E-Portfolio-Job Analysis

Job Advertisement Analysis

Stephen Antwi

Old Dominion University

IDS493-Electronic Portfolio Project

Dr. Phan

09/15/2023

Job Advertisement Analysis

Abstract

            After reviewing innumerable job advertisements in my field listed on reputable career and company websites, I was attracted to the Junior Cyber Threat Analyst position at Phia, LLC. Phia is an 8a-certified business located in Northern Virginia. This company offers various cyber security services, including cyber intelligence, intrusion analysis, cyber defense, and incident response (Phia, 2023). It supports many agencies within the Federal Government, the Department of Defense, and private organizations (Phia, 2023). Although Phia has other job openings, I chose the Junior Cyber Threat Analyst position because it would allow me to put into practice the knowledge I have gained in cyber security and gain more experience in my career.

Introduction

            As the world increasingly relies on digital technology, the demand for experts to protect organizations from malicious cyber threats has grown exponentially. Junior Cyber Threat Analysts are integral to this field, as they possess the skills and knowledge necessary to identify, assess, and mitigate potential security risks. This paper will discuss the job responsibilities of a Junior Cyber Threat Analyst, exploring the essential skills needed to succeed in this role as outlined in a select job advertisement.

Purpose and Responsibilities of Junior Cyber Threat Analyst

            The purpose of the Junior Cyber Threat Analyst is to maintain the security of the organization`s network system. According to the job advertisement for this position, the nature of work carried out by the Junior Cyber Threat Analyst would encompass performing “threat analysis, maintaining indicators, and assisting with incident response procedures” (Phia, 2023). Some of the major responsibilities of the job include identifying and developing threat signatures, executing and supporting standard procedures for incident response, and liaising with the Incident Response Teams and Business Unit Information System Security Officers. In addition, the Junior Cyber Threat Analyst would gather intelligence and identify cyber security threats. The other primary responsibility of the Junior Cyber Threat Analyst would be helping the top management in documenting reports about threat intelligence (Phia, 2023).

Skills Required for Junior Cyber Threat Analyst

            Upon analyzing the job advertisement, it dawned on me that some of the skills needed for the job include cybersecurity skills. The job ad specified that the ideal candidate should possess experience with various cybersecurity tools, intelligence gathering, information security, and network forensics (Phia, 2023). These skills are crucial for this position because one must work with the supervisor to gather intelligence, cyber threats, and counterintelligence information. Besides, the job holder would employ cyber security skills in collecting network traffic and filtering.

The other skills highlighted in the job ad that a person must possess are strong communication and good interpersonal skills. Communication skills are essential in this position because the job holder is expected to constantly interact with the Incident Response Teams and the Business Unit Information System Officers. Also, the Junior Cyber Threat Analyst requires good communication and interpersonal skills to interact with the senior management team in document analysis effectively.

            Moreover, the job position requires a person to have good organizational skills. These skills are essential for this position since the Junior Cyber Threat Analyst has to gather intelligence and counterintelligence information and present it to the top management in an organized manner. Apart from organizational skills, one is required to have advanced skills in using Microsoft Office tools to aid in presenting the collected data to the management team. Therefore, the Junior Cyber Threat Analyst is expected to prepare PowerPoint presentations to document the gathered information and present it in a form that managers with no or little knowledge of cyber security concepts can understand.

            Eventually, the job ad emphasizes that the position requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The job ad states that the role calls for a person who is a critical thinker and possesses superb problem-solving skills. Considering that some of the duties of the Junior Cyber Threat Analyst are maintaining threat indicators and implementing standard protocols for the incident response, having critical thinking and problem-solving skills is pivotal. The proactive problem-solving skills would also help one thrive in the position because the working environment is challenging, as noted in the job advertisement.

How Courses and Internships Have Prepared Me for the Skills

            Having reviewed the skills needed for the Junior Cyber Threat Analyst at Phia, I appreciate that my courses and internships have adequately prepared me for these skills. For example, my courses and internships have allowed me to develop a set of cyber security skills I need to perform the cyber threat analyst responsibilities. In particular, my internship at the Port of Virginia notably exposed me to challenging work environments, helping me develop good interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills. Equally, my academic journey has enabled me to hone my critical thinking skills by acquiring the skills needed to become a critical thinker. Also, completing this course and other courses has allowed me to improve my writing skills. Considering that part of the work of the cyber threat analyst is writing reports based on gathered intelligence and counterintelligence information, my courses have taught me to effectively communicate my findings in writing using different Microsoft Tools like PowerPoint.

Additional Training

            Considering the responsibilities of the position, the additional training that might be helpful for the job includes the CompTIA Security + and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). The CompTIA Security + training would help me validate the core skills required to undertake the security duties associated with the job. Similarly, CISA training would allow me to enhance my skills in monitoring, auditing, and assessing the company`s network systems. Furthermore, I need training on federal information security regulations, procedures, and standards because the job ad specifies that the job holder should have this knowledge.

Conclusion

            Analyzing the job advertisement allowed me to know my preparation for employment in my field. It enabled me to know some skills I need to secure the Junior Cyber Threat Analyst job and why they are essential for the position. Although I possess some of the core skills required to perform the duties of a Cyber Threat Analyst, I have realized that I need additional training to perform the duties that come with this position effectively.

References

Phia. (2023). Junior cyber threat analysthttps://jobs.lever.co/phiatech/dd6f097b-72c0-4550-a93a-ca951b9aadd9

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