ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A CHALLENGE? MENTORING IN A CYBERSECURITY CHALLENGE WILL EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS!!!!!!

VOLUNTEERING TO BE MENTOR FOR A CYBER CHALLENGE IS REWARDING MORE THAN YOU THINK!!!

You’ll be called on to be the liaison between cybersecurity knowledge and beginners in search of that knowledge.

What does this mean to a mentor?

This means you’re there to high school and junior college students into teach, guide, and share your knowledge and resources with your mentees. Sharing is more than caring in cybersecurity, its effortless teamwork. There is no greater feeling than mentoring others.

As a mentor, you’re also there to guide your team with motivation, encouragement, and help them think out of the box when providing protection to their networks.

Being a good mentor:

During a cyber challenge, they will display frustrations. They’re new at this so they will face challenges. Even though you (mentor) are not allowed to help, make sure to take notes and discuss with your team after the completion of the rounds. Praise them all both collectively and individually but also provide constructive criticism . This is a challenge!!! So remember you’re there to be an encouragement not judge. When they’re talking, please be sure to completely listen to them without interruption. Being a good leader and mentor requires great listening skills.
Always know you’re being watched, whether you realize it or not. Your team is watching you and will assume you know it all. Obviously to explain to them this field you can not know it all but show them in this field you must continue to stay educated.
Understanding each member of the team will process the knowledge you give them differently. It’s your responsibility to discover how to help each team member individually throughout this challenge.
Teach them integrity. What’s learned can be used for the wrong reasons. As a mentor, you’re here to teach them to be honest. They will be introduced to a lot of tools. Give them examples of individuals who were trusted with cybersecurity roles, who used their knowledge to steal and sell information all were eventually. Even if they hadn’t been caught, the lesson is to do the right thing.

Remember, you play a role in getting your team to be interested in pursuing cybersecurity outside of the cyber cup challenge.

How to become a mentor:

Must be 18 years old, preferably with some cybersecurity knowledge.