CyberWire Daily – Career Notes: Joe Carrigan — "Build your network."

Date: September 28, 2025
Host: N2K Networks
Guest: Joe Carrigan, Senior Security Engineer, Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute

Episode Overview

This Career Notes episode features Joe Carrigan, a senior security engineer at Johns Hopkins University. He shares the winding path that led him into cybersecurity, the importance of networks (both human and digital), concerns about public cyber hygiene, and advice for those building their careers. Carrigan’s candid reflections on his early career missteps, passion for education, and emotional resilience bring insight and encouragement for anyone considering a career in cybersecurity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Interests and Meandering Career Path

• Joe describes himself as "kind of aimless" in his youth, with no set career direction.
• Earliest exposure to computers began in 1981 with an Osborne computer:

  “I enjoy playing with this and writing code and I actually taught myself how to write BASIC…” (01:17)

• First significant realization about computers came when encountering IBM-compatible systems, feeling out of depth due to lack of exposure to DOS.
• A detour into high school theater and mass communications made him briefly believe he'd be a “radio guy.”
• Failed an introductory computer class in college — “it was a terrible course. I straight up got an F in that course.” (03:00)

Career Transitions and the Importance of Serendipity

• After abandoning radio due to industry consolidation, he tried sales:

  “I probably suck at sales, and I do. I am terrible at sales. I couldn't sell a lifesaver to a drowning man…” (04:32)

• Exit from sales was abrupt:

  "...walked into my office with my two weeks notice in hand, and they are sitting at my desk as my replacement." (05:10)

• A chance encounter with a stranger needing a ride “changed everything.” When asked about his technical skills, the stranger encouraged Joe to get into IT immediately:

  “You know what you should do is you should get into tech right now. Get into some kind of IT, either administration or software development, do something to get into the tech field and do that.” (05:52)

Education and Skill Development

• Motivated by the encounter and wife’s encouragement, enrolled in a second bachelor’s program for computer and information science:

  “Started on that to get a degree in computer and information science, which was like a computer science degree, but without the math requirement, because I didn't think I was good at math.” (06:15)

• First IT job: Netware administration, tech support, and help desk.
• Progression to junior programming, then back to defense contracting, eventually pursuing a master’s in computer science.

Finding a Professional Home and The Value of Mentorship

• Worked with a Hopkins professor who became a job connection:

  “So I came in here and Avi was kind enough to say, yeah, Joe's a good guy. He knows what he's doing.” (07:13)

• Stresses the importance of mentors and reputation in career growth.

Concerns about Public Cybersecurity Practices

• Deeply concerned about society’s general lack of cyber hygiene and resulting risks for individuals:

  “What we call cyber hygiene. When they don't practice good cyber hygiene, what kind of risk that puts them at.” (07:18)

• Discusses work on a statewide survey to assess risk for Maryland residents.
• Emphasizes the devastating impact of malicious scams on individuals:

  “When you hear the story about somebody who's struggling to get by and they've gotten hit by an employment scam and now they can't pay their rent, that's heartbreaking.” (08:02)
  “Or when you hear the story of the elderly person who got hooked into a romance scam and has lost literally all of their money. …It’s terrible what happens, and how do we stop that from happening? I think public education is the way to go about doing [it].” (08:20)

Professional Resilience & Emotional Balance

• Talks about coping with the emotional weight of negative news:

  “I’m actually pretty good at emotionally detaching from things… Maybe too good at it. Sometimes, though, it does kind of get me down. And I find that friends and family are a good way to help with that.” (08:40)

• References the “rocks in the jar” analogy for prioritizing life and maintaining resilience.

Career Advice – The Power of Networking

• Core advice: “Build a network.”

  “Everybody you work with is a connection in your network and you will have no better group of people to work with down the road when it comes time for you to make a move or for you to go looking for somebody to fill a position in your organization.” (09:05)

• Calculated the source of various jobs — over two-thirds came from his network, not recruiters:

  "Turns out just over 2/3 of them came from my network and 1/3 of them came from recruiters. These people in your network know what your strengths and your weaknesses are already." (09:30)

• Practical advice: “Do your best to demonstrate your worth to people that you think will be in your network for the long haul and build relationships with people.” (09:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On early discovery:

  "I actually taught myself how to write BASIC on that and it was a lot of fun to play with." (01:25)

• On sales:

  “I couldn't sell a lifesaver to a drowning man.” (04:36)

• On chance advice:

  “Get into tech right now. Get into some kind of IT… do that now.” (05:56)

• On the heartbreak of scams:

  “When you hear the story about somebody who's struggling to get by and they've gotten hit by an employment scam… that's heartbreaking.” (08:02)

• On building a career network:

  “Build a network. Everybody you work with is a connection in your network…” (09:05)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:17 — Discovering computers and self-learning BASIC
• 03:00 — Failing introductory computer class
• 04:32 — “Terrible at sales” and impact on career decisions
• 05:52 — Pivotal car ride and advice to enter IT
• 07:13 — Finding mentorship and opportunities at Johns Hopkins
• 08:02–08:20 — Emotional impact of scams; insecurity in cyber hygiene
• 09:05 — The power of building a professional network

Summary Takeaways

Joe Carrigan’s episode offers a frank, engaging look at the unpredictability of career paths in cybersecurity, the importance of proactive networking, and the human side of technical vigilance. He underscores the necessity of public education around cyber risks and emphasizes human connection as key to both career building and emotional resilience. For newcomers and veterans alike, Carrigan’s story is a reminder that professional journeys may be winding, but relationships and reputation are lasting assets.