Embarking on a career in the cloud is akin to stepping into a realm of endless possibilities, it's normal to be greeted by a flurry of questions. Let's unravel the mystery surrounding cloud careers and find the path that suits you. There are several important questions to consider. Some of which include:
1. What is the cloud?
2. Which Cloud Service Provider (CSP) is the right fit for me?
3.What are my career goals within the cloud space?
4. How can I get started?
5. What is the current and future landscape of the cloud industry?
Let’s tackle these questions below…
1.What is the cloud?
Amazon Web services defines it as:
Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of compute power, database, storage, applications, and other IT resources through a cloud services platform via the internet with pay-as-you-go pricing.
Azure defines it as:
Simply put, cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. You typically pay only for cloud services you use, helping you lower your operating costs, run your infrastructure more efficiently, and scale as your business needs change.
Google cloud defines it as:
Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computing resources (such as storage and infrastructure), as services over the internet. It eliminates the need for individuals and businesses to self-manage physical resources themselves, and only pay for what they use.
From the definitions above by the top 3 cloud computing giants, we can gather that cloud computing must comprise of the following elements:
a) On-demand computing services,
b) Delivered over the internet,
c) With pay as you go pricing.
2. Which CSP is the right fit for me?
To answer this, first delve into your motivation to join the cloud. For a select few, they are just generally curious about any IT related field and therefore the decision to choose a cloud provider may be based on which technology they are tinkering with at the time. However, for most people, they are looking to start, change into or strengthen their careers in the cloud. For these individuals, choosing a cloud vendor is a decision that cannot be taken lightly.
Among the various considerations to ponder include:
a) Market Share: Which cloud provider has the greatest market share overall but more specifically in the region where I want to work?
b) Certifications: Which cloud provider offers market recognized licenses and certifications that are in high demand and are reputable?
c) Learning Resources: Does the cloud provider have paid or free resources which I can use to learn, practice and deploy with little to no effort?
d) Support and Reputation: Does the cloud provider offer well written supporting documentation for their services and / or live / recorded video demonstrations?
e) Work Flexibility: Once I choose a vendor, can I get work locally, remotely or both? Is there a demand for experts within the domain of the chosen CSP?
f) Reputation: What is the reputation of the CSP within the local community? Do clients sing praises about them? If there are any issues, can you solve them or find ways to work around them?
3. What are my career goals within the cloud space?
Clarify your career goals before diving in. Choosing a cloud provider may be the first choice to make but figuring out your career goals may be an even more important decision. There are a myriad of roles in the cloud and this may tend to confuse. However, the skills required for each role are fairly standard, I would advise that rather than getting bogged down on choosing a role, one can do some research on the various jobs available and jot down the required skills needed to do the job. Next I would hone my expertise in these given skills. This is a much better approach because one company might describe certain tasks for role A whilst another company might determine that those same tasks fall under the purview of role B. Therefore, it is better to learn all the skills required to excel at both role A and B and start applying to jobs of the same or a similar classification.
4. How can I get started?
Getting started typically requires one to get hands on skills. For the sake of the job market, these hands-on skills are acquired by practice and evidenced through documentation or certifications. The simple truth is that recruiters get thousands of applications for each job post, hence to get noticed as a viable candidate requires one to firstly get the necessary certifications for the role and then go above and beyond to demonstrate mastery by documenting their skills. The documentation can be done by doing projects of varying complexity and recording the whole process through channels such as YouTube, Medium, Hashnode etc. These will serve as proof that you are not only a master at your craft, but that you can replicate the project, defend the choices taken and explain the various considerations.
5. What is the current and future landscape of the cloud industry?
The cloud is constantly evolving at a rapid pace therefore one must always be at the top of their game. One must stay informed about the latest trends, innovations, and industry developments in the cloud space. This includes monitoring advancements in technologies like serverless computing, edge computing, and hybrid cloud. Understanding the broader context will help you make informed decisions about your career path and potential areas for specialization.
Remember that the cloud industry is dynamic, and continuous learning is essential. Regularly assess your skills, stay updated on industry trends, and adapt your learning path accordingly.
Conclusion: In the event that the foregoing seems overwhelming, close your eyes and dip your toes into the cloud. The journey to mastery is one to be enjoyed! Do this by opening an account at your prefered vendor and following tutorials.
Practice makes perfect; sooner rather than later, you will find a home in the cloud and apply your skills valiantly.
#cloud #cloud-computing #cloud-native #dev #devops