Security Bsides Las Vegas 2024

Penetration Testing Experience and How to Get It
2024-08-07 , Florentine B

There are many resources to learn how to become a pentester but the lack of experience can be an obstacle when getting that dream role in pentesting. The Pentester Blueprint coauthor Phillip will share ways to get experience and demonstrate the experience and skills that are helpful in getting started in a pentesting career.


Phillip Wylie, the concept creator and co-author of “The Pentester Blueprint: Starting a Career as an Ethical Hacker,” shares details on how to get experience, how to demonstrate skills and document skills. Phillip shares what has helped his former students, mentees, and other career advice-seekers obtain a job as a pentester. In this presentation, attendees will learn about the importance of networking, personal branding, and content creation.

Phillip is a passionate offensive security professional with over twenty six years of information technology and cybersecurity experience. His experience includes penetration, red teaming, and application security.

When Phillip is not hacking, he educates others about pentesting and web application pentesting during workshops at conferences and other events. Phillip is the concept creator and coauthor of the book, “The Pentester Blueprint: Starting a Career as an Ethical Hacker,” based on his conference talk on starting a career as a pentester.

Phillip’s uncommon journey into cybersecurity is preceded by his colorful past as a pro wrestler, where he once wrestled a bear.