Back in 2016, I read a global report that hit me like a ton of bricks. It studied the likelihood AI was going to automate every job you could think of—fast. The only way to survive this automation wave? Score high on LSATs and become the ultimate critical thinker. The problem? I didn’t have a background in physics, maths, or law... the highest scoring fields, thankfully somewhere around fifth on the list scoring highest in critical thinking... was Philosophy!
That’s when I decided to pivot hard - not even sure if I'd make it into Tech before AI kicked my arse. I switched my degree from animation to philosophy, out of all the options, becoming a philosopher seemed like the most approachable (and, honestly, the most interesting). I dove deep into formal logic and epistemology, and I absolutely loved it. Philosophy became my way of sharpening my mind for the challenges ahead.
The Roadblocks and the Warehouse Gig
Fast Forward a couple of years ... While studying philosophy and theology, I started teaching myself the ropes of robotic-process automation and Python. I even took on a job as a business finance manager for a bit, but it wasn't my passion. Eventually, I enrolled in a fast-tracked IT diploma at a coding bootcamp in Brisbane. After graduating as a full-stack developer, I hit the job market—only to find that most opportunities were in sectors I didn't want to support, like gambling, marketing, or certain media conglomerates.
After sending out 225 job applications and facing nearly a year of rejections, ghost-applications or final stage interviews, I gratefully though sadly accepted a job as a warehouse picker-packer working with a friend. just two business days before I was supposed to start, as if divine intervention 😉 I received a call from a recruiter. Aced the two interviews and landed my first IT job. Sure, it was minimum wage, but I was finally in the field I wanted.
Man, this role threw me a ton of curveballs! This role involved 24/7 upkeep of everything IT. The position was in Critical Healthcare. This means we look after everything from nursecall systems, DECT Phones, to technical uplift of every area of the business, including modern work and Robotic process automation. Being part of a tiny two-man team maintaining eight sites—it was intense. Add in the fun of constantly getting sick and you've got one wild ride. Although grateful that this role provided the chance to genuinely bring joy to elderly and palliative care residents, I was absolutely spent.
The Cybersecurity Leap
I didn’t land a cybersecurity job right away. I went to SecTalks after SecTalks, AISA Meetup and Networking event after event, until I was introduced to an absolutely lovely chap. They gave me a connection to the owner of a recruitment company called The Decipher Bureau. I looked up this recruiter and thought ...wow... that website sure looks cool Decipher Bureau. Generously, they agreed to meet me with the thought of interviewing me for a role back into my former sales industry as a cybersecurity recruiter, we set a date and he came to visit me at a cafe nearby where I was working. They listened to my hopes and dreams, with an honest heart he said "Hey buddy, look I think your heart is in the technical stuff, I'd recommend you get some serious skills by joining an MSP (Managed Services Provider) so I made that my mission.
I joined an MSP and kicked my learning into overdrive. It was a transformative time—I realized that with relentless effort, I could achieve just about anything.
Pictured [Colleagues Just Horsin' Around - Colourized 2023]
MSP work became my crucible; I developed a self-belief that money can't buy and finally understood why the wise old-guard tech-heads of yonder past would constantly say "You've got to show me projects Samson!". After about a year, a recruiter from Decipher Bureau contacted me, and that’s when things finally clicked - I landed a role as a cybersecurity analyst.
Joining under the wing of a cybersecurity visionary is a story for another time.
Now, I work on all kinds of things within the Security Engineering Team, from DevSecOps & Cutting-Edge Microsoft Implementations to conducting critical cybersecurity audits based on frameworks like the Essential Eight and AESCSF. In my downtime, I'm all about learning—especially when it comes to AI and large language models. I'm excited about the future for the first time in a long time and more motivated than ever to mature my career in cybersecurity.
For the Newbies: What I Wish I Knew
When a young woman reached out after a SecTalks meetup, her message took me back and frankly brought about some tears. She was dealing with the same uncertainty and overwhelm I felt all those years ago. Here's some of the laundry list of things I wish someone had told me back then admitting even if they did I probably wouldn't understand: Cybersecurity is tough to crack because employers expect you to know "the whole of IT." But they rarely spell out what that means for aspiring cybersecurity professionals.
That's why I put together an IT Skills Matrix to help you understand what is reasonably expected of your skillset and how to map your learning over time. It's a culmination of the hard lessons I've learned, and I hope it can save you years of trial and error.
Here's a bit of the advice I gave recently, and what I'd tell anyone trying to break into this field:
Employers in Cybersecurity Expect You to Know "The Whole of IT"
Yeah, it's a big ask, and they won't always lay it out clearly. For juniors, it's tough to read between the lines during interviews. Don't let that intimidate you. Focus on building a basic understanding across various areas—networking, systems, security principles, you name it.Diarize Your Learning
Keep track of what you're learning as you go. Documenting your progress not only reinforces your knowledge but also provides tangible proof of your skills to show employers. Plus, it's satisfying to look back and see how far you've come.Build Projects to Demonstrate Competency
Start small and gradually take on more complex projects:
The objective here isn't always to succeed, it is to learn and show your learning. Although you do want to build lots of micro examples of applied knowledge - that you can be proud of.
Choose an area in the Skills matrix and dive into understanding, it's going to be really hard without hands-on-experience to map the context but use ChatGPT O1-Preview to help expand your mental schema, know at least within an Australian environment Microsoft has marketshare and focus on knowing their products to get employed.
- Develop a Philosophy of Learning I'm a big believer in constantly improving the way I approach learning. Over the years, I've developed a learning philosophy rooted in cognitive science and philosophy. It's about understanding how our brains absorb information and using that to our advantage. Map what you're learning back to other things you already know and strengthen the memory. There's a sheet in the skills matrix which will give you a good jumping off place for learning fast, well, effectively.
Key Takeaways
If there's one thing I've learned from my journey, it's that relentless pursuit is key. You can achieve anything if you're willing to learn, adapt, and keep pushing forward. The Skills Matrix I've put together is there to help you chart your path, build projects that showcase your competency, and stay motivated.
And if you feel like it's taking too long, trust me—I’ve been there. Just remember: keep learning, keep building, and don't let me this stranger from Australia believe in you - more than you believe in yourself!
That's my story, and I hope it helps anyone out there trying to find their footing in cybersecurity. Whether you're just starting out, or someone feeling stuck, I hope this saves you time and frustration. Stay motivated, stay curious, and most of all, believe that you've got what it takes.
Feel free to reach out or leave a comment if you have any questions or just want to chat about cybersecurity, AI, or even philosophy. I'm always up for a good conversation.
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