Debunking Myths About Careers in Tech

Many widely accepted beliefs in tech leadership are actually myths. You've been handed a treasure map promising unimaginable career success. But as you follow it, you realize it’s riddled with myths and misdirection, like trying to find Atlantis with a map of Nevada. Let’s ditch the faulty map, debunk these myths, and chart a course for true leadership greatness. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭: "𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵" 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Many tech leaders believe that being a coding wizard is all they need to climb the corporate ladder. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Technical prowess is great, but without soft skills, strategic thinking, and business acumen, you're like a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦: 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀: Sign up for communication and leadership workshops. Practice negotiation with your kids over bedtime stories. 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲: Learn the language of business—think finance, market trends, and strategic planning. Maybe even take a business course or two. 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿: Build a support system. Mentors and peers can provide invaluable guidance and open doors you didn't even know existed. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮: "𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻" 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Some tech leaders fear that one mistake will send their careers spiraling into a black hole. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Failure is your greatest teacher. It’s the rocket fuel for innovation and success. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦: 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁 𝗮 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁: See failures as opportunities to learn and grow. Encourage your team to experiment without fear. 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁: Dissect failures to understand what went wrong and how to fix it next time. Turn post-mortems into growth spurts. 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀: Recognize the hard work, even if the project didn’t land perfectly. This fosters a resilient and innovative culture. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯: "𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆" Check the comments 👇 Think of these myths as the anchors weighing down your ship. Cutting them loose means more than just freeing your career; it means setting sail towards uncharted territories of innovation and success. A true tech leader isn't just a master of code but a beacon of communication, a champion of resilience, and a source of inspiration. Enjoy the journey, celebrate the lessons, and lead with the kind of influence that makes waves, not ripples.

The Entry-Level Myth in Cybersecurity Getting our hopes up to be let down. For too long, we’ve been sold the idea that cybersecurity is an easy entry point into tech. In reality most “entry-level” cybersecurity jobs demand years of experience, specific skills, and hands-on knowledge that can’t be acquired by studying alone. The result? A market filled with aspiring professionals, certifications in hand, stuck in a never-ending cycle of “apply, get rejected, repeat.” But this isn’t because these professionals aren’t talented or ambitious. It’s because cybersecurity isn’t where you start, it’s where you end up. Here’s the traditional path by a lot of cyber professionals in today’s market: 1. IT Support or Helpdesk: You start by understanding how systems interact, how networks work, and how users struggle with tech. This is where you solve real problems and build a solid foundation. 2. Systems Administration: You level up by managing networks, configuring firewalls, dealing with permissions, and securing infrastructure. This is where you learn to defend systems, not just fix them. 3. Specialization in Cybersecurity: From there, you move into security analyst, GRC specialist, SOC operations, or cloud security. By this point, you understand what you’re protecting and more importantly, why. The uncomfortable truth is that there’s no shortcut. The best cybersecurity professionals didn’t land in cybersecurity as their first job—they worked their way up by mastering IT fundamentals and applying them to protect systems, data, and people. This is why we need to rebrand the cybersecurity career narrative We should stop misleading aspiring professionals by calling these jobs “entry-level” and instead guide them to build a foundation in IT. We need to value real, hands-on experience over certificates and highlight the importance of practical skills that make a difference when securing systems. If you’re feeling stuck because you can’t get your “entry-level” job in cybersecurity, know this: The problem isn’t you, it’s the myth that those roles were ever truly beginner-friendly. Cybersecurity is a journey. A destination. And the path that gets you there matters more than any “entry-level” job title. Are you ready to take the real steps it takes to build a cybersecurity career? Drop your thoughts below and let’s discuss. #Cybersecurity #CareerDevelopment #EntryLevelMyth #TechCareers #ITSupport #CybersecurityJobs

The 7 Lies You’ve Been Told About Breaking Into Cybersecurity Let’s debunk the noise. Because I see far too many brilliant people—especially women—stalling because of misinformation. You don’t need a $20K bootcamp. You don’t need 15 years of tech experience. You don’t need to “start in help desk” if that’s not your lane. Let’s call out 7 common cyber career myths—and what to do instead: 1. Lie: “You need a Computer Science degree to work in Cybersecurity.” ↳ Truth: You need proof of thinking like a risk manager. ↳ Employers care more about how you assess threats, read logs, and reduce exposure. 💡 Action Step: Build a project portfolio (risk register, mini SOC alert response, mock audit report). Use Notion or GitHub—it doesn’t have to be fancy. 2. Lie: “Certifications are the golden ticket.” ↳ Truth: Certifications signal interest—but they don’t guarantee jobs. ⚠️ Employers want application, not just knowledge. ✅ Show how you applied what you learned in Sec+ or CGRC with a real case study. 3. Lie: “You must start with the help desk.” ↳ Truth: That’s just one path—not the only one. ↳ If you love compliance, policy, governance, or privacy—you can go straight into GRC. 🛠 Learn frameworks (NIST, ISO, SOC 2), tools (OneTrust, ServiceNow), and write about your learning journey on LinkedIn. 4. Lie: “Cybersecurity is too technical for people with non-tech backgrounds.” ↳ Truth: Cyber has dozens of roles—many of which are more business-critical than tech-heavy. 💼 Think: GRC Analyst Risk Manager Awareness & Training Lead Privacy Consultant You belong here. 5. Lie: “If you haven’t worked in cyber, you have no relevant experience.” ↳ Truth: Transferable skills are gold. Did you: Manage risk or vendor contracts? Do internal audits or compliance reviews? Train staff or write documentation? That’s Cyber. Package it. 6. Lie: “Only tech bros get hired in cyber.” ↳ Truth: Women, career changers, moms returning to the workforce, and nontraditional learners are in demand—because diversity equals resilience. 7. Lie: “There’s too much competition—you’ll never stand out.” ↳ Truth: Most people apply blindly. YOU can stand out by: Posting thought pieces Sharing your learning process Building a proof-of-work portfolio Targeting your applications Strategy beats spray-and-pray every time. 🔔 Follow for more tech career insights! ♻️ Repost if this was helpful! #CyberSecurityCareers | #WomenInTech | #InsPowerHER | #GRC | #BreakingIntoTech | #CyberJobs | #TechCareers

𝟱 𝗺𝘆𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗦𝗲𝗰 (and why they’re totally wrong) Let’s bust some myths 👇 𝟭. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿.  Nope. I’m not a software engineer.  I don’t have “dev” level skills.  I just know how to script in Python and understand logic.  That’s all you need.  The real value?  𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 → 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 → 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 → 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝟮. 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗦𝗲𝗰.  False.  You don’t need a FAANG badge to work in security.  Startups need it.  Banks need it.  Healthcare needs it.  Even a one-person AppSec team can make a huge impact.  It’s scrappy, initially — but incredibly rewarding.  𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀 → 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 → 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 → 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝟯. 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗦𝗲𝗰 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀.  SAST, DAST, SCA... they’re just scanners.  And often too noisy.  The real magic?  Understanding what matters to the business—  Then working with the right people to fix what actually counts.  𝗖𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 → 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 → 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 → 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝘅𝗲𝘀 𝟰. 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗦𝗲𝗰 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 “𝗻𝗼.”  We’re not blockers—we’re builders with guardrails.  The best AppSec folks help devs ship faster and safer.  Not roadblocks for devs → build roadblocks for hackers.  Say: “Yes, and here’s how to do it securely.”  𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝘀 → 𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 → 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 → 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝟱. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.  I still Google.  I still ask ChatGPT.  I still learn like it’s Day 1.  Nobody knows everything.  The real skill? Curiosity                𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 → 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗹𝘆 → 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘀:  You don’t need to have it all to start.  You just have to start.  And remember—  You’re not alone in this journey.  𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 → 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 → 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 → 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗶𝗴 If one of these myths held you back, ♻️ Repost this to help someone else break through. P.S. Which myth did you believe at first? #AppSec #CyberSecurity #InfoSec #DeveloperExperience #SecurityMindset #CareerAdvice #TechCareers #LearningInPublic #BreakBuildSecure #LinkedInTips #BreakingMyths

Does tech seem intimidating and out of your reach? Think again. Your unique skills might be just what the industry needs. When I first considered tech, I counted myself out because I wasn't a coder. But then, I realized something crucial: tech isn't just about coding. It's about problem-solving, creativity, and leveraging diverse skills to drive innovation. I've seen many professionals from diverse backgrounds successfully transition into tech roles by leveraging their transferable skills. For instance, a friend with a background in project management excels as a product manager, while a former PhD student became a technical writer. ⚡ Let’s dispel the myths and embrace the possibilities. The truth is, tech is an ecosystem with numerous roles that require a variety of talents. Here are some actionable steps to carve your path in tech: ✅ Identify Your Transferable Skills: Whether it's project management, communication, analytical skills, and problem-solving, your existing skills can be a great fit for many tech roles. ✅ Explore roles beyond coding: Consider product management, technical writing, UX/UI design, sales engineering, data analyst, AI ethics, or customer success. ✅ Embrace emerging technologies: Stay curious about AI, data science, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. Get familiar with and use GPT tools. ✅ Start Small: Volunteer for tech-related projects or build a product. Real-world experience, even on a small scale, is valuable. Remember, tech thrives on diversity and innovation to solve problems and create value. You have a unique perspective to offer. Don't let self-doubt hold you back. With the right mindset and skills, you can thrive in tech. 🚀 #TransferableSkills #Technology #Innovation