Drew :donor:<p><span class="h-card"><a href="https://infosec.exchange/@SwiftOnSecurity" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>SwiftOnSecurity</span></a></span> <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/backstory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>backstory</span></a> I always just liked <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/computers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>computers</span></a> and enjoy <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/helping" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>helping</span></a> people. Originally in <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/highschool" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>highschool</span></a> I thought I'd like to be a <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/psychologist" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>psychologist</span></a> or something of the sorts. But the job security and money seemed more appealing than than saving actual lives unfortunately. </p><p>I had an interview with Amazon shortly before graduating <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/undergrad" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>undergrad</span></a>, and made it all the way to final round where they flew me out, paid for my meals, the whole thing. I didn't get it and this crushed me for a minute.</p><p>Even though I got my <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/bachelors" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>bachelors</span></a> degree right after high school in <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/cybersecurity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>cybersecurity</span></a>, I started off in support because I just couldn't land my first cyber job directly. It was very disheartening.</p><p>I got promoted from my first job to a network <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/analysts" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>analysts</span></a> (small/medium company but 16 sites). I earned my networking grit from this by designing a whole network for a new location from the ground up. Including the rack, phone systems, WAP's, <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/firewall" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>firewall</span></a>, <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/network" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>network</span></a> segmentation. I got tired of running actual cables however so I switch to their systems role and finished my time at that company after 1.5 years.</p><p>Following that I've had a couple jobs in the <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/finance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>finance</span></a> industry (doing cyber). My primary focus has been PKI but I honestly hate it and I've been in it for almost 3 years. </p><p>Looking forward, I wanna do something more exciting and more challenging again. PKI isn't exciting enough for my <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/ADHD" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ADHD</span></a> brain, too repetitive. I can't figure out where in security I want to move to next but I know it's not this. </p><p>Thanks for reading if you made it this far. =)</p>