The needs of those pursuing a cybersecurity career are unlike any other field. Stress is high, and the knowledge and skills it demands are evolving and changing all the time. That’s why it’s a great idea to have a mentor to serve as a sounding board at critical points throughout your career.

A mentor can provide feedback on career management that you might not find in a job and also help you forge relationships with key contacts in the industry. Here are three key steps to cultivating this important professional relationship.

Do Your Research

Before you even try to find a mentor to help guide you, it’s essential to identify what that person’s professional role is and how it enables them to offer the kind of feedback and direction you’re seeking. What do you want out of your career and what do you need to learn to get there?

According to the most recent estimates, there is a global shortage of around 3 million cybersecurity professionals. And there are new roles and responsibilities in the field annually. What are your skills? Have you obtained any certifications or are you planning to take any courses to get certified?

Beyond role and responsibility, what kind of organization do you want to work for? Are you targeting a certain vertical? Define all of these factors and figure out what you want in the short term. This will give you a clear path forward.

Once you have identified your career path in the near term, you can begin to determine who can help. You want someone who is more experienced and will help you grow, so seek someone who matches your aspirations, not your existing level.

Network Where You Can Find Opportunities

Once you have identified the kinds of professionals you want to learn from, it’s time to network anywhere these individuals may be spending time. Join an association that has members engaged in roles you aspire to. Get involved in groups on sites like LinkedIn to observe and learn from the activity in those groups. Attend events held by association chapters in your community. Experienced and knowledgeable security professionals often are at conferences, workshops, meetups and other industry events.

It is often said that the mentor-mentee relationship grows naturally. Good mentors find their mentees. So simply making solid connections with people you admire can lead you to the right person.

Be Flexible

It may be difficult for your desired mentor to carve out time for regular or long meetings. Fortunately, technology makes it possible to be in touch and have meaningful conversations without a physical presence. Be prepared for virtual calls and meetings, rather than sit-down, one-on-one discussions.

Also be prepared to do the work to keep the relationship productive. A successful mentor-mentee relationship is based on what the mentee wants to get out of it and how much they are willing to put in. Regular follow-ups and ongoing dialogue can ensure you consistently get the information and reality checks you need.

Download the (ISC)² Breaking into Cybersecurity eBook for more tips on getting started.