The Cybersecurity Job Market is FUBAR: How to Hack the Hiring Process

You’re a novice in a twisted, rigged video game—the cybersecurity job market. Your goal? Land a job. The reality? AI filters, phony job postings, and pointless interviews. It’s a nightmare. Companies claim to have openings but are outsourcing to Mexico. Believe me, I live here and see it daily. You endure endless interview rounds only to find they already had someone in mind. If you’re up against age, lack of a degree, or minimal experience, it’s game over before you start.

But guess what? We’re hacking the system. Forget traditional applications. We’re going to play this game differently. We’re going to work in public and build a personal brand. Ready to level up? Let’s go!

The Game Plan: Visibility is Your Power-Up

In the cybersecurity world, being overlooked is the norm for beginners. You need to stand out. Here’s how to do it:

1. Create Your Avatar: Build a personal brand. This is your game character. Your skills, your story, and your journey—these make you unique. Start writing about your learning process. Share the challenges and how you overcome them. Your personal brand is your weapon against invisibility.

2. Level Up in Public: Document your progress. Whether you’re learning to code or tackling a security challenge, share it. Each blog post, video, or tweet is a completed quest, earning you XP and getting you noticed by peers and potential employers.

3. Help Others on Their Quests: Don’t make it all about you. Help those who are a few steps behind. This establishes you as a leader and collaborator. Teaching others is also the best way to solidify your own knowledge.

4. Add Storytelling to Your Skills: Cybersecurity isn’t just about tech skills. It’s about translating complex concepts into compelling stories. This makes you more versatile and attractive to employers.

Navigating the Game: Dodging the Pitfalls

• AI Filters: By creating content and engaging on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter, you build a network. This network can help you bypass the resume black hole.
• Deceptive Job Ads: As you gain visibility, opportunities will come to you. Companies prefer professionals who are active and respected in their field. Your public portfolio will attract genuine offers.
• Wasted Interviews: When you’re known for your contributions, you’re less likely to be just another interviewee. Your public work acts as a pre-screen, ensuring mutual interest before you even step into an interview.

The Final Boss: Breaking into the Industry

Let’s apply these strategies to sidestep the usual traps:

To beat the final boss, actively engage with the cybersecurity community. Join forums, participate in hackathons, and contribute to open-source projects. Each of these actions weakens the barriers between you and your dream job.

Persistence and visibility are your biggest power-ups in this game. Keep leveling up, stay engaged, and you’ll transform an impossible boss fight into a victory lap.

Mastering the Art of Personal Branding

Let’s dive deeper into how to build a personal brand that makes you unignorable:

1. Transform Your Social Media from Distraction to Creation

How much time have you wasted scrolling through Instagram or Twitter, getting rage-baited and dopamine addicted? Turn that idle time into something productive. Start by creating content that showcases your learning journey.

Step-by-Step Plan:

• Set Up a New Account: Create a fresh, purpose-driven social media profile. Only engage with content that aligns with your cybersecurity interests.
• Share Your Learning Process: Post regularly about what you’re learning. This could be anything from new coding skills to insights from a recent cybersecurity course.
• Avoid Cheap Dopamine: Focus on educational content and networking. Stay away from mindless entertainment that eats up your time and focus.

2. Engage with Intent

Switch to your new, focused account for professional growth. Use your original account for personal entertainment to maintain a clear boundary.

Tips for Intentional Engagement:

• Thoughtful Interaction: When commenting, ask yourself if you’re adding value to the conversation. If you have substantial input, turn it into a blog post or article.
• Brain Dump and Synthesize: Use tools like ChatGPT and Otter.ai to expand on your thoughts. Publish these as blog posts or LinkedIn articles to build your authority.

3. Expand Your Digital Footprint

Document every challenge and learning milestone. This not only helps you grow but also positions you as a knowledgeable resource in the community.

Content Creation Strategy:

• Regular Updates: Share weekly updates on what you’re working on and learning.
• Solve Problems Publicly: If you encounter an issue, brainstorm solutions and share your thought process. This transparency builds trust and showcases your problem-solving skills.

4. Streamline Your Creative Process

Starting with a newsletter can simplify your content creation. Document everything, from initial ideas to final solutions, and repurpose it into various formats.

Effective Documentation:

• Detailed Notes: Keep comprehensive notes of your learning journey.
• Repurpose Content: Turn your notes into blog posts, social media updates, and even video content. This maximizes your reach with minimal extra effort.

Overcoming Online Embarrassment

Posting online can be intimidating. Remember, every expert started as a beginner. Embrace the discomfort and keep pushing forward.

The ‘LaMarr Learning Method’:

• Adopt a Creator Identity: See yourself as a creator, not just a consumer.
• Ignore the Haters: Focus on your growth and the value you provide. The opinions of non-creators don’t matter.

Learn With Me!

Join me in this journey and learn how to set up the exact systems to transition into the creator economy. If you’re interested in cybersecurity, I’ve got you covered. I share my notes from my 14-year cybersecurity career as a free resource here. I also write a newsletter for neurodivergent cyborgs who want to live their dream lives with technology. Subscribe here.

Next week, I’ll teach you how to set up systems that make it stupid easy to automate everything and scale as a beginner. Follow my journey to see how quickly these tactics can help you grow.

Stay Curious,

Addie LaMarr