Whether you are new to the game or a seasoned Cybersecurity Specialist, you need a strong Cybersecurity resume to secure the job you want. Our Cybersecurity Resume samples will assist you in writing the perfect resume that captures any hiring manager's attention.

This cybersecurity resume guide will show you:

Information security resume examples better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
How to write a cybersecurity resume that lands more interviews.
Tips on how to include skills and achievements into your resume.
How to describe your experience to get the cybersecurity jobs you want.

What you can read in this article

Cybersecurity Resume Examples

Create my Resume

(Free resume sample downloads (pdf's) are at the bottom of this page)

Cybersecurity Specialist Writing Guide

What to Highlight in a Cybersecurity Resume

Hiring managers and potential employers are very busy individuals and do not have time to read every resume in absolute detail. If you do not make your most attractive information easy to find, it will likely be overlooked, and your resume will be tossed aside. Every Cybersecurity Analyst’s resume needs to include a strong list of professionally presented experience and skills. Below are examples of how this can be achieved:

Be Specific!

When writing your experience section, remember that it is far more important to “show” rather than just “telling.” Every bullet point in your resume’s experience section needs to count. This can be achieved by mentioning the impact you had in your previous positions. Make sure a concrete example accompanies every point.

Not just logical, but chronological too!

The trick to creating a capturing experience section is to select which of your experiences to include and how to order them. It is best to keep them chronological, starting with your most recent position, and working backwards. Do not include any experience that is irrelevant to this field.

Cause and Effect – Tell them how you made a difference!

Resume skills that you have not quantified are likely to get ignored and can even count against you. Focus on concrete numbers that demonstrate your ability as a Cybersecurity Analyst. So, instead of “Implemented system recovery procedures,” rather write “Implemented 200 system recovery procedures to minimize losses should an attack occur.” Resume action words such as the ones above really stand out and leave a strong impression.

Finally, A Demonstrated Passion for Learning

A passion for learning is crucial due to how rapidly the field of Cybersecurity is evolving. This trait can be demonstrated through participation in professional conferences and career achievements that highlight show your willingness to learn and improve.

Cybersecurity Resume Objectives

A Cybersecurity resume may have certain generic sections to every resume you write. However, this is not one of those sections. You should rewrite this section for every resume you create and tailor it to reflect exactly what the job description is looking for.

More often than not, potential employers want to see that you have the basic skills needed to handle Cybersecurity Specializing work. The easiest way to impress them from the start is by opening your application with a well-written Cybersecurity Specialist resume summary.

This section is placed at the top of your resume to provide a quick, digestible overview of your most valuable skills as a Cybersecurity Specialist. Employers love this, as it saves them the time of searching through your resume looking for the information they need. This means that you need to grab their attention from the very beginning to ensure they keep reading. Adding hard numbers will add further valuable proof to your statements.

Alternatively, a Cybersecurity Specialist’s resume objective brings your skills to the foreground and allows the recruiter to see why you are the perfect candidate. Resume objectives work best for applicants with limited professional experience. An objective statement in an entry-level cybersecurity resume tells the agency your career goals. Like the summary, use relevant experience, skills, and achievements to beef it up.

Example Resume Objectives:

Objective Example 1

“Persistent, detail-oriented cybersecurity analyst with 4+ years’ experience with government security software contractor. DoD security clearance. Identified the 2017 Kluxnet virus, saving over 32,000 computers from destruction.”

Objective Example 2

“University IT graduate with cybersecurity background and hundreds of classroom hours in automation, cloud safety, and digital forensics. Looking to leverage my newly minted top-secret security clearance and 4.0 GPA to become the next network security engineer at Astoria Tech.“

Objective Example 3

“A talented individual with an information technology background. A strong desire to grow technical skills and the ability to learn new technologies swiftly. Hopeful for a Cybersecurity Analyst position at Boeing, coming with a 2year internship experience, superb communication aptitude, and proficiency in all Microsoft Office tools, as well as high attention to detail.”

Objective Example 4

“Organized and an excellent communicator with a bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity. Looking to obtain a Security Analyst – Cybersecurity Operations position to apply a deep understanding of Networking, attack vectors, Cybersecurity, and OS’s. Coming with six years of cybersecurity experience.”

Resume Hack: On any cybersecurity resume, the resume objective or summary goes at the top. However, it does not mean that you must write it first! Save it for the end, so you have the rest of your resume to support your heading statement.

Employment History

Information Security Analysts and Cybersecurity jobs in the US will grow by a whopping 29% between 2019–2029. That is more than 29,000 new people for you to compete against. You, therefore, need to ensure that your resume is in a class of its own. Below are examples of how you can really make your resume stand out:

Examples

Senior Cybersecurity Specialist at G4S

February 2017 – December 2022

Monitored organizational networks for security breaches and investigated any violations.
Prepared reports which documented security breaches and the extent of damage caused by breaches.
Conducted penetration testing and located vulnerabilities within systems before they could be exploited.

Cybersecurity Intern at Investec

February 2014 – January 2017

Listened to client concerns to determine the best method of defending WordPress sites from attack.
Scanned sites for malware and security risks regularly.
Quarantined and removed any security issues found.

Cybersecurity Specialists are found in almost every industry imaginable, with considerable variation in their role purposes and KPI’s. Despite this, employers look for and expect specific skills and qualities from applicants.

Job Duty Samples

A Cybersecurity Specialist at the entry-level stage (0-2 years experience) may:

Tasked with different testing tools.
Required to use different design techniques (e.g., OO. Top-down, structured analysis, component-based design), and tools.
Monitor desktop and email security.
Design and deploy Enterprise Security technologies and solutions, e.g., Firewalls, IDS/IPS, SIEM, malware detection and analytics, and vulnerability scanning.
RBC HR philosophy, principles, direction, policies, and guidelines

A Cybersecurity Specialist at the mid-career stage (2-4 years experience) may:

Provide cybersecurity and risk management mission support.
Provide high-quality is written, and verbal communication support for cybersecurity and risk management issues.
Interface with cybersecurity subject professionals to gather inputs and develop policy analyses and reports.
Provide planning, logistics, documentation, and execution support for public-private cybersecurity and risk management meetings and events.
Engage in public and private collaboration efforts to enhance cybersecurity capabilities within the energy sector.
Coordinate with both internal and external partners to assess stakeholder needs and increase program effectiveness.
Track, report, and address requests relating to public-private collaboration efforts and cybersecurity programs.
Understand the cybersecurity frameworks and practices for critical infrastructure sector (preferably energy sector) protection.
Able to work in a fast-paced environment, and workload to achieve goals.
Multitask and prioritize according to changing circumstances.

A Cybersecurity Specialist at an experienced/advanced stage (4-6 years experience) may:

Evaluate architectural designs and implement security-focused tools and services such as firewalls, intrusion detection & prevention systems.
Define secure build standards across Windows, Unix, and other common operating systems.
Provides Subject Expertise.
Conduct security risk assessments on both new and current CIB applications and infrastructure.
Utilize the appropriate security diagnostic tools.
Assist with the development and interpret security policies and procedures.
Support the execution of Cybersecurity projects, whether providing SME knowledge or solution design assistance.
Assist in the coordination and implementation of appropriate Cybersecurity governance, metrics collection, and reporting capabilities.
Partner with SMEs and stakeholders such as Cybersecurity Leadership, Corporate Cyber and Information Risk and Technology, and business teams.
Work with diverse IT and business teams to assist in remediating identified issues effectively and efficiently.
Demonstrate a track record of currency maintenance with technological trends and available security solutions in the marketplace.

Accomplishments

As a Cybersecurity Specialist, your success is often measured in data. Therefore, it is crucial to add hard numbers to your resume to quantify your accomplishments and provide much-needed authentication. Adding concrete numbers to your resume helps further illustrate your accomplishments to potential employers. Any networks you have created or any teams you have trained are examples of information you can include in your resume. Tell them what you are proud of.

This section is where you can really impress the reader. Wherever you can quantify your accomplishments and provided evidence of your hard work, it may be impossible to quantify every statement; however, we will show how you maintain a high standard.

Below are examples of FLAT, BORING, and BLAND statements which is not the aim:

Successfully secured and monitored over websites
Identified new viruses and malware

Now let’s crack it up a notch!

Successfully secured and monitored over 70 websites with no major attacks.
Identified over 400 new viruses and malware in under three years.

Education

Most employers spend a considerable amount of time reading through this section, and it can often be the make or break between you landing an interview or not. It may not be the largest section, but it is vitally important to correctly list all the information.

If you graduated within the last three to five years, make sure your education section is either in line with or above your experience section. Include the date you graduated or the range of years you were at school as well as any honors you received and your GPA, if it was over 3.4.

If you have multiple advanced degrees, such as a master’s or Doctoral degree, rank them with the highest degree first. If it has been longer than five years since you graduated, it is better to list your experience above your education section. You really want the reader to focus on your extensive experience.

If you have not graduated, or never will, still include an education section. Simply list the name of the institution, degree type, and when you are expecting to graduate. Hiring managers typically identity management systems—if you do not have the right permissions, a passage will not be given.

Examples:

Expected Graduation: 2021 – Master’s Degree Majoring in Cybersecurity (Cyber Operations Concentration) Excelsior College, Albany, NY

Relevant Coursework: Computer Forensics, Cryptography, Risk Management, Web Architecture, Security Defense Countermeasures, Cyberattacks and Defenses, , Access Control and Intrusion Detection Technology

2016-2018 – BS in Cyber Forensics and Information Security at Cornell University. Brooklyn, NY

Relevant Coursework:, Cyber Crime, Database Security, Ethical Hacking, Vulnerability Analysis, National Security, Malware Analysis, Network Intrusion Detection, Penetration Testing, Network Forensics

Skills & Keywords

In most cases, your resume will be passed through an Automated Tracking System (ATS), which will scan your resume for specific keywords. To ensure that the system shortlists your resume, you need to include keywords from the job description. This will guarantee that the AtS will highlight your resume, and it is more likely to be seen by an actual person.

When listing your skills, refrain from mentioning any skills that are not relevant to the field. Furthermore, soft skills are just as important as hard skills, be sure to add them so that the reader can form a good idea of what type of employee you will be.

Below, we have given examples of how to list your skills on a Cybersecurity resume:

Make a list of all the programming languages, database management technologies, and other technical skills you have had experience with. A Skills Matrix is a smart approach to combining technical and interpersonal skills in an organized, attractive manner.

Technical Competencies	Interpersonal Traits	Domains
Data Analytics	Time Management	Data Security & Information Lifecycle Mgmt
Programming	Accountability	Datacenter Security
Cloud Security	Interpersonal Skills	Encryption & Key Mgmt
Encryption	Works Well Under Pressure	Governance & Risk Mgmt
Malware Analysis	Communication Skills	App & Interface Security
Risk Analysis	Attention to Detail	Audit Assurance & Compliance
Python Scripting	Problem-Solving	Business Continuity Mgmt & Operational Resilience
Intrusion Detection	Collaboration & Teamwork	Change Control & Configuration
Secure Software Development	Time Management	Security Incident Mgmt, E-Discovery & Cloud Forensics
Incident Response	Management Skills	Supply Chain Mgmt, Transparency & Accountability
SIEM Tools	Computer Skills	Threat & Vulnerability Mgmt
Secure Software Development	Critical Thinking	Identity & Access Mgmt
Automation/DevOps	Decision Making	Infrastructure & Virtualization
Security Analysis	Technical Skills	Interoperability & Portability
Risk Mitigation	Analytical and Diagnostic Skills	Mobile Security

Qualifications & Certifications associated with Cybersecurity Specialists

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)	CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)	Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)	CompTIA Penetration Tester (PenTest+)	Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
SANS GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)	Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)	Bachelors Degree in Computer Science

Optional Extras for Cybersecurity Resumes

Security Clearances – The most demanding cybersecurity equire a security clearance. If you already have security clearance status from your time in the military service, for example, you are one long step ahead of the others!

Certifications – For most cybersecurity pros, certifications are often weighed more heavily than 4-year degrees.

Volunteer Work – Volunteered to help the local adult care facility get past their ransomware attack? You are not only seen as awesome, but it adds great experience to your cybersecurity resume.

Languages – IT companies are global companies. Set yourself apart by adding knowledge of a second language to your resume.

Cybersecurity Resume Example Downloads

Downloads are in Pdf-file format, and free. The examples have been made with the resume builder of Resume.io,accessible trough the blue ‘Create My Resume' buttons below. The tool lets you download all template designs from one master document. They have a free cover letter builder as well, that combines the resume formats. One free download is included for every sign up from our page!