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Finding Your Path: Internal Control or External Audit?

A Personal Guide to Navigating Your ISO Career Crossroads

Have you ever found yourself staring at job descriptions, wondering which direction your career should take? I’ve been there. After spending years in the compliance world, I’ve watched countless professionals wrestle with the same question: Should I build my career around internal control or pursue external audit certification?

Let me share what I’ve learned through my journey in this field, and hopefully, it’ll help you make sense of your own path.

The Fork in the Road: Understanding Your Options

Before we dive in, let’s chat about what these roles actually look like in real life.

Internal Control: The Inside Champion

Think of internal control specialists as the behind-the-scenes heroes. They’re the ones who know their organization inside and out, constantly fine-tuning processes to keep everything running smoothly.

I remember Sarah, a quality manager at a manufacturing firm, who transformed her company’s chaotic documentation system into a streamlined process that saved hours of headaches during audit season. That’s internal control at its finest—creating order from chaos and making everyone’s life easier in the process.

Internal control professionals typically:

  • Hunt down risks before they become problems
  • Keep processes running efficiently (and everyone following the rules)
  • Run internal checks to catch issues early
  • Train teams on best practices

They’re the ones who sleep well at night knowing they’ve built systems strong enough to withstand scrutiny.

External Auditing: The Independent Voice

Now, imagine being the person who walks into a room and everyone straightens up a bit. That’s life as an external auditor.

My colleague Miguel transitioned from internal IT security to external auditing, and he describes it as “seeing the forest instead of just the trees.” Where he once focused on one company’s systems, he now evaluates dozens, bringing insights from across industries.

External auditors:

  • Conduct those make-or-break certification audits
  • Call out non-conformities (diplomatically, of course)
  • Provide that crucial independent verification
  • Work across multiple organizations and industries

They’re the ones who get to say “yes, you’ve made it” or “here’s what you need to fix”—wielding a certain power that comes with independence.

Which Hat Fits You Better?

You Might Be an Internal Control Person If…

Do you get satisfaction from building things that last? Does seeing a well-oiled machine of processes make you smile? You might be an internal control person at heart.

This path might be your calling if:

  • You’re already working in operations, quality, IT, or compliance
  • You find joy in creating systems and watching them work
  • You’re part of a GRC or InfoSec team and want to deepen your impact
  • You enjoy collaborating across departments to make improvements

I’ve seen professionals like Jamie, who started in IT support but had a knack for documentation and security. She moved into ISO 27001 implementation and found her true calling—creating information security systems that protected her company while still being practical for users.

If this sounds like you, consider these certifications:

These courses will give you practical tools to build systems that not only comply but actually work.

You Might Be an External Auditor If…

Do you have an eye for detail and a talent for asking the right questions? Do you value independence and the ability to set the standard rather than meet it?

This path could be yours if:

  • You want to become the expert who evaluates others’ work
  • You thrive on structure and clear methodologies
  • You’re looking to work across multiple organizations
  • You have strong analytical skills paired with diplomatic communication

Take Carlos, who spent years as a compliance officer before becoming a lead auditor. He now travels to different companies, helping them achieve certification in ISO 27001. “I love seeing the lightbulb moment when organizations realize how security can become part of their DNA, not just a checkbox,” he tells me.

If you see yourself in this description, look into:

  • ISO 27001 Lead Auditor (PEBC-accredited) for information security professionals
  • ISO 14001 Lead Auditor for environmental management specialists
  • ISO 22301 Lead Auditor for business continuity experts

These certifications open doors to registrars, consultancies, and large organizations that need third-party verification expertise.

The Best of Both Worlds The Hybrid Approach-3

The Best of Both Worlds: The Hybrid Approach

Here’s a secret from someone who’s been around the block: the most valuable professionals today understand both sides of the equation.

My own career took a turn when I realized I could use my implementation experience to become a more effective auditor. I understood the challenges organizations faced because I’d faced them myself. This made me not just an auditor, but a trusted advisor.

Consider the hybrid path if:

  • You want maximum career flexibility
  • You enjoy both building and evaluating
  • You’re aiming for senior roles that require the full picture
  • You want to future-proof your career in a changing compliance landscape

The natural progression often looks like this:

  1. Start with a Foundation course in your chosen standard
  2. Move to Implementer or Internal Auditor level
  3. Graduate to Lead Auditor once you’ve mastered the implementation side

This gives you that rare 360° understanding that organizations increasingly value.

Choosing Your Standard: Finding Your Niche

The ISO world is vast, but you don’t need to master everything. Focus on what aligns with your industry and interests:

  • ISO 27001 for information security (the hot ticket in our digital world)
  • ISO 9001 for quality management (the classic standard with universal application)
  • ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety
  • ISO 14001 for environmental management (increasingly important in our eco-conscious world)
  • ISO 22301 for business continuity (especially relevant in our post-pandemic reality)
  • ISO 27701 for privacy management (the rising star as privacy regulations expand)

I usually recommend starting with either ISO 27001 or ISO 9001, as they provide foundational concepts that apply across other standards.

Don’t Skip the Fine Print: Accreditation Matters

Let me save you from a mistake I almost made early in my career. Not all certifications are created equal.

When investing in your training, make sure it’s accredited by recognized bodies like PEBC. I’ve seen the disappointment on people’s faces when they discover their certification isn’t recognized for certain roles or by certain organizations.

An accredited certification ensures your credentials travel with you anywhere in your career.

Finding Your Format: Learning Your Way

We all learn differently. Some of my colleagues thrive in intensive bootcamps, while others prefer the flexibility of self-paced learning. Consider what works for your lifestyle:

  • Virtual instructor-led training combines the interaction of a classroom with the convenience of your home office
  • In-person bootcamps offer immersive learning and valuable networking
  • Self-paced online courses work around your schedule

The best programs offer scenario-based learning and practice exams to prepare you for the real thing.

The Bottom Line: Choose Your Own Adventure

Whether you choose internal control, external auditing, or a hybrid approach, the most important thing is aligning your path with who you are and how you like to work.

Are you a builder or an evaluator? Do you prefer depth in one organization or breadth across many? Do you want to be part of the team or the independent voice?

There’s no wrong answer—just the right fit for you.

Whatever you choose, remember that in the ISO world, continuous learning is part of the journey. The standards evolve, and the best professionals evolve with them.

So, which path feels right for you?
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