Vincent Acevedo, M.A.’s Post

Day 0: Embracing the Uncomfortable - Launching the #30DaysJobChallenge! Hey everyone! Buckle up, because today marks the beginning of an adventure – one that might make my palms a little sweaty, my brain a little fried, and hopefully, my career a whole lot brighter. I'm diving headfirst into Josh Mason's #30DaysJobChallenge, and I'm inviting you along for the ride! Why the madness? Well, let's just say I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of Yes Theory – "Life-changing moments rarely bloom in the comfort zone". Losing my job, navigating visa restrictions, and now this blog series? Definitely not your average Tuesday. But in the words of the great Morgan Freeman (yes, channeling Evan Almighty vibes today!), "When you ask God for courage, he gives you an opportunity to be courageous." Consider this my opportunity to rise to the occasion, grow beyond my limitations, and become a more confident, connected cybersecurity professional. This challenge isn't just about landing a job (although, that would be pretty sweet!). It's about pushing myself, sharing knowledge, and building a supportive community. Over the next 30 days, you can expect: Cybersecurity insights: Resources, concepts, and tools I've found invaluable in my cybersecurity journey. Real-world experience: Tales from the trenches of pentesting on critical ICS devices in those essential utility substations. Current events and threats: Keeping you in the loop on the latest cybersecurity landscape. OSINT magic: Unraveling the mysteries of online intelligence gathering. And anything else that tickles my cybersecurity fancy! Feeling isolated in your cybersecurity job hunt? Let's break down the walls with the #30DaysJobChallenge! Over 30 days, we'll build bridges of connection, share career-boosting strategies, and conquer challenges together. Follow me for daily prompts, ignite your network, and let's prove that community fuels success. This isn't just a job search, it's a power alliance. Join the network, conquer Day 1, and beyond! P.S. I'd love to hear your stories! Who else is taking on the #30DaysJobChallenge? What are you hoping to get out of it? Drop a comment below, and let's connect! #opentowork #cybersecurity #infosec #30dayschallenge

I have an announcement to share: as you may have noticed, the green “Open to Work” banner has come down. I am thrilled to announce that I have been blessed with the opportunity to step into a cybersecurity engineering role in the next couple of weeks. I am happy to have the privilege to learn and hone my passions and craft. Someone out there is willing to take a chance on you, so don’t give up hope in this difficult job market. This transition brings a mix of emotions: fear, excitement, happiness, and a touch of sadness. It’s bittersweet because, over the past two years, I’ve built strong relationships and friendships with many wonderful coworkers. It’s rare to find a workplace culture where you can leave and still maintain multiple meaningful connections. I’ve had the privilege of working with some truly great people. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to further develop my skills and contribute more effectively to an organization. Thank you to everyone who has supported and followed me on my journey into cybersecurity. Here’s to growth and change. #Cybersecurity #career #Growth #InformationTechnology #Perseverance #KeepMovingForward

Cybersecurity, is it your future ‘Career Big Move’? 🤔 Our CEO'S story🚀 In this era, when digital threats loom even larger, considering a career pivot into cybersecurity isn’t just a smart move, but rather totally essential.😄👩💻🔐 🛡️ Like many others, Smart Data Analytic Inc. CEO Dr. Jectone Oyoo's journey into cybersecurity started not with a degree in IT. It was, rather honestly, with keen interest he found himself working on a project assigned to him at a previous job. The transition, although challenging, proved one thing: it’s never too late to reskill. 🌟 Here’s why you should consider it, too: Demand and Security: The demand for professionals in cybersecurity is really creeping up tremendously, providing job safety in these uncertain times. 👷♂️🔒 Non-stop Education: It’s a field where getting stuck is just not an option; you grow every single day. 📚📈 Effect: You protect more than just data; you safeguard livelihoods, which makes your work incredibly meaningful, no matter the weather. 🌦️❤️ If our story resonates with you or you’re at a career crossroads pondering what’s next, I say let’s connect.🤝 Like, leave a comment, repost/share and let’s embark on this path together, like a digital family! 💻👨👩👧👦 I’m more than happy to share insights and resources on making the shift. 😎 🌐💼 #CybersecurityCareers #Reskilling #CareerChange #ProfessionalGrowth #smartdataanalytics #smartdatalearning🚀✨

Good morning, LinkedIn community! 🌟 Amidst the myriad of "switch to cyber" narratives circulating, I thought I'd share my personal journey. A decade ago, I embarked on my IT career at Teleperformance, specializing in tech support and incident response for Verizons comprehensive security suite. Fast forward, after nearly a decade in retail management, balancing lucrative pay with demanding hours, I realized the toll it took on family time. With a spouse and two kids, seeing them became a rare luxury amidst the grind. In 2021, I pivoted to cybersecurity, joining as a systems admin while enrolling in a rigorous cybersecurity bootcamp at Old Dominion University in 2022. Over the subsequent year, I earned 14 certifications, culminating in my CISSP. I also pursued a Bachelor's in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from WGU. I enrolled in January 2024 and graduated in February. Recently, in February 2024, I earned a well-deserved promotion to Computer Systems Security Analyst 3, validating the journey from self-starter to recognized professional. Breaking into cybersecurity demands tenacity, relentless learning, and, yes, a bit of luck. As an introvert, networking wasn't instinctive, but dedication and self-improvement paved the way. Remember, achieving your cybersecurity aspirations is feasible with perseverance and a commitment to growth. Let's connect and empower each other in this dynamic field! 💼🔒 #CybersecurityJourney #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerTransition

Cybersecurity, is it your future ‘Career Big Move’? 🤔 My story🚀 In this era, when digital threats loom even larger, considering a career pivot into cybersecurity isn’t just a smart move, but rather totally essential.😄👩💻🔐 🛡️ Like many others, my journey into cybersecurity started not with a degree in IT. It was, rather honestly, a keen interest I found working on a project assigned at my previous job. The transition, although challenging, proved one thing: it’s never too late to reskill. 🌟 Here’s why you should consider it, too: Demand and Security: The demand for professionals in cybersecurity is really creeping up tremendously, providing job safety in these uncertain times. 👷♂️🔒 Non-stop Education: It’s a field where getting stuck is just not an option; you grow every single day. 📚📈 Effect: You protect more than just data; you safeguard livelihoods, which makes your work incredibly meaningful, no matter the weather. 🌦️❤️ If my story resonates with you or you’re at a career crossroads pondering what’s next, I say let’s connect.🤝    Like, leave a comment, repost/share and let’s embark on this path together, like a digital family! 💻👨👩👧👦 I’m more than happy to share insights and resources on making the shift. 😎 🌐💼 #CybersecurityCareers #Reskilling #CareerChange #ProfessionalGrowth #smartdataanalytics  #smartdatalearning🚀✨

I don't usually post on LinkedIn—this is, in fact, my first post. However, I felt compelled to share my journey with you all because I know a lot of people are like how I was and a post like this would have helped me when I needed to find the courage to make a change. After facing numerous setbacks and repeated failures in achieving my previous career goals, I've come to realise that sometimes, when things don't seem to go your way despite giving your best, it might just be the universe nudging you towards something greater. I want to share my journey of transitioning into cybersecurity, a field I've grown to be deeply passionate about. Like many, I was once on a path filled with challenges and armed with hope or I thought, and tried to become a doctor for 5+ years. Yet, I encountered obstacle after obstacle, each one seeming to steer me further away from my goals. It was disheartening, to say the least. But instead of letting these experiences define me, I chose to see them as signs that perhaps I was meant for a different path. The decision to change careers(which is now 2 years ago) was not an easy one. It was filled with uncertainty and fear of the unknown. But within that leap of faith, I found my calling in cybersecurity. This field, with its ever-evolving challenges and the critical role it plays in protecting our digital world, ignited a passion in me that I never knew existed. Transitioning to cybersecurity has taught me more than just technical skills; it has taught me the value of resilience, the importance of staying curious, and the satisfaction that comes from making a tangible impact. It's a reminder that sometimes, the best thing we can do is embrace the unknown, and trust that there might be something better waiting for us on the other side of our failures. To anyone who is facing similar challenges or considering a career change, remember: it's never too late to find your passion. Your unique experiences and perspectives are invaluable, especially in a field as diverse as cybersecurity. Keep pushing forward, stay open to new possibilities, and you might just find that the best is yet to come. #CareerChange #Cybersecurity #Resilience #ProfessionalGrowth #NewBeginnings

It is #socialsaturday! 🛑 Stop scrolling 🛑 ✅️ Grow your network now ✅️ I want to help you grow your network by sharing mine. 1. Introduce yourself in the comments below and share what industry you want to connect with. 2. Keep notifications turned on for this post and come back to see who else is trying to connect. ➡️ Give their comment a reply. 3. Most importantly, send those connection requests! (You have 100 requests available each week. Please feel free to use as many as you want here.) While you are here, please send me a connection request and go to my profile to check out my featured section for some great free resources. (Ring the 🔔 under my profile banner to see my other posts and content.) As a bonus, I have been awarded the "Top Career Path Planning Voice" on LinkedIn, and I would love to share my experiences and guides with you! So let me kick things off... "Hello, new connection! My name is Michael. I work at Booz Allen Hamilton as a Maritime Cyber Engineer Advisor and Boots to Books as their Chief Program Officer. I aim to help anyone who wants to learn about IT, cybersecurity, and Project Management. I also love volunteering to support service members, veterans, and my military spouse's community. I started my networking journey over 3 years ago and have grown my network to over 14K people, and I want to share them with you! My goal this year is to help 20,000 people in some small way, and I would love it if that next person were you!" Now it is your turn. 😊 P.S. Take some time this weekend to enjoy a good book or do something you love. My house just outgrew our old bookshelves so we had to upgrade. (We are missing a few shelves though. 🤔 Who knew those extra parts were actually needed from IKEA?) 🤣 #opentoconnect #opentowork #peoplehelpingpeople #personalbranding #veteranshelpingveterans #jobhunting #veteransupport #informationtechnology #projectmanagement #cybersecurity

🚀🌟 Dream big, start small, but most importantly, start. 🛡️🔗 You're a cybersecurity whiz, a network management guru, a true technophile. From the comfort of your home, miles away from the workplace, you've been mastering your craft. This journey is real, it's precious, and it's time to share it with the world. 🏆📚 Experience isn't just a job title; it's the wisdom you've gathered, the skills you've perfected, and the tools you've mastered. Those countless hours fine-tuning your system, sealing vulnerabilities, and thwarting attacks matter. The next time you're asked about your experience in an interview, don't downplay yourself. Formal workplace or not, you're no stranger to the field. You've been on the frontlines, utilizing top-notch cybersecurity strategies and managing your network expertly.🌟🔑 💪🏽🎓 Your knowledge is your power, your skills are your armor, and your time at home, your training ground. Embrace it, showcase it, and let it dazzle. To fellow new grads: you're not just fresh out of college, you're brimming with potential and enthusiasm. You possess the knowledge, you wield the skills, and now's your moment to shine. Step into interviews confidently, armed with your home-grown experience. 🌱🎓 Remember, you're not inexperienced; you're pre-experienced. ⚡🌍 Let's shatter molds, redefine experience, and transform conventional thinking. Trust in your abilities, take that leap of faith, and let your home-grown experience pave the way. 📣💼 Ready to conquer your next interview? Declare it to the world: you are EXPERIENCED ! #NewGrads #HomeGrownExperience #CybersecurityJourney #NetworkSkills #JobHunt #PreExperienced #CanadaIT #CybersecuritySkills #JobSearch #InternationalGraduates #CDIcollege #Calgary #Toronto #Montreal #Cybersecurity #NetworkSecurity #InformationTechnology

It is #socialsaturday! 🛑 Stop scrolling 🛑 ✅️ Grow your network now ✅️ I want to help you grow your network by sharing mine. 1. Introduce yourself in the comments below and share what industry you want to connect with. 2. Keep notifications turned on for this post and come back to see who else is trying to connect. ➡️ Give their comment a reply. 3. Most importantly, send those connection requests! (You have 100 requests available each week. Please feel free to use as many as you want here.) While you are here, please send me a connection request and go to my profile to check out my featured section for some great free resources. (Ring the 🔔 under my profile banner to see my other posts and content.) As a bonus, I have been awarded the "Top Career Path Planning Voice" on LinkedIn, and I would love to share my experiences and guides with you! So let me kick things off... "Hello, new connection! My name is Michael. I work at Booz Allen Hamilton as a Maritime Cyber Engineer Advisor and Boots to Books as their Chief Program Officer. I aim to help anyone who wants to learn about IT, cybersecurity, and Project Management. I also love volunteering to support service members, veterans, and my military spouse's community. I started my networking journey over 3 years ago and have grown my network to over 14K people, and I want to share them with you! My goal this year is to help 20,000 people in some small way, and I would love it if that next person were you!" Now it is your turn. 😊 P.S. I'm late getting this Social Saturday out today, I'm not sure why though. 😏 #opentoconnect #opentowork #peoplehelpingpeople #personalbranding #veteranshelpingveterans #jobhunting #veteransupport #informationtechnology #projectmanagement #cybersecurity

𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 Less than a year ago I brought a young individual onto our team who didn't have any previous professional experience in offensive security. What stood out to me wasn't her resume but her obvious willingness to learn and passion for hacking. 💻❤️ She was all in from day one, during the hustle of the workday and in the quiet dedication of her spare time. Her journey shows the power of curiosity and the relentless pursuit of excellence. It's been incredible to watch her grow, especially with the support she's gotten from everyone else on the team. Very experienced in hacking, they’ve been there to help her out, answer her questions, and teach her what they know. And guess what? She just found her first big vulnerability on a public platform - an IDOR (Insecure Direct Object References) that could've let someone take over other accounts. This is also her first bounty 🏆! I'm super proud of her and equally proud of the team for being such great mentors 🤝. This just goes to show how important it is to have grit, be passionate, and have people around you who've got your back. The significance to be in a supportive environment that nurtures growth, encourages questions, share knowledge and values education 🌱. The often-portrayed narrative that the cybersecurity field is facing a talent shortage is one I've always questioned. It's not about a lack of talent but rather about giving opportunities to those ready to learn and grow. Traditional hiring criteria often overlook the raw potential in favour of checkboxes like years of experience or the number of certificates. Raw talent can transform into invaluable expertise. The value of a team member is not measured by their experience on paper but by their eagerness to learn and contribute. Let's encourage more stories like this in our industry. Sharing our experiences with non-traditional hiring practices can inspire others to open doors to passionate individuals 💡. Big thanks to my team for proving that supporting each other can lead to awesome results and congratulations Anays G. 👏. You are awesome and this is just the beginning. #cybersecurity #offensivesecurity #hacking #mentorship #teamwork