Hey everyone! I'm starting my new job as a Platform Engineer next Monday after spending about four years as a developer. I'm really excited about this change because I love working with infrastructure and pipelines. Has anyone else gone through a similar career shift? What tips do you have for making the transition a success, or maybe things that made it tough for you? I'd appreciate any good resources like books or courses that could help me get up to speed quickly. Thanks a lot!
6 Answers
Welcome to the community! I'd highly recommend 'The Unicorn Project.' It's a fictional story, so it's easier to digest, and teaches key concepts really well. Also, 'The DevOps Handbook' is super useful, though a bit dry. If you're looking for something that gets into theoretical aspects, 'The Goal' is great. If you're aiming for a leadership position, check out 'Wiring the Winning Organization.' I'd read them in that order. Good luck on your journey!
Can I have your old developer job? I'm really tired of operations right now!
Haha, I get that! What’s been making ops so tough for you?
I switched from Data Science to a Platform role four years ago, and I really enjoy it! You get to create tools and automation to make life easier for others. A big part of the job is implementing CI/CD and managing infrastructure. Just keep in mind that not everyone will be on board with new tools, so clear onboarding and documentation are key. Also, be prepared for the fact that you're often the go-to person when things break, which can be a bit stressful since the business doesn't always recognize your efforts like they do with developers. It’s often a behind-the-scenes job!
That's a good point! Do you have insights on the boundaries of DevOps responsibilities? We're trying to figure out if we need a specific role for managing our logging and monitoring tools.
Good luck with your new role! Do you have any background with cloud providers or Linux? That knowledge will definitely help you in Platform Engineering.
Yes, I mostly work with AWS and have some experience with GCP. I've used Linux on my personal machines too!
Congrats on the switch! Just a heads up: you might find yourself frustrated at first when developers expect you to make Docker work like it’s magic! It can be a learning curve, but hang in there and focus on enabling devs to code without getting stuck on roadblocks.
Just remember, your main goal is to help developers focus on coding and minimize obstacles. Everything you do should aim to support their work.
Thanks for sharing! I’ve had 'The Unicorn Project' on my list for a while and I’ll start with that one.