Part 2 Preparing for and mastering your job search

You have made it this far, which means that with a greater understanding of cybersecurity, you must still be interested in pursuing a career in this field. That is great news—congratulations!

Now that we’ve talked about the field, it is time for us to talk about you. No career journey can begin without self-examination and planning. You have seen just how vast the options are in cybersecurity careers, but you likely have questions or are unsure about which path is right for you. Additionally, you are probably beyond ready to start talking about practical strategies for launching your career. I mean, this is the Cybersecurity Career Guide, after all.

As you continue with part 2, we’ll begin in chapter 4 by getting to know who you are and how your interests align to various roles in cybersecurity. Chapter 4 presents a progression of exercises that will assist you with this exploration. You will also learn strategies for connecting your core skills to potential jobs.

The discussion in chapter 5 focuses more on preparing your skills for a cybersecurity career path. We will examine training, academics, and certification options and their impact on your first job search. Even less formal community-based opportunities for learning are presented to give you a more comprehensive view of ways to develop your knowledge.

Finally, in chapter 6, you will find strategies for winning that first job. You will learn tactics for building the best resume you can, preparing for various forms of interviews, and even handling negotiations for the best possible job offer.

Now it is time to really dig in and start setting forth practical steps that will get you into this new career path with ease. Armed with the knowledge gained in part 2, you will be ready to start applying to jobs and working to win that all-important first cybersecurity position.