Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background before joining VetSec?
Before joining VetSec I was a financial advisor. I spent ~5 years in the financial services industry and I was extremely unhappy in my career. I grew up tinkering with computers and loved to modify my PC, but I studied economics and ultimately was terrified about the idea of quitting my job to pursue something I knew little about.
How did you first learn about VetSec, and what motivated you to get involved?
During my career translation, I was actively looking to learn more about IT and the overall career landscape within information security. I heard about VetSec from The Cyber Mentor and decided to join. I trusted what TCM had to say about the org and luckily was convinced to join (it was free, after all!).
What were some of the biggest challenges or obstacles you faced in transitioning to a cybersecurity career before joining VetSec?
Not knowing where to start and where I wanted to end up within cybersecurity. Even 6 years ago there were a lot of resources when I made the career change (the resources have grown exponentially since and that creates a challenge for newcomers). Also, as a professional in another field that “knew” their stuff, it was a challenge to start from ground zero in an unfamiliar industry. I had to put a lot of ego aside – the sooner I understood that I knew nothing, the easier it became to ask questions.
Can you describe your experience with VetSec’s training and mentorship programs? What specific resources or support did you find most valuable?
Having the chance to speak directly to veterans that were already doing the job I wanted was extremely helpful. I’ve had several mentors from VetSec in my 5+ years with the organization and they have all helped me in valuable ways. From providing advice on how I should approach my next role, to interview prep, and even helping me land interviews via referrals.
How has the VetSec community impacted you personally and professionally?
From a personal perspective, VetSec has given me the sense of community that so many veterans miss or lose out on after the service. From a professional perspective, VetSec has given me a lot of the tools, resources, and perspective needed to enhance my cybersecurity career.
Can you share a specific moment or achievement during your time with VetSec that you are particularly proud of?
I am proud of two things – both related to mentorship. One, I am proud of myself for getting out of my comfort zone when I needed a mentor. It wasn’t easy as a newcomer to put my ego aside and ask what I thought to be boring and “dumb” questions. Not to mention I was essentially talking to strangers at first, all I knew is that my mentors were veterans and I had the chance to learn more about them as we discussed my career goals. Secondly, I am proud of the mentees that I have had the chance to assist over the years. It’s the best feeling to pay it forward and help other vets, just as my mentors did for me in the past.
Where are you currently in your cybersecurity career, and how did VetSec contribute to your success?
I am currently working as an offensive security analyst – which is the role I wanted to achieve when I first found VetSec! VetSec gave me countless hours of resources, skills, and mentorship that I used to not only achieve my goals, but still continue to better myself to this day. Specifically, I met someone through VetSec who helped hire me at an international cybersecurity org!
Reflecting on your journey, how do you think your career and personal growth would have been different without VetSec? What are your future aspirations in the field of cybersecurity?
I think I would be somewhere else in IT or have given up on my cybersecurity goals if it weren’t for VetSec. Without VeSec I probably would have went into debt to join a sub-par cyber “bootcamp” with zero job prospects after completion. Without VetSec it would have been incredibly daunting to navigate this complicated field without the proper guidance from the org. My future aspirations are to become a security researcher and eventually a principal engineer working to create and improve upon cloud security architecture for organizations.
What advice would you give to other veterans considering a career in cybersecurity and thinking about joining VetSec?
JOIN US! If you put yourself out there, ask questions, and genuinely put the effort in by taking the advice of others in VetSec, it WILL improve your situation.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with VetSec or a message to the community?
VetSec is hands down the best organization I’ve had the chance to be a part of. It’s given me so much and the beauty of it is, the more engaged I am, the more it gives back. It’s much more that’s a cybersecurity community – its a family of veterans that all have a common goal – to help veterans transition into information security without judgement. Finally, I’ll add that you’ll be surprised who you end up meeting! Cybersecurity is a small community of professionals, there is a good chance you’ll have opportunities to meet VetSec members in-person by attending various local cyber events and meetups.