Hey everyone! I'm currently an experienced DevOps/Cloud Engineer looking to land mid-senior level roles. Although I get quite a few interview calls, I keep facing rejections during the technical interviews. Upon reflecting on my experiences, I've pinpointed two major weaknesses:
Firstly, I haven't had much recent hands-on practice. In my current job, I lead a team and spend a lot of time in meetings, which leaves me with limited opportunities to actually build projects from scratch. My hands-on experience has mostly revolved around AWS, with tasks like reviews, design decisions, and minor changes. Previously, I've done quite a bit in automating DevOps workflows and building CI/CD pipelines, but I feel the need to get my hands dirty again.
I'm looking for platforms that offer real-world tasks or labs where I can actively practice things like Python, Terraform, Kubernetes, Helm, ArgoCD, and CI/CD processes.
Secondly, I find behavioral interviews challenging. I know about the STAR method, but I often struggle to structure my responses clearly during interviews. I want to practice delivering concise STAR answers effectively.
I'm searching for resources or methods to master the STAR technique and any advice from those in similar lead-heavy roles. One key point is that I want to balance this learning without burning out, as I have a full-time job and other commitments. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
Honestly, from what you've shared, it sounds like your current experience might not align with mid or senior DevOps roles just yet. Many of the skills you're looking to learn are expected at those levels. I'd consider looking into more associate roles or maybe a managerial position that better fits your current expertise while you build up those technical skills.
Starting a homelab could be a fantastic way to get some hands-on practice. It allows you to experiment with different tools and deployment strategies without the pressure of a work environment. You can begin with something simple like deploying workloads on a platform like Portainer, then move on to Kubernetes as you gain confidence.
Another tip is to turn real-world problems you encounter at your job into interview questions. Like, think of situations that went wrong or queries developers had, and frame those experiences as questions. It's a great way to practice and prepare for interviews while also reinforcing your knowledge of actual challenges.
I totally agree! Building a homelab is a great idea. You get to troubleshoot real issues and learn through doing, which is way better than just watching videos.