Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast
From Banking to Social Engineer: How Chris Horner Broke Into Cybersecurity
Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! Can you spend nearly two decades in one career and still successfully make the jump into cybersecurity? Chris Horner did exactly that. Before becoming a social engineer/penetration tester and vCISO, Chris spent nearly two decades working in banking. In this episode, he joins John to talk about how he made the transition into cybersecurity, what helped him land his first opportunity, and why the experience from your previous career doesn't disappear just because you're changing industries. Chris shares how networking became a "long-term job interview," why following up and showing people what you did with their advice matters, and what it was really like stepping into his first professional penetration-testing role. We also dig into Chris's specialty in social engineering, including how professional phishing campaigns are built, why understanding the client's business matters, and the story of a HIPAA-themed phishing test where more than 80 people submitted their credentials. We discuss: • Transitioning into cybersecurity later in your career • Building relationships instead of simply "networking" • Turning mentors and professional connections into long-term relationships • Developing the mindset of a penetration tester • What labs don't prepare you for in your first cybersecurity job • The importance of maintaining a beginner's mindset • How to evaluate the company interviewing you • Social engineering, phishing, and OSINT • Safe ways to develop social-engineering skills • Transferable skills from previous careers • Why communication and business knowledge matter in cybersecurity Connect with Chris: Chris Horner on LinkedIn Triaxiom Security Chris's article, "The vCISO: Security Leadership That Grows With Your Business": Read Chris's vCISO article Resources Mentioned TCM Security Practical OSINT Research Professional (PORP): PORP Certification BSides Greenville Come hang out with us in the Cybersecurity Mentors Skool community. It’s free to join.
