When is Honesty the Best Policy During Your Job Search?

Why Honesty Matters for New Graduates

Starting out in tech means you might not have years of experience yet — and that’s completely normal! Employers expect this and appreciate honesty about your skills and ambitions. Being truthful shows you’re ready to learn and grow in your career.

Being Truthful on Your CV as a Student or Graduate

• Don’t exaggerate skills or certifications. If you’ve only done a lab exercise on Cisco routing or completed an introductory cyber security course, say so clearly.
• Include certifications in progress. For example, “Currently studying for CompTIA Security+” or “Working towards CCNA certification.”
• Showcase relevant projects and internships. Mention university projects like setting up a small network or running a vulnerability scan — these count!

Hiring managers know grads won’t have every skill, but they look for honesty and eagerness.

 Be Clear About Your Experience and Leadership Skills

You may not have formally managed teams, but leading a university project, volunteering to run a coding club, or helping peers learn networking concepts all count as leadership experience. Be honest about what you did and learned.

 How to Honestly Answer "What is Your Biggest Weakness?"

Avoid clichés like “I’m a perfectionist.” Instead:

• Choose a real weakness relevant to networking or cybersecurity, like “I’m still building my confidence in public speaking,” or “I’m new to scripting but I’m learning Python through online courses.”
• Explain how you’re improving it, such as “I joined a student tech society where I present topics” or “I’ve been completing hands-on labs on Cisco Packet Tracer.”

Showing self-awareness and a willingness to improve stands out.

Being Honest About Why You’re Looking for Your First or Next Role

Focus on positive reasons:

• Eager to apply your networking or cybersecurity skills in a real-world environment.
• Looking for opportunities to gain hands-on experience and certifications.
• Wanting to work with a supportive team passionate about security or network innovation.

Avoid negative comments about past experiences — keep it professional and future-focused.

 Handling Behavioural Questions with Honesty and Confidence

Share genuine examples from university, internships, or personal projects — like troubleshooting a network outage in a group project or responding to a security challenge in a lab. Be honest about what you learned and how you overcame difficulties.

 Extra Tips for Networking and Cybersecurity Grads

• Highlight your practical experience, even if limited. Hands-on labs, home lab setups, Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges, or simulations show real commitment.
• Mention your passion for continual learning. Networking and cybersecurity evolve fast — showing you keep up through courses, webinars, or certifications is vital.
• Talk about teamwork and communication. These soft skills are crucial in tech roles where collaboration and clear communication matter.
• Be honest about gaps and eagerness to fill them. If you’re less familiar with certain protocols or security tools, say you’re actively working to build those skills.
• Share your enthusiasm for problem-solving. Employers love candidates who enjoy troubleshooting and learning from mistakes — be ready to give examples.

 Final Thoughts

As a student or graduate, honesty isn’t just about telling the truth — it’s about showing your potential and your commitment to becoming a skilled professional in networking or cybersecurity. Be genuine, stay curious, and the right opportunity will come your way.