How to Leverage Online Training To Achieve High Paying Careers

Cyber security is a booming industry offering a vast range of job opportunities and high paying salaries across industry verticals worldwide. Hundreds of businesses use TryHackMe to train employees at entry-level positions, and to upskill higher-level employees to keep on top of emerging threats. With over one million users and reactive training covering a huge pool of cyber topics, TryHackMe has achieved a level of legitimacy in the field - valuable training backing job seekers and helping secure sought-after positions.

We know pursuing new career opportunities can be a daunting prospect, so we’ve compiled some insights into leveraging online training to achieve high paying careers.

Filter down your ultimate goal

If you’re using online training like TryHackMe to open opportunities, first research the careers you’re most interested in. This will be useful throughout the training process, as the more you learn and explore the field it’s likely your ideal roles will also evolve.

Cyber security has a few key segments to niche down in - our cyber security careers quiz is an excellent resource to see which areas fit your interests. You can also discover typical cyber security salaries through our blog and job websites. Having this clarity with your goals will help you build a roadmap to getting there - seeing the training you need to undergo and where to bridge gaps in your knowledge and experience.

Set a plan for online training

Once you’ve decided on the niche you want to pursue, set out a plan for online training. A good way to start is to set a schedule - for instance, completing a set amount of TryHackMe rooms (also known as training labs) a week. Many of our business clients use this strategy for training and see brilliant results, as this level of commitment helps keep people engaged, motivated, and focused on learning. TryHackMe learning paths are suited to many careers in the industry, so it’s easy to align labs with your work goals.

Another tip from users who have successfully landed dream jobs is to find complementary ways of learning. Kenny, who now works as a security analyst, states, “Get involved in the community. There are plenty of people out there that are willing to help and offer great advice. It’s essential that you’ve got people to reach out to, especially when you feel overwhelmed.” Along with community support, platforms like YouTube can be a brilliant resource to stay on top of learning.

Consider relevant certifications

Some cyber security companies will require you to complete specific certifications, which you can determine in your research. A recurring example is the CompTIA Pentest+ certification, which verifies candidates’ skills in pentesting for the cloud, hybrid environments, web applications, Internet of Things (IoT), and traditional on-premises. Another is the OSCP certification, which showcases aspects such as web applications and networks, how to use industry-standard tools, and detect vulnerabilities.

Check out our CompTIA Pentest+ and OSCP Pentesting pathways.

Smash your CV and interviews

Adding online courses to your CV will highlight your enthusiasm for the field, and competence in successfully completing training and evolving your skillset. Considering lots of employers use cyber security training platforms like TryHackMe themselves, a rundown of the rooms completed and certifications you have acquired is a brilliant asset to add. The education section of your CV is often the best place to highlight training. Provide details such as the topics covered, duration of study, and details of your learning.

Many employers are actively looking for TryHackMe experience - if you type “TryHackMe” into job platforms like indeed, you can see companies who list us as desired experience. This is a great way to shortlist jobs to apply to.

Cyber security is an ever-evolving field in high demand, with a considerable investment in both small and large companies. With this, there is a workforce shortage of skilled employees to fill crucial roles. Many of the success stories across the TryHackMe community come from people straight out of traditional study, or completely transitioning careers from unrelated fields. Whilst you may think your previous experience doesn’t pose relevance to new careers, it is likely a significant way to stand out and relate transferable skills - so be sure to include it.

If you’re transitioning from a different field, remember there are so many aspects of this industry where your skills are still valuable and can help you get a leg up. Cyber security is still a new focus for many companies, and all your previous experience is relevant and valuable. Use this experience as a strength and selling point. Michael, a Music Teacher turned Security Engineer

Consistent training

The cyber security industry involves regular change, so for future career advancements it makes sense to keep up to date with training - learning about new threats, tools, and tactics. Being proactive in doing this outside of your work helps champion your passion and showcase a desire to grow and advance in your career.

TryHackMe is available for $10 (approximately £7.60) a month, which gives you access to over 500 training rooms curated by our team of experts, featuring hands-on training that you can directly transition to job roles.