Many people don’t realize a liberal arts degree opens the doors for a wide range of careers. That includes careers in cybersecurity. And with the skills gap and the number of available jobs, there is clearly a demand out there. Someone has to step up to fill those jobs. So, why not someone with a strong background in the so-called soft skills?
Cybersecurity Skills Beyond High Tech
Of course, working in the cybersecurity field does require technical skills. You may need to know how to code in different languages, how to build network architectures, understand analytics and so on. Also at the top of the list are skills like problem-solving, communication, attention to detail and natural curiosity.
As Leverage.Edu pointed out in a blog post, there is a strong need for people who have knowledge and experience beyond high tech. “Potential cybersecurity roles are so broad that even the non-tech-savvy fields are not protected from the dangers of cyber attack[s], such as psychology, project management, marketing and public relations,” the post stated.
Almost every job — and in this case, I do mean individual job duties versus an overall arching career — has unique aspects that new hires learn as they go. They build on what they learn and move on to the next position where they do the same. Any type of formal training provides a foundation, but the most complete way to learn the skills is at work. So what is stopping people with a liberal arts background from being hired into these positions?
