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A new study confirms what most of us have said for years: cloud computing has a high degree of difficulty. However, worthwhile endeavours are rarely easy.

Unexpected cloud complexity has put so much stress on the newly formed clouds groups that they have risked outages and breaches. This issue has not yet been discussed, but I believe it to be the reality, based on information from this report and the fact that 2019 had flatter than expected cloud growth. Growth will continue to flatten out until the complexity issue is resolved.

Second, the myths around lift and shift have led many enterprises to move applications to public clouds on this speedy and least-cost path. Then they realise the applications must be refactored to be optimised and take full advantage of the public cloud host. They end up migrating twice.

Third, a lack of cloud talent restricts growth. A majority of senior executives (63 per cent) say a talent shortage is one of their organisation's primary concerns. This according to Gartner's Emerging Risks Survey for 2019.

The answer to all of these problems is to return to pragmatic, fundamental leveraging of cloud technology-or any technology, for that matter. This means understanding that successful cloud computing requires realistic expectations and solid planning, including picking standard services such as security and governance.

Cloud technology providers need to offer their clients more assistance to understand the practical use of cloud computing technology. The overpromising comes from way too much marketing hype that touts easy migrations to the public cloud when very few easy migrations exist.

Don't lose sight of the fact that, for most enterprises, moving to the public cloud is a worthwhile journey with both short- and long-term benefits. However, you need to understand the realities.

It is hard to begin when you can't find the starting point

If you are in the IT industry but not a coder, the chances are that you might find it difficult to locate which certification to do. This holds for most of the technologies, leave alone Cloud computing. Training courses and certifications more often than not require knowledge of a coding language.

Talking of career opportunities, Cloud Computing offers various career opportunities that serve different purposes in different forms. If we are to take a look at numbers that Cloud Computing attracts, then it is one of those skills that is the second most popular in terms of hard skills that companies are looking for in 2021

What Coders Can Do with Cloud Computing?

With all that we have discussed so far, we are sure you must have guessed Cloud Computing is a blessing for developers. As a developer, individuals can build, host, and manage applications on Cloud platforms easily. Thus, making it easy for them to create an application on the Cloud. With various services offered by Cloud Service vendors, users can migrate their existing code to the cloud or even set up an environment to write code within minutes.

Platforms like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure make it easy to implement many end-to-end DevOps practices on Cloud with numerous services they offer. It becomes insanely easy to build an application on a cloud that supports deployment and production management with automation.

If you know API, then your transition into the computing world becomes more accessible. This helps communicate with third-party tools and applications on offer. These platforms support popular programming and scripting knowledge so that you can feel at home on these cloud platforms. Platforms like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure have specialty certifications or role-based certifications that certify you as a developer or a DevOps engineer. Is Cloud for coders? Definitely, as a coder, you will enjoy your work in Cloud Computing.

What Non-Coders can do with Cloud Computing?

So can non-coders have a career in Cloud? They can. But, it is not as easy as it would be for a developer or administrator. So to start with, we have already listed the benefits of knowing to code for cloud computing. So it is clear that having coding skills is always a plus for Cloud Computing.

However, it is important to address why we are using Cloud Computing. As mentioned, platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform offer numerous services, many of which do not require you to code. So knowingly or unknowingly, we are already using Cloud.

Even if we look at prerequisites, it clearly states that it is good to have these skills but not mandatory. That means people wanting to make a career here can either have these or not. Let us understand this from a choice perspective.

Let us assume that you do not know to code but want to learn. In that case, it is good to have knowledge on following the points or develop skills in the following areas:

    • Basic Bash Fundamentals
    • Learn a programming language

Two to three months' investment of time is good enough for you to get started. This will give you more control over API usage, and you can advance into cloud computing very smoothly.

Choose the proper cloud computing certification.

If you're wondering how to start a career in cloud computing, start by knowing what you want to accomplish and what you're interested in. There are multiple providers out there you could get certified with, but here are the top three public cloud providers.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) 

    • AWS cloud careers are plentiful. Like nearly all areas of cloud expertise, the demand for cloud skills outpaces the supply. (Which is suitable for those getting into entry-level cloud computing jobs.)
    • AWS certifications are some of the highest-paying certifications in tech, and they typically appear the most in job board search results for cloud careers. 
    • Which AWS certification is proper for you? There are four levels of certifications and specialties, all with different scopes and prerequisites. Do your homework to know what is expected for each one, and determine which one is the best fit. 

Microsoft Azure 

    • Why should you get an Azure certification? AWS may be the public cloud frontrunner, but the gap is closing. Over the past couple of years, Azure adoption has been increasing in enterprises while AWS adoption remained relatively flat. Businesses continue to adopt Azure as Microsoft pushes hard into the enterprise space. 
    • Also, Azure has historically been the preferred choice for hybrid deployments and integrates easily with the Microsoft solutions businesses have been using since the days before the code clouded.
    • Top-paying Azure certifications include the Azure Solutions Architect Expert and the Azure Administrator Associate. There are more than a dozen Microsoft Azure certifications to choose from, and the Azure Fundamentals certification is the starting point for most.

 

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

    • If you're looking to start a career in cloud computing, it can be tempting to go with AWS as it's the closest thing to a household name out there in cloudland. But focusing on other cloud providers (and specialising) can mean great things for your career. 
    • Case in point: the Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect certification. For 2019 and 2020, it was the highest-paying IT certification out there. Money isn't everything and probably shouldn't be your sole motivating factor if deciding to pursue a Google Cloud career. Still, with an average salary of around USD 175,000, it's hard not to take notice.
    • Which Google Cloud certification is best for you? GCP certs range from foundational level basics for beginners to role-based certs that tie to some of the most in-demand jobs in the cloud.

Which certification route you pick, don't worry about being locked into a single path. Multi-cloud skills are in high demand, so you can easily hop around between cloud providers and make yourself even more desirable to potential employers in the process. And there are plenty of tools and skills that work across clouds that are worth investing time in, like DevOps skills and Kubernetes.

For building the skills to get certified, make sure you choose a training program that provides hands-on cloud experience so you can put what you learn into action and keep developing your skills while you're looking for a job.

Build your cloud portfolio

Create a portfolio using projects from your training experience. Make sure your work is consistent from one project to the next as this is a characteristic employer USD 175,000 want. Redact any confidential information if you use a previous employer or internship project and show your work. How you got there is just as important as a result. Your certification proves you know - your online portfolio proves you can put it to use. Be sure and bring a digital and physical copy of your portfolio to your interview.

Have reputable references

Compile a list of former or current supervisors, mentors, and colleagues who can vouch for your knowledge, character, work ethic, and drive. Strong references coupled with a cloud certification and a strong portfolio can beat candidates with more experience.

(Temporarily) work for free

You may be able to find non-profit organisations looking for extra help. Performing free work for their IT team allows you to build your portfolio, gain references, and gain hands-on experience in a professional setting. It also shows prospective employers that you take the initiative and care about your community.

Network

AWS Serverless Hero Forrest Brazeal has helped many people find their first job in the cloud - enough to know that résumé roulette is a losing game … even if you get hired! Networking is key. Networking is a four-letter word to some. While you may prefer computer networks, your professional network can be more effective in landing you a job.

Many engineers tend to bristle at this idea that they might have to go out and meet people and make connections to get the job they want in the career direction they want. A lot of us tend to think, 'My skills should speak for themselves. I should be able to go and get a job just by passing a coding test and demonstrating that I can do the job - I shouldn't have to go and meet people and gladhand. What a lot of people miss is that connections go two ways.

Making human connections is an excellent way to get a sense of what potential jobs might be like, so you're not throwing your hat in the ring for a gig that you're going to end up being miserable at.

You'll also want to start reaching out to people you know. Let them know you're interested in career opportunities in the cloud and are pursuing training. They can help you find the best training programs, introduce you to other contacts who can help you in your job search, act as references, and help you find projects to expand your portfolio.

If you don't have a deep network or many contacts in the cloud computing field, proactively find people in your desired area and ask for advice or a meeting (see the video above for more on this). Build those relationships with a focus on your mutual interest in cloud computing. If you can prove your value to those contacts, they will help you land a job.

Be curious enough to play in the cloud.

Cloud technology changes so often a person's skill set needs to change with it. Curiosity is an essential trait for cloud engineers and can be a more significant asset than experience because it means you'll take the initiative to grow your skills.

Earning your cloud certification already shows initiative and curiosity. Let curiosity lead you into hands-on experience playing with cloud applications and services.

There are plenty of opportunities to do this for free or with minimal cost. The more hands-on experience you have, even if it's just playing around, the more you'll be able to discuss the elements of cloud applications and services. Highlight your curious nature in your interview, and discuss how it led you to gain cloud experience.

Show determination

Don't give up if you get rejected a few times or fail to land interviews. Commit to your goal and let those rejections drive you to work harder.

As you wait for the right opportunity, stay on top of the latest cloud trends as they are ever-evolving, and keep your skills sharp with cloud labs and exercises. The more you immerse yourself in the cloud community and practice using cloud technologies, the closer you'll be to landing your ideal job.

Earning a certification proves you know about cloud computing. Even if it does not work experience, your hands-on experience shows you can put it into action. The best cloud engineering jobs are always tough to land, and you will face stiff competition. Earning certifications can give you a competitive advantage, and taking the proper steps to ensure you put your knowledge into practice will advance your career. While accreditation doesn't guarantee you'll land your dream job, it will get you closer to it than you are right now.

How can you jump-start your cloud career? 

 

Why should you start a career in the cloud?

Cloud skills are in high demand, to a point where some analysts have said a career in the cloud may be almost futureproofed. The future may not be sure, but the path to the present tells a convincing story: cloud computing has been one of and often the single most in-demand hard skills for six years running.

What are the most in-demand skills for cloud computing?

Cloud skills are in high demand across the board, but you can look at some top-paying certifications in IT to get a good sense of what employers are (literally) valuing the most.

How to get your cloud certification?

Study! And get hands-on with cloud technology. Learning by doing is key to understanding the cloud. Most cloud providers make it easy to get started with free accounts to play around with. Or, if you're using a skills development platform like A Cloud Guru, Hands-on Labs, and Cloud Playground, make it easy to learn by doing without any fears of breaking anything or racking up a colossal cloud bill. When you're ready to get certified, you can now take your exam online or in person, making getting approved on your time more accessible than ever.

While cloud computing can reduce the cost and complexity of computational provisioning capabilities, it also can be used to build new shared service centres operating with greater effectiveness "at the edge" of the business where there's money to be made. Front office requirements focus on people, expertise, and collaboration in any-to-any combinations.

There will be many ways the cloud will change businesses and the economy, most of them hard to predict, but one theme is already emerging. Companies are becoming more like the technology itself: more adaptable, more interwoven, and more specialisedin pursuing. These developments may not be new, but the advent of cloud computing will speed them up.