This article originally appeared in the May 2023 issue of Security Business magazine. When sharing, don’t forget to mention Security Business magazine on LinkedIn and @SecBusinessMag on Twitter.
July marks my four-year anniversary in the security industry, and I have honestly never been more connected to an industry in my career. While industry events provide amazing opportunities to meet others and create connections, there is a lot of downtime between them, where it can be easy to disengage from your support system.
Here of four ways to grow and maintain your security industry network:
1. Get involved in committees and groups.
There are plenty of opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals or other professionals with similar interests. At PSA, we have 13 committees on topics like marketing, managed services, leadership, next-generation talent, etc. I sit on both the marketing and women’s committees and have found them immensely helpful as I grow in the industry. The women’s committee gives me an opportunity to hear how others have navigated security, and we share ideas and support for challenges and triumphs.
Aside from PSA committees, there are plenty of other options in the industry, such as the Security Industry Association’s Women in Security Forum or RISE, your local ASIS chapter, etc.
Volunteering provides another great opportunity for growth and connections. As a mother of young children, I felt compelled to get involved with the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools. I am passionate about PASS and spreading the word about its guidelines to parents, law enforcement and school administrators. My involvement has also afforded me the opportunity to expand my network of security professionals who believe in the same things I do.
2. Use LinkedIn.
Do you find yourself scrolling through LinkedIn first thing in the morning when you wake up, or is that just me? I was never very active on LinkedIn before joining the security industry, but now it is my social media of choice. Follow and connect with other security industry professionals, like and comment on their posts and share your own. In addition to making connections, you can stay on top of industry news, find or post job opportunities, and more. I have met countless people at industry events who I have already been connected to on LinkedIn. It breaks the ice and makes it easier to approach them – if you are shy like I am, anyway.
3. Enhance your learning and development.
A key factor in retention of talent is providing ample training and development opportunities. There are plenty of online resources to help grow your knowledge. Whether technical certifications or soft skills, there is an abundance of high-quality content, and some of it is even free. While it can be costly to attend training and events in person, it is also worth the investment.
4. Find a mentor/mentee.
Making a deeper one-on-one connection in a mentor/mentee relationship is so valuable. Most mentors I have talked to say they got more out of the relationship than they gave the person they were counseling. Likewise, for a mentee, these interpersonal relationships provide the opportunity to ask questions that may be harder to find answers to otherwise: navigating workplace politics, deciding the correct next move for your career, etc.
You’ll commonly hear people in the industry joke about how no one comes to security intentionally. “We all end up here by accident but end up staying for our entire careers!” I’ve heard this sentiment countless times and it rings true. The people in the industry are amazing, so create your circle and thrive!
Candice Aragon is VP of Marketing and Education for PSA Security Network. Request more info about PSA at www.securityinfowatch.com/10214742.
