Hey folks! I'm reaching out for some guidance as I make the shift into DevOps after a long career in academia and infrastructure. My background includes about a year as a development engineer and nearly eight years as a university lab professor, where I taught and supervised labs focused on networking, Linux, security, and infrastructure.
My expertise leans heavily towards infrastructure, networking, and security, primarily gained through academic environments rather than traditional industry DevOps roles. While I'm comfortable with tasks like configuring networks, managing Linux servers, and implementing security measures, I feel that my academic-focused experience might not resonate with recruiters.
I'm actively working to bridge that gap, diving into hands-on practice with tools and practices like Infrastructure as Code using Terraform, CI/CD with GitHub Actions, Docker containerization, and AWS cloud deployments. I also hold an AWS Cloud Practitioner certification.
Despite my technical background, I'm struggling to break into my first official DevOps or Cloud role as many job postings require a specific DevOps title or production experience. I'd love some advice on the following:
1. **Certifications**: Is pursuing the AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification a logical next step? Should I consider adding Azure certifications or focus solely on AWS?
2. **Projects**: Do my personal projects genuinely count in the eyes of employers, and what types of projects have been impactful for others?
3. **Entry roles**: Are positions like SysAdmin, Cloud Engineer, SRE, or Platform Engineer good stepping stones? Which roles have helped others transition most swiftly?
I'm really confident in my foundation and motivated to learn, but I want to ensure I'm making the right moves to cross that barrier into a DevOps role. Any insights, experiences, or reality checks would be appreciated. Thanks!
4 Answers
You are definitely well-positioned for DevOps! Your background in infrastructure, Linux, networking, and security gives you a huge advantage. I recommend sticking to one cloud provider like AWS and pursuing the Solutions Architect Associate certification. Keep building practical projects that mimic production environments, and aim for roles such as Cloud Engineer or Platform Engineer to ease your transition.
Honestly, I’d be more inclined to hire someone with a solid networking and ops background over someone with many certs but no practical experience. Cloud concepts aren’t hard, but being able to troubleshoot and resolve complex issues is key.
Use the free tiers for AWS or Azure to build a boilerplate app in a container and host it. Automate the process using GitHub Actions, incorporate unit tests, and manage TLS termination through a gateway. Understanding DNS and how web services function from a user's perspective will also set you apart. If you have more questions, feel free to reach out!
Remember, DevOps isn’t just about cloud roles. It’s about the process and culture of development, not just the tools. While a systems admin background helps, the focus should be on learning the operational side within product teams rather than traditional IT operations. This can shift your career in the right direction.
Your resume already screams 'DevOps Engineer'—you just need to word it right! Replace 'lab professor' with terms like 'infrastructure automation' or 'cloud engineering' and you'll likely see a spike in responses.
The AWS Solutions Architect certification is a great choice, but make sure to showcase real projects on GitHub that display your Terraform skills and end-to-end deployments. Focus on roles like 'cloud engineer' where the title isn't as gatekept. Depth is more appealing than a collection of certs.
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