Do You Really Need Certifications to Get a Cybersecurity Job?

The certification debate is one of the most reliably contentious topics in cybersecurity hiring discussions. On one side: the argument that certifications validate knowledge, signal commitment, and satisfy HR screening systems. On the other: the counter-argument that they are expensive, game-able, and a poor substitute for demonstrated ability.

Both sides are partially correct. Neither is fully right.

What Certifications Actually Do in a Hiring Process

In most corporate hiring pipelines, a resume reaches a human recruiter only after passing through an applicant tracking system (ATS). Those systems are frequently configured to flag specific keywords — and certification names are among the most common. CompTIA Security+, CISSP, CEH, and similar credentials function as a filtering mechanism before a human ever reads your application.

This is not an endorsement of the system. It is a description of how it operates in practice. Arguing that certifications should not matter does not change the reality that they often do at the initial screening stage.

Where Certifications Lose Their Power

Once you are in an interview, the credential does almost nothing for you. Interviewers who conduct technical assessments will quickly identify whether your knowledge is genuine or surface-level — and a certification held by someone who cannot explain the concepts it supposedly validates is often a negative signal rather than a positive one.

Hiring managers in hands-on technical roles are frequently more impressed by a well-documented home lab, a portfolio of CTF (capture the flag) writeups, or evidence of a real-world project than by a certification obtained through intensive exam cramming.

The Honest Calculus

The answer to whether you need certifications depends on where you are in your journey and what type of role you are pursuing:

• For entry-level roles at large organisations with structured HR pipelines: yes, a foundational certification like Security+ meaningfully improves your chances of passing initial screening
• For roles at smaller organisations, startups, or security consultancies: practical skills and a demonstrable portfolio often carry more weight than credentials
• For government and defence contracting roles: certifications and clearances are frequently non-negotiable requirements, not preferences
• For senior and specialist roles: your track record and reputation replace the credentialling function entirely

The Risk of Over-Investing in Certifications

The failure mode that costs career changers the most time and money is treating certifications as the primary activity rather than the supporting documentation of skills that exist independently. Employers hire people who can do the work. Certifications help you get the interview. They do not close the deal.

Study for certifications alongside building practical skills, not instead of building them. The credential and the competence should develop together.