As a new graduate, I'm curious about how difficult it is to land a job in the DevOps field. What experiences do people have with getting their first DevOps position, and what should a new grad focus on to stand out?
4 Answers
Breaking into DevOps can be a bit tricky since it often requires a solid foundation in both development and operations. Many suggest starting in a development role or as a system administrator to build up those necessary skills before jumping into DevOps. This combined experience helps you to really understand the infrastructure and the coding side of things, which is essential in a DevOps role. It's all about bridging the gap between these two worlds!
Totally agree! Having both perspectives really sets you up for success. I've seen too many grads struggle without a strong base in either dev or ops.
If you're a new grad, it might be wise to pursue internships or roles that focus on IT support or sysadmin tasks. Gaining experience in help desk environments can really build your foundational skills. Once you have some exposure, you can start looking for DevOps roles in startups that might be more open to hiring less experienced candidates.
That's so true! I’m trying to find internships that align with that. Startups can be a bit wild, but it could be a great learning opportunity.
I started in a similar position and found it really helpful. It set me up with a good range of skills that prepared me for my first DevOps role!
From what I've seen, many DevOps positions aren't really entry-level. A lot of companies look for candidates with experience, even if it's just a couple of years as a sysadmin. Getting hands-on experience with systems, networking, and cloud technologies is crucial before you get into a DevOps role. A lot of it comes down to your willingness to learn and adapt quickly.
That makes sense! I've been studying a lot of cloud tools and automation. Hope that helps me when I start applying!
Exactly, it's rare to find someone who knows both dev and ops well. You need to be flexible and ready to handle a variety of tasks!
Learning DevOps tools is pretty manageable, but the bigger challenge is understanding the systems involved. DevOps really requires you to know the ins and outs of both development and operational processes. I recommend getting experience with modern tools like Kubernetes, while also having a good grasp of Linux fundamentals. You might also want to familiarize yourself with CI/CD pipelines right away since they're core to the role.
Great advice! I’ll focus more on CI/CD in my next project; it seems like such a necessary skill!
Totally! Also, I’d say look into the basics of security as well, since that’s becoming increasingly essential in DevOps workflows.
Yeah, I tried to jump right into DevOps and ended up switching back to software development because I wasn't prepared for the complexity of the role. It really is a tough transition!