OK, so let's talk about networking.
OK, so let's talk about networking now know OK, so let's talk about networking now.
As the old saying goes, it's not what you know, it's who you know.
And this is absolutely true here because you can be somebody that has mediocre skills.
You can have maybe above average skills.
Right.
And know a ton of people in your network that have connections.
Right.
And be able to get a job very easily and quickly.
Right.
So let's go ahead and jump in to the network section here.
Now, as far as an ethical hacker and a cybersecurity professional building, and now work is one of
the most important things that you can do for your career.
Right.
It's going to open up opportunities right now, today and then also opportunities down the road for
you as you progress in your career.
Now, don't wait until things go bad or you, you know, lose a job or whatever that may be to start
building a network because you want to actually make it so that whenever you do decide to go in a different
direction, maybe want to quit your job and go full time into the cybersecurity space, you want to
have that network already built up so that you can have it so you can have something to fall back on.
Right.
As far as that network that can help you land those jobs.
And and like I mentioned, it's not about what you know.
It's who you know.
Right.
Where you can develop the right kind of partnerships, the right kind of relationships, where it's
not just one sided, it's where you are actually adding value, because that's where most people get
networking wrong.
They're trying to go in with self-interest and say, hey, can you help me do this?
Can you do me a favor?
Can you help me out versus coming in and going about it where they're adding value?
First, they're complementing the individual and they're saying, hey, you know, perhaps there may
be an opportunity or perhaps, you know, let me do this for you or can I do this for you?
And I would really appreciate if you can do this for me over here.
Right.
But a lot of people will just have that self-interest.
And, you know, you think about it going to networking events, a lot of people will talk about, hey,
I do this, I do that, and they talk about themselves versus coming to a networking event and just
being interested in other people.
Right.
And asking them, hey, you know, what do you do?
How do you help people or, hey, you know, tell me a little bit about what you do, because I may
be able to help you out in what you're currently doing.
Right.
And then all of a sudden they explain what they're doing, what they do, and then they're inevitably
going to ask you what you do.
So always coming in, understanding that you want to be somebody who is interesting and not looking
for that self-interest because you're going to turn a lot of people off.
So let's go into some of the different methods that you can use for networking here.
LinkedIn is probably going to be the best, the quickest and the easiest way for you to build your network
because you can just leverage your existing connections and also the connections of your connections.
Right.
You can reach out to, let's say, someone who's connected to one of your colleagues or ex colleagues
and mention, hey, I noticed that you were connected with so-and-so.
Hey.
And also notice that you are in the cybersecurity space.
I'm actually looking to get started or looking for future opportunities and, you know, mentioned something
about them that you found out and what you can do for them and then mention, hey, do you know of or
are you familiar or whatever that may be with any potential opportunities that are out there?
Right.
And like I mentioned, always add value first.
Always.
And you'll be surprised at just how much of a difference this makes, because people want to help others.
However, they don't want to help others at an expense of their time when there is nothing that they
feel that they're getting in return.
Right.
Even if you don't do anything for them, at least the fact that you offered them right to do something
for them, like, hey, how can I add value?
How can I help you in what you're doing and whatever it is that you're looking to accomplish?
Right.
Even if you don't do anything, just the fact that you're offering will go a long way in showing genuine
interest.
Right.
This should go without saying, complimenting them, going through their profile, maybe doing a quick
Google search and looking at some of their accomplishments, doing your due diligence before you reaching
out to these folks is going to make a world of difference and always, always coming through with the
positive, because if you come across that, it's just self-interest and it's about you and, you know,
you're just trying to get something out of it without doing something.
In return, people are going to get turned off and they're going to ignore you or your.
Going to get a lot of people coming back at you and with not very nice messages, so be a real human
being, compliment somebody, let them know that you want to add value and you're looking for some assistance.
Right.
And ultimately understand that this is all a numbers game.
OK, do not take things personally when somebody tells you, hey, you know, I'm not interested or,
hey, you know, I don't have anything for you or whatever that may be.
Right.
When you get turned down, it's all part of the process.
It's all part of the game.
It's all about the more quantity, right.
That you do, the more probability you're going to have to find somebody who is actually going to be
able to help you out.
Right.
So understand that networking is a huge, huge deal here.
Very, very powerful.
LinkedIn is probably going to be, like I mentioned, your best tool where you can and navigate through
the platform, maybe add value in some sort of way to people's lives by letting them know that you notice
something on their website, you notice something and that you would like to help them out.
And remember, even if you don't actually do it, you offering it will make a world of difference and
get people to respond and want to help you out.
So that's going to be here for the networking section and we'll see you on the next one.