Cleared Hot: Career Advice and Veteran Transition News
Anymore, saying you’re a hacker isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For security cleared job candidates with IT skills, it can mean great job opportunities.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Google CEO Eric Schmidt will release a new book this spring, in which he calls the current times an “age of state-led cyberwar”, citing China at the hacking helm. That’s not news to the federal government, which is already addressing cyber intrusion within its own agencies. But in addition, hiring trends for ethical hackers in the corporate sector appear to be following suit.
Much as ethical hacker sounds like an oxymoron, it looks to be headed to the status of buzz phrase. A look at the numbers shows the demand for jobs that focus on defending against cyber intrusion is already rising. According to Wanted Analytics, which tracks hiring trends, 2013 has seen more than 1,400 job ads for certified ethical hackers. That’s the highest number in the last four years.
Cleared IT experts may already have the skills for these jobs. But those interested in adding certification may want to check out the training programs available both online and on campus. For example, George Mason University offers a 64 hour CEH program tailor made for working professionals. It offers the program through weekend classes spread across three month periods.
If you’re looking for these jobs, you probably won’t find the word hacker in the job title. But it is increasingly sought as a skill set in jobs that include security and network security engineers, and also security, network and IT security analysts.
Where is the demand? The Washington, D.C. area ranks number one, given its wealth of federal agencies and defense contractors. Austin is not far behind, ranking as one of five international Silicon sectors, with major employers like Apple and Samsung. And Albuquerque continues to expand its Rio Grande Research Corridor, made up of high tech and nuclear research related companies. Along with that, Albuquerque is home to Kirtland Air Force Base, which houses tenants that include Sandia National Laboratories, the Nuclear Weapons Center, Air Force Inspection Agency and Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
Tranette Ledford is a writer and owner of Ledford, LLC, which provides writing, editorial and public relations consulting for defense, military and private sector businesses. You can contact her at: Tranette@Ledfordllc.com.
