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

No, the financial situation is complex. It isn't about patience. Quick example would be having the opportunity four years ago to work for Rackspace as a Linux Admin but I couldn't afford to move to San Antonio on my own at that time. That's the kind of stuff I am talking about. And no, you are not making too many assumptions. It's my fault for writing such a sloppy OP.

I left Matasano to turn what we were doing with Cryptopals and Microcorruption into a company. Fun announcement coming soon.

I can't speak for Matasano/NCC Group anymore, but: I strongly suspect that if you can get through all 7 sets of the crypto challenges, they will want to talk to you. So far as I know, the resume-blind hiring process I built there is still running.

If you get all the way through the crypto challenges, want to work in software security, and have trouble finding a place to work, ping me. I will happily rep you.

Here's some more feedback. Your description on your profile here isn't so good. It reads:

about: 31 year old unemployed with 13 years experience. Trying (unsuccessfully) to break in to the IT Sec field. Been hacking and learning security in my free time since I was about sixteen. An enthusiast..

First, remove your age. I can't begin to tell you how unprofessional that makes you look. Second, the entire second sentence makes you look bad - like others have screened you and passed. The fourth sentence doesn't add anything. And finally, you should put in some contact info.

Sorry if I'm coming across a little strong, but I know where you are, I know it sucks and I want to help.

When people start making assumptions about you, then giving advice, take it with a grain of salt.

Taking the known issues as you have stated them: No degree, no direct experience in the specialty that you want to pursue, this is how I would proceed:

1) Focus on jobs at small to medium sized companies. They will be less likely to rely on some hiring script, and likely to give more weight to an interview.

2) Make a spread sheet of all jobs on monster.com & similar services that involve security and start applying for them.

3) Make a spread sheet of all the companies that you can find where you would prefer to work, regardless if they are hiring, and apply there as well.

4) Once these two resources are compiled start your weekly applications...

Week X:

5) Blast 20 companies with your application, prioritizing the companies by which ones you like the best. Make sure to customize the cover letter for each job.

6) Follow up on the previous weeks 20 applications with a short friendly email.

7) Spend some time during the week building something that show cases your knowledge in security.

I hope I've said something that you believe will be beneficial and actionable. Good luck!

Which other talents do you have?

I would also ask myself the following questions:

Do you really wan't a job (employed by a company), or you just need one?

Have you thought that maybe your talents are not appreciated in the corporate world?

One must consider that the recruitment system is broken, or do we really believe that with a written one page document and a brief phone call, we can screen people and dimension their whole personality?

I have asked these questions myself because I relate to your situation. My advice: Just be productive every day, and this means to create things that you think might be useful to somebody.

And yes, not everyone has the ability to speak the language of the corporate world. Just try to find the people you can work with best. Maybe you're best suited to be an entrepreneur or a workshop guy building stuff and experimenting.

Also, a new family is not a small thing, it changes many things in our lives, it unbalances us in many ways, certainly in the economic one. But don't despair because this too is a great thing that is already pushing you to your limits and thus providing the opportunity to improve yourself.

Consider this your life quest.