Certifications vs Experience: What Matters More in Cybersecurity Today?

If you're just starting in cybersecurity, you’ve probably heard this advice.

"Just get a cert and you'll get a job."

And honestly, that’s not bad advice if you’re starting from scratch.

Certifications help you build a foundation, understand the basics, and speak the language of cyber.

But if your goal is to actually get hired, that’s where things shift.

Here's something most people don’t know.

The CVE program, which tracks vulnerabilities globally, almost shut down this year due to a lack of funding.

That’s not just a budget issue. It’s a wake-up call.

The systems we rely on are fragile.

And companies are starting to prioritize critical thinking, adaptability, and real-world problem solving over just having a piece of paper.

So here’s the breakdown:

If you’re brand new, start with one solid cert like Security+ or CC.

It builds your foundation and gets you noticed by recruiters.

But don’t stop there. Move into hands-on work.

Labs, home projects, TryHackMe, internships, and CTFs. Anything that shows you can apply what you know.

Because at the end of the day, certifications get you noticed. Experience gets you trusted.

And right now, trust matters more than ever.

My take, Start with what matches your situation.

Certs if you're new. Experience if you're job-hunting.

And if you’re also considering between Cybersecurity vs Software Engineering, here’s my latest video covering what it’s REALLY like working as a SWE:

We live in an age of infinite options, and yet so many of us feel stuck.

Stuck in the scroll. Too many cyber roadmaps, role guides, and Reddit threads. 

Let me be the one to say this out loud:

You will fail.

Not just once, but a few times.
And that’s not only okay, it’s necessary.

We talk so much about success in this field, but not enough about the messy, confusing, deeply human path it takes to get there.

“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”

And that’s where the breakthrough begins not when things are perfect, but when you allow yourself to be imperfect and keep going anyway.

Now, If you want to move forward, pick one roadmap and commit to it.

Not perfectly. Just consistently.

And if you are not sure on what road map to pick you can start with my Cybersecurity Interview Prep Course.

I put everything into it that I personally went through when I was breaking into the field.

The same frustration. The same uncertainty. The same “where do I even start?” feeling.

Th best path forward is just taking the next step, it dones’t matter how small that step is, whether you’re taking a free course, doing technical training, or studying for a cert.

You got this!

- Sandra