How I landed the interview: A ReliaQuest recruiter reached out to me over LinkedIn asking if I wanted to know more about an open security analyst position. I was very interested so I chose to pursue. 1st Interview: We scheduled an introductory phone call to talk about the position and everything that goes with it (pay, benefits, hours, etc.) The recruiter was extremely professional and really polite. I did not feel nervous at all as she was super down to earth and positive. She was very insightful and answered all of my questions. At the end of the call, she wanted to make sure I at least had the basic knowledge for the role. She asked 10 basic technical questions regarding networking, defensive cybersecurity, and offensive cybersecurity. 2nd Interview: If you pass the first round, you move on to the second interview. This interview was a video call and it consisted of all behavioral and cultural questions. ReliaQuest does not just hire for the technical skill set but also hires for the mindset. This interview is a great way to showcase your personality! Questions regarding management preference, how will you handle a sticky situation, strengths and weaknesses were asked. 3rd Interview: If the recruiter has a great feeling about you and feels that it would be best to move you forward, the next phase is the technical interview. This interview was fairly difficult but one hundred percent doable if you have your security+. You gather with members of the security operations center from any of their locations. They are extremely knowledgeable and make you feel at home. They are super upbeat and positive as well. If you made it this far you can catch on and see what type of person ReliaQuest is looking for. Everyone shares that same ambition and drive as well as an unmatched level of positivity. If you struggle with a question they will do as much as they can to guide you closer to the right answer. These questions were more in depth. All of the domains covered were once again networking, defensive, and offensive security. (SQLi and XSS, mitigation techniques, security tools, real world scenarios, and ports). Study hard before this, you will not pass if you wing it. 4th step: If you pass the technical interview, ReliaQuest assigns two tests. One cognitive test and one behavioral test. Very similar to SAT in highschool. Final Interview: If you make it this far, you are doing fantastic!! You can do this!! This is the interview that matters. You are on a video call with two members of leadership. You can immediately tell why they are in these positions. They have a passion for the company and industry unlike any other. They are the most down to earth and most humble people you will ever meet. They know what they are talking about and are very smart. These questions were a mix of behavioral questions and extremely technical questions. These are questions that pertain directly to a security analyst. Think CySA+ level. Topics like DNS and malware are covered. Study hard for this one as well. You got this. Once finished, your recruiter will reach out to you within a day or two to deliver the results you’ve been waiting for. Offer or no offer. Overall experience: ReliaQuest is one of the best cyber companies in the game. You know why they are where they are. I had an amazing experience during the interview process. Stay positive and keep moving forward. When you get nervous, remember, everyone you encounter was once in the same position being interviewed. They know exactly how you feel. Take a deep breath. YOU CAN DO THIS!