How to Gain Early Traction in Cybersecurity

If I had to restart my cybersecurity journey from zero… this is exactly what I’d do. No BS. No 20 certs. No “learn everything.” No endless YouTube rabbit holes. Just a practical, step-by-step path that actually works 👇🏽 1) Pick your lane (so you don’t waste months) Cybersecurity is not one job. Choose a starting lane: Blue Team (Defense): SOC, incident response GRC (Governance/Risk/Compliance): policies, risk, audits Cloud/Security Engineering: AWS/Azure security AppSec: secure coding, web app security If you’re unsure, start with Blue Team or GRC — easiest entry points. 2) Learn the fundamentals like a normal human You only need 4 foundations: ✅ How the internet works (basic networking) ✅ How accounts/logins work (identity & access) ✅ How data is stored & moved (endpoints + cloud basics) ✅ How attacks happen (common scams, phishing, malware) If you can explain these to a 12-year-old, you’re ready to move on. 3) Build a simple home lab (don’t overcomplicate it) You don’t need fancy gear. One laptop VirtualBox (or any VM tool) A Windows VM + a Linux VM Practice: updates, users, permissions, firewalls, logs Your goal: get comfortable touching systems without fear. 4) Learn security by solving real problems (not theory) Do these weekly: Spot phishing attempts (email examples) Set up MFA everywhere Secure a home Wi-Fi router Review permissions on your phone Practice incident basics: “What would I do first?” Security is a habit, not a textbook. 5) Pick ONE beginner cert (not five) If I was restarting today, I’d choose ONE: ISC2 CC (great foundation) Or Security+ (widely recognized) One cert + real practice beats 6 certs and no skills. 6) Create 3 portfolio projects (this is what gets interviews) You don’t need a job to build proof. Examples: A “Home Network Security Checklist” with screenshots A “Phishing Spotter Guide” with real examples A “Incident Response One-Pager” for small businesses Put them on LinkedIn or a simple portfolio page. 7) Start showing up on LinkedIn the right way Don’t post “I’m excited to learn cybersecurity” 50 times 😅 Post what you’re learning like this: “Before you click a link, do this instead…” “How to secure your email in 5 minutes…” “What I learned from a scam attempt today…” Consistency builds credibility. 8) Apply for realistic entry roles (don’t aim too high too early) Start here: SOC Analyst (Tier 1) IT Support with security focus GRC Analyst / Risk Analyst Security Coordinator Identity Admin (IAM support) Security careers often start adjacent to security. 9) Find a mentor + community (this speeds everything up) One good mentor can save you a year of guessing. Join communities, ask for feedback, and build relationships — not just resumes. 10) Be patient, but aggressive This journey rewards consistency. If you do the basics daily for 90 days, you’ll be shocked at the progress. Share this with someone considering a career transition 🙂

Cybersecurity Career Tips #1 If you want to enter the cybersecurity field, it’s not enough to just pick a list of courses, complete them, generate certificates, and think the job will come naturally. And it’s definitely not just about adding certifications to your resume that’s only one step in the process. It’s essential to learn what is applied in real work contexts. You don’t need to study C if you’ll never use it in your daily tasks. Your studies should be aligned with your actual needs. My first recommendation if you want to become a cybersecurity professional is to understand what the market is looking for. Analyze open positions in your region or remote roles, define the requirements for each position, and identify the practical skills you need. Platforms such as HackTheBox, TryHackMe, PortSwigger Academy, PentesterLab, and Root-Me are excellent for hands-on learning. I strongly recommend investing your time in acquiring real-world skills. Write write-ups, share your journey here on LinkedIn or other networks, build personal projects and publish them on GitHub, connect with other professionals, and expand your network both online and at industry events. Also, develop your soft skills. Communication is critical, even in a job interview. Being able to translate technical issues into business impact is just as important as technical knowledge. A common way to start a career is by working in consulting firms. There are many opportunities at different seniority levels. It may not be your dream job, but it opens doors. Prepare your resume for the positions you aim for and highlight the key points that match the role especially if specific knowledge is required. A resume will only be considered if it demonstrates the right skills, relevant training or certifications (to validate your expertise), and professional autonomy. And don’t limit your job search to LinkedIn. It’s great for networking, but when it comes to landing jobs, explore alternatives. Target companies that interest you and check their career pages many positions are never posted on LinkedIn. Above all, stay focused. Don’t try to learn everything at once. Concentrate on what will land you your first job, and then expand your knowledge base to increase your seniority or pivot to other areas. But the real secret lies in how you communicate and sell your work your knowledge, your problem-solving mindset, and your ability to handle situations consistently. #CyberSecurity #InfoSec #CareerAdvice #Hacking #TechJobs #SoftSkills

How to Stand Out in Cybersecurity Without Stacking Certs Skills >> Certs My advice for standing out 1 - Master Hands-On Skills - Employers look for real-world experience, not just theoretical knowledge. - Set up a home lab, explore platforms like TryHackMe and Hack The Box, and work on practical security challenges. - Hands-on experience with SIEMs, EDRs, and cloud security tools will set you apart. 2 - Build Thought Leadership - Sharing knowledge is just as important as gaining it. Write blog posts on security topics, break down complex concepts on LinkedIn, or contribute to open-source security projects. 3 - Create a Cybersecurity Portfolio on GitHub - A strong portfolio speaks louder than a certification. Document your security projects, scripts, and research in a GitHub repository. - Whether it's writing detection rules, automating security tasks, or demonstrating exploit research, showcasing real work helps you stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. 4 - Create a Course or Tutorial - Teaching is one of the best ways to establish credibility in cybersecurity. Create a short course, video tutorial, or step-by-step guide on a cybersecurity concept you’ve mastered. - Platforms like YouTube, Udemy, or a personal blog are great places to start. Helping others learn positions you as an expert and opens doors to new opportunities. A strong cybersecurity career is built on hands-on skills, a solid portfolio, and the ability to share knowledge effectively. If you focus on these areas, you can succeed in cybersecurity—CISSP or not.

Most cybersecurity beginners waste months on the wrong topics. In 2013, When I sat for the interview of Security Analyst position, I shuttered while answering basic questions. It wasn't that I hadn't learned these concepts—I simply assumed I knew them well enough. Then I realised something. There are some core topics that serve as a foundation and mastering these will make everything else easier. So, you don’t need to know everything to get started. But there are 10 foundational topics that will actually move the needle: Here’s what actually matters: 1️⃣ Networking basics—TCP/IP, subnets, firewalls.     2️⃣ Operating systems—Linux security fundamentals.     3️⃣ Identity & Access Management (IAM)—how permissions and authentication work.    4️⃣ Threat modelling—spotting weaknesses before attackers do. 5️⃣ Data Security —at rest, in motion, and in-memory.      6️⃣ Cryptogrpahy —how data stays secure.     7️⃣ Web security—common vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10).     8️⃣ Security frameworks— CIS benchmarks.     9️⃣ Cloud security—AWS or Azure or GCP security basics.     🔟 Scripting—basic Python, Bash, Go for automation.     Focusing on these first will save you time, frustration, and dead ends. Pick one, learn deeply, then move to the next. The sooner you build this foundation, the faster you'll grow into a skilled cybersecurity engineer. Liked what you read ? You may also like 👉 How You Can Prioritise Cybersecurity Skills (Even With Limited Time) - https://lnkd.in/dXDsSvtC

If I could restart my cybersecurity career, here's what I'd do differently: I spent my first 2 years trying to learn everything about security. Firewalls, pentesting, malware analysis, cloud, GRC, incident response—all of it. Result? I was mediocre at everything and great at nothing. What actually worked: Pick a lane and go deep first. I chose cloud security and IAM. Spent a year becoming the "Azure security guy" on my team. Learned Sentinel inside and out. Mastered Entra ID and Conditional Access. Got really good at one thing. Then the other skills came easier because I had context. Stop chasing every certification. Early on I thought certs = career progress. They help, but they're not enough. Security+, AZ-500, and working toward CISSP? Great. That's a solid foundation. But the hiring manager cares more about: "Have you actually built a SIEM from scratch? Can you architect Zero Trust? Have you led an incident response?" Experience > certifications. Every time. Get comfortable with "I don't know... yet." Security is too broad for anyone to know everything. The people who succeed aren't the ones who pretend to have all the answers. They're the ones who know how to figure it out fast. Build in public (even a little). I wish I'd started sharing what I was learning earlier. Write a blog post about implementing Conditional Access. Post a KQL query that solved a problem. Share lessons from an IR. It builds your reputation and helps others. Win-win. Bottom line: Specialize first, generalize later. Get hands-on experience however you can. Stay curious. And don't compare your chapter 1 to someone else's chapter 10. What's one thing you wish you'd known earlier in your security career? #Cybersecurity #CareerAdvice #InfoSec #CloudSecurity #CyberSecurityCareers #ITSecurity

Tips I give my students as they graduate and start looking for their first cybersecurity role: 1. Turn your school projects into a living portfolio. Spin up a GitHub page or personal site where you walk through 2-3 of your strongest class labs or projects. Explain the task, the tools you used, how you solved the problem, and what you would do differently now that you know more.   2. Build credibility in public spaces. Keep an updated LinkedIn profile. React to posts from people already in roles you want, share short snippets of your experiences, labs, or CTF challenges, and ask thoughtful questions. A dozen genuine interactions a week snowball into relationships, and those relationships often lead straight to interviews that never hit the job boards.   3. Keep your skills sharp. Pick a hands-on platform; TryHackMe, Hack the Box, OverTheWire, Security Blue Team, Immersive Labs, TCM Security, etc -- and commit to an hour a day. Treat it like the gym and be consistent. Then document. Create a blog or write short posts on LinkedIn. The goal is to keep learning and share what you're learning.   4. Nurture soft skills. Cybersecurity is a team sport. Practice explaining vulnerabilities to non-technical friends in plain language and learn to write concise and detailed write-ups. Always question and seek clarification. You'll never regret working on your writing and speaking skills, no matter where your career might take you. What did I miss? Have some good advice for a new college graduate ready to find their next role? #CyberSecurity #Graduation #GetHired

"Security+ is your golden ticket to cybersecurity!" That's what everyone told me. They were wrong. After completing a penetration testing bootcamp and passing Security+ on my first attempt, I thought companies would be fighting over me. Reality hit hard. Rejection after rejection after rejection. Each "thanks, but we're looking for someone with more experience" email felt like a punch to the gut. Here's the brutal truth they don't tell you: Certifications open doors. But they don't guarantee you'll walk through them. The real game-changer? Experience. But here's the catch-22 that's crushing new cybersecurity professionals: → Need experience to get hired → Need to get hired to gain experience So how do you break this cycle? • Build a home lab and document everything • Contribute to open-source security projects • Volunteer for local nonprofits' security assessments • Start a cybersecurity blog sharing your learning journey • Join bug bounty programs (even small findings count) • Network at local cybersecurity meetups and conferences Your Security+ proves you know the theory. Your projects prove you can apply it. Don't let anyone tell you that one certification is enough. It's just the beginning. The cybersecurity field needs passionate people who are willing to grind, learn, and prove themselves beyond a test score. What's one way you've gained hands-on security experience outside of formal employment? Drop it in the comments – let's help others break through this barrier. 👇

Why Some Cybersecurity Beginners Move Fast, And Others Stay Stuck I’ve spoken to a lot of people trying to break into cybersecurity. Bootcamp graduates. Self taught learners. Career switchers. People hungry for a breakthrough. Some stay stuck for years. Others move forward much faster. It’s rarely intelligence. It’s usually patterns. Here’s what I notice. The top 1% are not smarter. They are not luckier. They do not have special connections. Many people stay stuck because they focus only on learning, not positioning. They take courses, collect certificates, watch videos. But they don’t translate what they know into something employers can understand. Most beginners focus on collecting. Certificates. Courses. Tools. Notes. The top 1%? They learn, then immediately ask: “How do I show this in a way that proves value?” Another difference is direction. Some people try to learn everything. SOC today, cloud tomorrow, GRC next week. No depth, no story, no clarity. The ones who move faster pick a path and build around it. There’s also the context gap. Knowing how to run a tool is different from knowing why an organisation needs it. Employers hire people who understand problems, not just buttons. And then there’s consistency. Many start strong, then slow down when results don’t come quickly. The people who break through keep going through the quiet phase. Finally, the top performers invest in visibility. They share projects. They engage with the community. They build relationships. They don’t wait to be discovered. And here’s the biggest difference. They take feedback seriously. They send their CV for review. They rewrite it. They test it again. They improve their LinkedIn. They refine how they speak about their value. The average person wants motivation. The top 1% want correction. Focus on doing the right things repeatedly. Breaking into cybersecurity is less about doing more. It is about doing the right things deliberately. If you’re entry level right now, ask yourself: Are you just collecting credentials? Or are you building evidence? Follow Jonathan Ayodele for more Cybersecurity career insights. #CybersecurityCareerGrowth

Breaking Into Cybersecurity with No Experience: A Step-by-Step Guide Cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand fields, but getting started with no experience can feel overwhelming. If you’re new to IT/cybersecurity, follow this step-by-step roadmap👇🏾 📌 Step 1: Learn IT & Cybersecurity Basics ✅ Networking: TCP/IP, DNS, Firewalls → Cisco Networking Academy ✅ Operating Systems: Windows & Linux → Intro to Linux ✅ Security Fundamentals: Threats, vulnerabilities → Cybersecurity Fundamentals 📌 Step 2: Get Hands-on Experience (No Job Needed!) 💡 Set up a home lab (VirtualBox, Wireshark, Kali Linux). 💡 Practice in labs → TryHackMe | Hack The Box 💡 SIEM & Log Analysis → Splunk Free Training 📌 Step 3: Get Certified (Boost Your Resume!) 🎯 CompTIA Security+ (Entry-Level Cybersecurity Cert) → Professor Messer Study Guide 🎯 Google Cybersecurity Certificate → Google Cybersecurity 📌 Step 4: Build Your Portfolio & Resume 💡 Create a GitHub (Upload security projects) → How to Build a Portfolio 💡 Optimize LinkedIn (Certifications, projects, skills) 💡 Write Cybersecurity Blog Posts (Share what you learn!) 📌 Step 5: Gain Experience (Before Your First Job!) 🔹 Internships & Volunteering → USAJobs | CyberSafe Foundation 🔹 Bug Bounty Hunting → HackerOne | Bugcrowd 🔹 Freelance IT Work (Tech support, security assessments) 📌 Step 6: Apply for Entry-Level Cybersecurity Jobs ✅ Job Titles to Look For: IT Help Desk, SOC Analyst, Cybersecurity Analyst ✅ Job Boards for Cybersecurity Jobs: LinkedIn Jobs | Indeed 💡 Cybersecurity is a growing field, and YOU can break in! Drop a comment below: What step are you working on right now? 👇🏾 #Cybersecurity #CyberSecCareer #CareerChange #SecurityPlus #ITSupport #WomenInCybersecurity #BreakingIntoTech

How I’d enter cybersecurity, zero background A lot of people DM me this 👇 “Victoria, I don’t have a degree. No certifications. No connections. Can I still get into cybersecurity?” Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Only if you do it strategically. If I had to start today with absolute zero cybersecurity experience, this is exactly what I’d do step by step. Step 1: Pick ONE cybersecurity lane Cybersecurity is not one job. It’s an umbrella. ❌ “I want a cybersecurity job” ✅ “I want this cybersecurity role” You can choose: 🔹 SOC Analyst (fastest entry) 🔹 GRC Analyst (non-technical path) 🔹 Network / App Security 🔹 Cloud Security 👉 Pick one lane. 👉 Go deep. 👉 Ignore the rest (for now). Step 2: Skill up This is where most beginners mess up. They see: ❌ 10 certifications ❌ Expensive bootcamps ❌ Too much noise Instead: ➡️ Start with one foundational cert (like Security+) ➡️ Pair it with hands-on labs Step 3: Build proof, not promises Recruiters don’t care what you say you know. They care what you can show. ✅ Home lab write-ups ✅ GitHub repositories ✅ LinkedIn posts documenting learning Your portfolio should speak before you do. Step 4: Network like a human Not “please refer me” messages. Instead: ➡️ Share what you’re learning ➡️ Join cyber communities (LinkedIn, Discord) ➡️ Talk to people already in the field You’re building visibility, not begging for favours. Step 5: Apply strategically Don’t spray resumes. 🎯 Target junior roles 🎯 Target smaller companies 🎯 Personalise messages And yes, help desk roles count. That’s how many cybersecurity careers actually start (including mine). Bonus: Master fundamentals If you know: 🧠 Linux 🌐 Networking 🗄️ Databases You’re already ahead of most beginners. Cybersecurity rewards focus + patience. Not shortcuts. ♻️ Repost to support your network ➕ Follow Victoria Coker for authentic leadership & career growth