If you have been following me for more than 24 hours, then you know that I am an advocate of approaching your career like a boss. In fact, I believe that women should use technology to attract opportunities and move the industry forward.
It is 2018, and while the internet may appear noisy, the reality is that those of us producing content are giving ourselves a competitive advantage over the majority of people who just browse or consume content.
When you share knowledge, you are taking control of your Google search results. When you write articles or share tutorials, you show up in recruiter key word results. When you’re pitching for that 1099 income opportunity, you instantly set yourself apart if you have public links to your expertise.
Yes, it is work. But it pays dividends, builds confidence, and is one more tool to help write your own success story. One of my mentees is proactively writing her next chapter.
Stephanie Ihezukwu has spent the past year working at a security tech company in Houston and earned the CompTIA trinity of certs (A+, Network+ and Security+) in her free time. #superwoman
At some point, she casually mentioned that she wanted to restart her website.
Word to the wise: if you tell Keirsten that you want to do something, even if it is in casual conversation, she will hold you to it.
I am ecstatic to share that Stephanie’s site is live! She is sharing what she is learning along her journey as she navigates working in security, school, volunteer projects, new technology, and mentoring others. Click here to visit her blog and be sure to send her words of encouragement!
No matter where you are in your career, you can and should add your voice to the conversation. As I always tell you, sharing content does not have to be big or fancy or daily or weekly.
But if you want to attract opportunities (as opposed to going in the big black application holes and/or never finding out about unpublished opportunities), then sharing content should be a part of your six-figure career strategy.
The best part: you’ll inspire other women and light the path for those coming behind you.
Speaking of lighting the path, I will be on a Women in ICS Security Panel on April 26th at the Marriott Marquis in Houston. I can confirm that recruiters from Accenture will be onsite. I hope to see some of you there. Click here to RSVP.
Keirsten Brager is a security technology lead at a Fortune 500 power utility company and was recently named one of Dark Reading’s top women in security quietly changing the game. She is also the author Secure The InfoSec Bag: Six Figure Career Guide for Women in Security. She produced this digital book to help newbies strategically plan their careers. It was also written to help established professionals diversify their income, fire their bosses if they are in a toxic environment, and provide guidance on taking their careers to the next level. Keirsten holds a M.S. in Cybersecurity and several industry certifications, including the CISSP and CASP. As an active member of the Houston security community, Mrs. Brager has participated in a number of panels and public speaking engagements promoting strategies for success. In her free time, she loves sharing career advice on her blog (www.keirstenbrager.tech), cooking New Orleans food and spending time with her family. Connect with her on Twitter @KeirstenBrager