Table of contents
In this article, you will learn:
- Which AWS and Azure certifications are worth pursuing
- Why developing DevOps skills is crucial
- How to gain practical experience
- Where to look for new contacts in the cloud industry
Become a highly sought-after Cloud Engineer by choosing a development path that genuinely attracts recruiters and opens doors to the highest-paying offers. The key to success lies in strategically selected AWS and Azure certifications, but theory alone is not enough to stand out from the competition. You must focus on practical DevOps skills and building your own project portfolio based on free cloud resources. In this article, you will learn how to optimize your learning process and effectively build a network of contacts in the IT industry to accelerate your career.
Which AWS and Azure certifications are the most valuable?
According to data collected by No Fluff Jobs, 45% of job offers for cloud engineers require knowledge of AWS, while 40% require Microsoft Azure. This means that landing a job as a cloud engineer requires not only knowledge of these technologies but also holding various IT certifications, including free ones – this helps you stand out from other applicants. So, which AWS and Azure certifications can help the most? First, let’s look at Amazon Web Services. The company offers certifications divided into Foundational, Associate, Professional, and Specialty levels. The choice of level depends on your experience working with the cloud. Microsoft Azure, in turn, divides its certifications into Fundamentals, Associate, and Expert levels. Examples of the most popular certifications in both ecosystems include:
- cloud architects will benefit from AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional and Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305);
- administrators will be helped by AWS SysOps Administrator and Azure Administrator (AZ-104);
- DevOps specialists can gain from AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional and Azure DevOps Engineer (AZ-400);
- security specialists should hold AWS Certified Security – Specialty or Azure Security Engineer (AZ-500) certifications;
- data and AI specialists can pursue AWS Data Analytics – Specialty, Azure Data Engineer (DP-203), and Azure AI Engineer (AI-102) certifications.
Regardless of the specific certification chosen, it is worth starting at the Associate or Fundamentals level and gradually moving up.
Why is it worth developing DevOps skills?
To know how to navigate smoothly in cloud environments, it is worth developing DevOps skills, especially since it is one of the most sought-after areas in the job market – according to Statista data, the requirement for DevOps knowledge appeared in 35.5% of job postings in the IT industry in 2023. Companies around the world are implementing DevOps principles to improve efficiency and shorten time-to-market, so they are looking for specialists in this field. It is also good to remember that thanks to process automation and the use of CI/CD practices, DevOps shortens the time for implementing new features and fixes – an Atlassian report shows that 49% of companies using DevOps in their work reported a reduction in the time it takes to implement changes. This allows for faster responses to market needs, which increases competitiveness. DevOps also emphasizes collaboration between development and operations teams – combining roles and responsibilities eliminates “silos” where teams work separately. DevOps specialists bridge teams, which eliminates delays and reduces the likelihood of errors. Thanks to tools like Kubernetes and Docker and cloud platforms like AWS and Azure, DevOps specialists can build systems that scale according to company needs. This is significant because the cloud has become a standard in many companies, so DevOps knowledge is essential for effective resource management, making it an increasingly desirable skill in the job market.
How to gain practical experience working with the cloud?
Gaining practical experience in cloud work requires time and a certain amount of persistence, but when you break this process down into factors, you can see that it is entirely achievable. It helps that most cloud providers offer free plans or free tiers that allow you to experiment with their services without incurring costs. The best way to gain practical experience is by completing projects, such as:
- launching a website on virtual machines like AWS EC2 or Azure VMs;
- using Amazon RDS or Azure SQL Database to create and manage a database;
- managing files in the cloud using Amazon S3 or Azure Blob Storage;
- using AWS Lambda or Azure Functions to create event-driven applications in the cloud (e.g., automated file or log processing).
The above activities should be supplemented with courses – in this context, time is the most important factor, as many resources are available for free. For example, AWS Training and Certification and Microsoft Learn are free platforms that offer tutorials and modules to help you gain practical skills in AWS and Azure. You can also use platforms like Udemy or Coursera, but keep in mind that they may require fees. It is also worth earning certifications – the process of studying for a certification exam provides a solid theoretical foundation and introduces practical exercises. At the same time, it is worth participating in open-source projects – this can be a great way to gain experience and make contacts. Participating in internships and traineeships offered by most IT and technology companies is also a good solution.
How to build a network of contacts in the cloud industry?
Knowledge of how cloud computing works can be a starting point for a career in the cloud industry, but networking can be just as helpful. It is easiest to make contacts in the cloud environment through activity in online communities, e.g., on LinkedIn, Stack Overflow, or Reddit. These platforms have groups and subforums dedicated to the cloud and technology, where you can not only gain knowledge and talk to others but also look for work. Industry events are also a great opportunity to meet people from the cloud industry and build your network. The most important events in this sector include:
- AWS re:Invent,
- Microsoft Ignite,
- Microsoft Build
Although large events may have the greatest impact on career development, do not underestimate the importance of local meetups and webinars – they can also help in making contacts. A consistently effective method for building a network is sharing your knowledge and experiences, which you can do on a blog, LinkedIn, or Twitter – this can attract the attention of other industry professionals and start an exchange of experiences. You should also consider recording videos on YouTube and podcasts, especially since these are increasingly popular formats. Collaborating on open-source projects, e.g., on GitHub, can also be helpful. It is also worth participating in hackathons and competitions (e.g., AWS Activate or Microsoft Imagine Cup), because thanks to them, you can not only win something but also meet people with similar interests and skills.
