We hosted a webinar on this topic with Andrew Golden, the lead technical recruiter at Trellix. Golden has been recruiting since 1998, and he shared his tips on writing compelling resumes and putting together attention-getting LinkedIn profiles. Whether you're a beginner, a career-changer, or an experienced professional, this cybersecurity resume and LinkedIn optimization tips will help you land your next job. 

"Everybody from zero years’ experience to 35 years’ experience struggles with this," says Golden. "You are not alone!"  

Tips for a great cybersecurity resume 

First and foremost, remember that your resume is your first impression—make it count! You might have a great portfolio or be a fantastic interviewer, but recruiters generally won't discover any of this if your resume doesn't impress them first. Follow these resume strategies to boost your cybersecurity job search. 

1. Keep it simple, clear, and readable. 

Recruiters scan hundreds of resumes, so clarity is key. 

• Keep your introductory statement very short. Consider how many people just consume headlines and memes these days… 

• Use a clean layout with easy-to-read sections and bullet points. 

• Cybersecurity resumes should be one page for early-career professionals; after five years of experience, a second page might be ok if you have lots of experience, but keep it concise. 

• Focus on content over format.  

• Always write in the third person imperfect; this means no "I" or "me" statements.

2. Focus on relevant skills and achievements. 

• Put recent, relevant work experience up top. 

• Highlight projects, internships, or self-study that demonstrate your expertise. 

• Showcase cybersecurity certifications, training programs, and relevant coursework. 

• If your resume looks sparse, even unrelated early jobs (e.g., lifeguard, retail) show reliability and work ethic. 

3. Tailor your resume to security job descriptions. 

• Use keywords from the job posting—recruiters search by keywords to find candidates. 

• Highlight specific cybersecurity tools, frameworks, and projects you’ve worked on. 

• Use specifics and numbers to craft a narrative, like "Implemented a SIEM solution that reduced security threats by 30%." 

4. Opt for quantifiable metrics and actionable language. 

• Avoid vague terms like “team player” or “hard worker.” 

• Instead, highlight measurable achievements, such as "Detected and mitigated 200+ phishing attempts monthly. 

• Proofread multiple times—spelling errors can cost you interviews. Ask someone you trust to put another set of eyes on it! 

How to optimize your LinkedIn for your job search 

Today, a great LinkedIn profile is essential for cybersecurity professionals looking to network and attract recruiters. Your LinkedIn profile will be similar to your resume, except you can have more features, and you don't have to limit yourself to one page. Here’s how to make your profile stand out. 

1. Use cybersecurity keywords.  

• Think of your LinkedIn profile as an extended version of your resume. 

• Add all cybersecurity certifications, skills, and relevant experience that wouldn’t fit on your resume. 

• Use industry-relevant keywords that relate to your experience (examples include "SOC analyst," "ethical hacking," "penetration testing," "incident response," "SIEM tools," and "cloud security") to improve searchability. Update these keywords as your experience increases! 

2. Bolster your headline and summary for SEO. 

• Your LinkedIn headline should clearly state your role and expertise, like "Cybersecurity Analyst | SOC | SIEM | Network Security | Threat Intelligence" 

• Keep your summary short and engaging—use bullet points to highlight key skills. 

• Think about what a recruiter might search for and put those keywords in your summary.  

3. Engage with the community on LinkedIn. 

• You don’t have to be an influencer, but liking, commenting, and sharing posts increases your visibility. 

• Follow top cybersecurity companies and professionals to stay updated.

• This is a great way to find out about job listings! Share blog posts, projects, or insights related to security trends. 

• Connect with the National Cybersecurity Alliance on LinkedIn! We're a great resource and we always have great content to share! 

4. Build your cybersecurity network and apply for jobs. 

• If you don't have much of a network on LinkedIn, start building one! 

• Send personalized connection requests to recruiters, hiring managers, and professionals in cybersecurity.  

• Be polite, concise and personable in your messaging. "I admire your work in security and would love to connect" is good but avoid "Hey. I need a job. Do you have any?" 

• Use LinkedIn to search for cybersecurity jobs, set up alerts, and directly reach out to hiring managers. 

A great resume and LinkedIn can help you launch your cybersecurity career 

A strong resume and LinkedIn profile are your top tools for finding a great cybersecurity job. This is your best way to increase your visibility and make a lasting impression on recruiters. Sign up for our newsletter for more cybersecurity tips, including information on working in this dynamic field!