Mastering Cybersecurity Employability in 2025: Applying Josh Madakor’s Framework
Josh Madakor’s Employability Framework
Cybersecurity remains one of the fastest-growing and most in-demand fields in 2025. However, the industry faces a paradox: while businesses struggle to find experienced security professionals, there is a rising influx of beginners trying to break into the field. To make matters more complex, many companies don’t fully understand what security they need, resulting in jumbled job titles and sporadic responsibilities. Josh Madakor’s Employability Framework provides a structured approach to help cybersecurity professionals stand out in this evolving landscape.
Understanding the Employability Framework
Josh Madakor’s Employability Framework is built on three core pillars:
Education — Foundational knowledge and industry-recognized certifications.
Experience — Hands-on projects, internships, and real-world problem-solving.
Branding — Online presence, networking, and the ability to showcase skills effectively.
Applying these pillars to cybersecurity in 2025 requires a strategic approach to bridge the gap between supply and demand, ensuring professionals demonstrate the right skills and businesses hire for the right reasons.
1. Education: Beyond Degrees and Certifications
In 2025, a degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or a related field is still valuable but not always necessary. Employers prioritize practical skills and problem-solving abilities over traditional education alone. To strengthen the education pillar, consider:
Certifications: While Security+ remains a common entry-level cert, hiring managers now look for practical, hands-on certs like CompTIA Pentest+, CISSP, OSCP, AWS Security Specialty, and GIAC (GCIH, GSEC, or GXPN).
Cloud & AI Security: With cloud security dominating the field, knowledge of AWS, Azure, or GCP security practices is crucial. AI-driven cybersecurity tools have also become mainstream, making familiarity with AI-based threat detection, machine learning for security, and AI-powered SOC operations a key differentiator.
Capture The Flag (CTF) & Hackathons: Platforms like TryHackMe, Hack The Box, and CTF challenges on Hack The Box Academy provide real-world problem-solving experience that impresses recruiters.
Formal Training & Nanodegrees: Online courses from INE, Pluralsight, Udemy, and Coursera, along with intensive bootcamps like SANS CyberTalent Immersion Academy or Google Cybersecurity Certificate, offer structured learning paths.
Pro Tip: Micro-certifications
Short, focused micro-certifications from organizations like SANS, Google, or IBM are increasingly popular, allowing professionals to specialize quickly without committing to long-term study programs.
2. Experience: Building a Cybersecurity Portfolio
A degree and certifications alone won’t land you a cybersecurity job. Employers in 2025 prioritize hands-on experience, and entry-level candidates are expected to demonstrate skills through real-world projects.
How to Gain Experience Without a Job:
Home Labs: Set up an ELK SIEM, pfSense firewall, Active Directory environment, honeypots, and Splunk for log analysis to monitor attacks in real-time.
Open-Source Contributions: Contribute to security-related GitHub projects, develop your own tools, or help maintain security documentation for open-source projects.
Bug Bounty Programs: Participate in platforms like HackerOne, Bugcrowd, and Synack Red Team to gain real-world experience in vulnerability assessment and ethical hacking.
Internships & Volunteer Work: Even unpaid internships at small businesses or non-profits can provide invaluable hands-on experience.
Freelance Gigs & Side Projects: Websites like Upwork and Fiverr now feature cybersecurity-related tasks, allowing newcomers to build practical expertise while getting paid.
CTF Write-Ups & Research Articles: Publishing your penetration testing findings, blue team strategies, or malware analysis on platforms like Medium or your blog can showcase deep knowledge.
Pro Tip: Document Everything
Maintain a cybersecurity blog, GitHub portfolio, and YouTube channel showcasing your learning. Document your home lab setup, CTF write-ups, incident response strategies, and threat-hunting techniques to create tangible proof of your abilities.
3. Branding: Making Yourself Discoverable
In 2025, cybersecurity hiring is more competitive than ever, and recruiters actively scout for talent online. If you’re not visible, you’re missing out on opportunities.
How to Build a Strong Cybersecurity Brand:
LinkedIn Optimization: Recruiters search for skills like “threat intelligence,” “cloud security,” or “SOC analysis.” Optimize your profile with relevant keywords and post regular content about your cybersecurity journey.
YouTube & Blogging: Following the footsteps of Josh Madakor, many cybersecurity professionals start YouTube channels or blogs showcasing tutorials, walkthroughs, or career advice.
Twitter/X & Discord Engagement: Cybersecurity Twitter and Discord groups are highly active with job leads, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
Speaking Engagements & Webinars: Giving a talk at a local cybersecurity conference, hosting a webinar, or mentoring others through workshops builds credibility and showcases leadership skills.
Resume & Personal Website: Create a clean, ATS-friendly resume and personal website with your projects, blog posts, and achievements.
Networking & Referrals: Engage with cybersecurity professionals, and join local DEF CON groups, OWASP chapters, and cybersecurity meetups to directly connect with hiring managers.
Pro Tip: Personal Branding Matters
Hiring managers are now vetting candidates by Googling their names. Ensure your online presence reflects expertise, professionalism, and passion for cybersecurity.
Resolving the Cybersecurity Hiring Gap
The Challenges:
Rising demand for experienced professionals but a shortage of highly skilled talent.
Increasing supply of beginners struggling to break in due to lack of experience.
Businesses not understanding security needs, leading to confusing job descriptions and mismatched expectations.
The Solution:
By following the Employability Framework:
✅ Aspiring professionals can bridge the skills gap by focusing on hands-on experience and personal branding.
✅ Businesses can refine job descriptions by hiring based on demonstrated skills rather than rigid degree or certification requirements.
✅ The industry as a whole can create clearer career pathways to connect the right talent with the right roles.
Final Thoughts: Standing Out in 2025
Breaking into cybersecurity in 2025 requires more than just qualifications — it demands a combination of education, experience, and branding. Following Josh Madakor’s Employability Framework, aspiring professionals can strategically position themselves in the cybersecurity job market and significantly increase their chances of landing a role.
To summarize:
✅ Get the right certifications and hands-on skills
✅ Build a cybersecurity portfolio showcasing your expertise
✅ Optimize your online presence and networking strategy
By applying this framework, you’re not just another job seeker — you become a valuable cybersecurity professional ready to defend the digital world. 🚀
What steps are you taking to improve your cybersecurity employability?
