Cybersecurity is learning
Author: Stefan Waldvogel
Editor: Lily (?)
Editor: Lily (?)
Learning and motivation
Now, you have a list of needed skills, and you have to learn them. Cybersecurity is very challenging, and you have to learn a lot to get your first job. During the last 15 months, I invested about 3000 hours in learning. This is a lot of time. You do not need to spend so much time, but if you have a TV… throw it away. You play CandyCrush… delete it, sell your phone and buy a $10 smartphone.
You have your to-do list. Please write it down and research about how to get the knowledge.
I do not know where you are, but one point is essential: Do not spend money if you do not have to. Cybersecurity is very challenging, but it is possible to get a lot of free knowledge.
You create a timeline, and if you follow it, you stay focused.
Many people start the Cybersecurity journey with CompTIA and A+, Network+ and Security+. You can find expensive boot camps or learn it for free. The best free option is Prof. Messer on YouTube. He offers his notes (between $15 and $30), and the most significant advantage is; you learn what you need to pass the exam—nothing more, nothing less. You can add a book, but a book teaches you much more. Always stick close to the exam objectives.
These certs are entry-level, and you can use them to practice how to deal with exams. I am not sure if these certs are valuable for a Cybersecurity career because the level is low, but if you never worked with IT, you get a bigger picture. If you have a bit of IT experience, skip A+. This cert is for a help desk position ($10 to $18/ hour).
If you want to have an actual class, go to a Community College, it is between $300 and $600. Most other providers are more expensive but do not reach a Community College quality.
You need motivation look at this picture:
You have your to-do list. Please write it down and research about how to get the knowledge.
I do not know where you are, but one point is essential: Do not spend money if you do not have to. Cybersecurity is very challenging, but it is possible to get a lot of free knowledge.
You create a timeline, and if you follow it, you stay focused.
Many people start the Cybersecurity journey with CompTIA and A+, Network+ and Security+. You can find expensive boot camps or learn it for free. The best free option is Prof. Messer on YouTube. He offers his notes (between $15 and $30), and the most significant advantage is; you learn what you need to pass the exam—nothing more, nothing less. You can add a book, but a book teaches you much more. Always stick close to the exam objectives.
These certs are entry-level, and you can use them to practice how to deal with exams. I am not sure if these certs are valuable for a Cybersecurity career because the level is low, but if you never worked with IT, you get a bigger picture. If you have a bit of IT experience, skip A+. This cert is for a help desk position ($10 to $18/ hour).
If you want to have an actual class, go to a Community College, it is between $300 and $600. Most other providers are more expensive but do not reach a Community College quality.
You need motivation look at this picture:
This picture does not have a solid background with data (it is my feeling), but it shows some things. If you know a specific topic, many people have the same knowledge. Companies have 100 applicants for one position, and the salary is low.
Your knowledge becomes valuable in “Dollars” if few people have it and many companies want your knowledge.
I do not have accurate data for this, but I think there is a critical point. If your knowledge goes over it, your value increases more than before. At least in America, many people stay somewhere. These people make enough money. They get lazier and do not add more knowledge.
If you want to earn the big bucks… you have to go over this point. Use this picture if you have a problem with imposter syndrome. If you learn every day, you add knowledge, which pushes you more to the right side.
Another way to gain motivation is to see other people and their way into Cybersecurity. Many people share their story and each person has an own story.
You want one marvelous story:
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/933614212 It is about Lily; she works for INE, and if you need help or support, you find her in the Unofficial INE Discord. She didn’t have an IT background, but now she works in Cybersecurity.
Your knowledge becomes valuable in “Dollars” if few people have it and many companies want your knowledge.
I do not have accurate data for this, but I think there is a critical point. If your knowledge goes over it, your value increases more than before. At least in America, many people stay somewhere. These people make enough money. They get lazier and do not add more knowledge.
If you want to earn the big bucks… you have to go over this point. Use this picture if you have a problem with imposter syndrome. If you learn every day, you add knowledge, which pushes you more to the right side.
Another way to gain motivation is to see other people and their way into Cybersecurity. Many people share their story and each person has an own story.
You want one marvelous story:
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/933614212 It is about Lily; she works for INE, and if you need help or support, you find her in the Unofficial INE Discord. She didn’t have an IT background, but now she works in Cybersecurity.
© 2021. This work is licensed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license