CISSP Experience
I passed the CISSP on my first attempt last week, and I'm still not convinced my heart rate has returned to normal.
Yes, there were some easy one-liners... but all I remember are the questions that had me wondering if I was about to pass.....out.
For context, I come from a non-technical background and have worked in GRC for about 10 years. I studied for roughly 10 weeks. If anyone wants resources, I'm happy to share but honestly, they're the same ones everyone here recommends.
My biggest takeaway: "Think like a manager" isn't the answer to every question. It's only relevant when the question actually calls for it. I also expected everything to be conceptual, but there were definitely some questions that rewarded straight up memorization of minor details.
The best advice I can give is to ignore the "perfect" study method. Find what works for you. Textbooks, videos, podcasts, flashcards, courses, whatever it is because everyone learns differently and have different responsibilities (extra shout out to the parents, especially the moms, somehow squeezing CISSP into an already impossible schedule.)
People say the exam is "a mile wide and an inch deep," and that's mostly true... until the CAT exam decides to camp out in your weakest domains. I felt like mine kept coming back to the same areas over and over. It's almost as if you need to know everything... which is probably why this exam has the reputation it does.
Good luck to everyone taking it soon. May your exam end in a pass... and may your heart survive the experience. 🤞
If you have any questions on the study resources I used, let me know!