u/Any_Essay_2804

So for some context, I only have ~2.5 YoE working helpdesk roles, and 1 at this particular company. I have my Net+ and Sec+, but anyone that has those knows they’re glorified vocab tests and don’t necessarily teach anything actionable.

That said, for those of you in more senior security positions, what would you like to see in a prospective team member?

At the midway point of ‘25 we got the seemingly inevitable “we’re working with a company that will design custom AI tools to improve our output.” They said some niceties like “we won’t lay anyone off because of AI, but we will stop hiring which will increase your profit share,” but we all know that’s mostly smoke.

Anyway, what’s the long term and end game of this? For those of you that already had companies shell out small fortunes for custom trained AI, has ANY piece of your workflow become more efficient? Is there a world where what they said is true, and it truly ends up being more output with less hiring and bigger bonuses? Or is this ultimately going to blow up and torch the IT budget in Q2?

So for a bit of background:

I’m 26, I have a business degree, two years working as “student help desk” in the school I attended (basically a glorified receptionist), and one full year at the help desk of a financial services company.

I’ve only been here a year, but I worked my ass off and consistently out-performed my peers since month 3 or so (most resolved tickets, quickest response times, fewest complaints), and picked up my Net+ and Sec+ all within my first year. All of that said, my background is not as “explicitly IT” as my peers, which has resulted in some pretty intense imposter syndrome.

This position was not an open application, and I was directly tapped by the cybersecurity team’s manager to move into the position. There wasn’t really a formal interview either, I did sit down for a meeting with my future manager but it was moreso him explaining what I should expect more than him testing my knowledge/ability, and almost felt like him selling me the role.

I was very open about my lack of experience in security outside of my sec+, but that didn’t seem to dissuade him at all.

I know that provided a bit of time and the room to ask questions that I can do great in this role, but the imposter syndrome is tough. I already have coworkers being weird around me because they’ve been here much longer and think my promotion is unfair. I was extremely clear about my experience and it seemed like my future manager understood, but I still feel like I’m going to be “found out” for not having certain skill sets, and I’m not sure if this fear is warranted or not.

I’ve been studying for my CCNA, so I have OK knowledge of basic network security principles and techniques, but I’m very far from a proper network security engineer.

For those of you that have been in the industry or a similar position: how can I prepare myself for this role as to not look like an idiot? I really want to do well as I know this is an incredible opportunity, just scared I won’t be up to par.

Any advice is appreciated, thank you for your time

So we live in a slightly older build apartment development. We saw NO bugs for the longest time, until a couple of guys came to repair drywall, and we saw a couple of nymphs on their tarp. Since then, it’s like they’ve decided this is their home now.

It started with finding 2/3 nymphs in the kitchen/master bath every other day or so. We paid 2 different exterminators to do multiple treatments, more poison than is probably even safe for us, and they continue to show up. Granted they show up dead now, but they still show up.

We’ve caulked every visible opening in every baseboard in the apartment, sprayed foam in every opening under every sink, bought plugs covers for the outlets when they’re not being used, better weather stripping for all of the doors, it feels like we’ve done everything.

The frequency they show up now is much less which I guess is hopeful, but it’s like we go days without seeing any and then out of nowhere a few dead ones will pop up around the apartment.

To be clear, they’ve ALL been nymphs, and extremely tiny ones too. We’ve never seen a grown cockroach in this apartment.

Does anyone have any advice? I’m not sore more poison will help and I feel like we’ve covered all entry points. Everything I read says they don’t prefer to nest indoors, but they sure seem to keep finding their way in.

We are on the top floor, so in some capacity we’re connected to the attic.

Is there anything we can do or is this just the cost of living in the south around a lot of trees and water?