From Cop to Consultant: The Power of Transferable Skills in Consulting
Like many people, I did not have my entire career path mapped out when I left education. But there was something about the excitement and unpredictability of police work that just appealed to me much more than a regular office job or the paths my friends were pursuing.
So that’s what I did, I joined and served as a police officer. My time in the police involved everything from frontline work to becoming a detective and managing complex investigations. Over time, I became interested in the rise of cyber crime, which led me to a role as a Digital Media Investigator. I found myself enjoying the process of investigating online threats and the technology behind them.
While I loved investigative work, after a few years I realised the police environment was no longer the right fit for me. Because my interest in understanding the evolving digital landscape continued to grow, it led me to consider a new challenge in cyber security consulting.
Studies show that men apply for a job when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, but women often apply only if they meet 100%
Despite my passion, when I started thinking about a career change, I hesitated. I didn’t have formal technical qualifications, and my knowledge of cyber security was limited to the basics. Like many women, I found myself falling into the mindset described in the statistic above – I felt unqualified because I didn’t meet every requirement.
Then, I discovered Cydea. After speaking with them, I realised that I had more to offer than I initially thought. They helped me see that I had something just as important as technical skills: transferable skills.
The power of transferable skills in consulting
Transferable skills are abilities that can be applied across different industries or job roles. In consulting, skills like problem-solving, communication, adaptability, and risk assessment are critical. In fact, they’re often just as important as technical knowledge.
Often people feel they need to meet every single requirement on a job description, not necessarily to do the job well, but to get the job in the first place. However, I realised that you don’t need to meet 100% of the qualifications to succeed in a new role – you just need the confidence to recognise and leverage the skills you already have.
Key transferable skills for consultants
Here are a few key skills that helped me successfully transition into consulting:
- Problem-solving and critical thinking: in the police, solving crimes and investigating cases was part of the job. This ability to analyse situations, identify the critical path, and act quickly, is central to consulting, where problem-solving is a daily task.
- Communication: As a frontline officer, I communicated with a diverse range of people, often in high-stress situations. In consulting, this translates into explaining complex cyber security risks and solutions to clients clearly and effectively.
- Adaptability: The ability to adapt quickly to new environments, people, and challenges was a skill I carried into consulting, where each client presents a unique problem and requires a tailored solution.
- Risk assessment: Assessing threats and making decisions with incomplete information was something I did daily as a detective. This skill is equally valuable in consulting, where evaluating cyber security risks and anticipating potential vulnerabilities is key to protecting clients.
How Cydea helped me see my value
When I joined Cydea, they helped me realise that I didn’t need to be a cyber security expert right away. What mattered was my ability to learn, adapt, and apply my investigative mindset to new problems. My transferable skills – problem-solving, communication, and risk management – gave me a strong foundation to build on.
They didn’t see my lack of formal technical qualifications as a barrier but as an opportunity to leverage my strengths and grow in the role.
You’re more qualified than you think
If you’re considering a career change to consulting but feel like you don’t meet every qualification, remember that you’re probably more prepared than you think. Like me, you probably have transferable skills that can make you successful in a new role!
Don’t wait until you feel 100% qualified to pursue a new career in cyber security consulting. Take stock of the skills you’ve already developed, and you might find that you’re more prepared to make the leap than you realised.
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