Cybersecurity Journey: From Learning to Building a Career

How do you actually get into cybersecurity?
What should you learn first? Do you need a degree or certifications? How do you get experience when even junior roles ask for experience? And once you get that first job, what does working in cybersecurity really look like?

For our next OWASP Belfast meetup, we’re bringing together three people at very different stages of the cybersecurity journey:
A student currently learning cybersecurity and thinking about their first career steps
A penetration tester who has already made the move into the industry
An experienced security engineer with a background across engineering, education and the cybersecurity community

This will not be three presentations or a traditional panel.
Instead, we’ll have an open, interview-style conversation comparing expectations with reality and looking at cybersecurity careers from different points along the journey.

We’ll discuss topics including:
Where to start when cybersecurity feels overwhelmingly broad
Degrees, certifications, labs and practical experience
Getting the first cybersecurity job
What employers actually look for in junior candidates
What penetration testing and security engineering really look like day to day
Choosing a specialism — or not choosing one too early
AI and how it may change entry-level cybersecurity careers
Building a career that lasts
The role of communities such as OWASP and BSides

The student will also get the opportunity to challenge the professionals: does the career advice we often give newcomers actually work in practice?
There will be plenty of time for audience questions and discussion, so whether you are a student, looking to move into cybersecurity, already working in the industry, or simply interested in how cybersecurity careers develop, come along and join the conversation.

Everyone is welcome.