Maximize Cybersecurity Employability With Hands-On Learning Experiences

In recent research we conducted, we explored how cybersecurity executives perceive their new hires, what skills they highly value and which are lacking most in their organizations, and how they interact with educational programs to help prepare students for the workforce. We found many intriguing insights surrounding the skills gap within cybersecurity, but especially so relating to the importance of hands-on experience in new hires.

Employers’ Expectations of New Hires

We asked cybersecurity execs how much they agreed or disagreed with the statement, “I expect new hires to be immediately ready to work once they start,” and an impressive 86.5% strongly agreed or agreed. Employers have high expectations for their new hires, and so recent grads must be as prepared for the workforce as possible. 

Most Valued Experiences

To gauge what hiring managers look for in a well-prepared candidate, we explored what skills and experiences they value most in new hires. For example, over 95% of cyber execs agreed with the notion that hands-on experience (e.g., internships, practical projects) is important for new hires in their organization. That being said, when asked to select the specific areas that are most deficient in new hires, practical experience was the most selected option, being chosen by 63% of executives. The discrepancy between the importance of practical experience and its shortage in new hires is crucial to understanding the skills gap. However, it also offers a clear and tangible opportunity to adjust educational programs so they prepare their students better. 

The Value of Hands-On Learning

To unpack the importance of practical experience, we asked survey respondents what kinds of experience they value most. Real-world projects, internships, and case studies rank among the most valued forms of practical experience, suggesting that these hands-on opportunities are key to bridging the gap and preparing new professionals to meet industry expectations. These kinds of learning opportunities allow students to engage in skills they might not otherwise get before they are in the workforce, practicing both technical skills and non-technical skills like problem-solving and teamwork.

Past research we’ve done at Codio has also cemented the importance of taking an active, learning-by-doing approach to teaching, as we found that students achieve better learning outcomes when they are actively coding rather than passively reading about new concepts. You can check out those findings here. 

To align best with industry needs and ensure students are well prepared for the workforce, practical exercises and real-world learning are at the forefront of Codio’s cybersecurity course content. For example, students get to practice hands-on tasks like configuring networks and running penetration tests in our labs, which ensure students bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. Educators will even be able to create custom cybersecurity environments using multiple VMs so students can gain experience in areas like simulated attack/defense scenarios. Sign up for the waitlist for our cybersecurity to have first access.