Can I get a federal position with an Associate degree in Computer programming or Cybersecurity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work in cybersecurity (IA) and the vast majority of my coworkers were ex-military. The education ranges from high school diploma to 4 year college degree. Cybersecurity is all about the certs. Get a Security+ or CASP and you will be employed tomorrow as a contractor while you wait for a Fed position. I have worked as a contractor, a Fed, and in a tech company. There is zero unemployment in cyber right now.

That's interesting. University Colorado Boulder graduate school degree in cybersecurity head of department just told students there are no jobs. They charge $40,000 for the progam.

I hire for cyber in the DMV unemployment is 0 we have to take IT soevislust or network engineering’s and train them. Also 70% ex military.

[Anonymous]

Specialist *

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work in cybersecurity (IA) and the vast majority of my coworkers were ex-military. The education ranges from high school diploma to 4 year college degree. Cybersecurity is all about the certs. Get a Security+ or CASP and you will be employed tomorrow as a contractor while you wait for a Fed position. I have worked as a contractor, a Fed, and in a tech company. There is zero unemployment in cyber right now.

OP has no experience.

They could work a help desk and get certs and move into cyber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work in cybersecurity (IA) and the vast majority of my coworkers were ex-military. The education ranges from high school diploma to 4 year college degree. Cybersecurity is all about the certs. Get a Security+ or CASP and you will be employed tomorrow as a contractor while you wait for a Fed position. I have worked as a contractor, a Fed, and in a tech company. There is zero unemployment in cyber right now.

Do you mind sharing your salary for each of those roles?
How long did you work as a contractor before getting the Federal position?

Contract $110k (6 years)
Fed $120k (2years)
Commercial $190k (1 year)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work in cybersecurity (IA) and the vast majority of my coworkers were ex-military. The education ranges from high school diploma to 4 year college degree. Cybersecurity is all about the certs. Get a Security+ or CASP and you will be employed tomorrow as a contractor while you wait for a Fed position. I have worked as a contractor, a Fed, and in a tech company. There is zero unemployment in cyber right now.

That's interesting. University Colorado Boulder graduate school degree in cybersecurity head of department just told students there are no jobs. They charge $40,000 for the progam.

Maybe in CO? I have had zero problem switching jobs.

[Anonymous]

We rarely hire IT people... they are contractors instead.

[Anonymous]

Most federal IT is contracted out.

[Anonymous]

And the contractors seem to hire lots of veterans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And the contractors seem to hire lots of veterans.

Military is an easy way to get a clearance. My husband does a lot of IT hiring and they only want people with clearances.

[Anonymous]

Most federal IT, especially cyber, is contracted out because the government can’t pay good cyber people at market rates. With no cyber experience, you will absolutely not get hired by the feds. You already have education, so if you have skills that can lateral into cyber (project management, software development, S&O, policy, etc) I’d focus on finding a more technical way to use those. But no, a cert isn’t a magic ticket if you otherwise have no actual experience. I’m sick of interviewing people who got a security + and think it qualifies them for a high-paying job even though they don’t understand basic program functions or best practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work in cybersecurity (IA) and the vast majority of my coworkers were ex-military. The education ranges from high school diploma to 4 year college degree. Cybersecurity is all about the certs. Get a Security+ or CASP and you will be employed tomorrow as a contractor while you wait for a Fed position. I have worked as a contractor, a Fed, and in a tech company. There is zero unemployment in cyber right now.

That's interesting. University Colorado Boulder graduate school degree in cybersecurity head of department just told students there are no jobs. They charge $40,000 for the progam.

Ha. I have to convert people to cyber. I find bored consultants in my company with solid fundamentals and train them to be cyber because there aren’t enough people out in the market. Sub-zero unemployment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work in cybersecurity (IA) and the vast majority of my coworkers were ex-military. The education ranges from high school diploma to 4 year college degree. Cybersecurity is all about the certs. Get a Security+ or CASP and you will be employed tomorrow as a contractor while you wait for a Fed position. I have worked as a contractor, a Fed, and in a tech company. There is zero unemployment in cyber right now.

That's interesting. University Colorado Boulder graduate school degree in cybersecurity head of department just told students there are no jobs. They charge $40,000 for the progam.

Maybe he was talking about jobs in Colorado.