Drinking From the Firehose

If you didn’t get a chance to read my “journey into cybersecurity” article on October 2, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m the Head of Culture & Communications for Cmd, a cybersecurity startup that helps enterprise organizations secure their cloud-first environments. I’m now about nine months into this new industry–a world away from my creative beginnings at a liberal arts college without tests or grades.

In my last article, I shared more about that non-linear path and how I was recruited into my first role in the world of cybersecurity. Here, I’ll share what the experience of adjusting was actually like. It was messy and beautiful and challenging all at once. And it was especially intimidating because my role meant I had to get comfortable writing from a place of authority and understanding as soon as humanly possible.

My first week of working in cybersecurity

I showed up to my first day full of nerves and excitement. Within an hour or two, my smile had been wiped clean off my face. I felt like I was scuba diving without an oxygen tank. I was fighting to remain present, my brain trying to protect me from this deluge of new information by tuning out and letting the words go in one ear and out the other. Between all the acronyms and Linux terms, it felt like everyone was speaking a foreign language. Cue the anxiety.

There were multiple times in that first week that I worried I’d made a huge mistake. A recovering perfectionist, I found myself scrambling for credible reasons I could bail on my new role before I fell flat on my face. I wondered if my previous job would take me back, longing for the sense of complacency, familiarity, and companionship I’d cultivated there.

There’s no sugarcoating it: it was a rough week. But it was a week. Five days. I made it through to the weekend and once I’d had two days to process everything that had been thrown at me, I knew I had to give this a fair chance. After all, I’d wanted a challenge, hadn’t I? Didn’t I owe it to myself? Didn’t I owe it to my new boss–who’d had full faith that I’d be able to figure it out–to at least try?

I showed up to my first day full of nerves and excitement. Within an hour or two, my smile had been wiped clean off my face. I felt like I was scuba diving without an oxygen tank.

I returned to work to start week two with new energy. I took my time, ticking day after day off of my mental calendar and cutting myself some slack. After all, I was being way harder on myself than anyone else was. As much as I wanted to be fluent in cybersecurity speak yesterday, everyone else seemed to have plenty of patience as I learned the ropes.

My advice for those considering the leap

I hate admitting this, but I don’t know if I would have even applied for the job I have today if I’d come across the job description. I think I would have been too intimidated even to try. I’m forever grateful that the opportunity fell into my lap. I sincerely hope I can inspire at least one other individual to take that next leap, even if you don’t meet all of the qualifications or worry about transitioning into a new industry. I don’t want to paint it as easy by any means, because stepping out of your comfort zone is a crash course in learning what you’re capable of achieving.

To those who are considering taking the leap, or those who have lept and are looking for some reassurance that there is in fact a light at the end of the tunnel, here are my thoughts on the three most important factors for getting your sea legs fast.

1.Ask all of the questions.

Your coworkers are invested in your success. They hold invaluable knowledge, so make sure you’re tapping them as a resource. Ask them to teach you what terms mean, to recommend blogs to read, or any other learning methods that you know work well for you. Don’t be afraid to look “stupid” by asking questions. It’s far smarter to ask questions than to act like you know something when you really don’t. For instance, when someone explains a new concept to you and then asks “does that make sense?” fight your natural urge to say yes if you would honestly benefit from additional clarification. By explaining something to you, your colleague will have a chance to put their own knowledge to the test, a useful gauge for anyone who wants to stay sharp in their field. Plus, people like to feel like they’re experts and generally enjoy the chance to dispense advice. Set aside your ego and ask for the help you need.

2.Sit in on meetings. LOTS of meetings.

It’s important to immerse yourself thoroughly in your industry’s language fast, so be a fly on the wall. Whether it’s the team sprint planning meeting or a phone call with a current customer, hearing conversations among seasoned industry professionals will give you great insights. Even though it might feel like a waste of time, don’t underestimate the power of osmosis. Actively and attentively listening in on these conversations is the best way I found to pick up the various acronyms and industry terms. Note that this doesn’t mean just sitting there. You’ll have to fight against your brain’s natural inclination to tune out the unfamiliar language. I found that silently repeating the words back to myself in my head as I heard them come out of my colleagues’ mouths was a useful way to keep from drifting into daydreams. Once you get a hang of it, it’ll exponentially speed up your learning process.

3. Have some self compassion.

As someone who prides herself on being a fast learner, I at first fixated on my frustration that I wasn’t learning fast enough. This isn’t sustainable or motivational. Instead, I discovered it’s important to celebrate even your small milestones. If you’re too concentrated on what you still have left to learn, you can easily derail all of the amazing progress you’re making. The ocean of knowledge is vast. And to be honest, I still struggle sometimes. It’s not a linear path. It’s three steps forward, one step back. That’s why it’s also important to take time for yourself to decompress so you don’t burn out. Learning new things at lightspeed is no easy task.

With a bit of hindsight, it’s much easier to see the progress I’ve made. When I get in a rut, I can now list out the things I have accomplished so far, the impact I’ve had on my team, the relationships of trust I’ve worked so hard to build. In other words, I have a foundation I can call upon when I feel my internal momentum slowing. When you work for a startup in an ever-evolving industry, building that foundation (and referring back to it in those moments of doubt or setback) is everything.

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Thinking of breaking into the industry or just want to connect? Find me on LinkedIn. I’m always down to chat with others (especially women in tech).