How to attract and retain top Cyber Security talent
Are you wondering the best ways to attract and retain top Cyber Security talent across the globe?
A recent survey from GOV.UK has shown that half (49%) of all cyber firms have faced problems with technical cyber security skills gaps, and as Cyber threats increase, so does the need for highly skilled Cyber Security professionals to fill out your team.
Cyber Security talent is more in demand than ever, so how can you stay competitive in this compressed market?
Target early
It is safe to say that almost every graduate is looking for a grad-job to help them get on the career ladder in their desired industry – and this is also the case for Cyber Security.
By partnering with schools and universities to organise grad schemes, businesses have access to a wider talent pool of aspiring Cyber Security professionals, whilst they are still considering their options.
Cyber Security is ever-changing, and it is important to inspire the next generation to consider STEM subjects in education.
There are simple ways to get ahead of the game. Have you ever considered attending or organising an in-person or virtual event to attract talent? You may think this is cliché, but traditional methods of recruitment still work, and STEM students would be interested in discussing opportunities in person, rather than relying on online applications.
Investing in more traditional marketing practices such as live demos or radio appearances is another great way of targeting talent and building brand awareness.
Prioritise retention
It is equally important to hold onto the Cyber Security talent that you have, as it is to hire them.
With this is mind, bringing in initiatives to improve or maintain workplace happiness and mental health support is crucial. Also, staying competitive with market trends and the latest salaries is a no-brainer.
A great way to do this is to keep a close eye on the competition with the help of salary surveys. They can offer guidance and the latest salary benchmarks to Cyber Security companies. Our sister brand, TechNET Digital offers a great salary survey example for the Digital Industry.
Flexible culture
Offering a flexible and supportive culture is key to retaining staff in any industry.
- Flexible working – luckily for the Cyber Security industry, it is quite easy to offer flexible working opportunities due to the digital nature of the work. Hiring Managers in the Cyber Security sector have been able to maintain a loose reign when it comes to their employees’ working environment.
- Supporting introverted employees – you may come across employees who are more introverted than others and establishing how they work most effectively is important. Whether that be in a quiet environment, having more informal conversations to avoid intimidation, or considering your management approach, all of these things can have a positive effect on your quieter employee, and lead to higher retention long term.
- Establishing an open culture from day one – Cyber Security professionals tend to be inquisitive and eager to learn, especially those working their way up the career ladder and developing new skills. Therefore, by offering an open culture where staff feel comfortable to ask questions is important. As we say in recruitment, assumption is the mother of all failures!
Review your Cyber Security recruitment process
So, you’ve hit a wall in your internal hiring – don’t fret!
There may be Cyber Security roles that you simply cannot fill for one reason or the other, which is why it is important to have a specialised talent partner by your side to perform the heavy lifting – like TechNET CxO.
Our team of experts work within their own specialisms and have access to over 500,000 candidates on our database. If you’re looking for a recruitment partner that specialises in Cyber Security, get in touch today or reach out to Cyber Consultant Amit for a personalised conversation.
