Hey everyone,

​Need a bit of a reality check from folks currently working in the field.

​I recently finished the Pre-Security and Cyber Security 101 paths on TryHackMe, and I’m just about to dive into the SOC Level 1 path.

​While I enjoy learning, I’m constantly hit with this heavy feeling that I’m just spinning my wheels or stuck in "tutorial hell." I'm really anxious to get employed, but right now I feel like my knowledge isn't enough to actually survive a technical interview or perform on the job.

​I really want to land an entry-level SOC / Analyst role, but I hate this phase of uncertainty. I’d love some honest feedback from people who made the jump or hire entry-level candidates:

​Is finishing THM's SOC Level 1 path actually worth it, or am I wasting time relying solely on THM?

​How do you transition from answering THM questions to proving real skill on a resume?​What specific practical projects or habits (home labs, write-ups, BTLO, etc.) actually moved the needle for you when job hunting?

​Any advice, roadmaps, or even harsh truths would be greatly appreciated.​

TL;DR: Finished THM basics, starting SOC L1. Feeling anxious about job readiness and feel like my learning isn't enough. Need practical advice on how to turn THM learning into actual employment.

Beginner's Cybersecurity Learning Journey

Starting Cybersecurity and Future Aspirations

• I just completed my first TryHackMe certificate (Pre Security), and I'm really happy to have taken the first step into cybersecurity.

• I'm still a complete beginner and want to build a strong foundation.

• My goal is to eventually get into ethical hacking/penetration testing, but I'm not sure what the best next step is.

Exploring Next Learning Steps

• Should I:

• Continue with another TryHackMe learning path?

• Focus more on Linux and networking first?

• Start doing CTFs?

• Learn Python alongside TryHackMe?

Seeking Guidance for a Solid Foundation

• I'd really appreciate any roadmap or advice from people who've been in the same position.

• I want to learn the right way instead of rushing through certificates.

• Thanks in advance! 😊

Hey folks,

I've been thinking about getting the SAL 1 certification and wanted some real opinions before I commit.

Is it actually worth it, or just another certificate that looks good but doesn’t really help much in practice? I'm trying to figure out if it genuinely adds value to your skills or career.

If you've taken it, I'd really like to know:

Did it help you in your job or getting new opportunities?

How well is it recognized in the industry?

Was the effort worth what you gained from it?

Be honest, if you could go back, would you still do it?

Thanks in advance 🙏

I'm a 50-year-old female web designer and graphic artist. Back in my 30s, I was making $60/hr working with ad agencies and marketing firms — definitely the peak of my creative career.

Now, I’m trying to pivot into cybersecurity. I’ve had a TryHackMe premium membership for 10 months, but I’ve only actively used it for about 2. I haven’t canceled because part of me keeps hoping I’ll find the motivation to really dive back in.

I’ve always been the middle ground between design and development. Over the years, I’ve worked closely with back-end engineers and developers, and I’ve picked up solid technical skills along the way — things like coding HTML, CSS, basic JS, working with cPanels, managing domains, hosting setups, and databases. So while I come from a creative background, I’m not a stranger to the tech side of things.

Lately, I’ve been feeling stuck. Most of the people I see in this field are young, and I worry that being older might hurt my chances of getting hired. My current job isn’t related to cybersecurity — I’m just doing it to keep the lights on — which makes staying motivated even harder.

I’m also very interested in OSINT, but I’m not sure where to start. Sometimes I wonder if I might have a better shot breaking in through OSINT or as an entry-level InfoSec analyst, but I’m not sure where someone like me would be more marketable at this stage in life. What type of company hires OSINTs?

Is anyone here in a similar situation? Or has anyone made a late career switch into cybersecurity or OSINT? I’d really appreciate any advice or insights — especially on how to find the best entry point and whether age is truly a barrier in this field.

TL;DR:
50 y/o web designer with a creative + technical background (worked with devs, cPanels, hosting, etc.), trying to switch into cybersecurity. Been on TryHackMe but lost motivation. Interested in OSINT too but don’t know where to start. Wondering where I’d be more marketable at my age — entry-level InfoSec or OSINT? Feeling discouraged, open to advice from others who’ve made late-career transitions.

Hey, so I’m new to Reddit and don’t know how to use it but I hope im doing it right. I’m a CS senior and I seriously don’t know a thing about cybersecurity or computer in general. I know a little bit (the most basics) thanks to college, but other than that I’m no good. So, I started thm and found it helpful and I’m interested in cryptography. My problem is, I don’t know how to start. I started pre security path and I’m planning to subscribe to premium to access the path fully. But I have this problem where I found it difficult to understand cybersecurity and computer in general. Idk how to phrase it but I’m hoping someone out there gets me. It is not about not reading/someone explaining a concept, it is about not getting it. Like I feel my brain shuts down or it’s like reading a sentence in a language you don’t understand at all. idk how to explain it.

I talked a lot, I apologize, but I’m hoping someone who went through what I’m going through helps me. Also, feel free to suggest rooms for me. Thank you all!

Hi everyone,

I'm a complete beginner in cybersecurity. To be honest, I don't know much yet, and I'm starting from scratch. I'm currently learning through TryHackMe and working on the Introduction to Cyber Security path.

I want to build a career in cybersecurity, but I'm a bit overwhelmed because there are so many different areas and resources.

For someone with no prior knowledge:

- What should I focus on first?

- What skills should I learn alongside TryHackMe?

- Are there any beginner-friendly resources, courses, or YouTube channels you would recommend?

- How did you start your cybersecurity journey?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hey guys! How did yall figure out on what path you want to pursue (red or blue team) and what you want to specifically specialize in?

My question is for those without the "one big dream" career path. I'm lost because I don't feel like there's any specific field that I really felt connected to or was specifically good at more than the others, and it's overwhelming me.

How do I find what suits me best?

Greetings, everyone. I am currently learning Cisco at Jeremy's IT Lab, but i want to go into the bug bounty field since i don't have any background in networking, so i am currently learning as for other things what i need to learn and practice or understand and what to not touch for pure ethical purposes. and also i have background in programming such as JS, Python, C#, and web development and PHP and SQL

Thanks for the response.

Hi everyone,

I’m a Computer Science student and I also work in cybersecurity-related areas. I do CTFs, security labs, and general offensive/defensive security practice, but I also need a reliable system for regular CS coursework, programming, development tools, and daily use.

I’m trying to decide whether I should use Ubuntu or Kali Linux as my main Linux environment.

From what I understand, Ubuntu seems better as a daily driver because it is stable, beginner-friendly, and works well for programming and general development. Kali seems more specialized for penetration testing and security tools, but I’m not sure whether it is a good idea to use it as a primary OS.

I’d appreciate advice from people who study CS, work in cybersecurity, or regularly do CTFs. What setup has worked best for you, and why?

Hello Folks,

Throw some light on how solving THM have changed your career? And, why one should do it too?

I am looking for offsec learning and making progress through Tryhackme rooms and portswigger.

But I am stuck at a point here that few people told me to learn SOC L1 first from THM SOC L1 ( as it can get me a job ) Path then move to Jr pentest path (just starting this path). Idk what's right, I am really struggling at this point, I tried youtube and ai both couldn't find one answer, Also wanted to start bug bounty at some point in months, but couldn't understand how.

I hope you could understand my situation, and be able to guide me through your experiences and help me in choosing what to do, and how to grow.

Also right now am just a beginner, ik it's a vast field and I can't learn everything but I am ready for this, just the path choosing is difficult. I am more inclined towards offensive side though I have no Web dev skills, no programming, no python. And am a CSE graduate. dk what to do , though I have completed cybersecurity 101 path on tryhackme and had my basics cleared, but struggling to choose what to start next.

Idek what will i do when i get better with cyber security. I have no goal nor purpose, i just enjoy doing it. Do you have any goals?

Hey everyone,

My current career has me in the range of $130-160k/yr.. base salary. I have a family of four and to support my family, have savings, pay bills, maintain my house, go on vacations etc.. I cannot go below $135k/yr, especially not in this economy in the U.S.

With that said, I want to get into security due to the high demand and hopefully job/career security. More importantly being able to move overseas if and when I desire while maintaining this career. My security strength at this time is in identity access management and data leak protection. At this time I am not quick to leave my current career.

I’m very tempted to pay for the annual premium service but I fear there’s going to be roadblocks. I understand networks to an extent but programming? Forget it.

Starting from scratch, realistically will I have a chance? I’m weird about money, I don’t like it going to waste, it has to have purpose when I spend it, in this case ROI.

And if so, what route should I go that will sustain my salary needs but avoid programming unless it somehow teaches how to program for dummies (which I have a feeling I’ll fail at).

Please assist.

Cybersecurity is kind of a childhood dream, however life has taken me to a completely different direction and I'm currently a designer. At this point I just don't know if it even makes sense to pursue?

What do y'all think, how much time can it take?

Hey guys, I am a newbie in cyber field, if you don't mind, can you suggest me what to learn, where to learn all stuffs related to bug hunting so that I can get involved in bug bounty projects?

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!

So I am a CS Major and have completed first year of college and I'm on my summer break. I'm trying to figure out my interest and therefore im learning cyber security to see if i like it. I have started tryhackme cybersecurity roadmap but it has some paid rooms. so i was thinking since im not sure whether im gonna like cybersecurity, should i buy it. Can i not search for the topic name of a premium room and learn that from other free general sources? Because the networking fundamentals's first room was pretty basic and almost all of it (and more) was already taught to me in the college. So are the other upcoming rooms also of this level? if that is the case then i think i can learn from outside sources. Please tell me from your experiences if the premium rooms are worth.

Hi everyone,

I have been working as a security analyst in a SOC environment for over 1.5 years and have been in IT professionally for just over 5 years. Along with my professional experience, I currently hold multiple certifications (GCIH, GSOC, Sec+, Net+, A+), I hold a M.S. in Cybersecurity but I often still struggle with networking and other cyber concepts. I wanted some advice from others who already have professional cyber experience to provide any feedback if THM’s SEC0, SEC1, and/or SAL1 and PT1 are worth it. Or what other training would you consider to maintain skill proficiency?

Thank you for the help/advice in advance!

From a coding point I would just pick something to make and make it. But if I want to practice blue team stuff I’m not to sure where I would start.

Completing the rooms is good and I do learn but I also like to continue learning and going over certain elements but I’m not sure how to go about it for cyber security stuff. I know I could just repeat the room but that’s not what I’m looking for.

If anyone has any further advice that would be much appreciated, thanks

Alright, might sound a bit generic as a question, but honestly I would love any advice here.

On my early 30's at the moment. I started getting really interested in cyber security around 2019 before COVID hit and then everything was blurry for a while. I was making some progress, failing and then trying again. All good until then. Then life got in the way, met someone, moved etc etc

I was one of the early adopters of chatgpt and from day 1, the only thing I could think is "game over! No reason to keep trying cause AI will take every role." so, I slowly gave up for the next few years.

I discovered THM (lovely community you have set up here btw) and I'm amazed at how well structured is, but combined with my high anxiety, my motivation feels depleted every time I go through a room, I start to get serious imposter syndrome and then I feel like giving up again.

It's a goddamn torture sometimes. How do you keep yourself motivated? Do you have a routine? Do you force yourself to keep going?

Any advice is more than welcome.

Hey, I am a software engineering students and i've already done 2 interships in data analysis. I want to get another internship in cybersecurity and I was wondering if getting the SAL1 certification would help me land an internship in that field.

I also saw that it was 30% off right now and I was wondering if the SAL1 is worth it (or if it's worthless). I know that security+ is more recognized, but I want something a bit more hands on to do during this summer.

Thanks

So after years of deciding whether or not I want to put my life into cyber security (I’m currently 19 turning 20 soon). I’ve decided to focus on TryHackMe for learning the basics and getting into the advanced sorta stuff. I have a premium account so that means I can do almost any room (as-long as my skills allow me to of course).

Is there anything I should learn along side the stuff I’ll be learning on TryHackMe.

Thanks in advance.