canberra Cyber Hub website has a great list of Canberra cyber employers, and host numerous which connect the cyber ecosystem in Canberra. Join an upcoming Canberra Cyber Hub networking opportunity, and start identifying your pathways in cyber. You can register to receive regular updates on Canberra Cyber Hub activities via our newsletter here.
Finally, upskill! There are fantastic online courses in cyber security, many of which are free. These can be completed while working in your current role and are a great way to demonstrate your interest to a potential cyber employer.
At the heart of the Cyber Pivot Accelerator was an in-depth discovery process, designed to align the aspirations of professionals with the strategic needs of employers. This approach included crafting a unique Employer Value Proposition (EVP) for each organisation and developing a personalised career mission statement for each candidate.
This helped both the employers and candidates prepare for the event ensuring they were able to get the most of their time together and form a deeper understanding of what was important to them in a team member or role.
Themes of diversity, inclusion, and professional development emerged as common threads across all employer EVPs. It was clear, however, that each organisation has individual interpretations and approaches surrounding these concepts. The differences underscore the importance of a tailored communication strategy when articulating an EVP as it is key for prospective candidates to understand what makes an organisation unique.
The Cyber Team at HorizonOne is passionate about connecting top-tier talent within the cyber industry and facilitating partnerships with organisations seeking experienced cyber specialists. The overwhelming success of this event (70% of employers and candidates requested follow-up conversations) shows real interest and investment from both employers and potential employees to ‘think outside the box’ when looking for ways to diversify and enrich Canberra’s cyber workforce.
Thank you again to the candidates and businesses who took part in the Cyber Pivot Accelerator.
Viden
FifthDomain
Solution Tech - Cyber Security mentor of the year 2023 Award winner.
MF & Associates
Securus Consulting Group
Penten
Willyama Services
Bluerydge
QuintessenceLabs
Ionize
