Cyber Security Entry-Level Job Market

Jul 10, 2024

Cyber Security Entry-Level Job Market

Current Landscape

  • Most professionals are middle-aged, haven’t been in entry-level roles recently.
  • Speaker is a recent graduate and a current SOC analyst.
  • Addressing the current state of the market from his fresh perspective.

Is Entry-Level Cyber Security Possible?

  • Conflicting information: Reddit claims it’s not entry-level; news claims a shortage of jobs.
  • Truth: Yes, it’s possible with conditions.
  • Contrary to many opinions, entry-level roles do exist.

Key Steps to Breaking Into Cyber Security

1. Shape Your Mindset

  • Manage Expectations: College and media may mislead about job availability and salaries.
  • Know Your Goal: Identify specific job titles and roles you’re interested in.
  • Research the Field: Watch Day in the Life videos, read about roles extensively.
  • Target Your Applications: Balance between too narrow and too broad focus.
  • Understand job skill requirements and tailor applications accordingly.

2. Get Good at Getting a Job

  • Resume: Needs to be clear, well-formatted, and tailored to the job.
  • Interview Skills: Ability to sell oneself and handle unknown questions.
  • Application Volume: Apply to a significant number of jobs to improve chances (e.g., speaker applied to over 1,000 jobs).
  • Be Flexible: Willingness to relocate, flexibility with job types, descriptions, companies, salaries, and hours.

3. Be the Best Candidate

  • Network: Who you know can significantly affect your chances.
  • Experience: Internships, college help desk roles, capstone projects are valuable.
  • Technical Skills and Projects: Engage with platforms like TryHackMe, Hack The Box, and participate in CTFs.
  • Education and Certifications: Degrees and certifications (e.g., Security+) might help but are less important than technical skills.

Candidate Valuation Hierarchy

  1. Network (who you know)
  2. Experience (what you’ve done)
  3. Technical Skills and Projects (what you can do)
  4. Education and Certifications (credentials)

Speaker’s Journey

  • Graduated with a degree in informatics and cyber security cognate.
  • No experience initially, figured out the desired field & role in a month.
  • Improved candidacy through certifications and technical projects.
  • Took 4+ months and over 1,000 applications to secure a SOC analyst role.

Do You Need a Degree?

  • Opinion: Degree is not strictly necessary but can improve chances.
  • Alternative: Technical projects and certifications can make up for the lack of a degree.

Market Challenges

  • Entry-Level Market: Flooded due to high promising salaries, job shortages, colleges, boot camps, and certifications.
  • Employer Expectations: Strict requirements, hiring freezes, and layoffs make it tough.
  • Speaker’s Belief: It’s a numbers game; brute force applications if necessary.

Final Thoughts

  • Be the best candidate and be prepared to face a tough job market.
  • It’s a mix of skill, networking, and persistence to break in.