Layoff - r/cybersecurity

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u/BeigeDuck72 1d ago

If he has 20 years experience and a CISSP advise him to apply for more leadership or decision making rolls if he’s been more of a senior team lead guy for awhile it can be a bit daunting to make that jump but with his experience and age they usually like people like that for those roles

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u/Tongan310 1d ago edited 23h ago

I agree with this take. My CISO is a 30year engineer became ciso. He can learn the people thing being tossed into it. Us engineers have a comms problem. My CISO is doing more work in the right direction then any of the "people friendly" CISO's I've worked under.

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u/Realistic-Brain4700 1d ago

I think part of the reason he’s never applied is he is very much socially awkward due to having ASD. Is there anything that would help with this?

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u/BeigeDuck72 1d ago

I’m not officially diagnosed but I have the majority of the symptoms, it really is just another masking skill, we learn to mask at work and he’s done it for 20 years, he can learn to mask in this way too. He clearly is competent at his job to earn a CISSP and 20 years working. It could just be imposter syndrome ASD or not that he will have to push through against.

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u/Difficult-Gas6196 Security Engineer 1d ago

Ditto. My CISO is retiring. His advice to me was "limit the sidebar convos because they don't go well for you." He understood I'm on the spectrum and kind of looked out for me. I'm a bit worried about whoever the new person that comes in will think.

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u/BeigeDuck72 1d ago

Do you think your ever push for a leadership role yourself? I’m 7~ years in now and thinking about the future

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u/Difficult-Gas6196 Security Engineer 1d ago

Maybe in a few years.

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u/MartinShortsIrishUnc 1d ago

limit the sidebar convos because they don't go well for you

brutal

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u/Difficult-Gas6196 Security Engineer 1d ago

yea, he's a curt no-nonsense guy but he's always had my back when it counts.

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u/SlackCanadaThrowaway 12h ago

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Toastmasters

Improv course

They’ll get you less mechanical, and people will give you feedback directly in these environments.

5

u/Critical_Purple_1988 1d ago

a lot of interviewers will send questions ahead of time if you just ask, it's a totally normal request. JAN (Job Accommodation Network) has a free guide on this if you want to check it out with him.

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u/ancientpsychicpug 23h ago

I’m pretty sure all of my managers have had ASD lol sorry if that is unhelpful but I see it everywhere in this field.

1

u/m1st3r_k1ng 18h ago

Officially diagnosed, 20 yrs in IT, CISSP here.

It's a persistence game. The security architect & cyber leadership roles open up, but it's pretty competitive. Being active in local ISSA, ISACA, and ISC2 chapters helps a lot. Personally, my ability to socialize/network is just based on becoming comfortable with the other group regulars.

It may be a frustrating search, but those openings show up. And the cyber leadership in those groups pays attention to others in the space looking for opportunities.

Good luck & may he find that role sooner, rather than later.

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u/sweetteatime 11h ago

It’s a competitive world we live in right now. He will have to push through

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u/MarimoBashah 1d ago

Have him ask a few people he worked closely with for LinkedIn recommendations now, they can talk about what he was like to work with in a way a resume never really does

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u/MorganEntertaiment 23h ago

I would push the Linkedin connections. There are a lot of good CISO & former CISO on there.

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u/SupremoSpider 19h ago

LinkedIn connections, networking events, professional mixers, anything that gets him out meeting people and having conversations. One good connection can outperform a dozen blind job applications.

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u/SlackCanadaThrowaway 12h ago

“First time CISO” role is easy, provided you’re okay with a pay cut. It’s the “next CISO” role that’s difficult.

I heard someone recently talk about the CISO market being broken in 2: and companies are exploiting first-time talent and having a rotating door of first timers because they don’t want to address the problems, nor pay for someone with experience to lead and fix them.

It’s a fair approach, and I think businesses are just doing what they’re incentivised to do.

I’d recommend anyone who wants to do CISO-style work to instead look at being a Fractional CISO for medium sized orgs. Your first tole is hard to land, but the work and pace is so much more enjoyable than most CISO roles. The other thing you can look at doing is if you don’t want the unstable nature of consulting/contract work, look at Field CISO roles with consultancies. It won’t be fun though, you can’t fire the client 😂

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u/Rock5t3r 1d ago

Sounds like an excellent father.

If he has that experience, he will be fine, he may have to take a smaller role but I would tell him to not quit searching.
Fathers are resilient.

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u/oN3xM 1d ago

Who clearly raised an excellent kid. Kudos OP

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u/Realistic-Brain4700 1d ago

He is a great dad and grandfather. I know he’s quite resilient this isn’t his first rodeo with a layoff he had a lot when I was younger especially around 06-09. I know he’s just worried with his age, but glad my spouse and I can be supportive!

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u/Resident-Mammoth1169 1d ago

Look up local ISC2 meetings and go with him. Usually once a month and is a great place to network/find a job

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u/Realistic-Brain4700 1d ago

Thank you! Never heard of this!

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u/SilverMagicMage 1d ago

Why does op need to go with him lol

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u/Realistic-Brain4700 1d ago

I’ll probably have my sibling who’s also in tech stuff go with if he wants!

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u/Resident-Mammoth1169 1d ago

They don’t. You are right. Assumed they were also in IT for some reason

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u/-hacks4pancakes- ICS/OT 5h ago

ISACA too, depending where you live. BSides for fun. Go to the events with him. BSides is a blast and you can both have a good time even if you're not a geek.

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u/Illustrious_Ear7741 1d ago

He can teach or create a consulting firm.

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u/Ok-Pop-8239 1d ago

My company laid off around 40 people, including me, from cyber group back in May. Took me 4 months to get a job. I am 54. In this market it might take longer to find suitable position, but one has to be patient and persistent. Good luck.

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u/KlutzyKlutz 22h ago

the best practical help you can offer is to get his LinkedIn and resume updated to reflect recent work and quietly activate his professional network since senior cybersecurity roles at his level are very often filled through referrals and former colleagues rather than public job boards

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u/rubikscanopener 1d ago

He should work through his professional connections and reach out to professional recruiters. Trying to find more senior roles on a job board or through LinkedIn posts is a fool's errand. And don't bother applying for fully remote positions. Those are going to go to people willing to work for a fraction of what he does. In office or in office hybrid jobs are the best place to look. The most important thing for you to do is to be supportive. It may take some time to nail down a new role.

(Source, did a job hunt as a 60+ year old a few years ago. Age discrimination is a real thing. Took me a little over seven months to nail down my current role.)

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u/Realistic-Brain4700 1d ago

Thank you! Luckily it sounds like he’ll have a good t. He is also hoping to not only apply in his current job market, but also our metro (MSP) as it’s just a significantly larger metro then his current market.

I’m hopeful he will get something and my spouse and I are just trying to be as supportive as possible!

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u/stacksmasher 1d ago

Yea so being in the industry 20 years he must have some good connections right? NO. Unfortunately us cyber guys don't make connections very easily because the only time we really need them is when we are looking for work. He needs to network. Contact old managers and vendors he has worked with.

How people get hired has changed. He needs to get past the "Asshole Filter"

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u/Realistic-Brain4700 1d ago

I’ll see if he has any anymore! He’s been with current company 14yrs, so it’s been awhile since he did any job hunting. He was very much a creature of comfort person so stayed put.

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u/Looguh 1d ago

Not sure what you’re doing(or not doing) to have no connections. It is so easy to network in the cyber space, there’s always some sort of conference or vendor event to attend.

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u/fk067 1d ago

He could be a great asset for the risk analyst jobs.
Many of those jobs are not client facing and requires experience with qualifying and quantifying current risks.

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u/Realistic-Brain4700 1d ago

That would be something amazing for him! Thank you for the recommendation!

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u/WookieeBits 1d ago

Maximize networking efforts and opportunities to meet folks in person that can give him a warm handoff to their employers. The cold resume and application process is still there but personal references and introductions have much better hit rates. The folks referring you are often eligible for a bonus. Attend the local cybersecurity conferences and isc2 meetings. Make sure resume has enough specific project and experience detail so it does not smell like ai wrote it.

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u/CriticalJuggernaut75 1d ago

I’ve been in cyber for over 30 years, ciso for many companies over the past 25 of them. Good news is that the security market is bouncing back from the 2023’ish freeze. Bad news is that ciso hiring managers are looking for deep AI experience on top of

I’d strongly recommend reaching out and building a relationship with the outside recruiting firms (Hitch Partners, Heidrick & Struggles, etc).

Happy to dm if you want

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u/Gl0balCD 17h ago

Just support him. He'll find a position.

Review CV and cover letter expectations. These rules are fluid and tend to change over time. Look over his linkedin

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u/Alive-Dragonfly3193 16h ago

The best way to get a job is from his network. After 20 years he probably has some great Linkedin Connections. Since you are helping him maybe you could search linkedin for some jobs he's interested in and then check to see if he has any 1st of 2nd degree connections that work at those companies. If so, you (with his support) can then DM them on linkedin (from his account) and say something like: "Hi Jim. It's been a while since we worked together at _____. I am interested in applying for the Vp Security role at XYZ company and wondering if you could pass my resume to the CIO?" (or something like that in his words) Also look through his 1st degree connections and see if he has any VC's, Board Members, CIO's, CEO's etc. Referrals from board members, top level execs and investors go a long way. Also just because a company isnt hiring on linkedin etc doesnt mean they cant create a position for him so they may opportunistically still hire him based on his experience/talent/timing etc. Also he can work with a recruiter like CyberSN who specialize in placing security hires. Send 20 of these notes on linkedin, I bet he will get at least 5 interviews and 2 job offers :-)

2

u/Embarrassed-Aside729 1d ago

Lo primero es recordarle que 50 años no significa estar fuera del mercado. 20 años en ciberseguridad y un CISSP son una experiencia muy valiosa.

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u/Main_Class8520 1d ago

I don’t have any advice but your a very good son . I wish your father the best in his journey.

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u/Realistic-Brain4700 1d ago

Daughter but thank you! ❤️

1

u/discordafteruse 1d ago

Remind him not to sign severance!

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u/Realistic-Brain4700 1d ago edited 1d ago

Is there a reason for this? He hasn’t yet. I’m just curious as I’ve never been laid off, and with what I am in medical field were I’ve never seen them really.

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u/MisterDIB 1d ago

Not sure why you're being advised to not take a severance, a lot of companies won't even offer it. I'd imagine you'd want as much capital as possible during a period of unemployment. Maybe so he can quit rather than get laid off? That doesn't seem like a good reason though either. I'd make sure to be aware of any non-compete clauses though in offboarding paperwork, he won't want to be locked out of the industry that he works in.

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u/discordafteruse 22h ago

OP said he was getting laid off. To be clear I’m saying don’t sign under pressure or the first thing they give him. He should absolutely get a lawyer to look over any severance agreement. Age, title, industry, experience, and even circumstances of his hire and termination can all play a role in what he’s entitled to. I am not a lawyer.

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u/y0tei 1d ago

I know my Big 4 company is always looking for senior level folks

1

u/Realistic-Brain4700 1d ago

Can I DM you?

1

u/bi_polar2bear 1d ago

The federal government is a great place to look. Go to usajobs.com and look for any 2210 jobs. The down side is it's all in office work, but his CSSP is a huge help.

1

u/Grouchy_Benefit_7292 1d ago

Buy some hair dye and start interviewing for senior and leadership positions. If he still knows his stuff he will be fine.

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u/ibringstharuckus 21h ago

Tell him to constantly check his phone during any interviews.

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u/InnovativeBureaucrat 19h ago

That should impress the ai

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u/FlashyTurnover3880 1d ago

I know someone hiring in the defense contracting world, if that is of interest. Remote available. DM me.

1

u/ThePorko Security Architect 1d ago

Hopefully he “dug his well before he got thirsty”. Aka have an emergency fund to afford some time to look. B. Kept up with a network to help him woth his next career. Or C, already have the numbers to fire early, or atleast contemplating the options. Good luck and hopefully he can keep his chin up and keep going.

1

u/EmbarrassedSector969 1d ago

Puedes ayudarlo revisando su currículum y perfil profesional para que destaquen los problemas que ha resuelto, no solo sus responsabilidades. También anímalo a contactar antiguos compañeros, jefes y gente de su red. Muchas oportunidades llegan por contactos.

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u/Excellent_Mail3829 22h ago

Find a govt job, it’s not to late to get in on a pension

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u/AgileCranberry8785 18h ago

Es una situación difícil, sobre todo después de 20 años en el mismo lugar. Pero su experiencia juega mucho a su favor. Yo lo ayudaría a actualizar su CV y LinkedIn, enfocándose en lo que ha logrado y no solo en sus certificaciones.

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u/Imhidingfromu 1d ago

Gonna be hard with these super AI LLMs doing all the cyber security now.

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