u/marlinspikee

I’m entering my final year of ECE engineering in India; interested in cybersecurity, and I’m at a crossroads.

The conventional advice I hear in software and IT is:
Learn Java/C++
Learn DSA
Grind LeetCode
Learn web development (React, Node, etc.)
Get an SDE/SWE job

However, I’m much more interested in cybersecurity, especially SOC, DFIR, Detection Engineering, threat hunting, and bug bounty. I enjoy Linux, labs, CTFs, and security projects far more than full-stack development.

Is it a mistake to skip the traditional SDE route and specialize in cybersecurity from the beginning?

For those already working in cybersecurity in India:
Did you start directly in cyber, or transition from software engineering?
Do you think freshers should still focus on DSA and web development first?

If you were in my position today, what would you do?
I’d appreciate advice from people already working in the industry rather than generic career guidance.

I’m entering my final year of ECE engineering in India; interested in cybersecurity, and I’m at a crossroads.

The conventional advice I hear in software and IT is:
Learn Java/C++
Learn DSA
Grind LeetCode
Learn web development (React, Node, etc.)
Get an SDE/SWE job

However, I’m much more interested in cybersecurity, especially SOC, DFIR, Detection Engineering, threat hunting, and bug bounty. I enjoy Linux, labs, CTFs, and security projects far more than full-stack development.

Is it a mistake to skip the traditional SDE route and specialize in cybersecurity from the beginning?

For those already working in cybersecurity in India:
Did you start directly in cyber, or transition from software engineering?
Do you think freshers should still focus on DSA and web development first?

If you were in my position today, what would you do?
I’d appreciate advice from people already working in the industry rather than generic career guidance.

In my college, placement season feels like a marathon where everyone is chasing the highest package.
If someone gets a 30–40 LPA offer from companies like Texas Instruments or other top recruiters, it’s treated as if they’ve “won at life.”
At the same time, students with different interests (like cybersecurity, research, startups, AI, etc.) often feel pressured to abandon those goals and join whichever company offers the highest salary.
Do you think this placement culture pushes students toward short-term decisions?
Or is taking the best available offer simply the practical thing to do?
I’d love to hear perspectives from people who have been working for a few years and have seen how careers actually play out.

I’m a final-year Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) student in India.
Over the past year, I’ve been focusing almost entirely on cybersecurity. I’ve completed a cybersecurity internship, participate in CTFs, and I’m interested in SOC, DFIR, Detection Engineering, and Security Research. My goal is to build a career in cybersecurity.
The problem is that campus placements are starting soon. Many people around me are preparing DSA, LeetCode, and web development for SDE roles, while I haven’t been focusing on those.
I’m confused about whether I should:
Option 1: Go all-in on cybersecurity and target only cyber roles.
Option 2: Pause my cybersecurity preparation for a few months and grind DSA, LeetCode, and web development to maximize placement opportunities.
I don’t want to do both because I feel I’ll end up being average at each. I’d rather commit fully to one path.
For those already working in the industry:
If you were in my position today, what would you choose?
Is it realistic for a fresher to focus only on cybersecurity?
How are the opportunities for freshers in cybersecurity compared to SDE roles in India?
Would going all-in on cyber hurt my placement chances?
I’d really appreciate advice from people who’ve been in a similar situation or are currently working in cybersecurity or software engineering.