I, too, am sick of the diversity dialogue that never goes anywhere. So if you desire to embark upon a career in Cybersecurity as a black woman, this is definitely for you. Whether you are questioning starting university, community college, currently a high school student, or maybe you’ve established a career in another field and you want to transition- I strongly recommend apprenticeships. 

The Numbers Are On Your Side

With recent ransomware attacks across industries, companies are racing to secure their systems as well as hire the right professionals to do just that. As reported by The New York Times, 2021 was projected to have 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs, and the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated this growing need for talent. As Covid spread, so did cyber attacks. In the coming years, there will be millions of Cybersecurity jobs unfilled mainly due to a growing demand for cybersecurity professionals as the supply shortage increases. 

Companies know about these trends and there are not enough black women, as well as other minorities, in cybersecurity. Businesses will either take initiative to help their prospects or they’ll continue to compete for top talent in an ever-changing cybersecurity field. 

Where To Find Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are the most effective way for businesses to engage in skill development by investing in their workforce through skills growth. Various sources serve people interested in pursuing an apprenticeship. Here are key ways to find apprenticeships:

1. LinkedIn

Similar to looking for an entry-level position or internships, apprenticeships can be found on Linkedin as well. Search based on the criteria that’s most important to you, for example, remote-only, organization type, etc.

Even if an apprenticeship is not listed, don’t get discouraged. Reach out and message a recruiter or other individuals within the company that can provide more information on apprenticeships or entry-level positions that facilitate training. At times, apprenticeship opportunities aren’t posted on LinkedIn and it’s helpful to get more information before disregarding the company. I recommend using Linkedin in this fashion because this method is how I secured my apprenticeship.

2. Gov Apprenticeships

Beyond just the private sector, the Government is also facing a shortage. The purpose of Apprenticeship.gov is to connect job seekers and employers. This website is helpful for finding educational programs from universities, as well as transitional programs, that seek to educate those that have no prior training in cybersecurity.

I applied to multiple cybersecurity positions, apprenticeships, and school-related programs all through this website. Even if you don’t apply to anything, it’s a great resource to gauge what’s available.

3. Social Media & Company websites

LinkedIn does not always have certain opportunities listed, so I recommend checking company websites and seeing what they have listed. This is important because the government has grants for companies to take advantage of to improve diversity within cybersecurity. Making connections on LinkedIn is especially helpful in this case because there are opportunities that only the company employees know about and it can give you an advantage.

Twitter is a great resource for apprenticeship opportunities that would otherwise be hard to see. I have used Twitter but jobs or apprenticeships can be found on other platforms as well such as Facebook, Reddit, etc.

Referrals

Upon finding apprenticeship opportunities and applying, your next step is to get ahead of the dreadful waiting period and take matters into your own hands. It’s crucial that you force-feed yourself the habit of networking and messaging the very people that can understand your situation as well as put you in a winning position. Whether it’s shyness, anxiety, or you’re simply not interested in cold messaging folks - it’s completely understandable. But I would encourage you to challenge yourself - start out by reaching out to one person per week and gradually increase that number. That’s exactly what I did and it slowly became second nature. 

The more research you do on individuals whom you would like to network, connect, and refer you to - the better. Always inquire about what they do as much as they inquire about you. Be curious, let them know your story (not everything), and be yourself.

Take It Easy, Seriously

One last helpful tip would be to slow down whenever you can to take a deep breath and remind yourself you are worthy of a great career, a balanced life, a high salary, and more. Rejections are indeed part of life, but if you’re constantly applying to opportunities and nothing is going your way it can be incredibly challenging. This is why I would dedicate a day of the week, or an afternoon, to take a break from applying and do something you enjoy that’s completely unrelated to these pursuits. Or you can take a scheduled nap:)

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