Are you looking for Cyber Security Entry-Level Jobs? Read these tips and strategies on how to position yourself for entry-level cyber security jobs and develop your skills through self-paced effort:
There are many career paths in cybersecurity with different levels, so it will not be appropriate for a recent graduate to jump directly into an advanced cybersecurity role.
We recommend it to work in the IT section, where you build a solid understanding of networks and infrastructure or seek entry-level cyber security jobs.
If you are changing your career to cybersecurity, it is also recommended to get an entry-level role where you will grow to be an expert in the same chosen career path. Do not wait for opportunities and job experience to come to you.
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How to Get Entry-Level Cyber Security Jobs – Career Guide
Develop your experience and skills at your own pace through self-directed effort. Develop a mindset of earning cybersecurity certificates and learning hands-on because you may need to show what stuff you are made of through your technical know-how.
What is Cyber Security Entry-Level Job
Entry-level cyber security jobs are the type of jobs you can easily secure once you complete your bachelor’s or master’s degree program. The education requirements for entry-level cybersecurity positions are usually higher than those in other fields simply because this job involves more complex processes and operations when compared to other fields.
Security analysis is an example of an entry-level cyber security job that requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field.
Requirements
Requirements for entry-level cyber security jobs can vary based on location, experience, position, and specialization.
Below are some of the general requirements you need to have in mind when seeking entry-level cyber security jobs:
Education: The minimum education required to get into a cybersecurity career is an associate degree. But if you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree, may count as an added advantage we count for work experience.
Certification: There are many certification paths for entry-level cyber security jobs. The recruiting companies specifically requested some of these certifications, while some are job-specific.
Experience: Even when it is called an entry-level job, some companies will still require you to have one year of experience. This experience can be obtained from internship jobs.
Skills: Another important thing you need to have is the skills required to deliver on the assigned task. You must be technically sound and the job requires you to be a team player, diligent, and have problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Tips for Cybersecurity Job Search
- Understand and Speak the language: You must understand cybersecurity terms and acronyms. When you are fluent in the technical language used by cybersecurity professionals, the better for you inability to quickly secure a cybersecurity job. Some of these terms could be used during interviews and when you are not fluent or understand it can cause you to lose the job.
- Earn a Certification: It is best and recommended to get a cybersecurity certification before searching for a cybersecurity job. Certification like CompTIA Security+ certification is usually a first step towards earning a certification.
- Engage in Networking: Try joining different cybersecurity meetups and networking groups set to create job opportunities in your desired field and create time to look for opportunities to discuss with people who are working in the same field.
- Document your Training, Certifications, and Skills: Showcase all your training, certifications, and skills on your Resume or CV. A platform like LinkedIn is another place where you can showcase your professional experiences and skills. A recruiter can check your online profile and invite you for interviews.
- Be fully Ready and Prepared: Always research the specific job before applying by gathering information on the job. When you know everything about the job will help you to know the job requirements and you will be able to know if it’s within your ability.
- Ask intelligent questions: When a recruiter asks you whether you have any questions, make sure you ask intelligent questions because this will show your IQ level and whether you are the right person for the Job.
- Stay informed online: Regularly check published articles online to get additional cybersecurity job tips and resources.
How to Find Entry-Level Cyber Security Jobs
Below are ways you can find entry-level cyber security jobs:
#1) Seek for Cybersecurity Internship
Before you can be in a better position to seek experience in cybersecurity roles, it will be great to seek internship roles where you get to learn on the job while you also practice your skills. The internship roles will avail you of the opportunity to watch how the experienced ones execute their task.
When you are diligent and focused, you can grasp how to deliver, even on major cybersecurity tasks. There are many cybersecurity internship roles online. Some come as paid internships while some do not, but you have the opportunity of getting absorbed as a full-time staff after your internship period expires.
#2) Pursue Certification
After deciding the aspect of cybersecurity you will pursue, you can pursue the right certifications for that aspect of cybersecurity. This will create opportunities for entry-level cyber security jobs because hiring managers are always seeking those with cybersecurity certifications, and earning a certification will show them you have all the requirements and credentials to deliver on the job.
Below are some entry-level cybersecurity certifications you can pursue:
CompTIA Security+
The CompTIA Security+ certification validates and proves that you have the core skills in cybersecurity. This certification can be your first cybersecurity certification in the right direction into a rewarding and demanding cybersecurity career. Security+ is a first-level cybersecurity exam that is offered by CompTIA and can guarantee you the entry-level cyber security jobs you desire.
Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate
This certification is offered by ISACA and can help candidates show their understanding of the principles behind cybersecurity and the important role cybersecurity professionals play in protecting enterprise data and infrastructure. This is a very good certification that you can earn and can also help you secure an entry-level cybersecurity role.
System Security Certified Practitioner
ISC² offered SSCP certification will show you have the expertise and knowledge to implement, monitor, and administer IT infrastructure using security best practices, policies, and procedures. When you have this certification will open you to entry-level cyber security jobs.
MTA Security Fundamentals
Microsoft offers this certification and it covers the basics of physical, software, network, operating systems, and internet security. This is a very good certification for someone looking for entry-level roles.
GIAC Security Essentials
Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) offers this certification. The GIAC certification equips individuals with fundamental IT knowledge and practical cybersecurity abilities needed for entry-level roles.
#3) Know your Career Path
Cybersecurity is a very wide career, so you need to decide which path you want to follow. We have network security, cloud security, and web security. You need to know the cybersecurity job you like or have a passion for. This will help you grow rapidly in your chosen career.
When you know your career path will help you know the kind of cybersecurity roles you can find and the best certification you can have.
#4) Regularly Update Your Resume
It’s important to update your resume regularly before applying for any entry-level cyber security jobs. Part of what you need to update is your recent certifications and experiences. If you just finished an internship role, do not hesitate to add that experience to your resume.
Customizing your resume to match the requirements of the role you’re applying for is always recommended, as long as you have the required skills. Some organizations make use of AI technology to check for skills they need and use it to select resumes while rejecting others without the keywords that represent the skills.
#5) Search for Jobs on these Mediums
There are different places online where you can search for entry-level cyber security jobs. Some of these places are:
Social Community: You can join different cybersecurity WhatsApp or Telegram groups like OWASP or ISC2 that have been formed to help people in their respective communities to be aware of cybersecurity and they regularly drop vacant jobs which you can instantly apply for.
Online Job Forums: You can join some online job forums where they have several roles for entry-level applicants. In these same forums, you will see security professionals who are readily available to help and guide you on your quest for an entry-level role. These communities will assist you in developing Cybersecurity skills.
Job Sites: Search for entry-level jobs online, we have several job websites that you can register with and you will be getting the latest advertised jobs. An example of these websites is indeed.com
Company Adverts: Many organizations have a dedicated career page to advertise their vacant roles. When you desire to work with a specific company you can just go to their website and click on the career link. There you will see various open roles, just search for the one you have the experience and skills to deliver.
Networking Events: Always avail yourself of networking events. These are events that will be opportune to meet other cybersecurity professionals and recruiters who are looking for new employees.
While attending this event, make sure you interact and connect with experts in cybersecurity to understand how they started. This can guide you on your cybersecurity career path.
Career Fairs: Many recruiters from different organizations usually come together to organize a career fair where they intend to find professionals or entry-level security analysts for their organizations.
When you attend any of these career fairs, we recommend it to take along copies of your resume with you so you can submit them to different recruiters for advertised roles if you are qualified.
#6) Advance your career
Wherever you start as a cybersecurity professional, you still have to continue to grow in your career even after you have your bachelor’s and master’s degrees. There are several certifications you can earn which will boost your IT Security knowledge. If you are not advancing in your career, this will affect negatively on you and the company you represent.
Entry-Level Cyber Security Salary
It is good to know that even though it’s an entry-level role, the salaries that come with these entry-level roles are relatively high when compared to other entry-level roles in other fields. The reason is the high demand for cyber security skills and the importance of entry-level roles in organizations.
They maintain the overall security of an organization. So it is quite understandable why junior security analysts are always paid well simply because they are hired to be awake of attacks.
When you check online, it will surprise you with different salary scales for IT security practitioners, but I recommend that you use PayScale. This is a salary aggregator website that collates averages from many other sites when making its calculations. It is based on these averages that you will know what will be the average salary of an information security analyst.
#1) Cybersecurity Technician
Cybersecurity technician is one entry-level role that is important to securing an organization’s computer information systems. Recruiters are always on the lookout for those to fill these positions. The role of a cybersecurity technician needs project management skills with technical skills that focus on network security and information systems.
You are not to be an expert in performing your task, but you need to prove that you understand all that it takes to protect your enterprise network.
Essential Skills: Fundamental technological skills, Basic Programming Skills, Risk identification and management, Analytical thinking, and Adaptability.
Feeder Role: Systems Administrator, IT Engineer.
Related Job titles: Security Administrator, Cybersecurity Administrator, Information Security technician.
Education: You only need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, or any other related science course to attain this role. You can have a security certification too.
Certifications: CompTIA Security+, Systems Security Certified Practitioner, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).
Other Prerequisites: Certifications such as the CompTIA Security+, Certified Cybersecurity Technician, and Systems Security Certified Practitioner will be a great addition if you are seeking a job as a cybersecurity technician.
Salary: According to Salary.com the average Security Technician salary ranges between $48,957 and $66,235 as of September 25, 2023. This salary depends on some other factors like experience, skills, and certifications.
Career Prospects: The prospect of handling a more critical role within the security domain.
#2) Incident Response Analyst
An incident response analyst will always be on hand to respond to any cyber security breach or attack. Their primary assignment is to discover the cause of an incident, to what extent the organization lost and what caused the incident. This will guide those who want to fix and mitigate the situation.
They will identify all security flaws and weaknesses within the system that may have escaped earlier security checks by performing security audits and risk analyzes of the incident. Some of the major skills for this role are in-depth research, communication skills, and problem-solving skills.
Essential Skills: Malware analysis, risk management, Forensics, Basic programming skills, and strong knowledge of network security protocols.
Feeder Role: Systems Administrator, IT Engineer, Security Technician, Security Analyst.
Related Job titles: Disaster Recovery Specialist, SOC Analyst, and Incident Response Officer.
Education: You only need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, or any other related science course to attain this role. You can have a security certification too.
Certifications: CompTIA Security+, Systems Security Certified Practitioner, Disaster Recovery Professional, Certified Incident Handler, Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst.
Other Prerequisites: Certifications such as the CompTIA Security+ and Certified Incident Handler will be a great addition if you are seeking a job as an Incident Response Analyst.
Salary: According to Salary.com the average Security Technician salary range between $59,173 and $75,364 as of September 25, 2023. This salary depends on some other factors like experience, skills, and certifications.
Career Prospects: The potential to handle a crucial role in the security field and become skilled at establishing a fully operational Security Operation Center.
#3) IT Auditor
This is also another entry-level role where you have regularly checked that IT processes and procedures are strictly followed, specifically those attached to information systems security and risk management. As soon as an issue is detected, it is flagged and communicated to the channel for immediate resolution.
IT auditors also offer solutions on how to improve policies and processes guiding an enterprise’s IT resources, making sure people comply and secure the system. If you want to excel in this job, then you must have great attention to detail and solid research skills.
Essential Skills: Technical Capability, Business Process, Logical reasoning, Communication skills, Teamwork
Feeder Role: Systems Administrator, IT Engineer, Auditor
Related Job titles: Internal Audit Manager, IS Auditor, Information Technology Auditor, Audit Consultant.
Education: You only need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, or any other related science course to attain this role. You can have a security certification too.
Certifications: CompTIA Security+, Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certified Information Security Manager, Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
Other Prerequisites: Certifications such as the CISM, CISA, and CompTIA Security+ will be a great addition if you are seeking a job as an IT Auditor.
Salary: According to Glassdoor.com the average salary for an IT auditor in the United States is $88,784 per year with a total pay range of $75,000 – $121,000 per year
Career Prospects: the prospect of handling a more critical role within the IS Audit domain. You can become an executive member of the management team of an organization.
#4) Junior Penetration Tester
If you seek an entry-level security role, junior pen tester is one of the high-paying security jobs. The main function of a junior pen tester is to carry out security tests of an organization’s security controls. They support experienced penetration testers in finding any back door or vulnerability within an organization’s network before the bad actors discover it.
They make serious and joint efforts to protect the organization from future cyberattacks. Some skills needed to excel in this position include experience with scripting, knowledge of information systems, and network security.
Essential Skills: Technical Capability, Business Process, Logical reasoning, Communication skills, Teamwork
Feeder Role: Information security analyst, incident responder
Related Job titles: Application Security Analyst, Application Security Engineer, White hat hacker, Ethical hacker, vulnerability assessor
Education: You only need a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in computer science, IT, or Cybersecurity.
Certifications: Certified Penetration Testing (CPENT), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CompTIA PenTest+, GIAC Certified Penetration Tester
Other Prerequisites: Certifications such as Certified Penetration Testing (CPENT) and CompTIA PenTest
Salary: According to Glassdoor.com the estimated total pay for a Junior Penetration Tester is $96,125 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $89,828 per year.
Career Prospects: A penetration tester can become an information security manager, security consultant, ethical hacker, security architect, security manager, or researcher, and can even move into executive roles in the future.
#5) Junior Cybersecurity Engineer
A Junior Cybersecurity Engineer is a security professional who has the role of defending organizations from cyberattacks by creating and implementing security controls and monitoring security systems.
Essential Skills: Technical Capability, Business Process, Logical reasoning, Communication skills, and Team Collaboration.
Feeder Role: Network Engineer, IT Engineer, System Administrator
Related Job titles: Security Analyst, cybersecurity engineer, Security Ops Engineer
Education: You only need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, or any other related science course to attain this role. You can have a security certification too.
Certifications: SSCP, CISSP, CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+), CompTIA Security+
Other Prerequisites: Certifications such as CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) and CompTIA Security+
Salary: According to Glassdoor.com the estimated total pay for a Junior Security Engineer is $106,228 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $90,067 per year.
Career Prospects: A Junior Security Engineer can go on to become an information security manager, security consultant, security architect, security manager, researchers and can even move into executive roles in the future.
#6) Junior Security Analyst
Security analysts will always defend an organization’s infrastructure by conducting risk assessments on data and other IT Resources. The setting up, and monitoring of firewall systems, and upgrading of these systems when required.
Essential Skills: Eye for detail, Technical Capability, Business Process, Logical reasoning, Communication skills, and Team Collaboration.
Feeder Role: Network Engineer, IT Engineer, System Administrator
Related Job titles: SOC Analyst, Security Analyst, cybersecurity engineer, Security Ops Engineer
Education: You only need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, or any other related science course to attain this role. You can have a security certification too.
Certifications: SSCP, CISSP, CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+), CompTIA Security+
Other Prerequisites: Certifications such as CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) and CompTIA Security+
Salary: According to Glassdoor.com the estimated total pay for a Junior Security Analyst is $74,414 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $69,517 per year.
Career Prospects: A Junior Security Analyst can go on to become information security managers, security consultant, security architect, security manager, researcher and can even move into executive roles in the future.
Remote Cyber Security Jobs
There are some cybersecurity jobs you can do right from home or any location in the world. A Web App Security analyst, Penetration tester, and many other cybersecurity roles do not necessarily need you to be physically present before you can deliver your task.
If you are someone who prefers remote jobs you can search for these types of jobs online and be ready to deliver on your agreed task when due. Remote jobs do not need an employee who will be micromanaged on his task before delivering.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I get an entry to cyber security?
Before embarking on this career, you need to decide which area of cybersecurity path you want to follow. Follow these guides:
· Seek for Cybersecurity Internship
· Pursue certification
· Know your career path
· Regularly Update your resume
· Search for jobs on different medium
Advance your career
2. What is an entry-level role for cyber security?
Entry-level cyber security jobs are the type of jobs you can easily secure once you complete your bachelor’s or master’s degree program in Computer science or IT. The education requirements for entry-level cybersecurity positions are usually higher than those in other fields simply because this job involves more complex processes and operations when compared to other fields.
3. Can I do cybersecurity without a degree?
A degree is not the only path to a career in cybersecurity. You can also do cybersecurity by earning certifications, self-paced learning, and joining cybersecurity boot camps. However, having a degree is another added benefit as this will count for more experience in your cybersecurity career.
4. Is a Certificate in cyber security worth IT?
A certificate in cyber security can be worth it for individuals looking to enter a cybersecurity career path. But it’s recommended to have both technical know-how and certifications. Certification will always create job opportunities but if you want to last long on the job you must be technically sound.
Conclusion
Entry-level Cyber Security Jobs are readily available but you must be prepared for any of these entry-level roles.
Many recruiters will ask for some experience and skills from you even though it’s an entry-level role. The best thing you can start with is looking for an internship, this is where you can easily accumulate the skills and experience to excel on this career path.