Before CyberUp, Louis Sinn was already developing the skills cybersecurity demands. He had worked in retail management, earned a master’s degree in business finance, spent time in financial advising, and taught himself programming while exploring what came next.
His career path had not followed a straight line, but every step gave him something valuable: business knowledge, problem-solving experience, discipline, and the ability to keep learning when the path ahead was unclear.
Cybersecurity started to feel like the right fit because it matched the way Louis already thought.
“I’ve always loved a game or a challenge,” Louis said. “And I love puzzles.” But for Louis, cybersecurity was not just about solving technical problems. It was about protecting people. He saw how scams, data breaches, social engineering, and cyber threats had become part of everyday life, and he wanted to help change that.
When Louis moved back to St. Louis, he began looking for a way to turn his interest and self-taught technical skills into a real career opportunity. Traditional job searching was not getting him where he wanted to go. Then he found CyberUp.
At first, Louis wondered if the opportunity was real. CyberUp seemed to offer exactly what had been missing from his job search: structure, support, and a connection to the cybersecurity industry.
“They sound like they’re offering a lot,” Louis said. “Then I realized it was a nonprofit.”
For Louis, that made the opportunity feel different. CyberUp was not just offering training. It was built to help people connect their potential to real career pathways.
Through CyberUp’s LevelUp Training, Louis gained more than preparation for cybersecurity concepts. He gained real-world context. Before the program, he had mostly thought about cybersecurity from a technical standpoint. LevelUp helped him understand what businesses are actually dealing with, which threats are affecting organizations, where to find reliable information, and how technical knowledge connects to practical workplace needs.
Louis already had the curiosity and technical drive. CyberUp helped him strengthen the professional tools around it, including his resume, interview readiness, and confidence speaking with industry professionals. He credits resume support as one of the most valuable parts of the experience.
“I wasn’t getting any interviews anywhere,” Louis said. “It was nice to have someone sit down and really talk through all the finer points of it.”
The mock interview experience also made a lasting impact. Louis said the volunteers took the process seriously, and the experience helped him build connections with real industry professionals. It gave him a clearer sense of what employers were looking for and helped him feel more prepared for future conversations.
For Louis, CyberUp’s support came from many directions. Instructors helped break down technical concepts, industry professionals brought real-world examples into the classroom, and classmates challenged each other through discussion, review, and hands-on practice.
That mix mattered. Louis was not just memorizing information for a certification exam. He was learning how to think through problems, explain what he was seeing, and apply the material in ways that felt connected to real cybersecurity work.
“There were all these different approaches,” Louis said. “We got hands-on practice, so every type of learning was covered.”
Now, Louis is continuing his cybersecurity journey through an apprenticeship opportunity and staying connected to CyberUp by volunteering with PowerUp, where he helps introduce younger students to cybersecurity and online safety.
His advice for anyone considering cybersecurity is to stay curious, keep learning, and give yourself permission to pursue a path that may not look traditional. For Louis, the first step was not having every answer. It was being willing to keep going until the right opportunity came into focus.
“You may not know whether cybersecurity is the right fit until you try it,” Louis said. “It’s a broad field, and there may be a path in it that matches your strengths.”
Jessica’s cybersecurity journey continues with a strong foundation. After completing her apprenticeship, she shared that she plans to keep learning and continue pursuing additional certifications as she grows in her role.
Her experience gave her more than technical knowledge. It helped her build confidence, apply feedback, strengthen her problem-solving skills, and better understand the day-to-day work of cybersecurity analysts.
Jessica’s advice to future apprentices is simple and honest:
“Push through the challenges and enjoy the journey.”
That advice reflects the reality of starting a new career path. There will be new terminology to learn, tools that take time to understand, and moments when the next step feels uncertain. But Jessica’s experience shows that those moments are part of the process.
By staying engaged, applying feedback, and continuing to learn, she turned uncertainty into confidence and an apprenticeship into a full-time cybersecurity career.
Jessica’s apprenticeship shows how much growth can happen when someone has the opportunity to learn on the job, receive support, and keep improving through each new challenge.
Congratulations, Jessica. Your hard work and persistence helped you take an important step forward in your cybersecurity career, and we’re proud to share your story.
If you're an employer looking for driven, hands-on cybersecurity talent like Louis, CyberUp’s Apprenticeship Program can connect you with candidates who are trained, motivated, and ready to contribute on day one.
If you’re curious about cybersecurity but don’t yet have your CompTIA Security+ certification, CyberUp’s LevelUp Training program might be the perfect place to start. We provide accessible, self-paced training to help you earn your certification and prepare for apprenticeship opportunities.