I'm in my mid-30s and based in the UK, looking to transition into cloud computing with the goal of moving into DevOps and platform work later on. I'm reaching out to those with experience in the field for some insights: What skills really help juniors gain trust? Are cloud roles the best entry point right now? What should I concentrate on during the first 6 to 12 months if I were starting from scratch? Also, what's overhyped or unnecessary in the early stages? I'm looking for practical advice rather than course suggestions.
3 Answers
Absolutely agree on the importance of prior experience. Unless you're lucky to get a rare internship, it's challenging for newcomers to land cloud positions. The depth of knowledge in IT is typically gained through diverse project exposure in foundational roles. A friend tried for an intern role, and the manager ended up wanting her out after a while due to her limited experience.
For juniors, the ability to accept feedback and ask the right questions is key. Instead of asking 'What is X?' try something like 'I looked up X, but I'm confused about Y.' Being proactive and not hesitant to seek help can make a big difference. I've noticed that a self-sufficient attitude is really valued. I transitioned from being a Windows sysadmin, heavily into automation, and found the switch to platform and DevOps pretty smooth.
Honestly, jumping straight into a cloud or DevOps role can be tough if you don't have any IT experience. Most people start in Technical Support or as Junior SysAdmins. You'll need some years under your belt and self-study to successfully move into a cloud role. Employers often want candidates to have a solid understanding of applications, production environments, and incident management.

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