Cybersecurity Student Seeks Advice on Certification Path and Job Market Preparedness

The poster is a second-year cybersecurity student 72% through the HTB CPTS path, aiming to graduate in 2026. They express concern about job market demands favoring OSCP, which they cannot afford, and outline a plan to complete CPTS, earn AWS Solutions Architect (Associate), Security+, and CFA Investment Foundations certifications. They seek feedback on whether CPTS will gain recognition, how to demonstrate skills without OSCP, and whether PNPT is a viable alternative. Their goal is to position themselves as a "business-aligned hacker" with a fintech/banking security focus.