With spend in Australian cybersecurity expected to surpass a whopping $5.1b in 2021, the natural flow-on effect from an increase in enterprise requirements in the sector is a need for more staff.
Since launching Synchro Partners earlier this year, there’s no doubt that it’s the most ‘job-heavy’ market we’ve seen in several years. It may seem like halcyon days for recruiters, but with virtually every business across the country on the hunt for a full range of skillsets as they build their ‘dream team’ of cybersecurity experts, it’s a lucrative opportunity for candidates.
With a hard stop on overseas talent due to covid related border closures over the past eighteen months, we have seen a major skills shortage across the technology sector. Naturally, due to the laws of supply and demand, salaries and contractor rates have increased substantially over the period. On average, we have seen an increase in remuneration expectations of over 7%, and in certain streams (IDAM/PAM, Cloud Security and Penetration Testing) a pay demand upturn of up to 25%. This in turn has created a true candidates’ market, with a plethora of career opportunities for jobseekers and those currently employed in the cybersecurity field.
Whilst this bullish job market is certainly advantageous to Tech professionals, it can be a double-edged sword – exposure to multiple opportunities at any given time increases your risk of making the wrong career move.
How do you make the right decision?
Every day, Synchro Partners help candidates between role transitions. what we’ve learnt through our experience is that having a well-defined vision of your career goals will help you make the right move. We’re sharing our top tips on how to evaluate each role when presented with multiple offers from different organisations, to ensure you make the right career decision.
What is the ‘ROI’ for you, if you join this organisation?
As much as they are investing into you, you also are investing in them. What is more important than dollars is consistent development and sustainable growth in what you are worth. As a cybersecurity professional, evolving your skills is the only way to keep up with the pace of the market. What new skills will you pick up? What certifications will they support you in pursuing? What kind of programs will you be working on? These are all crucial factors for your ROI and the future for your career.
What’s the organisational culture really like?
It is easy for an employer to say they have an amazing culture. But do they really? What’s the work culture like? It’s high-performing, but is it collaborative? Is there a culture of innovation specifically in the cybersecurity space? A good mix of both work culture and social culture should be identified for you to enjoy your role and to be successful too. Dig deep and ask questions such as: Could you give me an example of a time when the team have shown real comradery? What social activities do you organise? If they struggle to give you a warm and authentic answer, you should have reservations.
What do you look for in a leader? Will you align with your direct manager?
How do you envision each leader treating you and will they help you to be happy as well as succeed within the business? The cybersecurity market is a tight-knit community in Australia. What’s their track record? What’s been their contribution(s) to the community? When it comes to the hiring manager, what does their industry profile look like? Having the ‘right’ leader is pivotal to your success; having the ‘wrong’ leader could be your Achilles heel, and even stop you from reaching your goals. Simon Sinek says, “The courage of leadership is giving others the chance to succeed, even though you bear responsibility for getting things done.”
Be Discerning
Cybersecurity professionals are discerning individuals in their day-to-day roles, so why not take a discerning approach to jobhunting (a full-time job in itself). Having ‘a good feeling about this one’ is your intuition telling you that this is the most logical option. Use your instincts as your compass, backed up by facts for your reassurance.
Finally, money is a by-product of where you are currently at; what you can become is where you will see true job satisfaction (and financial gain). Join a company that will provide a vehicle to accelerate you as a better professional, rather than simply utilise your current skills.
Jim has over eight years’ experience recruiting in the Cyber Security sector across the UK and Melbourne, and is passionate about contributing to uplifting cyber security capability in Australia. He takes pride in his ability to find and build long lasting relationships with hard-to-find, niche talent in his sector. Jim is an active member of the cyber security community, frequently undertaking guest speaking roles at industry events and guest lecturing at various universities.
