Five Tried & TRU Tips for Breaking into the Privacy Industry

Data privacy is the hot industry to join as the world continues to contend with the proper handling, storing, processing, and use of personal data. Opportunities abound for both legal eagles and operationally-focused business professionals. How to take that first step? Follow these five handy tips from the TRU Staffing Partners talent team to get your foot in the door and make your career in privacy a reality:

Get Certified 

Advance your career, increase your earning potential, and elevate your leadership profile with an International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) credential. If you really want to stand out in the privacy industry, an IAPP credential can get you there. As an official training partner of the IAPP, TRU provides online, self-guided training to help you meet your data privacy professional development and career growth goals. Showcase to prospective employers that you are investing in yourself and your career advancement helps you stand out from your peers, and get a leg up on breaking into this dynamic industry.

Available certifications through TRU include: 

• IAPP Foundations: The Foundations of Privacy and Data Protection Training focuses on a starting place to learn the most fundamental privacy concepts and practices before preparing for IAPP certifications.
• CIPM — Certified Information Privacy Manager: The CIPM stamp of approval is the first and only privacy certification for professionals who manage day-to-day operations.
• CIPP/US — Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States: Focused on laws and regulations, the CIPP certification is the global standard for becoming an expert on privacy laws, regulations, and frameworks.
• CIPP/E — Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe: Focused on laws and regulations, the CIPP certification is the global standard for becoming an expert on privacy laws, regulations, and frameworks.
• CIPT — Certified Information Privacy Technologist: For engineers and IT professionals, a CIPT certification is the industry benchmark for tech professionals looking to validate their knowledge of privacy requirements.

Consider adding software-specific certifications as well. OneTrust, for example, is a widely used privacy software platform, and the company offers free online courses and certifications in its software.

Past that, peruse the education section on TRU’s web site to source even more potential educational avenues to beef up your professional privacy resume. Or, apply for a privacy scholarship through TRU for help funding the cost of getting certified.

Visibility is credibility when seeking a job in a new industry: Demonstrate you have the attitude and aptitude to be a part of this rapidly growing industry. Attend as many industry events as you can – both in-person and virtually. You can find events like the IAPP Global Privacy Summit and Privacy.Security.Risk on the IAPP website. Consider joining your local IAPP KnowledgeNet Chapter and become an active participant in live and/or online events. Be active on social media and learn to network with data privacy peers and influencers. LinkedIn hosts many groups for privacy pros. Read the posts, ask smart questions, comment on interesting topics, and follow individuals who are taking the career path you would like to emulate. Consider standing out by becoming a content creator on LinkedIn: Only 1% of active LinkedIn users create content, and they get 9 billion impressions a week.

Attend TRU Events

Stay up on the news to learn the trends in hiring and know where the jobs are. As you gain knowledge and followers, consider authoring privacy-related articles and blog posts to make yourself known. 

Stay up to Date on Privacy News 

Whether it’s a data breach or new privacy regulation, something new and exciting is happening in the industry every day. Read the latest industry trends and happenings in the TRU Knowledge Center. Explore continuing education opportunities from the IAPP, attend IAPP KnowledgeNet Chapter meetings, and sign up for free privacy career webinars from TRU. Read CPO Magazine or other industry periodicals. Learn all you can about the industry to be able to speak with confidence and authority to a prospective employer.

Raise Your Hand

Learn how data privacy programs operate in real life by volunteering to be a privacy champion within your current employer’s business. Ask a privacy professional within your organization for opportunities to assist or learn or be the liaison to your department. Volunteer to advocate for privacy policies and processes even if it isn’t strictly in your job description. Privacy professionals love when other parts of the business get involved! See how privacy analysts manage data, what software they use, how they categorize materials, and run reports. Gain a sense of how privacy projects are developed, implemented, and managed. If you have extra time in your weekly schedule, consider taking an entry-level or part-time privacy contract role to augment your existing knowledge.

Showcase Your Knowledge

Update your LI profile and resume to reflect the certifications, education, training awareness and partnerships that you have implemented above. Be specific, use terms of art (privacy loves acronyms), and don’t be afraid to flex on your knowledge.

Whether you want to work in legal, operations, or have career aspirations to become a Chief Privacy Officer, you can follow TRU’s advice to break into this thriving industry.

About the Authors

Jess Barre

Vice President of Recruitment and Account Management

As the Vice President of Recruitment and Account Management, Jess brings more than five years of legal industry experience to the TRU team. After graduating from college with a degree in politics and policy with minors in pre-law and international relations, Jess attended law school at Liberty University and then directed operations for a healthcare startup prior to joining a national legal recruiting firm. As an attorney recruiter, her team’s contribution increased dramatically over her tenure and grew to be one of the top per-capita revenue-generating teams across the nation. Jess successfully placed hundreds of attorneys in Am Law 100 firms and Fortune 500 companies throughout the southeast. Her legal education combined with her industry background create a strong manager poised for successful client partnerships.

You can contact Jess by emailing her at jess@trustaffingpartners.com 

Rachael Haher

Vice President of Business Development and Account Management

Rachael Haher comes to TRU with several years of experience in business development, operations, inside sales, and program management. Haher leads TRU's global business development efforts. She delivers exceptional client communication, outreach, and follow-through. Haher is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) leadership community and is the Co-Chair for the Western New York KnowledgeNet Chapter. She is a regular speaker and author related to the privacy job market via conference panels, webinars, and market intelligence publications. Haher holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a focus in international business and marketing from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

You can contact Rachael by emailing her at rachael@trustaffingpartners.com