Follow These 6 Tips for a Cybersecurity Resume that Stands Out!
Posted October 10th, 2017
Cybersecurity professionals are seeing the demand for the skills rise at an astounding rate. More companies need talented IT security teams to protect their systems and help mitigate threats like DDoS attacks and various forms of malware.
However, writing a topnotch cybersecurity resume isn’t always easy, especially since you are often trying to relay a lot of information about your skills in a fairly small document. Add to that the fact that other tech pros are also submitting similar resumes, and setting yourself apart from the crowd becomes a challenge. However, there are ways to help you differentiate yourself from the rest. Here are six tips for doing just that.
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Discuss Your Personal Passion Projects
Many cybersecurity professionals have side activities that they take pride in, but not all of them include details of their projects on their resume. Mentioning these personal passions can show that your interest in the field extends beyond your professional position, making it clear that you are truly enthusiastic about your line of work, and is something your competition may not try to include.
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Link to Personal GitHub Repositories
If you are involved on GitHub, and have code projects on the site, linking to your work can demonstrate your capabilities as well as your involvement in the security community. Often, GitHub serves as a central repository for files related to a particular project, so providing the hiring manager with a link to the material allows them to see you in action.
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Community Involvement
Cybersecurity professionals typically form large communities to help one another stay abreast of current trends, and participating in these groups can help your career. If you belong to a professional organization, participate in meetups, or take part in online social media-style communities, reference these associations on your resume. This shows you are active in the cybersecurity community, which can be seen as a positive in the eyes of hiring managers.
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Tout Your Accomplishments
While you want to cover your technical skills in your resume, they alone don’t really show your level of competency. However, discussing accomplishments can help give your skills context, clearly showing what you can do with your knowledge. And, if you include relevant metrics, you can let the hiring manager see how effective your work is in a way that is less obtuse.
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Inject Personality
Generally, resumes are fairly devoid of personality. The material is very fact-oriented which, while helpful, doesn’t give you an opportunity to differentiate yourself with others who have a similar skill set. So, when the opportunity arises, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine a little.
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Target Your Resume to the Position
Even though this advice is relevant for any job seeker building a resume, it is always worth repeating. A targeted resume that covers the information that is most relevant to the job to which you are applying is a critical step if you want to assert that you are truly the right person for the role. This gives you a chance to focus on the points that will matter the most to the particular hiring manager who is filling the position, making sure you include all of the details they need to see without any superfluous content.
If you are interested in learning more or are seeking a new opportunity in the cybersecurity field, the professionals at Bayside Solutions can help. Contact us today.