An exit strategy is not necessarily top of mind if you are enjoying a successful security career. How do you start planning your exit strategy when you are no longer seeking professional advancement?

A resume or CV is an important component for any job search tool kit. However, there are other, newer ways to enhance or present your qualifications that you may not have previously considered. Taken together, you will have a multitude of options available to showcase your talents to potential employees.

As in-person engagement has slowed or ceased because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry has shifted and security professionals still have ways of engaging, networking, advancing their security careers, and maintaining their professional reputations—virtually or as a hybrid. Here’s how.

Calculating your worth during a job search should be an informed exercise done before interviews start. While a good understanding of the value of your background and experience is critical, it is also important to have some knowledge of the compensation structure of any companies you would like to work for.

Interviews have long been sources of angst for job seekers. Adding even more stress to an already stressful situation, the pandemic caused many organizations to move almost exclusively into virtually screening candidates. Candidates now need to prepare for their 15 minutes of (on screen) fame in addition to a possible in-person interview.

Job titles in the security profession are not always a good indicator of where you are in your career. We have conducted a wide variety of recruitment projects around the world for our clients. One consistency is that there is no consistency. At least insofar as security job titles are concerned.

Security search firms are frequently contacted by job seekers who reach out to request the recruitment company assist them in finding a new job. Inquiries come from professionals and executives in various stages of their public or private sector careers.

We have previously talked about many aspects of how to advance your security career. This includes having a thorough understanding of both soft and operational skills sought after by organizations. The ability to execute on these attributes is valued when companies look for top talent for senior level security roles.

Unfortunately, diversity is still underrepresented in security. Our profession continues to struggle to attract and/or advance diverse candidates into leadership ranks in numbers that accurately represent a cross section of the working population.

Barring winning a major lottery or inheritance, during a 40+ year working life in the security profession, security leaders will likely make a dozen or more job changes. While some of these may be significant responsibility shifts within a single organization, in today’s environment it is likely that a person will be changing organizations and even the type and/or responsibilities of various roles. One of those changes may include self-employment. Here’s what you need to know to ponder the transition.