I've been feeling a bit down because I really want to become a DevOps engineer, but I'm uncertain if I'm on the right path. It feels like my progress is slow. I'm looking for advice on what I can do to excel in DevOps before I start applying for jobs. To give you some context, I've been working as a Tier 2 help desk technician for almost five years now. Currently, I'm at WGU pursuing a software engineering degree and only have eight classes left. I initially planned to go the Azure route, aiming to get certified with AZ900, AZ104, AZ200, and AZ400, along with RHCSA for Linux. Does this seem like a good approach? Meanwhile, I'm also trying to improve my programming skills, but I feel like I'm not making enough progress. What can I do to accelerate my skill development?
1 Answer
DevOps is more of a cultural shift in how development and operations teams work together rather than just a role. If you're talking about gaining experience, it might be helpful to focus on the aspects of Platform and Cloud Engineering, as those fields are becoming more relevant. You should cultivate your systems administration skills and dig deeper into networking and automation. Avoid getting too fixated on the DevOps title as it’s evolving into more specialized roles. It’s about collaboration and breaking down silos, not creating more roles that become isolated from the core function of software development.
So basically, you're saying I should keep honing my sysadmin skills? And that the DevOps role is splitting into SRE and Platform Engineering, right? Should I focus heavily on mastering Linux?