LinkedIn Tips for a Better Cybersecurity Job

I needed a new job. I had a cybersecurity certification, but I wasn't getting any calls. Then I learned how to use LinkedIn.

Employers, recruiters, and headhunters use LinkedIn. They search for people with a cybersecurity certification, like the CISSP or Security+. I knew I could use that fact to my advantage.

I focused on one tactic. It advertises my credentials to all LinkedIn users. I didn't have to actively work to find a job. This method brings opportunities to me.

In the screenshots in this article, we use the CISSP credential as an example, but you can easily replace “CISSP” with “Security+”, “CEH”, “PMP”, or whatever you want. All we are really doing is adding searchable data to our profile that may be of interest to a prospective employer.

For example, listing your CISSP certification on your LinkedIn profile will make you show up in searches for “CISSP”, as shown below.

LinkedIn search for CISSP, sorted by People.

In the screenshot above, I searched for CISSP, then switched the results to “People”. There are two methods you can use to show up in these searches. (1) change your LinkedIn Headline and (2) change your LinkedIn name. If you want to be really proud (loud) about your credentials, you can even change both your headline and name.

Where to change your LinkedIn Headline, which shows up beneath your name in search results.

LinkedIn Headline

The first person in the results example above doesn’t even have a CISSP certification. He listed “Studying for CISSP Exam”, in his headline. The LinkedIn Headline is what shows up beneath your name.

Listing “Studying for…” might pique the interest of some desperate headhunters. The fact of the matter is “Studying for the CISSP Exam” doesn’t mean anything though, other than you don’t have the CISSP certification. I personally think it is silly when people list “Studying for…..” or “In Pursuit of…”, but that’s me.

The third person listed the CISSP certification as their LinkedIn Headline.

LinkedIn Name change. BEFORE

LinkedIn Name

The second person put CISSP after their name, like “John Smith, CISSP”. This is effective. Some people even list multiple certifications after their name, such as “John Smith, CISSP, CEH, Hacker, Cat-Lover, Ninja”. It’s up to you. Some creativity may generate more interest.

How to add the title to your LinkedIn name. I suggest using something other than “Dude” 🙂What LinkedIn profile looks like after “Dude” added to the name.

Conclusion

Any of these approaches work to get the attention of employers, recruiters, and headhunters. Just be prepared to be bombarded with “incredible opportunities” and lots of new connection requests, even ones that don’t make sense, based on your current role, like the sample I received today:

Sample headhunter LinkedIn message.

It’s apparent many recruiters take a shotgun approach and don’t bother to look at the prospect’s current role. I don’t have any credentials listed in my profile headline or name either, but I still get a couple of these per week.

I hope you find these strategies useful in your hunt for your ideal career.

Check out my book “The Smartest Person in the Room” to pick up some much-needed EQ skills for cybersecurity. People skills are actually more important than technical skills.