The 6 Step Framework to Land Your Dream Job.

Please read all the way to the end of this post. I have an exciting announcement:)

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Let’s face it.

Landing a job in cybersecurity is hard. For some it seems impossible.

Cybersecurity candidates are suffering worldwide. Repeated rejection is causing massive frustration, confusion, and burnout.

Sound familiar?

You're not alone.

Job searching is exhausting and entry-level candidates are not the only victims. People with experience that want to go remote, level up, or work at their target company are facing the same uphill battle.

I have interviewed and hired hundreds of candidates from around the world. If you do my job long enough you’ll start to notice a pattern about those who win. Candidates that get the job tend to use the same tactics and approach. Interestingly enough, it’s the exact formula I’ve used again and again to land roles at top tier companies.

Today I’ll show you a 6 step framework for landing the job you want. This comes from personal experience as a successful job seeker and Global Cybersecurity Recruiter.

Here it is:

Step # 1 - Decide What You Want and Immerse Yourself.

Job searching will suck the life out of you. So, before you invest precious energy and time finding a job, decide where you’re doing. TAKE AIM AT SOMETHING. Successful candidates know what they want.

I recommend narrowing down in 1 of 3 ways:

1. A specific role.

2. A specific company (or companies).

3. A specific industry.

Why get specific?

Narrowing down exactly what you want leads you to …

1) Build the right skills

2) Earn the right credentials

3) Network with the right people

Once you decide on a destination, completely immerse yourself in that subject area.

For example:

• Trying to become a GRC Analyst? Dedicate yourself to studying GRC. Research the tools and topics involved. Take courses that focus on building relevant skills for this job. Research job postings to understand what most employers look for.

• Want to go into management? Start building leadership skills at work. Take a leadership class. Seek out mentorship from other leaders. Become a leader among your colleagues and friends.

Learn as much as you can about the role, company, or industry you’re targeting.

An easy way to start is to research 50-100 job postings or LI profiles. Pay attention to what the trends are (common certs, technology, experience, etc.) and lean into learning and achieving those things. Take ownership of your progress and get your hands dirty!

Remember this …

Distracted job seekers lose.

Focused, intentional job seekers win.

Step # 2 - Build relationships with experienced people.

The cyber industry is all about community and friendships. People from all around the world travel into major conferences to hear the latest research, meet new people, and catch up with old friends.

I recommend surrounding yourself with people who have specific experience in your field of interest, who work in the role you want, or who recruit for the role you want.

Why is this important? Two reasons …

1. You will learn more from people with actual experience than any class or book. I’m not saying education isn’t important but the best source of information is people who are in the trenches everyday. They can guide you along your journey and provide feedback on where to focus your studies and skills development. They can also give honest feedback on what they like/don’t like about their jobs. You may believe a job is right for you but after talking with someone doing that job, you find out you might hate it.

2. These people can refer you to jobs in the future. Every time I post a position the hiring manager gives preference to referrals. EVERY TIME. If you can develop enough trust and rapport with someone, they can go to bat for you which puts your name at the top of the candidate pile.

3. Recruiters can promote your application into multiple roles and share your profile with their network. You have to get a “yes” from Recruiters to be successful. Don’t ignore them.

Stay active in online spaces like LinkedIn, Twitter, social groups, and discord. Attend in-person events (like BSides) when possible. Meeting people face-to-face is the absolute best way to get to know people.

Last point …

Try connect with people who have something in common with you. Same college, same bootcamp, same home state, same hobbies, etc. (could be anything). People with similar backgrounds are more likely to respond and sympathize with your situation.

Your relationships are your most important asset in a job search. Invest in them!

Step #3 - Market yourself effectively.

It doesn’t matter if you’re the most qualified candidate in the bunch. If you don’t represent yourself in the right way, you’ll get passed up.

When I say market yourself I mean your resume and LinkedIn profile. These are your personal landing pages that people use to judge your experience.

Here are some quick tips that will supercharge your personal marketing:

RESUME:

1. Focus on the content, not the design (don’t spend hours making it look “cool”).

2. Don’t write in paragraphs. People are scanning your resume so use lists and bullet points to make it easy to find information.

3. Focus on key words. These are the skills, technology, education, etc. that managers are looking for. If you have experience relevant to the job posting, put it on there.

4. No word fluff. Be clear and concise. Don’t try to sound fancy.

5. Highlight your achievements and use data where possible. It’s okay to say what you did; it’s better to explain how well you did it.

LINKEDIN PROFILE:

1. Use a clean, professional headshot. First impressions matter so make a good one.

2. Include a headline that includes relevant key words or the specific value you bring.

3. Don’t leave your “About” section blank! Use this to explain your experience and qualifications.

4. List the skills and technology you have experience with. These are the key words Recruiters are plugging into their searches.

5. Include a brief but informative description about each role you’ve had. You don’t need as much detail as a resume but do enough so people understand what you can do.

Step # 4 - Master your interview skills.

This step is SUPER important. You could be the smartest or most qualified candidate and still blow the interview.

Here are 5 tips to make sure you perform well:

1. Research. Research. Research. The more you know the better. Start by understanding the company (their mission, their products, etc.). Then do some digging into the people (hiring manager, people who hold the job you’re applying to). Lastly, the role. Review the job description and make sure you come prepared to discuss your strengths and weakness related to the job responsibilities.

2. Prepare yourself for common interview questions. Sit down and brainstorm how you’ll approach questions like, “tell us about yourself”, “why did you apply here?” and “what are your strengths?” - Don’t be a robot and recite a written response but be ready for questions!

3. Write down your biggest professional accomplishments. Where have you really shined? Practice telling that story. What was the situation or the problem? What did you do? How did you work with others? What obstacles did you over come? What was the outcome and impact? Showing your value through story telling is an interview super power.

4. Ask thoughtful questions. Good questions show that you are interested in the role which is key to you getting hired. Also, good questions lead to good discussions and good discussions create great interviews. I recommend coming with 3-4 in mind.

5. Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know”. Honesty and transparency go a long way in an interview. Hiring managers appreciate when you can admit you have gaps. If you come up against a tough technical question, you could say: “to be honest I don’t have hands-on experience with [xyz] but here’s what I understand about it.” Then explain how in the past you’ve been able to ramp up fast and learn new things.

Step # 5 - Stand out with extra effort.

Every time you get an interview invite, there are several candidates gunning for the same role. Some of them are more qualified than you.

In order to stand out, you have to put in extra effort. The extra work doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Here are some ideas:

1. Send a personalized follow-up emails to each interviewer.

2. Share a sample of past work that demonstrates relevant skills or experience.

3. Read company content (blogs, white papers, research) and share your thoughts or analysis with the team.

4. Share ideas about how you would help solve specific problems the team is facing.

5. Share your 30, 60, 90 day plan (how you’ll be successful in the role).

Want the job?

Show that you want it.

Step # 6 - Negotiate the offer you deserve.

Congrats! You got an offer in hand. You could accept it as is but you may want to negotiate to ensure you get the best deal possible. Do your research and try your best to understand what competitive market pay looks like. Have a walkaway number. Have expectations that include other benefits.

The Announcement

My #1 goal with the Cyber Dream Job Blog is to help you land the jog you’ve always wanted. Writing to you every week has been an incredible experience and hearing how it’s helping people is amazing.

I want to take this resource a step further. I want to do more. I want to help more.

Next month (August 2023) I’ll be releasing the “Cyber Dream Job Journey” Video Course! This is a project I’ve been working on for a very long time and I’m excited to bring it to you all. Originally, I was hoping to get it released on June 30th but the timeline got pushed because I’ve been adding additional content and resources.

Here’s what this course offers:

6 comprehensive video lessons that will help you get noticed, land more interviews, and achieve the job you want.

Lesson 1 - How to choose the job you want and how to build an effective job search strategy.

Lesson 2 - How to network and build relationships that lead to opportunity.

Lesson 3 - Step-by-step guide for building a value-driven resume and LinkedIn profile that will boost application responses.

Lesson 4 - How to prepare for and dominate the interview. Includes training on interview scenarios, how to approach certain questions, and how to successfully navigate the entire process.

Lesson 5 - Strategies for standing out during the job search and interview.

Lesson 6 - How to negotiate an offer package that you deserve. Includes resources for determining appropriate salary expectations.

Additional resources include:

• Free resume templates (entry level and experienced formats)

• A list of top job sites

• Cold message templates for effective outreach

• Networking tracker tool

• Interview prep guide

• A list of my favorite interview questions to ask employers

Blog subscribers will receive an exclusive discount on the course. I look forward to hearing your feedback on this project and I hope it helps you!