Welcome back. This week we are talking about something many people struggle with. Choosing the right cybersecurity pathway. It is one of the biggest decisions you will make early in your cyber journey and it can save you years of wasted time if you choose well.
I have also included your weekly news update, a breakdown of the skills hiring managers actually want in 2026, and an update on my ebook.

Let’s get into it.

If you want a cyber job in 2026, this video is essential. I explain the exact skills hiring managers look for and what truly separates candidates who get interviews from those who do not. No fluff. Just clear recruiter focused advice that can move your career forward faster.

You will learn:
• The technical skills with the highest hiring demand
• The one skill beginners ignore that instantly increases interview rates
• Why generalists will struggle in 2026 and how to specialise the right way
• What hiring managers really think when looking at junior candidates

This video is perfect if you are trying to break into cyber, switch roles, or understand what to learn next.

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Choosing a cybersecurity career is not just about picking a job title. It is about choosing a lifestyle, a learning path, and a long term direction that suits who you are.

Here is a detailed breakdown of what you should consider.

Cyber roles often align with specific personalities.
Ask yourself:

• Do you enjoy investigating and solving puzzles? You may suit Blue Team or SOC roles.
• Do you enjoy breaking things to understand how they work? You may suit Red Team or offensive work.
• Do you like processes, structure, and policy? GRC roles may be a strong fit.
• Do you think in systems? Cloud security or architecture may suit you.
• Do you enjoy explaining technical issues to non technical people? You may be perfect for pre sales or consulting roles.

Your strengths should guide your route.

Cyber roles vary in intensity.

Low urgency:
• Governance
• Risk
• Compliance
• Identity and access management

Moderate urgency:
• Cloud security
• Security engineering
• Forensics

High urgency:
• SOC analyst
• Incident response
• Penetration testing
• Malware analysis

If you prefer calm, structured work, avoid roles that require real time decision making or on call work.

Different areas scale differently over time.

High ceiling roles:
• Cloud security
• Security architect
• Incident response
• Offensive security
• Consulting

Stable and consistently paid roles:
• GRC
• IAM
• SOC

Choose based on your long term goals, not the first job that is easiest to get.

Red Team: Tool based learning, scripting, problem solving.
Blue Team: Logs, detection, patterns, defence.
GRC: Frameworks, documentation, communication.
Cloud: Vendor based learning, architecture, automation.

If the learning style excites you, you are more likely to stay in the field.

You must know what hiring managers ask for today.

Go to Seek, LinkedIn, Indeed and type:
• SOC Analyst
• Cybersecurity Analyst
• GRC Analyst
• Cloud Security
• Penetration Tester

Look at the requirements. Compare them. Notice the patterns.

This will show you exactly where you need to upskill.

For example:
• SOC Analyst can become IR, threat hunting, or engineering
• GRC Analyst can become consultant, auditor, or CISO
• Penetration Tester can become red team lead or security researcher
• Cloud security can progress into architect or lead engineer roles

Pick a path with room to grow.

Recruiters will ask. Hiring managers will ask.
If you cannot answer this clearly, it hurts your chances.

Your answer should show:
• Self awareness
• Direction
• Clarity
• Motivation

This alone can set you apart.

Here are the most important updates you should be aware of this week.

Australia sees a rise in targeted attacks on education and small businesses

The Australian Cyber Security Centre has issued updated advice after a noticeable spike in attacks against schools, universities and small businesses. Many attacks involve credential theft, vulnerable VPNs, and unpatched cloud services.

Key points:
• Attackers are targeting accounts that reuse passwords
• Business email compromise is rising again
• Many victims had weak MFA or none at all
• The most targeted data is financial details and identity information

If you are considering a SOC or Blue Team role, these trends show that defensive roles will continue to be in high demand.

Microsoft, Google and OpenAI continue rapid AI security integration

Tech companies are accelerating the rollout of AI driven threat detection inside cloud platforms. Expect:

• AI powered automated incident response
• AI enrichment in SIEM tools
• AI supported identity systems
• AI based phishing prevention

This means cloud security and identity management will only become more valuable. Companies want people who can combine human judgement with AI powered tools.

Two industries in Australia are leading hiring growth

Recent job data shows continued growth in:

• Cybersecurity and information security
• Healthcare and health services

Cybersecurity roles grew again due to rising compliance obligations and constant attacks. If you are considering a cyber career, the demand remains strong for 2025 and 2026.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the ebook so far.

If you are job searching right now, this is the resource I wish every candidate had. It is clear, simple to follow, and designed to help you stand out.

You can get it for $9.99 AUD.

Get your copy here

Pick one cyber role you are interested in and review ten job descriptions.
Write down the top fifteen skills that show up consistently.
This will tell you exactly what to learn next.

Most people guess. You will not.

Thanks for reading, and as always, keep levelling up your career.

Best wishes
Luke Gough
Recruiter / Career Coach / Founder of The Career Compass

P.S. Remember to share The Career Compass with your network, and let’s work together to empower more careers!