Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • The Security Leadership Issue
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
ColumnsManagementCareer IntelligenceSecurity Leadership and Management

Building Relationships to Advance Your Personal Brand

By Jerry J. Brennan
SEC0819-Career-Feat-slide1_900px
SEC0819-career-slide2_900px
SEC0819-Career-Feat-slide1_900px
SEC0819-career-slide2_900px
August 1, 2019

Many of the positions I held in my corporate security career relied on my ability to accurately assess an individual or an event. Good listening and clear communication skills went hand-in-hand with the abilities to investigate, develop rapport with a wide audience and form an accurate understanding of whatever the circumstance was.

Many different roles within the security profession have these skills and competencies in common, and they have the potential to put security job seekers in a favorable position when job hunting as they are all requirements for a successful job search. However, failing to apply these attributes universally throughout your career can cause damage to your personal brand and limit your career opportunities.

Over the years, I have attended hundreds of security-related conferences and functions around the world. These are great opportunities to build your network. Very often 10 minutes of conversation with someone I may have only just met causes me to realize just how small and interconnected the security community is. Six degrees of separation is likely closer to three.

It is easy to lose sight of how many connections we have in common, especially if you are part of a large multinational company. The diversity of interaction across functions and business units is a unique aspect of working as a security professional within this kind of organization. You likely regularly work with all levels of internal management, administrative and support functions. Suppliers, third-party vendors, governmental agencies and the general public are common external clients. On appearance it may seem like a much larger playing field than it is.

As much as things can change, they can also remain surprisingly consistent. Business executives and other employees you may have known in your organization may move to companies where your professional acquaintances work. It is common to see many individuals who were previously on the practitioner side, public or private sector, who are now affiliated with suppliers of goods and services. The nature of the security profession lends itself to interactions with this same narrow group of suppliers, many of whom you may know well through previous affiliations.

It can seem like there are a lot of moving parts, however, they remain interconnected and hopefully all have consistent views of you as a security practitioner. You never know who the person you are dealing with knows or has a personal connection to. They may be in a position someday to positively – or negatively – impact your career aspirations.

Consistently presenting yourself to this diverse audience across your security career can influence your future in subtle and sometimes surprising ways. Obviously, your demeanor and choice of words influence how you are perceived by others. It can also aid in the development and marketing of your personal brand and be a key element in advancing your career aspirations.

An appreciation and understanding of the importance of these relationships and the impact your behavior may have on them is critical to your brand and future career success.

KEYWORDS: information security security career

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Brennan 2016 200px

Jerry Brennan is co-founder and Chief Executive of the Security Management Resources Group of Companies (www.smrgroup.com), the leading global executive search practice focused exclusively on corporate and information security positions.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Security Leadership and Management
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Security Leadership and Management
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Logical Security
    By: Charles Denyer
Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

  • Duty of Care
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Integrating Technology and Physical Security to Advance Duty of Care

Popular Stories

Coding

AI Emerges as the Top Concern for Security Leaders

Half open laptop

“Luigi Was Right”: A Look at the Website Sharing Data on More Than 1,000 Executives

Shopping mall

Victoria’s Secret Security Incident Shuts Down Website

Laptop with coding on ground

Stepping Into the Light: Why CISOs Are Replacing Black-Box Security With Open-Source XDR

Gift cards and credit cards

Why Are Cyberattacks Targeting Retail? Experts Share Their Thoughts

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

June 24, 2025

Inside a Modern GSOC: How Anthropic Benchmarks Risk Detection Tools for Speed and Accuracy

For today's security teams, making informed decisions in the first moments of a crisis is critical.

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

From animal habitats to bustling crowds of visitors, a zoo is a one-of-a-kind environment for deploying modern security technologies.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • SEC0421-Career-Feat-Slide1-900px

    Positive brand reputation will advance your security career

    See More
  • Relocating to Advance Your Security Career

    Relocating to advance your security career

    See More
  • corporate security recruitment

    Understand security recruitment to advance your career

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • security culture.webp

    Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

  • physical security.webp

    Physical Security Assessment Handbook An Insider’s Guide to Securing a Business

  • into to sec.jpg

    Introduction to Security, 10th Edition

See More Products
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing