There are many different job opportunities in cyber security companies, and not all are strictly technical. Today we hear from two people working in different roles in Symantec: a Scrum Master and a Director of Sales Operations.
Alina Amir-Qureshi has been in the role of Scrum Master in Symantec for the last year and a half. She is based in Dublin, Ireland.
How did you come to work in the field of cyber security?
At the time, I was looking for a role that combined my passion for IT and teaching, and the role specifications were like a match made in heaven.
What advice would you give to someone who wants a job like yours?
The role I am now did not exist when I joined Symantec in 2007. My advice would be to keep on challenging yourself and trying new things.
Is the course you studied at university relevant to the job you have now?
Not really, Scrum was introduced much later than when I graduated. Over the years I have navigated through different careers by constantly adding to my skill set.
“Keep on challenging yourself and trying new things”
What do you think are qualities someone who wants to work in a role like yours needs to have?
· Passion
· Empathy
· Disruptive — ready to challenge the status quo
Any other advice you would like to add?
Be yourself, trust your instincts, and do what you enjoy doing the most. Try to step out of your comfort zone and never stop asking questions.
Mandira Kumar has been a Senior Director of Sales Operations in Symantec for the last three and a half years. She is based in Pune, India.
How did you come to work in the field of cyber security?
I’ve been working for large IT companies for my whole career of 20 years, but since coming to Symantec the sense of purpose I feel is different. Cyber security is both deeply personal as well as institutional. I am proud to be working with a company whose daily mission it is to keep us all safe from ‘the bad guys’. In the most basic form, that is really what we are all contributing to by working here — to making the world a safer place. And that is pretty special!
What advice would you give to someone who wants a job like yours?
Our mission in sales operations is to help our sales teams be more effective. While a lot of the work we do is behind the scenes, it is extremely gratifying to see our efforts manifest in strong sales results or closed deals where we know we removed barriers to help achieve a win. Anyone who is interested in learning more about the sales mechanisms and has a natural curiosity and great organizational skills would do well in sales operations.
“Cyber security is both deeply personal as well as institutional”
Is the course you studied at university relevant to the job you have now?
Indirectly, yes. I studied Finance and Marketing at university so, in a way, those fundamentals do help me navigate the sales environment.
What do you think are three qualities someone who wants to work in a role like yours needs to have?
· A customer-centric attitude
· A desire to improve tools and processes
· Great relationship-building skills
Credits: Medium - Symantec
