It’s the year 2020! I participated in my first event for Katia’s Cylife at the Blacks in Cybersecurity Winter Summit in February. In my blog series, I shared the ups and downs of finding employment after a layoff. However, I noticed I did not inform you all about the art of networking and how that can improve your career. In this blog, I will share the methods I used for networking for career advancement.
Networking
We all hear the phrase “Network, Network, Network !!!” But how do you start networking in the first place? Networking- is exchanging information and ideas among people with a common profession or interest.
When I received my undergrad degree in Electronic Engineering and was looking for my 1st position, it was a struggle finding work in my hometown Cleveland, Ohio. So, I took the risk and moved to Maryland to find employment and stayed with some family members. Networking was the key to improve my career, but how?
The Art of Networking for Career Advancement
To illustrate networking for career advancement, I needed to utilize this skill within a new state. Being that, I was new to the area and did not have any friends. Therefore, a family member introduced me to a young black woman that was around the same age as me. She previously worked at Northrop Grumman as a System Test Engineer working on the X-47B Unmanned Air Combat System Demonstration (UCAS-D) project.
For one thing, I knew nothing about an Unmanned Air Vehicle. However, with her guidance and a blessing in disguise, I was able to land my 1st engineering position and security clearance. I stayed in Maryland for five years, and it was time to excel in a new area of study and state.
Therefore, I decided to get my master’s degree in Cybersecurity Technology. I became interested in cybersecurity due to volunteering in STEM events for young girls. There was a workshop on cybersecurity, and I decided to pursue this area of study. I graduated with my master’s degree and moving to the Northern Virginia area was on my radar next. But how was I going to obtain a position in a different state?
Since I had a security clearance there were a lot of hiring events in the DC area. One event called Restart was an excellent event to attend due to my clearance. Prior to attending this event, I researched on LinkedIn to find the CEO of this event. Networking with the CEO of this event and asking questions on how to prepare for this event. Hence, this connection allowed me to land a position in the Northern Virginia area. Utilizing networking on social media can advance your career as well. If you use it to be helpful and create quality content.
Networking On Social Media
- Creating quality content for the audience you want on your page
- Turning a negative situation into a positive situation- for instance, using my unemployment “regrowth” period and sharing my story about finding employment
- Building relationships with recruiters
- Create a blog or website showing your passion for cybersecurity
In conclusion, networking is a skill you have to learn over time! There are different ways to accelerate your career, hopefully this advice can help in your career.