What do you do if you're seeking professional growth in Cybersecurity and need mentorship?

Seek mentors who've been in the cybersecurity trenches. Build rapport and set clear expectations. Actively engage by shadowing and asking questions. It's about more than just learning; it's about forging connections and gaining practical wisdom. Trust me, I've been there, and mentorship is the secret sauce to leveling up in cybersecurity.

Finding the RIGHT GURU is the best Favour you can do once your goal is clear! Identify one or two mentors you need for raising your level. Find mentors who are WILLING to help full heartedly and are happy to be approached. Follow them on LinkedIn, contribute to their ideas to come close to them and once a report is crated, reach out for mentorship. If you are fortunate enough to get the welcoming gesture, ensure to follow up with them on regular basis and make them realize that you are actively seeking and practicing the invite. Be thankful and respectful throughout and not till you get the goal completed.

Seeking guidance from a mentor can greatly benefit your professional journey in cybersecurity. Here are steps you can follow: Define your objectives, explore potential mentors, initiate contact respectfully, be mindful of their time commitments, set clear expectations, take proactive steps in your learning, express appreciation, actively seek input, and leverage networking opportunities.

Its not the goals you need to focus on - its the activities that drive those goals For example, you could say I want to be an engineer, thats a goal, but if you don't work on activities that drive the goal, you won't reach it. Activities -----> goal!

Identify and most importantly, reach out to those who you would like to have as mentors. Remember that fortune favours the bold, and the worst that can happen is that they will say no. Reach out to those whose work you like and who are leaders in their field.

Finding the right mentors is a key step for professional growth in cybersecurity, especially when seeking mentorship. The right mentor acts as a catalyst, accelerating your growth and enabling you to navigate the cybersecurity landscape more effectively. They not only enhance your learning but also expand your professional network, which is crucial for success in this dynamic field.

A mentor can provide mentees with individualized feedback and career-specific guidance on skill development. Mentors can help hone the soft skills like leadership and communication or the technical skills like network security and coding that are most important to their progress in the cybersecurity field.

Seeking out mentors at first can seem daunting but in my experience I have often seen that when you reach out most people are willing to share their experiences and guide you in the right direction. A mentor would have already struggled and gone through the same challenges that you are going through and provide insight on how you can you navigate a situation. Mentors are extremely important especially when you don't know a lot of people in cybersecurity and wish to achieve your goals and grow within the field.

If you find someone that you want to be a mentor, here is a couple of things you should do before reaching out 1. Engage with the mentor, like posts, write meaningful reply to comments 2. Actively engage - don't reach out because you want something for nothing 3. What can you do for the mentor? find ways of providing value to your perspective mentor before as for something in return.

You need to be disciplined towards growth, no matter what comes your way You have to be - Updated and upgrading your skills - Learn how to communicate well - Learn always and how certain things work Invest your free time to enhance yourself Main point is show up daily Hope it helps!

Once you have a mentor be sure to engage with purpose. In the past I have fallen off the track and can say with certainty and experience that engaging often is important. Once you have your goals defined, either formally and agreed, or merely in your own mind this will hopefully help you. Either way, having a mentor is important no matter where you are on your path as there will always be something new to learn and perspective from someone external can always help!

“You can’t smell the roses from a galloping horse” Time to slow down and reflect on how far you’ve come is essential to appreciate the efforts and progress you have made! You may not see much difference from the previous day, but if you review the past 3-6 months, are you a better version of yourself? Have you acquired more skills? Are you more efficient with the skills you do have? If the answer is Yes, then keep going! Be honest with your mentor, it’s in both your best interests to be very candid. If you believe things are not working for you, then let them know. Any good mentor will take this onboard and work with you to hit a mutually beneficial position! Finally, what can you do today that will help you tomorrow?

Realistically motivation can fluctuate, and life's challenges can impact our journey. Building a supportive community of peers can serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement during such times. Additionally, integrating cybersecurity content into your social media feed can make learning more engaging and enjoyable. Following reputable cybersecurity accounts offers insights into industry trends, innovative solutions, and thought-provoking discussions, keeping your passion for learning alive. While it's crucial to listen to your mind and body and take breaks when needed, it's equally important to return to your learning journey as soon as you are in a good head space

Stay engaged in continuous learning and demonstrate your commitment to growth. Share your progress and accomplishments with your mentor to keep the relationship productive and mutually beneficial. Remember that mentorship is a two-way street, and both parties should contribute to the relationship. Be open to feedback, willing to learn, and proactive in seeking opportunities for growth.