Consultant...Senior Consultant...what next?

[Abhijit Kumar]

Hi Ranchers,

I have a question for Consultants here. I am working as a Security Consultant and have 3 years of experience. The next step of the ladder will be 'Senior Consultant'. What's next after that? What're other 'interesting' options available for Security Consultants? I ask these questions, because I find the growth path quite linear, and would like to know from other people in the field where they see others after 5,10 or say 15 years of experience.

Thanks,

AK

[Rogerio Kioshi]

Why don't you get SCJP? After that you can take SCWCD,SCBCD,SCEA,etc...
You have also other certifications, like OCA, OCP, etc.

This way you'll be a security consultant which can also program in Java and deal with complexes queries

[Abhijit Kumar]

Originally posted by Rogerio Kioshi:
Why don't you get SCJP? After that you can take SCWCD,SCBCD,SCEA,etc...
You have also other certifications, like OCA, OCP, etc.

This way you'll be a security consultant which can also program in Java and deal with complexes queries

Thanks for your response. I think the suggestion holds good for somebody who wants to move further in 'Secure Coding'....a bit different line from a Security Consultant.

AK

[Naveen K Garg]

Hi Abhijeet,

Well, different companies has different designation.I know one company where senior consultant means having a 15+ years of experience. Also there is a big difference between a designation and the role/job title.

As I understood the designation are almost same in a mid-size to large size company but your role/job title might differ.

My two cent.

Regards
Naveen Garg

[stephen gates]

I don't get the SCJP suggestion. If your into IT Security, go for CISSP and other Security related certifications. If your not into programming, why bother getting programming certifications. That's like telling a programmer to get a MCSE even though they have no desire to go into networking.

There is always the management path. It's really that way for most careers. Especially in IT... You get to a certain point or level and bam.... Your kind of stuck unless you go into management. I'm sure there are other Technical Roles and more responsibilities in the IT Security field. YOu can also get more involved in Computer Forensics, become a needed IT Security Consultant for places like the Homeland Security. YOu can move into Director roles where you are implementing nation wide security polices and so on,.

[Abhijit Kumar]

Originally posted by stephen gates:
I don't get the SCJP suggestion. If your into IT Security, go for CISSP and other Security related certifications. If your not into programming, why bother getting programming certifications. That's like telling a programmer to get a MCSE even though they have no desire to go into networking.

There is always the management path. It's really that way for most careers. Especially in IT... You get to a certain point or level and bam.... Your kind of stuck unless you go into management. I'm sure there are other Technical Roles and more responsibilities in the IT Security field. YOu can also get more involved in Computer Forensics, become a needed IT Security Consultant for places like the Homeland Security. YOu can move into Director roles where you are implementing nation wide security polices and so on,.

Agree with your first paragraph. Thanks for the second one.

AK
[ May 31, 2007: Message edited by: Abhijit Kumar ]

[Abhijit Kumar]

Could somebody explain me what's difference between a 'Security Analyst' and a 'Security Consultant' and whether the two lines meet somewhere?

AK

[arulk pillai]

How about writing a book on security? Why not try something different?

You can do a POD publication.

[Abhijit Kumar]

Originally posted by arulk pillai:
How about writing a book on security? Why not try something different?

You can do a POD publication.

Thanks for the ideas. In fact, I'm thinking of writing a book in eBook format. But at present, my mind is occupied with figuring out the differences.