Career Advice - AWS route???

[1 Eyed Monkey]

Hi All,

Trust you are all good.

Bit of a background - I have about 12 years experience doing mostly 3rd level Application support and Release Manager for one of the major insurance companies in SA. Went through a bit of personal kak, and decided to take a sabbatical and later started a business unrelated to IT. After a couple of crime related situations (one of my guys was shot at 4 months ago) and wanting to be closer to my kids, I have decided its now time to go back to my first career love.

Given my Change and Release background, I think my natural progression would be pursuing the AWS route. Currently busy studying towards a Cloud Practitioner cert and hoping to klap the Sysops cert as well before the year end.

Currently have A+, CCNA, National Higher Certificate in IT from TUT and MCITP. Current age 38.

Would you advise on this route? Is there a demand for someone thats willing to go into Devops engineering? Im debt free, so I don't mind starting at a junior level when it comes to salary.

Thanks in advance
Apie

 

[1 Eyed Monkey]

Anyone...

Or should i stick to driving minibus taxis???

 

[johnny_h]

Devops is certainly a good route, I believe it's a popular field.

Things like terraform and containers are gaining more and more traction(and they're already quite big right now).

I would say to just understanding cloud architecture properly, then slowly get into more specialized roles.

If you really want to jump in the deep end, you could try to get a job as an Azure/AWS cloud support engineer for something like networking(or as support for whatever field you're most comfortable and experienced in, and then you can pivot once you're in the company) . You'll learn a ton of things on the job. I'd say way more than by studying and getting certifications.

Once hired, I know at least at AWS you also get a decent discount on certifications and access to alot of training resources.

 

[DaneM]

I am going similar route. Currently 33 and just finished A+, my goal to end up in AWS. Based on the little research I have done AWS is a good route, and pays well if working in USA (Ultimately I want to leave SA with my family). What I'd highly recommend is, seeing as you have A+, do N+ and S+ then go AWS. That's my current plan.
From job searches I see that having SQL knowledge is a big benefit to employers. Check indeed.com if you want to check for work overseas.

 

[SpaceWalker]

I am going similar route. Currently 33 and just finished A+, my goal to end up in AWS. Based on the little research I have done AWS is a good route, and pays well if working in USA (Ultimately I want to leave SA with my family). What I'd highly recommend is, seeing as you have A+, do N+ and S+ then go AWS. That's my current plan.
From job searches I see that having SQL knowledge is a big benefit to employers. Check indeed.com if you want to check for work overseas.

For clarity sake.

AWS is a service, not a career path. Certifications you do based on AWS does not mean AWS themselves will employ you. That's a misconception.

Microsoft Azure is similar. Oracle the same, Google etc.

You need to use certifications to guide your career, it will never make it or define it.

As for DevOps and the OP. You will have better financial success to focus on further Cisco certifications. A CCNP and further sets you up way better than any DevOps gig would. You have the foundation with your CCNA. Doing DevOps is a completely different career path. You start from scratch based on your experience and skills.