The Top 8 Cybersecurity Recruiters to Help You Find the Right Job

Table of Contents

• [toc]

  From 2013 to 2021, the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs grew by 350%, to a total of 3.5 million globally, according to research by Cybersecurity Ventures. Just because there are a lot of jobs open in the sector doesn't mean it's easy for candidates to find the right one, though. In this kind of active job market, it can be easy for candidates to feel drowned out by the noise and lost in the crowd.

  This is where working with a recruiter can be a huge help for cybersecurity candidates embarking on job search. They help both candidates and companies make the right connections in a busy and quickly-changing landscape. If you're a cybersecurity professional looking for the next role to advance your career, here are some firms that can help you find it faster. 

• The top 8 cybersecurity recruiters

• 1. Nexus IT Group

• Nexus IT Group uses a unique 4-step Quality Through Understanding recruitment process to connect professionals with the companies who need their unique talents and offer the work environment and experience you want as an employee. They fill a range of cyber security roles, including data and network security engineering, digital forensics experts, threat detection and risk management analysts, and a range of other information security and IT professionals. Their client list includes everything from tech startups to government agencies and finance organizations across North America, with offices in major US cities including New York, Chicago, Boston, and several other locations.

  Read more about Nexus IT Group

• 2. Alta Associates

• Alta is a boutique executive search firm specializing in cybersecurity, data privacy, and technology talent. Founded in 1986, Alta is one of the most experienced search firms in this space, and ranks among the top 50 executive search firms in the United States, but that's just one way they stand out from the pack. They are also woman-owned and committed to diversity, with half of their retained searches filled with underrepresented professionals. Their high-touch Alta Advantage framework lets them fill an opening in less time and at a lower cost while helping companies build a more diverse leadership team, and they have a particular passion for supporting women in leadership.

• 3. Redbud

• Redbud is a Chicago-based company that was founded by a CISSP-certified security expert, whose extensive background in the security field has helped them build a reputation for excellence. They fill cybersecurity jobs across the United States, serving as a recruiting partner for both employers and candidates. Some of the positions they fill include information security engineers, software developers, and cloud solutions architects, just to name a few. The variety of careers, clients, and projects that Redbud recruits for makes them a viable agency for people at any hierarchy level, in addition to organizations of all sizes. 

• 4. The Executive Search Group

• The Executive Search Group is a firm dedicated to finding the top leadership talent for an array of industries, including healthcare and pharma, banking and financial, taxes and accounting, and more. Their proven track record of success in the cybersecurity market makes them an ideal fit for a candidate ready to take their career to the next level, with a hands-on, relationship-driven approach that connects teams with leaders who will support their growth and innovation. With more than 25 years of experience in technology recruiting, they got their start building an InfoSec team for insurance industry partners like Aetna, Cigna, and Orion. Today, their client list ranges from startups like e-Share to established companies like Dow Jones.

• 5. Bradley-Morris, LLC

• For job seekers with military experience, Bradley-Morris is one recruiting firm you'll want to reach out to. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, near the largest naval station in the world, they don't just help former military members become employees with their recruiting service but also help them through the transition into the civilian sector, with resources including job seeker prep, interview tips, and a salary guide. Security talent is one of their primary specialties and they have extensive networks on both the candidate and organization sides of the hiring equation. Recent openings they've filled include Security Software Engineer, Cyber Security Consultant, and other cybercrime staff such as Incident Handler and Intrusion Analyst.  

• 6. Michael Page

• With more than 150 offices around the globe including locations in Australia, Europe, and the UK, Michael Page has a track record of success spanning more than 40 years, making them one of the best choices for finding international security talent. They balance this wide reach with in-depth understanding of each local niche where they operate. Part of what makes their practice more successful than others is the education their consultants receive, which includes graduate-level IT and security courses and seminars. This means they understand security threats and breaches, and the systems that protect computers and networks from them, letting them better identify the specific skills that make someone an ideal fit for a position. 

• 7. Acumin

• For job seekers in London, Ireland, and across the UK, Acumin is among the most trusted firms for finding talent that can prevent, investigate, and resolve cyberattacks. They've grown with the tech industry since they were established in 1998, with services that include executive search, contract recruitment, permanent hires, and managed services. Their targeted recruiting approach gives them access to talent that other firms lack, particularly in the category of security, though they also recruit for roles in areas like sales engineering, risk management, marketing, and big data & analytics. 

• 8. Blackmere Consulting

• Based in San Francisco, California, Blackmere Consulting offers executive recruitment and headhunting in the tech and cybersecurity sectors. They have a passion for connecting top security professionals with the companies that will value their talent, as well as a commitment to confidentiality that gives those candidates the peace of mind to trust them with their careers. Along with recruitment services, they offer career coaching for job seekers and team building expertise for companies, helping to ensure long-term success for both the organizations they work with and the individuals they help their customers hire. 

• How to find the right cybersecurity recruiter

• The first step to choosing the right recruiter is to know the different types of recruiters that are out there. The first divide is between internal and external recruiters. Internal recruiters work within a company's HR department and exclusively seek out candidates for roles within it. External recruiters are hired by companies to connect them with talent, and will typically have openings from multiple companies to fill at any given time. 

  External recruiters can be broken down further by how they're compensated, and again there are two major categories. With a contingent search, recruiters are paid after a successful placement is made, typically a percentage of the new hire's first year salary. Other recruiters work on a retainer, meaning they're paid up-front for their time in addition to a fee for successful placements, an arrangement that's common for executive search or complex, niche roles that are difficult to fill. 

  You'll find all of these types of recruiter in the cybersecurity field. Building relationships with internal recruiters is a smart move if you want to work for a specific company, but external recruiters are best for those who want to find a new job quickly and are more concerned with matters like the compensation and responsibilities of the role than the particular company where they'll work. Specifically, contingent recruiters are often the most motivated to find a successful placement quickly, since they don't get paid until you've landed a job. 

  Beyond these broad categories, identifying the best recruiter for you comes down to what you need out of your search. When you find a recruiter you think could be a good fit, research the types of roles they fill and the past client's they've worked with to see if they align with your career goals. Relationships are important in recruiting, too. You want to work with someone who understands your goals and values, and the best way to gauge that is to have a conversation with the recruiting team before you decide that they should represent you. 

• The benefits of using a cybersecurity recruiter

• Why use a recruiter at all when there are so many open jobs to be found on online job boards? For one thing, there are still many openings that don't ever get posted to these sites, and a recruiter remains the best way to find these hidden postings. This is especially true for executive candidates and other upper-level leadership roles that are too critical and sensitive to trust to a platform like Indeed. 

  Working with a recruiter can also save you a lot of time in your search. Scouring the web for job postings that are a good fit can be a tedious and time-consuming process. Recruiters do that work for you, identifying positions that are a match for your skills and career so that you only need to think about opportunities that are a strong potential fit. 

  Recruiters are also hiring experts, and that expertise can be a valuable resource for job seekers. They can give advice about the types of roles that align with your background and aspirations, as well as providing coaching through the application process to increase your chances of landing that ideal role. These insights can benefit you, not just during your current search, but also for job changes later in your career. 

• How to get the most out of working with a cybersecurity recruiter

• You've seen some of the benefits of recruiters generally--but how do you make sure you reap those benefits as a job seeker? Here are a few simple tips to help job seekers maximize the value they get from the recruiter relationship. 

  1. Ask the right questions. Recruiters have insights into things you won't find on public job boards or a company's social media, including info on the company culture, management style, advancement opportunities, and compensation they're willing to offer. Take full advantage of a recruiter's knowledge by asking for these kinds of details whenever you're presented with an opportunity.
  2. Be honest and upfront about what you're looking for. A recruiter can only find the positions they know you want to look for. Share your full "wish list" for your next job with the recruiter from the start, even the things you feel are a stretch or out of your league. The more information a recruiter has about what you want from your career, the better the odds they'll be able to find it for you. 
  3. Accept their feedback and coaching. While you're the best expert in what's right for your life and career, recruiters are experts in the job search process. Stay open to their advice about your application materials, interview preparation, and offer negotiation to gain the full benefits from the partnership. 
  4. Be proactive in building a relationship. Communication is a two-way street, and that's true of working with recruiters, as well. Respond quickly when they send you a message, and reach out for updates if you haven't heard from them in a little while. Along with this, keep your tone professional and friendly in all your communications, even if it turns out they don't have any openings that suit you right now. Recruiters maintain a network of candidates to suggest for future job openings, so cultivating a good relationship with a recruiter now can lead to exciting opportunities in the future. 

• Mistakes to avoid when working with a cybersecurity recruiter

• Following the "do"s above are a good start to finding success with a recruiter, but it can be just as helpful to know what not to do. With that in mind, here are some "don't"s that can prevent you from derailing your own search.

  1. Don't be dishonest or secretive about your past employment. A recruiter can't represent you honestly if they don't know your true skill sets and experience. If you're not honest with a recruiter up front, they can't accurately find positions that are a good fit, and you may burn that bridge completely if the client uncovers dirty laundry you failed to disclose to the recruiter up-front. 
  2. Don't go over the recruiter's head. Recruiters make connections between companies and candidates for a living. It's one thing if you independently find a different opportunity while you're working with a recruiter, but if they presented the job to you, work through them for the duration of your search. 
  3. Don't nag or demand. There's a sweet spot when it comes to communication frequency. If you haven't heard anything from the recruiter in a week or more, then it's reasonable to reach out for an update. However, remember that you're not the only client they're working with, and the time they spend responding to your messages is time they can't devote to your search. Be patient and professional, and let the recruiter do their job. 

• The bottom line

• Just like cybersecurity jobs, the number of recruiters that specialize in this industry has exploded over the past few years. While the nine agencies above are among the best, there are plenty of other options out there if none of these firms meet your needs. Whichever firm you work with, following the advice in this article can help ensure you're reaping the full benefits of working with a recruiter.