Gaining a foothold in IT careers can be intimidating for industry newcomers, given the rising complexity of the technology landscape and the evolving privacy and security threats professionals must learn to mitigate.
Establishing credibility with clients and internal stakeholders, determining what additional learning is needed beyond academic degrees and figuring out the nuances of the business are among the early-career challenges faced by rising professionals in IT fields.
Below are five tips from ISACA rising professionals on how to accelerate early-career success:
Take the time to learn the business. While it is understandable that professionals might want to focus on their direct responsibilities early in their careers, devoting some time to understanding bigger-picture business goals can give practitioners a clearer sense of purpose and make them more effective in their roles. “Back in my early days as an IT auditor, I wish I had better literacy on business processes and other business areas that can assist in my IT audit work and deliverables,” Mais Barouqa wrote.
Experiment with your craft. There is no better time for hands-on experimentation than early in your career, especially if full-time employment is not yet a time barrier. Gaining experience in a variety of areas can help pinpoint what specific role is the best long-term fit. As Binita Patel wrote, “If you like to break into systems, try to develop skills of a penetration tester. Similarly, if compliance draws you, you could develop skills for a GRC profession. For someone who is unsure about the area of cybersecurity he or she is good in, I recommend gaining exposure to various aspects and evaluate what suits you the best, where your expertise falls and, most importantly, what interests you the most.”
Do due diligence on choosing a credentialing path. Gaining an industry certification is required for many roles and, even if it is not mandatory, often positions IT professionals for career advancement and success in their roles. Determining which certification makes the most sense, though, can be overwhelming, especially in the early stages of someone’s IT career. “Don’t feel overwhelmed by uncertainty,” Fabiola Amedo wrote. “That’s why the knowledge is out there. Seek it, be informed, understand the requirements, the commitments and the long-term benefits of the certifications. Meet with or speak to people who have achieved certifications for courses you are pursuing or have thought of pursuing and ask all the questions you need to ask. Just ensure you do your best to be informed.”
Ask questions. Lots of them! There is plenty to learn in the IT realm on an ongoing basis. It can be intimidating to ask all the questions that might be helpful to have answered, especially for introverts, but let those questions fly – it will expedite the learning curve. “My initial lack of experience compelled me to raise questions around details on the documentation and processes of the IT audits I was involved in, which in turn helped improve the overall quality of detail within our testing,” writes Sneha Dasgupta. “Sure, some of them weren’t the smartest of questions, but this inquisitiveness gave my managers the confidence that I was making an effort to fully understand the client’s IT environment.”
Prioritize growing your network. Even seasoned professionals stand to benefit from a robust professional network. Developing those relationships early in your career lays an important foundation for success later. As Kris Rides, CEO and founder of Tiro Security and co-founder of nextCISO.com, wrote in an ISACA ebook on launching careers in IT, “As you’re working in IT, be sure to build your network. Internally, shadow someone in your cybersecurity department. Volunteer to help them with projects. Find a mentor on the team, and learn everything you can. Externally, consider joining your local ISACA chapter to find some mentors and champions. Being a part of a group like that is gold dust for your career, especially if you get more active as a volunteer.”
For more resources for newcomers to IT fields, visit ISACA’s Rising Professionals page.