Becoming a Self-Taught Cloud Engineer: A Five-Step Roadmap

00:00 Introduction

Becoming a self-taught cloud engineer quickly requires a structured approach. Drawing from personal experience, the speaker outlines a five-step roadmap for gaining essential skills and securing a job in the field.

01:15 Step 1: Learn IT Fundamentals

Focus on five key areas:

• Operating Systems: Gain familiarity with Linux and the command line.
• Networking: Understand IP addresses, subnets, DNS, and routing.
• Security: Learn about firewalls, VPNs, and data encryption.
• Databases: Familiarize yourself with relational and non-relational databases.
• Virtualization: Understand how to create virtual machines.

02:30 Step 2: Choose a Cloud Provider

Pick one major cloud provider to learn—preferably AWS due to its extensive job opportunities and free tier for experimentation.

03:10 Step 3: Master Key AWS Services

Concentrate on five essential AWS services:

• EC2 (compute)
• S3 (storage)
• IAM (identity access management)
• VPC (private cloud space)
• Amazon Bedrock (AI integration)

04:25 Step 4: Build Your Project Portfolio

Create a portfolio showcasing your cloud projects with clear explanations of technologies used and problems solved. Include video walkthroughs and documentation to stand out to employers.

05:30 Step 5: Apply for Jobs

Utilize LinkedIn for job applications, tailoring your resume to specific roles. Track your applications to analyze which approaches yield results. Focus on entry-level roles like cloud support or junior cloud engineer positions.

07:00 The Cloud Trifecta

Implement a daily routine involving:

• 1 hour of learning cloud fundamentals
• 1 hour of applying for jobs
• 1 hour of building your personal brand
  This approach helps maintain momentum and visibility in the job market.