After a career in sales, Aloysius Chow recently stepped into a cybersecurity engineer role. He came to CFCI for one reason in particular: he wanted training that was practical, not abstract.
“I came to CFCI to drill on the practical side of training. The hands-on practical skills are so necessary for cyber work.”
He had felt the limits of courses that try to cram everything in, and found something different here.
“A lot of times when we sign up for courses, everything is very compressed. At CFCI it made me feel empowered, especially as someone who hadn’t done IT before.”
A new way of thinking, not just a new toolkit
The most valuable thing Aloysius took away was not a single tool. It was a way of approaching problems that he now uses at work every day.
“In the Career Kickstart programme, we’re always picking up new cybersecurity tools and learning new things. We’re conditioned to have a way of thinking now, and the right attitude to react to situations, including where to find answers when we don’t have them. That’s the biggest takeaway that applies to my current role.”
That is the real aim of the training. Tools change constantly. The habit of reasoning calmly through an unfamiliar problem is what lasts.
His advice to fellow switchers
Aloysius is clear that attitude and people matter alongside the technical learning.
“Keep a curious and open mind. Have a positive attitude and always indulge in learning. Other than absorbing the technical knowledge, get in touch with the people in the industry. Don’t give up, and always try harder.”
If you are coming from a non-technical career like sales, that mindset is more than enough to start. Begin with a free info session and the free experiential workshop, then look at the flagship Career Kickstart programme.
Most of our graduates who secured cyber roles had no prior IT background. For a fuller picture of the move, read our guide to a mid-career switch into cybersecurity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does practical, hands-on cybersecurity training matter more than theory?
Cybersecurity work is applied. You need to react to real situations, use the right tools, and find answers when none are obvious. Hands-on training builds that instinct in a way compressed, theory-heavy courses cannot, which is why it transfers so directly to the job.
How important is networking when breaking into cybersecurity?
It matters a great deal. Beyond technical skill, getting to know people already in the industry opens doors to advice, referrals and opportunities. Many career switchers find that the connections made during training are as valuable as the curriculum itself.