Cybersecurity Resume Examples - Templates, Skills & Writing Tips

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Table of contents

Popular cybersecurity resumes
How to write a cybersecurity resume
Cybersecurity resume examples by experience level
Add a cover letter
Facts about the cybersecurity industry
Key takeaways for your cybersecurity resume
Commonly asked question about resume writing

Cybersecurity is an extremely fast-growing field. Cybersecurity professionals, analysts and consultants play a vital role in securing sensitive information in the ever-evolving digital world. From risk assessment to digital forensics, as a cybersecurity pro, you’re an expert at navigating these complex technical subjects. Now, all you need is some cybersecurity resume samples and tips to help you write a resume that puts a spotlight on your talents.

This guide will show you:

Examples of popular cybersecurity resumes.
How to write a cybersecurity resume.
Cybersecurity resumes at different experience levels.
Why cover letters are still important.
Key takeaways as you begin your job search.

Ready to write your resume ASAP? Check out our Resume Builder. This tool provides professionally written text suggestions, expert advice and a variety of stylish resume designs to help you hit the ground running with a resume that stands out from the crowd.

Popular cybersecurity resumes

Learning your field and developing your cybersecurity skills is the hard part. Now all you need is to learn how to make a resume that does justice to your technical expertise. Leave that to us!

Here’s a sample cybersecurity resume which has been made in our Resume Builder:

Create Your Resume

How to write a cybersecurity resume

Looking for the perfect cybersecurity role? Step one is building a resume that represents everything you have to offer.

Making the perfect resume begins with understanding what a resume is. From the template, to the resume profile to your skills section, a truly persuasive resume uses every opportunity to play to your strengths and show off your accomplishments.

A great resume outline will always include the following:

- Contact info in the header.
- A well-written, targeted resume profile.
- At least one — if not more! — sections for skills.
- A reverse-chronological list of work experience.
- A full accounting of credentials in an education section.
- Optional sections to help you stand out.

Let’s take a closer look at what a resume is made of!

STEP 1

Start with your header

Your resume’s job is to land you an interview. That means one of its most important responsibilities is to distribute your contact information. Next to your experience and skills, this might not seem as important, but you can’t ever expect to get a call from an employer if they don’t have your number. Here is the information that should be included in the header of your resume:

Name
Phone number
Professional email address
City and state
LinkedIn profile (optional)

Some resume headers use color or other design elements to add character to the resume. Cybersecurity is a relatively conservative profession when compared to something like art or music. For cybersecurity professionals, stick to the basics to focus on your professionalism.

Here’s an example of an appropriate cybersecurity resume header:

Writing Tip:

Read and reread your contact information for accuracy. The last thing you want is a typo that prevents your dream job from giving you a call.

STEP 2

Add a professional summary or resume objective

Now that your header is done, it’s time to introduce yourself! Your resume profile is the section where you first get to discuss your qualifications.

There are two kinds of resume profiles. Both provide different advantages for professionals at different stages in their careers.

Job seekers with relevant experience should use a professional summary. Professional summaries focus on the applicant’s experience and qualifications.
Job seekers who are entry-level or transitioning into a new field should write a resume objective instead. A resume objective places extra emphasis on the applicant’s goals for the role, instead of experience.

Both resume profile types have their own merits, so your job is deciding which one allows you to put your best foot forward.

Writing Tip:

If you lack experience, focus on soft skills and goals for the role in your resume objective. Discuss all the ways in which you hope to contribute to the organization and demonstrate your eagerness to learn.

Professional summary for cybersecurity resume example:

Seasoned cybersecurity consultant with eight years of professional experience, specializing in implementing robust security systems and safeguarding vital data for various organizations. Possesses extensive knowledge in areas such as network security, risk analysis, cloud security and digital forensics. Skilled at conducting comprehensive penetration testing to identify potential vulnerabilities and implementing strategic security protocols to mitigate risks. Adept at providing expert advice on the latest cybersecurity threats and trends, and developing customized security solutions that align with business objectives. Known for exceptional problem-solving capabilities, attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of data integrity and confidentiality.

Sample objective for cybersecurity resume example:

Recent college graduate with a degree in cybersecurity and two years of internship experience, seeking to leverage academic knowledge and practical understanding of cybersecurity principles in the role of a cybersecurity analyst. Offering hands-on experience in network security controls, digital forensics, risk assessment and incident response from internships at respected tech firms. Adept at identifying potential vulnerabilities, mitigating risks, and maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of data. Eager to bring strong critical thinking skills, attention to detail and a passion for protecting sensitive information to a dynamic team. Committed to continuous learning and staying up to date with the latest cybersecurity trends and threats to effectively contribute to an organization’s security posture.

STEP 3

Showcase your skills

Your cybersecurity skills are the tools and traits that give you the ability to do your job. You’ve likely already mastered a range of technical skills and working habits — now, you need to find a way to express that on your resume.

Your resume skills section should highlight your full spectrum of cybersecurity skills. The skills section should be your place to showcase what you can do, from the hard skills that help you understand security threats and assess complex software, to the soft skills that help you communicate with clients and navigate challenging tasks.

While the difference between hard vs soft skills might seem arbitrary, it is nevertheless important to have a well-rounded skills section with plenty of both.

Writing Tip:

Try to be specific with the skills that you include. Instead of listing generic computer skills on your resume, for example, describe your Linux proficiency! Mentioning the specific tools and software you master can help employers understand the full scope of your skills.

Hard and soft skills for a Cybersecurity resume:

Hard Skills

Computer programming

System administration

Risk assessment

Cloud architecture

Soft Skills

Problem-solving

Critical thinking

Time management

Communication

STEP 4

Fill in your work experience

Unless this resume is for your first ever job, the work history section of your resume is one of the most vital sections.

Your cybersecurity roles have come with lots of challenges that have developed you into the skilled and competent professional that you are. To demonstrate the depth of your expertise, make sure you write a work experience section that does more than list the names and dates of your previous roles.

There are a few things to keep in mind when you write your experience section:

Give life to your accomplishments with numerical data. Instead of saying “reduced instances of phishing attempts from outside attackers,” say “updated security protocols to reduce instances of phishing attempts by 60%.”
Employ action words to give oomph to your experience. Words like “integrated,” “led” and “analyzed” provide a greater sense of impact than overused terms like “responsible for.”
Your work experience should be placed in reverse-chronological order to tell the story of your career’s progression.

Writing Tip:

Even if the skills section is already finished, the work experience section gives you fantastic new opportunities to show off your key technical skills.

Sample cybersecurity work experience entry:

Cybersecurity Analyst

Wharton Security Consulting | Chicago, IL | February 2018 – Present

Conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments and penetration testing on client systems to identify potential security risks. Successfully identified and mitigated over 200 vulnerabilities, enhancing the overall security posture of client networks.
Develop and implement robust network security policies and procedures, so far resulting in a 30% decrease in security incidents.
Lead incident response efforts during security breaches, effectively minimizing damage and reducing system recovery time by 40%.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance security awareness and compliance across the organization.
Conduct regular training sessions for staff on emerging cybersecurity threats and preventive measures, leading to a more informed and vigilant team.
Managed a successful project to transition the company’s data storage to a cloud-based system, ensuring the secure transfer and storage of sensitive company data.

STEP 5

Highlight your education

A career in cybersecurity usually begins with an education in computer science or a related field. Use the education section of your resume to list the degrees that you’ve earned as well as any other vocational training you’ve received.

You may list certifications within the education section, but if you have many certifications or would like to list honors and awards, you should give them their own section.

Writing Tip:

Recent graduates should include graduation dates and relevant coursework to explain and mitigate their lack of experience. After a few years in the workforce, these things should be excluded.

Cybersecurity education entry example:

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL | 2021

Writing Tip:

Recent graduates should include graduation dates and relevant coursework to explain and mitigate their lack of experience. After a few years in the workforce, these things should be excluded.

STEP 6

Consider adding special sections

Special sections can be added to your resume at your discretion. No two resumes should be exactly alike, and if there’s something in your history that your potential employer might want to know, feel free to include it. Here are some examples of special sections that you may want to add:

Volunteer work: Volunteering connects you with your community and demonstrates a strong work ethic. Pay special attention to volunteer work that is relevant to the scope of your career.
Language proficiency: Speaking multiple languages not only connects you with other cultures, it also demonstrates mental agility and acuity.
Hobbies and interests: Hobbies and interests make us who we are. Feel free to include some on your resume so long as they are relevant to your career. Loving rock and roll is not going to help you land the job, but an interest in game design might.

Writing Tip:

For cybersecurity professionals, you may also want to include a project section to summarize some of the most important projects you’ve completed.

Now that you’ve written a persuasive resume, it’s time to choose a cybersecurity resume template. Our library of resume templates includes a variety of designs and styles, from creative templates that are eye-catching and bold to professional templates that are straightforward and easy to scan.

For people who want immediate access to a cybersecurity resume template, there are free downloadable options for Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

Cybersecurity resume examples by experience level

The way you organize your resume is an important decision. Different resume formats highlight different strengths, so it’s important to organize your resume in a way that benefits your experience level.

There are three resume formats, and each one is for applicants at different career stages:

Entry-level job seekers should use a functional resume format. This format focuses more on skills than experience.
Midcareer job seekers would be served best by a combination resume format. This format balances experience and skills.
Senior job seekers would benefit from a chronological resume format. This format lets experience take center stage.

Let’s review a visual example of each format.

Cybersecurity resume examples by experience level

resume-entry-level-example-cyber-security-intern

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What makes this a great cybersecurity resume example

This entry-level cybersecurity resume uses the functional format. This means that the applicant has chosen to showcase his skills instead of focusing on experience.
This resume uses a resume objective. Objectives focus on the candidate’s skills and their desire to learn and grow professionally. This is a stronger choice for an entry-level cybersecurity resume rather than a professional summary that focuses on career achievements.
This resume includes soft and hard skills. Demonstrating both types of skills gives a complete picture of the applicant’s technical knowledge and talents.

Combination resume format: Midcareer cybersecurity resume example

resume-mid-career-example-cyber-security-specialist

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What makes this a great cybersecurity resume example

Because this applicant has some experience, he uses a combination resume format that gives equal weight to his work history and his skills.
This applicant has multiple certifications, so he gives them their own section where they can back up his technical skills.
The work experience section uses action words, which drive home the impact that the applicant’s career has had on previous organizations.

Chronological resume format: Experienced cybersecurity resume example

resume-experienced-example-cyber-security

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What makes this a great cybersecurity resume example

The chronological format highlights experience. This format puts her work experience and achievements at center stage.
No need for flashy visuals. This resume keeps it simple with a sleek basic cybersecurity resume template which doesn’t distract from the applicant’s impressive qualifications.
Numbers don’t lie. This applicant uses numerical data to demonstrate her accomplishments in a way that’s concrete and easy to understand.

Add a cover letter

cover-letter-example-cyber-security-analyst

Create Your Resume

You may wonder what the next step is after writing your cybersecurity resume. Don’t send in your application just yet! To have the best chance of landing the job, you need a top-notch cover letter.

Your cover letter is your opportunity to communicate with your prospective employer directly. Explain why your experience and skills make you the perfect candidate. To learn how to write a cover letter that gets you the interview, take a look at our library of cover letter examples and our guide on proper cover letter formatting.

Dreading the cover letter writing process? It doesn’t have to be hard! Try our Cover Letter Builder to create a strong cover letter in just minutes — without the stress. This tool provides professionally written text based on your information that you can edit as needed.

Next, let’s take a close look at the career prospects of the cybersecurity industry.

Facts about the cybersecurity industry

Your resume is finished and it’s time to start working toward advancing your cybersecurity career. Let’s take a look at what that might look like!

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security analysts held 163,000 jobs in 2021. This number is expected to grow over the next decade.
Employment in the cybersecurity field is projected to grow by 35% from 2021 to 2031, providing 56,500 new opportunities per year on average during this period.
The median salary of an information security analyst in 2021 was $102,600 annually.

Key takeaways for your cybersecurity resume

Make sure your information is accurate
It never hurts to double check! Providing up-to-date and accurate contact information is one of your resume’s most important functions.
Tailor to each job posting
Avoid repetitive resume filler. Choose keywords from the job listing to build a resume that is customized to earn you the position.
Use numerical data
Don’t just tell, show! Prospective employers will have a much better idea of what you can do when you use numbers to demonstrate your impact.
Describe your projects
Whether you summarize them under work experience or give them their own section, your projects are important achievements that deserve plenty of attention.
Add volunteer work
Volunteer work is not a must-have, but it’s a great nice-to-have which can show your dedication to your personal values.
Proofread carefully
Mistakes are only human, but a resume that’s riddled with typos doesn’t feel as professional. Show employers your attention to detail by proofreading thoroughly.
Go the extra mile
A fantastic cover letter is the cherry on top of your cybersecurity resume. Use the cover letter as your opportunity to really sell the qualifications on your resume.

Commonly asked question about resume writing

Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.