Become a Pentester: A Career Guide

TL;DR

Want to be a penetration tester (pentester)? This guide covers the skills you need, how to learn them, and getting your first job. It’s about building practical knowledge, networking, and showing employers what you can do.

1. Understand What a Pentester Does

Penetration testing is legally hacking computer systems to find weaknesses before bad guys do. It’s not just about finding bugs; it’s about thinking like an attacker, writing reports, and helping companies improve their cyber security.

• Types of Pentesting: Web app pentesting (most common starting point), network pentesting, mobile app pentesting, cloud pentesting.
• Key Skills: Technical skills (see section 2), problem-solving, communication (writing reports is crucial).

2. Build Your Core Technical Skills

You’ll need a solid foundation in IT before specialising in pentesting.

1. Networking Fundamentals: Understand TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, common ports and protocols. Resources like Professor Messer (https://www.professormesser.com/) are excellent.
2. Operating Systems: Linux is essential (Kali Linux is the pentesting distribution of choice). Windows knowledge is also useful. Practice using the command line.

   ls -l

   shows files in detail on Linux.

3. Programming/Scripting: Python is highly recommended for scripting exploits and automating tasks. Bash scripting is also valuable.

   print("Hello, Pentesting World!")

   is a simple Python example.

4. Web Technologies: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL are important for web app pentesting. Understand how websites work.

3. Learn Penetration Testing Tools and Techniques

Start with the basics and gradually move to more advanced tools.

• Burp Suite: A web proxy used for intercepting and manipulating web traffic (free Community Edition is a good start).
• Nmap: Network scanner for discovering hosts and services.

  nmap -sV target.com

  scans for open ports and service versions.

• Metasploit Framework: Powerful exploitation framework (can be complex, learn the basics).
• OWASP ZAP: Another web application security scanner.

Practice on vulnerable virtual machines like:

• TryHackMe: (https://tryhackme.com/) Guided learning paths and challenges.
• Hack The Box: (https://www.hackthebox.com/) More challenging, real-world style machines.

4. Get Certified (Optional but Helpful)

Certifications can demonstrate your knowledge to employers.

• CompTIA Security+: Good foundational certification.
• eJPT: Entry-level penetration testing certification from eLearnSecurity.
• OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional): Highly respected, hands-on certification (challenging).

5. Build a Portfolio

This is *crucial*. Employers want to see what you can do.

• Bug Bounty Hunting: Find and report vulnerabilities on real websites (HackerOne, Bugcrowd).
• Personal Labs: Set up your own vulnerable VMs and document your pentesting process.
• Write Blog Posts: Share your findings and learning experiences.
• GitHub Repository: Showcase your scripts and tools.

6. Networking is Key

Connect with other cyber security professionals.

• Attend Conferences: BSides, DEF CON (if possible).
• Join Online Communities: Reddit (/r/netsec), Discord servers.
• LinkedIn: Connect with pentesters and recruiters.

7. Apply for Jobs

Tailor your CV to each job description, highlighting relevant skills and experience.

• Entry-Level Roles: Junior Pentester, Security Analyst (with pentesting focus).
• Be Prepared for Technical Interviews: Expect questions about networking, scripting, web security, and tools. They may ask you to solve problems live.