4 minute read
Women in cyber security from a recruiters perspective
JEMMA LAWRENCE
by Jemma Lawrence, Recruitment Consultant at CyberSec People
As a woman who has worked in recruitment for a number of years it is great to see a genuine desire for diversity and a huge demand for women in cybersecurity. It is awesome to see new women coming into the industry. It means we will see many more women in leadership positions in a few years. These women are being inspired to fulfil their untapped potential and they inspire others to embark on their career journeys.
I am fortunate to work for CyberSec People, the most engaged recruitment company in the cybersecurity industry. One of the great things about CyberSec People is that we attend most infosec events nationally, giving us great exposure. This means clients and candidates reach out to us for industry information and advice. Through these interactions I know our clients are committed to diversity and to attracting and promoting women in the cybersecurity industry.
However, I notice women still undervalue themselves, not only in cybersecurity but in most industries. Women are reluctant to apply for positions unless they meet all the criteria listed in the job description. On the other hand, men will typically throw their hat in the ring regardless of how many of the selection criteria they meet. This is a phenomenon that disadvantages women because they are less likely to apply for more senior roles (referred to as ‘stretch roles’ by LinkedIn).
However, the world has had to adjust post-Covid and companies are hiring outside their usual scope. Simply ticking off a laundry list of experience and qualifications is no longer sufficient. It does not take into consideration transferable skills: abilities candidates have learned throughout life that are useful in a new job.
As a recruiter for governance, risk and compliance specialists I speak to women in the industry daily who are passive job seekers, and typically would not consider applying for a role more senior than their current role.
It is extremely rewarding to help anyone into a new position, but especially to help women who may not
have considered applying for a higher paying and/or a more senior position that offers career progression.
I often see women underestimating what they can earn in the industry and undervaluing their experience compared to their male counterparts. I recently helped a female principal security advisor secure a salary package $20K above her expectation, which was extremely rewarding.
A study by TechBrain, an IT support services group in Perth, looked at the wording used in job advertisements. It found adverts for higher-paying jobs were more likely to use masculine words while those for lower-paid positions used more feminine language such as ‘committed’, ‘responsible’ and ‘collaborate’. By recognising such gender-biased wording women can overlook it and apply for higher paying opportunities.
It is important employers and recruiters acknowledge that gender biased wording does determine who will apply for a position, and use gender-neutral language or gender-inclusive language that avoids bias.
My advice to women when applying for jobs is to focus on these three things:
• the responsibilities of the role; • the company you will be working for; • the team you will be working with.
If those three things match what you are looking for, apply for the job.
Let us have a look at the percentages of women who have taken the shot. According to the latest analysis of the cybersecurity profession, women make up around 24 percent of the workforce worldwide. This figure is by no means as high as we would like, but it is heading in the right direction: a few years ago it was roughly 20 percent. Cybersecurity is a growing field of study and employment, offering amazing career pathways. There are many opportunities to build an exciting and solid career in a wide range of roles.
Whatever a girl’s talent, there will be a good fit for her in the security industry. Whether she is good at maths, or creative, whether she prefers talking to people or writing, there is a place for her.
A diverse workforce brings massive benefits to society in general, and it is inspiring to see the cybersecurity sector embrace the need to encourage, promote and support women throughout their careers.
I would love to be able to help more women into the industry, there is a genuine desire for you, and I hope you can see your value and be confident in your abilities.
As a cybersecurity recruiter, I see my role as being more than simply matching vacancies with candidates. I also see my role as being to reduce risks to our clients (and, by extension, the public) through sourcing the best skills to protect us from the sophisticated cyber threats we see every day.
www.linkedin.com/in/jemmagrc
