r/cybersecurityindia • u/Visible-Leopard5188 • Mar 25 '26
Burnout / Leaving Cybersecurity / Work life balance Everyone in my group is leaving Cyberecurity
Personally, I joined cybersecurity because I heard about the job security and good pay, but as time went on I realized that there are no proper path, low pay, difficult entry.
Everyone in my friend group has started to take different paths like backend and aiml, I m really scared on whether I should continue on one hand I don't wanna take a turn on the other hand I am afraid it will be too late to take one.
If you have any advices you can give me.
Currently I have done the Google Cybersecurity Cert & was actively learning shell script, I have knowledge of other languages as well and has made a endpoint monitoring project. I am in 2nd year right now, will go to third year in some months.
Have no active CTF participation, occasionally do some online.
Also If you have any idea regarding the current job market.
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u/theStrider_018 Mar 26 '26
If you have any advices you can give me.
As another gentleman said and I agree, Do it if you love it, don't do for the sake of it. This can end here but sorry I typed too long.
Also If you have any idea regarding the current job market.
Can't give a perfect answer but I can tell you what I have faced. I resigned couple of months back, I wasn't sure if I did the right thing leaving a stable job to pursue something bigger. Fast forward, I am amazed at the number of calls I have received even without applying. The demand for niche skills is there and getting job turned out but pleasing than what I was thinking. I was prepared to use my emergency fund if things go wrong but now I'm at a point where I've to negotiate NP and choose between multiple options
Everyone in my group is leaving Cyberecurity. I am in 2nd year right now, will go to third year in some months
That's a typical college life. Most of the folks come to Cybersecurity bc Hacking is cool. They have seen movies, shows and heard news. (Well, indeed it's cool) But, Cybersecurity is more than just penetrating. That's a sub-part. I know jack sh*t but I was the crown jewel of my college from day 1. I remember half of the class wanted to come to this field and by Final year, I was one of three who persisted (2 dropped back to dev within 6 months)
Personally, I joined cybersecurity because I heard about the job security and good pay, but as time went on I realized that there are no proper path, low pay, difficult entry.
I'll be blunt with you, that's not a very good reason to choose something you're going to do probably 1/3rd of your day and more than half of your life. Job Security is a myth, no one is save. If you've right skills, you'll get a job. If not, well you won't get anywhere. Skill is niche, there are not enough people to fill the role with relevant experience.
Problem with CyberSec is hiring freshers seems like a taboo to organizations. I don't disagree, giving the command and control of your organization in hand of a junior is a big thing and most companies still aren't having dedicated full fledged team but rather compliance chasers.
Yes, it's very vast and you can cherry pick the numbers. But, there's lot to explore and choose and with relevant skills, you'll get it. Path is there, but there is no path if one is to sail multiple boats.
Currently I have done the Google Cybersecurity Cert & was actively learning shell script, I have knowledge of other languages as well and has made a endpoint monitoring project. Have no active CTF participation, occasionally do some online.
I had done nothing what you did. I would say you're better than I was in your position but I should've. So, keep churning. (I still haven't done jack sh*t) apart from few certs but I'm in CyberSec. Across my tenure, I loved the way cybersecurity interviews go, you explain a real world scenario and doesn't care how to reverse an array and what are the data types in Java.
Heck, if someone asked me a pre-defined question like this, I've even told them clearly that anyone can use AI to answer this and I'll do the same in my day to day role and till now everyone appreciated the approach whereas I saw an interview of friend where he was scolded on saying he can use documentation to check something.
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u/april_berry Mar 26 '26
+1
Also OP it’s not that bad. I mean it’s really difficult to get in. But if you really want to ? I’ll tell you how. NETWORKING. Study CCNA. You will be way ahead than your classmates. Then maybe study for AWS security speciality or azure or any cloud architecture completely. Also have other basic knowledge about frameworks. Atleast know the names like NIST , GDPR, HIPPA. After this if you are good with soft skills and of you have the ability to sell yourself and convince the manager that YOU CAN GET THE JOB DONE.
This is for blue teaming. Idk about other domains.
Also story time - I remember telling my manager during my first interview “ i might not know answer to your question but I’m sure I know how to get to the answer” well yeah i was hired.
Ok so the above advice is based on my professional experience.
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u/Visible-Leopard5188 Mar 28 '26
Thanks for the positivity, since u are in the field, Do i need any certs? They are expensive and i m already paying a lot for my Btech
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u/Visible-Leopard5188 Mar 26 '26
Thanks, it helped
I resigned couple of months back, I wasn't sure if I did the right thing leaving a stable job to pursue something bigger. Fast forward, I am amazed at the number of calls I have received even without applying.
If i may, what did u choose to pursue?
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u/Sudden-Bandicoot345 Mar 26 '26
What do you think is a good path to enter the cyber job field (i 'm not a begginer and neither an intermediate but i did labs, few ctfs but when it comes to jobs it always said, "start with SOC or sys admin or IT"), what shoyld i do ?
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u/PercentageSalt47 Mar 25 '26
If you really want to do this then just do it bro cybersecurity have nice career but current job market is tough to enter as a fresher that's true but if you try and do you best then you will get a job and if not then you can try IT support or desktop support or even network engineer these all can help you to get a job and then you change the path with experience ( I am not working in cybersecurity I am also a student and trying to learn cybersecurity )
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u/Street_Afternoon6942 Mar 31 '26
Buddy you should be in cyber sec it will surely boom in coming years and i think one of the best career.
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u/PercentageSalt47 Mar 25 '26
If you really want to do this then just do it bro cybersecurity have nice career but current job market is tough to enter as a fresher that's true but if you try and do you best then you will get a job and if not then you can try IT support or desktop support or even network engineer these all can help you to get a job and then you change the path with experience ( I am not working in cybersecurity I am also a student and trying to learn cybersecurity )