Amy Knoell speaks at ISSA Atlanta -Career Day

1. Job Searching
Strategies
Amy Knoell
Director of Cybersecurity Staffing, The Cybersecurity Network (CyberSN)
Ambassador, Brainbabe (brainbabe.org)
Copyright @ 2018 CyberSN. All rights reserved

2. Amy Knoell is a Director of Cyber Security Staffing and
Recruiting for Cyber Security Network (CyberSN), a
cybersecurity staffing, technology and research firm. Amy
has recruited technologists for over 20 years, and has
staffed within the cybersecurity space for the last 10 years.
She has worked in many parts of the US, including Georgia,
Chicago, and Dallas; she developed offices and recruiting
teams in all three of those geographies. Her focus in the
cybersecurity market has given her the ability to understand
the many challenges faced by candidates looking for
security positions as well as struggles that corporations face
when looking for this kind of talent. She joined CyberSN to
make hiring and job searching simpler for the cyber
community and she is also heavily involved in Brainbabe
(brainbabe.org), a non-profit geared towards driving more
women and men into the cybersecurity field. Amy holds a
BS from the University of Georgia.
Copyright @ 2018 CyberSN. All rights reserved

3. Copyright @ 2018 CyberSN. All rights reserved

4. The gap between available
qualified professionals and
unfilled positions will widen to 1.8
million by 2022
- (ISC)2: 2017 Global Information Security Workforce
Study
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5. This is no such thing as a purple
unicorn.
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6. +SEO
=Resume Black Hole
HR
Software
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7. How to have a successful
search when job
searching is broken.
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8. 1. Don’t just be a resume!
- Be 3 dimensional - talk about self-study projects and put it on the resume. List it under: Special
Interests / Self Study / Other Knowledge
- List out tools you play with and technology at home. Be specific
- Do you have a lab in your house where you’ve installed Splunk? That’s cool stuff, so talk about it!
1. Find free courses to enhance your skills:
- Use tools Cybrary, YouTube, and podcasts
1. Take training / attend events!
- Volunteer at events to get the inside scoop
- Find security and or technology meetups and network
1. Find a mentor or SME in your industry and ask for advice and help. People will help you!
2. Use social media!
- Update your LinkedIn / Twitter to say that you’re looking.
- Post and share interesting cybersecurity related articles with the latest news.
- Follow and connect with as many people in the cybersecurity community as possible
1. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK
2. Find a recruiter who is a cybersecurity SME that can help you! (Like CyberSN)
In your searchCopyright @ 2018 CyberSN. All rights reserved

9. How to have successful
interviews.
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10. 1. Research the company and team you will be meeting or speaking with.
- Look up your interviewers profiles on LI and Twitter to have some idea of who the are
1. Find out major details ahead of time. Find out: where to park, how to dress, where to go
2. Practice answering questions and asking questions
3. Don’t B-S around topics that you don’t understand or haven’t worked with.
- When you don’t know something don’t make stuff up, keep it short and sweet. Say “I haven’t had
the opportunity to work with that technology. I am sure I can pick it up quickly.”
- Smile and deliver this line then stop talking!
5. Have multiple questions ready to ask:
- Write them down ahead of time so you don’t forget because of nerves. Here are some examples.
- “From a growth standpoint, how do you see this role developing?”
- Find out if the company has a succession plan
- Find talking points from the company website to talk about
- News items or press releases are a good place to start
- “What are your project initiatives over the next 6 months?”
- Shows you are thinking long-term
- If newer to the team - “Why did you take this job?”
- If seasoned - “Why do you like working here? What’s kept you here for so long”
Copyright @ 2018 CyberSN. All rights reserved
In your interviews

11. Copyright @ 2018 CyberSN. All rights reserved
In your interviews
6. Try to find a commonality with the person with whom you are interviewing
- Did you go to the same school, are you from the same region, find some common interest.
7. Find a way to connect / humanize your interviewer and yourself
- Show them who you are. It’s ok to talk a little bit about your personal interests or hobbies or to tell a joke
(stay professional). You WANT to create a positive experience in their minds so they remember you
fondly. People like to repeat things that feel good.
8. Money
- Do not be the one who initiates salary!
9. If they ask you about your salary expectations:
- Respond with “ I am looking for a competitive offer with room to grow, the right role, exciting technology,
good people, and a great environment. Salary and benefits are a piece of it but I like to look at the whole
package.”
- Don’t give a #. If they ask for minimum salary desired on an application, list as “competitive”.
- The better you do in the interviewing process, the better your position will be when it’s time to bargain
10. Send thank you notes - to managers and their team
- Keep it short and sweet. Say “Thanks for taking the time to talk. I’m excited about the role because of
(list 3 reasons here). I’m excited to move forward.”

12. Have more questions? Get in touch!