<aside> ☝

Disclaimer: Working in security is incredibly rewarding, but it can be difficult to break into the field. No one can guarantee you’ll get a job in security, and there a lot of people selling career help. Genuine passion and persistence will be key.

</aside>

<aside> 💡 Sense of purpose and fun

• Work is more easy and fun when it feels like it matters. </aside>

<aside> 🪙 Lots of jobs, and they pay well

• Close to zero % unemployment, although job markets fluctuate and many roles require years of prior security experience.
• Comp varies regionally and averages are skewed, but
  • ZipRecruiter says average total comp is $135,000 (USD)
  • Levels.fyi says Median total comp is over $200,000 (USD) </aside>

<aside> 📖 Learning, not boring

• Security changes every day.
• There are always opportunities and new things to master.
• You’ll do well if you stay curious and try to learn new things all the time. </aside>

<aside> ⚖️ Egalitarianism, not (as much) prestige-based gating.

• There are security jobs that cater to many interests, no matter your background, technical expertise, or working style.
• The field has had less time to professionalize, compared to Law or Medicine.
• There’s no official degree, certification, or license requirement, but many firms and hiring managers impose them.
• So many firms need cybersecurity help that they will sometimes focus on skills, not “traditional” credentials like degrees from prestigious universities.
• But that means it takes entrepreneurial thinking to stand out. </aside>

<aside> 💭 Ikigai

In short, a lot of security jobs might fall squarely in the middle of this diagram about Ikigai (pronounced ”eye-ka-guy”). It’s the Japanese concept about finding purpose and meaning, accounting for more than just your passions.

</aside>

Ikigai. Credit: Bodetree, adapted from Garcia and Miralles’s book “Ikigai.”