Security Basics mailing list archives
Re: Security Jobs
From: Stephen Mullins <steve.mullins.work () gmail com>
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 11:39:06 -0400
This answer assumes you are in the United States. I think your problem is how you market yourself. You need to emphasize your security experience over your systems experience as much as possible. If your resume says, "Systems Administrator for the past 10 years" then that's what you're going to be pegged as by the HR folks. Call yourself a "Security Administrator" if your job entails any level of security awareness whatsoever (and it should if you're a good Sys Admin). Companies these days look at every individual as a specific tool with a specific function within the organization. They hire the Systems guy to work on Systems and a Security guy to do Security. They have little to no interest in hiring someone that "is willing to learn" or "has an interest in" an area outside of their specialty. The average person under 30 changes jobs once a year. People over 30 change jobs once every 3 years. Companies have no reason to train someone because they won't be on the job long anyway. Exceptions - government or military jobs (non-contractor). I think you need to better understand the employment environment in which all of us operate. Steve On Fri, May 29, 2009 at 5:00 PM, Curt Shaffer <cshaffer () gmail com> wrote:
This is just a general question for people in the security field out there. I have been in the IT industry for 10 years now. I have a large range of experience with systems (Windows and *nix), and networks (wired, wireless, LAN and WAN). I have, what I feel and others have told me, an intricate knowledge of a range of IT related topics covering many areas. In searching for a career, I have found myself getting bored over and over. The main reason is because I tend to get pigeon holed into one thing or another, it mainly seems to be systems only things. I've always like security and have devoted quite a bit of time to studying it pretty intensely over the past 2 years or so. The main reason is because it seems to me that being in security allows you to keep up on and working on a lot of different pieces in the IT spectrum. I have had the Security + certification for some time. I am working on my GPEN then following that with the CISSP by the end of the year. The problem is, I have been trying to break into a security job but I still always find myself getting only systems related stuff. I will say I get people that say "we need a systems guy with a strong security focus", but the never equates to a security job. Can anyone out there in the field give me some direction on how I can get a "real" security job? Thanks Curt ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This list is sponsored by: InfoSec Institute Need to pass the CISSP? InfoSec Institute's CISSP Boot Camp in both Instructor-Led and Online formats is the most concentrated exam prep available. Comprehensive course materials and an expert instructor means you pass the exam. Gain a laser like insight into what is covered on the exam, with zero fluff! http://www.infosecinstitute.com/courses/cissp_bootcamp_training.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------ This list is sponsored by: InfoSec Institute Need to pass the CISSP? InfoSec Institute's CISSP Boot Camp in both Instructor-Led and Online formats is the most concentrated exam prep available. Comprehensive course materials and an expert instructor means you pass the exam. Gain a laser like insight into what is covered on the exam, with zero fluff! http://www.infosecinstitute.com/courses/cissp_bootcamp_training.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current thread:
- Security Jobs Curt Shaffer (Jun 01)
- Re: Security Jobs Chris (Jun 01)
- Re: Security Jobs Drew Brown (Jun 02)
- Re: Security Jobs Stephen Mullins (Jun 02)
- Re: Security Jobs Peter Odigie (Jun 03)
- RE: Security Jobs Curt Shaffer (Jun 03)
- Re: Security Jobs Stephen Mullins (Jun 03)
- RE: Security Jobs Curt Shaffer (Jun 03)
- Re: Security Jobs Stephen Mullins (Jun 03)
- Re: Security Jobs Jeffrey Walton (Jun 03)
- Re: Security Jobs Chris (Jun 01)