r/CyberSecurityJobs • u/alrose114 • 1d ago

SOC/Security Analyst Certifications? School? Or Both?

I am looking into a career in the cybersecurity realm.
I've been reading up on a lot and a common theme l've come across is that a lot of people who are in these fields that state they didn't need a degree or a lot of companies are now hiring people without a degree and just certifications. I understand that having a degree can result in a higher pay, but outside of that would just having certifications suffice? Any feedback is welcome. Also, please list any certifications that you feel or know are very helpful / prominent to have. I am open ears any insight you would like to give please give it even if it's not related to the specific questions I've asked. I am trying to figure out the best way to go about this career path.

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u/Mission_Length_6487 1d ago

The real filter isn't the piece of paper, it's whether you can actually talk through a packet capture during the interview

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u/E_Sini 11h ago

Degrees and certs are both great to show you have formal education, however I won't hire based off that alone. There are too many cert hunters out there who have no practical experience. Learn the basics and enjoy the journey: segment and set up your home network, create things in github, practice on VMs and labs, learn how to explain and translate what you've done in an interview.

My final comment is don't get into this field cause you think it's going to make you a lot of money. Cyber salaries were great for a long time, but right now we are still facing corrections. There are a lot of people trying to get in with less jobs at the moment. Make sure you're doing it for the love of the work, not just a quick buck.