Hey folks! I'm looking to make a shift from my current role as a Linux System Engineer into the world of DevOps. I've been at this job for four months, but I started focusing on developing my DevOps skills earlier this year in February. My background includes a three-year apprenticeship as a System Administrator in Germany where I mostly dealt with Windows servers, until my company introduced a software deployment pipeline. Unfortunately, my current job doesn't involve much hands-on experience with tools like Ansible, Kubernetes, or CI/CD, which are crucial for a DevOps role. I recently expressed my desire to my boss for more exposure to these tools or even a chance to move into a DevOps position. Has anyone here made a similar transition? I'd love to hear about your experiences and any tips you might have! Also, how do you manage to keep learning DevOps skills after working a full day?
4 Answers
Try applying DevOps principles at your current job in unexpected ways. Don’t limit yourself by your job description or what your boss may envision. Employers appreciate self-starters, so initiate something that could improve company processes while also helping you learn new skills. When it comes to finding the energy to learn, it’s all about time management, setting priorities, and your motivation.
I won’t dive into the work-life balance part, but if you’re feeling drained from studying, take a break and get some quality rest. Once you’re refreshed, ease back into learning at a pace that feels comfortable. I find setting clear goals and then working on them gradually helps, but if I ever feel burnt out, I just stop. Learning is a long game, and it’s okay to plan and execute at your own pace.
If your company isn’t giving you the opportunity to work with Ansible, Terraform, or CI/CD, you might need to gain that experience independently. It’s the reality for many. Consider automating small projects at home or contributing to open-source software. These experiences will give you actual examples to discuss later, even if your current title doesn’t reflect a DevOps role.
Thanks for the advice! I’m curious, where can I find good open-source projects to get started with? Also, do you think there are any entry-level tasks in these projects, or are they generally for more experienced contributors?
Shift your mindset from seeing obstacles to identifying solutions. Here are some tips:
- Ask your manager for dedicated study time during work hours.
- Consider taking some time off to focus deeply on learning.
- Follow a structured learning path rather than bouncing around random tutorials.
- Work on real projects to build the experience you need. Learning DevOps is an investment in a lucrative skill set, and the need for talent in this area is still high.
You make a good point! There are lots of areas for improvement in our self-hosted infrastructure. The challenge is that I don’t have enough foundational knowledge yet to get started.