Is DevOps a Viable Career Choice or Not?
Asked by
CuriousCactus92
I'm a freshman just starting on the help desk at my university, and I've really gotten interested in the DevOps space because it seems like such a great culture. I genuinely want to learn as much as possible and contribute positively to a company. However, I sometimes feel discouraged by what I read online about the field. Should I stick with my plans for a career in DevOps, or should I consider switching to a different area?
Answers
Don't forget to check out 'Site Reliability Engineer' roles—they're very similar and quite prevalent right now.
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A lot of what you see on Reddit can be pretty negative, often just people venting. My experience has been mixed in the industry; it really depends on the team and management rather than just tech issues. DevOps can mean a lot of things: sometimes it's just another word for Operations or a catch-all title for certain roles. Stay focused on your education, and by the time you finish, the landscape could look quite different!
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DevOps is definitely not dead! It's incredibly important, though often unappreciated until something goes wrong. Keep pushing forward!
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DevOps is really more of a senior role. Generally, you’d want to start as a software engineer and then move into DevOps once you've built up some basic experience. Yes, you can get a DevOps job straight away, but it’ll be tough to catch up to those with more background and knowledge.
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Finding a mentor in the field can really boost your chances. Look for people already doing what you want to do, and think about how you can offer them help in return!
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Getting into DevOps requires some background in either development or operations first. It’s not just about scripting and automation; you really need to grasp the software development lifecycle and how businesses function. Starting at help desk is fine—it’s a valuable experience. Remember, this isn’t a quick journey, so be prepared for the long haul. I came from a network operations center and it took years to get where I am now.
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If you have a solid skill set, there will always be job opportunities out there for you!
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AspiringDev: Could you explain what you mean by 'senior role'? I'm genuinely curious. I actually started in a DevOps support role during my studies and I’m now at the junior level.