Cyber Security Resume Example

Cyber security is a booming industry with lucrative job opportunities for the right candidates. With the market expected to double in size over the next six years, demand for cyber security specialists has never been higher.

Employers are looking for highly skilled, quick-thinking candidates that can keep the black hats at bay. If you’ve got what it takes, a killer resume will go a long way toward convincing potential employers that you belong on their last line of digital defense.

Here are five tips on how to write a solid cyber security resume:

1. Use the correct format

Choosing the best resume format based on your background is key to writing a convincing cyber security resume.

The chronological resume format is the best option for most job seekers because it draws attention to your most relevant experience by listing your job titles from most to least recent.

Even if you’re new to the field, a chronological format can work for you. Instead of listing work experience, add IT internships and computer science projects you’ve worked on.

2. Highlight your relevant skills

Highlighting the right set of skills on your resume is essential if you want to land a job in cyber security. Employers are on the lookout for candidates with the necessary technical skills to thrive in this highly specialized field.

But that doesn’t mean you need a degree. In fact, a job in the cyber security field is one of the highest-paying jobs you can get without formal education.

To draw attention to your technical abilities, here are some of the top hard skills to include on your cyber security resume:

• Operating systems
• Cyber security tools
• Penetration testing methods (external, internal, blind, double-blind testing)
• Cloud security
• Programming and scripting languages
• DevOps
• Incident response
• Intrusion detection
• Digital forensics
• Secure application development

While your technical abilities are primarily what employers are looking for, you should also include soft skills on your resume to round out your application. Particularly if you’re just starting out in the industry, soft skills show employers that you have the potential for growth.

A strong work ethic, attention to detail, and communication skills are all highly sought-after soft skills in cyber security.

3. Open with a strong cyber security resume objective or summary

Start your resume off with a compelling resume introduction that highlights your key cyber security skills to show employers why you’re right for the job.

If you’re new to the cyber security industry, write a resume objective that convinces hiring managers of your potential as an IT professional.

On the other hand, if you’ve already gained a few years of experience, opt for a resume summary instead. A resume summary focuses more heavily on your job-related achievements.

Here’s an example of what a resume summary for a cyber security professional looks like:

Cyber Security Engineer with 5+ years of experience in cyber security, information security, and IT operations. Skilled in implementing information security infrastructure and balancing security initiatives to external risks and business operations.

In just two sentences, the candidate demonstrates their work experience and relevant hard skills.

4. Back up your achievements with hard numbers

In cyber security, hiring managers are looking for adaptable, highly skilled candidates who can respond to an ever-changing landscape of digital threats.

The best way to show employers that you’re the right person to protect their business is by using your resume to quantify your accomplishments using hard numbers. 

Include examples of your achievements in your work experience section, accompanied by numbers and percentages that help highlight your previous successes.

Here’s an example of what this looks like in action (the quantified parts have been highlighted):

Note that this example uses powerful action verbs like “recognize” and “slash.” This kind of direct, forceful language makes you look like an effective, quick-thinking candidate — exactly the kind of person any hiring manager would want on their cyber security team.

5. List your IT certifications

As a cyber security professional, certifications can showcase your expertise in various aspects of IT security and serve as validation of your skills. Certifications also demonstrate your commitment to professional development and a deep understanding of the technology landscape.

If you have any of these certifications, list them in a separate certifications section on your resume to make them stand out:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• CompTIA Security+
• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC)

Having one or more of these certifications on your resume will increase your chances of getting hired for a cyber security role.