Andrew Wildrix on Transitioning from the Army, Building Networks, and Standing Out in Cybersecurity Hiring

On the Cyber Security Recruiter podcast, Tom interviews Andrew Wildrix, a former US Army major and current VP of Business Development at Intrusion, about his career path from military service into cybersecurity and sales/technical leadership.

Andrew describes his day-to-day work spanning emails and sales calls, product and engineering feedback loops, budgeting for a public company, and raising Intrusion’s profile as it expands from long-term US government work into commercial markets. He contrasts government vs MSP messaging, emphasizes planning before leaving the military, and advises building networks through local professional groups and optimizing LinkedIn while avoiding divisive topics.

They discuss ATS-driven hiring challenges, the value of soft skills and translating technical concepts without condescension, creative job-search tactics to “not be a number,” and interview red flags like victim mentality. Andrew recommends reading The Phoenix Project and a Star Wars “Book of the Sith” on power and leadership.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:11 Day in the Life at Intrusion

02:38 Branding vs Cold Outreach

03:20 Customer Feedback to Product

04:06 Army Background and Influence Ops

04:48 Transitioning Out of Military

06:28 ATS and Hiring Reality Check

08:14 Building a Network and LinkedIn

11:19 Staying Professional Online

13:51 Sales and Technical Career Loop

14:56 Communication and Culture Lessons

21:06 Toxicity and SMB Team Fit

22:09 Standing Out in Job Hunting

26:17 Resilience and Victim Mindset

30:58 Books That Shaped Andrew

32:57 Wrap Up and Thanks

Navigating a Cybersecurity Career and Business Leadership with Dave Anderson

In this episode of the Cyber Security Recruiter Podcast, our host converses with Dave Anderson about his fascinating career journey in cybersecurity. They discuss Dave's consistent online presence, bolstered by a specialist assisting him with LinkedIn content, which is pivotal for staying visible in the cybersecurity field.

Dave shares insightful details about his traditional career progression, from tech support to high-level security roles at prominent companies like Greenhouse, and his eventual transition to founding TSC Security. Dave takes us through the unique steps of moving from being an employee to an employer, including an intriguing personal story of moving to a boat in New Jersey and eventually to Florida, while developing his consultancy business.

The conversation covers the challenges of scaling a business, hiring dynamic and flexible personnel, and the importance of certifications and continual learning in the cybersecurity field. Dave also emphasizes the value of referrals,and shares his thoughts on the impactful book 'The Phoenix Project' for understanding effective project management in a business context.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:30 Dave's Content Strategy and Consistency

01:56 Career Journey and Achievements

02:43 Starting TSC Security

04:30 Life on a Boat and Transition to Entrepreneurship

06:28 Growth and Challenges of Running a Business

09:56 Importance of Referrals and Networking

13:36 Lessons from Startup Experience

18:33 Building a Strong Network

19:04 Scaling Challenges and Company Growth

21:44 Hiring the Right People

25:14 The Impact of AI on Business

29:29 The Value of Certifications

32:25 Recommended Resources for Success

35:37 Final Thoughts and Reflection

Leading Managed Security Services: Growth, Hiring Advice, and Playing to Your Strengths with April Jenkins

Thomas chats with April Jenkins, Senior Director of Managed Services/Service Desk at Elite Ops, about her career path, and how she prioritizes both customer outcomes and team growth, balance, and psychological safety. April explains her organization’s expansion from 9 to 42 people through new hiring and team consolidation, and discusses current market conditions: high candidate volume, employer decisions about remote vs. office, and the importance of responsiveness, accurately matching job requirements, and adding short notes with resumes.

She shares career guidance on focusing on strengths, staying authentic, reading the room, building relationships through problem-solving, and sustaining momentum via small daily wins and protected thinking time. Recommendation: a strengths-focused book (described as “maximizing your strengths”) and the “do unto others” golden rule from a Dr Pepper Museum exhibit.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:26 April’s Career Origins

02:45 Life Running 24/7 Support

05:03 Team Culture and Mindset

06:31 Scaling from 9 to 42

07:13 Hiring in a Tough Market

11:10 Standing Out as a Candidate

14:39 Internships and Career Switchers

15:12 Advice for Career Growth

17:19 Strengths and Relationship Building

20:15 Finding Your Niche in Security

21:29 Find Your Strengths

22:20 Define Your Core

24:12 Write It Down Daily

25:24 Protect Thinking Time

26:29 Start Small Habits

28:40 Momentum From Small Wins

29:51 Ignore Social Media Timelines

32:15 Relationships As Deposits

34:33 Authenticity And Feedback

37:36 Golden Rule Leadership

40:00 Wrap Up And Thanks

Recruiter Insights for a Tough Market: Resumes, Interviews, Follow-Ups, and Professionalism

On the Cyber Security Recruiter podcast, Tom chats with Barb Adrian, Chief People Officer at Procellis Technology. about how candidates can stand out in a competitive, layoff-impacted market.

Barb stresses a well-constructed, proof-read resume (errors like misspellings or mismatched dates are deal-breakers), showcasing community involvement, and limiting work history to relevant recent years. For interviews, she advises researching the company, being prepared for recruiter calls, asking thoughtful questions (including culture and what the interviewer loves about the job), practicing communication, and being comfortable with silence rather than babbling.

She welcomes proactive outreach via LinkedIn or email and emphasizes follow-up and professionalism on virtual interviews (clean space, appropriate attire, minimal oversharing). Barb notes AI filtering can miss great candidates, so she manually reviewed 430 applicants, and she finds referrals especially effective.

00:56 Meet Barb Career Journey

02:01 Resume Must Haves

03:21 Interview Prep and Flow

05:57 Smart Questions to Ask

07:05 Relaxed Communication Tips

09:41 Reaching Out and Standing Out

10:30 AI Screening and Follow Up

14:35 Worst Phone Interview Story

16:30 Virtual Interview Professionalism

17:21 Oversharing Red Flags

18:06 Stay Professional until Offer

18:51 Dress For Success

19:36 Market Shift Reality Check

20:24 Community Interview Support

23:51 AI Screening Pitfalls

25:07 Referrals Beat Algorithms

25:46 LinkedIn Noise And Etiquette

28:07 Hiring Needs And Candidate Energy

30:52 Human Touch And Mental Health

33:04 Learning Through Your Network

34:23 Episode Wrap Up

Navigating Cybersecurity Careers and Communication with Jake Everett

In this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, Thomas welcomes Jake Everett, VP of Offensive Security at Rule4. They discuss technical challenges, the impact of AI, and Jake's career journey from the Marine Corps to the commercial world.

Jake shares his daily responsibilities, the importance of communication and responsiveness, and educational resources that have been pivotal for his career. They also explore the role of honesty and detailed problem-solving in successful cybersecurity careers.

Jake recommends the book 'Sandworm' and highlights valuable online resources like Hack the Box, Try Hack Me, and YouTube videos for continued learning.

00:00 Introduction and Technical Glitches

00:20 AI in Podcasting and Everyday Life

01:03 Jake Everett's Career Journey

02:02 A Day in the Life of a VP of Offensive Security

02:38 The Four-Day Work Week

04:31 Preparing for OSCP and Continuous Learning

08:25 Physical Pen Testing and Lock Picking

09:35 Transitioning from the Marine Corps to Tech

10:27 The Importance of Practical Application in Learning

12:37 Communication Skills in Cybersecurity

14:37 Honesty and Integrity in Job Applications

16:36 Building Trust in Cybersecurity

17:45 The Power of Word of Mouth

18:31 Effective Communication Tips

22:23 Career Progression to VP Level

24:27 The Role of AI in Recruitment

28:01 The Value of Continuous Learning

29:03 The Impact of Cyber Warfare

32:08 The Importance of a Positive Algorithm Diet

33:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Unlocking the Secrets of Talent Acquisition with John Herrick

In this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, Thomas interviews John Herrick, a seasoned professional in the recruitment industry. They discuss John's career trajectory from a boutique agency in 2012 to his current role as a Global Talent Acquisition Manager. John shares insights on the effectiveness of ice baths, the benefits of over-communicating, and the importance of networking for finding passive candidates. He also shares personal growth tips, emphasizing the need for proactive outreach and heavy note-taking.

The conversation is enriched with anecdotes about hiring across different cultures and the importance of aligning with hiring managers. For book lovers, John recommends survival books focused on edible plants, and for podcast enthusiasts, he enjoys 'The Joe Rogan Experience.

00:00 Introduction and Ice Bath Discussion

01:07 John Herrick's Career Journey

01:42 Agency vs In-House Recruitment

02:49 The Importance of Professionalism in Recruitment

06:33 Challenges in the Current Job Market

11:45 Effective Communication with Hiring Managers

15:04 John's Promotion Journey and Key Learnings

21:49 Qualifying Roles and Passive Talent

22:48 Effective Communication with Hiring Managers

23:23 Cultural Differences in Hiring Practices

25:19 Proactive Stakeholder Engagement

26:05 Importance of Personality in Hiring

30:22 Learning from Candidates and Research

35:18 Personal Growth and Recommendations

35:47 Networking and Referrals

40:42 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Building Relationships and Navigating Cybersecurity Recruitment with Mariah Haag

In this episode of the Cyber Security Recruiter podcast, host Thomas is joined by Mariah Haag, a Security Project and Talent Manager at Stratum Security, which has recently merged with Cyber Advisors. They discuss the organized chaos of managing client demands, Mariah’s career progression from retail management to cybersecurity recruitment, and the vital role of building relationships within the industry.

Mariah emphasizes the importance of setting SMART goals, getting out of one's comfort zone, and maintaining work-life balance. She also shares insights on the law of attraction and recommends reading 'The Secret' and Top Biller, by Steve Guest, a recruitment book that offers practical advice from one of the top recruiters in the world.

Throughout the episode, they highlight the benefits and challenges of remote work, the value of in-office experiences, especially for newcomers, and how to leverage every interaction for personal and professional growth.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:04 Mariah's Career Journey

02:40 Building Relationships in Recruitment

06:30 The Importance of Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

12:02 Practical Tips for Relationship Building

15:02 The Power of Positive Thinking and Goal Setting

20:21 Achieving Short-Term Goals

21:22 The Importance of Fun at Work

23:38 Understanding SMART Goals

25:11 Balancing Work and Personal Life

28:00 The Value of Office Culture

36:24 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Cyber Security Recruiter Podcast: Navigating Career Journeys and Leveraging AI with Grace Rauth,

In this episode of the Cyber Security Recruiter Podcast, Thomas interacts with Grace Rauth, the global Learning and Development Manager at Chronosphere.

Grace shares her journey from an HR specialist to an L&D specialist, emphasizing the importance of adaptability in today’s fast-changing work environment, especially with the rise of AI. The conversation also explores how Enneagram can be a powerful tool for understanding team dynamics and personal motivations. Grace shares her love for 'The Lord of the Rings' as a personal life philosophy and recommends 'Five Dysfunctions of a Team' for professional development.

The episode wraps up with practical advice for job seekers in the current tough market, emphasizing the value of AI tools, active listening, and staying positive.

00:14 Discussing the Weather and Working Conditions

01:26 Grace's Career Journey

01:59 The Startup Experience

03:31 Adapting to AI in the Workplace

11:11 The Importance of Active Listening

17:00 Understanding Motivation with Enneagram

20:28 The Challenges of Transitioning to Management

21:52 The Complexities of Sales and Recruitment

24:38 The Impact of Market Conditions on Hiring

29:38 Leveraging AI and Staying Positive in Job Search

34:37 The Value of Patience and Adaptability in Careers

Grace Rauth suggested:

The Lord of the Rings by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni