Last updated January 27th 2022

Cyber is this year’s hot topic… we’re chatting with Jodi from GeoEdge, one of the leaders in cyber for adtech, to find out what cyber means and how you can get a job in it!

 

Meet Jodi:

I have over 15 years of experience in Human Resources, with over ten years in leadership positions, primarily working with global leadership teams in the hi-tech sector. I hold an MBA majoring in Human Resources from the Colman College of Management Academic Studies. I was born in South Africa and made Aliyah when I was 13, and even though I was young when I moved to Israel, I clearly recall the challenges my mom and other olim around me had navigating their way around the Israeli job market. One of the most satisfying parts of working in HR is when I can hire new olim or help them along the way.


Meet GeoEdge:

Geoedge intro – With 60 employees worldwide and offices in Tel Aviv and New York as well as remote employees around the globe (China, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand, Canada, UK), GeoEdge’s mission is to protect the integrity of the digital advertising ecosystem, to preserve a quality experience for users and to make the internet a safer place. GeoEdge’s advanced security solutions ensure high ad quality and verify that sites offer a clean, safe, and engaging user experience so that publishers can focus on their business success. Publishers around the world rely on GeoEdge to stop malicious and low-quality ads from reaching their audience.

The GeoEdge team is made up of thinkers and innovators who can wear multiple hats and are passionate about their work. At GeoEdge, we thrive on overcoming challenges and achieving success. Read more about GeoEdge here.


What kind of jobs are there in cyber companies, and which are best suited for Olim?

Even though GeoEdge is a fairly small startup, over the past 2.5 years of working at GeoEdge, I’ve had the opportunity to hire quite a few incredibly talented Olim for roles such as Head of Growth Marketing, Customer Success, Collections Specialist and Content Writer (who was recently promoted to the role of Marketing and Brand Manager). It is important to be cognizant that no one direct path needs to be taken to end up at a cyber company. People who work in cyberspace come from all different educational backgrounds (i.e., information security, computer science, philosophy, law, business, political science, etc.). The one thing that connects people in this industry is their fervent interest in learning how technology works and wanting to exert a positive impact. Cyber companies are generally global organizations, and therefore the international, cultural, and language skills that Olim brings to the table are invaluable.


Three Top Tips you can give for people looking to get into cyber?

  1. Know your Cyber – not every cyber company is the same; many different components comprise this industry. More specifically, know the challenges and customer base associated with the cyberspace you’re interested in. For example, at GeoEdge, we provide services to the ad-tech industry, and therefore candidates with an ad-tech background are very appealing to us as they know what our customers challenges are.
  2. Stay up to date with the latest cyber news for whatever industry you’re interested in current technologies, cyber vulnerabilities, security attacks. Good resources include TechCrunch, Wired, Threatpost and CSO Online.
  3. Network with people who are in the cyber industry and follow companies that seem interesting to you on LinkedIn in order to gain more insight and obtain answers to any questions you may have, as well as to see what interesting roles open up.

What differences can people expect when working in cyber versus other hi-tech?

– Culture:

When working in cyber, you’re always trying to predict the next threat. This means that it’s a fast-paced environment where every second matters. The product has to constantly be finetuned as there are always people who are trying to penetrate it. You’ll be surrounded by people who are passionate about what they do, are extremely smart, socially conscious and love being one of the good guys.

– Hours:

Often when you work in cyber, you’re working on mission-critical systems, not systems that are “nice to have.” This means that even though companies may offer a great work-life balance, you may be expected to be available and possibly online during irregular hours, depending on your role.

– Pay for bus positions:

Although non-technical roles are commonly paid less than technical roles, your hard work and dedication is oftentimes matched through pay.

– Qualifications (SaaS?):

In both cyber and hi-tech, it is great to have experience in SaaS, a strong passion for tech, and the ability to work cross-functionally. One main differentiating factor is that when working in cyber, you have to work in a fast-paced environment as a security attack or a threat can alter your day-to-day responsibilities in seconds.


What are the best resources for people to read prior to the interview to sound like they know what they’re talking about?

Nailing the interview:

Books to read to immerse yourself in the cyber world:

  • Auth0 – 30 cybersecurity books to deepen your knowledge.

Are you hiring and what jobs do you have?

We’re currently hiring a Head of Marketing, Customer Success Manager, Support Engineer, Backend Developer and Backend Team Lead.

Check out open positions


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