Cybersecurity Hiring Myths—What’s the Biggest One You’ve Heard?

The cybersecurity talent gap is real—but are we making it worse by holding onto myths that limit hiring? Too often, companies struggle to fill security roles because they believe in outdated assumptions about who qualifies as a cybersecurity professional.

Let’s bust some of the biggest myths holding companies back from hiring great talent:

Myth #1: You Need a Cybersecurity Degree to Land a Job

Reality: Many top cybersecurity professionals are self-taught, transitioned from IT, or learned through certifications, bootcamps, and hands-on experience. Hiring managers who require a specific degree may be overlooking highly skilled candidates.

What to do instead: Look for real-world skills—participation in bug bounty programs, Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions, GitHub projects, and certifications like CISSP, OSCP, or Security+.

Myth #2: More Certifications = A More Qualified Candidate

Reality: Certifications can be valuable, but they don’t guarantee hands-on expertise. Some candidates collect multiple certs but lack practical experience in security operations, penetration testing, or incident response.

What to do instead: Assess candidates with real-world scenarios—technical challenges, threat analysis exercises, or even discussing a past security incident they’ve handled.

Myth #3: Cybersecurity Professionals Must Have 5+ Years of Experience

Reality: Cyber threats evolve fast—so why are we gatekeeping roles with outdated experience requirements? Many high-potential candidates may have less experience but bring cutting-edge skills in cloud security, AI-driven threats, and DevSecOps.

What to do instead: Hire for potential, adaptability, and problem-solving ability, not just years on a resume.

Myth #4: You Need to Hire Locally for Security Roles

Reality: Cybersecurity is a global field, and remote work has made it easier than ever to hire top talent from around the world. Restricting hiring to a single location could mean missing out on diverse, skilled professionals.

What to do instead: Expand hiring strategies to remote-friendly roles and tap into hidden cybersecurity talent pools.

Breaking these myths can help companies fill roles faster, attract stronger candidates, and close the cybersecurity skills gap.

What’s the biggest cybersecurity hiring myth you’ve heard? Drop it in the comments!

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