Why Getting ‘Any Job’ Might Be the Best Move You Make

When I first set my sights on cybersecurity, I thought my first job had to look like cybersecurity.

SOC analyst. Threat detection. Entry-level blue team.

So I waited.

I filtered every opportunity through this imaginary standard of what was “good enough.”

And the result?

Nothing, No interviews. No callbacks. Just a whole lot of second-guessing.

Then I got an offer.

It wasn’t technical, It wasn’t security.

It was a job at a small computer repair shop, resetting passwords, reinstalling operating systems, helping everyday people with “why is my screen frozen?” problems.

I almost said no, But I said yes.

And that yes changed everything.

That job taught me:

🧠 How to explain technical issues in plain language

🧰 How systems actually break (in the wild, not in a lab)

💬 How to stay calm when someone’s files were “gone forever”

🔍 And how to think like a real-world problem-solver

But maybe the biggest thing it taught me is Humility.

And how the market actually works.

I realized, most people don’t get hired because they waited for the perfect job.

They get hired because they said yes to the one that gave them reps.

That helped them collaborate.

That taught them to speak the language of the workplace, not just the textbook.

Here’s what I want you to hear:

Your first job doesn’t need to be perfect, It just needs to get you moving.

So if you're stuck in learning mode, waiting for the right cybersecurity job to show up…

Try this instead:

Say yes to something small, Something real, Something that gets you in the room and on the path.

Because in cybersecurity, the smartest move isn’t always “wait for the best.”

It’s start where you are and build forward.

👇 What was your first job in tech (or life), and what did it teach you? I’d love to hear.

You’ve got this.

—Sandra

P.S. Not sure where to start?

Here’s the beginner-friendly IT course I recommend.

It’s designed to help you break into tech without the overwhelm — and it's how a lot of people I’ve helped made their first move into the field:

👉 Explore CourseCareers IT Path