In the Nepali job market, there is a critical shortage of skilled professionals, which has created a credential-hungry culture. Employers place immense value on well-known acronyms like CEH and CISSP. These generalist certifications often serve as the primary filter for hiring managers who may lack the technical expertise to evaluate a candidate’s practical skills. Having a certification is often more important than having a portfolio of work.

The global trend is experiencing certification fatigue. Employers are realizing that passing a multiple-choice exam does not prove someone can stop a live ransomware attack. The industry is moving toward role-based micro-credentials. Instead of broad certifications, professionals are getting certified in very specific niches, such as Kubernetes security or AI red teaming, which prove they can handle specialized tasks.

There is also a massive shift toward valuing soft skills as much as technical ones. Globally, the role of a security professional is becoming a business role. Companies are looking for people who can not only patch a server but also explain the financial risk of a vulnerability to a non-technical board of directors. Communication and risk assessment are becoming just as important as coding.