What is the company's mission?
What are the company's core values?
Did any core values align with your own?
What do you know about their industry?
Who are their customers and competitors?
What are the company's main products/services?
How do they generate revenue?
Is there any news or content that stands out?
Recent events?
Big wins?
What has the company been posting on YouTube or social media?
Have they released any interesting research, intel, white papers, or webinars?
Get a feel for the leadership of the company
Who's the hiring manager? Can you see who they report to?
Use LinkedIn to find 2-3 people that hold the job you applied to.
Can you gain any insights about their work experience, skills, and current responsibilities?
Can you find any common ground with them?
Review the job description. In your own words write down the main purpose of this role.
How does this role add value to the company?
Review the job description and note keywords
Think about your experience/understanding
Review the job description and note every technology and your experience/understanding
Review the job description and note the required skills and your experience/understanding
"Tell us about yourself" - prepare a 2 minute statement that describes the following:
Your professional/educational experience and skills
Why you're on the market
How you find this opportunity and why you applied
How you are specifically qualified for this opportunity
Be prepared to discuss what you know about the company. Use the research you did at the beginning of this guide to help craft a brief summary statement.
Be prepared to discuss why you're interested in this opportunity and consider how this role applies to your career goals and interests.
Be prepared to discuss your experience with or knowledge of the listed requirements and be ready to discuss exactly what they laid out in the job description or what you understand about the role in general.
Be prepared to discuss how you stay current on the cyber industry
Be prepared to discuss examples of when you solved a problem. Initiative and analytical skills are crucial in security. Think of examples from past experiences
Be prepared to discuss how you work on a team. You will work with diverse teams and stakeholders in security. To be successful you'll have to provide examples of successfully working in a team-oriented environment.
Be prepared to discuss your weaknesses. Don't label yourself during this question! Make it all about the job responsibilities and skills
"I don't have direct experience with XYZ tool but here's my understanding of it ..."
Take this opportunity to discuss your shortcomings and how you'll overcome those and ramp up fast.
Be prepared to discuss your strengths. Again, don't label yourself! Adjectives don't mean much here.
Provide specific examples of how your experience relates to this role.
What kind of value can you bring based on what you know about the role?
Example: "Based on what you've told me so far, your team really values XYZ skill. I am confident in my ability to ..."
Be prepared to discuss how you handle stress and/or competing priorities. Every job will require that you prioritize and get work done efficiently. Think of examples where you've succeeded in this scenario.
Prepare 5-7 interview questions. You may only have time for 2-3 but make sure to bring thoughtful questions about the company, culture, team, and role.
Last updated 9 months ago
