Here's how you can ready yourself for the rising need for Cloud Computing skills in the job market.

Start with the building blocks: - Understand virtualization 🖥️: Learn how virtualization creates virtual versions of servers, storage, and more. - Explore cloud service models ☁️: -- SaaS: Software as a Service, providing software over the internet. -- PaaS: Platform as a Service, offering a platform to develop, run, and manage applications. -- IaaS: Infrastructure as a Service, delivering computing infrastructure online. - Grasp core concepts 📚: Familiarize yourself with essential cloud computing principles.

To get started with cloud computing, I first explored the basics on platforms like Coursera and Udemy. Diving into beginner courses, I learned key concepts like IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. Additionally, I found hands-on labs particularly helpful. Trying out services on AWS and Google Cloud, I gained practical experience. Staying updated with industry news also kept me informed about the latest trends. Networking with professionals through LinkedIn broadened my understanding and provided insights from experienced practitioners.

Once you have the basics down, dive into the tools and technologies essential for cloud computing. Here’s how: - Learn Linux 🐧: Familiarize yourself with Linux, widely used in cloud environments. - Master management tools 🛠️: Get to know tools for orchestrating and automating cloud resources. - Explore containers 📦: Understand containers and platforms like Docker. - Dive into Kubernetes 🚀: Learn Kubernetes for deploying and managing microservice-based applications.

Practical experience is crucial in cloud computing. Here’s how to gain it effectively: - Set up your own environment 🛠️: Use free tiers from cloud providers to experiment. - Deploy applications 🚀: Practice deploying and managing cloud applications. - Manage cloud storage 💾: Get hands-on with configuring and handling cloud storage. - Configure network services 🌐: Learn to set up and manage cloud network services. - Join open-source projects 🤝: Contribute to real-world projects and community forums.

Certifications are good but really depends what kind of companies you're applying for. Some companies/hiring managers wouldn't care if you have certificate or not but some would really look for certifications. For example, some IT consulting firms would look for certification on your CV or would encourage you to get certified so they can have more certified engineers and it might give them some badge/recognition to stand out when they find more clients. I personally don't look for certification when I'm hiring. For me, candidate's work experience or personal projects is more important than just certificates. But I do recommend someone just starting fresh in cloud to aim for certification so they get a streamlined path to learn the basics.

Cloud computing isn't just evolving—it's revolutionizing tech at unprecedented speed. As the backbone of modern innovation, it's shaping our digital future daily. Staying current about it isn't just about job security; it's about riding the wave of technological progress. Embrace continuous learning not as a hassle, but as your step towards shaping today and tomorrow's digital landscape. In cloud computing, the only constant is change—make that your competitive advantage.

Networking is so crucial and especially when one make meaningful relations not just you know someone. When I moved to Australia, I had enough work experience overseas but finding first job in Australia was still challenging even going via recruiters and online job websites. But I was referred by two different amazing engineers in two different companies and I got interview scheduled at both and had offers from both. With our busy schedules it becomes hard to network outside your workplace but meetups, conferences, workshops etc are great place to meet new people.