Hey everyone! I've been working in DevOps for the past five years and I'm looking to get a new certification to boost my career—ideally something that helps me increase my salary and job opportunities. I'm torn between the Red Hat RHCSA certification and a couple of Kubernetes options (KCNA, CKAD, CKA).
I have a decent amount of Linux experience, so I see the value in the Red Hat cert. But I'm wondering how relevant it still is in today's cloud-native landscape. On the flip side, Kubernetes seems to be everywhere right now. I'm curious which Kube cert could be more beneficial. Is it better to go deep with Linux knowledge from Red Hat, or should I fully commit to Kubernetes?
I'd love to hear from anyone who has gone through this decision. Did the certs help you land better jobs or increase your pay? Any insights on which path would be smarter for my career in the long run would be super appreciated!
5 Answers
Honestly, if you have real-world DevOps experience, certifications might not even be necessary. However, some companies still want them just to get your foot in the door. If you're leaning towards Kubernetes, I'd recommend the CKA as one of the best picks. It really enhances your understanding of managing workloads in a cluster, which is invaluable these days.
Certifications can definitely open up job opportunities and even improve salary offers. Go for the CKA if you're already on the cloud; it's highly regarded. But remember, nothing beats solid experience. If you're looking for something impactful, pair it with something like AWS Solutions Architect.
If you're looking for certifications that actually help, consider what you’ll be doing in your next job. I've got both CKA and CKAD, but they weren't required for my roles; they mainly count toward partnership requirements for my company. Focus your efforts on certs that align with upcoming projects or tech you'll be working with.
I went with the CKAD a while back, and it was challenging but worth it! It covers designing applications for K8s, which can definitely help you in roles focused on build and deployment. Plus, trust me—real-world skills matter more, but having certs can help you impress HR.
I think starting with the RHCSA is great if your employer is willing to pay for it. It's comprehensive, and you won’t lose that Linux knowledge in the long run. If you later want to tackle Kubernetes, having a strong foundation in Linux will make the CKA exam easier as well. I'd personally suggest going for RHCSA first, then CKA.
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