Hack Your Way Into Cybersecurity (Ethically)
From The I.T. Career Podcast by The Bearded I.T. Dad - Dakota Snow
March 20, 2026 · 60 min · Season 1 · Episode 119
About this episode
Dakota Snow and Josh Mason discuss how to break into cybersecurity without relying solely on certifications.
Meter: Visit https://meter.com/itcareer to book a demo Cybersecurity feels gatekept for a lot of beginners. If you have been studying for months, stacking certifications, and still not getting interviews, this episode is your wake-up call. Dakota (The Bearded I.T. Dad) sits down with Josh Mason, founder of Noob Village at DEF CON, to break down what actually gets you hired in cybersecurity. Spoiler: it is not another certification. It is proof. We talk about why entry-level cyber roles are tough to land, how to stand out when job listings demand experience, and the hacker mindset that helps you build your own path into the industry. We also get into what Noob Village is and why it exists as the beginner on-ramp at DEF CON. Josh shares practical next steps you can start today, including KC7Cyber (a free incident response training game) and how to turn what you learn into proof: write-ups, lab walkthroughs, GitHub notes, and LinkedIn posts that hiring managers can actually evaluate. Josh Mason: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason/ Josh's Book (Cybersecurity Beginner's Guide): https://amzn.to/40Egv9R Noob Village: https://www.noobvillage.org/ Exclusive Career…
People in this episode
Host: Dakota Snow
Guest: Josh Mason
Topics covered
- cybersecurity
- job search
- entry-level roles
- hacker mindset
- career development
Keywords
- cybersecurity
- job interviews
- certifications
- Noob Village
- DEF CON
- career tips
- hacker mindset
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Noob Village, DEF CON, KC7Cyber, LinkedIn, meter.com
Products: Cybersecurity Beginner's Guide
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