At Hays, we're seeing cyber security jobs are available for people who can keep organisations' data and systems secure. Cyber security has never been more important than in the modern climate, and it’s a requirement that isn’t going away any time soon. If you have the right skills, the key to landing the top cyber security jobs is having a great cyber security CV or resumé.

If you’re interested in applying for a role in cyber security, here are some top tips for improving your cyber security CV.

Search our cyber security jobs here.

What to include in your cyber security CV

Many of these tips will be relevant to jobseekers in any field. However, it’s no different when applying for cyber security jobs, so they’re worth remembering:

Layout

• One-page CVs are a myth! Make sure yours includes full details of your previous and current jobs and the responsibilities involved, even if the contents spill onto a second page.
• If you are including a professional summary (or personal statement), keep it brief. Give a high-level overview of your expertise in cyber.

Job history

• Write about your key cyber security skills here by making it clear which previous roles required you to use these.
• In clear and concise bullet points, discuss any past projects and explain what you personally contributed - not the whole team or department. Use action verbs such as “achieved”, “built”, “delivered”, “executed” or “optimised”. For more guidance on detailing your experience, check out this blog.
• If you have experience in a leadership role, mention the team size and your specific duties as a manager. Again, use words such as “led” or “raised” for impact.

Additional skills/experience

• A technical cyber security skills summary is a must-have on a cyber security CV. Only include tools you have hands-on experience of using and would be comfortable answering questions on in an interview. If it’s something you’ve never actually worked on, then don’t mention it!
• Always include full details of your education and any active certifications in cyber. You can also add certifications that you are actively working towards, e.g. “OSCP – Completion by (date)”
• List blog sites you contribute to and clubs you are a part of, as well as conferences you have attended or spoken at.

What should I do if I haven't had any cyber security jobs before now?

Of course, some of the above points won’t be applicable if you’ve just started looking for cyber security jobs. Instead, here’s how you can demonstrate your aptitude to the reader, even if you haven't proven you've got cyber security skills in a previous role:

• Include personal/school related cyber projects you have worked on.
• Mention any conferences you have attended, or cyber memberships you hold (ISACA etc.).
• List tools you have worked with that are similar to the ones the hiring party have mention in the job spec. It’s also a good idea to write about any past roles where you learned how to use a tool without any prior knowledge, as this shows you have the ability to develop in this position too.

You can find more advice on writing your first tech CV here.

What to avoid when writing your cyber security CV

Although we mentioned above that a one-page CV is a myth, that doesn’t mean you should add things for the sake of it. Here are a few things to look out for:

• As discussed here, omit phrases such as “good communicator”, “team player” etc. Instead, demonstrate your communication skills when listing your previous responsibilities and achievements by using action verbs such as “influenced”, “advised” or “negotiated”.
• Don’t include inactive certifications or partially completed degrees unless you are still working on these and have a projected graduation date.
• Ignore any personal hobbies or interests unless they are relevant to cyber or tech more broadly.

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Author

Daniel Smith
Recruiting Manager, Cyber Security Center, Hays US

Daniel has 15 years of experience in IT Staffing in both the UK and US, seven of which with Hays. He currently manages a team of 12 recruiters, specifically focused on placing Cyber Security talentacross North America.