Although veteran unemployment may be high, historic low, The transition from military to civilian life is not without its challenges. First, ex-military personnel often need help applying the skills they gained in the military to non-military roles, and many also have a range of civilian career paths that align with their prior experience. You need to become more familiar with your options.
Veterans are natural problem solvers and understand the importance of maintaining a strong defense posture and following the chain of command when dealing with active threats. That makes military veterans attractive candidates for cybersecurity roles. and, The shortage of human resources is becoming more serious In the security field, veterans have a great opportunity to apply their skills to support this important industry.
Countries around the world recently honored military veterans on Veterans Day, recognizing the critical role these individuals continue to play in cybersecurity as a talent pool to help narrow the skills gap. It’s also important. In a recent conversation with Army veteran James Murphy, TechVets Program in the Armed Forces Employment Charity, and Fortinet Veterans Program Advisory Council Member — he discussed these opportunities and provided insight into the resources available to veterans.
question: Why are veterans an important talent pool and why should more employers look to fill vacant cybersecurity roles?
James Murphy (JM): People with military experience not only have a fixed sense of security, but they also have an innate ability to understand all kinds of threats to different systems. Veterans are quick learners. Notice the amount of information recruits have to learn about a variety of topics, from technical equipment to weapons systems. Additionally, military personnel regularly move from one role to the next, requiring them to quickly learn new processes and capabilities throughout their respective military careers. As a result, military veterans tend to acquire technical skills faster than non-military personnel, making them strong candidates for cybersecurity jobs.
Additionally, many companies are looking for candidates with cybersecurity knowledge, but also need people skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability that military backgrounds can provide.
question: How can organizations better recruit and retain veterans for cybersecurity roles?
JM: Many organizations have recruitment policies in place to attract candidates from a variety of backgrounds. Companies that are most successful in recruiting veterans have special programs in place to facilitate the recruitment of ex-military personnel.
An easy way to adjust your recruiting strategy to make recruiting veterans easier is to allow ex-military leaders to speak directly to your talent acquisition team. This often helps recruiting teams learn more about an individual’s valuable skills and determine which role in the organization would be a good fit. If a candidate isn’t a good fit for the role they’re applying for, your team can guide them to other parts of the business to find a position that better matches their skills and interests.
Q: What are the potential challenges that veterans may face during the IT and cybersecurity transition and how can they be overcome?
JM: Veterans may face several hurdles when transitioning to civilian life, but the severity of these challenges is often proportional to the length of time a person has been in the military and the roles they have played. To do.
One of the most pressing issues is that veterans have invaluable transferable skills, but they don’t always realize it. Some people retiring after years of service have a hard time expressing the skills and experience they gained during their service because roles, competencies, organizations, and technology are communicated in ways that are inconsistent with the modern business world. Some people do.
Another issue that often affects service leaders is that they have not yet experienced the variety of roles available across all industries. As a result, veterans are more likely to follow those who left the military before them. As the person follows in the footsteps of others, they may pursue employment avenues that they perceive to be less risky, which often leads to underemployment.
The good news is that there are resources and organizations available to help veterans overcome these hurdles. Examples of organizations include: TechVets Initiatives like Fortinet veterans program Provides skills training and employment services to help former military members, including military spouses, find new career paths after leaving the military.
Q: What advice would you give to veterans considering a transition into cybersecurity to prepare and position themselves?
JM: There are many ways veterans can prepare for the transition to cybersecurity.
First, start networking. Many people think of networking as synonymous with finding a job, but networking has far more benefits than that. Networking effectively will give you insight into what you want to do after retirement, what industry you want to work in, and what type of company you feel would be the best fit.
Next, decide on your career path and plan your training and upskilling accordingly. This ensures you build the knowledge you need for the role you’re interested in, rather than pursuing broader, less focused skills.
Finally, lean on the veteran community. Learn from those who have already moved into the cybersecurity field, Take advantage of the program It is designed to provide veterans with the skills and resources they need to pursue meaningful new career paths. Military employment charities provide lifelong, life-changing support, job opportunities, and training to veterans, reservists, veterans and their families, regardless of status, rank, length of service, or reason for retirement. exists in Founded in 1885 and operating across the UK, we have the expertise and understanding to bridge the gap between military life and civilian employment. We work in partnership with other organizations and employers who, like us, respect and value the unique qualities and abilities of all those we have served.