Job Search for Cybersecurity Professionals(Experienced)

Doing a job hunt as a professional especially when you are working in a service based company like TCS, Wipro, Infosys etc can be a hectic plus time consuming process. I hope some of the points I mentioned below might help:

• Time span — Usually the whole process takes at least 6 months as per my experience. So an early decision is required to start. Usually if have a work experience of more than 1.5 years, its a good time to start.

• Platform — Mostly interview calls come from Naukri.com and then from LinkedIn if you have a lot of connections, so make your profile in both the platforms and start applying for relevant openings. You can also ask your friends in different companies to refer you to get your profile shortlisted fast.

• Learning Materials — If you are looking for VAPT/Penetration testing profile then look into web security academy by Portswigger. Try to complete all the labs and brush up your skills. Questions are asked according to your relevant experience.Additionaly, TryHackme is also a good resource to brush up your basic skills.

• Basic Interview Questions — Basic questions include — tell me about your corporate experience(it is actually the work experience) so make a note of it and prepare accordingly. Other questions can be — why our company, why should we hire you, what are your expectations from the company, where do you see yourself in 5 years, what are your strength and weakness etc.

• Certifications — It is recommended to have some entry level certifications like CEH, eJPT, OSCP(less likely) or any network security certifications. It helps the recruiter to shortlist candidates and considered as an added advantage.

• Bug Bounties — It plays a vital role to stand yourself out of the crowd and get the upper hand over other candidates. Platforms like Hackerone, Bugcrowd and VDPs are a good place to start to achieve some hall of fame and other rewards. It is not necessary but still recommended.

• Salary — It really depends on your expectations but always check the current market range that is being given to employees as per work experience and designation. Glassdoor and LinkedIn are a good place to start.

• Notice Period — It is mostly recommended to serve the whole notice period and actually work during these days. It shows your ethics towards work and maintains a good professional relationship with your current organization and colleagues. Plus you can get more offers during this period which can result in higher CTC.

I tried to cover most of the topics but still some points need to be added. It will be updated regularly.

Thanks!