OPM Survey Flags Top Cyber Skills

What skills are most critical to landing a cybersecurity job in government? Integrity, computer skills, and technical competence to name a few, according to survey results released Wednesday by the Office of Personnel Management.

The survey results, released Wednesday, identify current and future critical competencies for cybersecurity occupations based on occupation and grade level. Important competencies across all occupations included integrity, computer skills, technical competence, teamwork, attention to detail, interpersonal skills, communications security management, self-management, reading and customer service. Ranking much lower on the list were skills like computer network defense (No. 21), stress tolerance (No. 23), organizational awareness (No. 27) and network security (No. 32).

OPM in September reached out to approximately 50,000 employees and their supervisors to identify which skills are most critical to effective cybersecurity work. The survey results are being used to create a cybersecurity competency model for four key occupations: information technology management, electronics engineering, computer engineering and telecommunications. Chief human capital officers can use the competency model to pinpoint the skills necessary for a cyber professional and establish a plan for successful recruitment, performance and development in federal cyber positions.

"Cybersecurity is essential to protecting the American people," said OPM Director John Berry. "The Federal government must create a comprehensive model to recruit and retain the corps of highly skilled cybersecurity experts necessary to support our national security."

The survey is part of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, a government-led initiative supporting President Obama's cybersecurity, education and innovation goals. OPM is leading the federal workforce track of NICE, and the workforce survey is one of several projects OPM is undertaking to improve cyber awareness, education and training.