Five tips to help you land your first cloud job

Embarking on a cloud career can seem daunting, especially when you’re just starting out. But with the right mindset, resources, and strategy, you can break into this field.

We’ve gathered insights from learners who have navigated the path from beginners to cloud professionals. Whether you’re changing careers or searching for your first-ever professional job, learn from them to start your cloud journey.

Meet the Learners

Based in Ghana, Nana Adjoa Anmin began in a non-technical role in international affairs before transitioning into tech through AWS re/Start, a cohort-based workforce development training program that prepares individuals for careers in the cloud and connects them to potential employers. Nana is now a project manager with more than three years of cloud experience. Nana is passionate about helping aspiring builders break into tech and one day hopes to launch a local Women in Cloud group.

Ellon Solomon is originally from Ethiopia and is currently located in Rwanda while pursuing a graduate degree in engineering artificial intelligence. Ellon’s held various cloud roles since 2021, including cloud specialist and cloud engineer specializing in Amazon Web Services (AWS). Ellon’s cloud computing journey began with AWS re/Start and AWS Educate, which offers free self-paced training and online resources for new-to-cloud learners.

Hailing from Ecuador, Bolivar David Llerena Fuenmayor is an IT specialist with more than six years of experience. Bolivar currently works as a cloud engineer with multinational IT infrastructure services provider, Kyndryl. Bolivar first learned about cloud computing through AWS Educate and then joined the AWS Emerging Talent Community. He has earned an impressive 12 AWS Certifications with the support of these programs.

We spent time with these learners to discover how they got started in tech, sharpened their skills, and landed that coveted cloud role. Here are their top five tips to help you get started.

From left to right: Nana, Ellon, and Bolivar

Tip #1: Don’t Let Fear Hold You Back

Fear of the unknown is common, especially when entering a new field. Remember, every expert was once a beginner – the key is to not let fear hold you back from starting.

“Get started anyway, regardless of the fear that you might have,” says Nana. “And when you start, be determined to learn. The most important thing—you learn by doing.”

Bolivar agrees on the importance of just diving in. “I have many people reaching out to me on LinkedIn and in real life asking me how they can start learning cloud,” shares Bolivar. “My only piece of advice is to go and do it.”

AWS Educate is a great place for new-to-cloud learners to get started. With an extensive library of self-paced training and resources, there’s something for everyone. Not sure where to begin? Start learning foundational cloud concepts with the Getting Started series. Tackle these three, 2-3 hour courses first to learn the basics of building in the cloud before completing the entire seven-course series:

• Introduction to Cloud 101;
• Getting Started with Storage; and
• Getting Started with Compute

Tip #2: Invest in Hands-On Learning and Certifications

With AWS Educate, you can take advantage of free courses that include hands-on practice to gain valuable experience and build your confidence. Upon completion, you can earn digital badges that demonstrate your knowledge about certain topics to potential employers. Badges can be shared on your social networks like LinkedIn to help bolster your cloud experience and skills descriptions in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Compute, Security, and more. Ultimately, you can use these digital badges to stand out to recruiters and prospective hiring managers.

Once you’ve built your confidence with hands-on practice, consider investing in your professional development further by aiming to get certified. Credentials like AWS Certifications demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to professional growth, which can impress potential employers. In fact, 97% of IT managers believe that certified staff add value to the organization. Plus, industry recognized AWS Certifications can showcase your broad understanding of real-world cloud applications.

“When an employer is looking for AWS experience, if I have a relevant AWS Certification, it means I have faith in my knowledge of whatever the role demands,” says Ellon. “It also indicates my willingness to learn.”

Tip #3: Build and Showcase Your Brand on Social Media

Your online presence can be just as important as your resume. Digital badges, certificates, and course completions can help you build your online brand and demonstrate your achievements to the world. Having a strong sense of your personal brand can open doors for networking on social media, where you can connect with professionals, join groups, and engage in discussions about hot trends, in-demand skills, and jobs to boost your visibility and network with builders across the globe.

“Social media lets me promote myself and share my story,” says Nana. “I’ve also connected with people in the cloud and tech spaces to learn more from them. Sharing my AWS Certifications, AWS Educate badges, learning progress, and the challenges I’m working on has helped boost my career.”

Don’t overlook industry-specific networking sites and communities where you can share and learn with other cloud enthusiasts. Check out community.aws, a place where builders are encouraged to share their cloud expertise and connect with the cloud community. With featured spaces like generative AI, DevOps, and Training and Certification, there’s sure to be an area or topic that’s of interest to you as you explore your cloud ambitions.

Tip #4: Tap into Your Learning Community and Resources

Skills-based learning communities can provide a valuable network of peers, mentors, and potential employers. The AWS Emerging Talent Community is a resource available to AWS Education Programs digital badge earners via AWS Educate. This exclusive hub is designed to help learners continue to advance their cloud skills and pursue cloud careers. Earning admittance gets members access to content recommendations, AWS Certification preparation resources and discounted exam vouchers, social media-ready digital backgrounds, and more.

“The AWS Emerging Talent Community introduced me to a global network of individuals engaged in similar journeys,” says Nana. “It features stories from others who are beginning their cloud careers, as well as insights from companies using AWS. You can also earn points that can be redeemed for various rewards, such as discounts for certification exams.”

“The case studies section is my favorite part of the community,” shares Ellon. “This section provides stories of different companies and how they leveraged AWS to transform their business processes. You can learn a lot by reading success stories from various industries and this resource has helped guided me as I continue to improve my cloud skills.”

Tip #5: Preparation is Key

You’ve worked hard to learn, earn credentials, and network and are now ready for your first interview. But how do you stand out? During an interview, knowing basic information about the company and the position can leave a strong impression. “Confidence makes up 75% of the interview and landing a job,” says Bolivar. “If you start learning a technology and you know the fundamentals, you can present yourself as very knowledgeable at any interview.”

Interviews can be intimidating, and it’s natural to worry that you’ll forget details under pressure. Being well prepared will help you build confidence and overcome this fear. Make sure to review the job description, research field-specific questions, and practice your answers.

In addition to researching the company and role you’re interviewing for, you can brush up on your interviewing skills with AWS Educate’s Professional Skills series of courses. Check out the following courses to ensure you put your best self forward:

• Introduction to Professional Skills;
• Resume Creation;
• Communication;
• Networking; and
• Problem-Solving Process

Haven’t found the right job or internship to apply to? Visit the AWS Educate Job Board to find opportunities for in-demand roles all over the globe. Use this resource as a starting point to research potential employers, understand their cloud needs, and find cloud positions to apply for.

Launch Your Cloud Career Today

We hope these tips help you build a solid foundation to accelerate your cloud computing career. Embrace the journey with confidence. Get started today at www.awseducate.com.