Pursuing a degree in any industry is the best way to boost your career, whether you’re interested in cyber security, nutrition, or marketing. It provides you with the necessary credentials to help you land jobs with better pay, more benefits, and a higher level of respect and responsibility.
If you’re considering a degree in cyber security but you aren’t sure it’s worth it, here are a few reasons to take the leap.
#1. Qualify for More Jobs
While many amateur cyber security professionals are self-trained or have a certification, those that hold a degree will qualify for more jobs. Oftentimes, these jobs will offer better pay and may even include extra benefits such as the ability to work from home, paid time off, health insurance, and a more flexible schedule.
Along with earning certifications when you first start out, many experts recommend pursuing a degree because of the doors it opens.
With a completed degree, you’ll have the skills and expertise necessary to do the work you’re hired to do. You won’t be able to learn as you go with a cyber security career, so starting out with a degree will help both you and your future employers feel more confident in your abilities.
#2. Better Job Security
Cyber security is still a new and emerging field, but there are a large number of positions that remain unfulfilled. In a field with an estimated 3.5 million job openings, you won’t have to struggle to find a job that suits your needs.
No matter where you live, you should find cyber security jobs that are easy to come by. Whether you want a remote job or an office job, most businesses will be willing to cater to your needs once you apply.
Even if demand begins to drop for cyber security professionals, having a degree will ensure that you aren’t one of the first people let go as you have a higher level of expertise than those without.
#3. Develop a Specialty
Some people are more interested in one area of cyber security than another and want to develop their skills in order to specialize within the field. With a degree, you can really hone your skills and later prove your expertise within that field with your degree.
Developing a specialty in cyber security can ensure that you land jobs you’ll love no matter what. If you love penetration testing but don’t enjoy software development, then you can focus your studies so that you develop professional and expert knowledge in the field that you’re most interested in.
Common specialties that degree-seekers choose to develop include engineering, assessment, compliance, governance, risk management, and forensics, but there are many more options out there for those looking.
#4. Higher Salary Opportunities
With a degree, you’ll qualify for just about every cyber security job, including C-level positions. You will need several years of experience in addition to your degree, but the possibility to earn over $400,000 annually in certain cities is enough inspiration for most people.
Now, you won’t make the same salary everywhere in the country, but most cyber security jobs have a very high salary for such low education requirements. Even if you choose not to take up a C-level position and you’re content with a mid-level job, you can expect to earn around $112,000 according to ZipRecruiter.
#5. Flexible Degree Programs
Cyber security is a field that is still growing and expanding which means that the degree programs are still new. While some programs will be more developed and older than others, most universities offer flexible programs for their students.
You can find fully online, hybrid, or on-campus programs wherever you look. With a more flexible approach, more professionals are able to earn a degree within a reasonable amount of time.
If you don’t want to commit to a full-time program, you can search for part-time ones instead. If you want to continue working and can’t travel to campus every day, an online program can be a great solution. You can even find scholarships and grants for students pursuing a cyber security degree, so funding your studies doesn’t have to be a concern either.
#6. Learn Leadership Skills
As with any degree program, a cyber security degree will prepare you to take on leadership roles and help you develop the necessary skills to be a good leader. Whether you take on a managerial position or you work with a small group of professionals to solve a security issue, having the skills to be a good leader and communicator is important.
Degree programs aren’t just about developing hard skills. You’ll also gain a myriad of soft skills to help you be a better leader: communication, active listening, time management, organization, and empathy. While your degree will focus heavily on technical and professional skills, you’ll still develop these valuable soft skills that can later help you in your career.
#7. Networking Opportunities
When it comes to finding a great job, networking is one of the best ways to do so. While you’re studying, you’ll meet many other like-minded students and start to develop your own professional network. Between other students, your teachers, and guest speakers, a degree program will provide you with a good platform to begin networking.
Give Your Career the Boost it Needs
When you first start out in cyber security, you may not need a degree. However, if you want to advance your career and eventually land a C-level or managerial position, you will need a strong educational background and years of experience. In order to guarantee your career gets the boost it needs and that you deserve, earning a degree in cyber security is the way to go.
