Looking Back | Looking Forward

A year ago, I began my journey on the Fujitsu RADAR Programme, motivated by my passion for Cyber Security and a desire to work in that field. I knew that the RADAR Programme was the perfect opportunity to guide my career in that direction, so I set a goal for myself: to secure a role in Cyber Security by the end of the program. I am thrilled to say that I accomplished that goal, with a few weeks to spare.

Currently, I am working as a Security Specialist at Fujitsu DSPU, where I will be focusing on SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) Content Development. Though it is still early on, I feel that this role is a great fit for me and I am excited to dive in after completing training and onboarding.

I cannot stress enough how instrumental the RADAR Programme was in helping me achieve my goal. The Professional Skills webinars provided me with the soft skills and confidence I needed, and the Cyber Security Technical Stream introduced me to the different career paths within the field and imparted knowledge that was crucial for my job interview. I am grateful for the help and guidance I received during the program and without it, I would not be where I am today.

Setting goals as a young professional starting out in the IT industry can be a daunting task, especially when working within the field of Cyber Security. With so many different areas to focus on, it can be difficult to know where to begin. However, setting goals is an essential step in career development and will help you to focus on the areas that are most important to you.

One of the first things to consider when setting goals is your long-term career aspirations. Are you interested in becoming a Cyber Security Analyst, or do you want to focus on a specific area of Cyber Security, such as penetration testing or incident response? Having a clear understanding of your long-term goals will help you to focus on the areas that are most important to you and will also make it easier for you to plan your career development.

Another important consideration when setting goals is your current skill set. It is important to be realistic about your current abilities and to focus on areas where you need to improve. For example, if you are just starting out in the field of Cyber Security, you may want to focus on learning the basics of network security and penetration testing. As you gain more experience, you can then start to focus on more advanced areas, such as incident response or threat intelligence.

In addition to your long-term goals and your current skill set, it is also important to consider your personal interests when setting goals. If you have a passion for a specific area of Cyber Security, such as cryptography or malware analysis, you may want to focus on developing your skills in that area. This will not only make your work more enjoyable, but it will also make you more marketable in the industry.

Ultimately, the key to setting goals as a young professional starting out in the IT industry is to be clear about your long-term aspirations, to be realistic about your current skill set, and to consider your personal interests. By focusing on these areas, you will be able to develop a clear plan for your career development and will be well on your way to achieving your goals in the field of Cyber Security.

For the year 2023, I have set three main objectives:

• Expand my knowledge and proficiency in the platforms that are crucial to my role, such as Splunk and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. I have already completed some e-learning courses and live training events, but I aim to continue growing in these areas until I am able to make valuable contributions to my role.
• Obtain an industry-recognized certification in the field of Cyber Security. This will require me to decide on the most appropriate certification, such as (ISC)² CISSP, Comptia Security+, or OCSP, and focus on training and preparation for the exam. I will also consult with my manager to determine which certification would be most beneficial for both myself and the company.
• Purchase a house. This is a personal goal that I am determined to achieve, and it will require careful planning and financial management.

By focusing on these three goals, I am confident that I will be able to advance in my career, gain new skills, and achieve a significant personal milestone.