When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Singapore-based Bo Qiang was another professional who saw it as a chance to pivot and explore new opportunities.<\/p>\n
With so many companies adopting a new approach to digitization and the rising demand for cybersecurity professionals, Bo Qiang saw this as an opportunity to future-proof his skillset.<\/p>\n
Bo Qiang found the Institute of Data Cybersecurity program<\/a> online and subsequently landed his dream job as an Associate for Cyber Risk Controls at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).<\/p>\n We caught up with Bo Qiang to hear how his new role is going and how the Institute of Data Cybersecurity program<\/a> helped him get to where he wanted to be.<\/p>\n I come from an engineering background.<\/p>\n I worked as a site engineer on a railway project in a construction firm, mainly dealing with on-site coordination and installation works with various contractors.<\/p>\n I became an operations executive in a property consultant firm where I handled facilities management for various clients on all aspects of maintenance works within their premises.<\/p>\n When it comes to learning, I am the \u2018more surprises and less spoilers\u2019 kind of person.<\/p>\n In preparation for the Institute of Data Cybersecurity program<\/a>, I looked online to gain a generic feel of what was going to come rather than knowing the specific areas that were going to be covered in the program.<\/p>\n My goals have remained consistent irrespective of the field I find myself in.<\/p>\n Personal development, career stability, and being proficient and knowledgeable in what I am doing are important to me.<\/p>\n I want to pass this knowledge down to my understudies in the future.<\/p>\n For me, the highlight of the program was actually the number of students in the cohort. The trainer-to-student ratio meant that the trainer could focus on each of us with our queries and concerns.<\/p>\n This was especially helpful as all five of us were from a non-IT background.<\/p>\n One of the biggest challenges was understanding all the technical jargon during my first few weeks of the program.<\/p>\n I had to check the terms online, but I\u2019d digested them by the second half of the program.<\/p>\n[su_quote]One aspect I really enjoyed was the case studies, which we completed on every topic. They got our heads cracking, which is not a bad thing!\u00a0[\/su_quote]\n Our work on the case studies gave us a better understanding of the content.<\/p>\n Most importantly, our trainer, Anand, was very patient in explaining and providing more details beyond what was taught in the program.<\/p>\n Unlike some lecturers in schools who only read through the lecture slides, he (Anand) provided context and shared useful resources that we could read more about online.<\/p>\n What struck me as I was contemplating what to focus on was something from my engineering days: Building Management Systems (BMS<\/a>).<\/p>\n After doing some research, I noticed there were vulnerabilities in such a system.<\/p>\n So, I decided to do a threat modelling approach for BMS.<\/p>\n Time was not on my side; otherwise, I would have included mitigations for all the threats identified for my project.<\/p>\n Towards the end of the capstone project, I applied for a role at PricewaterhouseCoopers<\/a> (PwC).<\/p>\n My sole intention was to get a feel of how the interview process differs from what I had gone through in my engineering days.<\/p>\n[su_quote]Thanks to the career coaching offered by the Institute of Data, my resume was polished and caught the hirer’s attention.[\/su_quote]\n To my surprise, I got a call from human resources two weeks after my application and subsequently went through a series of psychometric tests and a case study.<\/p>\n Being one of the Big Four<\/em> firms<\/a>, I wasn\u2019t expecting to get any further due to my non-IT background.<\/p>\n However, after another two rounds of interviews and two weeks after the assessment, I was offered a role!<\/p>\n When job opportunities arise, reflect on what went right and what went wrong so you\u2019ll do better next time.<\/p>\n To excel in cybersecurity<\/a>, you must be able to solve problems quickly, keep yourself updated on the latest cybersecurity trends, and be open to new ideas.<\/p>\n The consequences of data breaches or other incidents can be dire.<\/p>\n So, being part of the cybersecurity community allows me to step in and shield people and organisations from these threats, which is highly satisfying.<\/p>\n[su_quote] The Institute of Data’s Cybersecurity program<\/a> made me realise that to be a modern cyber professional, you must be imaginative, curious, and creative.[\/su_quote]\n Know what you are getting yourself into before making a career switch. Ask yourself if this really is your interest.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t simply make a change just because people suggest it to you. Always do your due diligence.<\/p>\n[su_quote]Connect with professionals on LinkedIn; being the experts in the field, they will give the best advice.[\/su_quote]\n Are you looking to transition into tech and pursue your dream job?<\/p>\n1. What was your professional background and experience before changing to cybersecurity?<\/h2>\n
2. How did you prepare to study the Cybersecurity program?<\/h2>\n
3. What were your career goals before upskilling?<\/h2>\n
4. Can you describe your experience with the program?<\/h2>\n
5. Tell us about your capstone project<\/h2>\n[su_quote]The hardest part of the capstone project was coming up with the topic itself!\u00a0[\/su_quote]\n
6. Tell us how you landed your first job in the cybersecurity industry<\/h2>\n
7. What guidance would you give someone applying for jobs after upskilling?<\/h2>\n[su_quote]My best advice is never to fear rejection from job interviews. Keep casting your net![\/su_quote]\n
8. What do you love about working in cybersecurity?<\/h2>\n
9. What advice would you give to professionals making a career change or entering the cybersecurity field?<\/h2>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n