I'm currently waiting to hear back about a DevOps engineer position and I'm curious about whether pursuing an AWS certification is worth it, especially since my company doesn't use AWS as their primary platform. They've emphasized experience in Git, Ansible, Bash, and Python instead. I've already taken some training provided by my company on these subjects and have hands-on experience provisioning homelab servers, so I feel like I have a solid understanding of the role's core concepts. I want to present myself as someone eager to learn, despite my lack of formal experience. Should I go for the AWS certification or focus on learning tools that my team actually uses?
4 Answers
If you're learning while studying for the certificate, then it might be worth it. But if you’re only after the piece of paper, reconsider. In my experience, hiring managers care more about whether you can do the job rather than what certificates you hold. Just be sure you’re gaining practical knowledge as you go along.
Certifications can definitely help you stand out, especially if you're eyeing an interview. Even if they don't guarantee you a job, they might get your foot in the door. But they are not everything—what really matters is your practical skills and knowledge. Focus on building your understanding and showing your eagerness to learn.
It's really about the quality of the training. If you’re learning something useful that can be applied practically, then it’s beneficial. Grab those opportunities if your company is supporting your learning. But don't just collect certificates; focus on the knowledge that matters for your career path. The field evolves quickly, so stay updated on what's relevant.
I totally agree! As someone with solid hands-on experience, I feel it's better to focus on what your potential team uses rather than just getting certifications for the sake of it.
In my two decades of experience, I find certifications often don't matter that much. I’ve worked my way up from help desk to DevOps without any specific certifications. Training programs can be valuable, but seeing them as essential is sometimes misleading. Focus on practical skills and real-world experience instead.
That makes sense! I'm planning to focus more on hands-on projects instead of just chasing certificates. It's great to hear that experience counts more in the hiring process.