Source: CISOs rethink hiring to emphasize skills over degrees and experience | CSO Online Author: unknown URL: https://www.csoonline.com/article/3963314/cisos-rethink-hiring-to-emphasize-skills-over-degrees-and-experience.html

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:

Security leaders increasingly adopt skills-based hiring over degrees, emphasizing competencies, problem-solving, and practical assessments to improve cybersecurity recruitment.

MAIN POINTS:

1. CISOs are shifting from degree-based hiring to skills-based approaches due to talent shortages.
2. ISC2’s CISO Jon France removed degree and some certification requirements for cybersecurity roles.
3. Skills-based hiring evaluates problem-solving, curiosity, and communication over academic credentials.
4. Implementing skills-based hiring effectively requires significant changes beyond job postings.
5. Burning Glass Institute’s report indicates limited success so far in skills-based hiring adoption.
6. Only 37% of organizations studied successfully implemented genuine skills-based hiring methods.
7. France collaborates with HR to craft job descriptions focused on tasks and required practical skills.
8. Certifications can still be required post-hiring to confirm willingness and aptitude for continued learning.
9. CyberSN and Immersive effectively use skills assessments and practical scenarios in hiring processes.
10. Skills-based hiring has produced diverse candidate pools, improving cybersecurity team performance.

TAKEAWAYS:

1. Prioritize demonstrable skills, critical thinking, and curiosity over traditional educational credentials.
2. Collaborate closely with HR to rewrite job descriptions clearly outlining practical skills needed.
3. Implement thorough candidate assessments using realistic scenarios and problem-solving exercises.
4. Recognize certifications as useful skill indicators, potentially required after hiring.
5. Expect significant effort and organizational change to successfully adopt a skills-based hiring approach.