Meet Franklin

Meet Franklin Madrid, a former Site Reliability and DevOps Engineer with a strong foundation in software development and systems automation. After years of deploying APIs, scaling microservices, and optimizing CI/CD pipelines, Franklin began to crave more direct, high-stakes challenges. That desire for impact and unpredictability led him to join a simulation at CareerSimulator, and it fundamentally reshaped his career path.

“I signed up thinking it would be a fun way to dip my toes into security. I didn’t expect the simulation to be this immersive. I realized this is what I want to be doing.”

Discovering Cybersecurity Through Simulation

Franklin wasn’t completely new to security. He’d already mitigated backend vulnerabilities, and upgraded insecure dependencies. But his exposure was always indirect, and security was a box to check, not a mission.

That changed during the simulation. Franklin joined a live SOC scenario where he had to triage alerts, analyze logs, and determine whether incidents required escalation. The time pressure, collaborative teamwork, and live-fire decision-making reminded him of the best parts of engineering. Except now, the stakes were security, not uptime.

“There was one moment where I had to decide whether an alert was noise or a real threat. I had limited data, time pressure, and a team waiting on my decision.”

A Transformative Experience

Beyond the technical exposure, Franklin emphasized how the simulation honed his ability to communicate clearly under pressure—skills he had developed leading cross-functional deployments and release pipelines, now tested in a whole new domain.

“This wasn’t just a walkthrough or a fake game. It felt like I was on the job. I had to back up my decisions, explain my thought process, and work with people I just met.”

Paving the Way for a Career Pivot

After completing the simulation, Franklin walked away with clarity. He’s now actively pivoting into cybersecurity, sharpening his focus on threat detection and blue team operations. He’s added the simulation to his resume, updated his LinkedIn to reflect his new trajectory, and begun connecting with professionals in the security field.

“The simulation gave me a story to talk about. I can talk about how I handled an alert, how I made a judgment call, and how I worked under pressure.”

Key Skills and Takeaways

During the simulation, Franklin gained high-value, real-world skills that map directly to security roles:

• Alert Triage & Prioritization – Assessed security alerts under pressure, using severity and context to guide action.

• Collaborative Incident Response – Practiced cross-team communication and fast-paced coordination under live conditions.

• Confidence in Action – Built conviction in his ability to operate in a SOC environment and tell the story afterward.

Advice for Others Pivoting into Security

For fellow technical folks on the edge of a career change, Franklin has this advice:

“If you’re curious about this field, try something immersive like this. You don’t need to know everything. Just take the first step. You might realize, like I did, that this is where you belong.

Ready to explore a new career path like Franklin?
Learn more about our live simulations and see how real experience can accelerate your journey.