I'm currently a master's student specializing in computer networks and I have an undergrad in computer engineering/software engineering. Lately, I've been having a tough time with job hunting. I've noticed that many job postings favor candidates with experience in cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP. I want to improve my resume to boost my employability.
I've dabbled in AWS during my master's program through some basic labs, where I set up a cloud system involving routing, ACLs, IAM, and S3. However, I don't think that project is substantial enough to feature on my resume. My question is: Should I invest my time in studying for a certification, or should I focus more on doing a significant hands-on project with AWS? I'm concerned about spending money on certification if it's not truly beneficial.
2 Answers
Certifications are numerous, but if you build something unique, you'll stand out much more. In my experience, having a unique project can be the best way to differentiate yourself from the certification crowd. What I've observed is that candidates with specific, interesting projects get a lot of attention.
Definitely! Just make sure to document it well. GitHub is a great way to showcase your code.
I think both aspects are important, but you should lean more towards hands-on experience. Certifications can validate your skills, but they don't mean much if you don't have practical experience to back them up. When we've hired AWS certified folks, some lacked real skills because they crammed for the exam rather than actually using the platforms. Hands-on experience will definitely give you a better edge in interviews.
So, what kind of projects would you recommend for hands-on experience?
Absolutely, real experience and learning from mistakes is crucial! You should look into real-world use cases.
That’s a good point! Do you think something complex, like a data-driven website on AWS that showcases various AWS services, would make a solid project?