Cybersecurity Student - New to WSO / Finance in general
Good day everyone; I am currently a cybersecurity student at I suppose would be considered a non-target, although it is held pretty high in the cybersecurity field. I am looking to learn more about finance and finance jobs, maybe pick up a minor or some certifications if I can. So far I had an IT internship my freshman year, am lined up for a cybersecurity internship this summer at a medium-sized company, and hope to get an internship with a large finance or fintech company next summer.
End goal is to have a broad skillset that I can utilize in some capacity where cybersecurity/IT overlaps with finance. Would love to hear anyone's thoughts on this!
Based on the WSO content, transitioning from a cybersecurity background into finance is a strategic move, especially as financial institutions increasingly prioritize cybersecurity. Here are some steps and considerations to help you bridge your current expertise with finance:
Understand the Finance Landscape: Start by familiarizing yourself with the basic concepts of finance. This includes understanding different financial markets, investment strategies, and the role of technology in finance. WSO offers resources and threads that can provide insights into financial fundamentals.
Pursue Relevant Certifications: Considering your background and interest in cybersecurity, certifications like the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) could be beneficial. Additionally, finance-specific certifications such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Certified Financial Planner (CFP) might be valuable as you look to merge IT and finance.
Seek Finance-Related IT Internships: Since you already have IT and cybersecurity experience, look for internship opportunities in financial institutions or fintech companies. This will not only help you gain relevant experience but also allow you to understand how your skills can be applied in financial settings.
Networking: Leverage WSO's networking guide to connect with professionals who are working at the intersection of IT and finance. This can provide you with valuable insights and potentially open up opportunities for internships or mentorship.
Education in Finance: Considering a minor in finance or taking specific courses related to financial technology can also be beneficial. This will provide you with the necessary academic background to complement your technical skills.
By following these steps, you can effectively prepare for a career where cybersecurity and finance intersect, making the most of your unique skill set in a high-demand area.
Sources: Finance Career Path & List, List of Transferable Skills in Corporate Finance, Wtf am I doing in Accenture Technology with a degree in Economics ?, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/asset-management/transition-from-data-science-to-asset-management?customgpt=1, Corporate Finance Q&A with accountingbyday, BJM85, STorIB, and djfiii
Get a real compsci degree from a proper U followed by a real Bay Area swe or product role and then an M7 Mba
Lol people are giving me monkey shit when op is probably at Western governors.
op please listen. 99% of cyber jobs are technician roles. You need to get into product (which is viewed as strategic) at a Bay Area firm and then into a good MBA program and into sell side IB
alternatively if you’re into technical work then do a proper PhD in some sort of fintech
final options would be MTS in a research firm
for the love of god don’t do sales engineering, IT, or SOC
I actually appreciate your insight, monkey shits weren't from me. You're correct and in some ways it's worse than you say; I go to Liberty University in Virginia. In hindsight terrible decision but I've networked very well and it's a little late to transfer. I've also founded a club to teach students about Bloomberg terminals and am very involved with our Cybersecurity club/competition teams.
I know I shot myself in the foot but I'm just trying to do everything I can to set myself apart from all the others.
I don’t think it’s too late to transfer. I’d try to get into Virginia tech or another state school. I think it would make a big difference. Maybe uva? If you’re interested in finance you could go UVA to investment banking.
bonus points if you have to repeated a year because that will give more time to recruit
just a thought
One thing I am curious about is that you say to avoid SE. What's your reasoning for that?
Not accusatory- want to hear your thoughts. I was actually looking at maybe going that direction if it bridges the technical and business sides of cyber.
SE is well paid but it’s really a blue collar job. You aren’t the sales guy (the star with commission) and you aren’t the new development engineer coming up with new products or offerings
as an SE you are advising on systems architecture, but you don’t own the thing end to end the way the customer does.
you want to find a leadership role where you are delivering value by seeing the world differently.
the only roles worth having at a tech company are product, new dev engineering, strategy, or maybe corp dev
at some firms like Microsoft marketing is an important function. But that’s rare and really limited to Microsoft
Those functions are the choosing ground. For c suite.
everyone else ‘just works there’
Coming back to this post-summer internship- Agree all the way. I was able to get a Cybersecurity Governance internship this coming summer with a large options exchange so I'm hoping to make this my ticket into leadership roles like those. Obviously will take time and lots of work but I'm doing my best to stay on the management side and not SOC stuff. Would love to hear any further advice in the future and thank you.
Congrats. Thats a good start but for full time get Bay Area product manager at a cyber company, or something like Palo Alto Unit 42 if you want to stay as an analyst. McKinsey has a good cyber practice too
given how competitive the world is today you really need PHD if you want to stay on the engineering ladders; or product->masters-> McKinsey if you want to make it on the product ladders
If you really want to be a leader at a tech company I strongly advise starting as MTS (member technical staff) or Product Manager. Those are the best roles to have
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