Interviews, CVs and honest salary expectations

What interviewers look for

For entry roles, interviewers do not expect you to know everything. They check three things: do you have solid basics, can you think through a problem calmly, and can you explain clearly? Honest "I do not know, but here is how I would find out" beats a confident wrong answer.

Questions you should be ready for

Scenario answers: think aloud

For scenario questions, structure matters more than the perfect answer. Say what you would check first and why, what evidence would change your mind, and when you would escalate. For behaviour questions ("tell me about a time you…"), use STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Q: You see 500 failed logons (4625) for many users from one internal IP, then one success.
A: First, I identify the source IP: which machine and owner. Second, I check the logon type
   and Sub Status: many "user does not exist" suggests spraying. Third, I look at the account
   that succeeded: what did it do next (4672, 4720, 4732, new processes)? If it looks malicious,
   I escalate as high severity with the evidence and recommend isolating the source machine
   and disabling the account, following the playbook.

Your CV

• One page for freshers. Plain format that applicant tracking systems can read.
• A skills line with real tools you have used (Wireshark, Wazuh, Sysmon, Python, KQL basics).
• Projects section with links to your write-ups and GitHub.
• Certifications with the exact name and exam code where relevant (for example "CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)").
• No exaggeration: anything on your CV can become an interview question.

Honest salary expectations in India

Salaries vary a lot by city (Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, NCR and Mumbai usually pay more), company type (product companies and GCCs usually pay more than smaller service firms), shift allowances, and your skills. Rough ranges, as a guide only:

LPA means lakh per annum. CTC (cost to company) includes items you do not receive monthly in hand, such as provident fund contributions and variable pay. Ask for the in-hand amount and shift allowance in writing.

Avoiding job scams

• No genuine employer asks you to pay for an interview, training, a laptop or a "security deposit".
• Check the company domain of the recruiter's email and look up the company independently.
• Be careful with "work from home, earn ₹50,000 a week" offers; many are task scams.

Common mistakes

• Memorising definitions without examples.
• Saying "I would just block the IP" without checking evidence or impact.
• Talking down about previous employers or teammates.
• Not preparing questions for the interviewer (ask about shifts, training, and what L1 analysts do in a typical week).