Month: October 2017

Electronics Technician Positions in Federal Government

Posted on by Betty Boyd

There are many occupations in the federal government that require electronics technician skills both in the General and Wage Grade Schedules. The primary General Schedule (GS) occupation is the electronics technician GS-0856. The postal service also hires electronic technicians to service their mail delivery automation equipment.

The federal government employs 8,072 GS-0856 electronics technicians of which 222 work overseas. The Department of the Army, Air Force and Navy are the largest employers with 5,368 civilians followed by The Department of Justice with 806 and the Department of Transportation with 537. Many cabinet level agencies and a few large independent agencies such as NASA employ electronics technicians.

Many GS-0856 electronic technicians can qualify for related jobs such as system specialists with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the Transportation Specialist GS-2101 Series. These jobs require additional training at the FAA academy in Oklahoma city for each specialty. Randy Baldwin, featured in this article, and Dennis Damp, host of this service, spent many months in training at the academy throughout their careers first as a GS-0856 technician and later as GS-2101 system specialists. The GS-2101 series with the FAA offers work in automation, communications, navigation, and surveillance / radar occupations.

You will also find many opportunities in the WG-2600 Electronic Equipment Installation and Maintenance Family. This job family includes occupations involved in the installation, repair, overhaul, fabrication, tuning, alignment, modification, calibration, and testing of electronic equipment and related devices, such as radio, radar, loran, sonar, television, and other communications equipment; industrial controls; fire control, flight/landing control, bombing-navigation, and other integrated systems; and electronic computer systems and equipment.

There are 10,299 federal wage grade workers employed in the WG-2600 group of which 68 work overseas or in the U.S. Territories. The largest employers are the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force with 8,411 civilians employed.  The Veterans Administration employs 233, and the Treasury Department 144. Other cabinet level and a few large independent agencies employ small numbers of this group.

Additionally there are 866 civilians that work in the WG-3300 Instrument Work Family.

Interview with Randy Baldwin

Randy Baldwin started his federal government civilian career with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an electronics technician (GS-0856) after discharge from the U.S. Air Force and ended his career as a Special Projects Officer, GS-14, in Leesburg, VA. He was interviewed for this article to provide insight into this occupation.

 

Randy Baldwin

Mr. Baldwin had an extensive and diverse career with the federal government and after retiring he went on to start several successful companies including Just Write Laser Engraving.

He started his career in 1971 originally working for the Navy as an electronics Wage Grade technician. Since there were limited advancement prospects, he searched for positions in the GS-0856 job series. Randy applied for FAA positions in both the Eastern and Southern regions. He was originally hired in Athens, GA as a GS-856-09 electronics trainee. Randy said this was the best decision he could have made for career progression and to take care of his family. He retired at the GS-14 pay grade.

Randy’s last position, before retiring, was special projects officer. He states that every day was different from the next and a challenge. He represented the Eastern Region’s engineering organization. One of the projects he handled was initiating computer control monitoring of various  environmental systems, such as air, heat, and fuel. Another major project was coordinating the upgrade of all underground fuel storage tanks to both Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state standards.

Randy’s greatest challenge was successfully completing an Engineering Mathematics for Engineering Technicians home study course. Randy said that you had to pass the course. If you did not pass it, “you might as well look for another job.” Another course Fundamentals of Radar, was a four-month course in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Again, this was a make or break course for your career, as before he passed it and went on to bigger and better opportunities in the FAA.

The FAA invests considerable time and resources to training their specialists. To retain your position initially trainees must pass fundamental courses that impart the knowledge they will need for advanced systems training.

Randy emphasizes, to be successful “work hard and you will be rewarded. Apply yourself, do a good job and take pride in that. The reward may not come at once, and not even by the same people you currently work for.” Working hard is the best advice that Randy has to offer others.

Electronic Technician (GS-0856) Qualifications

The electronic technician series covers technical positions supervising, leading, or performing work involving applying:

  • knowledge of the techniques and theories characteristic of electronics, such as a knowledge of basic electricity and electronic theory, algebra, and elementary physics;
  • knowledge of electronic equipment design, development, evaluation, testing, installation, and maintenance; and
  • knowledge of the capabilities, limitations, operations, design, characteristics, and functional use of a variety of types and models of electronic equipment and systems related to, but less than, a full professional knowledge of electronic engineering.

Federal Government Requirements:

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply
  • The yearly salary for a GS-12 is $79,720 to $103,639 per year

Typical Duties & Occupational Profile:

For this article we will cover electrical and electronics engineering technicians for the private sector.

Electrical and electronics engineering technicians help engineers design and develop computers and other electrical and electronic equipment.

Electrical and electronics engineering technicians help engineers design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and other electrical and electronic equipment. They often work in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to adjust, test, and repair equipment. They are also involved in the manufacture and deployment of equipment for automation.

Duties

Electrical engineering technicians typically do the following:

  • Put together electrical and electronic systems and prototypes
  • Build, calibrate, and repair electrical instruments or testing equipment
  • Visit construction sites to observe conditions affecting design
  • Identify solutions to technical design problems that arise during the construction of electrical systems
  • Inspect designs for quality control, report findings, and make recommendations
  • Draw diagrams and write specifications to clarify design details of experimental electronics units

Electrical engineering technicians install and maintain electrical control systems and equipment, and modify electrical prototypes, parts, and assemblies to correct problems. When testing systems, they set up test equipment and evaluate the performance of developmental parts, assemblies, or systems under simulated conditions. They then analyze test information to resolve design-related problems.

Electronics engineering technicians typically do the following:

  • Design basic circuitry and draft sketches to clarify details of design documentation, under engineers’ direction
  • Build prototypes from rough sketches or plans
  • Assemble, test, and maintain circuitry or electronic components according to engineering instructions, technical manuals, and knowledge of electronics
  • Adjust and replace defective circuitry and electronic components
  • Make parts, such as coils and terminal boards, by using bench lathes, drills, or other machine tools

Electronics engineering technicians identify and resolve equipment malfunctions and then work with manufacturers to get replacement parts. They also calibrate and perform preventative maintenance on equipment and systems.

These technicians often need to read blueprints, schematic drawings, and engineering instructions for assembling electronic units. They also write reports and record data on testing techniques, laboratory equipment, and specifications

Education

Programs for electrical and electronics engineering technicians usually lead to an associate’s degree in electrical or electronics engineering technology. Vocational–technical schools include postsecondary institutions that serve local students and emphasize training needed by local employers.

Community colleges offer programs similar to those in technical institutes but include more theory-based and liberal arts coursework. Some of these colleges allow students to concentrate in computer electronics, industrial electronics, or communications electronics.

Prospective electrical and electronics engineering technicians usually take courses in ANSI C, C++ programming, Java programming, physics, microprocessors, and circuitry. The Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET accredits programs that include at least college algebra, trigonometry, and basic science courses.

Important Qualities

Logical-thinking skills. Electrical and electronics engineering technicians must isolate and then identify problems for the engineering staff to work on. They need good reasoning skills to identify and fix problems. Technicians must also be able to follow a logical sequence or specific set of rules to carry out engineers’ designs, inspect designs for quality control, and put together prototypes.

Math skills. Electrical and electronics engineering technicians use math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

Mechanical skills. Electronics engineering technicians in particular must be able to use hand tools and soldering irons on small circuitry and electronic parts to create detailed electronic components by hand.

Observational skills. Electrical engineering technicians sometimes visit construction sites to make sure that electrical engineers’ designs are being carried out correctly. They are responsible for evaluating projects onsite and reporting problems to engineers.

Problem-solving skills. Electrical and electronics engineering technicians create what engineers have designed and often test the designs to make sure that they work. Technicians help to resolve any problems that come up in carrying out the engineers’ designs.

Writing skills. These technicians must write reports about onsite construction, the results of testing, or problems they find when carrying out designs. Their writing must be clear and well organized so that the engineers they work with can understand the reports.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) offers certification in electrical power testing. This certification would benefit those technicians working in the electric power generation, transmission, and distribution industry.

ETA International also offers certifications in several fields, including basic electronics, biomedical, and renewable energy.

The International Society of Automation offers certification as a Control Systems Technician. To gain such certification, technicians must show skills in pneumatic, mechanical, and electronic instrumentation. In addition, they must demonstrate an

understanding of process control loops and process control systems.

The occupational profile information was excerpted from the Occupational Handbook (OOH) published by the Department of Labor.

GS-0856 Electronics Technician (Excerpted from USA Job Announcement)

Specialized Experience

These duties are relevant to a GS-09 to GS-13, and you must have at least one year of experience for the next successive grade.

GS-09

  • providing assistance with collecting and evaluating electronics equipment performance data.

GS-10

  • providing assistance with collecting and evaluating electronics equipment performance data
  • interpreting and analyzing designs, diagrams, and schematics to evaluate feasibility.

GS-11

  • providing assistance with collecting and evaluating electronics equipment performance data
  • interpreting and analyzing designs, diagrams, and schematics to evaluate feasibility
  • evaluating faults in the operational configuration of electronic systems and equipment.

GS-12

  • providing assistance with collecting and evaluating electronics equipment performance data
  • interpreting and analyzing designs, diagrams, and schematics to evaluate feasibility
  • evaluating faults in the operational configuration of electronic systems and equipment
  • developing designs, diagrams, and schematics for technical feasibility

GS-13

  • providing assistance with collecting and evaluating electronics equipment performance data
  • interpreting and analyzing designs, diagrams, and schematics to evaluate feasibility
  • evaluating faults in the operational configuration of electronic systems and equipment
  • developing designs, diagrams, and schematics for technical feasibility
  • analyzing and diagnosing faults in the operational configuration of electronic systems and equipment.

 

Job Prospects:

(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections Program)

Employment of electrical and electronics engineering technicians is projected to decline 2 percent from 2014 to 2024.

Some of these technicians work in traditional manufacturing industries, many of which are declining or growing slowly. In addition, employment of these technicians in the federal government is projected to decline. However, employment growth for electrical and electronics engineering technicians will likely occur in engineering services firms as companies seek to contract out these services as a way to lower costs.

Electrical and electronics engineering technicians also work closely with electrical and electronics engineers and computer hardware engineers in the computer systems design services industry. Demand for these technicians overall is expected to be sustained by demand for workers in this industry because of the continuing integration of computer and electronics systems. For example, computer, cellular phone, and global positioning system (GPS) technologies are being included in automobiles and various portable and household electronics systems.

Job Vacancy Announcements

Helpful Career Planning Tools

The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal and postal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles and replies are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic human resource guidance and factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM, the postal service or any federal entity. You should consult with school counselors, hiring agency personnel offices, and human resource professionals where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

A Career Mindset

Posted on by Donna Day

How can we look to history to help guide us on how we approach our professional career, now? In a world of uncertainty, complexity and confusion, how can we remain steadfast in what it is that ‘we’ want to do…how will we contribute to society while satisfying our own needs. How can we obtain the skills, knowledge and abilities to poise ourselves to make good, sound decisions when it comes to our career and professional training, etc?  These are questions that can be answered if we look to our ancestors…how did they do it? How did they become satisfied in their careers; should we do what we love, first, and figure out how to get paid for it?

With many professionals today looking for career growth in a technologically changing world, how are they to do it, like their mothers and fathers did, and ensure sustainment and happiness? Currently, many folks feel that a year in one job is ‘too long’….which, in reality, isn’t a long time, but sometimes it just feels that way. Managers, then, are a key component to job satisfaction; they need to ensure they are mentoring and assisting employees with their wants, needs, desires, while equally assessing and enhancing their knowledge, skills, and abilities to do so. Given this scenario, the employee too, needs to determine what their particular ‘success’ looks like; money is not a motivator for everyone so the worst thing you can do is base success on how much you make. Instead, each individual needs to determine, on their own, what satisfaction is for them, and then success will follow. Maybe you are looking for more time off with your family or an opportunity to go back to school or do some traveling with your company…whatever it is, this is what your approach should be, instead of chasing the dollars. A job that maybe doesn’t pay as well as you’d like, but offers a great work/life balance with good benefits and opportunities to advance is maybe what you really want.

Being independent and focusing on the contributions you will make to the company will bring forth collaboration and goal setting with your manager. Your willingness to be happy in the moment and commit to the “now” will showcase your satisfaction to your leadership; it’s not that you don’t want to advance, of course you do, and you will…but you need to take a stoic stand at some point and ‘enjoy’ your success, regardless of where you are. By realizing that you are in between the current and desired state is a necessary part of moving forward; many of us don’t do this. Instead, we are constantly looking for more…more ways to change, more things to do, more ways to increase salary, etc.; relax….it’ll come. The key to remaining steadfast in a crazy and changing world is to stay calm; make contributions to society and to your position, take an interest in yourself, enjoy the happy. It’s okay to embark on professional development, training, etc. to better yourself…you are working on your desired state, just be sure that you leave some time to realize where you are and what you have achieved, thus far. In order to love what you do, you have to give yourself time to enjoy what you have accomplished…it’s okay, you will get to the next goal…and its okay to take your time.

Reference:

Career Planning Tools 

The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal and postal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles and replies are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic human resource guidance and factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM, the postal service or any federal entity. You should consult with school counselors, hiring agency personnel offices, and human resource professionals where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

Rebuilding Your Persona and Character After Being Fired or Laid Off

Posted on by John Weiss

It comes when you least expect it. It comes when you can least afford it. It comes when you thought your “safe” job was forever. Usually the event takes place at about 3 PM on an ordinary work day when your boss calls you in for a “friendly” chat. It can happen anywhere: in an office setting, on a construction site, or in a retail store.  Where and when it happens does not matter. The results are the same for every worker; a president, a retail clerk, an editor, a truck driver, a sales representative, or an IT director.

This event is being fired or laid off by your employer and it has many different names; fired, laid off, downsized, reorged out, rightsized, riffed, whacked, kicked out, canned or just plain “let go.”  How often does it happen? Each day 50,000 American workers lose their jobs. That’s over 20 million workers per year!

LOSING YOUR PERSONAL IDENTITY

The ramifications of job loss are staggering, particularly for mid-career workers who have serious family and financial obligations like a home mortgage, car payments, insurance, child care, and high school or college tuition. When your boss says, “this is your last day on the job” your world seems to be coming apart at the seams. You are no longer Mary Jones, Marketing Director for General Electric, or Joe Smith, Sales Manager for Metlife Insurance; now you are just plain Mary and Joe. No job title or company name to define who you are. No salary and benefits to render you a self-sufficient human being. No money for food, shelter, clothing and other modern day necessities. Next to divorce or death of a loved one, being fired or laid off is the most traumatic event a worker can experience.

This event has no favorites. When you are fired or laid off you might think, “Wait a minute. It can’t happen to me. I’m sixty years old and letting me go would be age discrimination.”

 OR

“I’m African American.  Downsize me and that’s racial discrimination.”

  OR

“I’m a woman. Fire me and that’s gender discrimination.”

Dream on. There is no mercy when your employer decides to shrink the payroll. You are going, no matter what you are or who you are. You are finished. Done. Kaput. Wiped out. Welcome to the real world!

THE GRIEVING PROCESS

When you are escorted from the job site to your car or public transportation, the grieving process sets in and it is not pretty. It usually begins with humiliation, followed by anger, resentment, depression and finally acceptance.

Humiliation

Humiliation affects workers in many different ways. To some it means losing face, degradation, confusion, and shame. To others it means indignity, disgrace and dishonor. Whatever it means personally, your ego is crushed like nothing else.  “How could this be happening to me? I’ve played by the rules, met job objectives and my reward is being let go.”  You just can’t believe you are the target of a blood-letting at your employer.

And what about the talk from former coworkers? “What are they thinking and saying about me? Do they believe that I did something seriously wrong? And how about my family? Walking in the door and saying I’ve been fired will be extremely painful.” This loss of dignity, this utter humiliation, sets you up for the next stages in the grieving process, anger and resentment.

Anger and Resentment

Anger and resentment are usually directed at the boss and/or the human resources director, but it could reach as far as the president or CEO. “How could ‘they’ do such a thing to me, an honest and dedicated worker?” To shortcut the anger stage, remember that your being let go was in all probability not personal. It was most likely the result of a general company initiative to save money. Employers do not lay off workers without serious forethought because hiring another worker is very costly. When you trace the chain of events that led to your being let go, it most frequently comes back to the numbers. Most workers move past the anger stage by hurling some juicy epithets at their former employer, ones that you would not want to see in print. If you are still in this stage, try it. Tell your former boss and the HR director in no uncertain terms how you feel.  Get it off your chest, in private, and then move on.

Depression

Most workers enter a state of self-pity after suffering a serious misfortune that has multiple ramifications, like losing a job along with a paycheck and benefits. You can short circuit this phase of the grieving process by remaining positive about the future. In America, a country that employs 155,000 million workers, there is always something out there for those who know how to hunt for a job.

The best solution to head off depression is to remain active. Devise a job hunting plan as soon as possible making your number one priority personal networking by attending conferences and job fairs where you will meet potential hiring managers. Sitting at home and texting your friends and acquaintances a tale of woe could lead to depression and sessions with a psychologist or psychiatrist. If you find yourself in such a state, do seek professional counseling.

Acceptance

After being out of work for a month or more, you will meet others who suffered the same fate.  This did not happen only to you. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, www.bls.gov, reveal that: each day 50,000 workers are laid off or fired in the United States; and, that today’s workers will change jobs six times during their working years.

This is not the end of the world. In America, jobs are always available for workers who know what they want and know how to implement a job hunting plan.

There are some positives after suffering job loss. First, you will have time to examine your career goals, and second, you will have time to examine and possibly rebuild your persona and character. This is important because a character flaw could have been responsible for your being let go.

REDEFINING YOUR PERSONA AND IMPROVING YOUR CHARACTER 

Being fired or laid off is traumatic, but it does have two specific benefits.

  1. It opens the door to examining and possibly reshaping your persona.
  2. It provides an opportunity to rebuild your character.

Redefining Your Persona

The word persona derives from the Latin where it originally meant a theatrical mask. In theatrical terms, it translates into an assumed personality. In today’s world it refers to that part of your personality exposed to the public. It is the apparent you that people see and it may be different from your character, the real you. It is you who created your persona, either consciously or subconsciously.

People in the public eye such as TV personalities, actors, and politicians frequently assume a certain persona that appeals to their target audience. Take politicians, for example. They want to be viewed by constituents as caring for their welfare and the needs of the country as a whole, but in reality, some politicians use public office for personal gain.

Persona in the private sector is similar. Look at your own persona in the workplace. If you were in a leadership position, i.e. the boss, what was your persona? Was it in conflict with the real you? Did you portray yourself as the good, compassionate, helpful, caring boss dedicated to making the company great? However, did you assume this persona, this mask, to hide your real motivation; to oust your boss and move up in rank and compensation?  Could it have been the reason why you were let go from your job as Regional Sales Manager in a staged “reorganization” while your friend Mary, another Regional Sales Manager was kept on the payroll?   Only you can answer that after a private, honest meeting with yourself.

Before implementing your job hunting plan discover who you really are. Were you the one who used every chance to derail your boss while playing Mister Good Guy? If your introspection reveals a difference between your persona and the real you, take measures to make these two competing entities one and the same. How do you begin? With honesty. If you have any doubts about how you are seen, ask your former boss and coworkers what they thought of you, no holds barred.

Rebuilding Your Character

For our purposes, we define character as the aggregate of traits and features that form and identify the real you. Your character is the set of values and ethics that you hold dear. They determine not only what you say, but also how you act.

This period of downtime provides an excellent opportunity to learn who you really are. Looking back, you might find that the real you became lost in the corporate culture, maybe disguised by a preoccupation with political correctness.  In the course of your previous job, you may have forgotten what you truly believe or how you feel. It’s time for a homecoming with yourself to find out who you really are.

To begin the process of rebuilding character, you need a foundation upon which everything else rests. We like the foundation stones posited by Character Counts!, a nonprofit organization dedicated to character education. One of their constructs is the Six Pillars of Character, which act as the foundation for building character. They are: trustworthiness, fairness, respect, caring, citizenship, and responsibility. You can review this material at:  www.charactercounts.org.

MOVING FORWARD

The rebuilding process may be filled with fear, doubts, maybes, should haves, would haves, and could haves.  However, it is not these burdens that will drive you to distraction. Rather, it’s the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Learn from the past but do not accept the past as prologue. Get rid of the two demons, regret and fear, that will inhibit your growth. Move forward with confidence. Using your intelligence, energy, passion, and your revised persona and character, you will succeed. The world is yours for the taking!

TAKEAWAYS

  • Persona is the face you present to the public at large.
  • Character is who you really are.
  • Persona and character must work in harmony for growth in your career.
  • Regrets about the past and fear of the future are two demons that will inhibit your growth. Let go the regrets. Face the future with confidence and hope.
  • Integrity and trust form the foundation for your character.
  • Having good character means being who you are even when nobody is watching.

For additional information about rebuilding your character after being fired of laid off, please refer to my book, Moving Forward in Mid-Career: A Guide to Rebuilding Your Career after Being Fired or Laid Off. It will be available in paperback or eBook In December 2017 from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Skyhorse Publishing Inc.

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The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal and postal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles and replies are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic human resource guidance and factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM, the postal service or any federal entity. You should consult with school counselors, hiring agency personnel offices, and human resource professionals where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

Using Social Media for a Career Change

Posted on by Donna Day

Facebook, Linked In and Twitter are all fantastic sources of marketing – for yourself! These are free tools that we can use to search out a new career, or perhaps look for some professional development opportunities or just some inspiration. All of these social media sites are great avenues to exchange information, collaborate with colleagues, friends, co-workers, etc. In addition, many large and small businesses are utilizing these applications to showcase ‘hot jobs’ and to search out new and unique talents. Retiring? No problem – these social media sites also provide a myriad of part-time and volunteer opportunities as well.

Facebook is not only a social media and communication mecca, but it also serves as an opportunity to utilize social media for career opportunities. Perhaps you are looking into making a career change and want to know a bit more about a company, its culture, employees, benefits, work/life balance opportunities and more — Facebook is your answer!  More and more companies are reaching out to individuals across the globe to market, network and attract potential employees on this site. Not only will you be able to interact directly with company leadership and professionals, you will be able to post comments, ask questions and explore their key goals and objectives, strategic vision and purpose. Facebook is a platform whereby individuals can do their homework, learn a great deal about others and their potential industry, and then make a decision. A great career resource tool, Facebook is a ‘must’ for the job seeker; you can look as you wish and post what you’d like about yourself ..all while potential employers are just a click away.

Twitter is another social media tool that revolutionizes communication. More companies and their employees are tweeting about a myriad of opportunities, expectations, job listings, culture, salaries and more. If you are looking for a career change or perhaps just thinking about one, Twitter can provide those details that may help you in your decision making. More and more companies are posting open houses, career fairs, internships and more as the interest grows. With the explosion of cybersecurity these days, Twitter is one of the first to utilize their platform as a tool; they routinely offer a variety of cyber options for part-time, full time, students, executives and professionals…all in a tweet. You can list yourself as a ‘follower’ to receive routine updates on those venues or persons of interest; or perhaps take part in tweeting what you are looking for.

These social media platforms are a two way street; by taking a proactive approach you can learn about your (next) potential employer while controlling what you would like them to know about you. Whether by posting a resume, asking questions, or indicating interest in a particular skill set, these emerging technologies are a critical component of career decision making. User friendly and easy, these tools can get you connected in no time, globally, to a network of individuals that can shape your next career move. Give it a try….do some homework and create your profile, you will be glad you did!

References:

Career Planning Tools 

The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal and postal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles and replies are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic human resource guidance and factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM, the postal service or any federal entity. You should consult with school counselors, hiring agency personnel offices, and human resource professionals where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

Cybersecurity Startups to Watch/Funding Opportunities

Posted on by Donna Day

Cybersecurity surrounds the hardware, software and services that protect a compilation of computers, networks, data and infrastructure. There are many forms of protection to include risk management, access control, incident response, destruction and more. Many startups are working to protect against these threats – from hackers, malware, and/or criminals that would seek to do harm. With such a variety of opportunities in cyber space, and the growing sophistication of hackers and criminals, companies are eagerly looking to becoming a part of this endeavor (Blankenship, n.d.).

The explosion of cybersecurity has had its impact on everyone, we see an increasing number of business start-ups in specific areas like: cloud infrastructure, data centers, incident response, risk assessments and more. The cybersecurity market has become flooded with a myriad of startups hoping to gain a foothold in this highly competitive space. In addition, there is a lot of funding up for grabs; grants are available in upwards of $25 million with expected increases over the next several years. Movers and shakers in the cybersecurity niche can expect to acquire funding, particularly if they are unique in their security products, tools or services.

Some of those notable in the industry are as follows (Chickowski, 2017)

  • Bitglass – cloud access
  • Bromium – malware protection and solutions
  • Cyence – risk modeling platform for insurance
  • Darktrace – anomaly protection (self-learning platform)
  • Demisto – information sharing and collaboration platform
  • Druva – cloud platform
  • io –security and compliance monitoring
  • Fugue –cloud operating system/enforcement
  • IntSights -Cyber attack detection and response platform
  • Kenna – Risk intelligence and vulnerability platform (prioritizing and remediating vulnerabilities)

Funding and investments into firms, like those above are becoming more prominent. Security firm Trend Micro has recently become the latest organization to throw their hat into the cyber investment opportunity world. Headquartered in Japan, Trend Micro is offering $100 million tied to opportunities in the internet of things (IOT) space. Trend Micro is famous for its IT security products, particularly in the areas of antivirus and threat protection; they are seeking fresh ideas, innovation and new approaches. Organizations, like Trend Micro, believe these investments are critical to its core business process; insights uncovered will foster improved business models, close gaps and address skill shortages…the learning will not only benefit the startup but also TrendMicro as well (Russell, 2017).

One new focus area is that of phishing attacks; cybersecurity companies and startups in particular are flocking to develop threat management platforms for this issue. They tackle the problems of these specific emails and work to mitigate them; developing phishing attack solutions and protections can save businesses massive amounts of money, not to mention their reputations.

Cybersecurity funding deals topped $866 million in the first quarter of 2017 with an additional $588 million worth of investments in third quarter on over 50 deals. Private funding has also topped $3.93 billion this year with a total of 509 deals, putting it on track to become a 2017 record. Examples include: Tenable Network Security in Columbia, MD ($302 million); Tanium inc. in California ($295 million), Lookout, inc. in California ($281 million), OpenPeak in Florida ($233 million) and CrowdStrike ($256 million) (Stewart, 2017).

With the trend of startups focusing on specific security issues, they have an extremely bright future. Whether looking at incident response, process automation or protection, there is much room of any and all to capitalize on their craft. Opportunities in the cyber space are plentiful, and with the increasing demand for security protection, startups are in the driver’s seat to success.

References:

Career Planning Tools 

The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal and postal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles and replies are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic human resource guidance and factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM, the postal service or any federal entity. You should consult with school counselors, hiring agency personnel offices, and human resource professionals where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.