Cyber Security Specialist CV Example

How to write a CV for a cyber security specialist

Wondering how to write a CV that makes an impact? There’s no big secret or magic involved – simply follow the below guidance. We’ll break the process down into digestible chunks, covering everything from your personal statement to your qualifications. What’s more, we’ll answer some of the most common cyber security specialist CV writing questions at the end. Keep reading to explore:

• What contact details should I include in my cyber security specialist CV?
• How to write a personal statement for your cyber security specialist CV
• How to present your work history on a cyber security specialist CV
• Great skills to add on your cyber security specialist CV
• Outlining education on a cyber security specialist CV

What contact details should I include in my cyber security specialist CV?

You might have the best CV in the world, but it doesn’t matter if you forget to add your most up-to-date contact details. Employers don’t have the time to search for missing information, so you won’t receive a call back if you skip this step. Our best advice? Highlight the text at the top of the page, preferably in a slightly larger or bolder font. Remember to include:

• Full name – first name and surname
• Location – including county and postcode
• Phone number – the best one to reach you on
• Email address – keep it work appropriate

Example of contact section for a cyber security specialist CV

How to write a personal statement for your cyber security specialist CV

You only have a few seconds to spark the employer’s interest, which is where the personal statement can help. This persuasive opener sells your most valuable achievements, skills, and qualifications to the reader, convincing them that you’re the best person for the job. However, there’s a knack to crafting a knock-out opening paragraph, and you only have three to four sentences to get your point across. Don’t know where to start? Use our easy-to-follow formula below.

The first sentence proves your suitability for the role by underlining your years of experience and career focus. The second sentence explains what you can achieve, backed up by a statistic. For example, you might have “developed bespoke security software that prevented over 100 serious cyber attacks”. The more detail you give, the more impressive you’ll sound. Lastly, reiterate your unique skills and specialisms. Perhaps you have a military background or vendor management experience?

• Write in the third person to sound more professional
• Stick to the word limit – between 50 to 100 words is ideal
• Don’t tell the employer about your career aspirations – save this for the cover letter
• Keep the tone formal – cyber security isn’t a laughing matter
• Be authentic – don’t copy what you see online

Example of personal statement for a cyber security specialist CV

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How to present your work history on a cyber security specialist CV

The work experience section is one of the most fascinating for employers, and they usually spend the most time here unearthing your strengths and weaknesses. On top of this, they can see how long you typically stay with an organisation, gaps in your employment history, and whether you’ve received any awards or achievements.

We advise thinking strategically about the information you include. What you don’t say is equally important as what you do, and you only get one shot at wowing the hiring manager! Cover the following details:

• Job title
• Employment start and end dates
• Company name
• Company location
• Brief list of responsibilities
• Workplace achievements

Start from your current or most recent role and jot down three to six responsibilities for each – more for relevant positions that match the skills in the job advertisement. Additionally, be mindful of repetition and cover as many different duties as possible. For instance, if you’ve mentioned “training staff members” underneath one job, discuss “compiling detailed reports” in another. This will show the reader the breadth of your abilities.

Like the personal statement, we suggest qualifying your responsibilities with facts and figures. Employers want evidence of what you can achieve. Otherwise, they’ll unlikely take your application further. Let’s say you “created new protocols for cyber-crime prevention” – can you expand on the protocols or explain the outcome? Always put yourself in the reader’s shoes and anticipate any questions they might have.

Finally, you don’t want to bore the employer! Keep your CV engaging with plenty of positive adjectives and inspiring action verbs. You might be “determined”, “decisive”, and “diligent”. Action verbs are fantastic alternatives for “responsible for”. Some of our favourites for cyber security specialists include “launched”, “delivered”, and “saved”.

Example of work experience for a cyber security specialist CV

Great skills to add on your cyber security specialist CV

How do you stand out when everyone is jostling for the employer’s attention? With a detailed CV skills section that shines a light on your technical and transferable knowledge. Alongside making it easier for the reader to identify your strengths, CV reading software loves a scannable buzzword – it’ll pick out and pass on your top qualities for consideration. Note around 10 or 12 skills, split equally between hard and soft skills.

The former are practical and often learnt on the job or via formal education. For example, “using computer forensics to identify cyber criminals”, “knowledge of cloud security architecture”, and “familiarity with system, security, and network monitoring tools”. In contrast, the latter speak to your character and are much harder to learn, therefore especially valuable to employers. You might be “resourceful”, “collaborative”, and “analytical”.

We recommend blending both to give the employer a well-rounded view of your capabilities. While technical knowledge is essential, you must also have the right personality for the role. Need some more ideas? Read through the following lists:

Outlining education on a cyber security specialist CV

Education underpins experience, reassuring the employer you possess the fundamental tools and knowledge to succeed. Plus, when you’re up against equally experienced candidates, it gives you a competitive edge. You can talk about school, college, and university courses, on-the-job training, certificates, and any other relevant qualifications.

How do you become a cyber security specialist? The road is long but rewarding. You’ll likely need an undergraduate or postgraduate university degree in “Computer Science”, “Cyber Security”, “Mathematics” or “Network Engineering”, paired with plenty of experience gained through internships or placements.

You could also look for an apprenticeship. Some companies offer a “Cyber Security Technologist Higher Apprenticeship” or a “Cyber Security Technical Professional Degree Apprenticeship”. However, this isn’t in place of your studies – you must complete it while working towards higher qualifications.

When recapping your education, run through:

• Name of school, college, university, or other awarding body
• Study start and end dates
• Subject title
• Qualification level – e.g. undergraduate degree or A level
• Qualification result

Example of education for a cyber security specialist CV