Job search - Women of Rubies

In Career Gems April 9, 2024 By Women of Rubies

How To Secure Your Ideal Cybersecurity Job with 5 Key Strategies

Cybersecurity has become an indispensable facet of modern business operations, with organizations worldwide grappling to fortify their digital defenses against an ever-expanding array of cyber threats. As data breaches continue to escalate in frequency and sophistication, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals has surged exponentially.

Are you eager to break into the dynamic field of cybersecurity but unsure where to start? Look no further! Here are five strategies to help you land your dream cybersecurity job:

Equip Yourself with In-Demand Skills

Stay ahead of the curve by acquiring the essential technical skills sought after in the cybersecurity industry. Invest your time in mastering areas such as network security, cryptography, penetration testing, and incident response. Employers value candidates who possess a solid foundation in these core areas.

Pursue Relevant Certifications

Stand out from the crowd by obtaining industry-recognized certifications that validate your expertise and proficiency in cybersecurity. Consider certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). These certifications not only enhance your credibility but also increase your marketability to potential employers.

Gain Practical Experience

Hands-on experience is invaluable in the cybersecurity field. Look for internships, volunteer opportunities, or entry-level positions that allow you to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios. Consider joining cybersecurity clubs or participating in Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions to sharpen your skills and demonstrate your passion for the field.

Network with Industry Professionals

Networking plays a crucial role in advancing your career in cybersecurity. Attend industry conferences, workshops, and networking events to connect with cybersecurity professionals, recruiters, and potential employers. Leverage online platforms such as LinkedIn to expand your professional network and engage with industry experts. Building meaningful relationships can open doors to job opportunities and mentorship.

Showcase Your Expertise

Create a strong personal brand that highlights your expertise and passion for cybersecurity. Develop a professional online presence through platforms like LinkedIn and GitHub, where you can showcase your projects, contributions to the cybersecurity community, and endorsements from peers and mentors. Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your relevant skills and experiences, making sure to customize them for each job application.

By following these five proven strategies, you can position yourself as a competitive candidate and secure your dream cybersecurity job. Remember to stay proactive, continuously update your skills, and remain persistent in your job search. With determination and dedication, success in the cybersecurity field is within your reach!

In Career Gems October 28, 2023 By Esther Ijewere

LinkedIn Unveils New Feature: Find Jobs Aligned with Your Values

Andrew McCaskill, a LinkedIn Career Expert, emphasizes the importance of aligning your job with your personal values. Misalignment can manifest in various ways, including a lack of motivation, not fitting into the workplace culture, decreased job satisfaction, increased stress, and ethical dilemmas where your values clash with your organization’s expectations. If you relate to any of these symptoms, here’s what you can do:

1. Reflect and Seek Alignment Within Your Current Organization

Before considering a job change, reflect on which of your values are compromised in your current role. Have an open and honest conversation with your supervisor or HR department. They may be willing to make changes or provide insights into how your work aligns with the company’s mission and values. Explore opportunities within your organization that better match your values.

2. Embark on a Strategic Job Search

Leaving a job that doesn’t align with your values is a personal decision. If you decide it’s time to move on, utilize LinkedIn’s job search filter for “Commitments” introduced in April 2023. This feature helps you match with companies that share your values, such as work-life balance, diversity, career growth, social impact, and environmental sustainability. Define your priorities before using the filter to maximize its effectiveness.

3. Perform Due Diligence

To ensure authenticity, companies are required to include a description of their commitment to values on their LinkedIn page. Additionally, job seekers should examine a company’s LinkedIn Page for evidence of their values, such as diversity reports. Connect with your professional network to learn about the company’s culture and values from people who work or have worked there. Ask questions during interviews to assess the company’s alignment with your values.

4. Attract Value-Aligned Jobs

Besides searching for value-aligned jobs, join LinkedIn groups related to your values and engage in discussions. Conduct informational interviews with professionals who share your values. Target employers recognized for their commitment to values and click the “I’m interested” button on their LinkedIn Page.

Andrew emphasizes the importance of identifying your mission and purpose, building the necessary skills, and seeking mentors in your chosen field. Openness to the adventure and understanding that your first purpose-driven job may not be your dream job are also key to a successful journey.

Remember, your values should be at the core of your career, ensuring that your work aligns with your true mission in life.

In Career Gems October 2, 2023 By Maggy Rosiji

5 Red Flags To Look For On Tricky Job Listings

Searching for a job can be a challenging task, and as job seekers, it’s crucial to approach job listings with a discerning eye. While most job postings are legitimate and offer great opportunities, some may not be what they seem. To avoid wasting your time and energy on misleading or potentially harmful job listings, here are five red flags to be aware of:

1. Vague Job Descriptions

One of the first signs of a potentially tricky job listing is a vague job description. Legitimate employers typically provide clear and detailed information about the job, including responsibilities, qualifications, and the company itself. If you come across a job posting with generic language, such as “exciting opportunity,” “earn big money,” or “no experience necessary,” proceed with caution. Lack of specificity could indicate that the employer is hiding important details about the position.

2. Unrealistic Salary Promises

If a job listing promises an unusually high salary or income that seems too good to be true, it probably is. While well-paying jobs exist, they often require specific qualifications and experience. Be skeptical of job postings that guarantee high earnings with minimal effort or experience. Scammers may use attractive salaries to lure unsuspecting job seekers into fraudulent schemes.

3. Upfront Fees or Investments

Legitimate employers do not ask job applicants for money upfront. Be cautious of job listings that require you to pay for training, materials, or other expenses before you can start working. Such requests are often associated with fraudulent job offers or pyramid schemes. Remember, a legitimate job should pay you, not the other way around.

4. Poor Grammar and Spelling

Pay attention to the quality of the job listing itself. Legitimate companies take care to present themselves professionally, which includes proofreading their job postings. If you notice numerous grammar and spelling errors in a job listing, it may be a sign that the posting is not from a reputable source. Scammers may not invest the time or effort to create a well-written job description.

5. Lack of Company Information

A credible employer will provide information about the company, such as its name, location, and contact details. If a job listing lacks this essential information or only offers a generic email address, it could be a warning sign. Be wary of job postings that do not allow you to research the company or verify its legitimacy.

In conclusion, while the majority of job listings are legitimate, it’s essential to be cautious when searching for employment opportunities online. Always trust your instincts and thoroughly research any company or job posting that raises concerns. By staying vigilant and recognizing these red flags, you can protect yourself from potentially tricky job listings and focus your efforts on genuine opportunities that align with your career goals.

In lifestyle February 7, 2023 By Women of Rubies

Don’t Forget These 3 Tips For Your Next Job Hunt

Looking (and successfully applying) for new jobs is always going to be difficult – it does not matter if you are a recent graduate looking to take the first steps in your career, or an experienced professional seeking a change. The job market becomes increasingly more competitive each year, with numerous qualified people applying for the same job. Therefore, it is important that you take on any and all advice offered to you when searching for a job – whether they offer advice on cover letters or what to wear to an interview

Here are some top tips to help you through the process!

1. Alter your resume

Every job will have a different job specification, where they will list the skills and abilities required to undertake the role. It is important that you read this specification carefully and then alter your CV to carefully match their requirements. For example, if you have worked in a shop, be sure to note down you have cash handling experience if it is on the job spec, as opposed to assuming the employer will be aware of this already. This makes the process of looking over your CV much easier for the employer, who will be able to quickly determine whether or not you are suitable for the role.

You don’t have to massively change your CV each time. Set up a base CV that contains your main skills, work experience, and any academic qualifications and simply alter it a little each time.

2. Search smartly

Though you may feel in desperate need of work, you must search for jobs that you are trained for or have a specific interest in. It is important that you enjoy your work – you want it to be something you look forward to and can really invest yourself in order to get the most out of it. Once you know what industry you want to work within, find the best ways to apply for jobs in that industry. For example, if you are looking for business administration work, you may benefit from applying on LinkedIn or Indeed.

However, if you are looking for work within a more niche field, such as audio visual jobs, then you need to use job application portals that are more industry-specific and focused, such as Lasso. When registered with Lasso, you can browse through hundreds of jobs within the audio visual field, selecting those that are a perfect match for your skills. Even better, you don’t have to wait for invoices and can get paid weekly.

3. Do your research

When applying for a new job at a company, it is important that you learn as much as you can about that company. Check out their website and social media pages, research any news articles written about them, browse through their LinkedIn. Try to gain a deep understanding of not only the services they offer but their attitudes to work and their ethos. This will help you decide whether you want to work for them, but can also be used to help you stand out from the crowd in an interview.

Source: Baucemag.com

In self development February 5, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

GRACE ORISAKIYA: IDENTIFYING YOUR UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION FOR A JOB SEARCH

Everyone is unique in his or her own way. Those values, skills, ideas that’s makes you unique, different, special and can be used for various purposes and this is usually referred to as your personal or unique value proposition. Your value proposition can either get you that business deal or job your applied for several. However, some people are not fully aware of what their UVPs are, in some cases, it is mistaken for just their career. During some career coaching sessions with my clients, they express their inability to do things differently, their fear of failing and they usually wish to be different that is why it is important for everyone to know how special and unique they are and how this uniqueness can be useful. In a nutshell, your UVP is basically the things you can do but with a positive difference. The best ways to identify your UVP are to:

Know your strengths.
Create a difficult scenario and figure out how you could handle it in a different way (sometimes done during employees engagement sessions in companies).
Identify those attributes that matches your personality perfectly.
Think of what kind of solutions you can offer to problems.
Be authentic.
Ask people to identify what makes you unique to them.

Identifying your UVP however can give you the confidence you need to apply for a job. Remember these:

Everyone may know how to do a particular job but not everyone may have the right skills to get it done.

Social media has made it easy to have a false identity, so it’s important you focus on knowing what you can do uniquely than trying to be someone else. (Being inspired by someone isn’t wrong but being inspired should make you find out your path not live like someone else).
Your UVP can set prepare you for success. It can enable you know what you can do and how you can do it differently and better.
It makes you a better version of yourself.

Therefore, your UVP can set you one the right path for a successful job interview and employment when you can prove concisely why your values and skills can be vital to the organization you are applying to.

About Grace

Grace Asemota is a Business Psychologist (M.Sc) and a Certified Life Coach. She has partnered with Organizations and solopreneurs to grow their personal and professional brands and has coached students and staff in different institutions and organisations.

She continuously coaches and trains on the importance of goal setting, happiness, team management, personal development and self- confidence in a wide range of organisations (in Nigeria, UAE and US) and institutions by motivating staff to develop a collaborative culture and identify key factors that can enhance personal growth.

You can get in touch with her on

grace.orisakiya@gmail.com

LinkedIn @Grace Asemota-Orisakiya

In self development January 22, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

GRACE ORISAKIYA: JOB SEARCH TIPS; FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL

It’s no news that the rate of unemployment has increased over the years. Fresh graduates are turned down for lack of experience, previously employed individuals are rejected due to unaccounted gap years on their CVs and other reasons. Frustration kicks in, depression might take over and lack of self belief may be the order of the day. I have been in such a nasty situation before and based on my experience I took control of what I could handle and with that, I experienced a change.

Develop your skill:

Every profession is unique and has required skill sets. Identify which is unique to your profession and develop it. Make it known on your CV and be ready to explain it when asked during the interview phase.

Take more courses:

Instead of having gap years on your CV that only proves you haven’t been in touch with your career since you left your previous job or school, taking courses especially online courses is a great method to bridge the gap and show you have been busy doing more research while searching for a job or tending to some personal needs. This won’t only prove to the employer that you have a keen interest in professional and personal development but it will enable you learn more about your industry

Network and build professional relationships:

Go for events, meet people, let people know what you do, the services you render and how you can add value to them or their company. What I have noticed is the sentence ‘I need a job’ itches the ears but starting a conversation and leading it interestingly towards what you can do and letting the listener know you are interested in starting a new position is a better approach as you’ll not only make the conversation about what you need, you also get to know what the person does, talk about your interests and have the opportunity to pitch your unique skills and application in the workplace (and maybe do a little bragging about your previous experiences).

Develop your CV:

Notice I didn’t make this the first tip? Working on your CV is great but without the right content it is considered disturbing and unprofessional. Your CV should summarize your work experiences, highlight your educational background, unique skills as related to your career, volunteering experiences (if necessary), your contact. You don’t need to fill up your CV with:

irrelevant information like your elementary school details,

in my opinion there’s no need to add your hobbies rather make it your skills,

Unaccountable years of experience,

Lies.

Your CV should be authentic, precise, professionally written and shouldn’t be too long.

Apply online:

I got my first job online via indeed. LinkedIn is another great platform to apply for jobs and network with people in your industry. Actively search online for jobs as you may not know the day you will get a response from the company.

Photocredit: The sister

About Author

Grace Asemota is a Business Psychologist (M.Sc) and a Certified Life Coach. She has partnered with Organizations and solopreneurs to grow their personal and professional brands and has coached students and staff in different institutions and organisations.

She continuously coaches and trains on the importance of goal setting, happiness,personal development and self- confidence in a wide range of organisations and institutions by motivating staff to develop a collaborative culture and identify key factors that can enhance personal growth.

You can follow her on

LinkedIn @Grace Asemota-Orisakiya