In today’s digital world, the demand for cyber security experts is on the rise. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook is expected to grow by an astonishing 32% by 2032. To be among the prospective hires and land a job, you’ll need a cyber security resume that grabs attention like an intrusion alert.
While crafting such a resume may seem easier said than done, worry not—we’ve got your back. We’ll guide you through the entire process of resume creation from top to bottom, so let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
Organize your cyber security resume in sections and blocks to make it more informative and intelligible.
A sleek resume should have mandatory and optional sections.
To grab a recruiter’s attention instantly, you should include a strong resume summary or objective.
Add achievements to your work experience sections and support them with results and figures to give them more credibility.
Always list only relevant hard and soft skills, giving slight preference to the latter.
The Ideal Format to Use for a Cyber Security Resume
There are several resume formats, three of which are the most commonly used: reverse-chronological, functional, and combination. Each of them suits candidates with different seniority levels.
Common Resume Formats
The reverse-chronological resume presents your professional history in reverse-chronological order, from the most recent to the oldest. Since it focuses on work experience, it’s best for seasoned professionals.
The functional resume focuses on relevant skills and qualifications. As such, it’s perfect for job hunters with little to no experience in the field.
The combination or hybrid resume highlights professional background and skills, so it’s convenient for professionals who possess both.
The best cyber security resume format is the reverse-chronological one, particularly if you have relevant work experience, as it enables you to impress a recruiter with your considerable professional history.
Cyber Security Resume Layout
A resume layout stands for the manner in which you arrange sections and blocks of information in your resume. A well-organized layout enables a recruiter to spot all the information they’re looking for in just a few seconds.
To make a neat and intelligible resume, you should do the following:
Resume Layout Guidelines
Set one-inch margins on each side of the document.
Select a professional-looking font and set it to 11 or 12 points.
Use 1–1.15 line spacing with a space before each heading.
Cyber Security Resume Sections
A strong cyber security resume should include two general parts: mandatory and optional sections. The former is a must-have; without it, your resume would be incomplete. The latter, on the other hand, can be excluded.
The mandatory sections include:
Mandatory Resume Sections
Contact information
Resume summary/objective
Work experience
Education
Hard and soft skills
In the optional part, you can list:
Optional Resume Sections
Awards
Certifications
Volunteering experience
Languages
Hobbies & interests
Projects you worked on
Security clearances
Cyber Security Resume Template
In order to have all the sections in their place and not miss a chance to get a perfect resume, you may want to use a ready-made cyber security resume template.
Free Cyber Security Resume Template
Name and Surname
Phone number: 000-000-0000 | Email: namesurname@gmail.com | Location: City, State
[Adjective] [your job title] with [years of experience, if applicable] in [your area of expertise, if applicable] looking for a [position] job at [company name]. Eager to apply [relevant skills] gained through [work/volunteer/other experience] to help [company name] [mention what you can do for the company].
Work Experience
Most Recent/Current Job Title
Company City, State
[Start date] — [End date]
For recent jobs, use 5-6 bullet points to list your top achievements and responsibilities
Use action verbs to make your responsibilities and achievements stand out
Add numbers to quantify your achievements
Previous Job TitleCompany City, State
[Start date] — [End date]
For recent jobs, use 5-6 bullet points to list your top achievements and responsibilities
Use action verbs to make your responsibilities and achievements stand out
Add numbers to quantify your achievements
Oldest Job Title
Company City, State
[Start date] — [End date]
For older jobs, use 2-3 bullet points to list your top achievements and responsibilities
Use action verbs to make your responsibilities and achievements stand out
Add numbers to quantify your achievements
Education
[Degree] in [Major]
[University/college name]
[Start date] - [Graduation date]
Skills
Soft Skills
Skill #1
Skill #2
Skill #3
Skill #4
Skill #5
Hard Skills
Skill #1
Skill #2
Skill #3
Skill #4
Skill #5
Additional Sections
Add any relevant additional sections (languages, licenses, publications, hobbies, etc.)
How to Present Contact Information on Your Cyber Security Resume
The contact information section serves as your introduction to the recruiter; its main purpose is to provide a way for them to reach out to you.
This part should include:
Mandatory Contact Information
Full name and professional title
Phone number and email address
Location (city and state of residence only)
Make sure that you include your first and last name only, as nicknames are not desirable, as well as weird job titles. Add a professional email address; the ones you created for fun should be skipped. Social media profiles shouldn’t be listed here either unless they are related to your job.
Here’s an example:
Contact Information Section Example
David Adams
Cyber Security Specialist
617 438 7293
david.adams@gmail.com
Boston, MA
linkedin.com/in/david-adams
How to Write a Cyber Security Resume Objective/Summary
A hiring professional won’t spend much time on your resume if you don’t catch their attention instantly. To do it, you’ll need an enticing resume summary or objective acting as your elevator pitch. But in order to know which of the two pitches you need, you should be familiar with the differences between them.
A cyber security resume summary showcases your professional experience and achievements. Thus, if you have a wealth of experience in the field, you should opt for it.
However, if you’re just building your career in this industry, a cyber security resume objective should be your choice, as it will highlight your professional goals and aspirations.
Emerging Cyber Security Analyst Resume Objective
Here’s what a good example of a cyber security resume objective should look like:
Resume Objective Example
Enthusiastic and detail-oriented Cyber Security Analyst with a strong foundation in information security and a passion for staying up-to-date with the latest cyber threats. Seeking an opportunity to implement academic knowledge and hands-on experience to enhance organizational security while further gaining experience in incident response, vulnerability management, and security operations.
And here’s a bad example:
Bad Example
Dynamic Cyber Security Analyst seeking to apply academic knowledge and hands-on skills to contribute to a cybersecurity team. Committed to enhancing organizational security.
CV summaries like this one are not good because they don’t give away any specific information that will persuade a recruiter you’re the right candidate.
Established Cyber Security Specialist Resume Summary
Check out a good example of a resume summary:
Resume Summary Example
Result-driven Cyber Security Specialist with five years of experience in designing and implementing effective security solutions. Proven expertise in risk assessment, incident response, and deploying advanced security technologies. Acknowledged for leading incident response teams and staying current with industry trends.
This is what this section shouldn’t look like:
Bad Example
Cyber Security Specialist with considerable professional background. Engaged in various security activities, demonstrating proficiency in critical areas such as risk assessment and incident response.
This example is bad since it doesn’t demonstrate any specific achievements, nor does it specify any significant skills and experience.
Cyber Security Resume Professional Experience
The professional experience section gives you a chance to impress the hiring professional with your extensive expertise. Here, you’ll give an account of your previous roles and elaborate on them by including the following information:
Mandatory Work Experience Information
The position you held
Company name
Dates of employment
Duties and accomplishments within the role
You may also include part-time or temporary jobs as well as volunteer work if you don’t have much previous experience. Remember to list everything in reverse-chronological order—from the most recent position to the oldest.
General Tips
When adding your professional expertise, you shouldn’t mention the company and the role alone, nor should you simply list the general duties and responsibilities you had. Recruiters want to see what results you can yield and how you can contribute to the company.
Thus, always add a detailed overview of your responsibilities and achievements in your previous positions. More importantly, back them up with measurable results and figures, such as KPIs, percentages, statistics, or any other significant outcomes.
Avoid weak expressions like “was responsible for,” “was in charge of,” “created,” or “was working on.” Rather, use strong action words, such as “crafted,” “developed,” “facilitated,” “prepared,” “initiated,” “spearheaded,” "streamlined,” etc.
Also, try to include industry-specific keywords, such as “incident response,” “vulnerability assessment,” “data breach,” “encryption,” etc. These will not only impress a recruiter or hiring manager and let them know you’re highly qualified for the position, but they will also make your resume ATS-friendly.
Last but not least, don’t elaborate too much. Though this is the most important section of your resume, it shouldn’t be too extensive. Mention only the roles that are relevant to the position you’re applying for and those that you held in the past ten years.
Cyber Security Analyst With No Experience
If you don’t have any previous expertise in this field, you can add internships, volunteer activism, or achievements you gained in college.
Here’s how to craft this section for a cyber security resume with no experience:
Work Experience Section Example (No Experience)
Cyber Security Intern
Secure Shields Solutions, Boston, MA
November 2022–November 2023
Collaborated with the cybersecurity team to analyze and assess potential vulnerabilities in the company's network infrastructure.
Conducted comprehensive security assessments on various systems and applications, identifying and documenting security risks.
Assisted in the implementation of security measures and protocols to protect sensitive information and ensure compliance with industry standards.
Participated in incident response activities, contributing to the resolution of security incidents and minimizing potential impact.
Engaged in hands-on experience with security tools such as Wireshark, Snort, and Nessus to identify and address potential security issues.
Actively monitored security alerts and reports, staying informed about emerging threats and vulnerabilities in the cybersecurity landscape.
Experienced Cyber Security Specialist
This is an example of the work expertise section of a seasoned professional in the field:
Work Experience Section (w/ Experience)
Senior Cyber Security Specialist
Cyber Defend Inc., Boston, MA
June 2019–November 2023
Spearheaded the development and implementation of comprehensive cyber security strategies, resulting in a 30% reduction in security incidents over the past year.
Conducted regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing, identifying and mitigating potential threats to the organization's network infrastructure.
Lead incident response efforts, coordinating with cross-functional teams to swiftly contain and eradicate security breaches, minimizing impact and downtime.
Managed and optimized security systems, including firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and antivirus solutions, ensuring robust protection against evolving cyber threats.
Collaborated with IT teams to integrate security measures into the software development lifecycle, fostering a secure-by-design approach.
Cyber Security Resume Education Section
Cyber security experts typically have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, analytics, engineering, information systems, etc. However, this is not set in stone; you can have a high school diploma only and still be an expert in the field.
In this section, you should give an account of your educational path to date by including:
Mandatory Education Information
Degree type
Institution name and location
Years of attendance
If you don’t have a university degree, add your high school diploma; otherwise, including secondary education is not necessary.
Here’s how to list your education:
Education Section Example
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
August 2013–September 2017
Relevant coursework: Network Security, Cryptography, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Ethical Hacking, Incident Response
GPA: 4
Cyber Security Resume Skills
Whenever you’re listing cyber security resume skills, you need to keep in mind their relevance, i.e., whether they match the position you’re applying for. Don’t add random skills you possess; stick only to those pertaining to the role.
Always include hard skills to show that you possess enough competence for the job, as well as soft skills to demonstrate how you work. New hiring trends favor soft skills, so give prominence to them over their hard and technical counterparts.
Transferable skills from previous positions are also nice to have, especially if you have no relevant experience in the field.
Cyber Security Analyst/Specialist Hard Skills
Some of the necessary skills a cyber security analyst or specialist should have include, but are not limited to:
Hard Skills Examples
Network security control
Intrusion detection
Scripting
Incident response
Controls and frameworks
Threat knowledge
Regulatory guidelines
Vulnerability assessment
Penetration testing
Network security architecture
Threat intelligence analysis
Firewall configuration and management
Cyber Security Analyst/Specialist Soft Skills
Here are some of the soft skills to list in your cyber security resume:
Soft Skills Examples
Attention to detail
Taking initiative
Stress management skills
Adaptability
Critical thinking
Risk management
Here’s how to list your skills in a resume:
Skills Section Example
Hard Skills
Intrusion detection
Threat knowledge
Scripting
Penetration testing
Incident response
Controls and frameworks
Firewall configuration and management
Vulnerability assessment
Threat intelligence analysis
Soft Skills
Attention to detail
Risk management
Communication
Stress management
Time management
Critical thinking
Decision-making
Problem-solving
Collaboration
Flexibility
Cyber Security Resume: Other Sections
Optional sections of your resume will let a hiring professional discover more about your personality, skills, and accomplishments outside of your job. Plus, they may set your resume apart from other candidates with the same qualifications and expertise.
While these are not mandatory and can be left out without any significant harm done to your resume, it’s still good to have them in your resume. They should be placed at the bottom of the document after the mandatory part.
Certifications
Adding certifications to your resume indicates that you’re constantly working on improving your knowledge instead of relying solely on what you’ve acquired in high school or university.
Thus, if you’ve attended any courses or training and obtained certificates, spread the word.
Here’s how:
Certifications Section Example
Certifications
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), University of the District of Columbia, 2020
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), EC-Council, 2019
Security Clearances
A security clearance is necessary to work with sensitive information. Hence, if you’re allowed to work with top-secret data, state it in your cyber security resume.
You can put it this way:
Security Clearance Section Example
Security Clearance
TS/SCI Clearance, Department of State, 2021
DoD 8570 IAT Level III Certification, Department of Defense, 2022
Volunteer Work
Listing volunteer experience can be quite beneficial if you’re just starting out or changing careers. It will persuade a recruiter that you possess enough skills for the position despite lacking hands-on experience.
Here’s how to do it:
Volunteer Work Section Example
Volunteer Work
Cyber Security Volunteer
ICS2
January 2020–January 2021
Collaborated with a team of cybersecurity professionals to conduct security assessments and vulnerability scans for local non-profit organizations.
Assisted in the development and implementation of cybersecurity awareness training sessions for community members, emphasizing best practices for online safety.
Participated in threat intelligence sharing sessions to stay updated on the latest cybersecurity threats and trends.
Actively contributed to the creation of cybersecurity resources, including informative articles and guides, to help educate the community on emerging cyber threats.
Languages
Knowledge of foreign languages can only be a plus in the IT industry. Hence, if you speak any language other than English, list it in your resume.
You should also specify the overall level of knowledge, choosing from basic, intermediate, fluent, proficient, and native.
You can do it this way:
Language Section Example
English (native)
German (intermediate)
Spanish (proficient)
Italian (fluent)
Do I Need a Cover Letter as a Cyber Security Analyst/Professional?
Submitting a cover letter along with your cyber security resume is always a good idea, even if you’re not openly required to do so. This one-page document allows you to introduce yourself to a hiring professional and present your key accomplishments in greater detail.
A cover letter is even more desirable for internship or entry-level positions, as it gives you a chance to elaborate on why you’re the right candidate even though you don’t have much experience. Therefore, put in some effort to craft it; you’ll be rewarded with an invitation to an interview and a job offer.
4 Expert Practices for Crafting a Cyber Security Resume
Making a stellar cyber security resume will be a piece of cake with these four expert practices:
Cyber Security Resume Tips
Showcase your skills through experience. Simply listing your previous role won’t mean much to a recruiter; emphasizing what you’ve achieved, however, will make them aware of your qualifications and competencies.
Avoid buzzwords. However catchy expressions such as ‘ninja,’ ‘guru,’ or ‘master’ may seem, they are not quite a good choice for a resume, primarily because they don’t convey almost anything.
Be clear and concise. Keep your resume on one page, and make sure it’s neat and organized.
Proofread and update your resume. Before submitting it, proofread your resume for typos and grammar mistakes. Also, make sure that you’ve included the most recent roles and skills.
Closing Thoughts
A strong cyber security resume, coupled with a solid cover letter, is what will land you an interview for a job in the first place. Creating it may seem demanding at first; however, with the right tips and strategies, you’ll be able to do it without hassle.
Hopefully, our guide has helped you understand what a splendid cyber security resume consists of. You have all you need to start writing it and secure the job offer you’ve been dreaming of for a while!
