Hey folks! I just finished the AZ-104 and AZ-305 certifications but I'm lacking any real-world experience with Azure. I'm eager to break into the cloud industry, but I'm unsure of the best way to do it. Should I start with personal projects, labs, or something else entirely? I'd love any tips or stories from those who've been in a similar boat. Thanks for your help!
5 Answers
Consider taking on a cloud resume challenge. Having your certs is great, but you need to prove you can actually apply the knowledge.
Have you considered asking to shadow someone on your cloud team? Showing enthusiasm can go a long way, plus you might score some small tasks to get your hands dirty! Setting up labs at home and documenting your process is also a smart move for future interviews.
Certifications are great, but they won't mean much without practical experience. I'm curious about how you managed to get the architect cert; I get the administrator one since it's more hands-on. Maybe you could start with smaller personal projects in your Azure tenant to gain experience?
Start building a GitHub repository showcasing your projects. It’s an effective way to demonstrate your skills to potential employers. They love seeing what you can do!
I’m already working on my GitHub and adding projects to highlight my hands-on skills, thanks!
To snag a junior role, networking is key! Find a company willing to take a chance on you. Your certs show that you can learn, but they usually don’t translate to real-world skills. You might want to start in a related role and move to a Cloud Team later. Familiarity with networking, infrastructure, and management is really important. Good luck!
Thanks for the advice! That makes a lot of sense. I'm focusing on learning more about networking and infrastructure through my projects.
Agreed! Those are the skills that really matter.
Yeah, I hear you! I've been focusing on building some personal projects too.