I'm currently working as a DevOps engineer contractor at a MAANG company. My role primarily focuses on supporting a web app with CI/CD pipelines, but I have limited visibility into the application program or architectural decisions. Since we rely on platform teams for managing the clusters and overall operations, troubleshooting issues at the infrastructure or network level has become challenging for me. Additionally, all the tools we use are in-house. As I consider looking for a job outside of these companies, I'm concerned about my lack of real-time experience with commonly used tools and enterprise-level environments. What strategies should I adopt to enhance my skills and prepare for interviews?
3 Answers
Honestly, it sounds like you're just a low-skill admin and not really engaging as a DevOps Engineer. But hey, everyone starts somewhere—just keep learning!
To improve your chances, start learning open-source technologies since the internal tools can make things tough when looking for jobs elsewhere. Focus on tools like Kubernetes, Docker, Rancher, Python, and Go. Expanding your skillset with popular DevOps tools can help you become more versatile. Remember, as a contractor, you might feel limited in what you can do, but investing time in learning these skills will pay off.
I recently interviewed someone for a lower-level position who claimed to have contracted for Meta, but their lack of experience with common enterprise systems made it tough. I ended up choosing another candidate. Just sharing my experience to highlight the importance of familiarity with these tools.
You're definitely on the right path! Most of the time, issues in environments you won't have visibility into stem from network or storage problems rather than the application itself. Learning about those underlying technologies can make a big difference.
I'm currently taking a basic course on Udemy. However, during interviews, I find that they're often asking for real-time job experiences. How can I bridge that gap and secure a full-time position?