Landing your First Role in Cyber (Pt 1)
Job hunting can be a daunting process. In cybersecurity, it seems that it can be hard to land an entry level job. There are so many different job listings, but it seems that applications can be sent into the void. Leveraging your time in school and being able to market yourself and your experience can go a long ways in securing a job! I’ll go through the tips and tricks I found helped me land a full time role in cybersecurity after graduation. I’ll give tips for each stage of the job hunt.
Application Strategy
Applying for jobs can be a scary process if you do not have a good plan to tackle it. Here is the strategy I used for applying to jobs:
Set a goal for how many jobs that you are going to apply to a day or a week or set aside a set time to work on applications
Having a set goal or time frame is going to allow you to be more consistent about applications without getting too burnt out or overwhelmed. I would sit down and apply for jobs for an extremely long time, and this would make me feel overwhelmed. I think it is better to make a realistic schedule and stick to it.
Apply for lots of different kinds of jobs, even ones you think you might not be qualified for
I was applying for entry level IT jobs and GRC level jobs that needed years and years of experience. You never know what could come of an application, and you should not limit yourself. It never hurts to apply! Most of the time, a company is not expecting the person they hire to meet 100% of the qualifications they list anyways.
Apply on many different sites
There are going to be different jobs listed on different places, so it is good to apply on a wide range of areas. You can apply on LinkedIn, Indeed, Google Jobs, etc.
There are some filtering tricks that can help you find quality jobs to apply for
On Indeed, you can filter by experience to look at entry level jobs in cybersecurity. LinkedIn also provides similar filtering. You can filter by entry level positions on LinkedIn. There is also a feature on LinkedIn called Easy Apply. Easy Apply is a feature companies can enable in order to allow you to have a fast and simple application process. If you are not feeling like doing extensive applications, but want to try and throw your resume out there, this can be a great filter to apply.
Under All Filters, LinkedIn also has a “Under 10 applicants” filter and a “In your network” filter. These can be great to apply to target jobs that might not be as competitive and to target jobs where you might know someone and could have better chances. Jobs can be super competitive, and applying for a job with thousands of applicants can wash you out. Being able to target the jobs especially that have less applicants is extremely helpful!
Other Application Tips
If you are able, consider applying for internships as well as full time positions
I was applying for both of these kinds of positions. If you are not able to get a full time job and instead get offered an internship, this can still be a great way to keep building experience
Follow up on your application via LinkedIn or email or some other form of communication if you are able
This will help you stand out from among other applicants
For applications, it can be tricky because you have to focus on quality and quantity in order to be successful
Since it is impossible to apply to hundreds of different places and all have good quality applications, I would suggest prioritizing applications based on which jobs you are wanting the most. Tailor your resume, write a thoughtful cover letter, and follow up on jobs that are very important to you, but do not feel stressed to do this for every application you do. Apply to jobs as well that you are just throwing your resume out there and seeing what happens. You want to put your best foot forward, but applying with something is better than not applying at all, and delivering a perfect application for everything you apply for is just not feasible.
Remember to keep a good mindset and take time for yourself as well
Job hunting can be a stressful time, so be gentle on yourself. There is only so much you can control. Job hunting is simply something that takes time and you have to trust the process!
Resume Tips
Having a good resume is extremely important during the application process. A good resume is what is ultimately going to land you an interview with a company.
Your resume should not be more than 1 page
Focus on keeping it short and sweet
You should begin your resume with a summary section that briefly highlights your most relevant experience
The next section to include should be some type of skills section
This is a great place to tailor your resume to whatever job you are applying to. Many people say that your resume should be tailored to every job you apply to, but this can be extremely difficult if you are applying to lots of different jobs. Having a couple sections you can easily tweak for a particular posting helps with this. You can take the top four skills you notice in the job description that you possess and put it on your resume!
All bullet points should also be concise and to the point
Try and keep them on 1 line and focus on what skills you have from a certain job or experience. How has everything you have done leading up to know prepared you for this role?
Highlight your passion for cyber
Applying for these jobs to begin a career in cybersecurity, employers are really looking for passion to make up for a lack of experience you might have. Anyway you are able to showcase this passion is going to help immensely.
A cover letter is also a great addition to your application along with a strong resume. A cover letter can allow you to really customize your application to the employer and let them know directly 1. why you are interested in the job position and 2. what skills would make you a good fit for the position and the company.
LinkedIn Tips
I think that LinkedIn is EXTREMELY important to the job hunt. This was one of the sole reasons I was able to land the job I did. Building a good community on LinkedIn can be extremely helpful. Here is how I went about this.
Make sure that your profile is completely up to date with your work experience, any certifications, and anything else you are doing in your cybersecurity journey. Don’t be afraid to post any of your accomplishments to your network or talk about something you find interest in. You can even repost other things that you see on LinkedIn. Just make sure you have something on your page, and you are showcasing yourself to the best of your ability!
Look up other people in cybersecurity on LinkedIn. Follow popular people on LinkedIn in the industry as well as those in cybersecurity in the local area and other cyber students. This will allow you to find good insights into cybersecurity as well as good job postings. Many of the people I follow on LinkedIn will repost cybersecurity jobs they see for others to apply to.
I try and follow at least a couple of people a day on LinkedIn to keep building my connections. Connecting with others is a great way to increase your chances of being able to land a job
Follow up with your application on LinkedIn! If you apply directly through LinkedIn, or even if you apply through an external site, see if you can find the hiring manager or someone in HR on LinkedIn and send them a follow up message. This really helps you stand out and show that you are willing to go the extra mile.
If there is a particular company you are interested in working for, LinkedIn will tell you if there is anyone at the company who went to your school. These can be great connections to make to reach out and see how they like working at the company and how they were able to get a job there after going to Boise State. Who knows, maybe they know about some job openings!
This is exactly how I was able to land my job through LinkedIn! Through building up my connections with those in the cyber community, I received updates for job postings all the time on my feed. Someone I followed reposted an application for a cyber risk specialist at an insurance company. I submitted my application and followed up with the person who posted the application for the company with this message:
“Hi Recruiter, Thanks for posting about your opening for a cyber risk specialist at PayneWest. I just applied and wanted to express my continued interest in the role. My background includes performing cyber risk assessment and creating cyber policies which I believe make me a great candidate for the position. Thank you for considering my application and I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience can benefit PayneWest in addressing its cyber risk challenges. Sincerely, Kacey Wheeler.”
It was then that the recruiter reached back out to me to schedule my first interview which started the process in securing the job. Simply reaching out and having an updated LinkedIn page is what helped me secure an interview. Don’t be afraid to reach out and talk with others because you never know where it will lead you!
Check out Part 2 for more tips to landing your first role in cyber!
