Security News > 2022 > June > Hiring entry-level and junior candidates can alleviate the cybersecurity skills shortage

With an acute cybersecurity skills gap that stands at 2.7 million globally and a U.S. gap of more than 400,000, hiring managers are looking to entry- and junior-level candidates to fill vacancies, according to a new report by global cybersecurity professional organization².

"One of the biggest challenges"lies with hiring managers relying on unrealistic job descriptions and hiring practices - placing far too much emphasis on experience alone, even for entry-level roles where prior experience is impossible to obtain,'' Wisniewski said.

Hiring managers should look beyond the traditional IT and cybersecurity talent pool.

"Ultimately, hiring managers need to invest in people and create longer-term career paths for those they hire, rather than just relying on the already highly experienced elements of the cybersecurity workforce," Wisniewski said.

There are a number of traits in three categories - technical skills, non-technical skills and personal traits - hiring managers should consider in entry-level job candidates, according to the² report.

"By equipping the next generation of cybersecurity professionals with a foundational qualification, hiring managers will have a recognized and practical mark of competency to rely on other than previous experience," Wisniewski said.

News URL

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/hiring-entry-level-alleviate-cybersecurity-shortage/