The Winding Journey Toward a Cybersecurity Career: Meet Juan

Like many undergraduates, Juan C.’s time in college was defined by academic and professional exploration that sharpened into a clear career path over time. After completing high school in 2018, the Argentina-based learner took whatever job came his way to earn a living. When he entered college a year later, he set his sights on systems engineering, but it took another few years for things to really click.

“Everything changed when I began studying software engineering in 2022,” Juan recalled. “That led me to an IT support internship at an automotive factory, which was my first real experience in tech.”

Today, Juan works for a technology company as a frontend developer, a role that has also given him some exposure to the backend. Through this work, Juan’s interests evolved into a deep appreciation for cybersecurity, which appeals to his desire to understand how “systems really work under the surface and how to protect them.”

The Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate turned out to be an ideal next step. While Juan thought his university work was occasionally too theoretical and unmotivating, he found the Google program thoroughly enjoyable.

“What I like the most is how practical and engaging it is,” Juan noted. “The videos are very clear and always include simple, visual examples, and the mix of videos, readings, and activities makes the learning process much easier and more enjoyable.”

Now, Juan’s setting his sights on a full-time career in cybersecurity. His journey from post-high-school job hopping to becoming a tech worker and soon-to-be cybersecurity professional proves that winding professional paths are far more common than they seem. Just look beneath the surface of another person’s career and you’ll likely find a similar journey toward discovery.

What skills have you gained through Google’s program?

This program helped me build a much stronger foundation in cybersecurity. I became more confident working with Linux and managing operating systems, understanding how they’re structured and why each command or process matters. 

I also strengthened my skills in Python, network fundamentals, system security, and basic threat analysis. Overall, I feel I now have a clearer, more practical understanding of how systems work and how to protect them.

How did you balance learning with other responsibilities?

I tried to dedicate at least a couple of hours every day, sometimes just one module, but often more, because I genuinely enjoyed learning. It never felt tedious; for the first time, studying was actually fun and fulfilling. 

I managed this while working part-time and finishing my final thesis for my software engineering degree, so it required organization and discipline, but it was absolutely worth it.

Overall, I feel I now have a clearer, more practical understanding of how systems work and how to protect them.

Have you been able to apply anything you learned?

I’ve already applied some concepts to my learning projects and my daily work, especially when it comes to understanding systems, networks, and security best practices. It also helped me structure my job search better, since I now know which roles and skills to focus on as I grow in this field.

Have you experienced any kind of impact from what you’ve learned?

Google’s program had a big impact on my goals because it gave me a clear path into cybersecurity. It helped me gain confidence, understand the fundamentals, and see how everything connects in the real world. Now I feel more prepared to continue my transition from front-end development into cybersecurity and cloud security.

For the first time, studying was actually fun and fulfilling.

Do you have any advice for someone interested in taking the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate?

If you have the time and resources, go for it—you won’t regret it. The program is dynamic, practical, and easy to follow. It gives you tools and knowledge that are hard to find elsewhere, and the content is organized in a way that makes complex topics much easier to understand.

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*Individual experiences and outcomes can vary, and Coursera does not guarantee job interviews or job placements upon completion of its courses.