Finally got in the field

I enjoy reading peoples story on these forums whether they be newcomers to the IT field or veterans. I started my IT degree back in 2014 while being a high school math teacher. Finished my degree this summer and began my graduate Cybersecurity program at Utica College this fall. Back in 2015 attempted to get out of teaching and took the first job in the technology sector with Verizon as a Technical Specialist at a call center. Stayed there for about four months and knew that wasn't what I wanted from my IT studies and in my career. Went back to teaching and decided I wouldn't take a job out of teaching unless it was something I felt I wanted. I got lucky this summer and scored an internship with a DoE contractor at a nuclear facility in their Cybersecurity group. It was awesome as I got to test my knowledge and training in a real world setting. This internship has led to four full-time offers, two with the intelligence community.

I have selected a position as a Network Security Engineer for a famous telecom. I start next week in their SOC, and am ecstatic in finally getting my foot in the door of this booming industry.

Moral of the story...if you have the ability to participate in an internship, do it. I was a 29 year old summer intern, and felt out of place but man did it help me. Also, don't settle in your career no matter your age. Find something you enjoy and continue to better your understanding of the profession with certifications, school, seminars, etc.

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cyberguypr

Congrats! Great advice.

TechGromit

Congratulations on your new job.

DarkmanX- wrote: »

... took the first job in the technology sector with Verizon as a Technical Specialist at a call center. Stayed there for about four months and knew that wasn't what I wanted from my IT studies and in my career.

Lasted longer than I did, I was only at a Version call center for 6 weeks.

DarkmanX- wrote: »

I got lucky this summer and scored an internship with a DoE contractor at a nuclear facility in their Cyber security group.

That's the full time job pretend to do every day.

DarkmanX- wrote: »

I have selected a position as a Network Security Engineer for a famous telecom. I start next week in their SOC, and am ecstatic in finally getting my foot in the door of this booming industry.

Just out of curiously, is this a shift position?

DarkmanX-

It is a shift position with OT approved.

TechGromit

Thought so, Security Operations Centers tend to be the help desks of the Cyber Security World.

NEODREAM

Congratulations and best of luck to you and your career in the coming year.

dmoore44

TechGromit wrote: »

Thought so, Security Operations Centers tend to be the help desks of the Cyber Security World.

Correction: Tier 1 Incident Response tends to be the help desk of the cyber security world. I work in a SOC and I don't really do much ticket jockey stuff.

jamthat

DarkmanX- wrote: »

I enjoy reading peoples story on these forums whether they be newcomers to the IT field or veterans. I started my IT degree back in 2014 while being a high school math teacher. Finished my degree this summer and began my graduate Cybersecurity program at Utica College this fall. Back in 2015 attempted to get out of teaching and took the first job in the technology sector with Verizon as a Technical Specialist at a call center. Stayed there for about four months and knew that wasn't what I wanted from my IT studies and in my career. Went back to teaching and decided I wouldn't take a job out of teaching unless it was something I felt I wanted. I got lucky this summer and scored an internship with a DoE contractor at a nuclear facility in their Cybersecurity group. It was awesome as I got to test my knowledge and training in a real world setting. This internship has led to four full-time offers, two with the intelligence community.

I have selected a position as a Network Security Engineer for a famous telecom. I start next week in their SOC, and am ecstatic in finally getting my foot in the door of this booming industry.

Moral of the story...if you have the ability to participate in an internship, do it. I was a 29 year old summer intern, and felt out of place but man did it help me. Also, don't settle in your career no matter your age. Find something you enjoy and continue to better your understanding of the profession with certifications, school, seminars, etc.

Congrats and good luck moving forward! PM sent RE: DOE

JoJoCal19

Congrats on the new opportunity!!!

mzx380

That's awesome news man, congratulations

TechGromit

dmoore44 wrote: »

Correction: Tier 1 Incident Response tends to be the help desk of the cyber security world. I work in a SOC and I don't really do much ticket jockey stuff.

Shift work usually equals 24 hours operation, so Grave shift, weekends, holidays they all need to be covered. While pretty much every salary position in IT requires you to work outside your normal hours time to time, but scheduled shift work sucks. This is why I consider it the help desk of the Cyber Security world, sure you might be making 100k a year and handle higher level issues, but your still the poor sap that's going to be working 3 am in the morning Christmas day with nothing going on. You might have to "put in your time" a couple of years before you get promoted to a salary position with a normal schedule, but it still sucks any way you slice it.