Ethical Hacker Career Inside the Banking Industry Explained

Month 1 — Daily Schedule:
7:00 AM — Wake up, exercise (30 min)
8:00 AM — Review goals for the day
9:00 AM — Deep work (3 hours)
   - Week 1: Networking fundamentals
   - Week 2: Linux command line
   - Week 3: Security concepts and banking regulations
   - Week 4: Cryptography basics
12:00 PM — Lunch break
1:00 PM — Practice (labs, terminal, Wireshark)
2:00 PM — Deep work (2 hours)
5:00 PM — Review progress, plan tomorrow
6:00 PM — Exercise, rest
8:00 PM — Read documentation (30 min)
10:00 PM — Wind down

Week 1 Review:
□ Do I understand TCP/IP and DNS?
□ Can I explain how HTTP works?
□ Do I know what a firewall does?

Week 2 Review:
□ Can I navigate the Linux file system?
□ Do I understand file permissions?
□ Can I manage processes and services?

Week 3 Review:
□ Do I understand the CIA triad?
□ Can I name common cyber threats?
□ Do I know key banking regulations?

Week 4 Review:
□ Do I understand symmetric vs asymmetric encryption?
□ Can I explain how TLS works?
□ Do I know what hashing is used for?

Month 2 — Daily Schedule:
7:00 AM — Wake up, exercise (30 min)
8:00 AM — Review goals for the day
9:00 AM — Deep work (3 hours)
   - Week 5: Reconnaissance and scanning
   - Week 6: Exploitation basics
   - Week 7: Web application pentesting
   - Week 8: Reporting and documentation
12:00 PM — Lunch break
1:00 PM — Hands-on labs (TryHackMe, Hack The Box)
2:00 PM — Deep work (2 hours)
5:00 PM — Review progress, plan tomorrow
6:00 PM — Exercise, rest
8:00 PM — Read documentation (30 min)
10:00 PM — Wind down

Week 5 Review:
□ Can I perform OSINT?
□ Can I scan a network?
□ Have I enumerated a target?

Week 6 Review:
□ Do I understand exploitation?
□ Can I use Metasploit?
□ Have I exploited a lab vulnerability?

Week 7 Review:
□ Do I understand OWASP Top 10?
□ Can I use Burp Suite?
□ Have I found a web vulnerability?

Week 8 Review:
□ Can I write a pentest report?
□ Do I understand risk ratings?
□ Is my report complete?

Month 3 — Daily Schedule:
7:00 AM — Wake up, exercise (30 min)
8:00 AM — Review goals for the day
9:00 AM — Deep work (3 hours)
   - Week 9: Banking regulations
   - Week 10: Red teaming concepts
   - Week 11: Interview prep
   - Week 12: Applications and research
12:00 PM — Lunch break
1:00 PM — Networking and follow-ups
2:00 PM — Deep work (2 hours)
5:00 PM — Review progress, plan tomorrow
6:00 PM — Exercise, rest
8:00 PM — Interview prep (30 min)
10:00 PM — Wind down

Week 9 Review:
□ Do I understand TIBER-EU?
□ Do I know what DORA requires?
□ Do I understand PCI DSS basics?

Week 10 Review:
□ Do I understand threat intelligence?
□ Can I explain adversary simulation?
□ Do I know what a TIBER test involves?

Week 11 Review:
□ Have I practiced technical questions?
□ Have I done mock interviews?
□ Can I explain my lab work clearly?

Week 12 Review:
□ Have I sent 25 quality applications?
□ Have I researched target banks?
□ Have I followed up?

Daily Tracker:
Date: _________
☐ Morning routine completed
☐ Deep work session 1 (3 hours)
☐ Deep work session 2 (2 hours)
☐ Hands-on lab completed
☐ Project work completed
☐ Exercise completed
☐ Reviewed progress
☐ Planned tomorrow

Today's Accomplishments:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Tomorrow's Priorities:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Weekly Tracker:
Week: _____ (Month 1 / 2 / 3)

Goals for this week:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Daily Progress:
Mon: ☐☐☐
Tue: ☐☐☐
Wed: ☐☐☐
Thu: ☐☐☐
Fri: ☐☐☐
Sat: ☐☐☐
Sun: ☐☐☐

Weekly Wins:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Challenges & Solutions:
1. 
2. 

Next Week's Goals:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Monthly Tracker:
Month: _____ (1 / 2 / 3)

Monthly Goal:
_______________________________________________

Week 1 Progress: ☐☐☐
Week 2 Progress: ☐☐☐
Week 3 Progress: ☐☐☐
Week 4 Progress: ☐☐☐

Monthly Wins:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Skills Gained:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Portfolio Items:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Applications Sent: _____
Interviews: _____
Offers: _____

Next Month's Goal:
_______________________________________________