I have four years of experience in full-stack development using PHP, Node, Python, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, and front-end frameworks like Vue and React. I'm also familiar with Linux, Nginx, Apache, AWS, Docker, Terraform, Ansible, GitHub, and GitLab pipelines, and I have some basic knowledge of Prometheus and Grafana. Although I've handled some infrastructure deployment in AWS and Digital Ocean, I still feel like I have a lot more to learn. Next month, I'll be interviewing for a mid/senior DevOps engineer position. I prefer DevOps over coding and really want to transition to this role, but I'm feeling insecure about the interview since it's targeted at a higher level. What stack or skills would you recommend I revise or learn to prepare for this interview?
4 Answers
I would advise against trying to learn too much in a short period. Interviews can tell when someone is overly rehearsed, and it won’t be easy to answer in-depth questions confidently. Focus instead on building your confidence in what you already know. It’s better to be honest about your journey into DevOps than to pretend you’ve mastered everything.
Sounds like you're on the right path. Adding Kubernetes knowledge would be beneficial, and make sure to practice system design and problem-solving scenarios. They'll likely test your debugging skills in the interview as well.
I think you should definitely look into Kubernetes. It's becoming essential in the DevOps space. Also, having a good grasp of infrastructure as code is crucial—Terraform and Ansible are great, but make sure you're comfortable with coding in them. You mentioned you're more into infrastructure than app development, but don’t forget that coding skills still matter in DevOps, especially for automation and pipeline setups.
Yeah, exactly! Kubernetes is key, and don't underestimate the importance of writing scripts for deployment and automation. It ties everything together.
They might ask you about Helm charts, which are pretty important. They're not too complex to understand, and it can be helpful to know how to deploy an observability stack using Helm too. It shows you're up to date with the tools in the ecosystem.
I see your point, but I think it’s okay to show enthusiasm for learning. Just being honest about your level of interest and curiosity can go a long way with interviewers!