Recruiting in Cybersecurity: Overcoming Hurdles to Attract Winning Talent

The struggle for attracting cybersecurity talent never ceases. With millions of jobs unfilled and cyberattacks escalating, companies find themselves scrambling to staff their cybersecurity teams. But recruiting these critical professionals comes with its own set of challenges. Let’s break down these hurdles and review the ways SealingTech has created a winning recruitment strategy that you can implement for your organization.

Overcoming the Skills Gap

With millions of jobs unfilled and cyberattacks escalating, companies find themselves scrambling to staff their cybersecurity teams.

Degrees and certifications are a great start; however, they don’t guarantee that your candidate will possess the practical skills to deal with real world threats. It’s imperative to search for experience with relevant key technologies and demonstrated ability to adapt and learn quickly in an ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. Identify the necessary hard skillsets through the screening process and evaluate problem solving aptitude during interviews. Moreover, consider establishing a training and development program within your organization. This can take shape as an internship program or more traditional/certification program that can help grow the niche talent required.

Staying Ahead of the Competition

Cybersecurity continues to be a primary focus across all industries. Security professionals have endless options and command high salaries. Therefore, competitive pay is a must, along with highlighting your company’s culture, benefits, growth opportunities, and what separates your organization from the competition. Flexibility and remote options are also key differentiators.

Retaining Key Talent

High stress and burnout run rampant in cybersecurity. Once talent acquisition lands a top candidate, the question then becomes how do you keep them? Well, for starters, create an open, supportive culture that prioritizes a work-life balance including hybrid and remote work options. Provide opportunities for advancement and professional development. Promote an atmosphere where everyone feels included and respected. And consider retention bonuses, quarterly bonuses, employee awards, and incentives for hitting milestones.

Prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

It is important to incorporate DEI into your recruitment strategy.

Organizations that are diverse, equitable, and inclusive (DEI) respond to challenges better and demonstrate the understanding and skillset to meet the needs of their diverse customer base. If your existing workforce fails to reflect a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds, it deters top talent. It is important to incorporate DEI into your recruitment strategy. In doing so, partnering with various DEI orgs and creating internal initiatives will help promote a more welcoming and thriving environment.

Maintain a Constant Marketing Presence

Companies need to stand out in a crowded marketplace where everyone is vying for winning cybersecurity talent. Limited branding and poor marketing may lead to top talent unintentionally avoiding your open roles. It is important to develop a strong corporate brand that showcases your company’s mission and values. Highlight the meaningful work your cybersecurity team has accomplished, your company’s work culture, and future projects and goals. The more familiar a candidate is with your company, the better positioned you are in attracting that candidate.

Recruiting in the cybersecurity sector faces constant challenges. With the appropriate strategies, talent acquisition professionals can be one step closer to attracting and retaining the necessary talent needed to achieve your organization’s defense objectives.

At SealingTech we practice what we preach, offering hybrid and remote positions, competitive salaries and bonuses, an inclusive and open-minded work culture, as well as a creative and innovative environment in the effort to support the warfighter. We’re always looking for great people to join our growing team.

Could your career use a jolt? Explore the latest open positions at SealingTech.