The challenge is to pump up knowledge and skills in DevOps and change the direction of activities. Here is the solution of Olga Tikhonova, IT infrastructure support engineer at EPAM.
Current experience
Even before the pandemic, I was faced with the question of changing the direction of my professional life. For 8 years I had worked my way up from a technical support specialist to the deputy head of the IT infrastructure department. But the time to change has come, and I decided to change my profession.
Challenge
I wanted a job with server hardware, a modern technology stack, and cloud solutions. There were also other important points: a remote format, opportunities for professional and career growth, a stable position of the company in the market, and benefits for employees. So, I came up with a list of things that I began to focus on.
I considered both testing and programming, but decided on DevOps. Firstly, this philosophy is close to my heart. Secondly, it is not a drastic change of the profile. Thirdly, this specialty is in demand in the market, which means that the salary will be appropriate.
Solution
Option 1: self-education
An excellent option, which has several drawbacks: discipline, lack of a mentor, independent search for errors in practical assignments, which sometimes drags on in time. Considering the current work and private life, it is difficult to achieve clear progress in a brief period of time.
Option 2: fee-based courses
Here I faced two problems: contradictory reviews about the quality of education and deceptive promises of employment after graduation. I thought about it for a long time, but in the end, I gave up this option.
Option 3: free training
Such options are few in the market and most of them require pre-testing. A colleague of mine once mentioned the EPAM Training Center. Then I thought it was too high a hurdle, and I would not pass the selection for training. On the other hand, by that time I already had the experience of passing quite complicated tests for other trainings, so I took the risk and applied. And I got a call from a recruiter at the training center. I had a technical test, an interview, and got an invitation to study.
Advantages of educational programs at EPAM
- Strong theoretical program. DevOps methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Kanban, and others), Ansible, Vagrant, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, Git, Jenkins, AWS/GCP, Grafana, and others. At the training, it was possible not only to systematize existing knowledge but also to get acquainted with modern technologies.
- Practical experience. Each module is accompanied by homework as close to reality as possible. The curator checks it on time and gives feedback. Materials are available for the entire training period. There are enough tasks to "feel" the technology, have time to find the pitfalls, and make a list of questions on unclear issues.
- Feedback (my favorite issue). Something that is sorely lacking in self-study. You can ask even the silliest questions. The tutor explains in clear terms how everything works and points out possible mistakes in advance.
- Graduation thesis. To graduate from the EPAM training center, you need to do a thesis: the task is voluminous, not easy, but it will prepare you for future work as much as possible.
- Care. The level of loyalty and support came as a surprise to me. Students were regularly asked if everything was clear, if there were any suggestions or comments on the process. When there was an unsolvable situation for me with a cloud stand, the teacher got involved and helped me figure out the problem.
- Employment opportunity. Upon successful completion of the training, there is an opportunity to move to the staff of the company. And as it turned out, there are quite a lot of transition options.
- Job location. In many cities, there are comfortable EPAM offices, and it is also possible to work remotely. In this context, it`s up to an employee to decide where and how to work.
- Interview skills. I have had experience on both sides of the «barricades». There are 2 classes in the training program, which describe in detail how to pass interview in both languages. Experienced teachers give you recommendations, and fellow students share their experience.
Answer
My journey took almost a year, 3 months of which were spent on training at the training center. I am currently working on a large product project at EPAM. Perhaps this is not the fastest way to change a profession, but it is important for me that it was a conscious choice: both the direction and the EPAM training center.
If you already have experience in the administration of Linux or Windows systems, you know how to program and you are interested in developing in the DevOps direction, then we invite you to take free Cloud & DevOps training at the EPAM training center.
