Cybersecurity Guide

Cybersecurity job interview prep: A complete guide

Written by Larisa Redins – Last updated:

This guide is all about how to ace any type of cybersecurity job interview.

Landing a job in the cybersecurity field can be challenging. But with the proper preparation, you can ace any type of interview. In this guide, we will discuss different interviews for cybersecurity-related jobs and how to prepare for them. We will also provide examples of questions potential employers might ask you during a cybersecurity interview. So whether you are applying for a position as a penetration tester or a security administrator, read this guide carefully!

In this guide

Why should you prepare for a cybersecurity interview?

The cybersecurity industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. With cyber-attacks increasing every year, organizations pay top dollar for talented cybersecurity professionals. This means that there is a lot of competition for jobs in this field.

One way to differentiate yourself from other candidates is to be prepared for the interview. Showing that you know the industry and are ready to answer questions about your experience will put you ahead of other candidates who are not as prepared.

To help with those preparations check out these related cybersecurity career guides.

Research the company interviewing you

Before you walk into the interview, take some time to research the interviewing company. This will show the interviewer that you are interested in the company and know about their business. It is also an excellent opportunity to learn more about the company’s culture and what they are looking for in a candidate.

Some things that you should research about the company include:

  • The company’s history
    • The company’s mission statement or values
    • Recent news articles about them
    • Their specific products or services

You can find this information on the company’s website, in annual reports, or by searching for news articles online.

What kind of interviews should you expect?

There are several types of interviews that you might encounter when applying for a job in cybersecurity. The most common types of interviews are behavioral, technical, and case-based.

Behavioral interviews focus on your experiences and how you handled certain situations. The interviewer wants to know how you would react in a similar situation in the job you are applying for. 

Technical interviews test your knowledge of specific cybersecurity concepts and technologies. 

Case-based discussions are like behavioral interviews, focusing on particular cybersecurity scenarios. The interviewer will ask you how you would handle a particular situation.

What types of questions will potential employers ask?

Some common questions that they might ask you during a behavioral interview include:

  • Tell me when you had to deal with a problematic cybersecurity customer or user.

Sample answer:

I once had to deal with a customer who constantly demanded more and more from our team. I had to be very patient and calm with him while also ensuring that he understood what we were doing and why we couldn’t always give him what he wanted. In the end, I diffused the situation and kept the customer happy.

  • Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond to complete a cybersecurity project.

Sample answer:

I once had to complete a project in a concise time frame. I ended up working long hours and weekends to get it done. But it was worth it because the project was a success and our team received high praise from our manager.

  • Tell me about a time when you made a cybersecurity mistake and how you handled it.

Sample answer:

We all make mistakes. It’s part of being human. But what’s important is how we handle those mistakes. I once made a mistake that almost made some of our company’s data vulnerable to an attack. But I quickly realized my mistake and took steps to prevent this situation. Then, I went to my manager and explained what had happened. She was grateful that I was honest and took steps to fix the problem.

Some common questions that they might ask you during a technical interview include:

  • What is the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption?

Sample answer:

Symmetric encryption encrypts information and sends it to specific people. To decrypt the communications, all users need a single key. When sending and receiving encrypted communications, asymmetric encryption uses a public key and a private key.’

  • What is a zero-day exploit?

Sample answer:

A zero-day exploit is an attack that takes advantage of a software vulnerability that has not been patched or fixed yet. The attacks can be hazardous because they can give the attacker access to sensitive data or systems.

  • How would you respond to a DDoS attack?

Sample answer:

You can take several steps to respond to a DDoS attack. Of course, the best way to respond to this type of attack is to prevent them. However, if an attack occurs, you need to confirm that there indeed is a DDoS attack. Then your next step is to analyze the attack. For example, you need to determine the logical flow of the DDoS attack and the infrastructure affected by it. Once you have this information, you can take steps to mitigate the attack. 

This might include blocking IP addresses, rate-limiting traffic, using a traffic scrubbing service, increasing bandwidth, or even blocking traffic from certain countries. After taking steps to mitigate the attack, you need to monitor the situation and ensure that the attack has stopped. If the attack is still ongoing, you might need to take additional steps. Finally, review your systems and procedures to see if any changes need to be made to prevent future attacks once the attack is over.

Some common questions that they might ask you during a case-based interview include:

  • You are the CISO of a company. You discover that one of your employees has been downloading non-work-related content. What do you do?

Sample answer:

If I were the CISO of a company and discovered that one of my employees was downloading the content, I would first have a conversation with the employee. I would try to find out why they were doing it. If the employee was just making a mistake, I would give them a warning and have them sign a document stating that they understand the consequences of their actions. But if the employee was doing it for malicious reasons, I would end their employment immediately.

  • You are the CISO of a company, and you discover that one of your employees has been sharing sensitive information on social media

Sample answer:

The first step is to identify what kind of information was shared and how sensitive it is. If it’s just some innocuous data, I would talk to the employee and remind them of your company’s policies. However, suppose the information is more sensitive or might lead to a security breach. In that case, I’ll need to take more serious action.

No matter what course of action, though, it’s essential to document everything thoroughly. This will help you if you need legal action or if the employee tries to file a grievance. It will also help you prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

  • How do you prevent a brute force attack?

Sample answer:

Brute force attacks use a combination of guesswork and automation to break into password-protected items.

To prevent these types of attacks, cyber security professionals should:

  1. Create unique login URLs for different user groups
  2. Analyze log files and keep track of server logs.
  3. To prevent automated assaults, add a CAPTCHA as part of the login procedure
  4. Utilize two-factor authentication
  5. Limit access to specific IP addresses
  6. Stop login attempts (after a certain number of failed login tries)
  7. Remove the root user’s access via SSH
  • If you were a hacker, how would you go about stealing data from a company?

Sample answer:

There are many ways to steal data from a company. Still, one of the most common methods is to exploit security vulnerabilities. Hackers will often scan for systems that have known vulnerabilities and then try to exploit them. Once they gain access to a system, they can either steal sensitive data or plant malware that will allow them continued access in the future.

Questions to ask your interviewer to show your expertise

By asking questions, you can show your expertise. You also gain valuable insights into the organization you are interviewing with. Asking questions shows you are interested in the company and its security posture. It also allows you to gauge whether the company is a good fit for your skills and goals.

Some questions that you might want to ask your interviewer include:

  • What are the biggest cybersecurity threats you are currently facing?
  • What is your incident response plan in the event of a breach?
  • What type of security measures do you have to protect your systems and data?
  • How often do you test your security controls?
  • What are your thoughts on [insert hot topic in cybersecurity]?

Final thoughts

The cybersecurity job market is competitive, but you will set yourself apart from the rest of the candidates by following the tips in this guide. Remember to do your research, practice your answers, and stay calm during the interview process. Good luck!