course 8 – PUT IT TO WORK: PREPARE FOR CYBERSECURITY JOBS

Module 5: Find and Apply for Cybersecurity Jobs

GOOGLE ADVANCED DATA ANALYTICS PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE

Complete Coursera Study Guide

INTRODUCTION – Find and Apply for Cybersecurity Jobs

Throughout this program, participants will embark on a comprehensive exploration of the intricacies of cybersecurity, gaining a multifaceted understanding of the field’s key domains. Beginning with fundamental concepts such as networking, operating systems, and threat modeling, the curriculum progresses to cover advanced topics like incident detection and response, network security, and the vital role of security controls. Participants will delve into the practical aspects of cybersecurity, including the use of tools such as packet sniffers, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and security information and event management (SIEM) tools.

The program also focuses on building essential skills for a cybersecurity professional, such as critical thinking, communication, and incident escalation. Learners will engage in hands-on activities, explore real-world case studies, and practice with various cybersecurity tools, ensuring a well-rounded and practical understanding of the subject matter. Moreover, the curriculum places a strong emphasis on staying current with industry trends, fostering community engagement, and preparing participants for the dynamic nature of the cybersecurity landscape. This comprehensive overview ensures that participants not only grasp theoretical concepts but also acquire the practical expertise required to navigate the complexities of cybersecurity with confidence and competence.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe how to find, apply for, and prepare for a job as a security analyst.
  • Find, apply for, and prepare for job interviews.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: THE CYBERSECURITY JOB INTERVIEW PROCESS

1. Which of the following strategies are effective ways to prepare for a job interview? Select three answers.

  • Review the job description (CORRECT)
  • Review your resume (CORRECT)
  • Call the chief information security officer
  • Practice describing your skills and experiences (CORRECT)

Reviewing the job description and your resume are effective way to prepare for a job interview. It’s also helpful to practice describing your skills and experiences.

2. Which of the following actions should you take before a video interview to prevent technical difficulties during the interview? Select two answers.

  • Install the required video conference application (CORRECT)
  • Test video and audio settings (CORRECT)
  • Conduct pre-interview research
  • Adjust the lighting

Testing video and audio settings and installing the required video conference application are effective ways to prevent technical difficulties during a video interview.

3. Fill in the blank: Establishing _____ with the interviewer is an important step to take and can help you leave a positive impression with the interviewer.

  • a rapport (CORRECT)
  • a conversational tone
  • data types
  • roadblocks

A rapport is a friendly relationship in which the people involved understand each other’s ideas and communicate well with each other. Building rapport with an interviewer can help you leave a positive impression with the interviewer.

4. Which of the following post-interview practices is an effective way to stand out as a candidate?

  • Ask the interviewer how other candidates did during their interviews
  • Send a follow-up email to the interviewer (CORRECT)
  • Apply to the position again
  • Send a gift to the interviewer

The interviewer is most likely interviewing many candidates for the position. Sending a follow-up email reminds the interviewer of your discussion and can help set you apart from other candidates.

5. What should you research about an organization before an interview? Select three answers.

  • The organization’s vendors
  • The organization’s vision (CORRECT)
  • The organization’s mission (CORRECT)
  • The organization’s core values (CORRECT)

You should review the organization’s mission, vision, and their core values before an interview. Interviewers want to know that you’re a good match for their team and that you value the things that are important to the company.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWER INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What type of interview questions can the STAR method help you answer? Select all that apply.

  • Situational (CORRECT)
  • Technical
  • Mathematical
  • Behavioral (CORRECT)

The STAR method is a technique used to answer behavioral and situational interview questions.

2. Which of the following practices can help you answer interview questions clearly and effectively?

  • Attempt to finish the interviewer’s question before it is asked to show initiative and technical understanding.
  • Refer to your knowledge of the NIST Cybersecurity framework after responding to each question.
  • Include a question for the interviewer in your response.
  • Listen carefully and consider each question before responding. (CORRECT)

Carefully listening and considering each question before responding during an interview allows you to fully understand what is being asked of you. This allows you to answer each question clearly and effectively.

3. A hiring manager interviews you for a cybersecurity analyst role. They ask you to tell them about a time you were tasked with handling a difficult challenge. What strategy could you use to provide a thoughtful and thorough response?

  • An elevator pitch
  • A conditional statement
  • The STAR method (CORRECT)
  • The situation STAND method

The STAR method is a common technique to help interviewees answer behavioral and situational questions during a job interview.

4. The STAR method is a technique used to help interviewees respond to situational and behavioral questions during an interview. What does the ‘S’ in STAR stand for?

  • Standards
  • Situation (CORRECT)
  • Stakeholder
  • Switch

The ‘S’ in STAR stands for situation. This element of the STAR method allows the interviewee to explain the scenario they were put in that led them to make certain on-the-job decisions

5. Fill in the blank: The _____ Method is a technique used to answer behavioral and situational interview questions.

  • SPII
  • STAR (CORRECT)
  • SIEM
  • SOAR

The STAR Method is a technique used to answer behavioral and situational interview questions. This method can help you develop a thoughtful and thorough response to open-ended interview questions by analyzing a situation, task, action, and result (STAR).

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: DEVELOP AN ELEVATOR PITCH

1. Fill in the blank: Elevator pitches enable you to summarize your experience, skills, and background  to potential employers in about ____.

  • 2 minutes
  • 10 minutes
  • Five minutes
  • 60 seconds (CORRECT)

Elevator pitches enable you to summarize your experience, skills, and background to potential employers in about 60 seconds. An elevator pitch gets its name because it should be short enough to be shared in the average amount of time you might spend with someone on an elevator.

2. What are effective strategies to use when sharing your elevator pitch? Select two answers.

  • Describe the technical skills that you plan to learn.
  • Be succinct. (CORRECT)
  • Mention mistakes you made at previous jobs.
  • Speak at a relaxed pace. (CORRECT)

When sharing your elevator pitch, it’s important that you highlight your skills succinctly, while speaking at a relaxed pace.

3. In which of the following scenarios would it be appropriate to share your elevator pitch? Select two answers.

  • At the end of a job interview
  • When introducing yourself to career and business connections (CORRECT)
  • When meeting new friends or colleagues (CORRECT)
  • After you receive a job offer

An elevator pitch is a great tool to use to quickly share your experience, skills, and background. It is appropriate for you to deliver your elevator pitch when introducing yourself to career and business connections and when meeting new friends or colleagues.

4. What is a best practice when sharing your elevator pitch with a potential employer?

  • Disclose why you left your previous job
  • Speak quickly
  • Speak in a conversational tone (CORRECT)
  • Use a lot of technical terms

Presenting your elevator pitch in a conversational tone will help keep potential employers engaged and interested in what you are saying.

WEEKLY CHALLENGE 4

1. Which factor should a job seeker consider when writing their resume for a role in the cybersecurity field?

  • Their social media experience
  • Their design skills
  • The job they are applying for (CORRECT)
  • The job they want five years from now

2. Which personal details should be included at the top of your resume? Select three answers.

  • Your name (CORRECT)
  • Your education
  • Your professional title (CORRECT)
  • Your summary statement (CORRECT)

3. Fill in the blank: After the name and summary section, the next part of your resume is the _____.

  • professional references section
  • skills section (CORRECT)
  • cybersecurity experience section
  • responsibilities section

4. Fill in the blank: You should provide a list of your _____ underneath each job entry in the work experience section of your resume.

  • skills
  • cybersecurity queries
  • responsibilities (CORRECT)
  • firewall installation

5. Fill in the blank: Under the education/certification section of your resume, you should list any subjects you studied related to _______.

  • Python
  • the job you are applying for (CORRECT)
  • social engineering
  • previous work experiences

6. Fill in the blank: Resumes typically list your last _____ years of work experience.

  • 20
  • 10 (CORRECT)
  • five
  • three

7. Fill in the blank: _____ is a good way to begin preparing for a job interview.

  • Dressing in casual clothing
  • Memorizing your resume
  • Reviewing the job description (CORRECT)
  • Checking the company’s stock price

8. Fill in the blank: Testing your video and audio settings before a video conference interview will help you correct any _____ before the interview.

  • nervousness
  • Linux programming issues
  • confusion about interview questions
  • technical issues (CORRECT)

9. When do you begin to build rapport with your potential employer?

  • During your first interaction by phone, email, or video conference (CORRECT)
  • During the second round of interviews
  • During the technical interview
  • On your first day of employment

10. A potential candidate is interviewing for a security analyst role. The candidate says the following when responding to a scenario-based question: “The outcome led to an increase in total sales over the two months that my manager was out of the office.” Which part of the STAR method does this response demonstrate?

  • Situation
  • Action
  • Result (CORRECT)
  • Task

11. What are examples of skills that are transferable to a cybersecurity role? Select three answers.

  • Collaboration skills (CORRECT)
  • Written and verbal communication skills (CORRECT)
  • Attention to detail (CORRECT)
  • Social media skills

12. Fill in the blank: In the experience section of your resume, you should list your _____.

  • contact information
  • professional references
  • work history (CORRECT)
  • Linux programming skills

13. Which of the following sections should be included at the bottom of your resume?

  • Contact information
  • Education/Certifications (CORRECT)
  • Skill competencies
  • Work experience

14. A hiring manager recently reached out to you for a video interview. You have never used the software required for you to join the interview. What should you do to prepare?

  • Download the software specified by the interviewer in advance (CORRECT)
  • Request an in-person interview instead
  • Download the video conference software that you are familiar with instead
  • Inform the interviewer that you do not know how to use this particular software

15. Which term describes a friendly relationship in which the people involved understand each other’s ideas and communicate well with each other?

  • Rapport (CORRECT)
  • Social networking
  • Social engineering
  • Phishing

16. Fill in the blank: A resume might also be referred to as a  _____.

  • cover letter
  • standard framework
  • curriculum vitae (CORRECT)
  • professional reference

17. Which details should your resume’s summary statement include? Select two answers.

  • Your strengths and relevant skills (CORRECT)
  • Your professional references’ names and email addresses
  • Specific words from the responsibilities section of the job description (CORRECT)
  • Your professional title

18. Which of the following statements is suitable to include in the work experience section of a resume? Select two answers.

  • Conducted monthly vulnerability assessments (CORRECT)
  • Security tasks were handled
  • Tasked with handling security challenges
  • Collaborated with a team of six to develop training for more than 25 company employees (CORRECT)

19. You are currently working on completing a certificate program and will complete the program soon. How should you indicate that in the certification/education section of your resume?

  • “Partially fulfilled”
  • “In progress” (CORRECT)
  • “Incomplete”
  • ”Completed”

20. A potential candidate is interviewing for a security analyst role. The candidate says the following when responding to a scenario-based question: “My manager took time off from the organization and nominated me to take their place.” Which part of the STAR method does this response demonstrate?

  • Action
  • Result
  • Situation (CORRECT)
  • Task

21. What can the skills section of your resume include? Select two answers.

  • Programming skills (CORRECT)
  • Your email address
  • Security frameworks (CORRECT)
  • A history of previous work experiences

22. What are effective ways to prepare for your job interview? Select three answers.

  • Review your notes on the NIST Framework to refresh your memory (CORRECT)
  • Review the job description (CORRECT)
  • Practice speaking about the experiences and skills that the employer is looking for (CORRECT)
  • Research the company’s former Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

23. Which steps are essential when preparing for a video interview? Select two answers.

  • Write a cover letter
  • Test your video and audio settings (CORRECT)
  • Find a quiet location in your home (CORRECT)
  • Build a rapport with the interviewer

24. Fill in the blank: It is important to make sure there are no _____ errors in your resume before sending it to potential employers.

  • location-based
  • grammatical (CORRECT)
  • technical
  • cybersecurity

25. Fill in the blank: The _____ section of your resume should list capabilities that are related to the position you are applying to.

  • summary statement
  • professional references
  • skills (CORRECT)
  • technical programming

26. Before finalizing your resume, which of the following best practices should you follow? Select two answers.

  • Check that your resume uses at least 2 font colors
  • Ensure your resume is a maximum of 2 pages long (CORRECT)
  • Check for spelling and grammatical errors (CORRECT)
  • Ensure your resume is a minimum of 3 pages long

27. Fill in the blank: To calm your nerves before the interview begins, _____ and remind yourself about the preparation you have put in.

  • take a few deep breaths (CORRECT)
  • review other job postings
  • call your professional references
  • review Linux commands

28. Why is building rapport important in the job interview process? Select two answers.

  • It can help ease nervousness during the interview (CORRECT)
  • It can distract the interviewer
  • It can help enhance the communication between you and the interviewer (CORRECT)
  • It can reduce your chances of getting hired

CONCLUSION – Find and Apply for Cybersecurity Jobs

In conclusion, this cybersecurity program offers a holistic and practical journey through the diverse domains of cybersecurity, equipping participants with a robust skill set to tackle the evolving challenges in the field. Through a meticulous blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on applications, learners gain proficiency in fundamental areas such as networking, operating systems, and threat modeling, progressing to advanced topics like incident response, network security, and security controls.

The program not only imparts technical expertise but also hones critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills crucial for a successful cybersecurity career. The emphasis on real-world scenarios, industry tools, and engagement with the cybersecurity community ensures that participants are well-prepared for the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of cybersecurity. As participants complete the program, they emerge with a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity principles and practices, ready to make meaningful contributions to the field.