Does anyone have any recommendations on how to enter into Cyber Security?
I am attending school for a bachelor's in Cyber Security and have a year left.
What internships should I look out for?
I want to get in with a good company and get some real-world experience. I cannot seem to find job applications for this specific area as easily as I thought.
Answers
Have you looked in Healthcare? I spent 16 years in Healthcare and security was in big demand when i retired.
I’d suggest that you network at the target company or industry. Use LinkedIn to find people already working there and reach out to them. Ask them the process they used to get hired and ask them to help you navigate the hiring process and if they are willing, ask them to submit you as a referral. These activities require much more time on your part but in my opinion would greatly increase your chances for success. Good luck!
I would highly advise that you go to the Department of Labor and search for cybersecurity apprenticeship programs. There are many that are launched or being launched. We run one that is based in San Diego and is for currently serving through Skillbridge, or new veterans within one year of getting out. Entry cybersecuirty is not like normal entry level. Apprenticeships are formal, 6-12 month long programs that are paid. Internships tend to be short term, and sometimes paid, but low wage. If you or anyone that is qualified wants to learn more about our program, go to www.usvalor.org. Good luck Dominic.
Hi Dominic,
Cybersecurity is a great career choice and there are literally thousands of open jobs. As with all job, the key is experience and how to get it. A great place to start is doing an internship or working at one of the 800 cybersecurity vendors out there. Here are two that have great programs for veterans.
https://www.fortinet.com/training/veterans-program
https://military.microsoft.com/programs/microsoft-software-systems-academy/
https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/about-us/veterans
https://www.netacad.com/
also there is a group I have worked with in the past that focuses on placing veterans into cyber jobs - https://7eagle.com/
An approach that many veterans I know have taken is to become and expert on a class of technology (firewalls, SIEMs, EDR, etc.) by a vendor that offers that tech and use that to get hired by a company that uses that technology. Another approach is to start by working at one of the vendor companies that support veterans as a security analyst and work your way up the ladder. Either way, get some experience by working with a cybersecurity vendor that supports veterans is one of the easier paths to get that first two or three years of experience.
Finally, the RSA show is at the Moscone center in San Fran the week of June 6.
The tradeshow floor will have every cyber vendor there is. Walking around that floor, talking to the vendors at the booths and see who is hiring is an approach that has been successful for many. If you want to drive up and attend the event for day here is a free pass to the floor.
Registration link: https://path.rsaconference.com/flow/rsac/us22/us22regdefault/login
Invitation Code - 52ECYGLASXP
I will be working at the CyGlass booth on Tuesday and Wednesday, so stop by and say hello.
Good luck with your search!
Bill Munroe
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