To shed light on the ever-evolving tech scene, we spoke with McPherson Media Group’s network/system and security administrator Nathan Vincent, who shared his insights on breaking into the industry.
“Cyber security is the fastest growing industry at the moment,” Nathan said.
“But it’s also one of the hardest industries to get in, I think.”
While courses such as those offered at TAFE could provide a solid foundation, Nathan emphasised the value of hands-on experience.
“Just doing a course isn’t enough,” he said.
“Even though there’s a skills shortage, companies want juniors, but they want experience.
“The IT industry is tough to break into.
“I told everyone before — the best thing to do is get at least one year of help desk right under your wing, and then you can advance from there.”
Nathan also pointed out a challenge known as ‘gatekeeping’, where more experienced technicians withheld information, often out of concern for their own job security. This practice could make it difficult for newcomers to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to advance.
“Older, more experienced technicians hold on to information and won’t give out their information, for fear of being replaced by a younger person,” he said.
“It’s not just in Australia — I follow a lot of cyber security professionals on Twitter (X), pretty much the same thing is happening everywhere.
“You need experience to get in.”
Reflecting on his career path, Nathan said opportunities in cyber security were scarce and tended to be long-term roles.
“My job came up 12 years ago and that was the last time this kind of position was advertised at Shepparton News,” he said.
“I suppose it’s easy these days — there are a lot of remote jobs.
“There’s the option to work from home.
“So, get your qualifications, then work as a help desk for a year.”
Nathan’s own journey into IT began as a mechanic with a passion for fixing things. He transitioned into IT by fixing friends’ computers, googling issues and solving them.
He believes that the abundance of online resources makes cyber security more accessible than ever.
“There’s a lot of places online where you can learn, especially around hacking and cyber security,” he said.
“There are quite a few platforms and certifications that are all self-based and accessible to all,” he said.
“That’s how I started, right up to where I am.”
On the topic of AI’s impact, Nathan views it as a useful tool but not a complete solution.
“AI gets it wrong a lot of the time, and it can get itself stuck in a loop,” he said.
“AI can guide you — but there’s always going to have to be that human interaction.
“If someone’s computer won’t start, it’s like remote, in an overseas country — if the computer won’t turn on, they’re not going to fly from India (to turn it on).
“There’s always going to have to be that human interaction.”
Despite the hurdles in the industry, Nathan’s passion for his work remains unwavering. When asked about his favourite part of the job, his enthusiasm shone.
“Not knowing what’s going to happen during the day or what’s going to be on the next phone call,” he said.
Nathan also enjoys using his problem-solving skills and helping people.
“I always had a problem-solving methodology,” he said.
For those considering a career in IT, Nathan encourages exploration of the various paths within the field.
“I would encourage young kids to get in,” he said.
“It’s an ever-changing industry — there’s so many different facets of it: there’s IT security, web design, hardware, building gaming systems as well as traditional IT and corporate IT,” he said.
While getting into the digital landscape may seem daunting to some, Nathan’s story illustrates that with patience, determination and a willingness to learn, opportunities are there for those who are ready to dive in.
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