Episode 9: Breaking In Or Branching Out: How To Get A Job In Cybersecurity

Introduction

The episode is about cybersecurity professionals and how to break into the industry. Misty Stacy, the managing director of Tested Cyber Talent, joins the hosts to discuss this topic.

Introducing Misty Stacy

• Misty Stacy is the managing director of Tested Cyber Talent.

• She helps cybersecurity professionals find their way into cyber and transition to a different role.

Breaking Into Cybersecurity

Misty discusses two types of candidates trying to break into cybersecurity: recent college graduates and mid-career changers. She provides advice for both groups on how to get started in the industry.

Advice for Recent College Graduates

• Utilize LinkedIn to its fullest potential.

• Show what you're capable of if you don't have professional work experience yet.

• Fill out your LinkedIn profile with detailed descriptions that showcase your best qualities.

Advice for Mid-Career Changers

• Highlight transferable skills from your previous career.

• Go back to school or get certifications related to cybersecurity.

• Utilize LinkedIn to its fullest potential by creating a detailed profile that showcases your best qualities.

Conclusion

The hosts thank Misty for joining them and providing valuable insights on breaking into the cybersecurity industry. They encourage viewers to rate, share, like, and subscribe if they found this information useful.

There was no new content after 5 minutes and 40 seconds in the transcript.

Utilizing LinkedIn and Job Boards

In this section, the speakers discuss how to utilize LinkedIn and job boards to find cyber security positions.

Joining LinkedIn Groups

• Evaluate your LinkedIn profile to present yourself in a better light.

• Join relevant professional groups on LinkedIn to get your name out there and let people know you're available.

• Recruiters may be part of these groups and post positions within them.

Using LinkedIn for Job Search

• Companies post jobs on LinkedIn, and you can purchase a service from LinkedIn that allows you to apply to things and work with LinkedIn in a different way that really helps you market yourself.

• Dice.com is another job board that is very good for IT and cyber positions.

Choosing the Right Job Board

• Most companies in cybersecurity do not prefer to utilize general job boards like Indeed or CareerBuilder because they don't focus on any one thing.

• Focus on job boards that are specific to cybersecurity or IT.

The Importance of Coding Samples

In this section, the speakers discuss the importance of coding samples when applying for cybersecurity positions.

• Having coding samples on sites like GitHub can be highly beneficial when applying for cybersecurity positions.

• Candidates have been passed over for positions not because they weren't qualified but because they couldn't provide code samples.

Resume Formatting Tips

In this section, the speakers discuss resume formatting tips when applying for cybersecurity positions.

• A well-written resume doesn't have to be fancy. Hiring managers are very busy people and don't care about fancy formatting.

• Avoid including references on your resume to prevent them from being contacted without your permission.

Creating an Effective Resume

In this section, the speaker provides tips on how to create an effective resume that will catch the attention of hiring managers.

Key Elements of a Basic Resume

• A basic formatted resume should include a summary or objective, skill set, education, and professional experience.

• List all relevant formal education and certifications. Certifications are sometimes valued more than a master's degree in cybersecurity.

• Put strong points at the forefront of your resume. If you lack formal education but have relevant experience, put your education at the bottom of your resume.

• Include specific daily duties and responsibilities under each position you've worked. Avoid repeating bullet points from job to job.

Formatting and Grammar Tips

• Keep your resume to two pages maximum.

• Do not include irrelevant work experience from 35 years ago. This may signal to hiring managers that you are nearing retirement age.

• Do not include the year you graduated under your education section.

Importance of Proper Formatting and Grammar in Resumes

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the importance of proper formatting and grammar in resumes.

Proper Length for Resumes

• Keep your resume to two pages maximum if possible.

• If you have 35 years of experience, do not include irrelevant work experience from decades ago.

Proper Formatting for Resumes

• Use bullet points to list specific daily duties and responsibilities under each position you've worked.

• Avoid repeating bullet points from job to job. Instead, pick out instances where you can illustrate similar duties in different ways.

Proper Grammar for Resumes

• Check for spelling errors and grammatical mistakes before submitting your resume.

Resume Writing Tips

In this section, the speakers discuss some tips for writing a good resume.

Use of Bulleted Points

• A bulleted point is not a sentence, so there's no need to include a period at the end of it.

• When listing responsibilities and daily duties in your current position, write them in present tense. If it's a previous job, use past tense.

Importance of Grammar and Punctuation

• Inconsistent punctuation is a pet peeve for hiring managers. Be consistent with your use of periods in bulleted lists.

• Attention to detail and grammatical correctness throughout the resume is important as it shows soft skills such as written communication.

• Templates are available online to help with formatting and grammar.

Benefits of Working with Recruiters

• Candidates may not understand the relationship they have with recruiters.

• Recruiters can help improve resumes and place candidates in great positions.

Tips for Working with Recruiters

In this section, the speaker provides tips for working with recruiters and how to build a healthy relationship with them.

Being Open and Honest

• Candidates should be forthcoming with information when working with recruiters.

• A good recruiter will take the time to review your resume and give you some pointers.

• It is important to let recruiters know if you are working with other recruiting firms or recruiters for various positions.

Staying Organized

• Candidates should keep notes and a log of the names of the recruiters they are working with, what companies that recruiter works for, which positions they are submitting resumes for, and what salary range they have given for that position to that recruiter.

• Staying organized helps candidates work effectively with multiple recruiters.

Building a Healthy Relationship

• A healthy candidate-recruiter relationship involves being candid and honest with your recruiter and trusting them to have your best interests at heart through the process.

• Candidates should never be scared to give a recruiter a salary range. They don't have to give them a specific number but need to give them a five or ten thousand dollar range that they feel comfortable with for this particular role.

The Importance of Cyber Recruiters

In this section, the speaker discusses why they trust recruiters more than corporate HR departments to bring quality talent.

Trusting Recruiters Over Corporate HR Departments

• Managers trust recruiters more than corporate HR departments to bring quality talent.

• Dedicated cyber recruiters have a better skill set for finding candidates.

• Quality of candidate from a recruiter is higher than just feeding from the internet.

Providing References to Recruiters

In this section, the speaker talks about providing references to recruiters and what kind of references are appropriate.

Providing References Upon Request

• Candidates can put "references available upon request" on their resume.

• A list of three to five professional references is needed.

• References should be colleagues, people you've worked with or reported to, who will vouch for your work ethic and job performance.

Checking Candidate References

In this section, the speaker discusses when recruiters check candidate references and why it's important.

Checking References After First Interview

• Some recruiters will call references even if the candidate isn't at a point in the process where they think they'll be offered the role.

• Checking references after first interview but before second interview is scheduled helps streamline the process.

• Having a list of professional references ready shows that you're prepared and taking things seriously.

Tips for Remote Interviews

In this section, the speaker provides tips for remote interviews conducted via video conferencing software.

Presenting Yourself Appropriately

• Even though interviews are being conducted remotely, candidates should still present themselves appropriately.

• Dress appropriately for your industry and make sure you're cleaned up for your interview.

• Be on time and confirm receipt of calendar invites to show engagement.

Final Tips for Candidates

In this section, the speaker provides additional tips for candidates to help them succeed in the hiring process.

Additional Tips

• Be respectful of recruiters' time and don't waste it by being a no-show.

• Don't put irrelevant references on your resume.

• Make sure your resume is up-to-date and tailored to the job you're applying for.

Importance of Communication in Job Hunting

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the importance of communication during job hunting and interviews.

Communication is Key

• The speaker stresses that it's important to communicate with potential employers during job hunting.

• Candidates should present themselves in the best light possible by being on time or early for interviews.

• Being early shows preparedness and respect for the interviewer's time.

• Following up with a recruiter after an interview is always nice and can help avoid misunderstandings.

Thank You Notes

• Sending a quick thank you note to your recruiter after an interview goes a long way.

• Mentioning some things about the interview in the thank you note shows that it stuck with you.

Nuances of Job Hunting

• There are many nuances to job hunting, such as sending unique bullet points for each job application.

• The speaker suggests discussing additional tricks and tips for finding a job in future episodes.