u/Weekly_Rough_1284

So after I already believed that I would never get a job in this field, at least in this market situation, I got an email from a company I applied to through the “Easy Apply” feature that I even forgot I applied for.

And then they started saying that they saw my resume and thought I was a good fit and stuff.

Then they asked me to solve a technical challenge, and I delivered it way before the deadline.

Then they said sorry, they needed me to solve an additional challenge.

And it was so much harder, and it took a lot of time from me, but I still delivered it way before the deadline.

And then they were happy and gave me good feedback that I was able to solve these hard technical challenges. They told me all the files were correct and everything was good, but they just needed a write-up explaining the steps I took to solve it!

And I did the write-up, and everything was explained, and I told them if they needed me to clarify any step, I was happy and ready to clarify it!

Then they came back to me after a couple of days and basically just said sorry, they don’t think I’m a good fit, without even giving any feedback!!

And I was likeee in my mind, what?? Really?? Are you serious???
After I spent days solving your hard technical challenges, and you confirmed that everything was good, and you gave me good feedback, and you haven’t even done any interview with me, and now you just send me a message saying I’m not a good fit without even giving any specific feedback??

I really feel we should get paid for the time we spend on technical challenges and interviews because it takes days from our time and life, so employers can take us more seriously rather than just playing with our feelings and hope!

When someone meets me and knows that I have done a degree in cybersecurity and tells me, “OMG, I want to get into the field,” at this point I don’t know what to tell them because if I say it’s hard and getting a job is so hard, they will think I’m a gatekeeper, but it’s just sad how it is now!

So now, honestly, I feel with this joke of a market and crazy employers, I would like to say to anyone who is looking for a job that we are really cooked…

Rather than chasing and trying to find just a job and letting employers move us like chess pieces, we should try to consider another field that could possibly be much better, or we open our own businesses!

I also would like to thank my family for supporting me in this journey. Otherwise, I would probably be working at a fast-food place for minimum wage right now!

I don’t know what I will do next in my life, but I really got enough from this field, and I don’t want to lower myself anymore or feel like I’m begging just to get a job.

This life is unfair, and thank you!

So after I already believed that I would never get a job in this field, at least in this market situation, I got an email from a company I applied to through the “Easy Apply” feature that I even forgot I applied for.

And then they started saying that they saw my resume and thought I was a good fit and stuff.

Then they asked me to solve a technical challenge, and I delivered it way before the deadline.

Then they said sorry, they needed me to solve an additional challenge.

And it was so much harder, and it took a lot of time from me, but I still delivered it way before the deadline.

And then they were happy and gave me good feedback that I was able to solve these hard technical challenges. They told me all the files were correct and everything was good, but they just needed a write-up explaining the steps I took to solve it!

And I did the write-up, and everything was explained, and I told them if they needed me to clarify any step, I was happy and ready to clarify it!

Then they came back to me after a couple of days and basically just said sorry, they don’t think I’m a good fit, without even giving any feedback!!

And I was likeee in my mind, what?? Really?? Are you serious???
After I spent days solving your hard technical challenges, and you confirmed that everything was good, and you gave me good feedback, and you haven’t even done any interview with me, and now you just send me a message saying I’m not a good fit without even giving any specific feedback??

I really feel we should get paid for the time we spend on technical challenges and interviews because it takes days from our time and life, so employers can take us more seriously rather than just playing with our feelings and hope!

When someone meets me and knows that I have done a degree in cybersecurity and tells me, “OMG, I want to get into the field,” at this point I don’t know what to tell them because if I say it’s hard and getting a job is so hard, they will think I’m a gatekeeper, but it’s just sad how it is now!

So now, honestly, I feel with this joke of a market and crazy employers, I would like to say to anyone who is looking for a job that we are really cooked…

Rather than chasing and trying to find just a job and letting employers move us like chess pieces, we should try to consider another field that could possibly be much better, or we open our own businesses!

I also would like to thank my family for supporting me in this journey. Otherwise, I would probably be working at a fast-food place for minimum wage right now!

I don’t know what I will do next in my life, but I really got enough from this field, and I don’t want to lower myself anymore or feel like I’m begging just to get a job.

This life is unfair, and thank you!

I failed a technical interview and I’m so disappointed…
Although it was just an internship role and they shouldn’t expect a lot from us, sadly it was still a very hard process.

I passed the technical challenge and the first interview, but then it came to the technical interview.

He was giving me very hard scenarios and questions, and I believe I answered them fairly well.

But then suddenly, days later, I received an email saying that I wasn’t selected…

Why is it even this hard for an internship role!!

My dream now is to find another non-technical field I can get into easily. At least they won’t have that thing of technical interviews.

Although it was just an internship role and they shouldn’t expect a lot from us, sadly it was still a very hard process.

I passed the technical challenge and the first interview, but then it came to the technical interview.

He was giving me very hard scenarios and questions, and I believe I answered them fairly well.

But then suddenly, days later, I received an email saying that I wasn’t selected…

Why is it even this hard for an internship role!!

My dream now is to find another non-technical field I can get into easily. At least they won’t have that thing of technical interviews.

I passed the AppSec challenge, but I’m freaking out about the technical interviews
I have two upcoming technical interviews for an AppSec role, and I’m freaking out. I hate technical interviews as much as I hate pickles.
I passed the practical challenge like a pro with no problem, but I’m horrible when I have to verbally explain technical things. I can actually do the work, but when someone asks me to explain definitions, concepts, or walk through the steps out loud, my mind just goes blank.
I’m really anxious that I might lose this opportunity just because I’m not good at speaking technically, even though I passed the practical challenge without any issues.
Has anyone else dealt with this? How did you prepare for AppSec technical interviews and get better at explaining things verbally?

I have two upcoming technical interviews for an AppSec role, and I’m freaking out. I hate technical interviews as much as I hate pickles.
I passed the practical challenge like a pro with no problem, but I’m horrible when I have to verbally explain technical things. I can actually do the work, but when someone asks me to explain definitions, concepts, or walk through the steps out loud, my mind just goes blank.
I’m really anxious that I might lose this opportunity just because I’m not good at speaking technically, even though I passed the practical challenge without any issues.
Has anyone else dealt with this? How did you prepare for AppSec technical interviews and get better at explaining things verbally?

I have two upcoming technical interviews for an AppSec role, and I’m freaking out. I hate technical interviews as much as I hate pickles.
I passed the practical challenge like a pro with no problem, but I’m horrible when I have to verbally explain technical things. I can actually do the work, but when someone asks me to explain definitions, concepts, or walk through the steps out loud, my mind just goes blank.
I’m really anxious that I might lose this opportunity just because I’m not good at speaking technically, even though I passed the practical challenge without any issues.
Has anyone else dealt with this? How did you prepare for AppSec technical interviews and get better at explaining things verbally?

I feel like I see software engineering jobs everywhere. Almost every company needs software engineers, and there seem to be plenty of junior and entry-level opportunities.
Cybersecurity feels completely different. There seem to be fewer entry-level jobs, and whenever one gets posted, I sometimes see hundreds or even 1,000+ applicants. Employers also seem extremely picky, even for junior positions.
Do you think switching to software engineering would give me better chances of finding a job, or should I stick with cybersecurity?

Are big companies still hiring penetration testers?
I feel like penetration testing jobs barely exist at big companies anymore. Most of the openings I see seem to be at small startups or small security firms started by a few people working together.
Meanwhile, I see software engineering positions at almost every big company, but rarely penetration testing roles.
It’s honestly making me wonder if I should switch my career path to software engineering instead.

Ideally, I’d love to have a cybersecurity job right now, but the market is horrible, and I need to move forward with my life, pay the bills, and live comfortably. Are there any fields that are relatively easy to get into and find work in? I just don’t want to end up working restaurant jobs.

I feel the cybersecurity field has become really crowded, and anyone can just get in without a degree, unlike other fields where you have to get a degree, which limits who can apply. There are more applicants than jobs, and employers are so picky.

I wish I could be in a field that is not crowded, where I can be something unique and employers appreciate me and my qualifications.

Cybersecurity has become a really toxic field where you always feel like you are not enough, and the attitude is basically, “We can throw you away if you’re not GREAT enough or if we find someone better than you.”

Also, the community, where many people can just talk down to you and make you feel like you are lower than them, or that you are not smart or “hacker enough” to be in the field.

When I look at engineers, doctors, or people in other fields, they seem more educated and respectful toward each other. It doesn’t feel like cybersecurity, where a lot of people talk and act like they are underage, not grown, educated adults.

I feel like I’ve had enough of this world, even though I really love cybersecurity. Everything around it just feels toxic.

The question now is: I don’t know what field I can choose that would be less competitive, have a more respectful community with more educated people, value qualifications more, and make it easier to get a job.

Thanks for your time.

I’d like to meet people in their 20s or 30s who are interested in penetration testing and red teaming. Would anyone like to meet at DEF CON or sometime before the conference? Message me if you’re interested!

Hello! I’m going to DEF CON, and I feel a bit lost. I looked at the map and the talk schedule, but I’m not really sure what I want to do. Sometimes I get bored just sitting through talks, so I’d love to know what else there is to do besides attending presentations.

I’m not going there just to listen to talks. What are the must-do activities, villages, competitions, workshops, or other experiences that you would recommend for a first-time attendee?