I hope this blog will resonate with readers who had it tough or still is. Hang in there. Your hardships, hard work, and the support group you create around you would be the catalyst for getting what you deserve. Go for Gold! And remember, run your race and don’t try to catch up with someone running their own.

‘So, What made you go for a career in IT Security?’ – Aforementioned is the second common question I get asked when I describe to people what I do for a living. The first common question I get is, ‘Oh, so you can hack me?’. Forced fake laughter often ensue. Little do they know of my journey, which leads me to the point where I’m. But let me assure you this much – it includes several hardships, disappointed parents, aunts, uncles and a confused, discouraged yet determined me.

Waking up dreading going to a school and getting whacked by teachers during school and then by parents at home was my entire childhood and (with a dash of positive outlook) my training to be part of Seal Team 6. The Indian education system (when I was in it at least) was good with producing high performing pupils (in a classroom or lab environment) with theoretical and academical strength. Those who are curious enough to ask ‘why?’ and attempt to engage in constructive debates with not just peers but with the teachers’ would be treated as an outcast. This statement will sting a few snowflakes, and long story short – it [Indian education system] failed me. 

When your self worth is continually being attacked by everyone when you are a minor, it sets the precedence to some of your life decisions which are perhaps true for any period of one’s life, I reckon. Growing up with this mindset set in by the diagnosis made by people who aren’t clinically qualified, telling you not to aim high (or not even desire, for that matter) and go with the flow was the road I should be taking to ‘success’. My dad had told me once, ‘people can take away a lot from you but not the knowledge you gained’. His words of wisdom was a result of my apparent antipathy for academic perfection. Although it did not trigger an instantaneous reversal of any kind, it did sow the seed for something that was years away from sprouting.

I decided to study hotel management quite frankly because I didn’t expect to make it into another industry. It is also vital to mention that I had made the wrong assumption about this course. The degree isn’t all about cooking, cleaning and serving. It also focuses on management, accounting, law and technology. I was always a people person who likes to make others feel comfortable and offer assistance. Combined with my exceptional observation skills, meeting or exceeding customer expectations was easy. 

I joined a summer internship program at a bank right after college while looking for a job. The bank’s IT team looked for people to help out with setting up the new head office. I was always the family tech support, so plugging cables and basic troubleshooting wasn’t an issue. I think it was my service with a smile and ability to grasp more of the advanced troubleshooting techniques, which grabbed attention. It provided me with more opportunities and support, which helped the project team as well. I was the goto person to attend the CEO’s office since they liked me and my cable management skills. 

The crash course experience in IT was a significant boost to my confidence and motivated me to take up weekend classes for Mircosoft courses. Although the bank didn’t have any full-time job vacancies at the time, I scored a kick-ass reference. A reference from a global brand and a top executive was the golden ticket that changed my life. A bonus at the end of my extended internship sponsored my vacation to two countries as well.

It’s been so long, and I don’t recall my exact location, but I remember receiving a call for an interview for an IT Analyst position. I cut short my holiday and return to base. I remember it was a 3:1 panel, and I was attending my first ever interview. Screaming inside, chill AF outside, the interview goes on. I remember clearly the confidence I portrayed while letting them know I didn’t know the answer to a specific question. Perhaps it was that which got me that job 🙂

The struggle was real with a full-time job followed by evening and weekend classes for the next two years. I wasn’t complaining then and surely not regretting it now. What my dad told me years ago, that seed had sprouted, and it was growing fast. Not only did my technical skills kept increasing, but there was also this voice inside my head saying, ‘how long will you last before being caught’. Although not apparent to me at that time, I was still carrying on those insecurities and a lack of self-worth from when I was a child. The voice said that my achievements aren’t what they seem because it was nothing to do with my efforts but a stroke of luck and the result of going with the flow. 

To prove the voice wrong, I tried harder to achieve goals. I ran faster. The problem with that? It wasn’t ‘my’ goals. Remember what I told you in the beginning? Run your race, not others. When you compare yourself to others or a version of you that it isn’t you, that’s basically like jumping into a race that may have already started, and you know nothing about that race. Is it a sprint? Middle distance? Marathon? What lap is the other person on? How do I pace myself to win? One thing is for sure – you will not win!

The support group you create throughout your journey can be your anchor during rough times and your lighthouse guiding you when lost. It was not one defining moment for me that changed my career path and life for the better. It was multiple things that were the outcome of self-reflection; conversations with support groups ultimately led to deciding to quit my job and pursue my masters in IT Security. Yes, there were self-doubts and fear after making the decision, but I knew that I was on the starting line of MY race, and like any participant, these feelings are common. All that combined with the world-class education system in Australia, particularly QUTs emphasis on getting the students real-world experience and industry knowledge was instrumental in who and where I’m today.

Stay tuned for the finale (part two): A day in a SecOps specialist’s life and how I made till here after graduation.

If you’re new to the Information Security space and would like to know something, let me know in the comments section below or contact me via Twitter and I will do my best to answer you. I would also love to hear your thoughts about my blog to be better next time.

Cheers,

Shaine