Job Seeking 

Any job in the Cybersecurity field comes with years of experience in certain education and if need be many certifications. The skillset needed to obtain these jobs are also important because employers want to know if they can trust that you can complete the work and if you have the knowledge to do so. 

The first job I selected is a Security Specialist. To be even considered for the job I would need to have a 4-year college degree in criminal justice or a related field (Cybersecurity included) or a minimum of 5-year experience in Corporate Security or law enforcement. My timeline for this job from the present to the near future would be to complete my degree in Cybersecurity and possibly minor in Criminal Justice. Throughout that time I would have completed internships related to anything in the criminal justice/cybersecurity field to build my knowledge in the field and also relationships. After I graduate I would then strive for a job in law enforcement starting as low as an assistant or intern then build my way up. 

The second job I selected is an Open Source Intelligence Analyst. To be applicable for this job I would need an active TS/SCI Security Clearance and either a Bachelor’s Degree or 7+ years experience in the Cyber field. My plan for this timeline is similar to first, build up knowledge and relationships so that when I am ready to apply for this one my background for the job is more than qualified, and employers will take into consideration an applicant with the training and knowledge. 

The final job I selected is a Senior Information Technology Security Analyst. For this position, I would need a Bachelor’s degree in a Cyber related field, and 5 years of experience in the design, implementation, and support of enterprise-wide IT security programs. Also required are at least 1 year of supervisory experience and the completion of coursework at an accredited college. My timeline is also similar to the first two job selections but this particular selection will take more time because of the number of certifications and background information needed for the position.  Some preferences that the employers are looking for include the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and other security certifications. Along with the certifications, I would then need to make sure I have experience with many different software and practices. Those include Palo Alto, data protection, disaster recovery plan (DRP), email security, intrusion detection system (IDS), payment card industry (PCI) compliance, etc. If I wanted to work with the Police System then I would also have to get my CJIS Certification.

All three of these positions need years of knowledge and certifications to be able to even be applicable. A majority of these positions also require background checks and a high amount of security clearance. I hope in the near future, I will have all of the needed requirements and skills to be able to apply to these positions and more.