Pre-Interview Notes (From Recruiter)

This role was recommended by a recruiter. It is a government-focused position for national defence purposes, with a specialization in 5G and 6G applications and security.

The position is hands-on, as I would be experimenting with and securing new technologies, effectively handling advanced tools before they are deployed.

What They’re Looking For

For this position, the team is seeking someone who:

Is genuinely passionate about vulnerability research, with a willingness to learn telecoms, recognizing this is a very niche and specialized area.
Has previous hands-on security experience to demonstrate both commitment and the ability to learn new things.
Shows strong motivation for national security, which is logical given the government focus.
Can stay current with developments in the cybersecurity field.
Has an interest in cutting-edge technology.

How to Demonstrate Fit

Be prepared to discuss previous practical experience in cybersecurity, even if it isn’t directly related to telecoms or 5G/6G security.
Show that you are constantly learning and upskilling, which demonstrates both passion and commitment.
Whenever possible, have something tangible to show your work — for example:
- Code samples
- CTF writeups
- Exploit research or vulnerability reports

High Performer in the Role

Focus on growth and learning, not just output.
The team functions like a research lab, valuing depth of understanding over speed.
Key traits for success:
- Desire to learn and specialize in a particular domain
- Ability to focus deeply and become an expert
Output is secondary; results naturally follow expertise.
For associates, the emphasis is on learning and skill-building.

Biggest Challenges the Team Faces

Enabler work tasks: foundational but necessary to support research.
Challenges in infrastructure development:
- No prior research or tools exist for some aspects of Talecode or 5G.
- Teething issues are expected when creating new tools and infrastructure.
- Fuzzing over the air with 5G is largely uncharted.
Building systems and solutions that haven’t existed before.

Best Part of Working in Government Cybersecurity

Less focus on productivity metrics, more on depth and quality of results.
Projects allow for long-term investigations, targeting critical vulnerabilities.
Success is measured by one or two high-impact outcomes per project, rather than many smaller outputs.

Challenges for New Consultants (First 6–12 Months)

Learning Talecode, a highly specialized skill not taught at university.
Getting up to speed in a new domain (e.g., 5G, advanced cybersecurity concepts).
Adapting to pioneering research and working with unfamiliar tools.