This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Efia Birago
Oftentimes, no one really talks to us about the choices we make, we mostly jump into them out of convenience, not intention. You saw a free course online, and without thinking twice, you signed up. It’s not like you had many options at the time, right? But here’s the thing: clarity and intentionality matter. Having a dream, writing it down, and taking strategic steps toward it is what gets you where you truly want to be.
Don’t rush into cloud computing or any tech field just because it’s trending. Take a step back. Ask yourself: “Where exactly do I want to go with this?” Because truthfully, no one talks about how it feels to get deep into something only to question later why you started at all.
And yes, there’s also the person who simply doesn’t know what they want yet. Maybe that’s you. You’re probably wondering: “Where do I even begin?”
Don’t worry. This article handles everything you need to know to make an informed decision and find clarity before you begin.
Before you even start asking yourself which path is right for you, you need to know what options exist. AWS is huge, and there are multiple roles you can build a career in. Here are some of the most common:
- AWS Solutions Architect: Designs cloud infrastructure and chooses the right AWS services for specific business needs.
- AWS Cloud/DevOps Engineer: Builds and maintains cloud infrastructure, automates deployments, and ensures systems run smoothly.
- AWS Developer: Focuses on coding and building applications that run on AWS services, like Lambda, DynamoDB, and API Gateway.
- AWS Security Specialist: Protects systems by managing access, encryption, compliance, and threat detection.
- AWS Data/ML Engineer: Works with big data, analytics, and machine learning services like SageMaker, Glue, and Athena.
- AWS Trainer/Community Builder: Teaches, writes, and shares AWS knowledge with others.
Visit AWS Skill Builder for more information on the career path and the courses to take.
Now that you know what the main paths look like, the next big question is: which one should you pick? If you’re unsure, here are some guiding questions to help you figure that out
- Do I want to code? You might love the Developer or Data/ML Engineer path.
- Am I curious about designing systems or workflows? Solutions Architect could be for you.
- Do I want to automate and optimize systems? Consider DevOps/Cloud Engineer.
- Do I enjoy thinking about security loopholes and how to protect systems? Go for Security Specialist.
- Do I enjoy teaching or explaining complex concepts? Explore Trainer or Community Builder roles.
With this, you should now have a clearer picture of what AWS paths exist and what each involves. Take your time to think about it before diving in. Choosing the right path early makes the journey smoother and far more rewarding!!!!
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Efia Birago