Public Engagement’s Influence on Your Security Career

A little over a year ago we wrote a column focused on pandemic-induced challenges to in-person engagement to advance your security career. Conference and meeting attendance had gone to zero and security professionals had to find creative ways to maintain visibility and source information other than at live events. That has remained the case across the past 13 months and a good deal of networking activity moved online into forums and on boards.

Most security practitioners now know there are positive ways to develop and maintain your professional reputation, even if they are done virtually. They include meaningful engagement in professional groups and authorship that demonstrates your depth of knowledge. You can initiate research on industry relevant topics or volunteer to serve on or chair study committees.

These activities, even if done only online, still provide an opportunity for the security community to learn about you. They can also be effective in bringing you to the attention of potential hiring managers who may be starting a recruitment for someone like you.

However, where you choose to engage matters, as does the substance of what you are sharing and the content of your questions.

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