How to Get a Cybersecurity Job With No Experience: A Complete Guide
Discover the transferable skills, entry-level roles, and certifications that can help you land a job in cybersecurity, even if you have no formal prior work experience.
If you’re reading this thinking, “I haven't got a tech background, so this guide on cyber jobs isn’t for me,” I want to pause you there.
All cybersecurity professionals had to start by learning the basics, building practical skills and taking clear, structured steps forward. Not all of them were tech specialists before they started their careers in cyber, I know that from years of experience working in cyber careers consulting.
From where I sit, cybersecurity is not about genius-level coding. It’s about problem-solving, risk awareness and thinking logically. The good news is, these are skills you probably already have to some extent, and they're ones anyone can learn, practise, and strengthen with the right guidance and structure.
This guide is the perfect place to start if you want to move into the cyber profession and are starting with no experience. For more general advice, take a look at our guide on how to get a job with no experience.
Written by
With four years at Learning People and a solid foundation in IT and Cybersecurity, Chris guides people through the fast-evolving tech landscape and into their dream jobs. He combines hands-on technical expertise with insider industry insights to help learners make informed career decisions.
What's on this page?
Jump to:
- Is It Realistic to Move Into Cyber Security With No Background?
- The Skills That Matter More Than Coding
- What Entry-Level Cyber Security Roles Actually Look Like
- Qualifications and Certifications That Open Doors
- How to Build Experience When You Have None
- A Simple 90-Day Starting Plan
- Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need Experience to Start in Cyber Security
- How to Get a Cyber Security Job With No Experience FAQs
Is It Realistic to Move Into Cyber Security Without Experience?
Short answer? Yes. But not because it’s easy. Because it’s learnable for anyone serious about pursuing it, even if you're brand new to the subject matter.
One of the biggest misconceptions I come across is the idea that cybersecurity is reserved for elite hackers who’ve grown up immersed in code. That simply isn’t how most people enter the industry.
In fact, many of the learners we support are career changers in their 30s, 40s, and beyond, coming from teaching, retail, the military, finance, and hospitality. I’ve seen former managers and customer service professionals transition successfully because they had strong soft skills and already understood processes, accountability, and responsibility.
Cybersecurity builds on those foundations. You won’t walk into a senior cybersecurity role overnight, but with structured training and a clear pathway, moving into an entry-level position is realistic within a matter of months.
Fact: Entry-Level Cyber Roles Have Almost Tripled Since 2021
UK labour market analysis shows the number of cybersecurity professionals has increased by close to 200% in just a few years, rising from around 28,500 in 2021 to approximately 83,700 today. Growth at this scale creates new entry points.
Expanding teams mean more Junior Cyber Security Analyst and SOC Analyst opportunities, which is encouraging if you’re starting without prior experience.
What Entry-Level Cyber Security Roles Actually Look Like
One of the quickest ways to make cyber security feel less intimidating is to look at the actual job titles. Once you do, it starts to feel far more achievable.
Here are a few roles I often suggest exploring for people with no prior experience:
SOC Analyst
A SOC Analyst works in a Security Operations Centre, monitoring systems for suspicious activity. You’re reviewing alerts, investigating unusual behaviour and escalating genuine threats. It’s analytical work. You follow processes, think logically and document what you find. Strong coding skills are not a requirement.
Junior Cyber Security Analyst
This role supports more senior analysts. You might run vulnerability scans, review security logs or help implement basic security controls. It’s hands-on and structured. You’re learning by doing.
IT Support Technician (A Stepping Stone)
Many people enter cybersecurity via IT support. As an IT Support Technician, you learn how networks, systems and users behave. That foundation makes moving into security far easier later on.
Risk or Compliance Assistant
Not every cyber role is technical. Risk and compliance positions focus on policies, procedures and ensuring organisations meet security standards. If you’re organised and detail-oriented, this route could suit you well.
If you’re curious about how to prepare for these roles, our cybersecurity training courses outline step-by-step training routes, alongside career support to help you move from studying to applying for jobs with confidence.
Qualifications and Certifications That Open Doors
One of the first questions I’m asked is, “Do I need a degree in Computer Science to get into cybersecurity?”
For most entry-level roles, the answer is no.
Degrees can be valuable, but employers hiring Junior cybersecurity Analysts or SOC Analysts often look for recognised certifications instead. Certifications show focused, practical knowledge. They’re also faster and more targeted.
For complete beginners, I usually suggest a structured pathway:
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If you’re completely new to IT, CompTIA A+ helps you build confidence with core hardware, software and troubleshooting concepts. It’s widely recognised for entry-level IT Support roles.
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If you already understand basic IT, you can begin with CompTIA Network+ to strengthen your understanding of how networks operate and how to troubleshoot connectivity issues.
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CompTIA Security+ is widely recognised and often acts as the gateway certification for entry-level cyber security roles.
What makes the biggest difference is structure. I’ve spoken to many ambitious people who have lost months jumping between random YouTube tutorials, never quite sure what to learn next. A clear framework gives you direction, builds knowledge in the right order and shows employers you are committed to the field.
The truth is, you can start building evidence of your skills long before your first cybersecurity role.
Hear from Learning People Cybersecurity students
How to Build Experience When You Have None
You can start building evidence of your skills long before your first Cyber Security role. Here are practical ways to do it:
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Home labs: Set up virtual machines and practise securing systems in a controlled environment.
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Capture the Flag platforms: These simulated challenges help you practise spotting vulnerabilities and analysing threats in a hands-on way.
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Volunteering: Small charities or community organisations often need help reviewing basic security practices.
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Transferable workplace examples: Have you managed sensitive data? Followed compliance procedures? Investigated incidents?
Most importantly, document what you’re doing. Share projects on LinkedIn. Write short reflections. Build a simple portfolio.
Fact: UK Cyber Security Skills Gap Narrowing to Around 3,800 Roles
The latest UK government cyber skills report estimates the workforce shortfall at approximately 3,800 roles nationwide, down significantly from previous years. Employers are actively investing in training and early-career pathways to close this gap.
For career changers, this signals openness to newly certified candidates who can demonstrate structured learning and commitment.
The Skills That Matter Most (More Than Coding)
I’ll say this again: most entry-level cybersecurity roles are not about sitting in a dark room writing complex code. Your mindset and how you approach tasks can be extremely valuable attributes for employers.
Here are some examples of the top qualities and soft skills cybersecurity employers look for. I've also reframed them in ways that take them out of the cyber or tech space to show how transferable these skills can be from other sectors.
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Problem-solving: Can you break an issue down calmly and work through it logically, even when under pressure?
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In another context, this could look like solving a live customer complaint about one of their orders not arriving on time, even if they are agitated and the reason for the problem is not initially clear.
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Attention to detail: Can you spot small anomalies or issues that might signal bigger problems?
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In another context, this could look like noticing an inconsistency in the figures in a document, suggesting the creator of the document was looking at the wrong data set, or they have not submitted the document for the needed checks.
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Curiosity: Do you naturally ask, “Why did that happen?” when a problem occurs? Do you seek to understand the cause or the pattern behind it, not just what to do to fix it this time?
- In another context, this could look like noticing a recurring pattern of customer returns and investigating whether it’s a specific batch of product that’s faulty, rather than just processing each refund as it comes in.
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Clear Communication: Can you explain complex issues simply to colleagues, in a way that's easy for them to understand?
- In another context, this could look like explaining a new company policy or a technical software update to a teammate by using a simple analogy that avoids "corporate speak," ensuring they feel confident about the change.
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Basic networking knowledge: Understanding how systems connect is far more important than advanced programming.
- In another context, this could look like troubleshooting why a card machine isn't processing payments and realizing it’s a simple connectivity issue between the device and the Wi-Fi router, rather than a total system failure.
A Simple 90-Day Starting Plan
For now focus on the next 90 days. Here is a very top-level plan that you can flesh out in a way that makes sense for your situation.
Your 90-Day Roadmap to a New Career
We’ve broken down the transition into three clear, manageable phases. This isn't just about reading books; it’s about building a professional identity.
Month 1: Building the Foundations
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The Focus: Immersing yourself in the "language" of IT and Cybersecurity.
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What you’ll do: You’ll move beyond being a "user" of technology to understanding the infrastructure. You’ll explore how data moves across networks (TCP/IP), the architecture of different operating systems (Windows, Linux, and Cloud), and the mindset of a security professional.
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The Goal: By the end of week four, you’ll be able to identify common system vulnerabilities and understand exactly how the hardware and software in a business environment talk to each other.
Month 2: Mastering the Theory & Labs
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The Focus: Specialisation and hands-on validation.
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What you’ll do: This month is about narrowing your path. Whether it’s CompTIA A+ for support or Security+ for cyber, you’ll dive deep into your chosen certification. You won't just be reading; you’ll be using "Virtual Labs" to simulate real-world scenarios—fixing broken systems and defending against mock cyber-attacks in a safe environment.
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The Goal: To transition from "knowing" the concepts to "doing" the work. You’ll finish this month with the technical confidence needed to pass your exams and handle real-world tickets.
Month 3: Launching Your Career Search
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The Focus: Becoming "Market Ready."
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What you’ll do: Now we pivot from the screen to the CV. You’ll work on translating your new technical skills—and those vital transferable skills we identified—into a high-impact resume. We’ll help you target roles like IT Support Technician, Junior SOC Analyst, or Helpdesk Engineer.
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The Goal: Submitting your first high-quality applications. With your training, practical projects, and the support of our Careers Consultants, you’ll be ready to walk into an interview and speak the language of a pro.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need Experience to Start in Cyber Security
If you’re doubting yourself right now, that’s normal. Most career-changers or career-starters feel unsure at the beginning. I’ve seen people with no technical background build successful careers in cybersecurity simply because they committed to learning and took consistent steps forward.
You don’t need to have everything figured out today. You just need a starting point.
If you’d like clarity on your next move, we offer a free consultation with one of our specialised cyber career experts. They’ll talk through your background, your goals and map out a realistic pathway into cybersecurity.
Hit the button below to leave your name, number, and email to get started. One of our cybersecurity Career Consultants will be in touch very soon, usually within one working day.
