Welcome back to The Career Compass.

Every two weeks, my goal with this newsletter is simple. Help you focus on what actually moves the needle in your career, not what sounds good on LinkedIn.

Cybersecurity is no different.

Right now, the space is loud. New certifications, bootcamps, AI tools, and “guaranteed job” promises appear almost weekly. For beginners especially, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start, what to trust, and what hiring managers truly care about.

This edition is about clarity.

In this week’s video, I break down the cybersecurity certifications that genuinely help beginners secure interviews, not just add letters to a CV.

This comes directly from my experience as a recruiter reviewing thousands of applications and speaking with hiring managers across SOC, GRC, cloud security, and junior security operations roles.

This is not about collecting badges.

It is about getting interviews.

If you are trying to break into cybersecurity, or you feel stuck despite studying hard, this video will help you course-correct.

Most “AI tools” talk... a lot. Lindy actually does the work.

It builds AI agents that handle sales, marketing, support, and more.

Describe what you need, and Lindy builds it:

“Qualify sales leads”
“Summarize customer calls”
“Draft weekly reports”

The result: agents that do the busywork while your team focuses on growth.

Start now with $20 in extra credits

One of the biggest shifts I am seeing heading into 2026 is that employers are no longer advertising “generic junior cybersecurity roles.”

Instead, we are seeing:

What this means for you is simple.

Being “interested in cybersecurity” is no longer enough. Employers want to see direction, even at the start of your career.

Certifications are increasingly used as screening tools, not guarantees of competence.

A hiring manager may shortlist candidates who have Security+, Network+, or a cloud cert. But the final decision is still based on:

This is why certifications alone do not land jobs, but the right certifications still open doors.

AI tools are being integrated into SOC workflows, ticket triage, and alert analysis. However, this is not reducing junior hiring. It is changing what juniors are expected to understand.

Employers are now looking for:

If you understand networking, security principles, and risk, you remain highly employable even as tooling evolves.

I want to share something I see far too often.

Many beginners stall not because they lack intelligence or motivation, but because they are trying to do everything at once. They:

From a recruiter’s perspective, this looks like confusion, not ambition

The candidates who progress fastest usually do one thing well first. They pick a lane, build a foundation, and then expand.

Progress beats perfection every time.

One of the quiet barriers to entry-level cybersecurity is confidence.

I regularly speak to candidates who technically know enough to apply, but they hold back because:

Meanwhile, hiring managers are interviewing candidates who are not perfect, but who can explain their thinking clearly and show a willingness to learn.

Readiness is not a feeling. It is a decision.

If you understand fundamentals and can articulate them honestly, you are often more prepared than you think.

If you are early in your cybersecurity journey, here is a grounded approach that works:

This is how real careers are built, not overnight, but deliberately.

Ask yourself this honestly:

“If a recruiter called me tomorrow, could I clearly explain what role I am aiming for and why?”

If the answer feels vague, that is your next area of focus.

Clarity creates momentum.

Over the last few years, one question has constantly come up in calls, emails, and YouTube comments:

“Can you just tell me exactly what to focus on?”

That question is the reason I created The Career Compass Playbook.

This eBook is not theory. It is not motivational fluff. It is a practical guide built from 14+ years of recruitment experience, thousands of CV reviews, and countless conversations with hiring managers across cybersecurity, IT, and professional services.

Most career resources tell you what could work. This playbook focuses on what actually does.

It is designed for people who:

Whether you are trying to break into cybersecurity, pivot roles, or move up a level, the fundamentals of how hiring decisions are made remain the same. That is exactly what this guide teaches.

The Career Compass Playbook walks you through:

It also includes practical frameworks, useful templates, examples, and prompts you can reuse throughout your career, not just once.

Many people come to coaching feeling stuck, scattered, or unsure where to start.

This playbook gives you:

If you want a complete how-to guide for career strategy, job searching, and interview preparation, this is the resource I point people to first.

It saves time, reduces anxiety, and helps you move forward with intent. If you want to work smarter, not harder, this is for you.

Get your copy here

Cybersecurity in 2026 is not about doing more.

It is about doing the right things in the right order. Certifications still matter. Direction matters more.

And confidence, when grounded in fundamentals, matters most of all.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of your next step, that is exactly why The Career Compass exists.

You are not behind. You are building.

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!