Hey everyone! I'm 21 years old and just wrapped up my marketing degree, which I didn't enjoy much. Now I'm looking to start over and need some guidance on whether I should study programming or cybersecurity. For those who have some experience in these fields, what do you recommend?
6 Answers
Based on my experience, I'd recommend starting with programming. From there, it's definitely easier to transition into cybersecurity. I'm currently a full stack developer working in a data science role, and I've found that programming skills open up a lot of doors, including those in cybersecurity. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!
Just so you know, you might find it hard to land a job in cybersecurity without some programming knowledge. I have a bachelor's in biometric security that hasn’t led to much without programming.
Whichever path you choose, be ready to start in user support or help desk roles. It's valuable experience! What are your long-term career goals?
My long-term goal would be to work in cybersecurity, especially in the area of analysis or pentesting. I know I'll probably have to start in tech support, but I see it as a useful step to better understand the systems from the inside and gain hands-on experience.
Why not try both? There are a lot of overlaps between programming and cybersecurity, so learning elements of both could really benefit you in the long run.
Think about what excites you more! Both programming and cybersecurity are fantastic paths with great opportunities and they're not necessarily exclusive. But if programming sounds more interesting to you, that's a good place to start.
Make sure this time you're fully committed before diving into school. Programming skills are valuable in many jobs, including marketing roles. I suggest taking some computer science classes while also exploring your job market interests. This way, you can make a well-informed decision about what program suits you best.
Thanks for the advice! I think I'll do just that: start with programming and then see if I move to cybersecurity. I think it's a good idea to have a solid development base first. Where would you recommend I go to learn more? (courses, communities, projects, etc.)