If you’ve ever taken part in a hackathon, you know just how much skill and knowledge are required to win at such an event. It takes a lot of teamwork and dedication to do well at a hackathon which is why a lot of people want to add it to their CVs. Even if you’re…
Nowadays, most people don’t feel comfortable when they hear the word hacker. Most hackers use computers to access data in an unauthorized way. But, there are also ethical hackers. They use computers, their knowledge, and skills for the opposite – they are finding system vulnerabilities so they can be fixed as soon as possible.
If you’re on the path to becoming an ethical hacker without a degree, have you ever thought about other exciting fields in technology? For instance, robotics? Our guide on how to become a robotics software engineer outlines the steps needed to secure a job in this innovative sector.
You could wonder whether becoming a successful ethical hacker without a degree is possible. The answer is yes. If you are not sure where to start or how to land a dream job in the field, keep reading. We will show you the necessary steps to start a career as an ethical hacker. At the start, don’t think much about ethical hacking.
But before that, here’s the quote you always have in mind:
“If you’ve got the confidence and the work ethic, you can make any dream come true.”, Bret Har.
Can an Ethical Hacker Get a Job Without a Degree?
Many people who would love to work as ethical hackers but don’t have a degree wonder if landing a job in such cases is possible? The answer is yes. The path to success can be a bit longer or more complicated than with a degree. Most importantly, landing a job is possible even if you do not have a degree.
Most companies require their future employees to get a position and become ethical hackers to have an information technology or computer science degree. But, pursuing a career in the field is possible even without these degrees.
You can complete different courses to take your skills and knowledge to the next level. In addition, you can explore various online resources to learn and evolve as a white hacker. Plus, there are different tools that you can find and put to practice.
Qualifications Needed to Become an Ethical Hacker
In recent years, many companies started looking for ethical hackers to join their teams to search for system vulnerabilities and gaps and prevent other hackers from breaching. Now, not all ethical hackers have degrees. Some firms are willing to give the position to white hackers that don’t have a degree, but still, some qualifications are required.
- Courses – Some companies will employ ethical hackers that have completed IT or computer science courses
- Experience – Having experience is essential component potential employers take into account.
- Having knowledge about the latest ethical hacking tools – Being familiar with the newest tools in the industry is essential. Make sure you know more about Nessus, Nikto, Intruder, and Acunetix, to name a few. These tools are used for various purposes. Some are used for end-to-end web security scanning, others to support wireless network interface controllers, finding and fixing system vulnerabilities, and more.
How to Start a Career as an Ethical Hacker
If you are ready to start your career as an ethical hacker but aren’t sure how to begin, follow the guide below. We have shared the steps you need to go through, and that job you are dreaming of will be yours.
Once you have honed your ethical hacking skills, the next logical step is to learn how to monetize this skill. That’s where an unbiased Teachable review comes into play. Dive in to find out how Teachable can assist you in sharing your knowledge and creating a lucrative revenue stream.
Do you want to know how to become a QA tester with no experience? Read the requirements here.
Take an Online Course
Pursuing an ethical hacker career is possible even when you don’t have a degree. There are many online courses out there that you can take to become even more knowledgeable and skillful.
For example, Udemy offers two amazing, affordable, ethical hacking online courses that you can consider taking. The first one is allowing you to learn ethical hacking from scratch. It has over 130 hacking and security videos, complete guides and explanations, and more.
The second one is called The Complete Ethical Hacking Course. It features Kali Linux Tools, Python, website penetration testing, social engineering, and network fundamentals, to name a few.
Keep Practicing
Practice is essential. If you want to become a successful ethical hacker, you will have to take some time to practice and take your skills to new levels. You can use various targets for practicing, from firewalls and switches to routers.
In addition, you can do vulnerability assessments and penetration testing. The more you practice, the better you will be. Also, don’t forget to explore what’s new on the market regarding tools, so always do your research.
Consider Volunteering
There are many small businesses and organizations that can’t afford to hire ethical hackers. You could consider volunteering your time with such businesses to help them deliver criminal hacker and malware protection.
By doing that, you will have much-needed work experience that will help you land a job in a company. Remember, most companies want their future employees to have the experience, and when you are a hacker without a degree, the best way to get that experience is by volunteering.
Participate in Competitions and Visit Security and IT-Related events
The IT and computer science market keeps evolving, and competitions allow you to show off your skills and knowledge.
So, participate whenever you get the chance. In addition, events are a great option to connect with fellow ethical hackers. You can start building your business network and gain valuable connections that could help you in the future.
If you want to know how to become an R&D manager, read the guide here.
Get Your Resume Ready
Now that you have completed the courses, been practicing, participated in events and competitions, and managed to build your network, it’s time to work on your resume. The resume is the most important document when applying for a job.
Your potential employer will learn a lot about you from your resume. If the summary is poorly written or doesn’t contain crucial information, you won’t get an interview.
On the other hand, if you take your time to create a resume that will make you stand out, you’ll get the chance to impress your potential employers in person. And, of course, your chances of getting a job will be much higher. So, take the resume seriously, and give your best when working on it.
Basic Requirements to Become an Ethical Hacker
Skills are what make someone a successful ethical hacker. So, if you want to become one, focus on gaining the following skills:
- Programming skills, including working knowledge of programming languages such as Python
- Networking skills
- Linux Skills
- SQL
- Hardware
- Reverse engineering knowledge
In addition, courses and certifications are necessary as well. You can consider the ones we have recommended above. And again, knowing as much as possible about the tools is essential. Practice makes everything perfect, and every professional white hacker would advise you to practice whenever you have free time.
Conclusion
Becoming an ethical hacker, also known as a white hacker, is possible even without a degree. The journey usually isn’t easy, but achieving the goal is entirely possible. You will need to do many things until you become a white hacker, from taking online courses to practicing and learning more about the latest tools required for the work.
As the pandemic has brought unprecedented experiences that shaped us personally and professionally, understanding how to add COVID-19 experience to resume can be a game-changer. If you need guidance, make sure you explore this in-depth analysis which can take your job application to the next level.
You can become an ethical hacker and pursue a career in the field without a degree. It does take a bit more effort and patience, but it will be worth it.
Fortunately, there are many ways to display your knowledge and skills. You can participate in events, competitions, and boot camps and volunteer to help small businesses and organizations.
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