2025 - 2026 UNEMPLOYMENT YEAR IN REVIEW

THE CURRENT JOB SITUATION FOR 2026

To date:

• Number of jobs applied to: 371
• Number of interviews: 0
• Number of referrals used: 2
• Number of rejections: 86
• Number of non-responses: 132

CONCLUSION

So far, the job market in 2026 is a disaster. AI is just the excuse for executive mismanagement. It is all "right-sizing" to return employee headcount to a proper level.

Linked in, Indeed and most of the other job boards just don't work anymore.

Referrals only get you so far.

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THE GOALS FOR 2026 .. and beyond!!

1. Certification Path: eJPT → PNPT → OSCP → CISSP Total Cost: $3500 (as of this writing)
2. Employment Ideal: Security Consultant at Mandiant (or a similar company)
3. Employment Alternative: Purple Team - but I have to get fluid with Blue Team.
4. Employment Alternative 2: QA Consultant using AI to spearhead testing efficiencies in Fiverr.
5. Continued Writing - Get published by year's end, or come close to it

Best to remember that, a mistake repeated more than twice is a habit. And we need to replace bad habits with good ones.

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PERSONAL ASSESSMENT | JUNE 2025 - JUNE 2026

This time last year, we were handed our hat at Secure Ideas and shown the door. It has been 12 months since and this assessment will assess how much we've progressed since our "untimely departure". The question to answer: What kind of person must I become to achieve all that I want?

In 2025, You were terminated from employment due to performance issues and falling well-below expectations for the role.

QUESTION The problem was your company never properly assessed your current level and proper course. How have you corrected that?

ANSWER I have been consistent in addressing shortcomings. The list is as follows:

• AI SEC. Working through the modules on https://wraith.sh ... so much fun!!
• CLOUD SEC. Currently working through learning Cloud Security. An area that I have no interest in.
• MOBILE SEC. Also learning about mobile pen testing on Android .. a deep dive using a module I found online .. and it is free!
• NETWORK SEC. I was weak at Network Pen Testing, so I completed a course with TCM and learned more in three weeks than I had the entire time at SI. [TASK: Need more practice and will renew my HTB subscription when money gets right]
• API SEC.I was weak with API Pen Testing, so I completed a course with API Sec and gained far more insight to OWASP TOP 10 For API, learned new tools to use. I would love a Pro license to really improve. This was where I severly lacked.
• WEB APP SEC. I was improving with reporting, but I have since conducted several pen tests (really bug bounties) and leveraged AI to improve my writing skills. My reports have improved as well. Proud of their quality. You also recognized where you bombed from a component testing pov and have made great strides in improving.
• VOLUNTEERING Had the opportunity to work with BSidesNYC last year. Not a lot of opportunities have presented themselves. Still early in the year.
• BLOGGING Been steady with this. Might move to Substack.
• MENTORING Had mentees come and go. Such is the nature of work.

WINS

Overall, I feel I possess the personability to make consultancy a viable career path the rest is fixable. Failure has been the greatest teacher, but it does not define me.

OPPORTUNITIES

Still looking to maintain consistency and discipline with my day-to-day habits. Below are some areas where I still need to improve:

CONTINUED PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

I will endeavor to continue working on myself in the following manner:

1. Continue to exhibit extreme levels of integrity through consistent actions done daily.
2. Strive to be reliable; the person they can count on.
3. Strive for Excellence .. At all times, in all ways, with the people that matter most.
4. Be diligent, disciplined, and dedicated.
5. Be passionate and positive .. the anchor in the storm.
6. Continue to work on contributing and to learn from others.

CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. I will continue my endeavors and practice more. Learn from where I failed and keep celebrating the wins.
2. I will work hard to stay faithful to my personal standards and be 1% better every single day.
3. On more than one occassion I failed to live up to the expectations put forth by my job. A mistake I will never make again now that I have a renewed set of standards to live up.
4. Did I produce excellent work? No. But I am working at making sure this never happens again. 100% maximum effort every day.
5. Next opportunity, I will work to ask better questions and be more vocal when needs are not met. This was a huge problem at SI .. the absolute lack of onboarding and no one training me.

ADD VALUE TO THE MARKETPLACE

1. Articulate my value by continuing to learn and grow, personally and professionally.
2. I will strive to keep doing high-value work, and spend time on the work that moves me forward .. like reading more.

IMPROVE NETWORKING

1. I need to work on connecting with the right people, not just collecting Linked In invites.
2. I should reach out to my network on Ln more. Seems like everyone is heads-down doing their own thing.
3. As someone who has trust issues, and has been burned by 2 mentors, I don't see myself looking to land another one any time soon.