Breaking into Cybersecurity can be Frustrating
I often speak with people trying to land their first job. Here is a snippet of advice I shared just today with someone who has their degree and is discouraged because they have not been able to get an entry-level position.
I hope my advice is helpful to others:
You are not alone. Landing the first job in cybersecurity is the most difficult. Having a degree, certs, and IT experience is beneficial and will serve you well, but most companies are looking for experienced professionals. Which is ironic, as they are sometimes hiring for “entry-level” positions. You are witnessing that mismatch!
Here is my advice:
1. Look to gain real-world experience. Volunteer for activities, take part in events, and strive to get experience that you can showcase. It makes a huge difference and you will learn a ton!
2. Purposely build your professional reputation/brand. You are already on LinkedIn, so use it. Read and post your thoughts/comments on discussions. Remember, hiring managers will look at your LinkedIn profile as much as your resume. Make it stand out by showing lots of thoughtful and professional activity.
3. Follow others in the role you want to achieve. See how they describe issues, the tools they use, how they approach problems. It will help how you see and talk about the industry, which is really important in interviews and all forms of communication. Weigh in with your insights and questions. Be active and remember continual learning is essential.
4. Build your professional network by connecting and engaging with others in the industry. Talk about issues, solutions, news events, job opportunities, etc. Help them, even if it does not help you. Contribute to make everyone stronger. That network will be an asset in your first job and during your entire career in cybersecurity!
5. Don’t give up! Keep plugging away. Check out hiring sites that work with companies to properly write job req’s, like CyberSN.com to reduce some of the frustration.
