Cloud computing is the present and future of the IT industry. While cloud computing has been around in some form since the 1960s, it was only until the 2010s when it became popularized and adopted by businesses, both big and small, across the world.
Now there’s no slowing down the momentum of cloud computing. This is represented in the career outlook within the sector. In the United States, Indeed reports the average annual salary for a cloud engineer is $117,186. They also noted that, between 2015 and 2019, jobs in cloud computing increased by 55%.
There’s just one issue: you typically require years of experience before you can land a role in cloud engineering. If you don’t currently possess that experience, below are four tips to boost your chances of landing a lucrative cloud computing career.
1. Gain a cloud computing certification
When you have no prior experience, a cloud computing certification is an ideal gateway to landing a job in cloud engineering. One decision you have to make, however, is choosing the provider that is best for earning your certification. While there are multiple public providers available, below are the main three to consider:
- Microsoft Azure
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Just remember: you don’t have to be locked into following a single path. Multiple cloud computing certifications is recommended. Potential employers are always in search of those with multi-cloud skills, so the more you know about the main providers, the better.
It’s also wise to pay particular attention to the training program offered by certification suppliers. In an ideal world, you want to gain hands-on experience to develop your cloud skills.
2. Work for free
Nobody wants to put in extensive work for no financial reward, admittedly. However, taking on projects for free is a wise step when you have no relevant work experience in cloud computing.
Non-profit organizations can often be found reaching out for extra help. If you can assist their IT team, you will be able to gain vital hands-on experience within a professional setting, gain references, and build your portfolio.
3. Flesh out your cloud portfolio
When you have a certification and experience after working for free, your cloud portfolio is already going to appear healthy. Yet it’s important to keep building on this to ensure employers recognize you have the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience.
Internships and taking on freelance projects can assist in fleshing out your cloud portfolio.
4. Have the right references
To push your portfolio to the next level, you must feature a collection of reputable references. This could be colleagues, mentors, or supervisors that have worked with you on previous cloud-related projects.
When you have a list of quality references, you have many people that can vouch for your ability. They will be able to get across your work ethic, character, and knowledge to employers. The result: strong references, a fleshed-out portfolio, and cloud certification can give you the edge over other candidates – even if they currently have more experience.
