Curiosity goes a long way


So does being somebody who turns up, gets involved, asks good questions and is willing to learn.


We have a responsibility too


I also don't think all of the responsibility should sit with young people.


As an industry, we spend a lot of time talking about attracting the next generation of security professionals. We need to make sure we are actually giving them somewhere to go when they arrive.


That means mentoring people. Making introductions. Creating opportunities for practical experience. Inviting emerging professionals into the conversation and taking their contribution seriously when they get there.


It is very easy to tell somebody to ‘build their network’ when you already have one. We should also be asking what we are doing to open ours.


That is ultimately what I want our NextGen activity to do. Not map out somebody's career for them, but give them more opportunities to start building one for themselves.


career: deciding what matters


Security professionals don't generally get perfect information, unlimited budgets and three weeks to calmly consider every possible option. You have to make decisions, explain them and sometimes change your mind when somebody else spots something you didn't. Those are skills you develop by doing. There is another benefit too. It gives somebody at the beginning of their career something real to talk about.


There is a big difference between sitting in an interview saying, ‘I'm interested in risk management’ and being able to say, ‘I took part in a security challenge, this was the problem we were given, this is what I thought we should do, this is where my team disagreed with me and this is what I learned from it.’ Suddenly you aren't just telling somebody that you have certain skills. You have an example of using them.


Give people something to remember you for


If I could give one piece of advice to somebody starting out in security, it would probably be this: give people something to remember you for.


That doesn't mean being the loudest person in every room. And it definitely doesn't mean pretending you know everything. It means getting involved. Enter the competition. Go to the event. Volunteer for something. Join the professional association. Ask somebody about their job. Write about something you've learned. Put your hand up for a project even if you're slightly terrified that you don't know enough yet.


You are not supposed to know everything at the beginning of your career. Frankly, none of us know everything twenty years into one either.


> © CITY SECURITY MAGAZINE – AUTUMN 2026 www.citysecuritymagazine.com


Because your qualifications will matter. Your knowledge will matter. But so will the people you've met, the things you've tried, the times you've put yourself forward and the experiences you've picked up along


the way.


You don't need to know exactly where your security career is going to take you. You just need to start getting involved.


You don’t need to be an ASIS member to take part in the Security is You(th) Innovation Challenge. If you’re a student or emerging professional and want to put your skills to the test, meet people from across the sector and get involved, you can find out more on the ASIS UK Chapter website.


Farah Benis Chairperson,


ASIS International UK www.asis.org.uk


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