As the demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to grow, more and more bootcamps and training programs are popping up, promising to help students land high-paying cybersecurity jobs. But these programs that promise and guarantee jobs come with a whole host of other problems. While it may seem like a good deal on the surface, job guarantees can actually be a terrible deal for students.

Let's talk about how these job guarantees work

Typically, bootcamps will charge students a high upfront cost, often tens of thousands of dollars, and promise to help them find a job in the cybersecurity industry after they complete the program. Some programs even offer income share agreements (ISAs), where students don't have to pay upfront, but instead agree to pay a percentage of their salary once they land a job in the industry. But programs offering ISAs are highly selective and restrictive about who they admit. But even more concerning is the fact that these job guarantees often come with a lot of fine print. For example, some programs require students to apply to a certain number of jobs each week in order to remain eligible for the guarantee. Others require students to accept the first job offer they receive, even if it's not a good fit or not in line with their career goals.

No one is handing you a job

While having a job waiting for you after a program sounds like a dream come true, the reality is often very different. You will still need to go through the same job hunting and job application process but you also need to meet certain requirements to be eligible for any guarantees. Some programs require you to be applying for ten different cybersecurity jobs per week. And most of these companies charge exorbitant fees for their programs to cover the cost of their job guarantees, which drives up the overall cost of the program. In some cases, the cost can be as high as $30,000 or more.

Job Guarantees Trap You

And worst of all, these job guarantees can trap students in jobs they don't even like or want. In order to meet their goals around placement, the programs often require you to accept the first job offer that you get, even if it isn’t a job you actually want! By focusing solely on job placement, these programs often neglect to provide students with the broad range of skills and knowledge needed to be successful in the cybersecurity industry. As a result, students may end up in jobs that don't align with their interests or career goals, simply because it's the only job they could get through the program.

Day0 Takes a Different Approach

Instead of offering an empty promise to help students land a random job in the cybersecurity industry, we focus on providing students with the core technology skills they'll need to pursue any cybersecurity career. Our Cybersecurity Fundamentals program is designed to give students a solid foundation in the field, without the high price tag or the strings attached.

We also believe that it's important for students to have the freedom to explore different career paths within the cybersecurity industry, which is why we don't require them to commit to a specific job or career path. Our mentors are available to help students identify their strengths and interests, to help with things like internships, and to guide them towards the career path that's right for them.
In the end, the best way to ensure long-term success in the cybersecurity industry is to have a broad range of skills and knowledge, and to be able to pursue the career path that's the best fit for you. By choosing a program like Day0, you can gain the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the field, without the high price tag or the restrictive job guarantees. So why settle for anything less?