#CertificationStigma #Cybersecurity #CertificationCollection
Hey cyber warriors! 🛡️💻 I need your input on a dilemma I’m facing. So, I’ve been deep in the GRC cybersecurity space in the military for a solid 14 years. Along the way, I’ve amassed quite a collection of certifications. Now, as I gear up for retirement in two years, I want to continue using my military benefits to max out on certifications.
Here’s a quick rundown of what I’ve got and why:
– Sec+ (baseline cert, letting it expire)
– CGRC (required for my previous position)
– CISSP (for expanding my knowledge)
– CISM (to bridge security and business)
– CEH (required for my degree, expiring in 2026)
– CCSP (for diving into cloud security)
– CISA (pending, for auditing knowledge)
My main concern is avoiding the “alphabet soup of certs” stigma. Should I start trimming down my certification list on my resume to only include those directly relevant to the job description? Or is there a better way to showcase my expertise without overwhelming potential employers?
What do you think? 🤔 Should I curate my certification showcase or display the full spectrum of my knowledge and skills? Let me know your thoughts and possibly any solutions you have in mind!
Depends. 20 certs and 6 months experience is garbage. 20 years experience and no certs also garbage. 20 certs and 14 years working on things directly related to those certs and it’s awesome.
I would just list them.
I would really focus on your experience cause really that matters so much more.
Unless you are applying for jobs that have contractual obligations for those certs.
Like needing to comply with 8570
Keep them bro. Your experience is commensurate with the number of certs you got. Are you retiring at 16 years or did you cross train into cyber?
A lot of corporate jobs require certs. The more, the better. Tech-savvy jobs could care less but understand it is necessary for some career paths. You are coming out of the military, and people will understand that. TLDR; the certs will help and won’t hurt you.
Aggregate and tailor them for positions. CISSP covers/ overshadows many of those so probably always have that plus other noteworthy ones or ones specifically called out.
If I read a resume with cissp and sec+ it would raise a bit of a eyebrow, sort of like listing high school diploma after bachelor’s degree
For being in the field for 14 years, I think you’re find listing them all and don’t oye anyone any explanation.
It’s impressive to have alot of certs, experience, and education! I have never heard of any stigma of having a lot of certs.
I actually did something similar. Had a Sec +, Net + and a bunch of different ones, and decided to just take those off since I was more senior. I just listed my big ones, which were PMP, CISSP, and ITIL. In your case, if you really felt like you wanted to trim it, I’d leave on the CISSP, CISM and CEH. But, to be honest if an employer looks down upon someone for having too many certs, you may not want to work for them.
I don’t think so… I have 6 certs and like 2.5 years of experience and people don’t really mention the certs that aren’t related to the job. I kinda mention them as “yeah, they’re things that interested me at the time so I just wanted to go more in depth.” Shows you’re willing to learn, y’know.
They’re all related and you’ve been in the field awhile so I say keep ‘em. If you’re really that worried just tailor the resume for the position and only list if they ask for it in requirements.
Wait is there a bad stigma for having a lot of certs? I’ve never heard of this.