As someone graduating this year, this is the article I wish I had read before starting my degree. Studying a Bachelor of Cybersecurity at the University of Technology Sydney has been an amazing, hectic, and sometimes stressful journey, but also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The biggest advice I can give is to get involved early with professional organisations. Join groups like Australian Information Security Association, ISACA Sydney Chapter, ISC2 Sydney Chapter, and OffSec Sydney Chapter. Even look outside strict cybersecurity into adjacent domains like digital health or cloud. These communities expose you to real industry conversations and opportunities you won’t get in class. Go to meetups. Events like BSides Sydney and HackSydney are invaluable. You meet people, learn current trends, and start building your network early. Also take part in CTFs. Competitions like DownUnderCTF are one of the best ways to build hands-on skills in areas like forensics, web, and reverse engineering while working under pressure. At uni, join the cybersecurity society. I regret not being more active in the UTS Cybersecurity Society. I held back because of workload and work commitments, but looking back, contributing to events and initiatives would have been worth it. Even attending regularly makes a difference. Build personal projects. For example, I built a CLI password manager. Projects like this help you stand out and give you something real to talk about in interviews. Start certifications early. Look into Microsoft certifications like AZ-900 and follow that pathway. I only started certifications later in my degree, and I wish I had begun in first year alongside my studies. Be intentional about your career. Don’t lock yourself into a niche too early. Explore different areas like presales, SOC, GRC, or cloud security. Use LinkedIn and job boards to look at roles, read job descriptions, and align your skills to what employers actually want. Uni won’t cover everything. Stay connected with your tutors and lecturers. Some of mine worked at organisations like CSIRO Data61 and Microsoft. Ask them about their work and research. Most are more than happy to share advice and guidance. Volunteer outside of tech. Do something non-technical to build soft skills and perspective. Have hobbies that aren’t screen-based. This is important in cybersecurity where you already spend so much time on a computer. For me, that was sports and gaming, and I’m aiming to get into gliding, even though it’s an expensive hobby. Join other societies too. I was part of the Mahjong Society and explored other interests like motorsports. It helps you stay balanced and meet different people. Surround yourself with a good group of friends. Having people you can plan timetables with, study with, and go through the degree together makes a huge difference. Finally, track your progress. Use tools like the University of Queensland job tracker and keep your resume updated regularly.