Wake Up! The Truth About Cybersecurity.
This article is as a result of the things I’ve seen, heard and read about cybersecurity. I believe very few people who get into cybersecurity are fully aware of what they’re getting themselves into. People mostly sell you dreams about how easy it is to get started in cybersecurity regardless of your background and that you can get a job easily within a month or three of getting started. They tell you every and anything to get you to buy their courses and sign up for their “bootcamps” meanwhile there are many free resources on the web you can start with but I guess you’ll have to pay for your laziness and lack of research skills huh.
While I am not disputing that it’s possible to get started, settled and even get a job in your first few months learning Cybersecurity, I think it’s important to know that, that is not everyone’s reality and it’ll pay you to have a more realistic expectation. As this will limit your level of disappointment and keep you in check when you get to tough points in your journey. Cybersecurity is a life long journey of learning, unlearning, achievements and disappointments, and it’s completely up to you how your story/journey unfolds.
This is not a rant but the truth, my truth about cybersecurity, my journey and the journey of many who came before me and probably after me. Cybersecurity is NOT easy, even those with computer science backgrounds struggle here and there so what more people like me with a background in the Arts. It’s easy to think this is me discouraging you from starting or continuing your journey but thats sincerely not the purpose of this article.
I’ve had several people come to me asking how they can get started and the first thing I always say is do your research, researching will open your eyes to what you’re about to get into. These days people like me share their journeys including the struggles of pivoting and being able to get insights like this will help prepare you for what’s to come. You can find a lot of these by reading my other articles, start here.
You will study so much and still feel like you don’t know anything sometimes. No matter the number of courses I take and hours I put into studying I still struggle with imposter syndrome because I constantly feel like I haven’t learned enough and there’s so much to learn. And the truth is there’s no end to the learning in Cybersecurity so this is a huge problem and led me to write about it here.
You’ll spend long hours studying and you’ll be constantly burnt out! You’ll need to find time no matter how little to go out and touch grass for mental health sake. I still have a problem with taking breaks even though I know I need it and feel guilty when I’m doing anything that isn’t studying or cybersecurity related.
You will get tired and give up on the journey but if you’re like me, it’s your reason for getting started that will bring you back to it. When I first started self-learning cybersecurity in 2021 I gave up because I was constantly tired and felt like I wasn’t making any progress so I gave up. After 2 months I went back to studying and took another involuntary break due to my job for the whole of 2022. But by the end of 2022 I was determined more than ever to get back in without turning back come 2023. This is May 2024 and I’m still on the grind, not a day has gone by that I did not think, talk, write, read cybersecurity. Sadly, I’m yet to get my big break(a job) but I’m not giving up because I know some day real soon cybersecurity will change my life for the better and it’ll be better than I’ve imagined.
You will have to network like your life depends on it. I’ve always been a shy introvert, I don’t like attention for any reason and I’ve always liked being the wall flower but with Cybersecurity I’ve had to look for my inner extrovert. I started to document my journey in my very peculiar way on medium as a way of putting myself out there and letting people know what I’m up to in my professional life especially whilst also helping people who are going through this stage. I get a lot of DM’s from time to time of people who found my articles helpful, in fact when I get asked certain questions these days I just send links because I’ve tried to an extent to write about things that will be useful to beginners and self starters like me.
I have gotten to a stage where I don’t think I have the option of going back on my Cybersecurity dream, I’ve invested too much in this, especially my time and money. If you’re one of the lucky ones you’ll get a job within your first year learning in the field but if you’re not I want you to keep your head up and keep pushing. There’s light at the end of this tunnel and we’ll get there soon.
Remember Cybersecurity is a journey and in this journey you’ll need people so please join a community be it online or offline. Have people you can talk to that will encourage you when you’re down and out, people who can understand the struggle. You’ve got this!
Until next time, find me where the good guys are!