How to Stand Out When Applying for Penetration Testing Jobs

If you’re applying for penetration testing roles, here’s how to differentiate yourself from other candidates:

1. Get the OSCP – Despite mixed opinions, it remains an industry standard.
2. Start a Blog or YouTube Channel – Post consistently (at least once a week).
3. Interview Industry Leaders – Great for learning and networking.
4. Find Your First CVE – Open-source research can lead to discoveries (check tutorials by experts like Tyler Ramsbey).
5. Build a Platform – Combine a CVE, OSCP, and an active channel/blog to secure interviews.

Bonus: Join the Hack Smarter Discord (https://discord.gg/hacksmarter) for community support.

You Should Know:

1. OSCP Preparation & Key Commands

• Practice Active Directory attacks:

  crackmapexec smb <target_IP> -u <userlist> -p <passwordlist> --continue-on-success
  

• Privilege Escalation (Linux):

  linpeas.sh | tee linpeas_report.txt  Automated enumeration
  sudo -l  Check sudo permissions
  

• Windows Privilege Escalation:

  whoami /priv  Check current privileges
  systeminfo | findstr /B /C:"OS Name" /C:"OS Version"  Gather OS details
  

2. Blogging & YouTube for Cybersecurity

• Use Jekyll for a technical blog:

  gem install jekyll bundler
  jekyll new my-cyber-blog && cd my-cyber-blog
  bundle exec jekyll serve  Local preview
  

• Recording Exploits for YouTube:

  ffmpeg -f x11grab -i :0.0 -f alsa -i default output.mp4  Screen + audio capture (Linux)
  

3. CVE Research & Reporting

• Search for Vulnerabilities:

  searchsploit "Apache 2.4.50"  Check Exploit-DB
  

• Manual Code Review:

  git clone <repo> && grep -r "strcpy(" .  Find unsafe functions
  

4. Networking & Discord Engagement

• Automate LinkedIn Outreach:

  Python script to connect with infosec professionals (ethical use only)
  from selenium import webdriver
  driver = webdriver.Chrome()
  driver.get("https://linkedin.com")
  

What Undercode Say:

Breaking into penetration testing requires certifications (OSCP/CPTS), public contributions (CVEs, blogs), and community engagement. Practicing real-world attacks in labs (HTB, VulnHub) and documenting findings will set you apart.

Expected Output:

• A structured learning path (OSCP → CVE → Content Creation).
• Hands-on commands for exploit development and reporting.
• Community-driven growth via Discord/LinkedIn networking.

Relevant URLs:

• Hack Smarter Discord
• Offensive Security Certifications
• Exploit-DB

References:

Reported By: Tyler Ramsbey – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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