Cybersecurity and technology are rapidly evolving, demanding professionals who can keep pace with the latest trends. While technical expertise is undoubtedly crucial, building strong relationships within the industry can be equally important for career advancement. Attending networking events is a valuable investment because it provides opportunities to:
Stay Informed and Inspired
These events bring together industry experts and thought leaders. Engaging in conversations and attending talks allows you to gain valuable insights into the latest trends, emerging threats, and cutting-edge advancements in cybersecurity and tech. This knowledge will keep you up-to-date with the latest developments and help you adapt to the rapidly changing industry.
Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration
Networking events are a platform for exchanging ideas and best practices with other professionals. By sharing experiences and learning from one another, we can encourage collaboration and innovation. Openly discussing challenges and potential solutions can lead to valuable insights and help you contribute to the industry’s knowledge base.
Expand Your Professional Circle
Events provide excellent opportunities to connect with potential employers, colleagues, and partners. Building genuine relationships with people in your field expands your professional network, opening doors to future collaborations, career opportunities, and mentorship possibilities.
Career Advancement in Action
Networking events are not just about learning; they can directly impact your career trajectory. Many companies send recruiters to these events specifically to connect with talented individuals. As illustrated by Liza’s success story, a simple conversation with a recruiter at a cybersecurity event can lead to a job offer, showcasing the tangible career benefits of attending these events.
Stay Competitive
By attending networking events, you gain valuable insights into industry trends and developments. This knowledge keeps you informed and relevant, allowing you to refine your skills and stay competitive in the job market.
Personal and Professional Growth
Networking events provide an excellent platform to hone your communication skills and build confidence. Engaging in conversations with experienced professionals allows you to practice expressing your ideas clearly and effectively. This experience not only strengthens your communication skills but also builds the confidence needed to thrive in your professional journey.
So, the next time you encounter a cybersecurity or tech networking event, consider attending. You might not only gain valuable knowledge and build meaningful connections but also, like Liza, discover your next career-defining opportunity.
Liza's networking story
“In 2023 after a successful 20-year career in IT Support and Service Management and some major life events, I decided to take a chance and retrain into Cyber Security – an area I’ve always had an interest in. I was accepted onto a UK Govt sponsored Upskill into Cyber course in the summer 2023 and this led to me achieving 2 Sans Qualifications – GSec and GFact – by November. I’d started to do a bit of networking earlier in the year, attending various cyber-related events – including BSides Bristol – where I won a Security Blue Team Level 1 course – and then in November the Women In Tech and Cyber Hub (WiTCH) event where I met James Gallen from InfoSec People.
Meeting James at that event was fortuitous and led to me getting my first cyber role in a Security Operations Centre (SOC) in a financial services company. In a very easy chat with James that night I talked about my experience working in IT, how I wanted to move into a Cyber role but didn’t have much Cyber experience to date but had recently got these qualifications. James had a think and then asked if I would be interested in a SOC role as short-term/parental leave cover. He put me forward for it, coached me through the interview process and here I am now – in that role. The opportunity to meet James face to face at that event was invaluable – it allowed me to talk to him about my skills in IT in general and that in turn allowed James to understand a bit more about me than he might have learned just from a CV.
I’d certainly advise anyone starting out or looking to move roles to look around at local events and really make use of those networking opportunities – the cyber community is friendly and – Networking really did help me to get my first Cyber role and maybe it could do the same for you?”
– Liza McCarron
InfoSec People is a boutique cyber security and IT recruitment consultancy, built by genuine experts. We were founded with one goal in mind: to inspire people to find the careers that inspire them. With the success of companies fundamentally driven by the quality of their people, acquiring and retaining talent has never been more important. We believe that recruitment, executed effectively, elevates and enables your business to prosper.
We also understand that cyber and information security recruitment can genuinely change people’s lives, that’s why we take the duty of care to those we represent very seriously. All our actions are underpinned by our core values:
- Always do the right thing
- Be the best we can be
- Add value
We work with businesses in the cyber/tech arena, from start-ups and scale-ups to FTSE100 and central Government, many of whom are always looking for great people.
Call us directly on 01242 507100 to discuss opportunities or email info@infosecpeople.co.uk.