How I got into Cybersecurity!

I am someone who thrives on exploring new interests, and once I find something captivating, I immerse myself entirely in it. I believe that discovering your passion often involves trying various things to see what truly resonates with you.

After feeling stagnant at work, sensing a toll on my mental health and losing my usual enthusiasm, I decided to take charge. Determined to learn something new, I stumbled upon a platform offering fully funded courses.
I initially thought an IT course would be nice to start with, however, nothing was available at that time, leading me to discover a cybersecurity course. Despite initial hesitations, I decided to give it a shot.

The course was available on the Learning Curve Group's website and it's fully funded if you are eligible: Level 2 Cyber Security

The cybersecurity course, though was a fundamental course with only basic information, was presented on a user-friendly platform. 
Part of my assignments was to discuss a real cyber incident and coincidentally, a colleague had recently fallen victim to a scam, providing me with the opportunity to discuss with them about what happened and understand how the threat actor had succeeded. 
I was intrigued by the subject and I realized at that moment, the vast potential and importance of cybersecurity.
Completing the basic course in a few weeks only fueled my ambition to delve deeper into this field.

What's the next step now ?
I encountered challenges when searching for the next steps and the right platforms for in-depth study and practical applications. Anyone just starting their journey in cyber security will understand my frustrations when you can see everyone is advertising different trainings, certifications, and boot camps but there is no clear straightforward path to take.

To be honest, I was a bit confused in the beginning when I tried to search for online courses. I also had to consider exactly what kind of role in cybersecurity suited me, given the numerous options available: Security Analyst, Penetration Tester, Engineer, Architect, etc. I did not expect this industry to be so broad and complex.
When you don't have a mentor or someone to guide you in the cybersecurity industry, it’s hard to focus on exactly what you are looking for. It's like finding a needle in a haystack.

After several weeks of searching, I determined that my next step would be to pursue the Google Cyber Security Certificate. Designed for beginners with no prior experience, its self-paced nature appealed to me. 

This course is not entirely free, but they have a free 7-day trial and after the period ends you will need to pay a small amount of £38 per month. Now this will all depend on you and how fast you can achieve this course. 

Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate

The plan is to progress gradually and practice extensively on various platforms.

Yet, a common challenge arises for beginners like me: how do you gain experience when most job opportunities mandate 1-2 years of prior experience? 

Feels like it's a paradox that many newcomers face in the field.

Until then, I will share my progress, experience with the Google Cybersecurity Certificate and helpful advice for anyone who wants to enroll on it.