How to Become a Cloud Engineer in 2024

In Today’s Cloudbites:

👷‍♂️ How to Become a Cloud Engineer in 2024

📚 Cloud Learning Resources Recommended by AWS Employees

💰 PLUS: How you can Make Money using AI

Read time: 4 minutes

Hi friends, welcome back to Cloudbites. Today, I’ll be sharing how you can land a Cloud Support Engineer role in 2024. I’ll also be revealing how to make money using ChatGPT, with no coding experience.

👷‍♂️ How to Become a Cloud Engineer in 2024

1. Learn the fundamentals of IT
   
   When aiming to land a Cloud Engineer role, it’s important to develop a T-shaped skill set.
   

   

   
   The first step towards this is having a breadth of knowledge in IT fundamentals, equivalent to the horizontal line of the T.
   
   This includes everything from Linux, to Operating Systems to Networking & Troubleshooting Skills.

   
   While certifications are not required to land a job, they can definitely help you stand out to recruiters. Studying for these certs will also prepare you for technical interview questions.

   
   For example, the CompTIA trio of A+, Security+ and Networking+, will help you cover the fundamental IT knowledge needed for this role.
   
   

2. Choose a specialization and increase your knowledge

   
   Next, choose a specialization to expand your knowledge in. This will develop your skills vertically, much like the vertical line in the T.

   
   Some of the domains you can choose to specialize in include Networking, Security, Databases and so on. 

   
   For example, if you choose networking as your speciality, I’d recommend diving deeper into Linux, Subnetting and connecting your own website. Once you’ve done this you can also look at OSI Models and Virtualization. 

   
   

3. Learn basic cloud skills

   
   Once you’ve understood the IT fundamentals, the next step is to develop basic cloud skills.

   
   Studying for certifications like the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, can be helpful in growing your cloud knowledge. It will help you gain a general understanding of AWS, learn important terminology and grow your confidence.
   
   

4. Work on a cloud project

   
   Once you have a good foundational knowledge of IT and cloud skills, it’s time to start gaining practical experience. 

   
   I’d recommend picking out a project that personally interests you. For example, if you have a website that you want to build, or a game server you want to host, go with that. As you progress through the project, fill in any gaps you have in your knowledge.

   
   If you’re struggling to come up with an idea, check out my video on The Best AWS Cloud Projects To Get You Hired (For Beginners).

   
   

5. Build your cloud portfolio, resume and interview skills

   
   After completing a couple of projects, start building your portfolio. It should showcase both the breadth and depth of your IT and cloud knowledge.
   
   If you’re not sure how to get started, take a look at my video on How to Document Your AWS Cloud Projects.

   
   Next, review your resume. Take some time to tailor the dot points under the job titles to demonstrate how you fit the criteria.

   
   Once you’ve reached the interview stage, keep in mind that the behavioral questions will often be based around the company’s core values.
   
   Researching into the company’s principles and considering how they link to your own experiences, can be particularly useful in helping you land the job.
   
   

📚 Cloud Learning Resources Recommended by AWS Employees

If you already have a basic skill set in IT and are now looking to learn more about cloud, here are 5 resources recommended by AWS employees:

1. AWS Skill Centers: In-person and online Cloud training sessions

2. AWS Skill Builder: Over 500 free courses to help you prepare for certifications

3. Udemy, Pluralsight: Concise video courses that set out a structured learning path

4. AWS Jam: Work in a team on to solve gamified cloud challenges 

5. AWS Cloud Quest: Game-based learning product that generates practice-assignments

💰 [PLUS] How you can Make Money using AI

OpenAI has recently launched a GPT store. The GPT store is a place for ChatGPT users to create and discover custom versions of the chatbot, designed for specific use cases.

With over 3 million custom GPTs now in circulation, you will likely be able to find a GPT for your specific use case.

Examples of custom GPTs include ScholarAI, which helps users with academic research, and AiPDF, which lets users upload PDF files as big as 2GB and ask questions about them.

OpenAI has also announced a monetisation scheme which will be rolled out later this year. GPT builders will be able to generate revenue based on user engagements with their custom bots.

Historically, App Stores have been known to generate billions of dollars in revenue each year. So, this initiative that allows users to generate revenue from the GPTs they create, has a great potential for profit.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading! 😊

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