# North Star Applied Cybersecurity Experience Pilot

## Student Guide

> **Program preview:** This sample guide illustrates a proposed small-cohort model. North Star is not currently accepting participants into this pilot. Final scope, title, schedule, and verification terms require an approved program agreement.

North Star Security helps learners convert foundational training into evidence that they can investigate, document, explain, and defend cybersecurity work.

This small-cohort pilot is not another certification course and does not guarantee employment. Participants complete structured, simulated work, receive feedback, and build truthful, employer-readable evidence of their capabilities.

## What you will produce

A funded pilot would be designed to help successful participants finish with:

- A baseline skills assessment
- At least two reviewed cybersecurity work products
- A SOC-style incident report
- An evidence-backed technical finding or assessment
- A sanitized portfolio package
- Resume bullets tied to work actually completed
- Interview stories based on real pilot activities
- A final competency scorecard
- A verified participation record

## Six-week path

| Week | Focus | Required outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Onboarding and baseline | Agreements, availability, career target, and baseline assessment completed |
| 1 | Investigate | Complete Lab 001 and submit an incident report |
| 2 | Document | Revise the report using reviewer feedback and evidence standards |
| 3 | Assess | Complete an instructor-issued vulnerability or control-assessment task |
| 4 | Collaborate | Work a team case, communicate status, and meet a defined deadline |
| 5 | Explain | Build a sanitized portfolio artifact, resume bullets, and interview story |
| 6 | Defend and verify | Present the work, complete final review, and receive the verified record if standards are met |

## Weekly rhythm

- One assigned case or deliverable
- One short status update
- One review or office-hours checkpoint
- One revision window
- One documented reflection on what changed after feedback

## Performance standard

North Star evaluates five areas:

1. **Investigation** - identifies relevant evidence and follows a defensible process.
2. **Documentation** - produces clear, complete, reviewable work.
3. **Judgment** - separates confirmed facts, assumptions, and unknowns.
4. **Communication** - gives concise updates, asks useful questions, and meets deadlines.
5. **Professionalism** - protects information, accepts feedback, and represents work honestly.

## Student rules

- Complete your own work. Collaboration must be disclosed.
- Never submit sensitive, customer, employer, or proprietary data.
- Clearly separate confirmed evidence from assumptions.
- Do not exaggerate tools, responsibilities, hours, titles, or outcomes.
- Meet deadlines or communicate early when blocked.
- Revise work after feedback; the first draft is not expected to be perfect.
- Use AI only when the assignment permits it and disclose material AI assistance.

## Employment and verification

North Star verifies only participation, work, dates, responsibilities, and competencies supported by program records. Completion does not guarantee an interview, job offer, or employment.

The final program title and participation terms depend on the approved program agreement and applicable requirements. Participants must use the exact approved title and factual description on resumes and LinkedIn.

## Start here

1. Read this guide.
2. Complete the onboarding checklist.
3. Download and complete North Star Lab 001.
4. Submit the incident report and weekly status update by the assigned deadline.
5. Keep copies of every submitted and reviewed artifact.