Do I Really Need Kubernetes Experience to Stay Relevant in DevOps?

It's possible to get a job without Kubernetes experience, especially if you can learn on the job. However, make sure you're ready to put in some study time at home to bridge that gap. It's a good idea to pick up some knowledge before hitting the job market, as many positions nowadays expect some familiarity with K8s.

It's becoming increasingly critical to have Kubernetes experience as companies lean more towards it. If you’re stuck in a place that hasn’t adopted this tech, it could be challenging moving forward. Don't get discouraged, though—use your time wisely to learn, and you'll be better positioned for future opportunities!

Start with a basic course to grasp the fundamentals, then deploy something practical on k3s to get your hands dirty. There are plenty of GitHub resources for CKAD certification that you can use, which are perfect for learning application deployment. Many companies rely on tools like Istio for networking and Helm for chart management, so get inspired by existing cluster implementations to build your own. Once you nail the basics, you’ll see that Kubernetes has a vast ecosystem that nobody can master entirely, but problem-solving skills are key!

You could propose using Kubernetes to your current employer as a cost-saving measure. Since Fargate is pricier than using EC2 with EKS, if you present a cost analysis showing potential savings, it might give them the incentive to invest in Kubernetes at your workplace. Plus, with your current experience in managing containers, you're already halfway there!

You're definitely not cooked! Honestly, you can learn a lot about Kubernetes without needing to rely on fancy setups. Using something like k3s on your laptop, you can create a few GitHub repositories to experiment with GitOps practices. For example, have one repo for your app with GitHub Actions for Docker builds, another for cluster setup, and a third for GitOps workflows. That way, when you push your changes, the deployment process becomes an automatic breeze! I'd totally consider hiring someone who shows initiative with that kind of setup and can discuss their journey.

You're not entirely "cooked," but not having K8s experience can be a setback when job hunting. I suggest trying to set up a small cluster, maybe starting with K3D, which is lightweight and easy to manage. Kubernetes is indeed prevalent in many companies, especially in hybrid and enterprise setups—it's just the way things are trending nowadays.