Hey everyone! I'm currently a sophomore studying Computer Science, but I've realized that I'm really drawn to DevOps more than my actual coursework. I've been exploring Docker and self-hosting for a while, and recently I completed a major personal project where I installed and configured a RKE2 Kubernetes cluster on Proxmox using Terraform, Ansible, and Bash scripts. I'd love to get your thoughts on my project and any advice for my career path because I'm feeling a bit lost.
Here's a brief overview of my setup:
- **Terraform**: I created 12 VMs (6 for development and 6 for production) using reusable modules, organized environment variables for both development and production, set up remote state with Minio, and automated setup with cloud-init.
- **Bash**: I wrote a script to automatically generate my Ansible inventory file from Terraform's JSON configuration.
- **Ansible**: This tool helps initialize my fully functional RKE2 cluster from scratch, which includes:
- kube-vip for control-plane high availability and LoadBalancer services
- Traefik as the ingress controller
- cert-manager for automatic SSL management
- Longhorn for distributed persistent storage
- ArgoCD to prepare for a GitOps workflow.
Additionally, I'm looking for some career guidance. I enjoy automation, platform building, and monitoring but when searching for internships, I mostly see Software Engineer Intern or IT Help Desk roles, not many opportunities specifically for DevOps Internships. I'm questioning whether I should switch majors or if experience in a role like SysAdmin is necessary to transition into DevOps. Also, I'm concerned about the difficulty of getting a Software Engineering internship since I haven't been focusing on typical coding challenges. As an international student, I'm aware that the job market is becoming more competitive, so any advice on focusing my career path and fast-tracking my necessary skills would be greatly appreciated! Here's my GitHub repo for the code if you'd like to check it out: [kubernetes-proxmox](https://github.com/phuchoang2603/kubernetes-proxmox) Thanks in advance for any help!
3 Answers
Your project sounds solid! In the DevOps field, hands-on experience often outweighs having a specific degree, so if you enjoy programming, stick with Computer Science. You might want to look for SysAdmin positions or internships that involve infrastructure automation. Titles like 'DevOps Intern' can be rare, but gaining related experience will definitely help you. Networking and getting some cloud certifications can also give your resume a nice boost!
While I’m not directly involved with DevOps paths, I’m currently integrating HashiCorp Vault with GitHub Actions in my own project. I'm facing a challenge with using MinIO as my Terraform backend because I need access keys from Vault, which creates a dependency loop. Any thoughts on managing this? I’m considering using the HashiCorp Vault Action plugin to load those variables before running terraform init, does that sound workable?
I really like your attention to detail, like making sure your scripts handle errors well. Those are crucial skills in building resilient infrastructure. While degrees can help, real skills—especially the softer ones like communication—are what employers value. I suggest skipping traditional intern roles if you’re confident in your abilities. Apply for junior DevOps positions instead; you have the potential to earn a decent salary while continuing your studies. Just a few courses on soft skills could set you apart!
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