Cyber Security Resume Example
Working as a cyber security specialist can provide a rewarding career, involving monitoring network traffic and implementing security protocols. A strong resume for cyber security specialist applications showcases your skills, experience and achievements and helps you stand out from other candidates. In this article, we'll highlight tips and examples for creating a cyber security specialist resume that makes a winning impression on recruiters and hiring managers.
This comprehensive guide will give you all the tools you need to craft a cyber security resume that positions you strongly against other candidates. The article will take you through the key steps of creating a resume that presents your key skills, qualities and career achievements in a format that employers favor. It will also help you tailor your resume according to your unique skills and experience level. Read on to access expert insights from Jobseeker that will help you create a winning cyber security resume.
Key sections for a cyber security resume
A successful cyber security resume will typically include each of the sections listed below, with some optional sections.
For junior and entry-level cyber security specialist positions, you may be short on work experience to include in your resume. Select a resume layout that emphasizes your skills and qualifications, such as a functional format. Soft and transferable skills are often more highly valued by employers for junior roles, so highlight these. Also add any internships, volunteer work or training courses you've undertaken.
Work experience is typically the most important resume section for cyber security specialist applicants with some prior experience. As such, it's best to use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format. By using this resume format you can focus on showing how your experience has helped you develop the required skills for the job. Review the job description to understand which key skills and experience to focus on.
As a highly experienced candidate, you'll want your cyber security resume to showcase your depth of relevant work experience, as well as other achievements. Use a reverse-chronological format and add additional sections to prove you're a strong candidate. Expect your senior resume to be slightly longer than resumes for more junior roles. This is because you 'll want to add details of professional memberships, awards, publications, presentations and other achievements expected of senior professionals.
Your resume layout and structure may differ depending on your experience levels, but make sure your resume includes the following:
Header and Personal Information
A cyber security resume header contains your name and contact information. Add your first and last name, your phone number and your email address. Include your address or location, but avoid adding any other personal information. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can add the URL to your header so the hiring manager can get a better understanding of your work history and experience. Keep your header clear and concise, with only the most necessary information included. Opt for a stylish, professional design that creates a strong first impression.
Opt for a professional-looking email address based on your name. If your email address could be construed as unprofessional or inappropriate because it contains nicknames or unsuitable language, create a new, more professional email address for your job applications. Always check your contact details to make sure they're up-to-date before you send your resume.
Gianna Morales
gianna.morales@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
852 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, IL
linkedin․com/in/gianna–morales123
Resume Summary
Your resume personal profile is a short, concise paragraph to highlight two or three key skills and achievements in cyber security specialist roles. You may also see this section named as 'resume summary' or 'resume objective'. Resume summaries tend to focus on your career experience, while resume objectives cover your ambitions and plans for the future. Additionally, make sure your resume summary reflects the job description and focuses on qualities that are relevant to working as a cyber security specialist.
Alternatively, use this summary to introduce your personal career ambitions and explain why cyber security specialist roles are a good fit for you at this stage of your career.
A good resume summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for cyber security specialist roles, while leaving the reader with an impression of your unique qualities and strengths. The most effective resume summaries also provide evidence to back up the claims made in them. You can see some positive examples of a resume summary for cyber security specialist jobs below.
Good example:
Dedicated Cyber Security Specialist with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and extensive experience as a Cyber Security Analyst. Proven expertise in threat assessment, risk management, and incident response. Skilled in implementing security protocols, monitoring network traffic for unusual activity, and conducting vulnerability assessments to safeguard organizational assets. Adept at collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and enforce security policies and procedures. Committed to staying updated with the latest industry trends and technologies to ensure robust defense against evolving cyber threats
Bad example:
Cybersecurity professional with some background in security and analyzing risks. Worked in roles where I looked at threats and responded to incidents. Have experience in setting up security measures and watching network activity. Worked with teams to create security rules. Focused on keeping up with new trends and technologies to protect against threats
Alternatively, a poor resume summary would include bland, generic information that does little to prove your suitability for the role, while failing to provide any useful insights on you as a person or as a candidate. The graphic above shows some of the pitfalls to avoid when creating your resume summary.
Employment History
Your resume work experience section is the chance to show your relevant previous jobs and career achievements as a cyber security specialist. Include any relevant jobs you've held in reverse-chronological order. Start with your current or most recent roles and work back through previous roles. For each job, list your title, the name of the company, its location and the dates you worked there.
For each job listed in this section, add some bullet points so the employer can understand the skills you developed, and your achievements. Focus on showcasing the impact you made on the organization, and show evidence of how you made a difference.
The best resume work experience sections focus only on the most relevant previous jobs, and link each bullet point back to a skill or experience listed in the job description. It's also critical to provide evidence that shows the value you added to each role in a quantifiable way, such as project outcomes, key performance indicators or feedback from customers, colleagues or managers. Take a look at the examples below for some guidance on what works best for your work experience section.
Good example:
Cyber Security Analyst, January 2022 - Present
QuantumGuard Solutions, Omaha
- Developed and implemented a robust security protocol, reducing cyber threats by 60% within the first year
- Conducted comprehensive penetration testing, identifying and mitigating 95% of critical vulnerabilities across the network
- Led a team to successfully thwart a significant ransomware attack, ensuring zero data loss and minimal downtime
Bad example:
Cyber Security Analyst, January 2022 - Present
QuantumGuard Solutions, Omaha
- Improved security measures to enhance network protection and safeguard data from potential threats
- Conducted security assessments to identify and address vulnerabilities in the system
- Managed a team to respond to security incidents and maintain system integrity
In the graphic above, you'll see some examples of less effective resume work experience sections. Poor examples of resume work experience sections tend to be vague and fail to quantify your achievements and the impact you've made in your career to date. They may also focus on responsibilities above relevant skills and how you've used them.
Education
The education section provides space to list your highest and most recent academic achievements that are relevant to working as a cyber security specialist.
To work as a cyber security specialist, employers tend to require candidates to have a specialist degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. If you have this degree, focus on it in your education section, while also mentioning any educational achievements that show your firewall configuration or cryptography and encryption.
List your relevant qualifications in reverse-chronological order. Add the name and level of the award, the institution, its location (if this isn't obvious from the name) and your dates of study. Include bullet points to show any specialist modules you studied, awards or exceptional grades and achievements that can set you apart from other candidates. These will all contribute to creating a positive impression on employers.
If you organized or participated in any clubs or societies while at university, or you took part in any voluntary work, you could also mention these here.
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, 2017 - 2020
American University, Washington, D.C
Skills
The skills section is one of the main ways to show employers you've got the skills required for cyber security specialist roles. Whether your skills include penetration testing (pentesting), effective communication skills or any other useful skills for the role, you'll want to list them here. Additionally, read the job description to make sure your skills match those required for cyber security specialist positions. You could also include some unique skills that help you stand out as a candidate.
Highlighting your hard skills
Under hard skills, add any specialist skills you possess that are specifically required for cyber security specialist jobs. These tend to be technical skills and industry knowledge essential to the position. Furthermore, these skills are essential for a cyber security resume as they showcase your expertise in the field. Include around four or five key hard skills that are listed in the job description. These skills will help to convince the hiring manager that you're a good fit for the position.
Your resume hard skills list should reflect your unique and specific industry expertise and experience, while also fulfilling the requirements listed in the job description. See the examples below for an idea of what an effective cyber security resume hard skills list looks like.
- Network security management
- Penetration testing (pentesting)
- Security information (SIEM)
Soft skills on your cyber security resume
Soft skills are the personal skills and qualities that make you a good fit for the job. They include transferable skills and strengths that help you settle into the role, adapt to new challenges and build effective working relationships. In fact, you can develop soft skills throughout your career, and they tend to be suitable for various roles and professions. Aim to include approximately five soft skills that reflect the skills listed in the job description.
The strongest resume soft skills sections include a mix of skills that match your best personal strengths, and that reflect the skills listed in the job description. See below for some examples of effective soft skills for a cyber security specialist resume.
- Problem-solving abilities
- Attention to detail
- Effective communication skills
Certifications
Under this section, list any relevant certifications or licenses that are relevant to cyber security specialist jobs. These could be official licenses required for the job or certifications that improve your employability. Therefore, add any necessary licenses and certifications in this section, along with valid dates so employers can see you're still qualified for the job.
See below for some suggestions of relevant certifications for a cyber security resume:
- CISSP, 2022
- CEH, 2022
- CISM, 2022
Optional Information
As well as the main sections of a cyber security specialist resume, optional sections can help you prove your credentials to employers. Choose optional sections from the list below, if they help to showcase your relevant skills and experience.
Hobbies and Interests
Hobbies and interests can be a useful way of showing your skills and experience beyond your work and education. Consider listing hobbies and interests to help your resume stand out, or to provide the employer with some insight into your personality and wider interests. They're perfect for candidates who might lack genuine work experience as a cyber security specialist. Think about adding hobbies and interests to your resume if they add some insight into your personality that you can't express elsewhere in your application.
Volunteering
Voluntary work can help you develop useful skills, so it's a valuable addition to your cyber security resume. Write your volunteer section in a similar format to your work experience, including your role, the organization name, relevant dates and the details of your contribution.
References
Although it's rare to include references on a cyber security resume, some employers may ask for it. Don't add references unless they're specifically mentioned by the employer in the job advert. Before adding any referees to your resume, ask them for their assistance and prepare them for contact by the employer.
References will be available upon request.
Best words to use in a cyber security specialist resume
Add strong verbs to your work experience section to show the hiring manager the impact you made in your previous roles. Add strong verbs from the list below to create a greater impact with your work experience section.
- Analyze
- Monitor
- Implement
- Secure
- Investigate
- Detect
- Configure
- Assess
- Mitigate
- Respond
If you need help creating a resume that impresses HR managers, take a look at Jobseeker's professional resume templates. You can also access beautiful cover letter templates that help your application stand out.
Example of a cyber security resume
The cyber security resume example below includes all the sections above, so you can see how a completed resume looks:
852 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, IL
•
gianna.morales@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/gianna–morales123
Dedicated Cyber Security Specialist with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and extensive experience as an Information Security Analyst. Proven expertise in identifying vulnerabilities, implementing robust security measures, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Skilled in threat analysis, risk assessment, and incident response, committed to safeguarding organizational assets and data integrity.
Information Security Analyst
2020
-2022
CyberGuard Solutions Inc (New York)
- Implemented advanced threat detection systems, reducing security breaches by 40% within the first year
- Conducted comprehensive security audits, identifying and mitigating 95% of vulnerabilities across the enterprise network
- Designed and deployed a robust incident response plan, decreasing incident resolution time by 60%
Network security management
Penetration testing (pentesting)
Security information (SIEM)
Problem-solving abilities
Attention to detail
Effective communication skills
CISSP
CEH
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Do's and don'ts of a cyber security specialist resume
Key tips to help you craft a strong resume
- Keep your cyber security resume as brief as possible. A single page is ideal for junior applicants, while two sides is acceptable for senior jobs.
- Add key skills throughout your resume that match the job description, along with a dedicated 'skills' section.
- Adapt your resume depending on the job you're applying for. Take a look at the job description and make sure you reference all the required key skills and experience.
- Use a clear resume format with professional elements, including suitable headings, line spacing, fonts and margins, to make your resume as readable as possible for hiring managers.
- Reference your key qualifications and educational achievements, including grades if these help you stand out from other candidates.
Keep away from these common resume mistakes
- Don't write any unnecessary personal details on your resume. Details such as age, gender or nationality can lead to unintentional recruitment bias.
- Don't include hobbies unless they help you prove a skill or experience that's necessary for the job.
- Don't use an email address that creates an unprofessional impression. Instead, create an email address for job applications based on your name.
- Don't add work experience that's unrelated to the role you're applying for, as it isn't likely to help your chances of success.
- Don't lie or exaggerate the details of your cyber security specialist career or education, as this can backfire later in the recruitment process.
How to make your resume ATS compliant
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is just one of the tools employers and recruiters can use to streamline their hiring practices. This typically includes screening candidates by scanning and ranking their resumes based on their likely suitability for any vacancy. When drafting your cyber security resume, there are a few guidelines to follow to give you the best chance of passing the ATS screening stage and progressing with your application.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- Choose a resume structure that matches the traditional, reverse-chronological layout or alternatively, the functional resume structure. This should make your resume more readable for ATS applications.
- Include keywords throughout your resume that align with the job description. ATS software tends to compare your resume to the job description for points of similarity, so careful, considered use of keywords should help your chances of success.
- Include clear headings in each section that match the traditional resume structure and format. This will make it easier for the ATS software to scan your resume.
- Use a resume design that includes clean, professional design elements to give your content space to breathe. This might include clear, readable fonts, subtle color accents and simple design elements.
- Use simple, concise language to keep your resume to a maximum of one to two pages in length. This will make it easier for ATS software to read.
For tips and ideas to help you draft a professional resume to get noticed by employers, read our expert career articles and check out our detailed resume examples.
FAQs for a cyber security resume
Alongside your cyber security resume, it's important to produce a professional cover letter that creates a similar positive impact on the reader.
Firstly, choose whether you're going to write a full cover letter, or whether a brief email confirming your application and drawing attention to your resume will be sufficient.
A traditional cover letter should follow formal letter-writing conventions and structure, including a header, the recipient's address and professional greetings and sign-offs. For the main body of the letter, open with a short paragraph introducing yourself and explaining your reasons for applying for the cyber security specialist role. Follow that with an explanation of your skills and experience and how they're relevant to the position. Close by expressing your gratitude and enthusiasm, and leaving a call to action that encourages the employer to open a dialogue with you.
For help creating an eye-catching cover letter that impresses recruiters and hiring managers, use Jobseeker's professional cover letter templates.
There are plenty of ways to still make a positive impression with your cyber security resume, even if you lack relevant work experience. Select a resume format that emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience, such as a functional format. Use the additional information sections at the end of your resume as a showcase for relevant skills and achievements. These can be a particularly useful way of proving you have the skills necessary for the job.
A strong resume headline can give the reader an immediate idea of your suitability for cyber security specialist jobs. A well-constructed resume headline can help your resume rank highly with ATS screening tools by referencing some of the key information from the job description. Write a short, concise resume headline incorporating the job title, one or two key skills that match the job description and a reference to your reputation or track record.
See below for an example of a well-constructed resume headline:
- Junior Cybersecurity Specialist in Training
- Expert in Cybersecurity Defense Solutions
- Senior Cyber Security Specialist
The resume format that gives you the best chances of success depends on your experience levels, as well as the type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. For entry-level roles, or situations where you're changing to a new career, a functional resume is often the best option. This places your skills and education above your work experience. Once you have some relevant work experience, and for senior positions, a reverse chronological resume format is typically best. This emphasizes your work experience, which will probably be the key thing employers want to know about.
Takeaways for a winning cyber security resume
Writing a strong, impactful resume is about using your experience to demonstrate your relevant skills and achievements. You can do this through your work history or other resume sections. Select a resume format that suits your experience levels and the job you're applying for, and make sure you tailor your resume for each application.
HR-approved resume templates and other tools by Jobseeker are the easiest way to create a winning job application. Sign up and follow the simple instructions to complete a resume that stands out from the crowd. A stylish, professional cover letter can make all the difference to your job prospects. See Jobseeker's cover letter examples, written by careers experts, to help you craft an eye-catching application.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
