Managing stress

Years ago, I read a book called How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie. I'm not going to share everything in that book (you should buy a copy), but one key exercise had you reflecting on the worst possible scenario that could happen and then asking yourself if you were OK with that happening. If your answer was no, then you had to think through what action you could take to improve the situation.

Here's an example:

• Scenario: Your boss wants a project done by Monday, even though the real deadline is 3 weeks away.
• Worst-case scenario: You don't do the project on your days off, and the boss fires you because of it.

Are you OK with this?

Yes, because you already have money saved up to cover expenses while you look for another job. This gives you some freedom, and typically, this scenario wouldn't lead to termination since the project is not due for weeks.

No—you really need this job to pay your bills. In this situation, you probably have to suck it up this time and get the project done. However, I would suggest you then focus your spare time on building additional income streams, saving more money, and/or finding a new job. Otherwise, the cycle will just repeat itself.

I read another book years ago (can't think of the name) that mentioned reading just 6 minutes a day could reduce your stress by around 30 percent. I've found that reading can help take your mind away from stressful situations.

Another good book on the subject is Chaos Loves You: So Let's Love it Back by Jothi Dugar (cybersecurity executive).

I also practice simple meditation and breathing exercises.

Going back to what I mentioned earlier in the book as well, how you talk to yourself is crucial in your success and in removing stress from your life.

I'm not going to lie to you—cybersecurity careers can be extremely stressful. It's important for you to recognize if you're stressed out and identify safe ways to cope. Remember, we as a community are here to support you.

Now that you have a good idea of some common interview questions you might be asked, the questions you should ask, the HACK method, and a few books I suggest you buy around stress management, let's move into job-specific interview questions in the coming chapters.