The Dying Skill Every Job Seeker Needs

Tucker Green, CISSP may be an expert in all things tech, but he never forgets the people behind it all, and he makes those relationships the priority.

In today’s Landed Not Handed interview, Tucker shares:
- Why positive energy can make or break an interview
- The “dying skill” we can’t afford to lose
- The biggest challenges and pain points leaders should watch out for

What are some key takeaways from your career transitions?

No matter what position you’re in, find something unique and learn from it. At the Air Force, I knew being able to say I worked on Air Force One would open doors. In the FBI, I dove deep into traffic and malware analysis because I knew I wouldn’t get that chance anywhere else. In my last position, I learned about quantum computing, something I never thought I’d touch, just by working with the people around me. Capitalize on those opportunities.

How do you evaluate if someone will be a good fit for your team?

I usually know from the second they walk through the door. The energy they bring matters a lot. Knowledge is important, but if that first impression and energy aren’t there, it’s hard to look past it. Try to be someone who brings life to the room. Everyone’s nervous in an interview, but if you can swallow the nerves, be engaged, and speak to your experience, it shows. People want to listen to that more than someone who’s hard to talk to.

What’s a common mistake candidates make?

Negativity. Don’t come into an interview bashing your old boss. That makes me think you’ll talk the same way about me later. Negativity spreads fast. Leave it at home.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in leading or hiring a team?

Learning to work with all different types of people. Loud, quiet, overbearing, you’ve got to find common ground and put them where they’ll succeed. You don’t have to know everything yourself. I’ll be the first to say I don’t. But I know people who do, and I’m good with people. That goes further than textbook knowledge.

What is your advice to job seekers?

Don’t be afraid to take that entry-level role. You can hold out for higher pay and stay jobless for years, or you can get your foot in the door, build people skills, teamwork, and learn a ton technically. Also, networking is huge. Reach out on LinkedIn, find a mentor, go to lunch with someone. That’s gotten me hired faster than any “easy apply.”

What’s one skill or trait that will be essential moving forward?

Troubleshooting. Being able to figure out a problem before running to someone else. I tell my team: Google it, ask AI, try to solve it yourself. If you still can’t, then ask an engineer, and then bring it to me. Even basic things like if a computer won’t turn on, check the charger first before replacing the motherboard.

Troubleshooting is a dying skill. And while AI is great, the more you lean on that alone, the less you learn to troubleshoot for yourself.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us, Tucker!

If you’re interested in learning more about Tucker, connect with him on LinkedIn here.