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Landing a job in any industry can feel like a daunting task. In the case of cybersecurity, there are so many moving parts. Roles in this field can get complicated fast, and it’s easy to get disheartened.

We put together a few actionable items to help you get your dream job in this industry. Follow along and learn how to get a job in cybersecurity.

How To Land A Job In Cybersecurity

It might not come as a surprise, but landing a job in cybersecurity is a tough task. Just like any other job on the market, cybersecurity roles come with some industry-specific requirements. Let’s review some of the top ways to get you connected with your dream role.

Do Your Research

It all starts with a little homework. Unlike the homework you do for school, this type will prepare you for a career in cybersecurity.

The first step is to understand which cybersecurity career pathway you want to pursue. There are hundreds of different disciplines within dozens of styles of cybersecurity.

Any two roles could have absolutely no overlap between them. For that reason, it’s important to learn more about each potential career and ready yourself for it.

For example, a network security expert needs to know a ton about how networks work, whereas an application security worker might not need to.

Try Some Hands-On Experiments

If you’re looking to get into one of the roles that require hands-on work in the field, it’s a good idea to get some practice upfront. For instance, you can tinker with a secondary computer and try making your own programs, understanding the security measures, and seeing how it works.

Having some initial understanding of cybersecurity will prepare you for the future when you really need to use it.

Get Experience in Programming

Besides the physical components of cybersecurity, you’ll also have to brush up on your programming. Some of the must-know programming languages are Python, C and C++, and JavaScript,

Having prior experience with these languages will set you up for success in the future. There are plenty of instructional videos you can watch online to get some introductions to these languages.

Learning your first programming language will be tough. From there, all subsequent languages are easier. This means that picking up all four programming languages shouldn’t be too difficult if you’re driven.

Talk to Professionals

Want to know the tips and tricks to be a successful forensics cybersecurity expert? Talk to a forensics cybersecurity expert.

If you can find professionals at your local university or some major companies in your area, you can learn a lot. Offer to buy them a coffee and chat about what their daily life at work entails.

This doubles as a great networking tool. After getting to know some professionals, you might gear yourself up for a future career.

Not sure where to get started? You can reach out to professional educators to learn more about what goes into a cybersecurity job.

Develop Your Soft Skills

Beyond the hard skills of coding and hands-on experience, you’ll need to develop some of your soft skills. There are plenty of soft skills that are useful in a cybersecurity role:

• Networking. Like many professional environments, networking in cybersecurity could make or break your potential career. Sometimes, it seems like you have to know the right people if you want to get into a role. Meet professionals, reach out to people within the industry and start making connections.
• Adapting. Cybersecurity is one of the few industries that is rapidly adjusting, changing, and pivoting. As threats advance, so does the need for different security. Think about it — just 20 years ago, there was no such thing as password security. You need to adapt to new environments and thrive in a changing atmosphere.
• Collaborating. It’s tough to be a lone wolf in a majority of cybersecurity jobs. Working in teams is essential, so your ability to collaborate needs to be refined. This can be done by joining a team sport, joining a club, or working with friends on personal projects.
• Researching and communicating. Your knowledge is useless if you can’t explain it to someone else. Your ability to explain, write and research topics and ideas will help elevate your professional career. Practice makes perfect when it comes to this soft skill.
• Determination and drive. If you’re not driven in this field, you could quickly get passed by your colleagues. Certain cybersecurity roles come with a lot of failures and making mistakes. Since it’s part of the job, you should be prepared for this and be ready to drive through it until you find a solution.
• Tech-savviness. It’s tough to be a cybersecurity expert without a high level of tech-savviness. You need to know how the technology works, what’s at the forefront of the market, and how to use electronics to your advantage. Tinkering with old electronics is a good way to gain familiarity.  

Try Out an Internship First

One of the best ways to check all the boxes on this list is with an internship. It will give you insight into a true cybersecurity office. You’ll hone your soft skills, get tons of hands-on experience, get exposure to professionals, and experience coding.

Internships are often very low-paying options when compared to full-time roles. Still, they have a lot of merits and can open up plenty of doors in the future.

Get the Right Certifications

Beyond a college degree, some cybersecurity positions also require certification. For example, a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is nearly a must-have for security analysts.

Some certifications require some working experience, going through certain classes, or taking a standardized test to show your level of knowledge.

Regardless of what goes into getting the certification, getting the right one will help you stand out in the pool of applicants for a role. Certain certs are a requirement in certain cybersecurity jobs.

Knowing which cert is right for you is doing some research and talking to professionals in the field.

Conclusion

Now you know what it takes to land a job in cybersecurity. By following our suggestions, you can start on your path to a career that you love. Ready to get started in your cybersecurity education? You can start with our educators at Jones & Bartlett Learning.