Article Originally Published Here.
The security sector is broad and fast-moving—from physical protection and infrastructure resilience to cybersecurity and intelligence. That variety is good news; it means there are many entry points to security careers. The catch is that employers increasingly hire for attitude, curiosity, and demonstrable engagement as much as for formal qualifications. If you’re a student, recent graduate, or career-changer, here’s a practical roadmap to help you stand out and land your first security role.
Start by Doing
Hands-on involvement is the fastest way to demonstrate commitment. There are many ways to demonstrate commitment, and this often counts more than directly relevant experience with many employers.
Volunteer with professional bodies. Look into joining local chapters of organizations such as ASIS International or intelligence or risk management groups that may be more aligned to the field of work you want to do. That one line on your CV shows initiative and sector interest.
Help run events. Event management volunteers get face time with industry figures, build networks, and develop organizational skills that employers value.
Attend—in person or virtually. Many associations, such as ASIS International, offer complimentary or low-cost student passes to conferences and seminars. Even virtual attendance expands your knowledge and contacts.
It’s often easier to hire someone who you know has demonstrated willingness to join your field than place costly advertisements, which is where professionals’ networks can pay career dividends.
Network Intelligently
Networking isn’t collecting business cards—it’s about building relationships over time.
Follow organizations and thought leaders on LinkedIn. Engage thoughtfully with posts and share short write-ups of events or lessons learned.
Join young professionals’ or NextGen groups. Regular attendance at young-professionals events signals seriousness and gives you a pool of peers and mentors. ASIS global chapters often run events dedicated to young security professionals, and this is a perfect start to networking, meeting and hearing from experienced professionals who attend or speak at these events.
Talk to people in roles you want. Informational interviews with practitioners can help you develop realistic expectations. These interviews sometimes lead to referrals.
Publish
Security media and trade journals always need quality content. Publishing also helps establish you as a thought leader, demonstrating your expertise and willingness to contribute to the profession’s growth. It increases your visibility to potential employers, mentors, and industry leaders, often opening doors to speaking opportunities, collaborations, and more senior roles within the security sector.
Turn coursework into an article. Reformat assessments into magazine-friendly pieces by tightening the structure, adding practical applications, and following editorial guidelines.
Write short commentary. Timely opinion pieces on recent incidents or trends demonstrate critical thinking and help build a public profile.
Understand the Ecosystem
Security is a network of roles that interlock with the aim of keeping you safe.
Learn what different practitioners do. Understand—even at a basic level—what different security related roles do, including locksmithing, access control and video surveillance technicians, security consultants, police, policy think tanks, and military and intelligence functions. Employers want candidates who grasp how the pieces fit together. Security risk management and crime prevention (at every level, from home burglaries to national terrorism) is an interconnected enterprise, and all those pieces play some role in the safety and security of an organization.
See tactical and strategic angles. Be comfortable moving between on-the-ground tasks and higher-level risk thinking. Security often has touchpoints into safety, risk management, and a variety of related functions.
Build a Purposeful LinkedIn Presence
Think of LinkedIn as your ongoing professional portfolio.
Keep it updated. List volunteer roles, published articles, courses completed and event attendance. Use it to engage with people in your desired field or organization—don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions about landing a role or how to get started.
Share concise posts. Short reflections after a webinar or conference make you visible to recruiters and peers.
One tip, though: Be cautious of posting any sensitive information, such as security clearances or confidential company information.
Acquire Practical Training
Extra training signals commitment and builds capability. It doesn’t need to be expensive or a years-long commitment; many options are free or low-cost.
Seek government and industry courses. From counterterrorism awareness to sector-specific modules, numerous reputable training options are freely available or inexpensive. Check the LinkedIn qualifications and courses of people in your desired field as a guide. This will put you ahead of other candidates who only have a university degree.
Target role-relevant credentials. Choose short, practical courses that relate to the roles you want—they beat generic filler on your résumé.
Practical, industry- and government-developed training is both useful to most security roles and will set you apart with a willingness to complete additional role-specific study.
Upgrade Your Soft Skills; Non-Technical Skills Matter
Technical knowledge gets you an interview; soft skills get you hired. While technical skills are important, soft skills are crucial in security roles. You should advance your knowledge of both.
Risk management. Understanding ISO 31000 and how to assess, manage, and articulate risks is foundational in security.
Security principles. Concepts like defense in depth and “deter, delay, detect, respond” apply across all security disciplines, whether physical or digital.
Communication. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, particularly when explaining complex technical issues to non-technical stakeholders.
Attention to detail and attitude. Employers favor candidates who are coachable, curious, and can follow through. Don’t forget that the adage, “Hire for attitude, train for skill” still rings true. Certainly in this author’s experience, most work-specific training is typically done on the job.
A broad understanding of security—from geopolitical and strategic perspectives to tactical and operational considerations—will allow you to think holistically and engage more effectively with stakeholders. From locksmiths to security policy advisors, everyone in the security industry plays some small part in providing a safe and security society, and it is prudent to know the general responsibilities of each role. You will undoubtedly need to interact with other security professionals and an understanding of how they fit into the bigger picture will help, both in terms of engagement with them and in building mutual trust and unilateral communication.
Prepare for Interviews
Interviews are assessments of fit, not just technical skill. Interviews in the security profession are not just about proving technical expertise—they are an assessment of professional fit, judgement, and communication style, especially given the high-trust nature of security client relationships. Employers and clients look for how well you can engage, influence, and build confidence, because these soft skills are often just as critical as technical capability when advising on security risks or implementing protective measures.
Preparation for interviews demonstrates willingness and a desire to not only land a role, but contribute to the wider organization, plan, and research.
Research the employer thoroughly. Know their services, clients, and risk environment—and be ready to explain how you add value.
Practice behavioral answers. Be familiar with and use the STAR method(situation, task, action, result) to help you structure interview responses clearly and effectively. It allows you to showcase real examples of how you handled challenges, demonstrating both your technical capability and behavioral fit in a concise, outcome-focused way.
Contact hiring managers thoughtfully. A short, professional conversation to clarify responsibilities can improve your application and show initiative.
Use Academic Relationships
Lecturers and university industry links are powerful resources. Ask them for references and referrals. Professors often have industry contacts and can recommend top students.
Be Open to Adjacent Roles
Remember that you don’t have to start in your dream job right away—related positions can build experience and make you more attractive long term.
Five Small Steps to Get Started
In order to make small steps in your security career and not get overwhelmed with activities, please consider the below checklist to focus your activities for the next year:
- Join ASIS as a student member, if you are not already, and meet or volunteer with your local chapter. Consider helping run at least one NextGen event.
- Publish one short article or opinion piece based on university work or an event you attended.
- Complete one short, role-relevant course and add it to LinkedIn.
- Arrange one informational interview or career discussion with professionals in roles you want.
- Rehearse three behavioral interview stories using the STAR method.
Breaking into security is less about a single qualification and more about a pattern of behavior: show up, contribute, learn, and connect. Employers hire people they trust to adapt and to keep learning—demonstrate that, and the industry will open doors.
