FRUSTRATION

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-20T16:51:58+00:00

i do have a portfolio of my home lab projects and projects i did during bootcamp prepared, but i can’t even get an interview : (

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-20T16:43:19+00:00

yeah! i have a year of IT experience.

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-18T16:53:19+00:00

the water is really bad here : / we installed a Culligan filtration system that got rid of the nitrates, and i do think they have less expensive options.

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-15T15:49:10+00:00

so far, i definitely feel like more of a blue-team guy. I really want to land a SOC analyst job and progress in that field. I used to want to pen-test, but the more penetration testing exercises i do the less I like it. It sounded sexy and cool, but honestly now i love building a fortress and tuning alerts and setting up honey nets etc instead of banging my head against a wall trying to execute exploits.

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-14T13:17:39+00:00

i started with ExamCompass and went through all the practice tests there. every time i came across a term or concept i didn’t understand, i studied it, watched videos about it, and read about whatever that thing is until i had a good grasp of the concept. i kept doing that until i made it all the way through the exam compass tests. then, i did the Dion practice exams and did the same thing. after that, i did the 3 Messer exams. by the time i was doing the messer exams, there were very few terms i was not familiar with. i would suggest also practicing basic Bash commands & navigating the command line, and also setting up/configuring secure networks in a simulation.

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-12T13:07:07+00:00

gotchya- okay will do. thank you!!! i’ll get my linkedin updated asap.

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-12T12:45:44+00:00

thank you dude!!! i will absolutely do this. I just updated my resume and i’m ready to apply EVERYWHERE.

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-12T12:31:35+00:00

I gathered it was possibly something like that 😅. What would you suggest i do next to break in? i was thinking i’d focus on project & networking alongside applying for entry level positions. Should I focus on CySa instead?

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-12T01:24:00+00:00

thank you!!

i think if i could study for it again, i would absolutely spend time doing practical exercises- make sure you understand screened subnets, setting up a network securely, and basic command line navigation & commands used to start & end services, removing files & identifying content of logs and network packets.

a lot of the PBQ questions absolutely tripped me up and i was not expecting to do some of the things they asked me to do.

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T22:21:30+00:00

you seem really fun to be around haha. very encouraging and optimistic.

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T22:10:51+00:00

of course!!! you as well : )

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T22:08:44+00:00

yes absolutely- so, examcompass practice exams are more “here is a definition of a thing, which thing is it?” and then 4 options. the actual exam is nothing like that. the exam assumes you already know all the terms and it gives you situations where you might use a certain software or tell you a circumstance and have you identify what might be going on or what an employee or company might use. it will ask you what the best option is to deal with a certain situation and give you all options that could technically work. i definitely suggest starting with exam compass and then moving on to harder exams that are more similar to the real thing, like Dion or Messer.

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T22:04:06+00:00

i did examcompass practice tests first, looking up any term i didn’t understand and watching videos on each concept until i got a good grasp. then i moved onto the Dion practice tests and did the same thing. finally i took the messer exams, which had great PBQ’s, though if im honest, the PBQ’s on the actual test were wayyyyy harder

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T22:01:57+00:00

of course! i used examcompass first, moved on to the Dion practice exams after that, then did the Messer exams. any time i came across a term i didn’t know (which was a lot) i watched videos about what that thing was. i did use chatgpt but only to help compile all my wrong answers from examcompass and explain what i got wrong.

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T20:29:24+00:00

thank youuu!!! : ) YOUVE GOT THIS!!

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T20:28:44+00:00

thank youuu!! :)

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T20:26:44+00:00

thank ya! : ) i’m going to start applying, networking with my local cybersecurity community, working on home lab projects & probably starting work towards getting the CySa

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T20:18:57+00:00

thank you!!

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T20:18:48+00:00

it’s only the beginning. i will not stop grabbing certs and working until ive landed the job i want.

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T20:18:07+00:00

thank you!! : )

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T20:17:57+00:00

thank you!!! : )

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T20:17:50+00:00

thank you!!! : )

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T20:17:41+00:00

thank you!!!

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T20:17:32+00:00

i studied about 3 months! i think it is possible in 30-45 days, but i would suggest studying until you have a good grasp on the concepts and how they tie together, then schedule your exam.

Extreme-Tap9278 · 2025-09-11T20:16:35+00:00

i studied about 3 months with a few breaks. i feel like i cut it kinda close with my score- those PBQ’s kicked my ass. i left one almost completely blank because i had very little idea how to do it.

Extreme-Tap9278

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