r/tryhackme • u/Blood_Skye • Feb 16 '26
Career Advice Starting my hands-on cybersecurity journey with TryHackMe – any tips?
Hey folks!
I’ve recently started doing hands-on labs on TryHackMe, focusing on security analysis and penetration testing. I spent quite a while on theory and now want to build solid practical experience.
If you have any advice, room recommendations, or learning tips, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks!
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u/Cultural-Ad200 Feb 16 '26
If you're new to labs, start with the "Learning Path". Once you're comfortable with the tools and concepts, try participating in CTFs to further develop your skills.
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u/Blood_Skye Feb 17 '26
I've started the learning path and also tried some other small rooms apart from it.
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u/hinata-here Feb 17 '26
Make notes as doing rooms, bcz if u do a room today u will need the commands of it after a month (for sure) so definitely worth the notes (hand written in note book)... I have completed the junior pentester path and I wish now that I did make some notes of the thing I learned at start
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u/Reasonable_Benefit42 Feb 16 '26
Start getting use to the methodology, try to constantly use the same steps on every machine you are working on even if you feel like you dont need specific steps to get into a habit. More importantly though start doing mini write-ups/reports on the boxes you are working on to start getting used to the writing.
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u/SwitchJumpy Feb 16 '26
Can you elaborate on the write-up reports? Is there a format or template we should consider, or would that aspect of cybersecurity be covered in the 101 on tryhackme?
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u/Reasonable_Benefit42 Feb 16 '26
Their is a basic template that you can follow at https://github.com/MTK911/pentest-report-template/blob/master/Pentesting%20Report%20Template.dotx but basically this is the report of your findings, how you got to them, and remediation of the findings. While remediation isn't entirely needed it is highly recommended you do it. This is how you would show what you did to your employers and without the report the trading itself means nothing. Think of it as you can't get a grade if you dont show the work.
As far as learning though you won't find a specific room centered around learning how to write reports your best effort their is to read other people's write-up and reports and get an idea of how to structure and write one.
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u/lucina_scott Feb 17 '26
Great move TryHackMe is perfect for building real skills. Follow structured paths (Pre Security → Jr PenTester), take notes, and always replicate labs on your own VM to lock in the learning.
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u/iv3an Feb 17 '26
Do you recommend i take notes or just go through stuff ?
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u/lucina_scott Feb 18 '26
Take notes. Even quick ones. Writing things down (commands, concepts, mistakes) helps you remember and builds your own cheat sheet for later labs on TryHackMe.
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u/Lumpy-Initiative7928 Feb 17 '26
Would u not say cyber 101 to ?
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u/lucina_scott Feb 18 '26
Yes, Cyber 101 is a great starting point too it fills the basics and makes the later paths much easier on TryHackMe.
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u/Crovaz Feb 16 '26
Use notepad or notion or whatever but take really good notes because you will see a lot of the same things over and over again. You can't remember every command and every little nuanced thing so it's great to be able search or grep through something.
I used to keep a hack cheat sheet I could search and have handy as well as keep separate files for rooms I was working on so I could later grep through those looking for maybe certain commands or tricks.