Appropriate experience is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome when trying to land a job in information security. In fact, a poll from Tripwire finds most job seekers (80%) say they need more experience to be considered for many of the roles they apply for in infosec. The survey, conducted via Twitter, also found lack of certification or appropriate training (20%) were other issues keeping people from security jobs.

There’s no question landing that first gig in security can be difficult. But there are practical ways to stand out and get the attention of hiring managers, even without a lot of experience on your resume. Here are 5 tips to break down the experience barrier and shine as a security job applicant.

Train on your own

Self-guided teaching can offer many opportunities to show you know your stuff and provides you with great material to discuss in a job interview. Some ways to learn on your own time is by teaching yourself coding, or constructing computer and security systems and then breaking them down or hacking them for practice.

You can also seek out contests or training opportunities that are open to all levels of knowledge and get experience with hacking and security problem solving. Participating in community-based contests is also a great way to get to know others who share a security focus.

Over time, as your education and confidence grow, you can also experiment with looking for vulnerabilities in open source software and participate in bug bounties. Keeping track of your work so you can demonstrate how these efforts paid off will make you stand out in a job application.

Find an internship

An internship can offer you practical experience learning the skills and working on the kinds of projects you aspire to focus on in a professional environment. It’s also an excellent opportunity to make connections and possibly even earn a recommendation that will get your foot in the door to an actual job in the future. Seek out internships or volunteer opportunities at organizations with a mission you believe in, or in a role that inspires you.

Look for opportunities in your current school or job

If you’re currently a student, one of the first places to find opportunities to get experience is in your school. It could be at an internship, as previously mentioned, or on campus. Does your school have an IT team with a focus on security? Learn more about what they are doing and see if they are open to letting you work with them on a volunteer basis.

The same goes for any full- or part-time job you currently have. If you’re not working in security, look for opportunities at your present employer to switch gears and find security projects that will enhance your resume. It may mean working more hours, but what you gain in relevant, on-the-job experience will be worth it in the long run.

Mine your association connections

Join an association and network with members. Go to local chapter meetings or hang out in online forums and get to know others there. There should be a varying number of people with multiple levels of experience and expertise in these groups. These connections will be invaluable for learning about the job scene in your neck of the woods. And, if you can be helpful to others by answering questions and offering information, it will go a long way in gained trusted and respected resources in your security community that could help you land your next security role.

Get certified

Getting the right certification will also help you demonstrate your commitment to the field of security without years of on-the-job experience. Through the Associate of (ISC)² program , you can take any (ISC)² certification exam without the required work experience. When you pass, you become an Associate of (ISC)² as you work to achieve full certification. Along the way, you receive exclusive (ISC)² resources to help you learn, grow and thrive throughout your journey.

For more tips and strategies, download the (ISC)² Breaking into Cybersecurity eBook .