In my position at a university, I often get questions from students (both adult learners and those fresh out of high school) on how to prepare themselves for the opportunities that are in abundance in the cybersecurity field. Because I did not grow up in academia but instead the military cyber/intelligence community, I may have a different perspective than my current peers.
Top 5 Axioms on Building Your Cybersecurity Resume
While there are many different ways to build your resume, over time, common trends continue to stand out. These five axioms consistently make candidates shine a little brighter in an interview.
1. Certifications or Degrees?
My honest opinion is both. If you have a degree and no certifications, your resume could lack validity of aptitude, because the employer has no real way of knowing what you were taught in your courses. Our students are advised early on, to start with the basics (Security+ for example), and wait until their sophomore year (preferably the end of it) to start studying for it. If you are taking college, classes that teach directly out of the Security+ or certifications study guide, that is fine; however, your overall cyber curriculum in college should contain more than that as the relationship between public and private sector, human factors, and trends in the field are important as well. As for the degrees, someday soon, artificial intelligence will move into manual detection, mitigation, and testing activities more so than it already is. In that case, a degree could very well be a tiebreaker that gets you into a management or supervisory position. My dad worked at Boeing in avionics as a technician for 40 years (had a wall full of certifications), and he never moved into management because he lacked a degree, even though he knew the programs better than his supervisors or the engineers. That is why he made sure his kids went to college. Consider a minor in a closely related field such as Criminal Justice, Information Sciences or even Psychology to separate you from the pack. Oh, and good grades do not hurt as well.
2. Internships.
There are official channels that you may apply for through college placement offices. Internships can lead to permanent jobs with the company you are interning for or can simply be another example of a strong resume. Again, while patience can be easier to say than exhibit, unless you are far ahead of your peers in proficiency, I would wait until after your sophomore year to begin one. If the official channels do not provide opportunities, find the faculty or advisors with connections in the field and ask them to work their network for you if they feel you are qualified. I enjoy doing that, as I am at the point in my life, where the giving is much more enjoyable that the getting. I find most faculty, advisors and staff are flattered that you think enough of them to ask for help. If, of interest to you, the professors also may have research projects that you can help with, which can lead to self-growth, potential work-study credit, and another line on your resume.
3. Competitions.
There is an abundance of cyber competitions, both government and privately sponsored, that can be entered as an individual or team. This DHS site, Cyber Competitions, lists numerous opportunities for students in high school and college. Also, if there is a cybersecurity or Linux club on your campus, I strongly consider joining it. Your network will increase as a result.
4. Consider Government Service.
While wearing a uniform is not for everyone, there are many civilian opportunities in the federal, state, or local sectors that are available. Many contractor jobs in DoD are filled by those who started working for the government in some capacity. Of course, when you get a security clearance awarded because of your government position, it can lead to a multitude of options later down the road. Finally, you might find that you like the regular vibe of this type of work, the benefits associated with it, and the camaraderie that you can develop. Making a career out of working for the government is appealing to many.
5. Volunteer.
Coming from someone who has sat on a multitude of hiring and scholarship boards, those that volunteer to help the community in some way get points for character (which is hard to judge sometimes through limited exposure). Work a kid’s cyber boot camp in the summer, aid a nonprofit in cyber education resource finding, or simply help your community, faith based pillar, or friends in need with various projects. Again, willing faculty, staff, and university leadership should be able to point you in the right direction.
Get Ahead in the Cybersecurity World
The above is not carved in stone, but simply seen through my old eyes as ways to get ahead in the cybersecurity world. Providing support to others is a joy from my vantage point, so please feel free to contact me at the information listed if you would like to discuss further. I am always happy to try and help.
