Comment by JustExAWS
3 months ago
Unpopular opinion: lie
First you learn the technology stack you want to go into really well on the side. Get to the point where you can explain the intricacies of how you “used the tech” (even though you didn’t) to the point where when someone ask you deep details of what you did on your job, what tradeoffs you made and what you like don’t like about the technology you can explain it.
I would have no ethical qualms about doing whatever is necessary to get a job in today’s environment.
Now is far certifications? They are meaningless and no one takes them seriously. They are multiple choice tests that any idiot can pass by memorizing a few concepts from ACloudGuru. Interviewers don’t take them seriously at all as far as having competence.
I have 7 active AWS Certs and at one point had 9 out of the then 11. I got my first one without ever logging into the AWS console and my next 4 within the first 6 months. They were never about getting a job. They served as a guided learning path to help me know what I didn’t know as I became the defacto cloud architect at a startup.
Not even AWS Professional Services (former employee) the internal cloud consulting arm at AWS cares about certification as a hiring criteria.
I now work as a staff cloud consultant specializing in app dev + cloud working full time at a 3rd party cloud consulting company. I got my start on AWS dealing with migrating from .Net Framework to .net Core on AWS at the startup.
No one is going to hire you because you studied MLOps on the side doing toy projects when there are plenty of people with real world experience looking for jobs.
Your other bet is working for a company that has a mixture of .Net framework and they are moving to .NET Core and other modern tech and then volunteer to work on more modern tech at your new job.
Thank you. I was afraid someone would end up saying employers don't give a damn about personal projects. I've came across this settlement before as employer only care what you did in your day job.
As for stack, I can definitely see demand for Python/node.js for early startup companies where I prefer to be in as of now and move away from enterprise.
On the certification side, my genuine reason is to have structured approach to learn some topic. What is your opinion on picking up Azure and learning the "admin" side of it, like managing group policies or enabling rbac? I might be impatient but this part of azure solution architect perquisites really makes me loose interest in cloud route. Like the fun stuff comes later.
On certification, I can also try to pursue machine learning route by Deeplearning ai or Google.
MLOps does sound something exciting to do since I enjoy tinkering with Linux and deployment.
I'll be honest, I don't want to get myself more onto .net framework. .net core is still fine but what I've seen, there is way more demand for Python/node.js
I don’t have anything against Azure as a servíce. But Azure is mostly popular among “the enterprise” and government. Microsoft shops naturally tend to prefer Azure. If you want to work with startups and get out of “Big Enterprise”, Azure isn’t what you should be focused on.
On the other hand, going from .Net Framework to .NET Core + Azure may be the path of least resistance to get into a modern ecosystem. Despite what you read on HN, most developers work in boring old enterprises.
As far as startups, ageism is real. But it is more nuanced. They will hire older developers. But only in if you have the experience “you should”. They offer me jobs when they want someone strategic, and knows the modern tech scene.
But understand, the issue with focusing on “in demand” skills is that everyone is doing it and it’s almost impossible to stand out - it’s a shit show out here right now. You’ll have a lot less competition in the Microsoft ecosystem and it will be a lot easier to convincingly tell a tale about using modern MS technologies.
I am not however discouraging you from leaning deep into the JS ecosystem, its table stakes and has been for 20 years.