| I receive a lot of emails from people who wonder | | | | entrenched in a good career provides the perfect |
| how to get into the security field. Many are looking | | | | environment and opportunity for simultaneous |
| for a career change and are curious about what kind | | | | education and certification. This will make the |
| of education and experience is needed to work as a | | | | prepared ready for future positions and raises. |
| security specialist in the defense and contractor | | | | For those starting their careers in smaller enterprises |
| industry. Others are just starting out in life and | | | | have a keen opportunity to perform in various |
| looking for a job with challenges and opportunities | | | | security disciplines. Some actually assume appointed |
| the security field offers. There are plenty of great | | | | FSO responsibilities as an extra duty and learn as |
| opportunities in with large and small contractor | | | | they go. Many of the defense contractor |
| companies providing the venue. Here is what I have | | | | organizations are small and may only have one |
| discovered about our industry and some of you may | | | | person in the security role. The sole security manager |
| have other experiences and advice you can pass to | | | | may only work in one discipline such as personnel |
| those who ask about a career in security. | | | | security. Others have a larger scope, working with a |
| Industrial security is an outstanding field for someone | | | | guard force, information security, and compliance |
| with all ranges of experience to enter into. Some | | | | issues such as exports. |
| have been hired at an entry level job and have | | | | Large Defense Contractors and Government |
| received promotions and additional responsibilities. | | | | agencies also provide entry level security jobs. The |
| Others have transferred full time to security after | | | | job title is often security specialist and job |
| enjoying serving in an additional duty capacity. Career | | | | descriptions allow for many experiences. Some |
| growth occurs as the contract and company | | | | descriptions use words to the affect as the following: |
| expands or the employee takes on more | | | | "The candidate must be eligible for a security |
| responsibilities after hiring on with another company. | | | | clearance. Job responsibilities include receiving, |
| Security managers can also move to higher level | | | | cataloging, storing, and mailing classified information. |
| security positions as chief security officer or | | | | Maintain access control to closed areas. Provide |
| corporate security officer as experience meets | | | | security support for classified information processing |
| opportunity. | | | | and destruction. Initiate security clearance requests |
| Employees just entering the work force can benefit | | | | and process requests for government and contract |
| from entry level jobs. These opportunities are great | | | | employees conducting classified visits. Implement |
| for building skills and filling a critical need while filing | | | | security measures as outlined in NISPOM." |
| receipts, wrapping packages, checking access rosters, | | | | Administrative, military, guard, and other past job |
| applying information system security, or bringing | | | | experience may provide transferrable skills to allow a |
| classified information into an accountability system. | | | | person to apply for the job. Once hired, the new |
| Those skills combined with learning to implement | | | | employee learns the technical skills, they can quickly |
| programs designed to safeguard classified information | | | | advance applying their other experiences and |
| provides a great foundations to build careers on. | | | | education. |
| Additionally, many employees attend university and | | | | Our industry is still a great place to learn and grow. |
| other adult education opportunities while serving full | | | | Career advancement and promotions are continually |
| time in the security field. The experience, education, | | | | available for the prepared. Opportunities continue to |
| certification and security clearance gained while on | | | | exist in companies large enough to provide increasing |
| the job prove very valuable. | | | | challenges and rewards. Some may have to apply for |
| Taking a look at want ads and job announcement, | | | | jobs with other enterprises to reach their potential. |
| one can see that education and certification is | | | | Others may be satisfied performing their valuable |
| beginning to be more of a requirement. Past listings | | | | functions in an organization where their skills are |
| for entry level and some FSO jobs required only the | | | | valued and rewarded. Consider using ISP |
| ability to get a security clearance and having a high | | | | Certification-The Industrial Security Professional Exam |
| school diploma or a GED. However, more and more | | | | Manual for your job interview preparation. Whether |
| job announcements require formal education to | | | | applying as an FSO, security specialist, ISSM, or other |
| include college and a preference for security | | | | discipline, our review questions can help you prepare. |
| certification. The defense security industry still | | | | Regardless of your professional goals, what are you |
| provides a good career field to gain entry level | | | | doing to remaining competitive? |
| experience and move up quickly. Being well | | | | |