The market defines a value, you define your value. If your skills are there to back Whenever someone asks me for career advice it’s usually the same questions. Which to me means the either the system is failing us, or we are delusional and thinking the same mess. Either way something is wrong. Here are some of the questions I get asked the most…
Q: How do I get into cybersecurity? I’m planning to get a degree which one should I get?
A: Get any degree you want especially if you’re at the undergraduate level. For masters information systems is sufficient. You don’t have to have an engineering degree. My undergrad is in anthropology which has prepared me more for this field than any other degree. Understanding people, the end user, is more beneficial than some math I never use.
Q: So, aren’t you good at math?
A: LMAO, no. Far from it. I’m good at excel, Microsoft’s greatest calculator. Information systems programs are not filled with math mostly business courses. If you want math be a computer engineer.
Q: What do you follow to stay on top of new security tools?
A: It’s impossible to stay on top of everything but the big things are easy. Between Twitter and Instagram, I look for people already doing all the research and disseminating information. I take what I see condensed in media then go research it for myself. Following Gartner and Forrester is good if you want to know who’s paying them to be known. Also, good because most executives read those however it’s on you to dig deeper and find what tools mentioned are worth their weight.
Q: How do I know which career path to choose?
A: Follow your heart if you don’t have one then follow the trends. Start in the general space of cybersecurity, get exposures to the different areas, see what really peaked your interest and keep going with that. This is where I think starting in consulting really helps. You will have an opportunity to do just about everything in a shorter time than in industry.
Q: How much should I be making?
A: As much as you wantyou up, ask for what you want. There is no guide that says you will make $X. Therefore, I don’t support salaries being posted on jobs. Honestly, if I like the job and not the salary, and my skills fit the job. I’m still applying just to tell them they won’t get what they need paying that. It’s like the housing market, you don’t know what a house is worth until it’s sold. You don’t know what a job pays until it’s filled.
That’s it. If you have more questions, just ask.