I'm currently a Cloud SRE with 4.5 years of experience, and I'm thinking about pursuing an M.Tech, preferably in a part-time or online format, to enhance my technical skills and career prospects, including potential opportunities overseas. However, I come from a middle-class family and have commitments like a wife and kids, so I need to carefully consider the time, cost, and energy involved, as well as the long-term return on investment. I'm curious to know if balancing an M.Tech with full-time work and family life is feasible. Are there reputable distance learning options in India that are valued in the industry? Will this degree legitimately boost my chances for senior roles, research jobs, or positions abroad? Alternatively, should I prioritize certifications in areas like AWS, GCP, Kubernetes, and Terraform instead? I'm eager for insights from anyone who's managed similar situations or leveraged an M.Tech for international opportunities. Thanks for any advice!
2 Answers
From my perspective, pursuing an M.Tech might not be worth your time and money, especially with family duties in the mix. In tech, practical experience and skills often carry more weight than additional degrees after your first job. It could be more beneficial to enhance your current skills and focus on certifications that take less time to achieve.
Unless an M.Tech degree provides significant benefits like immigration options, promotions, or a salary increase, it might be better to learn independently. I've seen that in places where jobs are scarce, people pursue multiple degrees, while in job-rich areas, many skip the master's degree and go straight for Ph.D. programs instead.
Which countries do you think value degrees for migration? I'll definitely check with my manager to see if having a master's would help with my promotions and pay.
Are certifications a solid alternative to a master's? Any suggestions on which ones are noteworthy?
So, when you mention certifications, are you referring to ones like CKA or MLOps? I'm open to learning anything that could help boost my skills and salary.