Penetration Testersresume guide.
Evaluate network system security by conducting simulated internal and external cyberattacks using adversary tools and techniques. A strong Penetration Testers resume shows critical thinking, reading comprehension and writing, and names the tools you have worked with, such as C, Microsoft Azure software and Microsoft PowerShell.
See how a parser reads your resumeFree, no card→01Also called
O*NET02Skills employers expect
O*NETImportance is how much the skill matters to the job; level is how much of it the job demands. Both are worth naming on the resume, in this order.
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | Very high | Advanced |
| Reading Comprehension | Very high | Advanced |
| Writing | Very high | Advanced |
| Active Listening | High | Advanced |
| Complex Problem Solving | High | Intermediate |
| Programming | High | Advanced |
| Active Learning | High | Advanced |
| Systems Evaluation | High | Advanced |
| Judgment and Decision Making | High | Advanced |
| Monitoring | High | Intermediate |
03Knowledge areas
O*NET- Computers and Electronics
- Telecommunications
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Law and Government
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Public Safety and Security
- Communications and Media
04Common responsibilities
O*NETOrdered by importance. Each one is a bullet waiting for a result and a number.
- Document penetration test findings.
- Identify security system weaknesses, using penetration tests.
- Write audit reports to communicate technical and procedural findings and recommend solutions.
- Gather cyber intelligence to identify vulnerabilities.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of hacking trends.
- Keep up with new penetration testing tools and methods.
- Identify new threat tactics, techniques, or procedures used by cyber threat actors.
- Conduct network and security system audits, using established criteria.
- Develop security penetration testing processes, such as wireless, data networks, and telecommunication security tests.
- Test the security of systems by attempting to gain access to networks, Web-based applications, or computers.
05Software and tools
O*NET67 tools across 22 categories. The six largest categories are below; Hot marks a hot technology, In demand a tool employers ask for most often.
- CHotIn demand
- Microsoft Azure softwareHotIn demand
- Microsoft PowerShellHotIn demand
- GoHotIn demand
- RubyHot
- Oracle Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition J2EEHot
- Software development toolsIn demand
- Web application softwareIn demand
- Microsoft Azure DevOps ServicesIn demand
- Rust programming languageIn demand
- Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript
- Software libraries
- LinuxHotIn demand
- UNIXHotIn demand
- Apple macOSHotIn demand
- Shell scriptHotIn demand
- BashHotIn demand
- Apple iOSHotIn demand
- Google AndroidHotIn demand
- Magellan FirmwareIn demand
- MetasploitIn demand
- Portswigger BurP SuiteIn demand
- NmapIn demand
- HP WebInspect
- Rapid7 Nexpose
- Invicti Acunetix
- Rapid7 software
- PythonHotIn demand
- C++HotIn demand
- Oracle JavaHotIn demand
- PerlHotIn demand
- C#HotIn demand
- Objective C
- JavaScriptHotIn demand
- PHPHotIn demand
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASPHot
- RESTful APIIn demand
- Security assertion markup language SAML
- Structured query language SQLHotIn demand
- Microsoft SQL ServerHotIn demand
- Amazon Web Services AWS softwareHotIn demand
- ServiceNowHotIn demand
- GitHubHotIn demand
- DockerHotIn demand
- KubernetesHotIn demand
- MITRE ATT&CK softwareIn demand
- Kali LinuxIn demand
- System testing software
- Splunk EnterpriseHotIn demand
- Google Cloud software
- Tenable NessusIn demand
- Qualys Cloud PlatformIn demand
- Hex-Rays IDA Pro
- Vector 35 Binary Ninja
- Wireshark
- IBM QRadar SIEM
- Web server softwareIn demand
- IBM Middleware
- Ghidra
- IBM TerraformHotIn demand
- Database management systems
- Management information systems MIS
- Ansible softwareHotIn demand
- Microsoft Active DirectoryHotIn demand
- Firewall softwareIn demand
- Microsoft Office softwareHotIn demand
- Microsoft ExcelHotIn demand
06Education and preparation
O*NET07Putting it on your resume
ResumeXRays guidanceLead with what you built. For a Job Zone 4 role, hiring managers and parsers both look for outcomes before credentials. Put two or three results at the top of each job entry, with the scale or effect stated plainly.
Name the tools exactly. This occupation is heavy on named software. A skills section that says "C, Microsoft Azure software, Microsoft PowerShell, Go" matches more job descriptions than a general phrase. Use the spelling employers use.
Show reading comprehension and writing, not just critical thinking. Reading comprehension and writing rank close to critical thinking for this occupation. One bullet per role that shows a decision, a tradeoff or a result covers them.
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