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+---- Thread: How to land in cybersec pentest? (/showthread.php?tid=6329316)
How to land in cybersec pentest? - cuhsdaisod - Jul 28, 2026
This is a dubm question probably buit i dont' knwo where to start
RE: How to land in cybersec pentest? - Alastor00 - Jul 28, 2026
Start by studying the matter
RE: How to land in cybersec pentest? - DramaKing - Jul 28, 2026
Here's some info: https://www.bing.com/copilotsearch?q=summarize+the+common+Jr+penetration+tester+requirements&FORM=CSSCOP&PC=MOZB. A lot depends on whether you want to be a fulltime pentester, freelancer, or bug bounty hunter. Important thing to remember, however, is that learning is a journey. The important thing is to start learning, not focus too strongly on getting a job before you know what hacking is.
RE: How to land in cybersec pentest? - d3st0 - Jul 28, 2026
Dont limit yourself if your end goal is pentesting. Find JR SOC analyst positions, apply for sys admin positions, do bug bounty on the side, and learn a lottttt. Hyper fixate on little details and see if you can find theoretical vulnerabilitys then start messing around with labs and test env or go ham on some bug bounty programs and just dont give up.
Note the best pentesters are ones who understand IT infrastructure well, and who know the defending side of things too.
RE: How to land in cybersec pentest? - saibertron - Aug 5, 2026
Building on what d3st0 said - here's a concrete order instead of "just study a lot":
1. Fundamentals first (skip this and everything after it is guesswork):
- Networking: how TCP/IP, DNS, and common ports/protocols actually work
- Linux command line (you'll live in a terminal)
- Basic scripting: Python or Bash, enough to automate small tasks
2. Free hands-on practice, in this order:
- TryHackMe - "Pre Security" path first, then "Jr Penetration Tester" path. Guided, beginner-friendly, explains the why not just commands.
- OverTheWire: Bandit - free wargame, teaches Linux/terminal fluency through a puzzle format.
- PortSwigger Web Security Academy - completely free, arguably the best resource specifically for web app pentesting (XSS, SQLi, auth flaws, etc.), made by the people behind Burp Suite.
- HackTheBox Academy - once the above feels easy, HTB's boxes are closer to real-world scenarios.
3. Certification path (don't skip to the top):
A lot of people jump straight for OSCP and burn out. The realistic order the industry actually recognizes is closer to: eJPT (cheap, genuinely entry-level, proves you can use tools correctly) -> build a home lab and do CTFs for a while -> OSCP once eJPT material feels easy.