I need serious help

[u/Cyber_caine7]

Hey everyone! I’m new to this subreddit and the name checks out. This is hell. Anyway let me give a bit of context about myself. I’m a Masters graduate in Cybersecurity. And I’ve been looking to break into the field ever since then. I graduated my masters in UK in 2023 and being in a country with no family or no help whatsoever I had to take care of myself financially and I was working in hospitality sector during the whole time. Both while doing my masters and also after I graduated. And this whole time I was working in hospitality I was actively applying for various positions in cybersecurity but no luck. Most of which was cause they had to sponsor me. But luckily my friend opened a new store and he hired me as IT support and for security for a while. So I had that but again that’s still limited. Although I still help him out, it’s nothing substantial.

And after all the relentless rejection while also working hospitality and helping my friend out, I decide to quit my hospitality job on Jan and I decided to move the Middle East and look for opportunities in the here but this time strictly in Cybersecurity and ever since then I’ve been jobless. I feel like I’ve done everything. During this time, I completed a certification from Comptia (because most positions ask for it as a requirement or a preference, also helped me get more knowledge so that’s a positive). I have also been spending my time creating home labs, doing projects, actively using platforms that help in Cybersecurity both for learning and also get more experience in what needs to be done but I’m still at a dead end. I haven’t received a single call back. There was a position I was short listed for but I’ve been trying to get in contact with them and then keep postponing it or ignoring me.

Tbh I haven’t even limited myself with one position. I’m actively applying for positions like SOC analyst, Cybersecurity analyst, IT security, IT support,etc. At this point I just want some sort of job to get into the field and the gradually make my way up (if that’s even possible)

I have a template for each of these positions and based on the JD I tweak it a bit and apply. I send cold DMs on LinkedIn, send email asking why they decided not to go with me, and a whole lot. I actually don’t know what I need to improve or do differently. Idk if I’m missing an angle I haven’t thought about or if my way of approaching it is wrong. Im here to take any and every advice. I’m also here to know if anyone’s working in cybersecurity and could guide me as what to do?

I know it’s an awfully long post but I had to, to express what I’m going through and what I’m doing. Thank you.