As a 20+ year security leader, this is a good beginning to getting into the field. I would add another huge item that helps getting past HR when you have 0 experience. Do you help your neighbors and friends setup their wireless network? Casting to their TV? Fix their computers? Assist with community groups/non-profits/church/etc? That's experience! Independent Consulting counts even if it's not paid. If I see a candidate that has spent a few years setting up technology, or cleaning up malware I will take them over someone with just schooling and no real-world experience. Remember that basic IT is fundamental even for cybersecurity jobs. And don't think with no experience you are going to jump into anything but a junior role. What I look for is passion for learning, and eagerness to get better. OJT is the best experience and will help you move up in the industry. I hope this adds some value to your job hunt- good luck!
I am interested in starting my IT career and willing to start at the bottom to learn and start in the industry. Do you have any opportunities available?
@@RJ-is9ko This is pretty situational, in my experience. If it's a position where the candidate is expected to grow into the position, this can be good evidence to show potential. Definitely worth adding if the other credentials aren't the where the job posting would like them to be.
Damn are you serious? LOL that's so dope. Can you tell me more details? If you reply to this, it might get buried. But if you have time, can you DM on LinkedIn or something? Huge congrats, that's so amazing!
@@ewcrisp41 don’t worry they teach you everything. Hiring process is to kinda scare people off and it’s just how the system runs. If u get anyone educated easily they can learn all the tools and become cyber security analysts
That's incredible. Thanks Josh for adding value to people's lives. I'm new in the field but all I see is encouraging words from your followers, so away we go!!!!!
Just like everyone else here, thank you. Been working in warehouses for the last 10 years and have been thinking about the change. I’ve already started CompTIA security+ practice but started to get nervous about it all because I have no experience. Between this video and the comments, I’ve gained the confidence to keep moving forward. Good things are coming for us all!
I'm glad. I listened to this and actually found it motivated me less to get into IT. Maybe I can't jell with the host, sounds like he's just waffling but guess we are all different. Keep it up and Goodluck 🙏
I just want to say your channel has played a huge part in my success. Around the time this video came out I had 0 experience in information technology and I was very discouraged. I’d tried many things to get into IT and I was very skeptical at first. I said screw it, what do I have to lose? I followed this advice and pointers from some of your other videos to the letter and I almost instantly landed a PRN role and that company just hired me on full time in Software Implementation. With your guidance and a lot of sleepless nights and hard work, my dream came true. Thank you.
The fact that you've gone from "I hope to have 10k subs" to actually having over 300k in just 7 months is a testament to the top-tier value you are providing in this channel.
Thank you so much for this! I’m 34 and been in dead end jobs my whole life (fast food, call centre & factory work) and was made unemployed at the start of the pandemic. I’ve had enough of just “scraping by” for my wife and kids and have a huge passion for IT but the cost of cyber security courses are way out of reach. This has reignited my passion to get in to the industry in an affordable manner.
_I’ve had enough of just “scraping by” for my wife and kids_ Heck yeah, good for you. Wish you the best of luck with it! IT is really, _really_ good in terms of return-on-time invested. (Few months, get cert, get job). Glad the content was useful! Again, best of luck :)
Hey man, heads up. I’m 34 and been doing construction my entire adult life. Decided to make the transition I always knew would happen. Just finished my second interview as a security analyst. No prior experience, and only asked me to write my security +. There’s always time to change, put in the work, learn as much as possible, then give it a shot and apply.
@@8dayssooner 30 here, tired of beating myself up everyday just to make a dollar. Started doing some free courses a week ago and invested in some Udemy courses last night since they had huge discounts.
Josh, you’re a lifesaver. You’re putting these out as I’m earning my degree at WGU and while getting ready to start the job hunt. Perfect timing. Thank you for your help
Shoot, what good timing! Super glad they are useful for you. Best of luck with finishing up the degree and the job hunt! Also, don't hold back if you feel like you wanna apply to something good before you graduate! Just saying!
@@JoshMadakor Hi Sir, unfortunately i think wgu is not accepting applications from outside US. I’m currently here in UAE Middle east. Any other options you can suggest? Thanks!
Just decided to make the jump into Cyber Security this week with basically no experience. I can already tell this channel is going to be my #1 resource. VERY helpful and detailed advice!
You are a real gem! I'm new to cybersecurity -- the reluctant candidate who undervalued my experience across platforms and a multitude of industries where my employers ALWAYS put me on the implementation team whenever it was time to automate anything in the company. I'm stoked to know there's a name for what I do...it went unrecognized for so long because I made far too many assumptions about the world of cybersecurity. Thanks for this. I'm now a forever subscriber.
This is great stuff! I’m sure everyone has their own story of getting in the door. My story I would never recommend. I’m a 27 yo cybersecurity leader which wasn’t easy, hardest part was getting in the door. I don’t have any certs but have BS in Cyber security which did nothing for me lol. I never recommend someone going to school for this field. Self eduction is best imo. I interviewed all over the US in person until I found my first job as an associate information security analyst contractor role. Thankful for that opportunity and it was really the manager who gave me a chance with the job. Since then I have paid it forward giving an associate security analyst role and moved up some help desk analysts who have a lot of drive for analysts and engineer roles. Feels good to give back in this field.
It’s soooo refreshing reading the comments of stories similar to mine. I’ve always wanted to get into the cybersecurity/IT world but I always thought you needed a degree and I knew I was never gonna go back to school so I kinda settled for random jobs. The past 2 years I’ve been getting the itch more and to really look into trying to get into the field without a degree and now im seeing it’s possible. This video and reading the comments sealed the deal for me. Im definitely gonna try and get into the industry. I feel like im pretty knowledgeable except I don’t know the technical terms for most things. I’ve been setting up networks for friends and fam and running anti virus programs since I was little so I feel like with a little training I could learn quick. Thank you for making these videos. I will def watch more and take any advice you’re willing to give.
Just ordered a study guide for Security + which will be here tomorrow. I’m transitioning from law enforcement and desperately need a new career change. I’m impressed implementing these steps now in order to try and find a new role. Security + will be my first certification which I’m studying for. Great content and thanks. Will def keep you updated on my process. Thanks again
I’m so happy I found your channel!!! As a complete newbie, it can feel overwhelming due to all the information out there, but it’s always so satisfying to have the opinion of someone that’s actually doing what you would like to do. Keep making content, I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one that’s grateful you are on UA-cam.😃
I love the way you laid out all of the information, training/skill courses it really helped me kind of find a direction and where to start putting my self together for the presence online that’s more professional instead of using personal
Hello I'm 18 years old and interested in cybersecurity ever since I was 16. As I have no experience related to cybersecurity but will definitely try following your instructions thank you so much
Thanks for sharing. I just completed a cybersecurity bootcamp. It’s been a struggle getting my foot in the door; from hard as interview questions to aptitude test that have absolutely nothing to do with what I will be doing in the field. I’m currently studying for security +
Hey Kendra! Best of luck breaking in. I suspect the bootcamp gave you a pretty decent foundation. After you get Security+ and a few projects on your resume, i suspect you'l be able to break into IT at least, with relative ease. I would definitely apply to BOTH IT and cyber jobs at the same time and don't be too picky for your first job. Getting experience as soon as you can is the most important thing. These videos might help too!: How to find entry-level remote jobs (INDEED): ua-cam.com/video/8B9pPA2urlQ/v-deo.html How to find entry-level remote jobs (LINKEDIN): ua-cam.com/video/7kMTjnXvGTg/v-deo.html Best of luck!!
Hey Kendra. What bootcamp did u attend and how was it? I’m trying to make a comparison between a Masters in CS or a bootcamp? Do u feel competent and equipped enough to start your security career?
Great vid! Thanks for letting me know about the podcasts, I subbed The CyberWire Daily on UA-cam, and left a tab opened for the Darknet Diaries. By the way, the guy, Neil Bridges, from the interview works for INE as Chief Content Officer. I think they hired him months after the interview. It explains why he was such an advocate for people to get INE eJPT cert.
Man that's hilarious. Do you think he knew all along, or it was some kind of coincidence? I typically tell people to study for eJPT because it's hands-on, not CEH (lol), and it's more attainable than OSCP. Interesting..
Have 2 years left in the military, taking basic it certs right now and going to school for cyber security soon. What pushed me here is my secret security clearance I have when I get out.
I normally think these are click baits but this is a solid foundational pathway. Speaking from someone with sec+ and Aws CCP still trying to get my foot in the door currently working on cysa. Everything mentioned here is golden and can help.
SUPER appreciate the subscribe! Thank you! _>Can't believe this content was provided for FREE!!!!_ So funny to hear this, lmao. Thank you for watching :)
Hello there Josh. Could you please provide those links here again or perhaps in an email? I am a blind guy from South Africa and I have recently started an IT course at the blind academy. I have been informed that the platform we would be using is the COMPtia platform. Apologies if that was spelt incorrectly. By the end of 2022 they want us to be finishing the Security+ qualification and we are starting with the A+ core 1 and 2 early in 2022. Any extra links or platforms would be greatly appreciated, especially with regards to the programming, networking and security. I have been looking at the Professor Messer channel for the A+ stuff. Kind regards.
I'm considering switching over to software development from cyber security: 1. software development although possibly harder seems to have a more lax barrier to entry as far as entry level jobs go. 2. A programming skillset definitely reinforces a security professionals background and foundational understanding. 3. Cyber security seems harder to network in, and harder to generate personal experience in order to make jobs. Programmers can create programming portfolios that demonstrate their skills and there seem to be more of an abundance of paid internships/entry jr programmer level positions available than there are for security. I'd love to hear anyones thoughts on my perspectives, do you agree or disagree? Why?
I'm considering switching over to software development from cyber security: _>1. software development although possibly harder seems to have a more lax barrier to entry as far as entry level jobs go._ I agree with this for the most part. SWE/SWD is better defined and your skill is easier to measure than Cybersec. _>2. A programming skillset definitely reinforces a security professionals background and foundational understanding._ I agree with this for the most part. There are some parts of security where coding doesn't really matter, but knowing how to code is only going to help you from both an employability perspective as well as critical thinking ability. _>3. Cyber security seems harder to network in, and harder to generate personal experience in order to make jobs. Programmers can create programming portfolios that demonstrate their skills and there seem to be more of an abundance of paid internships/entry jr programmer level positions available than there are for security._ Agree with this for the most part. I feel like a SWE and cyber persons portfolio will end up overlapping a lot. I'm a "cyber person" I guess and my github has a lot of development projects in it. Thanks for watching and commenting :>
HONESLTY the best video thus far regarding ACTUALLY getting started!!! Just applied to a few IT Jobs and will be working on the side to get the trainings all while building up my resume with skills and certs. 👍👍👍
Great video. As a person that actually broke into this field with no experience I would definitely put networking higher on the list. Not that these other things aren't important also, but from my experience, having no experience at all, it's going to be the people you know that's going to get you your first job in this industry. I passed the Sec+ exam and started applying for jobs and going to job fairs but the first question they asked was what experience I had. After weeks of frustration, I reached out to one of the hiring managers that I met and asked for some advice. He offered me a junior IA position, and that's how I got my foot in the door. Even just going to some conferences in your area and meeting people. Some are hiring managers or know someone that is. The more people you know, the better chances you have at getting an opportunity. That's just my opinion.
I agree with this 10000%. It should really be NUMBER ONE on the list, since realistically, it's the best tool, but I don't really use it and I feel people may be discouraged when they hear this--especially the other introverts out there, haha. Thanks so much for sharing this though, I might make a video about this comment later. In-fact, I think I will. 😎
Hi Josh, I just wanted to show some love and thank you for making such an incredible video. This has been immensely helpful. I've been an IT professional for about 4 years now and looking to break out of that generalist role. I've been interested in DevOps and cybersecurity and this is a perfect guide to dip my toes into the industry. Thanks again - wish you the best in growing the channel! You certainly deserve it!
I just stumbled across this in my algo. Honestly, one of the most well put, information rich video I've seen. Well done , sir. Awesome video, for sure subscribed.
Josh! Thanks so much for this; it came right on time. I started WGU's Cybersec program this year to transition from IT to Cybersec and I've been wondering when a good time to make the transition would be. Right now, the only certs I have are the MTA Software Fundamentals (c#) from Microsoft and the ITILv4, which are fine for my resume and the IT work I do now, but I don't think it's quite enough for me to transition in a role that's not entry-level security. Having a roadmap like this to look to when I'm worried about the next step in moving over to infosec is super helpful. Thanks again!
Thanks for this! Been taking courses at my local community college and wasn't sure exactly where to go next. Have a possible in to an IT job that I'm now certain is the right thing to pursue right now, and I'll pick up the Security+ cert too
hello, I'm currently a month into my paid cybersecurity internship and liking it so far. I based most of my preparation on this video. I felt like its a really tough bubble to get into... but once you're in, you're in. Still, there's many paths you can take to get to this point. Some people I've gotten to know don't have degrees but have worked many years in help desk, IT and places like best buy. They took a couple of courses, got some certs and got in. Personally I've only worked as a cashier but am almost done with my Computer Science degree. Told the guy in the interview I had no certs but that I'd have the strongest coding skills amongst any candidate. Luckily, their automation (SOAR) needed some work so they took me in! Anyways, I wanted to thank you for making me consider this field seriously in the first place, as I now find it much more interesting than other IT/coding jobs. Cheers
Hope so! And thanks so much for noticing. It's quite a lot of work uploading every day. I don't think I've ever worked at a normal job this hard to be honest lol. Thanks for watching :)
Hey Noah! A lot of people have wanted to have calls, but I ran out of time in the day, so I started selling mentoring/career consulting time slots: joshmadakor.square.site/product/1-on-1-mentoring/1 Alternatively, if you become a patron, you can join the discord server where I will respond to chats more actively. Further alternatively (lol), you can just leave new comments on random videos and I will respond to you there! the only downside is it might take me a couple days to get to it. By the way, thanks so much, I really appreciate the kind words!
I'm in the middle of a coding boot camp right now and I like it a lot but I've been struggling to decide what exactly I want to pursue afterwards for a career. Watching you videos has been super helpful, I never really considered cybersecurity before but after watching your videos it actually really seems like something I'd be interested in. I'm considering doing the cybersecurity bachelor's at WGU next year but these are great tips for learning more while I'm still deciding if I want to do the program. Anyways thank you so much for all of the videos you make they're such a great resource!
I watched a tik Tok video and I saw a guy said he went to WGU I feel that school puts everything out there versus having to keep looking at what trainings you need to take next
Just landed a position with a cybersecurity training company in tech support - not much previous experience but I hope a great way to get in there - cheers for the guide!
What training company? I'm looking to get into this field? I wanna get more into the monitoring side versus the technical/engineering/coding side. Thank you
thank you for this, for someone with a few certs already (A, Net, Sec, and CCNA) do you think the CYSA+ is a good next move before jump into cloud platforms?
Eeeeh, you probably don't need to get the CySA unless you need it for your degree or something or just want the knowledge. CCNA in conjunction with what you have is freakin' strong already. You can just jump into cloud if you'd like :). Just my thoughts! Also, thanks for watching :)
I asked people in reddit they said programming is not necessary but it is good to know but not required unless you are going to a specific part in cybersec
I come back here pretty often since I decided to implement what you laid out here- just got a job offer that’ll be increasing my salary by about 3X since I started this journey. I literally cannot express how valuable you’ve been to my career and life.
Josh, thank you for sharing the excellent information in getting into cyber security. I listened to the Darknet Diaries while driving to and from work.
I have been a mechanic for 17 years now and really want a career change into cyber security. My question is, Do jobs exist in this industry that would work like an apprenticeship? I find I learn easier on the job, actually implementing my knowledge as I go.
There probably are some kind of apprenticeships/internships, but I don't really know about them. There _ARE_ ways to "brute force" this, but they tend to cost money (for example, bootcamps where you get direct access to professionals or finding a mentor in the industry). An alternative to this might be to check out RangeForce. Try to get a community edition. You can kind of learn hands-on in this environment (search on youtube for more details): go.rangeforce.com/community-edition-registration Hope this helps :)
So glad I found this video! Currently making a transition from construction to IT and have been extremely interested in Security. Studying for my A+ right now and will definitely be implementing these steps into my goal path! appreciate the content Liked and Subbed :)
Hey! Nope, you should be good, especially in IT and security. All those "-isms" do exist (sexism, racism, ageism, etc.), but ageism isn't really that bad in IT from what I've seen.
Hi Josh. I am breaking into IT preferably cyber security. Would you say this role is more on the lines of recession proof? I’ve been seeing the layoffs happening in tech and recently first hand experienced a corporate lay off. I would like to steer clear of becoming a victim again of the laid off club. If you could maybe make a video expressing the safe roles, if any…
Thanks for this question. I will definitely make a video on this since so many people have been asking me about it. I'll paste something below which I wrote in discord the other day: These are my genuine thoughts on the topic: We’re definitely in an economic down turn for sure. Depending on the economy, the power shifts between the employers and the employees. So for us right now, the power seems to be shifting to the employers somewhat. This translates into layoffs and affording the employers to be more picky with who they hire. That being said, there will still be jobs, but potentially with less room for salary negotiation etc. Just like in real estate, when the market goes down, houses are still being sold, but for less money and the advantage shifts from the seller to the buyer. It’s important in economic downturn to be as well as equipped as possible to maximize your chances of employment with your target salary. In terms of IT and CourseCareers specifically, this might translate into raising some of your “12 stats” more than you would normally have to in a booming economy. Check out this video for 12 stats: ua-cam.com/video/OHdFmQvpsvA/v-deo.html
Step 1: Around 100 hours of active listening to Darknet Diaries / CyberWire Daily. (This part is fun/easy) Step 2: Around 100 hours of studying Step 3: Around 50-100 hours for Tier 1, Around 100-200 hours for Tier 2 (if getting PNPT cert) So total of 250-400 hours total (or 16 to 26 weeks @15 hours per week). This will definitely vary per person, but these are super rough estimates. These are the hard hard parts too, so after this, the rest is not so bad. Great question :)
Hi. Merry Christmas. So new to the channel and as someone whose recently got a job in Cybersecurity I think this video is fantastic. Prior to my new job I watched quite a few videos and the vast majority would all be about promoting an online paid course and its refreshing to see someone who primarily points to free online material.
Hey Josh. Thanks for this video. I have a particular interest in Cybersecurity Compliance (no IT background). Since this is on the regulatory side, would you provide the same advice as this video?
Hey Nathan, for the most part yes, but maybe instead of coding/technical stuff, you could make some content/projects around something like NIST 800-53 or PCI-DSS, HIPAA, etc., as boring as that might sound. I think it will help your case showing that you have a solid understanding in these areas. That's what I would do anyway, and maybe get the CISA certification as well :)
@@JoshMadakor ok so python and EJPT to the side, you’d basically recommend all the other steps from the vid plus the ones you shared here for compliance.
I just found your channel today. I love your content. I love lists, guidelines, etc., So thank you for this content. I have a BS in Finance and Econ from a b&m uni, worked in IB at a major bank for 10+ years... until 2018. TBH, I really started to hate it and was thinking about change, maybe a move into IT, but cost and time were turn offs. (didn't know about certs at the time). And by then had golden handcuffs syndrome, so would take a significant pay cut. Then, suddenly In 2018 had a serious medical issue and had to leave but haven't worked since. Was rough, but a blessing in disguise despite financial hit. Now, id like to start over in IT and focus on infosec. Sooo much conflicting POV out there on starting, in a few hours I go from motivated and enthusiastic to deflated, over and over. I want to maximize efficiency getting deep IT technical knowledge, while honing in on security. Trying to self study, but now considering wgu. Would like to get the certs with the BS, but are they necessary if I can just do the cyber MS with no IT experience? I also don't need the gen Ed stuff. I have been listening to podcasts (love DND), YT, audiobooks, some Udemy stuff with python and go, learning Linux commands, etc. But it all a little here a little there... I don't know how to learn it all haha. Sorry to ramble. I'm learning a lot about the process from you, and thank you for being specific and factual vs idealistic.
Hey Nelaina! Thank so much for watching and taking the time to leave this thoughtful comment. It sounds like you are REALLY in a good position already, as you already have _A DEGREE,_ and you are already studying. I'm going to build a course of this chart that goes into depth, but this is how you should think about getting into IT/Security: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DKJvKcxFIFeJWvEU-shvXI6PuSI3aCqMbMH6wUnKWVs/edit#gid=736893856 Basically, there are these 11 "pillars" of areas where you need to "skill-up" in. you should shoot for "B-tier" (average) in most of the areas if you can, but having some areas being weaker and some areas being strong is fine too. I kinda pre-filled in some examples of things you can do to reach certain "levels". Looking at this framework, you can see that you don't really need another BS or MS degree, as that area is already taken care of by your current BS. (being in finance is fine). to reduce the time it takes you to get started, you should focus on the areas that you have zero points in, or almost zero. You sound really ambitious and disciplined, so I might recommend going for at least B-tier in the certifications, A-Tier in the portfolio (with at least 3 projects), then of course go hard in the consistency area and you shouldn't have any problems finding work, as long as your "scope" is big enough. (Scope being, the range of jobs in which you are willing to work in terms of duties, pay, and geographic region.) One last thing I will say, is when trying to get into security, if you are brand new, I always recommend people to be open to working "regular" IT jobs. Service Desk, IT Analyst, Desktop Support, Network Admin, Cloud Support Engineer. It's really essential to get experience as soon as possible as it's much easier to get into security once you've already been working in tech. Not a requirement, just a suggestion. Not to mention, all It jobs have at least some exposure to security. Hope this helps, and thanks again for the comment :)
Hi josh I just found your channel (it has opened my eyes btw) and it came at the perfect time because I want to get into cybersecurity , I just graduated with a BS in psychology, and wanted to possibly get a masters in one of the IT tracks at WGU . What information should I look into or what do you recommened as far as next steps to take to achieve this goal ?
Hey Liana! Glad you found the channel! I wouldn't really recommend getting a masters for the sake for trying to get a job (unless you just really want the masters degree). Certs and personal projects will be infinitely more useful to you when you're first getting into the field. I'd check out the following videos: Ideas for experience generation for resume: ua-cam.com/play/PLqBeiU46hx1H--SNfTrohTOWeqkK-M2Y0.html Do you really need a Master's Degree: ua-cam.com/video/LfHBXt7am7w/v-deo.html How I would apply to jobs as a new person: ua-cam.com/video/Y_AyHBtQ-U8/v-deo.html Best of luck! I appreciate you watching.
Hey! Let me put it this way. If someone were to offer me some SANS training for free, I would absolutely take it in a heartbeat. In fact, I've tried to get my work to sponsor it for me before even! However, there is no way I'm paying retail for those training/the certs. Beyond that, I can't really say much :(
Bro im now in InfoSec at my current company which is a DOD and the only Cert i have is the first Google Cert but i was able to work with all departments and prove my work ethic. Thanks for your videos
Josh, as a guy with no experience... what specific sub field of cyber should one focus on in light of having a Secret or Top Secret Clearance? I know there are many cyber security roles, but I want to make sure I focus my learning path towards a job that I can leverage my clearance with.
Hey Trey, it kind of depends on the kind of job you want to get. The majority of the govt cyber jobs, from what I can see, are information assurance/blue team type stuff. This can kinda be discerned when you look at the DOD 8570 certs: public.cyber.mil/cw/cwmp/dod-approved-8570-baseline-certifications/ I haven't worked a ton of cyber jobs for the federal govt so you might want to check on reddit or something to be certain :)
Great to hear the content has been useful!! Good luck in the Cyber field, try to do stuff that you enjoy :P. There are a lot of suck parts that I accidentally got roped into, haha
Awesome video josh. I’m curious what kind of IT jobs would you apply for in this scenario considering someone like myself with no IT work experience either. Thanks and keep up the great content.
Thanks Jesus, and thanks for watching! I'd definitely apply to some help desk or support positions. A lot of them primarily require decent customer service skills. I'm going to release a video on Nov 2 about finding remote IT jobs and I cover the scenario where you don't really have experience either. Check that one out!
Hey Josh! I'm currently in the military in a non-IT/cyber security field but I'm looking to get into the field now so I can land a job when I get out. I get out in three years so I've got some time to get stuff done. Any helpful tips and general direction would be highly appreciated!
Hey Sean! Start studying and getting some certs. If you have free college, maybe start getting the certs that are a part of the BSCSIA program at WGU--that way, you can transfer them into the program later and get your BS in cyber if you want. I know the military recognizes a lot of these certs, so they might even inadvertently help you with your career. Check out this video: BSCSIA: ua-cam.com/video/bPVb2QgMupQ/v-deo.html If you complete most of these certs, I would just enroll in the BSCSIA program and finish it haha. Then follow the rest of the steps in this video (projects, etc: Top 5 Cyber Security Projects: ua-cam.com/video/P9wz0Sted_I/v-deo.html) Hope this helps!!!
TA/GI Bill will be a significant bounce for you. Do your research into colleges and what you need as well as what GI Bill and TA have for you and what they may have for a cyber program.
Question for you Josh I’m stuck trying to decide between software development and cyber security on one side I love software development for what I could make but the entry level software dev stuff looks far more intimidating than cyber security is at its entry level but I need a job and an income! You make cyber security look so much more accessible and easier to achieve a job in than software development do you think I should go for cyber security to get my foot in the door then transition when I can? Or go for software right out of the gate ignoring an easier entry point called cyber security? Any thoughts? Thanks for the video
Hey Hailey! Thanks so much for watching! It's funny because I've heard someone say the opposite of you (dev jobs being more entry-level friendly). I think it really depends. The two are kind of comparable to me because Cyber is not _exactly_ entry, since technically it's a subset of IT. Honestly, I would really think about which one you enjoy more and go hard on that. There are two reasons for this. 1) When you like something, it's way way way way easier to study and you'll be able to go a lot further than someone who is indifferent or just doing it "for the money". 2) No matter which one you choose, if you change your mind and switch, there is so much overlap between the two that it's likely any of your time will really have been wasted. Software Engineering meets Cybersecurity at "App Sec". Application Security Engineers make a lot of coins, haha. I will say, in my mind, software tends to require a bit more interview prep (algos+data structures and a more robust portfolio). I know I said a whole bunch of nothing here, but I hope it helps a little bit. If you wanna reply to this, it might get buried so consider making a new thread so I get a notification :D. Thanks again for watching!
I would say that after you pass the Security +, you should relentlessly seek a cybersecurity job. No one expects you to get the CISSP before you get a job. The CISSP is on a whole another level from entry. So you just need to apply to 5-10 job openings per day every day of the work week. The rest of your resume really matters. If you look smart and relatively diligent, you can probably hook on somewhere. If you look like you paid for tech school selling weed to fellow would-be CS analysts, you might be disappointed. When you are applying for CS jobs, the words "entry-level" or variations on that, should be your cue to apply. The money won't be awesome, but they will give you a platform from which to grow your skills.
Thank you for this information. l’m going to stop “planning” to go to school for my certs and just start teaching myself/using the less expensive resources at my disposal. I don’t have the time/money (FT Job & two children), to commit to registering for college or boot camps when I can study myself. Your outline is very helpful and I plan to utilize every step, if I can!
@@JoshMadakor I think you meant, an Army of untrained and inexperienced employees… Coworkers incapable of assisting in actual issues, and a potential liability for all others involved.
I needed this so much. I want to get into cybersecurity, and want to study it in college next year (currently a senior in high school). I have no experience with it, but my mom says that I would be good at it, and I want to learn it because it's a very high demand and needed job. This video is exactly the information I needed, thank you so so so so much ;-;
Hey Pia! Super glad the content was useful. Glad to see you are getting a nice early start. You are going to be GOOD TO GO if you are already doing this kinda research when you're still in high school, haha. Just keep on it! Hope you enjoy the career!
Thanks! I'm just starting IT as I EAS from the Marines... What's a better combo 1) CCNA W/ CCNP Or 2) CEH W/CySA+ Or 3) CySA W/ Splunk? The goal is to work from home and having a little trouble determining which certs I should do?
Great video Josh! I am in my third year of a Cybersecurity Management and Policy degree, and currently work full-time as a help desk analyst. I have Security+, active CE, and ITIL v3. I want to land my first Cybersecurity role; what are the best next steps I should take?
Hey Andrew, you sound really squared away. Honestly I would just start applying to jobs now. I'm not sure how your school/situation is, but with your current certs, you might be able to find a remote SOC Analyst job or something like this (check out my video on how to find remote jobs!). Alternatively, you could work on a few Security projects (check out my tech demo playlist for some ideas), put those on your resume, and start applying! You don't need to wait to graduate before applying, especially if you can find a remote job. Best of luck, and thanks for watching :)
What amount of time commitment and money would go into getting each certification individually? What would you consider the best learning resources for each of the certifications? Also are there any other certifications these could maybe serve as a prerequisite to and branch off into?
Hey Victor! _>What amount of time commitment and money would go into getting each certification individually?_ CompTIA certificates can be done in 60-100 hours each (and cost a couple hundred dollars each), depending on the person. I would say CISSP will take probably 300-400 hours and costs around $750. eJPT is $200 I believe, maybe 150 hours? _>What would you consider the best learning resources for each of the certifications?_ CompTIA = CBTNuggets (paid) and Professor Messer (Free) CISSP = Whole bunch, check reddit, just make you supplement whatever you use with CCCure.org _>Also are there any other certifications these could maybe serve as a prerequisite to and branch off into?_ eJPT will branch off into OSCP (golden standard for pen testing in the offsec). Also, check out "TCM Security" pen testing cert, I forget what it's called. Thanks for watching!!
So I been seeing these ads on TikTok and they are really hammering into my head that I actually would like to get into this field of work and such. I know its difficult but now I'm taking the necessary steps forward to learn to eventually be able to get a it job and then some sort of cybersecurity as you mentioned in the video. Reason I mention TikTok is the ads are misleading and such saying anyone can do it but that's up to the individual. Anyways I really appreciate the video so much
I have an A.A.S. in Cybersecurity. I'm basically doing an IT role right now to make myself more knowledgeable of networking concepts, then I plan to move into security after I get certifications.
Hey! Sounds like you're doing everything right and you got the hard part out of the way already (education and landed your first job)--big congrats on that. Best of luck with the certs and the move into security. Try to have fun with it! And thanks for watching 😎👏😎👏
Thank you! Your content is so helpful. Brand new to this stuff and English is my second language. Your video helped me realize where I want to take to career to.
Hey Ahmet, glad to hear the video was useful. Best of luck with your career goals and your journey into cyber. P.S. From those few sentences, your english seems native to me, haha
I just started school at the age of 30 for CIS and have been trying to decide on a career path with that. Cyber Security/Ethical Hacking have been a passion I didn’t know how to pursue until I found your channel and Network Chuck a few days ago. You both have helped show me a way. Thank you
🔒Hands-On Cybersecurity / SOC Analyst Training (REAL EXPERIENCE)🔒
joshmadakor.tech/cyber
How long is the training? Or about how long does it take your students to complete training and get their first job?
As a 20+ year security leader, this is a good beginning to getting into the field. I would add another huge item that helps getting past HR when you have 0 experience. Do you help your neighbors and friends setup their wireless network? Casting to their TV? Fix their computers? Assist with community groups/non-profits/church/etc? That's experience! Independent Consulting counts even if it's not paid. If I see a candidate that has spent a few years setting up technology, or cleaning up malware I will take them over someone with just schooling and no real-world experience. Remember that basic IT is fundamental even for cybersecurity jobs. And don't think with no experience you are going to jump into anything but a junior role. What I look for is passion for learning, and eagerness to get better. OJT is the best experience and will help you move up in the industry. I hope this adds some value to your job hunt- good luck!
This is a great comment! Pinned! Thank you for taking the time, I'm sure this is going to help a bunch of people 👏
I am interested in starting my IT career and willing to start at the bottom to learn and start in the industry. Do you have any opportunities available?
I appreciate your input. Unfortunately most managers will only want actual work related exp.
@@RJ-is9ko This is pretty situational, in my experience. If it's a position where the candidate is expected to grow into the position, this can be good evidence to show potential. Definitely worth adding if the other credentials aren't the where the job posting would like them to be.
Ok seriously this is a really good out-of-the box idea. THANK YOU
Josh, your resume template, channel, and general content just helped me land a job offer almost doubling the salary of my last job. THANK YOU!!!
Damn are you serious? LOL that's so dope. Can you tell me more details? If you reply to this, it might get buried. But if you have time, can you DM on LinkedIn or something?
Huge congrats, that's so amazing!
Hopefully there wasn’t anyone willing to hire someone without experience for a job that actually matters.
Congratulations
@@ewcrisp41 don’t worry they teach you everything. Hiring process is to kinda scare people off and it’s just how the system runs. If u get anyone educated easily they can learn all the tools and become cyber security analysts
That's incredible. Thanks Josh for adding value to people's lives. I'm new in the field but all I see is encouraging words from your followers, so away we go!!!!!
Just like everyone else here, thank you. Been working in warehouses for the last 10 years and have been thinking about the change. I’ve already started CompTIA security+ practice but started to get nervous about it all because I have no experience. Between this video and the comments, I’ve gained the confidence to keep moving forward. Good things are coming for us all!
Where did you start your CompTia Security +?
I'm glad. I listened to this and actually found it motivated me less to get into IT. Maybe I can't jell with the host, sounds like he's just waffling but guess we are all different. Keep it up and Goodluck 🙏
I just want to say your channel has played a huge part in my success. Around the time this video came out I had 0 experience in information technology and I was very discouraged. I’d tried many things to get into IT and I was very skeptical at first. I said screw it, what do I have to lose? I followed this advice and pointers from some of your other videos to the letter and I almost instantly landed a PRN role and that company just hired me on full time in Software Implementation. With your guidance and a lot of sleepless nights and hard work, my dream came true. Thank you.
2 months into cybersecurity bootcamp, learning so much my eyes are bleeding. Loving linux/powershell, networking so interesting!!
Hey Nathan, glad to hear it! Good luck with it. I've always wanted to go to a bootcamp, but never wanted to pay Lol. Sounds fun!
The fact that you've gone from "I hope to have 10k subs" to actually having over 300k in just 7 months is a testament to the top-tier value you are providing in this channel.
Lol thanks so much, I really appreciate that, but I only have a mere 50k lmao. But thank you so much（ ; ; ）
Bro those are views not subs. But I wish him luck he get them subs
@@JoshMadakorYou’re up to 145k! c:
Thank you so much for this! I’m 34 and been in dead end jobs my whole life (fast food, call centre & factory work) and was made unemployed at the start of the pandemic. I’ve had enough of just “scraping by” for my wife and kids and have a huge passion for IT but the cost of cyber security courses are way out of reach. This has reignited my passion to get in to the industry in an affordable manner.
_I’ve had enough of just “scraping by” for my wife and kids_
Heck yeah, good for you. Wish you the best of luck with it! IT is really, _really_ good in terms of return-on-time invested. (Few months, get cert, get job). Glad the content was useful! Again, best of luck :)
Hey man, heads up. I’m 34 and been doing construction my entire adult life. Decided to make the transition I always knew would happen. Just finished my second interview as a security analyst. No prior experience, and only asked me to write my security +. There’s always time to change, put in the work, learn as much as possible, then give it a shot and apply.
Thank you so much for your replies! It’s great to hear I’m not the only one starting at this point in their lives.
@@8dayssooner 30 here, tired of beating myself up everyday just to make a dollar. Started doing some free courses a week ago and invested in some Udemy courses last night since they had huge discounts.
@@troubleontrac hi, where can we find the free courses?
Josh, you’re a lifesaver. You’re putting these out as I’m earning my degree at WGU and while getting ready to start the job hunt. Perfect timing. Thank you for your help
Shoot, what good timing! Super glad they are useful for you. Best of luck with finishing up the degree and the job hunt! Also, don't hold back if you feel like you wanna apply to something good before you graduate! Just saying!
@@JoshMadakor Hi Sir, unfortunately i think wgu is not accepting applications from outside US. I’m currently here in UAE Middle east. Any other options you can suggest? Thanks!
I want to get my bachelors at WGU. How do you like it? What program are you in?
Just decided to make the jump into Cyber Security this week with basically no experience. I can already tell this channel is going to be my #1 resource. VERY helpful and detailed advice!
You are a real gem! I'm new to cybersecurity -- the reluctant candidate who undervalued my experience across platforms and a multitude of industries where my employers ALWAYS put me on the implementation team whenever it was time to automate anything in the company. I'm stoked to know there's a name for what I do...it went unrecognized for so long because I made far too many assumptions about the world of cybersecurity. Thanks for this. I'm now a forever subscriber.
Hey Margaret, I really appreciate that a lot!!
This is great stuff! I’m sure everyone has their own story of getting in the door. My story I would never recommend. I’m a 27 yo cybersecurity leader which wasn’t easy, hardest part was getting in the door. I don’t have any certs but have BS in Cyber security which did nothing for me lol. I never recommend someone going to school for this field. Self eduction is best imo. I interviewed all over the US in person until I found my first job as an associate information security analyst contractor role. Thankful for that opportunity and it was really the manager who gave me a chance with the job. Since then I have paid it forward giving an associate security analyst role and moved up some help desk analysts who have a lot of drive for analysts and engineer roles. Feels good to give back in this field.
Hey Cody, huge congrats to you and good on you paying it forward. Thanks for the comment, I'm sure it's going to help a bunch of people.
Do you think it would be reasonable to expect 75k+ for a first cyber job out of school with no previous IT experience?
@@ericmadden186 30k-40k is more likely right out of college. But after some experience definitely
am now in college to earn diploma in cyber security, hope i will have a job when i finish …and thank u for ur video , it’s helpful
What advice would u give to someone trying to get a job in cyber security, im having no luck
It’s soooo refreshing reading the comments of stories similar to mine. I’ve always wanted to get into the cybersecurity/IT world but I always thought you needed a degree and I knew I was never gonna go back to school so I kinda settled for random jobs. The past 2 years I’ve been getting the itch more and to really look into trying to get into the field without a degree and now im seeing it’s possible. This video and reading the comments sealed the deal for me. Im definitely gonna try and get into the industry. I feel like im pretty knowledgeable except I don’t know the technical terms for most things. I’ve been setting up networks for friends and fam and running anti virus programs since I was little so I feel like with a little training I could learn quick. Thank you for making these videos. I will def watch more and take any advice you’re willing to give.
hows it going now?!
Just ordered a study guide for Security + which will be here tomorrow. I’m transitioning from law enforcement and desperately need a new career change. I’m impressed implementing these steps now in order to try and find a new role. Security + will be my first certification which I’m studying for. Great content and thanks. Will def keep you updated on my process. Thanks again
Eddy! I’m in the same boat, coming for. Law enforcement, how is this process going?
@@jakesteele7069 it’s going man. Just studying and watching related UA-cam videos
Are you only getting the security plus ?
hows it going now? i wish u best of luck anyways!
I’m so happy I found your channel!!! As a complete newbie, it can feel overwhelming due to all the information out there, but it’s always so satisfying to have the opinion of someone that’s actually doing what you would like to do. Keep making content, I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one that’s grateful you are on UA-cam.😃
I love the way you laid out all of the information, training/skill courses it really helped me kind of find a direction and where to start putting my self together for the presence online that’s more professional instead of using personal
Love Darknet Diaries, thank you for the suggestion!
Heck yeah, np! I love em too
Hello Josh, I've noted your list & am right now starting my career change to cybersecurity. Thank you for posting this it has really helped.
No problem!! Thank you for watching and best of luck!
Hello I'm 18 years old and interested in cybersecurity ever since I was 16.
As I have no experience related to cybersecurity but will definitely try following your instructions
thank you so much
Best of luck or you. Good job to you for starting out so early 😊👍. I wish I did that, but I was playing MMOs until I was like 22 💀 lol
@@JoshMadakor hey you had it easy I'm 33 still playing MMOs and trying to figure out if I wanna dive into cybersecurity lol
Thanks for sharing. I just completed a cybersecurity bootcamp. It’s been a struggle getting my foot in the door; from hard as interview questions to aptitude test that have absolutely nothing to do with what I will be doing in the field. I’m currently studying for security +
Hey Kendra! Best of luck breaking in. I suspect the bootcamp gave you a pretty decent foundation. After you get Security+ and a few projects on your resume, i suspect you'l be able to break into IT at least, with relative ease. I would definitely apply to BOTH IT and cyber jobs at the same time and don't be too picky for your first job. Getting experience as soon as you can is the most important thing.
These videos might help too!:
How to find entry-level remote jobs (INDEED): ua-cam.com/video/8B9pPA2urlQ/v-deo.html
How to find entry-level remote jobs (LINKEDIN): ua-cam.com/video/7kMTjnXvGTg/v-deo.html
Best of luck!!
Hey Kendra. What bootcamp did u attend and how was it? I’m trying to make a comparison between a Masters in CS or a bootcamp? Do u feel competent and equipped enough to start your security career?
Thank you for the information I'm a secretary in office automation and looking forward to advance a career job in cyber security
Great vid! Thanks for letting me know about the podcasts, I subbed The CyberWire Daily on UA-cam, and left a tab opened for the Darknet Diaries.
By the way, the guy, Neil Bridges, from the interview works for INE as Chief Content Officer. I think they hired him months after the interview. It explains why he was such an advocate for people to get INE eJPT cert.
Man that's hilarious. Do you think he knew all along, or it was some kind of coincidence? I typically tell people to study for eJPT because it's hands-on, not CEH (lol), and it's more attainable than OSCP. Interesting..
@@JoshMadakor You are the second Cybersecurity professional to say don’t get CEH cert. I heard it’s not taken seriously
Have 2 years left in the military, taking basic it certs right now and going to school for cyber security soon. What pushed me here is my secret security clearance I have when I get out.
Heck yeah for sure. Clearance is definitely worth a lot :)
I normally think these are click baits but this is a solid foundational pathway. Speaking from someone with sec+ and Aws CCP still trying to get my foot in the door currently working on cysa. Everything mentioned here is golden and can help.
Heck yeah, I appreciate your stamp of approval, seriously lol.
Definitely subscribing!!!! Can't believe this content was provided for FREE!!!! Thank you so much!!!
SUPER appreciate the subscribe! Thank you!
_>Can't believe this content was provided for FREE!!!!_
So funny to hear this, lmao. Thank you for watching :)
I'm just starting a path into Security and this video is very helpful. Thank you very much!
No problem! Thanks for watching and best of luck!!!
Hello there Josh. Could you please provide those links here again or perhaps in an email? I am a blind guy from South Africa and I have recently started an IT course at the blind academy. I have been informed that the platform we would be using is the COMPtia platform. Apologies if that was spelt incorrectly. By the end of 2022 they want us to be finishing the Security+ qualification and we are starting with the A+ core 1 and 2 early in 2022. Any extra links or platforms would be greatly appreciated, especially with regards to the programming, networking and security. I have been looking at the Professor Messer channel for the A+ stuff. Kind regards.
Getting my security + right now thanks dude made me feel like I was goin in the right direction
Great! Good luck with it!!
I'm considering switching over to software development from cyber security:
1. software development although possibly harder seems to have a more lax barrier to entry as far as entry level jobs go.
2. A programming skillset definitely reinforces a security professionals background and foundational understanding.
3. Cyber security seems harder to network in, and harder to generate personal experience in order to make jobs. Programmers can create programming portfolios that demonstrate their skills and there seem to be more of an abundance of paid internships/entry jr programmer level positions available than there are for security.
I'd love to hear anyones thoughts on my perspectives, do you agree or disagree? Why?
I'm considering switching over to software development from cyber security:
_>1. software development although possibly harder seems to have a more lax barrier to entry as far as entry level jobs go._
I agree with this for the most part. SWE/SWD is better defined and your skill is easier to measure than Cybersec.
_>2. A programming skillset definitely reinforces a security professionals background and foundational understanding._
I agree with this for the most part. There are some parts of security where coding doesn't really matter, but knowing how to code is only going to help you from both an employability perspective as well as critical thinking ability.
_>3. Cyber security seems harder to network in, and harder to generate personal experience in order to make jobs. Programmers can create programming portfolios that demonstrate their skills and there seem to be more of an abundance of paid internships/entry jr programmer level positions available than there are for security._
Agree with this for the most part. I feel like a SWE and cyber persons portfolio will end up overlapping a lot. I'm a "cyber person" I guess and my github has a lot of development projects in it.
Thanks for watching and commenting :>
HONESLTY the best video thus far regarding ACTUALLY getting started!!! Just applied to a few IT Jobs and will be working on the side to get the trainings all while building up my resume with skills and certs. 👍👍👍
Great video. As a person that actually broke into this field with no experience I would definitely put networking higher on the list. Not that these other things aren't important also, but from my experience, having no experience at all, it's going to be the people you know that's going to get you your first job in this industry. I passed the Sec+ exam and started applying for jobs and going to job fairs but the first question they asked was what experience I had. After weeks of frustration, I reached out to one of the hiring managers that I met and asked for some advice. He offered me a junior IA position, and that's how I got my foot in the door. Even just going to some conferences in your area and meeting people. Some are hiring managers or know someone that is. The more people you know, the better chances you have at getting an opportunity. That's just my opinion.
I agree with this 10000%. It should really be NUMBER ONE on the list, since realistically, it's the best tool, but I don't really use it and I feel people may be discouraged when they hear this--especially the other introverts out there, haha. Thanks so much for sharing this though, I might make a video about this comment later. In-fact, I think I will. 😎
Do you think it would be reasonable to expect 75k+ for a first cyber job out of school with no previous IT experience?
What certs do you need for networking?
@@ericmadden186 average 50-60k
@@thumpertorque_ network+
I've been listening to those Darknet Diaries, I'm hooked.
Hey again Nuke, I seriously love them, I haven't listened for a while though, so the episodes are stacking and I can binge lol.
Hi Josh,
I just wanted to show some love and thank you for making such an incredible video. This has been immensely helpful. I've been an IT professional for about 4 years now and looking to break out of that generalist role. I've been interested in DevOps and cybersecurity and this is a perfect guide to dip my toes into the industry. Thanks again - wish you the best in growing the channel! You certainly deserve it!
Hey Brembo, thank so much for taking the time to leave this nice comment!! I wish you the best of luck in your jump into a specialization :)
@@JoshMadakor Thanks a lot Josh, there is a lot to learn but I'm excited!
I just stumbled across this in my algo. Honestly, one of the most well put, information rich video I've seen. Well done , sir. Awesome video, for sure subscribed.
Thank you for this information. I’m looking to switch careers and get into IT. This video was extremely helpful.
Hey Abraham! Glad the video was useful! Best of luck with the career switch :)
Thank you for all the great information. I am just getting into Cybersecurity. I start a 6 month course in October but I am already learning a lot!!
Josh! Thanks so much for this; it came right on time. I started WGU's Cybersec program this year to transition from IT to Cybersec and I've been wondering when a good time to make the transition would be. Right now, the only certs I have are the MTA Software Fundamentals (c#) from Microsoft and the ITILv4, which are fine for my resume and the IT work I do now, but I don't think it's quite enough for me to transition in a role that's not entry-level security. Having a roadmap like this to look to when I'm worried about the next step in moving over to infosec is super helpful. Thanks again!
Hey Tiffini, super glad it's useful! GL with the Cyber program as well :)
How is that WGU program? I was looking into it too
Thank you so much I’m taking my first cyber security certificate Program this weekend this was so helpful!
Thanks for this! Been taking courses at my local community college and wasn't sure exactly where to go next. Have a possible in to an IT job that I'm now certain is the right thing to pursue right now, and I'll pick up the Security+ cert too
Sheesh, you already ahead of the game. Best of luck :o)
hello, I'm currently a month into my paid cybersecurity internship and liking it so far. I based most of my preparation on this video. I felt like its a really tough bubble to get into... but once you're in, you're in. Still, there's many paths you can take to get to this point. Some people I've gotten to know don't have degrees but have worked many years in help desk, IT and places like best buy. They took a couple of courses, got some certs and got in. Personally I've only worked as a cashier but am almost done with my Computer Science degree. Told the guy in the interview I had no certs but that I'd have the strongest coding skills amongst any candidate. Luckily, their automation (SOAR) needed some work so they took me in! Anyways, I wanted to thank you for making me consider this field seriously in the first place, as I now find it much more interesting than other IT/coding jobs. Cheers
I almost got a job in IT by just stating my personal experience and hobbies, but they encouraged me to finish my degree and certifications.
Hey Macky, super cool! For sure someone would hire based on your EXP alone if this company _almost_ did. Best of luck with the studies :)
I appreciate all the content you're putting out josh! You definitely will grow quickly with this work ethic.
Hope so! And thanks so much for noticing. It's quite a lot of work uploading every day. I don't think I've ever worked at a normal job this hard to be honest lol. Thanks for watching :)
Thank you so much keep teaching us
Josh, where can I schedule a Zoom or Google Meets to speak with you. Your intellect and knowledge are well worth listening.
Hey Noah! A lot of people have wanted to have calls, but I ran out of time in the day, so I started selling mentoring/career consulting time slots: joshmadakor.square.site/product/1-on-1-mentoring/1
Alternatively, if you become a patron, you can join the discord server where I will respond to chats more actively.
Further alternatively (lol), you can just leave new comments on random videos and I will respond to you there! the only downside is it might take me a couple days to get to it. By the way, thanks so much, I really appreciate the kind words!
This video was very helpful, being a data center technician for 5+ years and this is a good starting point. Thanks for the tips.
I'm in the middle of a coding boot camp right now and I like it a lot but I've been struggling to decide what exactly I want to pursue afterwards for a career. Watching you videos has been super helpful, I never really considered cybersecurity before but after watching your videos it actually really seems like something I'd be interested in. I'm considering doing the cybersecurity bachelor's at WGU next year but these are great tips for learning more while I'm still deciding if I want to do the program. Anyways thank you so much for all of the videos you make they're such a great resource!
I watched a tik Tok video and I saw a guy said he went to WGU I feel that school puts everything out there versus having to keep looking at what trainings you need to take next
Just landed a position with a cybersecurity training company in tech support - not much previous experience but I hope a great way to get in there - cheers for the guide!
What training company? I'm looking to get into this field? I wanna get more into the monitoring side versus the technical/engineering/coding side. Thank you
thank you for this, for someone with a few certs already (A, Net, Sec, and CCNA) do you think the CYSA+ is a good next move before jump into cloud platforms?
Eeeeh, you probably don't need to get the CySA unless you need it for your degree or something or just want the knowledge. CCNA in conjunction with what you have is freakin' strong already. You can just jump into cloud if you'd like :). Just my thoughts! Also, thanks for watching :)
I asked people in reddit they said programming is not necessary but it is good to know but not required unless you are going to a specific part in cybersec
that is correct! I recommend learning the basics as it can give you an edge and it's a great skill to have :)
I come back here pretty often since I decided to implement what you laid out here- just got a job offer that’ll be increasing my salary by about 3X since I started this journey.
I literally cannot express how valuable you’ve been to my career and life.
Wow that's...amazing. Thank you for even taking the time to comment this haha. BIG congrats on your win. Well deserved, I can tell you worked hard
Josh, thank you for sharing the excellent information in getting into cyber security. I listened to the Darknet Diaries while driving to and from work.
Nice! Hope you liked it. I really really like that podcast :p
I have been a mechanic for 17 years now and really want a career change into cyber security. My question is, Do jobs exist in this industry that would work like an apprenticeship? I find I learn easier on the job, actually implementing my knowledge as I go.
There probably are some kind of apprenticeships/internships, but I don't really know about them. There _ARE_ ways to "brute force" this, but they tend to cost money (for example, bootcamps where you get direct access to professionals or finding a mentor in the industry). An alternative to this might be to check out RangeForce. Try to get a community edition. You can kind of learn hands-on in this environment (search on youtube for more details): go.rangeforce.com/community-edition-registration
Hope this helps :)
Great video, I’m going to start the list today
Fantastic! Best of luck with it! I might recommend doing PNPT instead of eJPT
So glad I found this video! Currently making a transition from construction to IT and have been extremely interested in Security. Studying for my A+ right now and will definitely be implementing these steps into my goal path! appreciate the content Liked and Subbed :)
Hey Jake! Appreciate you watching and really appreciate the sub!!! Best of luck with the transition into tech!
Why the jump into A+ and not Sec+ cert instead?
You working in Telecommunications too?
Very useful video. Thank u very much! Im about to turn 27 and think I finally found a career switch that's possible for me.
Hey Euferd! No problem and thanks for watching! It can be a fun career, just be sure to do stuff that you enjoy ;)
I’m 45 years old and need a complete career reboot. I believe IT would be a great career. Would my age be a negative in the field?
Hey! Nope, you should be good, especially in IT and security. All those "-isms" do exist (sexism, racism, ageism, etc.), but ageism isn't really that bad in IT from what I've seen.
@@JoshMadakor Man that’s good to know. Fourteen years of shift work has just about done me in!
Love your videos especially the guild on CV creation
Hi Josh. I am breaking into IT preferably cyber security. Would you say this role is more on the lines of recession proof? I’ve been seeing the layoffs happening in tech and recently first hand experienced a corporate lay off. I would like to steer clear of becoming a victim again of the laid off club. If you could maybe make a video expressing the safe roles, if any…
Thanks for this question. I will definitely make a video on this since so many people have been asking me about it. I'll paste something below which I wrote in discord the other day:
These are my genuine thoughts on the topic: We’re definitely in an economic down turn for sure. Depending on the economy, the power shifts between the employers and the employees. So for us right now, the power seems to be shifting to the employers somewhat. This translates into layoffs and affording the employers to be more picky with who they hire. That being said, there will still be jobs, but potentially with less room for salary negotiation etc. Just like in real estate, when the market goes down, houses are still being sold, but for less money and the advantage shifts from the seller to the buyer.
It’s important in economic downturn to be as well as equipped as possible to maximize your chances of employment with your target salary. In terms of IT and CourseCareers specifically, this might translate into raising some of your “12 stats” more than you would normally have to in a booming economy.
Check out this video for 12 stats: ua-cam.com/video/OHdFmQvpsvA/v-deo.html
Here is the video, I haven't edited it yet, but you can see it here :)
drive.google.com/file/d/1_KwapQWjlzmZCAPB8rF7UfP_11Mh38Fi/view?usp=share_link
Great video man!
How long should I expect the self-study portion (steps 1-3) to take if I have 10-15 hours per week to spend?
Step 1: Around 100 hours of active listening to Darknet Diaries / CyberWire Daily. (This part is fun/easy)
Step 2: Around 100 hours of studying
Step 3: Around 50-100 hours for Tier 1, Around 100-200 hours for Tier 2 (if getting PNPT cert)
So total of 250-400 hours total (or 16 to 26 weeks @15 hours per week).
This will definitely vary per person, but these are super rough estimates. These are the hard hard parts too, so after this, the rest is not so bad.
Great question :)
Man like Josh. Thank you legend
Josh, you literally read my mind! I was just thinking about this topic a few hrs before you posted the video lol. Thanks a lot man!
Perfect! Glad it's helpful! I'm bouts to release a few lab/practice things this week that can go on the resume if you find them interesting :)
Hi. Merry Christmas. So new to the channel and as someone whose recently got a job in Cybersecurity I think this video is fantastic. Prior to my new job I watched quite a few videos and the vast majority would all be about promoting an online paid course and its refreshing to see someone who primarily points to free online material.
Hey Josh. Thanks for this video. I have a particular interest in Cybersecurity Compliance (no IT background). Since this is on the regulatory side, would you provide the same advice as this video?
Hey Nathan, for the most part yes, but maybe instead of coding/technical stuff, you could make some content/projects around something like NIST 800-53 or PCI-DSS, HIPAA, etc., as boring as that might sound. I think it will help your case showing that you have a solid understanding in these areas. That's what I would do anyway, and maybe get the CISA certification as well :)
@@JoshMadakor ok so python and EJPT to the side, you’d basically recommend all the other steps from the vid plus the ones you shared here for compliance.
I just found your channel today. I love your content. I love lists, guidelines, etc., So thank you for this content.
I have a BS in Finance and Econ from a b&m uni, worked in IB at a major bank for 10+ years... until 2018. TBH, I really started to hate it and was thinking about change, maybe a move into IT, but cost and time were turn offs. (didn't know about certs at the time). And by then had golden handcuffs syndrome, so would take a significant pay cut.
Then, suddenly In 2018 had a serious medical issue and had to leave but haven't worked since.
Was rough, but a blessing in disguise despite financial hit.
Now, id like to start over in IT and focus on infosec. Sooo much conflicting POV out there on starting, in a few hours I go from motivated and enthusiastic to deflated, over and over. I want to maximize efficiency getting deep IT technical knowledge, while honing in on security. Trying to self study, but now considering wgu. Would like to get the certs with the BS, but are they necessary if I can just do the cyber MS with no IT experience? I also don't need the gen Ed stuff. I have been listening to podcasts (love DND), YT, audiobooks, some Udemy stuff with python and go, learning Linux commands, etc. But it all a little here a little there... I don't know how to learn it all haha.
Sorry to ramble. I'm learning a lot about the process from you, and thank you for being specific and factual vs idealistic.
Hey Nelaina! Thank so much for watching and taking the time to leave this thoughtful comment. It sounds like you are REALLY in a good position already, as you already have _A DEGREE,_ and you are already studying. I'm going to build a course of this chart that goes into depth, but this is how you should think about getting into IT/Security:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DKJvKcxFIFeJWvEU-shvXI6PuSI3aCqMbMH6wUnKWVs/edit#gid=736893856
Basically, there are these 11 "pillars" of areas where you need to "skill-up" in. you should shoot for "B-tier" (average) in most of the areas if you can, but having some areas being weaker and some areas being strong is fine too. I kinda pre-filled in some examples of things you can do to reach certain "levels". Looking at this framework, you can see that you don't really need another BS or MS degree, as that area is already taken care of by your current BS. (being in finance is fine). to reduce the time it takes you to get started, you should focus on the areas that you have zero points in, or almost zero.
You sound really ambitious and disciplined, so I might recommend going for at least B-tier in the certifications, A-Tier in the portfolio (with at least 3 projects), then of course go hard in the consistency area and you shouldn't have any problems finding work, as long as your "scope" is big enough. (Scope being, the range of jobs in which you are willing to work in terms of duties, pay, and geographic region.)
One last thing I will say, is when trying to get into security, if you are brand new, I always recommend people to be open to working "regular" IT jobs. Service Desk, IT Analyst, Desktop Support, Network Admin, Cloud Support Engineer. It's really essential to get experience as soon as possible as it's much easier to get into security once you've already been working in tech. Not a requirement, just a suggestion. Not to mention, all It jobs have at least some exposure to security.
Hope this helps, and thanks again for the comment :)
Hi josh I just found your channel (it has opened my eyes btw) and it came at the perfect time because I want to get into cybersecurity , I just graduated with a BS in psychology, and wanted to possibly get a masters in one of the IT tracks at WGU . What information should I look into or what do you recommened as far as next steps to take to achieve this goal ?
Hey Liana! Glad you found the channel! I wouldn't really recommend getting a masters for the sake for trying to get a job (unless you just really want the masters degree). Certs and personal projects will be infinitely more useful to you when you're first getting into the field. I'd check out the following videos:
Ideas for experience generation for resume: ua-cam.com/play/PLqBeiU46hx1H--SNfTrohTOWeqkK-M2Y0.html
Do you really need a Master's Degree: ua-cam.com/video/LfHBXt7am7w/v-deo.html
How I would apply to jobs as a new person: ua-cam.com/video/Y_AyHBtQ-U8/v-deo.html
Best of luck! I appreciate you watching.
I subbed and followed those podcasts on Spotify immediately.
What do you think about the SANS institute and their certs?
Hey! Let me put it this way. If someone were to offer me some SANS training for free, I would absolutely take it in a heartbeat. In fact, I've tried to get my work to sponsor it for me before even! However, there is no way I'm paying retail for those training/the certs. Beyond that, I can't really say much :(
Bro im now in InfoSec at my current company which is a DOD and the only Cert i have is the first Google Cert but i was able to work with all departments and prove my work ethic. Thanks for your videos
Josh, as a guy with no experience... what specific sub field of cyber should one focus on in light of having a Secret or Top Secret Clearance? I know there are many cyber security roles, but I want to make sure I focus my learning path towards a job that I can leverage my clearance with.
Hey Trey, it kind of depends on the kind of job you want to get. The majority of the govt cyber jobs, from what I can see, are information assurance/blue team type stuff. This can kinda be discerned when you look at the DOD 8570 certs: public.cyber.mil/cw/cwmp/dod-approved-8570-baseline-certifications/
I haven't worked a ton of cyber jobs for the federal govt so you might want to check on reddit or something to be certain :)
Did you find the specific sub field
Thank Josh! I'm new to Cybersecurity but have a background in IT, your channel has given me a great deal of insight and possible roadmap.
Great to hear the content has been useful!! Good luck in the Cyber field, try to do stuff that you enjoy :P. There are a lot of suck parts that I accidentally got roped into, haha
Awesome video josh. I’m curious what kind of IT jobs would you apply for in this scenario considering someone like myself with no IT work experience either. Thanks and keep up the great content.
Thanks Jesus, and thanks for watching! I'd definitely apply to some help desk or support positions. A lot of them primarily require decent customer service skills. I'm going to release a video on Nov 2 about finding remote IT jobs and I cover the scenario where you don't really have experience either. Check that one out!
I LOVE DARKNET DIARIES
Hey Josh! I'm currently in the military in a non-IT/cyber security field but I'm looking to get into the field now so I can land a job when I get out. I get out in three years so I've got some time to get stuff done. Any helpful tips and general direction would be highly appreciated!
Hey Sean! Start studying and getting some certs. If you have free college, maybe start getting the certs that are a part of the BSCSIA program at WGU--that way, you can transfer them into the program later and get your BS in cyber if you want. I know the military recognizes a lot of these certs, so they might even inadvertently help you with your career. Check out this video: BSCSIA: ua-cam.com/video/bPVb2QgMupQ/v-deo.html
If you complete most of these certs, I would just enroll in the BSCSIA program and finish it haha. Then follow the rest of the steps in this video (projects, etc:
Top 5 Cyber Security Projects: ua-cam.com/video/P9wz0Sted_I/v-deo.html)
Hope this helps!!!
TA/GI Bill will be a significant bounce for you. Do your research into colleges and what you need as well as what GI Bill and TA have for you and what they may have for a cyber program.
thanks for sharing your nuggets, im going to use these steps to get into the industry. I like the way you presented your vidieo as well 👍🏽
Question for you Josh I’m stuck trying to decide between software development and cyber security on one side I love software development for what I could make but the entry level software dev stuff looks far more intimidating than cyber security is at its entry level but I need a job and an income! You make cyber security look so much more accessible and easier to achieve a job in than software development do you think I should go for cyber security to get my foot in the door then transition when I can? Or go for software right out of the gate ignoring an easier entry point called cyber security? Any thoughts? Thanks for the video
Hey Hailey! Thanks so much for watching! It's funny because I've heard someone say the opposite of you (dev jobs being more entry-level friendly). I think it really depends. The two are kind of comparable to me because Cyber is not _exactly_ entry, since technically it's a subset of IT. Honestly, I would really think about which one you enjoy more and go hard on that. There are two reasons for this.
1) When you like something, it's way way way way easier to study and you'll be able to go a lot further than someone who is indifferent or just doing it "for the money".
2) No matter which one you choose, if you change your mind and switch, there is so much overlap between the two that it's likely any of your time will really have been wasted. Software Engineering meets Cybersecurity at "App Sec". Application Security Engineers make a lot of coins, haha.
I will say, in my mind, software tends to require a bit more interview prep (algos+data structures and a more robust portfolio). I know I said a whole bunch of nothing here, but I hope it helps a little bit. If you wanna reply to this, it might get buried so consider making a new thread so I get a notification :D. Thanks again for watching!
THE BEST VIDEO I HAVE FOUND. Thank you so much for this information. Straight forward and easy to understand. Thank you!
I would say that after you pass the Security +, you should relentlessly seek a cybersecurity job. No one expects you to get the CISSP before you get a job. The CISSP is on a whole another level from entry. So you just need to apply to 5-10 job openings per day every day of the work week. The rest of your resume really matters. If you look smart and relatively diligent, you can probably hook on somewhere. If you look like you paid for tech school selling weed to fellow would-be CS analysts, you might be disappointed. When you are applying for CS jobs, the words "entry-level" or variations on that, should be your cue to apply. The money won't be awesome, but they will give you a platform from which to grow your skills.
Hey Grant, great post! Thanks for watching and sharing this, I'm sure it's going to help someone :)
Thank you for this information. l’m going to stop “planning” to go to school for my certs and just start teaching myself/using the less expensive resources at my disposal. I don’t have the time/money (FT Job & two children), to commit to registering for college or boot camps when I can study myself. Your outline is very helpful and I plan to utilize every step, if I can!
Ur changing lives
Thank you T_T, super glad it was useful honestly.
I'm doing my best. I hope to create an army of infosec engineers, hahaha
@@JoshMadakor I think you meant, an Army of untrained and inexperienced employees… Coworkers incapable of assisting in actual issues, and a potential liability for all others involved.
@@ewcrisp41 yikes
This is such a great video! Subscribed.
I got a job in an IT position because I took the opportunity to learn Python, SQL & Cloud computing.
I needed this so much. I want to get into cybersecurity, and want to study it in college next year (currently a senior in high school). I have no experience with it, but my mom says that I would be good at it, and I want to learn it because it's a very high demand and needed job. This video is exactly the information I needed, thank you so so so so much ;-;
Hey Pia! Super glad the content was useful. Glad to see you are getting a nice early start. You are going to be GOOD TO GO if you are already doing this kinda research when you're still in high school, haha. Just keep on it! Hope you enjoy the career!
Thanks! I'm just starting IT as I EAS from the Marines... What's a better combo 1) CCNA W/ CCNP Or 2) CEH W/CySA+ Or 3) CySA W/ Splunk? The goal is to work from home and having a little trouble determining which certs I should do?
Great video Josh! I am in my third year of a Cybersecurity Management and Policy degree, and currently work full-time as a help desk analyst. I have Security+, active CE, and ITIL v3. I want to land my first Cybersecurity role; what are the best next steps I should take?
Hey Andrew, you sound really squared away. Honestly I would just start applying to jobs now. I'm not sure how your school/situation is, but with your current certs, you might be able to find a remote SOC Analyst job or something like this (check out my video on how to find remote jobs!). Alternatively, you could work on a few Security projects (check out my tech demo playlist for some ideas), put those on your resume, and start applying! You don't need to wait to graduate before applying, especially if you can find a remote job. Best of luck, and thanks for watching :)
Thanks! Much appreciated.
I am looking to start getting into the cyber field(son in law is already in it) and this is just what I was looking for.
Shoot I'm glad to help! Thanks for watching and commenting!
What amount of time commitment and money would go into getting each certification individually?
What would you consider the best learning resources for each of the certifications?
Also are there any other certifications these could maybe serve as a prerequisite to and branch off into?
Hey Victor!
_>What amount of time commitment and money would go into getting each certification individually?_
CompTIA certificates can be done in 60-100 hours each (and cost a couple hundred dollars each), depending on the person. I would say CISSP will take probably 300-400 hours and costs around $750. eJPT is $200 I believe, maybe 150 hours?
_>What would you consider the best learning resources for each of the certifications?_
CompTIA = CBTNuggets (paid) and Professor Messer (Free)
CISSP = Whole bunch, check reddit, just make you supplement whatever you use with CCCure.org
_>Also are there any other certifications these could maybe serve as a prerequisite to and branch off into?_
eJPT will branch off into OSCP (golden standard for pen testing in the offsec). Also, check out "TCM Security" pen testing cert, I forget what it's called.
Thanks for watching!!
At the end you were hoping for 10K prescribers and now you have 20.3K! You are on a roll!!
Hey Anna! Omg I know that's so crazy. I think it will slow down a bit since I decreased my uploads to 3 per week instead of 7 💀 Lol
Mr Madakor, this is the most helpful video I’ve seen on UA-cam in relation to this topic. Thank you sir
Hey Alex, super happy to hear it! Thanks for watching :)
So I been seeing these ads on TikTok and they are really hammering into my head that I actually would like to get into this field of work and such. I know its difficult but now I'm taking the necessary steps forward to learn to eventually be able to get a it job and then some sort of cybersecurity as you mentioned in the video. Reason I mention TikTok is the ads are misleading and such saying anyone can do it but that's up to the individual. Anyways I really appreciate the video so much
Thank you so much for watching and for the sub!!! And yeah, those TikTok ads are getting out of hand lmao
I’m currently switching my career from education to cybersecurity. Will be working on my certification from American University next month.
Best of luck Liyah!
This video is very helpful. I currently work in the healthcare field and was trying to switch into IT field.
Hey! Glad it was helpful! I've been seeing a lot of people switch from healthcare to IT recently--very interesting
I have an A.A.S. in Cybersecurity. I'm basically doing an IT role right now to make myself more knowledgeable of networking concepts, then I plan to move into security after I get certifications.
Hey! Sounds like you're doing everything right and you got the hard part out of the way already (education and landed your first job)--big congrats on that. Best of luck with the certs and the move into security. Try to have fun with it! And thanks for watching 😎👏😎👏
@@JoshMadakor Thank you, sir. I'd land a higher degree if I had the money, but unfortunately, it's not my reality.
Thanks, I'm focusing on A+ Network + and Security + certs at the moment.
Best of luck! Sec+ is one of my favorite certs, definitely the most fun of all the CompTIAs
Helping me bring my dream together, I appreciate it brother.
No problem! I'm really glad it helps. Appreciate you commenting :)
Subscribed, awesome content, I do like the part that you show the CV example, really awesome 👏.
Thank you! Your content is so helpful. Brand new to this stuff and English is my second language. Your video helped me realize where I want to take to career to.
Hey Ahmet, glad to hear the video was useful. Best of luck with your career goals and your journey into cyber. P.S. From those few sentences, your english seems native to me, haha
this guys switched on
I just started school at the age of 30 for CIS and have been trying to decide on a career path with that. Cyber Security/Ethical Hacking have been a passion I didn’t know how to pursue until I found your channel and Network Chuck a few days ago. You both have helped show me a way. Thank you
dark net diaries yes!! everyday listen material
exited to check out cyberwire daily
Awesome video! I am working through these steps already, and you gave me some great specifics to focus in on.
Hey Jeff, glad to hear the video was useful! And good on you for the proactiveness! building up skills for job is pretty fun imo :)
You reached 10K and even surpassed it! Congratulations
Hey Chiemela, yeah, so remarkable! Lol. Thanks for noticing and thanks for the congrats :)