Here's how you can expand your network in Information Security through temporary and contract work.

In my experience, if you are a contract employee or a temp, there is always the opportunity for that position to become a full time employee. As such, you are the new person on the team. It's best to keep quiet and observe. While learning your roles and responsibilities, take note of how things are done, and who is doing them. You'll quickly see that most of the work will done by a handful of people and not the entire team. Align yourself to those people as they will be the influencers should a recommendation be needed to turn your position from temp to full time. Also, don't change anything, just do the work assigned, keep in mind quality and timeliness of your work performed.

Make strong first impressions, introduce yourself, participate in discussions, and connect with colleagues on networking platforms. Each new connection can lead to valuable opportunities.

Most temp or contract positions are there to fill an experience gap. You can't be new or unexperienced, but rather you are expected to almost be the expert. The expectation is orient you to the company tools, procedures, and policies and you to start producing results immediately. Temp and contract roles are not the "fake it till you make it" You have to bring it. If you are behind on some skills, take the time needed to close those skills gaps and don't expect your new company to teach you. You have to bring everything you know about the role, and then also make some impactful improvements - saving the company time or money will meeting current expectations will show case that you know what you're doing. Do it slowly though.

Demonstrate your expertise by tackling challenges and sharing successes. Be proactive and write about your experiences to establish your reputation as a problem-solver.

Attend conferences, workshops, and seminars to network with peers and thought leaders. Engage in meaningful conversations and follow up with new contacts to build relationships.

I've never experienced being able to attend conferences while employed as a contractor or a temp employee. But I imagine if able to do, you should represent your current company, it's products, and showcase your personality while attending. Conferences are great to network and often becomes a business card sharing/collecting event. Be sure to have meaningful conversations with whomever you encounter as you don't know the role or position of the people you are speaking with until later into the conversation. It could be a sales rep or it could be a CEO. Conferences are places where companies share ideas but also recruit - they know that those that attend conferences are often industry experts.

Join InfoSec groups on social media, participate in discussions, and share content. An active online presence showcases your knowledge and can lead to valuable connections.

Seek mentorship from experienced professionals. They can provide guidance, introduce you to their network, and endorse your skills. Offer assistance to build a mutually beneficial relationship.

Learning from industry peers is the best way to enhance your skills and boost your network side by side.. Attend industry conferences, meetups, and webinars focused on Information and Cyber security. These gatherings provide opportunities to connect directly with professionals and service providers too. These forums and events give us better opportunities for face-to-face interactions. Engage actively by participating in discussions, asking insightful questions, and exchanging contact information with people you meet.

From my experience, as a best practice, I get feedback and recommendations from: i) Clients for the contract/project work that I completed. ii) Attendees and organizers of the training program. iii) Mentees and organizers of the mentorship program. This practice helps me to: i) improve myself on the feedback; ii) do the networking; and iii) serve as evidence of the quality of work I have done in my career.