11 transferable skills for cybersecurity By: Kiana Seitz July 16, 2024 Estimated reading time: 6 minutes. Cybersecurity is one of the best industries to break into because of its high emphasis on transferable skills from other industries and experiences. Whether bookkeeping, the military, sales, healthcare, or more, there are lots of soft skills you can leverage to get your foot in the door and have a successful career in cybersecurity. Take Matt, for example, who transitioned to cybersecurity after 15 years in insurance account management and sales. After attending Lighthouse Labs’ Cybersecurity Bootcamp, he was able to use his past experiences in compliance and management to supplement his new knowledge. Today, he works as a senior compliance specialist for Neo Financial. Although Matt had no prior experience in cybersecurity, his transferable skills like technical aptitude and business acumen made him an attractive candidate for employers. Below are 11 valuable skills that make you an attractive candidate for cybersecurity teams. You’ll also learn how to leverage them properly when job hunting. 1. Problem-solving At the core of cybersecurity is problem-solving—whether technical or non-technical. This is great for those entering the field with no prior experience as virtually every industry has its own set of problems to deal with...from bookkeeping to sales, fast food, and retail. Even your affinity for the Sunday crossword puzzle, sudoku, or your love for planning complex trips down to the minute can showcase your ability to problem-solve. 2. Technical aptitude Although previous tech experience isn’t required in cybersecurity, it doesn’t hurt to have a foundational understanding of technical concepts, tools, and systems. An ability to learn new technical skills quickly, adapt to changes in technology, and apply technical knowledge to solve practical problems are all ways to show technical aptitude. For example, if you were the default “office IT guy” at your previous job, worked with learning management systems, or integrated technology to speed up processes, these could all be showcased as a transferable skill. 3. Business acumen An overall understanding of the complexities of business structures and stakeholders, as well as the ability to interpret situations and make informed decisions, can make you much more attractive to employers. In an interview with Course Report, Jeremy Shaki, CEO and co-founder of Lighthouse Labs, said business acumen is more valuable in a cyber career than other tech careers like web development or data science. “Business acumen and how you share and communicate, but also how well you know the domain itself, where the threats may be, where the problems may be, and how you think about that is very important as a transferable skill,” he says. 4. Communication Cybersecurity requires lots of cross-functional collaboration between teams in areas such as IT, legal, human resources, and even marketing and sales. This means you’ll encounter people with varying degrees of expertise in cybersecurity. Whether it’s discussing budgets, risk management, policy development, or giving feedback to your tech team, being a strong, empathetic, and relatable communicator is a skill that can’t be taught. Those with experience in sales and marketing tend to have great communication skills that can transfer to cybersecurity. Dominic Vogel, President of Vogel Leadership and Coaching, says his biggest strength throughout his career has been the ability to communicate with non-technical people and executives and have meaningful conversations about cybersecurity. “The essential skill [is] the ability to communicate, to connect, actually get that level of conversation going with the executive,” he says. 5. Attention to detail In cybersecurity, you’ll be analyzing vulnerabilities and threats, conducting forensic investigations, and configuring controls and encryptions. You may be required to review code for weaknesses or analyze large volumes of data to find indicators of compromise. Since minor oversights can have significant implications on system security, employers look for those with a proven track record of meticulous attention to detail when hiring cybersecurity professionals. This might look like experience in project management, accounting, or health care, all of which require detailed work. 6. Teamwork Working in silos in cybersecurity can be detrimental to security efforts. Cybersecurity requires a holistic and collaborative approach with different teams company-wide, as well as within the security umbrella. For example, you might work on red team or blue team, and be required to collaborate and share knowledge. During a security breach, you’ll collaborate with your team to coordinate response efforts and communicate with stakeholders. You’ll also collaborate with IT, security operations, rich management, compliance, HR, executives, and even external vendors in some cases. Industries like hospitality, retail, education, and manufacturing all require strong teamwork, building your transferable skill set. 7. Discipline and reliability George Al Koura, CISO at Ruby, says those transferring to cybersecurity from the military tend to do especially well because their training emphasizes discipline and reliability. This strong work ethic and adherence to procedures and protocols is a key skill for cybersecurity professionals. Consistency and reliability mean managers can count on you to deliver best practices across all aspects of your work, reducing the likelihood of human error or oversight leading to vulnerabilities. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay in the loop with the latest updates and community events at Lighthouse Labs. Sign up 8. Adaptability Cybersecurity is always evolving as attackers develop new tactics to exploit vulnerabilities and security measures. Organizations continue to innovate digitally, including adopting cloud computing or Internet of Things devices. This means you may be required to adapt to new architectures quickly. The global nature of cybersecurity also means you’ll be collaborating with diverse teams and addressing regulatory requirements in jurisdictions beyond your own. You may be called upon to join sales calls as a technical expert and answer questions, or join in on meetings beyond your current knowledge and scope. This adaptability will allow you to strengthen your toolbox of skills, propelling your career forward. “Having the opportunity to understand the business of cybersecurity while actively working as an operator…gave me a toolbox,” Vogel says. “And that toolbox helped me figure out how to get the most out of my career, regardless of the phase I was at.” 9. Foresight Foresight is the ability to anticipate future trends and developments. Vlad Khorkhorov, CEO & co-founder of WebsitePolicies.com, says foresight is important for cybersecurity professionals as it enables them to anticipate and prepare for future threats. Khorkhorov explains that foresight in cybersecurity helps you: Facilitate strategic planning, enabling you to advise execs on the priority their security investments should take. Detect threats early, allowing you to develop detection mechanisms and monitoring systems to identify suspicious activities before they escalate into full-blown attacks. Anticipate future regulatory requirements and compliance standards to ensure your organization complies with relevant laws and regulations. “By foreseeing potential risks and vulnerabilities, professionals can proactively implement preventive measures, minimizing the likelihood and impact of cyberattacks,” he says. 10. Persistence and tenacity Vogel says those who have the tenacity to solve problems on their own with little guidance is a core essential skill in cybersecurity. This intrinsic motivation is something that can’t be taught and shows employers that you will be empowered to tackle intricate challenges and relentlessly pursue solutions, despite setbacks. 11. Continuous learning Because the field of cybersecurity is constantly changing and evolving, the willingness to continuously learn, adjust, and adapt, is an important skill to have. Continuous learning as a cybersecurity professional will enable you to keep your technical knowledge up to date and stay ahead of emerging trends. To highlight this skill, give employers examples of times you’ve consistently sought opportunities to learn and strengthen your skills—whether by taking a certification related to your current role or learning how to change a tire yourself. Leveraging your transferable skills If you don’t have experience in tech or cybersecurity, showcasing how your existing skills can be applied to the specific demands of cybersecurity will be important to stand out as a viable candidate to employers. Start by identifying your transferable skills. Think about the challenges you’ve faced at your current job, your hobbies, and personality traits, and pick out those that would be relevant to cybersecurity. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight these skills and emphasize how they relate to the job requirements for the role you’re interested in. Showcase your experience by giving specific examples of how you’ve used these skills previously to achieve positive results. Demonstrate passion and commitment. Above all, employers are looking for candidates who are excited about the field. Even if you have no experience, show your enthusiasm for cybersecurity, whether through personal projects or involvement in industry groups. Successfully transfer your skills to cybersecurity with Lighthouse Labs If you’re looking to transition to a career in cybersecurity but are holding back because you don’t feel you have the necessary experience, have a look at your career history to determine what transferable skills you might have that would be valued by employers. Chances are, you’ll have quite a few you haven’t thought of! Then, enroll in Lighthouse Labs’ Cybersecurity Program to gain relevant technical skills and hands-on experience. Upon graduation, our Career Services team will help you find a job in cybersecurity at top companies. Leverage your existing skills and pivot to a career in cybersecurity with our Cybersecurity Program. Learn more FAQs Which skill is best for cybersecurity? While there is no “best” skill to have in cybersecurity, problem-solving stands out as an essential skill, as the job requires an ability to think critically and solve security issues creatively. What cybersecurity skills are in demand? Some of the most sought-after cybersecurity skills include: Network security Incident response and forensics Application security and secure coding Vulnerability assessment and penetration testing Security information and event management (SIEM) tools How do I transition to cybersecurity? To transition to cybersecurity, assess your skills and knowledge to determine knowledge gaps. Then, establish a strong technical foundation of IT systems and nurture your logical thinking and a security-conscious perspective. Then, enroll in a Cybersecurity Bootcamp or take a certificate course while seeking opportunities to gain practical experience. Finally, polish up your resume with your new skills and apply for entry-level jobs. What is the skills shortage in cybersecurity? The skills shortage in cybersecurity refers to the gap between the demand for cybersecurity professionals and the availability of qualified individuals to fill these roles. Currently, one in six cybersecurity roles go unfulfilled due to a cybersecurity skills shortage in Canada.