Hey all! I'm reaching out because I'm in a bit of a tough spot at my first job as a DevOps engineer, where I've been for about nine months now. My experience hasn't really matched what I was promised during my internship. While I wanted to work on creating Terraform modules, I ended up mostly helping with GitLab CI/CD, scripting in Python and Bash, and managing Kubernetes deployments. My team is mainly just backend and frontend devs, so I'm often left alone with my tasks since not many understand DevOps. Although I've picked up things like Terraform, monitoring with Prometheus, and even assisted in deploying apps outside my team, I feel overwhelmed and somewhat underutilized. I'm worried about job security given that the company's Cloud Team isn't very effective, and I feel like I'm always waiting for someone to call me out on my lack of progress. Is this common in the DevOps field? Should I start looking for a new job, or is my limited experience holding me back? Any advice would be appreciated!
5 Answers
It sounds like you're in a similar boat to many others. I wouldn't worry too much about getting fired - it’s more common than you'd think to be the only DevOps person in a team. What can be annoying, though, is that your career might stagnate because you're doing solo work without any real mentorship or feedback. These kinds of environments can sometimes slow your growth over time.
I disagree about it killing your career in the long term. Being a one-person team means you gain a lot of experience quickly. Focus on improving your skills while implementing good practices, and you can find a new role in about a year.
Another perspective is that you have the freedom to set the standards for DevOps in your organization. If you take on strategic projects, you can shape the role however you want. It takes time to build your reputation, but it sounds like you are driven!
Since your work environment seems chill and management isn't breathing down your neck, consider discussing your feelings of being stuck with them. Don't let being quiet make it seem like you're comfortable. It’s better to express your need for more challenging work now, rather than later.
Honestly, you can take a couple of paths here: You could ride it out, keep doing self-directed projects, and make a career out of it in the right environment. Or, you could jump ship to a company that’s struggling and work your magic there. Both can be really beneficial if you build a good reputation as a fixer.
That’s a good point! It’s definitely possible to establish yourself as a valuable asset if you choose the right company that needs help.
Exactly! You could definitely gain a lot of experience and connections that way.
Welcome to the DevOps world! Being the only one who knows your stuff happens a lot. It’s just part of the ride, and it can be pretty rewarding if you adapt!
Why haven't you considered moving to a different company if you feel like it’s stagnating your career? It can be tough to spot growth opportunities without mentorship.