How to Write a Cybersecurity Job Description That Attracts Top Talent

12/04/2025

In today’s cyber hiring climate, the job description is your first impression.

Yet too often, they’re packed with:

❌ Unrealistic wish lists
❌ Generic boilerplate
❌ “10+ years of experience” for a tech that’s 5 years old

If your JD looks like a tech scavenger hunt, it’s probably costing you the very talent you want to attract.

So, how do you write a cybersecurity job description that stands out and actually converts?

Here’s What the Best JDs Do Differently:

Focus on Outcomes, Not Just Tools
Don’t just list acronyms (SIEM, EDR, IDS/IPS, blah blah…).
Talk about the mission:

“You’ll be responsible for detecting and neutralising real-world threats in a hybrid cloud environment.”
“You’ll lead the charge in securing our digital products used by 10M+ customers.”

Top talent wants to know what impact they’ll make.

This tells candidates what kind of challenge they’re walking into — and the ones who thrive on it will lean in.

Use Clear, Inclusive Language
Avoid jargon overload or overly “tech-bro” language.
🛑 Instead of: “Rockstar blue team ninja with 15+ certs”
✅ Say: “A collaborative defender with experience in threat detection and incident response”

Inclusive, plain-language JDs attract a broader, more diverse pool of talent — and that’s good for security and business.

Ditch the Laundry List of Requirements
Yes, experience matters — but so does potential.

Trim the must-haves to what’s truly essential
Add a “nice-to-have” section (and frame it as optional)
Include a note encouraging candidates who don’t meet every bullet point to still apply

Bonus Tip: Don’t require a CISSP for junior roles (it’s not meant for them!)