Why networking matters when you are reskilling into cyber security
Reskilling into cyber security is not just about getting the right certification, building a lab or rewriting your CV.
Those things matter, of course.
But one of the biggest mistakes I see career changers make is treating networking as an optional extra. Something they will do once they feel more confident. Something for later. Something for people who are already “in the industry”.
That thinking can hold people back.
When you are moving into cyber security from a different background, networking is not about schmoozing or pretending to be more experienced than you are. It is about visibility, learning, trust and access.
And in a market where entry-level cyber security roles are competitive, it can make a real difference.
Cyber security is not short on interest
Cyber security has become one of the most talked-about career change routes in tech. That is not surprising.
The risk is real. Businesses are dealing with growing pressure around data protection, ransomware, compliance, cloud security, AI, supply chain risk and operational resilience. According to IBM and Ponemon Institute data reported via Statista, the average cost of a data breach in the UK was 4.53 million US dollars in 2025.
At the same time, cyber security teams are under pressure. SC2 workforce research, also reported via Statista, found that in 2024, 38 per cent of surveyed cyber security professionals said their organisations had experienced hiring freezes, 37 per cent reported budget cuts and 25 per cent reported layoffs.
That is the frustrating paradox of today’s cyber job market: the risk is growing, teams need capability, but many organisations are still cautious about hiring people who do not fit the traditional cyber profile.
The risk is growing, the work is important and organisations still need capability. But many teams are stretched, cautious and often slow to take chances on people who do not look like a traditional cyber hire.
That is why networking matters.
Applying cold is often not enough
A lot of career changers approach the job search like this:
Complete a course
Update the CV
Apply for junior cyber security jobs
Wait
Hear nothing
Lose confidence
Repeat
The problem is that most applicants are entering the same crowded funnel. Hiring managers see hundreds of CVs, many with similar certifications, similar projects and similar wording.
If your background is non-traditional, a CV on its own often does not do enough work for you.
It cannot show how you think.
It will not demonstrate how you communicate under pressure.
It is incapable of illustrating the full value of your previous experience.
Networking gives you a way to add context.
It helps people understand the person behind the CV. It gives you a chance to explain why your previous background is relevant and how you are building your technical capability. It also helps you understand what employers are actually looking for, rather than guessing from job adverts that often ask for everything including the kitchen sink.
The hidden value of conversations
When people hear the word networking, they often picture awkward events, forced small talk and people handing out business cards like it is 2007.
That is not what I mean.
Good networking is much simpler than that, it is:
Asking sensible questions.
Listening properly.
Showing curiosity.
Learning from people already doing the work.
Being visible in the right places over time.
This could mean joining local cyber security meetups, attending webinars, commenting thoughtfully on LinkedIn, speaking to people in security operations, asking hiring managers what they look for or reaching out to people who have already made the move from another sector.
You do not need to ask everyone for a job.
In fact, you probably should not (please don’t).
A better approach is to ask about the work, the market, the skills that matter and what they wish new entrants understood before applying.
That type of conversation is much more useful than sending “Hi, do you know of any junior roles?” to 50 strangers and hoping for the best.
Networking helps you understand the real skills gap
One of the biggest frustrations in cyber hiring is the gap between what job seekers think they need and what employers actually value.
Certifications can help. Fortinet and Sapio Research data reported via Statista found that 60 per cent of IT and cyber security decision-makers said certifications increased cyber security knowledge and 55 per cent said they helped people perform job tasks better.
But certifications alone are not the full story.
When cyber security hiring managers were asked about the most sought-after skills in 2024, ISC2 data showed the top answers included strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork and collaboration, curiosity and eagerness to learn and strong communication skills.
That should matter to every career changer.
Because many reskillers already have those skills. They have built them in customer service, teaching, operations, healthcare, the military, retail, finance, project work, administration or management.
The challenge is that employers do not always see the link immediately.
Networking gives you a chance to translate your experience properly. It allows you to move away from “I am new to cyber” and towards “Here is how my existing experience helps me investigate problems, communicate clearly, manage pressure and learn quickly.”
That shift is important.
People hire people they trust
This does not mean hiring managers are throwing jobs at anyone they have had a nice chat with.
Cyber security hiring still needs rigour. It still needs proper assessment. It still needs evidence of ability, attitude and readiness.
But trust plays a huge part in any hiring process.
If someone has seen you consistently showing up, asking good questions, sharing what you are learning and taking feedback well, you stop being just another name in a pile of applications.
You become a known quantity.
That can help you access advice, referrals, work experience, project ideas, interview preparation, event invitations or introductions to people who are closer to the roles you want.
Sometimes networking leads directly to a job. More often, it creates lots of small advantages that build over time.
And those small advantages matter in a competitive market.
Networking also protects your confidence
Reskilling into cyber security can be mentally tough.
You are learning new technical concepts, dealing with rejection, comparing yourself to people with more experience and trying to work out which advice to follow.
That can get very noisy very quickly.
A strong network helps you stay grounded. It gives you access to people who can sense-check your approach, give colour to what a role actually involves, tell you when a job advert is unrealistic and remind you that rejection is not always a reflection of your ability.
This is especially important for career changers who do not already have friends, family or colleagues working in tech.
If you are the first person in your circle trying to break into cyber security, you need a wider professional network. Not for vanity, but for information and support.
How to network without feeling awkward
You do not need to become a LinkedIn influencer or post every day.
Start small.
Follow people who work in the areas you are interested in, such as SOC analysis, GRC, threat intelligence, cloud security, incident response or security awareness.
When someone shares something useful, leave a thoughtful comment. Not “great post”. Say what you found useful or ask a relevant question.
Attend one cyber security event a month if you can. Online is fine. Local is even better.
After the event, connect with one or two people and mention what you spoke about. Keep it human.
Ask people about their work rather than asking them to solve your job search. For example:
“I am reskilling into cyber security and trying to understand what SOC Analysts actually do day to day. Would you be open to sharing what skills you use most in your role?”
That is a much better message than:
“Do you know anyone hiring?”
Also, keep track of your conversations. Who did you speak to? What did they recommend? Did they mention a tool, event, role type or skill to research? Treat networking as part of your job search system, not a random activity you do when panic sets in (bonus hint, the in-person events often have somebody giving out free notebooks and pens).
Employers need to play their part too
Networking should not be used as an excuse for poor hiring processes.
Career changers should not have to rely on being lucky enough to know the right person. Employers still need clearer job adverts, fairer assessment methods and better ways of recognising potential.
This matters because skills gaps are not just caused by a lack of people. ISC2 research into cyber security skills gaps found that 30 per cent of respondents said their organisation could not find people with the skills they needed, while 33 per cent said their organisation did not have the budget to hire enough people.
That tells us the issue is more complicated than “there are no candidates”.
There are candidates. Many of them are reskilling, building capability and trying to get seen.
The employers who build better routes into cyber security will have access to a wider, more diverse and often highly motivated talent pool.
But until hiring catches up, career changers need to be proactive about building visibility and relationships.
The bottom line
Networking is not a soft add-on to cyber security reskilling.
It is part of the work.
It helps you understand the market, build confidence, explain your value and access opportunities that may never make it to a job board.
For career changers, especially those without an existing tech network, it can be the difference between feeling invisible and becoming someone people remember.
So yes, build the lab.
Yes, study the fundamentals.
Yes, work on your CV.
Yes, get interview practice.
But do not hide behind the coursework until you feel “ready”.
Start conversations now.
The cyber security industry needs people who can solve problems, communicate clearly, work well with others and keep learning. If that sounds like you, make sure people can actually see it.
Sources referenced
This article references cyber security workforce and breach cost data from:
ISC2 cyber security workforce research, reported via Statista, covering global cyber security team cutbacks in 2024.
ISC2 cyber security skills gap research, reported via Statista, covering the main reasons for cyber security skills gaps worldwide in 2024.
ISC2 research, reported via Statista, covering the most sought-after skills in cyber security professionals by hiring managers worldwide in 2024.
Fortinet and Sapio Research data, reported via Statista, covering the impact of certifications when recruiting cyber security talent worldwide in 2024.
IBM and Ponemon Institute data, reported via Statista, covering the average cost of a data breach worldwide from March 2023 to February 2025.
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