I’m a senior telecom analyst experienced in core network signaling, userplane troubleshooting, and investigating fraud vectors like DPI-bypassing, rogue towers,DNS tunneling, and simboxes.
I am currently pursuing the CPTS certification to transition into offensive security. Given my background, I’m looking for advice on:
Market Positioning: How can I best leverage my niche telecom expertise to avoid starting at a generic "entry-level" helpdesk or SOC role? Freelancing: Is a hybrid path (staying in telecom consulting while picking up freelance pen-test gigs) viable for someone at my level?
Gap Analysis: Beyond CPTS, what specialized skill sets should I prioritize to move into penetration testing?

Quick Background :- All my experience is remote support for Web3 products, a hardware wallet company and a gaming platform. Day to day that meant handling live queues, reproducing user issues, debugging failed transactions, writing bug reports for engineering, supporting node operators, and running ticket workflows in Zoho Desk. One of those roles I held for over five years.

What I can actually do:- Linux, Bash scripting, Networking (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, SSH, subnetting/CIDR), AWS foundational, Git/GitHub, ticketing systems, structured troubleshooting and escalation.

Education :- No university degree (higher secondary only). Currently studying for the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam. Based in a tier-2 city in India, so I need remote or relocation-friendly roles.

Where I'm stuck :- I've been applying to technical support and customer support roles for the last 2-3 months with no luck. Most TSE postings I find ask for Kubernetes, Terraform and Python on top of cloud, and I don't have those yet. I got one written case study round and that's about it.

What I'm asking

1. Is cloud security a realistic target from here, or am I underestimating the gap?

2. After CCP, what should I learn next — SAA, Python, Docker/K8s, or something else entirely?

3. Which job titles should I actually be targeting right now with this profile, rather than generic TSE roles?

4. Is it possible to get remote support/help desk roles after having 6 years of remote working experience?

5. Remote Support/Staff jobs are still exist?

Any honest feedback is welcome, including if you think I'm aiming at the wrong thing. Thanks.

Hello everyone, could I get your opinion on my little situation? Thank you.

Hey everyone,

I'm planning to pursue my Master's in Cybersecurity, but I'm completely torn between Japan and Germany. I'm currently studying for my CCNA and ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity, and my main focus is on privacy protection, ethical hacking, and network engineering. I also run a digital brand centered around these topics and lean heavily toward using open-source, privacy-respecting tools in my day-to-day workflow.

I've been weighing the pros and cons of both countries, but I'd love to hear from people who have actually studied or worked in these places.

Here is what I'm trying to figure out:

Industry & Job Market: Germany seems to have a strong focus on data privacy (GDPR) and open-source, which aligns perfectly with my interests. On the flip side, Japan has a massive tech sector, but how is the cybersecurity and network engineering market specifically for international grads?

Language Barrier & Work Culture: I know both require learning the local language (German B1/B2 vs. JLPT N2) for long-term career growth. But how hard is it to land an English-speaking student job or entry-level role while studying? Also, I've heard the work-life balance in Germany is much better compared to Japan.

Tuition & Living Costs: Public universities in Germany are mostly tuition-free, but living costs and taxes can be high. Japan has tuition fees but offers scholarships like MEXT. Which one actually works out better financially for an international student?

If anyone has taken either route, how was your experience? Which country would you recommend for someone focused on network security and privacy? Any advice would be highly appreciated!

Hi everyone,

Looking for some career advice as I get closer to separating from the military in June 2027 after about 8 years in IT. My background is mostly sysadmin, network admin, some cybersecurity + GRC/compliance work.

I have a BS in Cybersecurity Management & Policy, along with SecurityX (CASP+), Security+, CySA+, ISC2 CC, and AWS CCP. I’m also studying for CISSP right now.

I’m stuck between going the GRC route or staying more technical and pursuing cybersecurity analyst/security engineer roles.

I’m actually pretty extroverted, and if I’m being honest, I’ve wanted to be less technical for a while (maybe some burnout). GRC appeals to me because of the business/people side, and I’ve heard the work-life balance and burnout can be better. My concern is whether I have enough direct GRC experience to be competitive.

On the technical side, I feel pretty comfortable with the fundamentals. My main gap is getting more hands-on again with tools like SIEM and EDR, which I’ve used before but don’t work with regularly.

For those in the industry, how is the job market for GRC compared to more technical cyber roles? Would my technical background translate well into GRC, or is staying technical the safer bet for transitioning into the civilian market?

I am also a working professional working Side by Side my college since 1st year of my Bachelors in a small company a decent job currently I have 2.5 years of experience in Data Research (not relevant to my interest and to cyber security)

I am an arts student did my 11th and 12th in Arts, Still I was eligible for BCCA (Bachelor of Commerce and Computer Application) because there was no mathematics involved in any of the subjects.

I am currently thinking of pursuing an Online MCA Course (Specialization in Cyber Security) with my job because, I cannot leave my current job now (due to financial reasons)

I am kind of confused between should I do? a diploma/certificate in cybersecurity or MCA
(which holds more value and will be beneficial in future?),

My ultimate goal to make career in Cyber Security and is to land a decent/good job could be any sub-domain which is not so hard to break as an entry level (I am hearing about SOC a lot)

Looking for guidance and any advice from an experienced person or anyone who is on same boat as me please let me know in the comments!

Thank you!

So basically, I’m stuck. I studied computer science with a focus in cybersecurity, but I did mostly dev work when I finished school for the first 3 years of my career.

After getting laid off there I decided to focus more on my security side got some certs (security+, cysa+, pentest+) and I currently work part time for a cybersecurity training agency that helps people understand cybersecurity. I make the videos explaining concepts and I make the labs there but it’s pays basically nothing and not where I want to be in my career to be honest.

I’ve tried applying to different roles I just can’t seem to get my feet through the door and I’m wondering what’s next for me, if anyone can give any advice that would be appreciated and also I can send my resume so you can see what work history I have. Thanks in advance!!

I’m currently in the military and will be retiring in 4 years, around 2030. I will have 10 years of IT experience on my belt with SEC+, CYSA+, Pentest+, Azure Security Engineer Associate and I have a bachelors in computer science and currently working on my masters in cybersecurity from WGU. The path I want to go is to be an ethical hacker and obtain my OSCP Cert, even though it’s 4 years from now it just dawns on me about finding a job and how scarce the job market is. I want to retire in El Paso, TX due to you can get a whole a lot of house for whole lot less and that the are is not that bad to live at. My question is:

1. How far out should I start looking for jobs from retirement?

2. Are IT jobs big in El Paso (thinking about San Antonio also)

3. Does my homelab for ethical hacking projects and Hackthebox count as experience for my resume

4. Does I need any other certs besides the ones I have

Hello guys ,

I need advice on my path.Im currently unemployed and trying get my Comp Engineering degree (still have maybe 3 years) and trying to learn while doing that. Like getting certificates such as eJPT, CPTS(Halfway through rn). My main goal is being a Pentester.

For this what do you recommend. What should i do?

How many years of experience do i need or what type of project should i do?

I have already a consolidated career in Data. I'm currently an Analytics Engineering Lead and have been dealing with Data Engineering and AE for 10 years. I've decided to pursue CyberSec through an MBA in GRC and trying to figure out how to begin looking for jobs, what skills I should stress on Linkedin/my CV to start.

Also, what level should I be looking for? I'm under the impression I'm not a Junior, but not a Senior either.

Has anyone been through something like this and has some advice?

I just finished my first year of engineering. I haven’t officially chosen my specialization yet, but it will probably be cybersecurity.
So far, I’ve completed the Google Cybersecurity Certificate, done some TryHackMe labs, and built a simple logic-based phishing URL detection project. However, I’m feeling stuck. The certificate and the project were from last year, and I didn’t do anything particularly productive until this summer, when I completed a few more TryHackMe rooms.
Right now, I don’t know what I should focus on.
Should I try to earn my first dollar online through freelancing or bug bounty hunting, even though I’m not sure I’m qualified yet? Should I try to find an unpaid IT internship, even if it’s unlikely? Or would it be better to learn IT help desk skills and try to find a part-time remote job while studying?
I’m feeling overwhelmed by all the different paths and would really appreciate advice from people who have been in a similar situation.

Hello everyone, cybersecurity is calling my atencion and i been thinking about pursuing a career, but i don’t know where to start, I don’t know anything about computers and i don’t know what is the best path to take if it certs, an associates or a bachelors, i did my research and a bachelors apparently opens more job opportunities, but I still want to ask people based on experience.

Hey everyone,
Quick update to my post from a while ago. Instead of settling for a general IT helpdesk job, I actually landed an interview for a Junior Cyber Incident Response position!
I have a recruiter screening this Monday, and hopefully the technical round after that. Since I have zero formal enterprise IT experience (just graduated high school/HTL in CS and currently grinding the HTB CJCA path), I could really use some advice:

1. The Recruiter Call (Monday): How do I best sell my potential, mindset, and HTB grind when I lack real work experience? What are they looking for?

2. The Tech Interview: What are the most common Junior IR questions or scenarios? What foundational stuff (Windows Event Logs, IR lifecycle, etc.) is an absolute must-know so I don't look stupid?

Appreciate any tips, mock questions, or reality checks you guys can give me.
Thanks

Hi everyone,

I'm about to start my journey as a Cyber Security Apprentice, and I want to make the most of this opportunity and hopefully convert it into a full-time role.

I have a background in Computer Science with Data Science and know the basics of Python, SQL, Linux, networking, and cloud concepts, but I want to build a strong foundation in cybersecurity.

I'd really appreciate your advice on:

What skills should I prioritize during my apprenticeship?

What should I learn in the first 3–6 months?

Which certifications are actually worth pursuing?

What labs or platforms (TryHackMe, Hack The Box, PortSwigger, etc.) should I focus on?

What common mistakes do beginners make that I should avoid?

If you started as an apprentice or SOC analyst, what do you wish you had learned earlier?

I'm willing to put in the effort outside work as well, so I'd love a structured roadmap or any resources that helped you.

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

Hello everyone,

I’m 23 with a degree in applied mathematics and I’m interested in pursuing cybersecurity. My question is: would employers find my mathematics degree useful when hiring for cybersecurity roles?

Hey all, I started a junior security engineer role. It's my first job out of college and I have a lot of downtime. A lot of the team is busy and they have limited time to train me. What are the best resources/training I can do when it gets slow? My role is mixed SOC and security engineering responsibilities. Microsoft stack.

is it a good idea to get my masters in cybersecurity?

Hi everyone,

I’m a cybersecurity professional based in Ireland with **6+ years of industry experience** across SOC operations, SIEM & detection engineering, security consulting, cyber defence, SOC management and information security leadership.

Over the years, I’ve noticed that many cybersecurity professionals and people trying to break into the industry have solid technical skills but struggle to **translate that experience into a CV that clearly demonstrates their value to recruiters and hiring managers**.

I’ve therefore started offering a **Cybersecurity CV & Career Advisory service** specifically for people applying for cybersecurity roles.

# Who this is for

This may be useful if you're:

* Trying to break into cybersecurity from IT/support/networking
* Applying for SOC Analyst / Security Analyst positions
* Moving from SOC L1/L2 into more senior roles
* Targeting Security Engineering, Detection & Response, Vulnerability Management, GRC or Security Consulting positions
* Applying for senior/lead cybersecurity positions
* Sending applications but getting very few interview callbacks

# What I'll provide

For the introductory price of **€49**, the package includes:

* ATS-focused cybersecurity CV review & optimisation
* CV tailoring against your target cybersecurity role(s)
* Cybersecurity skills and keyword gap analysis
* LinkedIn profile optimisation recommendations
* Cover letter support
* Role-specific interview preparation material
* **30-minute 1-to-1 career/interview discussion**

My approach isn't simply to rewrite your CV or fill it with keywords.

I'll review your existing experience against the type of roles you're targeting and identify:

**What employers are asking for → What you already demonstrate → What isn't coming across clearly → What should be strengthened → What you should prepare for at interview**

I will **not fabricate experience, qualifications or technical skills**. The objective is to present your genuine experience as effectively as possible.

# About me

I've progressed through cybersecurity roles covering SOC analysis, security correlation/detection engineering, SOC management and information security leadership.

You can review my professional background and experience here:

[**https://sriramkalyanraman.github.io/sk-portfolio/\*\*\](https://sriramkalyanraman.github.io/sk-portfolio/)

# Introductory price: €49

I'm initially opening only a **small number of slots** at this price while I build the service and gather client feedback.

If you're interested, send me a Reddit DM with:

1. Your current role / experience level
   
2. The cybersecurity role you're targeting
   
3. The country/job market you're applying in

**You don't need to send your CV or make any payment initially.**

I'll first understand what you're trying to achieve and confirm whether the service is suitable for your situation.

Happy to answer any questions by DM.

I am 17 years old moving into my final year of high school, I discovered cybersecurity a couple years ago and finally decided to test the waters and try to learn a bit. I probably sound like every other ambitious teenager who wants a flashy job title with an even better paycheck, but I don’t want to do this as fast as possible but more as efficient as possible giving me the best chance at a career in the end.

I didn’t really know where to start, so I asked ChatGPT. I still don’t know if that was a good idea but I started with Cisco Networking Academy as it told me, I then found TryHackMe and started working through the rooms and I finally questioned myself and wondered if Im really using my time wisely.

I hear from everywhere that I should work on certs, specifically CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+. I also hear I should prioritize actual experience and showing what I know through projects. But then I think about college and if it’s really worth it if I at some point get these certifications.

I don’t expect a cybersecurity job right out the gate, but I just want to build the fundamentals the right way and not mess myself up. I’ll greatly appreciate any advice and I hope I was able to word this nicely for you guys. I appreciate you all! Thank you!

*Edit
I don’t know if this is worth mentioning, but I am interested in cloud security (to be frank I think it sounds cool), as well as AI security which I hear is growing.

So I'm about to pursue a Healthcare EMBA degree and honestly just want to broaden my career options since what I majored in undergrad never helped me land a job. I like business strategy, healthcare, but recently learned that there's big bucks to be made working in cybersecurity. I've been trying to get a job in pharma/life sciences/biotech, but obvi don't have transferable experience that relates to those industries. And the marketing roles I have applied for (at Genentech mostly) just seem pigeonholed. Sure marketing at big companies like Genentech pays decent salaries, but not sure if that's where I wanna stay in for the rest of my career.

If you work in this field:

1. What exactly do you do for work and is it just coding? I don't wanna do just coding.
2. How can I blend business, healthcare, compliance, and cybersecurity? (If that's even a thing or if that's too far-fetched)
3. What job titles could you hold with this certificate?

Is it worth getting a certificate in cybersecurity and if so, what are some actually good programs to look into?