Sep 7, 2022
Hack The Cybersecurity Interview – Book Review
Once of the questions I often get from people that are looking to break into the cyber security field is how they can get a job in the field. I hear about struggles related to, “which role should I apply to”, “what skills/certs do I need or should obtain”, “how do I know what questions I should ask or be prepared to answer”. And I am finally glad to say I have found a new book that was released, that answers all these questions. So, if you have any of the mentioned questions listed above. This book is a must read for you!
Why should you purchase this book?
The title of the book in my opinion is very accurate. This book literally teaches you how to “hack” an interview. It gives you the data and information to really succeed on a cybersecurity interview.
The book has multiple authors (Ken Underhill, Christophe Foulon, Tia Hopkins). They have done an excellent job on building out this book. I’ve been mentioning to a lot of my peers that we have needed a book that explains and prepares interview candidates with the knowledge to ace an interview. And, I think we finally have winner, and a much-needed resource that cyber security enthusiasts can utilize.
Common Interview Questions (Role Specific)
One of the most awesome things about this book, is the fact that it has interview preparation questions. And these are not just generic questions. But ones that are specific for each role. So, if you are applying for a Malware reverse engineering role. The questions will be catered towards that specific role. And, going over questions related specifically for that role. I can say, it gets you in the right mindset of what skills you would need at the bare minimum to be successful at that role.
They also have general interview questions outlined with answers. And to add, there are a lot of other behavioral based questions that prep you too. Often people forget the soft skills, as well as the communication skills needed for these roles. These skills should not be overlooked at all and will provide a lot of value in your cyber security career.
Salaries & Earnings per a role
Another strength of this book is how it lists out potential earnings for each type of cyber security role. Many people out there are not always sure on offers they should be negotiating for when they get the job. There are some great baseline amounts listed in this book to get you started and pointed in the right direction. At least with this information, it gives someone applying for a similar position a rough idea of what they should be asking for in terms of compensation.
Certifications
Another section I really liked is related to types of certifications you should aim for each specific role. This way your focus is on only the certifications needed for a specific role. For an auditor the CISA cert may be something to go after. It wouldn’t make sense to go after a pen testing certificate for an auditing job. The information in the book helps you cater your educational needs to the specific cyber security role.
Short falls – Improvements
Now, there is one short fall with this book, and I can understand why. But, only about ten cybersecurity roles are discussed in this book. There are tons of more specific roles that were unfortunately not listed in this book. For example, there is no mention of security engineering roles, DevSecOps, or any security architect roles. Hopefully, that is something that will be corrected in the next revised book in the future.
Overall Verdict
In my opinion, this is a MUST have book. It honestly will prep you well enough to do well on a cybersecurity interview. The questions really make you think about the role and understand what is expected out of each specific role. And guides you on educational needs that can help drive an edge at getting that cyber security job!
If this book has helped you out on getting a job, feel free to share you experience in the comments section below!
My name is Harry Taheem
I am a Cyber Security Engineer.
My aim is to post things I learn or find interesting and allow others to hopefully gain some more insight. I also plan on posting general IT related issues, as I’d like 
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