How to Build a Successful Career
with AWS Certifications
With an upsurge in the amount of data being generated every day, data storage and e-waste has become a concern. To meet these requirements, billions of dollars are being used on cloud-computing services, the next big thing.
As the cloud computing industry is growing, the demand for cloud certified individuals is also increasing tremendously. AWS by Amazon is the top cloud computing platform in 2021, which is why more and more organizations are opting for this platform.
If you want to build a successful career in cloud computing, then getting AWS certified is your place to begin. You can land one of the highest paying jobs in cloud computing with an AWS certification.
How Are AWS Certifications Valuable?
- An AWS certification can boost your resume and help you build the knowledge required to succeed in your cloud computing career.
- Employers prefer candidates with AWS certifications as it shows that they are committed to learning and have invested in building their portfolio.
- With the right AWS certifications, you have the choice to pick any attractive job role.
- Every day, new businesses are looking to hire cloud professionals. Having an AWS certification will showcase your skills to these prospective employers and make you a more attractive candidate.
- AWS certifications along with experience in the IT industry is more important to build your career in AWS, rather than just a degree.
There are two levels available in AWS certification exams:
- Associate Level Certification – If you are looking forward to starting your career with the position of associate-level solution architect, you would need to take the associate-level certification exams. You will acquire skills such as networking services, AWS infrastructure, cloud computing services, hybrid applications usage, security services and designing and building apps in AWS.
- Professional Level Certification – To start your career as a professional-level solutions architect, you should have a minimum of two years’ experience as an associate-level solutions architect. You would acquire skills such as optimization of applications, migration of applications and designing AWS applications.
Other paths – Other paths to begin your career as an AWS Developer fresher include Cloud Practitioner, SysOps Administrator, Application Developer, DevOps Engineer and more.
Certifications Offered By AWS
A few certifications offered by AWS are:
- AWS Certified Developer
The development and maintenance of high-end AWS apps come under this certification. For the exam, you would have to learn topics such as AWS architecture, design, build and deploy high-end AWS apps, AWS databases etc. It comes under the associate tier of certifications and the exam duration is 80 minutes. You should know how to write code from scratch as a prerequisite. The cost of this certification is 150 USD. - AWS Certified SysOps Administrator
This certificate is dedicated to system administrators. Topics for this certification exam include AWS services, data exchange procedures and deployment of apps within the AWS platform. The cost of this certification is 150 USD and the exam duration is 80 minutes. This certification comes under the associate tier. - AWS Certified DevOps Engineer
This certification comes under the professional tier. The exam is focussed on Continuous Delivery and process automation. You need to have a minimum of two years of experience in designing apps on the AWS platform. The exam duration is 170 minutes and the cost of this certification is 300 USD.
The following steps can be taken to build your career in cloud computing with the help of AWS certifications:
- Figure out which AWS certification is right for you – The first step to building your career is to figure out which AWS certification is correct for you. You should opt for the Cloud Practitioner certificate if you are a junior specialist with less than one year of experience. If you have more than a year of experience, you can opt for the SysOps Administrator, Cloud Developer or Solution Architect certificates. These certificates belong to the Associate level. If your experience is more than two years in cloud computing, you can opt for the Professional-tier certificates which include DevOps Engineer and Solutions Architect certificates. Other certificates such as Advanced Networking, Machine Learning, Big Data, Alexa Skill Building and Security certificates are also offered by AWS. You should choose an AWS certification based on your career goals and interests.
- Training – Once you have decided which certification you want to opt for, you should start your training for the same. If you are a cloud computing professional with some experience, you may feel like giving the AWS exams without preparing, but some preparation is essential. There are online training programs based on particular AWS certifications that you can opt for.
- Experience – Along with theoretical knowledge and preparation, building some experience in the area is also important. You can take advantage of free features offered by Amazon, allowing you to practice the concepts you have learnt with the help of this. You can also join open-source projects and increase your practical knowledge.
- Exam preparation – Once you feel like you have acquired all the required knowledge for the AWS exam, you should be fully prepared for it. You can register and schedule an exam on the AWS website. Pick a date and time when you think you can do your best.
- Highlight your AWS Certification – Once you have gained your AWS certification, it is essential to highlight these certifications in the best possible way. Mention these certifications and other skills that you have in your resume to make it stand out and increase your chances of getting employed.
- Interviews – Now that you have reached the last stage, you need to showcase your skills not just on paper but in reality to your interviewer. Talk about your skills and real-world experience that you have in AWS, along with highlighting your AWS certification.
Scope of AWS Certified Professionals
The demand for AWS-certified professionals is growing at an unprecedented rate. Some of the world’s top companies such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Netflix and Twitter are using AWS. Even small and medium-sized businesses are adopting the AWS platform for their cloud computing needs. Hence, the scope of a successful career in this area is tremendous. Learn more about careers at Amazon and related online assessments here.
