While technology becomes ever more infused with our everyday lives, too many people have sloppy cybersecurity habits. It seems the field of cyber and privacy will only become more essential each year for the security of both organizations and individuals. But there remains a major need for more cyber workers. The industry needs to increase pathways and welcome more talent into our folds.

Here’s where you can come in. With an hour or two of your time every month, you can help shape and empower the next generation of cyber professionals.

The future of cyber needs you

When you become a mentor, you raise awareness of cybersecurity careers, help train students to navigate the job search process, and play a part in closing the security workforce gap while also encouraging more diversity in the field. We know that the industry needs people with all sorts of different passions and backgrounds, and mentorship widens the pathway for the up-and-coming pros of tomorrow.

There are many people, not only students but also people already out in the workforce, who would be amazing additions to the cyber industry. But they might not know it is a possibility, or they might not think they have anything to offer. You can help bring them in through mentorship. You can be their advocate and help them advance their careers, all with a few Zoom calls or in-person coffee meetings.

“Having a mentor has truly changed not just my professional life but made a huge impact in my personal life as well,” says Ricardo Stephens II, a Diversity Campus Manager at Dell Technologies. “I have had trying times in my life deciding what to do in a difficult situation or understanding how to manage myself when challenges arise. Having someone that I can truly lean on for guidance in those times has always been something I could count on.” 

What makes for a good mentor?

We think that there is a recipe for making a good cyber mentor:

• At least three years of professional experience in cybersecurity, privacy, risk, or related fields

• One to three free hours every month where you can meet with your mentee, and potentially one hour per month or so for other simple tasks (like reviewing a sample résumé)

• A passion for the industry and a desire to empower those about to enter it

If you don’t yet have the professional experience, no sweat; you’ll get there. You might want to seek out a mentor yourself—even those with decades of experience, including CEOs, regularly get help through mentorship. It isn’t something just for college students.

What to expect

We can’t know every situation you’ll find yourself in as a mentor—that’s part of the fun! But you should expect that the mentee-mentor relationship will require patience and some handholding on your end. Your mentee might have studied computer science for years, or the idea of working in cybersecurity might have just come to them yesterday.

In your first meeting, discuss what would be useful to them and try to help them articulate their career goals. They should be thinking not only on five or 10-year timelines (job interview-style) but also about what they want to accomplish in a year or even six months. What can they do this week (maybe even today!) to get their career pointed in the right direction?

Also, a mentee should understand that a mentor isn’t a job placement program. They might need a gentle reminder if they aren’t clear about that fact from the beginning. They should also respect that you have your own job and responsibilities. If there is any confusion or friction, do your best to explain the point of a mentor, what you are willing to help them with, and how you can help them reach the next step in their career. Patience and kindness are two essential traits of a mentor.

Where to find a mentee

You might have some messages from potential mentees in your LinkedIn inbox right now. If you let people in your network (friends, family, co-workers, and colleagues in the industry) know you are open to being a mentor, mentees can find you.

Right now, the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) is hosting a mentorship program focused on mentoring students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). You can get involved right now here.

“I make sure that I can pay it forward doing the same thing for my own mentees,” Stephens continues. “That is why programs like the NCA HBCU mentor program are important and necessary not only to me but for those students looking to make that transition from student to cyber professional.”

“Mentors have played a significant role in my career,” adds Anthony Hendricks, legal problem solver and litigator at Crowe & Dunlevy. “They provide support and encouragement, serve as a sounding board for ideas, and even provide reality checks and tough love when needed. Students often comment to me that it can be difficult finding or approaching a potential mentor. The NCA’s HBCU mentor program takes away the stress of finding a mentor and is a great way for students to connect with cyber professionals that want to invest in their personal and career growth.”  

We also have many more ways you can get involved as a cybersecurity advocate for Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October. You have resources that will help you give presentations to your community, at schools, retirement communities, or anywhere else where people could use some help with their cybersecurity habits.