Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background before joining VetSec?
I was in the air national guard and now am doing cyber research and development!
How did you first learn about VetSec, and what motivated you to get involved?
Someone on reddit mentioned Vetsec and I thought it was cool! I didn’t actually get involved until I’d been in for a couple years and had started my cybersecurity career.
What were some of the biggest challenges or obstacles you faced in transitioning to a cybersecurity career before joining VetSec?
The biggest challenge was negotiating for pay and understanding how much I was worth. I was initially very heavily lowballed and didn’t really know how to negotiate well.
Can you describe your experience with VetSec’s training and mentorship programs? What specific resources or support did you find most valuable?
I’ve recieved some cool trainings through vetsec, but by far the greatest value has been in the specific community members. I’ve been able to directly reach out to people in all aspects of the industry and learn tons about how to move my career forward, which skills to really level up and how to navigate the world of post-military careers.
How has the VetSec community impacted you personally and professionally?
I got my current job which I love through a posting in vetsec, and was able to skill up to get selected for it due to some mentorship primarily in vetsec prior to that point. Personally I find vetsec has actually replaced my “social media” time- instead I just make posts here, sometimes professional, sometimes humorous or off the cuff, and it scratches the itch and keeps me from doomscrolling!
Can you share a specific moment or achievement during your time with VetSec that you are particularly proud of?
I try to help out with our resume channel where we help service members work through their resumes from time to time when the gurus are busy. One in particular, Warren Fish, has called out my advice for being good on a couple of occasions, which made me feel very good. 🙂
Where are you currently in your cybersecurity career, and how did VetSec contribute to your success?
I’ve been in IT for about six years now and cyber for about three, and am rapidly becoming a SME at my organization. I think vetsec largely has helped by giving me a more holistic perspective on the field, as well as having people who have encouraged me to step outside myself by learning new programming languages and going to grad school.
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 without vetsec, there’s a very real world where I would have abandoned cyber for a more overtly profitable niche in tech, which definitely is a shame, because I think there’s a great need for skilled cyber professionals. As someone who really needs a mission to keep myself motivated, I’m glad I have stuck with it and landed in places where I feel like the work I do is meaningful.
What advice would you give to other veterans considering a career in cybersecurity and thinking about joining VetSec?
Cyber is a complex and challenging field and it is changing rapidly. There are amazingly cool jobs here, but as Cal Newport says in “Be so Good they Can’t Ignore You” you often need rare and valuable skills to land those jobs. Vetsec is a great way to supercharge those skills by listening to the greybeards here and identifying what you need to do to make it to the next step in your career.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with VetSec or a message to the community?
The memes are pretty good!