Luke Gough

Career Coach | Cybersecurity Recruiter | Content Creator | YouTube Channel | Helping people elevate their careers! | Newsletter: The Career Compass

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

I have been a recruiter for 15 years.

I've condensed everything I know into one guide.

- Certifications that actually get you hired.
- A clear roadmap.
- Resume and LinkedIn tips from a recruiter.

The Cybersecurity Job-Ready Blueprint is live.

Launch price $9.99 for 7 days only (then $14.99)

Link in the comments 👇

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

Clean Up Your GitHub Before Applying for Cyber Jobs

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

Clean Up Your GitHub Before Applying for Cyber Jobs

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

I can tell in 30 seconds if a cybersecurity portfolio will get someone an interview.

It comes down to one question recruiters ask: Can this person do something useful in the role?

Your portfolio is not a folder of projects. It is evidence.

- A tool list isn't evidence.
- A pile of badges isn't evidence.
- A generic lab dump isn't evidence.

3 relevant projects, each with a plain summary, what you did, and what it proves.

That beats 10 weak ones.

Comment your target role: SOC, GRC, IAM, or cloud.

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

Watch here: https://t.co/x1T07EMhRZ

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

New video is live.

I reviewed common beginner cybersecurity portfolio mistakes from a recruiter’s perspective and broke down what actually helps candidates get interviews.

In the video, I cover:
- Why tool lists are not enough
- How to make projects easier for recruiters to understand
- The difference between weak, okay, and strong portfolio evidence
- A simple scorecard you can use before applying

If you are building a cybersecurity portfolio for SOC, GRC, IAM, cloud, or your first cyber role, this should help.

Watch here: Link below 👇

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

Most people trying to break into cybersecurity start with the wrong question:

“Which cert should I do?”
Start with this instead:
Which cyber role path actually fits me?

I built a free Cyber Career Path Explorer to help you find your starting path in 60 seconds:

Try it here 👇

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

@ireteeh CompTIA Network+ 👍🏻

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

https://t.co/96wWkAKmMV

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

Most people trying to break into cybersecurity start with the wrong question:

“Which cert should I do?”
Start with this instead:
Which cyber role path actually fits me?

I built a free Cyber Career Path Explorer to help you find your starting path in 60 seconds:

Try it here 👇

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

3 months on from SecAI+ dropping, here's what I'm seeing as a recruiter:

- Almost zero job ads require it YET.
- But hiring managers DO notice it on a CV
- Only works if you already have Sec+ and the fundamentals
- Pairs best with a clear "I'm specialising into AI security" story

It's a signal, not a shortcut, however, with the speed that AI is moving, I recommend looking into it.

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

3 months on from SecAI+ dropping, here's what I'm seeing as a recruiter:

- Almost zero job ads require it YET.
- But hiring managers DO notice it on a CV
- Only works if you already have Sec+ and the fundamentals
- Pairs best with a clear "I'm specialising into AI security" story

It's a signal, not a shortcut, however, with the speed that AI is moving, I recommend looking into it.

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

A practical 90-day cybersecurity job search plan for beginners and career changers:

Days 1 to 14: choose a role direction.
👇

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

Breaking into Cybersecurity: Recruiter Reality Check

Most candidates I see fail for the same reasons:

- All theory, zero hands-on
- No portfolio or public projects
- Expecting the “perfect” job straight away

What actually works in 2026:

- Build real skills daily on TryHackMe or HackTheBox / Build a portfolio
- Get Security+
- Show your learning journey on X, GitHub or a simple blog
- Network (Can't stress this enough) - message recruiters directly with proof of effort

Cybersecurity teams are still short-staffed. Attitude and momentum beat credentials every time.

What’s stopping you from starting today? Comment below 👇

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

New Cyber Careers episode is live.

What Cyber Certifications Actually Get You Hired, and Which Are a Waste of Money.

Which certs help, which are overhyped, and why evidence still beats collecting badges.

Search Cyber Careers with Luke Gough on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

Let me know if you have any topics you want covered on future episodes.

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

Breaking into cybersecurity? Avoid these 5 rookie mistakes that kill most beginners in 2026:

1. Chasing 10+ certifications instead of building real projects.

2. Consuming endlessly (YouTube/courses) without applying anything weekly.

3. Applying to 500 jobs with a generic resume and no portfolio.

4. Ignoring networking - most roles are filled through referrals.

5. Thinking you need a degree or perfect background.
The fix? Focus on one role, ship small projects publicly, and talk to people in the field.

What mistake are you guilty of (or seeing others make)? 👇

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

@ArtemPolynko All strong options.

If you are a career changer who doesn’t have a strong IT background, GRC is what I would reccomend.

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

@TimothyWill45 Hi Matt,

Check out Pro Messer on YouTube. Plenty of great free resources there.

I also reccomend my Cyber job-ready blueprint. It’s designed to help anyone who wants to break into Cybersecurity.

https://t.co/pRXCj5f0aO

Best of luck with your cyber journey!

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

How to Break into Cybersecurity – Recruiter Advice

From someone who hires for cyber roles: You don’t need a degree.

What actually gets you noticed:

• Master the basics: Networking + Linux
• Grab CompTIA Security+ (it still opens doors)
• Hands-on > Theory: Crush TryHackMe/HackTheBox, build a GitHub portfolio

We’re desperate for people who show real curiosity and consistent effort.

Document your journey publicly. It makes my job easier when I can see what you can actually do.

Drop your biggest blocker below 👇

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

@EXOsecureLLC Agreed! Thanks for your share @EXOsecureLLC

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

Breaking into cybersecurity? Avoid these 5 rookie mistakes that kill most beginners in 2026:

1. Chasing 10+ certifications instead of building real projects.

2. Consuming endlessly (YouTube/courses) without applying anything weekly.

3. Applying to 500 jobs with a generic resume and no portfolio.

4. Ignoring networking - most roles are filled through referrals.

5. Thinking you need a degree or perfect background.
The fix? Focus on one role, ship small projects publicly, and talk to people in the field.

What mistake are you guilty of (or seeing others make)? 👇

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

New Cyber Careers episode is live.

What Cyber Certifications Actually Get You Hired, and Which Are a Waste of Money.

Which certs help, which are overhyped, and why evidence still beats collecting badges.

Search Cyber Careers with Luke Gough on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

Let me know if you have any topics you want covered on future episodes.

[Luke Gough @Avidityrecruit]

Breaking into Cybersecurity: Recruiter Reality Check

Most candidates I see fail for the same reasons:

- All theory, zero hands-on
- No portfolio or public projects
- Expecting the “perfect” job straight away

What actually works in 2026:

- Build real skills daily on TryHackMe or HackTheBox / Build a portfolio
- Get Security+
- Show your learning journey on X, GitHub or a simple blog
- Network (Can't stress this enough) - message recruiters directly with proof of effort

Cybersecurity teams are still short-staffed. Attitude and momentum beat credentials every time.

What’s stopping you from starting today? Comment below 👇