Only getting rejections for SecEng positions, is my CV too weak? Do I need more Exp.?

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Oct 23, 2021 6 Comments

Hey,

I'm currently applying for new grad level to 3 years exp. (Application/Prod) Security Engineering positions, hoping to get into next years H-1B lottery, but only getting rejections. What am I doing wrong? Or is that expected? So far about 110 applications to 31 companies (FAANG etc.).

My CV (tldr version): Currently finishing my masters degree in Cybersecurity (1 year to go), had some internships in pentesting/sec consulting/research, have now had my first full time position in AppSec/Infra in a FinTech for half a year in Germany.
I have certs (several cloud ones and OSCP, going for SANS GCIA next), have developer and SRE skills too (SWE, JS, React, Java, Spring, C, Python, IaC, SaaS, etc.) (but I'm not looking to become an SWE/SRE).

Also: I'm a German in Germany without a visa and only applying for positions in the US.

#engineering #software #swe #cybersecurity #career #faang

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TOP 6 Comments
  • First of, it’s difficult for companies to justify them hiring you from Germany directly. H1B lottery is based on luck. Second, not many companies like to hire junior sec engineers. Companies which may be hiring junior sec engineers may not be willing to take chance on your H1B lottery. Better option would be to get a job in US based company in Germany and transfer to US on L1 visa.
    Oct 23, 2021 1
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      OP
      Thanks! That's what I'm currently planning on doing. But it's going to take about 2 years, so was looking to speed it up. But I guess one more year in Germany won't kill me either haha
      Oct 23, 2021
  • Impossible to say without seeing resume. Security recruiting is difficult for companies and most of the time the recruiter only knows the dev side, you need to get your resume to someone who understands what your certs mean
    Oct 23, 2021 1
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      OP
      Would you be willing to take a quick look at my resume to say more about it if I got it to you somehow?
      Oct 23, 2021
  • Many of the security roles require clearance. Unless you are citizen its hard to crack into security domain in general.
    Oct 23, 2021 1
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      OP
      Yeah I saw that on some of them, I tried to avoid those
      Oct 23, 2021