Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: What to do when all you have is talent?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 138 posts

Re: Ask HN: What to do when all you have is talent?

#21

Post by steakejjs »

IT security is ridiculously easy to break into, and I'm not kidding.

If you are able to demonstrate all that talent (github, outside projects, anything else) and you are able to hold a conversation with people, there are literally thousands of openings for you.

The certifications only really matter to Washington DC (or people making money off of DC).

Apply more places, make some things on the side that demonstrate you know what you're talking about, and look for positions at large, stable companies.

Re: Ask HN: What to do when all you have is talent?

#22

Post by nbardy »

fsk wrote: post #7

>I don't know what's in demand. What can people still turn in to a long-term career? What area or "discipline" in IT shows promise for a career? Here's one rule of thumb I've been using to gauge demand. If someone's willing to hire you to use a tool even though you haven't really used it before, then the demand is there. Another warning is that what's hot now may not be hot 5 years from now. iOS is hot right now. I'm…

Apple is too large to implode and fail quickly. Even if they do fail it will be a slow death or just a leveling off. Look at Microsoft. The last ~10 years they been getting beaten in many large markets they are entering, but they are still a massive player.

Re: Ask HN: What to do when all you have is talent?

#23

Post by mordae »

> I am talented (some past coworkers and managers actually called it freakish), but you cant put talent on your resume.

And that's where you are wrong. Make sure that those coworkers and managers will back you up during your next interview and urge the prospective employer to actually ask these people about your qualification.

Re: Ask HN: What to do when all you have is talent?

#25

Post by jarcane »

vikp wrote: post #5

I can't help you directly (I'm not in the IT Security field), but I think I have some applicable tips. I did very badly in college, and majored in American History. About three years ago, I quit my job and learned how to code. I was focused on machine learning and data analysis. I faced the same problem you did -- no way to prove I had any skills. The way to stand out to employers in your field is to do things that a…

Wow. That is almost exactly my life story right now (three years of cinema studies, had to drop out for financial reasons, now trying to teach myself code and sorta succeeding at it but feel grossly unqualified).

Thank you for posting.

Re: Ask HN: What to do when all you have is talent?

#27

Post by tfg4k »

ChainsawSurgery wrote: post #16

I'm gonna venture a guess here, and there's a decent chance you're going to respond poorly to it and think I'm just being an asshole, or do some rationalization and throw my opinion away. But I promise: I'm not just trying to put you down. At least consider it. > I can't seem to get my foot in the door anywhere to do anything from level one help desk work to anything else. Maybe it's how you come across personally; w…

Absolutely valid. I really appreciate any comment with any advice whatsoever. Thank you!

Re: Ask HN: What to do when all you have is talent?

#28

Post by ZenoArrow »

Would recommend getting a job doing what you've already done before trying to break into the IT security field.

1. Getting a job. Know anyone you used to work with that is now at a fairly large company?

2. Getting into IT security. Ever considered going into one of the bug bounty programs, e.g. for Facebook, etc...? That'd be a good thing to put on your resume, as well as giving you some money.

Re: Ask HN: What to do when all you have is talent?

#29

Post by tfg4k »

mordae wrote: post #23

> I am talented (some past coworkers and managers actually called it freakish), but you cant put talent on your resume. And that's where you are wrong. Make sure that those coworkers and managers will back you up during your next interview and urge the prospective employer to actually ask these people about your qualification.

Yeah, you're right. I suppose you can put talent on your resume. Thanks!

Re: Ask HN: What to do when all you have is talent?

#30

Post by beachstartup »

i'm going to give you some tough love right now, because you've sort of got the wrong concept of what a 'security job' is in your head.

first of all - why the hell are you waiting for someone to give you permission to start doing this job? if you want to do this job, just start fucking doing it.

contribute to security mailing lists and keep an eye out for opportunities. write articles. blog. go to events. write code, open source it. contribute documentation if you can't code. sell yourself as a consultant. appear to know what the hell you're talking about.

DO THE JOB.

if you don't actively participate in a community nobody is going to give a shit about you, much less hand you a career with a pretty bow on it.

Post reply on HN