CYBERSECURITY JOB HUNTING GUIDE
Author: Stefan Waldvogel
Editor: Shana Wejuli -reserved-
Editor: Shana Wejuli -reserved-
If you follow my guide, your plan is not only to get a job in Cybersecurity; you find and target the job you want.
What is the problem?
Most job hunters write hundreds of applications to get a more or less random role and work for a random company. People are exhausted, and job hunting is painful.
What is my goal with this guide?
You write between one and ten applications, and you work for a company you want, and you get the job you want.
What is the catch?
The standard way with applying for many jobs as possible needs a lot of time, and my path needs a lot of time. In Cybersecurity, there is no shortcut. If you want a Cybersecurity job, you have to work hard for it.
What is the difference?
If you follow my guide, you learn about goal setting, build relationships (networking), learn how to get the knowledge for the lowest price, talk about volunteer work, and select a good company. We talk about writing applications and much more. You learn how to focus your time and energy instead of using a "shotgun."
What do you need?
Time! My strategy is based on networking and building knowledge. It does not work if you need a job tomorrow or in a month.
I need a job tomorrow! Do not worry, jump to the "Analyzing a job ad" and follow the steps to get some useful hints.
Do you need a degree? It is nice to have and helpful, but if you do not have a degree, do not worry.
Do you need money? Yes and No. Most knowledge is freely available or very affordable, but it helps a lot if you have one or two valuable certs.
The motivation
Two years ago, I arrived in the US, and I want a cybersecurity job. I had to learn everything from scratch, and I want to share my knowledge, so you can avoid some mistakes and have one resource with all that I know about job hunting.
As an immigrant with my limits, I have to find my way into Cybersecurity, but if I am successful, you can do it, too. If I get a job with 5 or 10 applications... I am sure you can use my path to help you get your role.
Over the last 20 years, I wrote less than ten applications. Does it work? I worked for Airbus, and in Germany, it is one of the most challenging companies to get a job.
The following picture shows the situation in a different view:
What is the problem?
Most job hunters write hundreds of applications to get a more or less random role and work for a random company. People are exhausted, and job hunting is painful.
What is my goal with this guide?
You write between one and ten applications, and you work for a company you want, and you get the job you want.
What is the catch?
The standard way with applying for many jobs as possible needs a lot of time, and my path needs a lot of time. In Cybersecurity, there is no shortcut. If you want a Cybersecurity job, you have to work hard for it.
What is the difference?
If you follow my guide, you learn about goal setting, build relationships (networking), learn how to get the knowledge for the lowest price, talk about volunteer work, and select a good company. We talk about writing applications and much more. You learn how to focus your time and energy instead of using a "shotgun."
What do you need?
Time! My strategy is based on networking and building knowledge. It does not work if you need a job tomorrow or in a month.
I need a job tomorrow! Do not worry, jump to the "Analyzing a job ad" and follow the steps to get some useful hints.
Do you need a degree? It is nice to have and helpful, but if you do not have a degree, do not worry.
Do you need money? Yes and No. Most knowledge is freely available or very affordable, but it helps a lot if you have one or two valuable certs.
The motivation
Two years ago, I arrived in the US, and I want a cybersecurity job. I had to learn everything from scratch, and I want to share my knowledge, so you can avoid some mistakes and have one resource with all that I know about job hunting.
As an immigrant with my limits, I have to find my way into Cybersecurity, but if I am successful, you can do it, too. If I get a job with 5 or 10 applications... I am sure you can use my path to help you get your role.
Over the last 20 years, I wrote less than ten applications. Does it work? I worked for Airbus, and in Germany, it is one of the most challenging companies to get a job.
The following picture shows the situation in a different view:
Gatekeepers
Here you see "Gatekeepers." Gatekeepers represent different forms of enemies. These enemies are everywhere: "I will never make it" is an enemy in your brain, or someone says: "Stop, you do not have a degree" or "you need a help desk position first."
Do not listen to "gatekeepers."
Firewalls
The different firewalls are business needs. You can pass these if you have the right "{password}" and the company offer a free position. A password could be knowledge, a degree, or something else that the company needs.
It is essential to understand that every company has their own firewall with own rules. If you want to pass, you have to follow these rules, and it is not important what a gatekeeper says. Most firewalls are in "blocking" mode, because they do not have an open position right now, but it is still a good idea to talk to them.
The good news is, companies have a vast range of needs. Some want a degree, some not. Some prefer IT experience, and other companies look for a "social engineer" with extraordinary soft skills. If you talk to a lot of firewalls and firewall admins, you get an idea what most want.
Listen to firewalls and the firewall admins.
Difference between Gatekeepers and Firewalls
Gatekeepers never have a solution, and it does not matter what you do, you cannot pass (catch-22). Firewalls are different. Usually, they say "no-you cannot pass," but if you have the right thing and there is a business need for you, it is a "yes-you are welcome". Firewalls are reasonable and protect their company, and gatekeepers try to demotivate you.
How can you get a job?
If you are fortunate, you get a job without knowledge because you know the right person.
The standard path looks different. Here you need to understand the business needs. You talk to the right people, and they tell you what you have to learn. Now, you need time to grow, and you get the wanted {} thing.
Why is it so hard?
The biggest problem is, you do not know if a person is a firewall or a gatekeeper. Some gatekeepers look like a firewall. Other issues are, companies change over time. If you need six months to get {x}... maybe the company needs {z}, now, or does not have an open position anymore.
Be positive and talk
If you want a job, try to get as much positive energy as possible. Start the journey with a friend and talk to the "firewall admins" very early so you can get what they want.
If one way does not work, try a different one.
Here you see "Gatekeepers." Gatekeepers represent different forms of enemies. These enemies are everywhere: "I will never make it" is an enemy in your brain, or someone says: "Stop, you do not have a degree" or "you need a help desk position first."
Do not listen to "gatekeepers."
Firewalls
The different firewalls are business needs. You can pass these if you have the right "{password}" and the company offer a free position. A password could be knowledge, a degree, or something else that the company needs.
It is essential to understand that every company has their own firewall with own rules. If you want to pass, you have to follow these rules, and it is not important what a gatekeeper says. Most firewalls are in "blocking" mode, because they do not have an open position right now, but it is still a good idea to talk to them.
The good news is, companies have a vast range of needs. Some want a degree, some not. Some prefer IT experience, and other companies look for a "social engineer" with extraordinary soft skills. If you talk to a lot of firewalls and firewall admins, you get an idea what most want.
Listen to firewalls and the firewall admins.
Difference between Gatekeepers and Firewalls
Gatekeepers never have a solution, and it does not matter what you do, you cannot pass (catch-22). Firewalls are different. Usually, they say "no-you cannot pass," but if you have the right thing and there is a business need for you, it is a "yes-you are welcome". Firewalls are reasonable and protect their company, and gatekeepers try to demotivate you.
How can you get a job?
If you are fortunate, you get a job without knowledge because you know the right person.
The standard path looks different. Here you need to understand the business needs. You talk to the right people, and they tell you what you have to learn. Now, you need time to grow, and you get the wanted {} thing.
Why is it so hard?
The biggest problem is, you do not know if a person is a firewall or a gatekeeper. Some gatekeepers look like a firewall. Other issues are, companies change over time. If you need six months to get {x}... maybe the company needs {z}, now, or does not have an open position anymore.
Be positive and talk
If you want a job, try to get as much positive energy as possible. Start the journey with a friend and talk to the "firewall admins" very early so you can get what they want.
If one way does not work, try a different one.
© 2021. This work is licensed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license