00:00Are you at the start of your cloud learning journey wondering if it's too late to learn AWS, Azure or
00:05Google Cloud?
00:06If so, you're not alone. The tech industry has changed drastically over the past few years.
00:10COVID led to a boom in cloud jobs and now we're seeing layoffs across the industry.
00:15Amazon alone has laid off over 27,000 employees over the past two years.
00:20Now, I don't want to start off this video by sounding all negative, so let me tell you the silver
00:24lining in all of this.
00:25As AI becomes more widespread, the demand for cloud skills will continue to grow with it.
00:30This is because AI relies heavily on cloud infrastructure to function.
00:34In fact, the cloud industry is expected to reach a $600 billion market value by the end of this year.
00:39And so, is it too late to learn cloud computing in 2024? Yes and no.
00:44In this video, we're going to explore the pros and cons of starting a cloud career and more importantly, what
00:49no one tells you about when it comes to building cloud skills.
00:52I'll be sharing five key factors to consider and provide my completely honest opinion as an ex-AWS solutions architect.
00:59For those who are new here, my name is Lucy and over the past three years, I've helped hundreds of
01:03people build their technical skills and land a job in the cloud.
01:06So, if that sounds like something you're interested in, please make sure you give this video a like and subscribe
01:11to the channel for weekly videos just like this one.
01:14I also have a free email newsletter called cloudbytes.ai where I share bite-sized learning tips on cloud and
01:20AI.
01:20So, feel free to sign up to that as well.
01:22Alright, let's get into it.
01:23First off, what is the state of cloud computing in 2024?
01:26Well, when I started my journey as an AWS solutions architect back in 2021, the industry was booming.
01:32As a result of the pandemic, many businesses were forced to move their operations online and this led to a
01:38massive increase in cloud adoption.
01:40AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud all saw significant growth in their revenue and user base.
01:46And with that, of course, met more open positions.
01:48Roles like solutions architect, cloud engineer, and cloud consultant had so many job postings.
01:54But as we all know, by the end of 2022, the landscape started to shift.
01:58Tech layoffs began to happen and one by one, companies introduced hiring freezes and some even removed entire teams and
02:05departments.
02:05At the same time, ChatGPT was released to the world, leading to even more uncertainty and fears that AI will
02:11replace tech jobs.
02:12However, what no one tells you is that cloud and AI actually go hand-in-hand to help each other.
02:17Cloud computing is part of what makes AI possible by providing scalable, cost-efficient, and accessible resources for developers.
02:24AI has also brought new services and use cases for the cloud.
02:28For example, Amazon Bedrock and Azure AI Studio were released last year to help people deploy AI models quickly and
02:34easily.
02:35Now, this is a really important point to consider because even though the cloud market appears to be mature, it
02:40doesn't mean that things will slow down in the long term.
02:43There's still plenty of room for growth, especially as AI will continue to require more and more cloud resources.
02:48What's great about this is that cloud computing skills will continue to be in demand.
02:52AWS in particular has remained the market leader for nearly 20 years.
02:56So if you're deciding which cloud provider to go for, AWS will be the one that recommend learning.
03:01However, the downside is that competition has also increased.
03:04With more people entering the cloud space, standing out can be tougher.
03:08I also need to mention that advances in AI could remove the need for some junior-level cloud skills like
03:13basic configuration, monitoring, and maintenance.
03:16Unfortunately, the bar for entry-level jobs definitely seem to be higher now because employers are looking for skills and
03:22experience that go beyond just knowing the fundamentals.
03:25And this brings us to the second key factor to consider, which is the hidden complexity of cloud computing.
03:29When I first started learning AWS, I very quickly realized that there were so many gaps in my knowledge.
03:35The cloud is much more than just learning a platform like AWS or Azure.
03:39It requires a base understanding of IT concepts like networking, compute, storage, security, and much more.
03:46What you need to know is that companies are not simply looking for someone who can spin up an EC2
03:50instance in the cloud.
03:51You should also be able to understand the underlying concepts and know how cloud computing fits in with the rest
03:57of the IT world.
03:58The advantage to this is that developing a strong foundation in cloud, IT, and AI will make you a valuable
04:04asset to companies.
04:05Of course, it's going to take more time and you might have to put in more hours than you initially
04:09expect, but the payoff will be worth it.
04:11The con to this, though, is that the learning curve can be steep, especially if you're someone completely new to
04:16tech.
04:17It can be quite easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge you'll need to have in order to
04:21land a cloud job.
04:22Now, what I recommend doing is to set three separate study plans, one for IT, one for cloud, and one
04:28for AI.
04:28Let me know in the comments below if you'd like me to make a video on how I'd structure these
04:32plans.
04:33To build your IT skills, I'd recommend completing the Google IT Support Certification offered by Coursera.
04:39This is a program designed by Google that offers a comprehensive pathway to understand the fundamentals of IT.
04:44No prior knowledge is required and by the end of the program, you'll be equipped with the skills needed for
04:49an entry-level IT job.
04:51I'll leave a link to it in the description below if you're interested in checking it out.
04:54Now, the third key factor to consider with learning cloud computing is the limitations of certifications.
05:00What I mean by this is that certifications will only get you so far.
05:03Earning five AWS certifications was definitely something important for my own career and my learning,
05:09but certifications alone are not enough to land you a job.
05:12This is because most of the exams are simple multiple-choice quizzes and don't really assess your actual understanding of
05:18a topic.
05:18What companies really want to know when hiring a candidate is whether or not you have actual hands-on experience
05:23with working in the cloud.
05:25This could be in the form of personal projects, internships, or even freelance work.
05:29Now that you know about the limitations of cloud certifications, it's definitely something you can take advantage of.
05:35Instead of spending months preparing for multiple certs, build cloud projects as soon as you can.
05:40These projects can then be put on your resume or portfolio to showcase your hands-on skills.
05:44One drawback to this is that it can be hard to know what projects to build.
05:48Certifications can at least provide you with a structured learning roadmap, but where do you even start for cloud projects?
05:54To help with this, I've created a course called Beginner AWS Cloud Projects, where I provide the complete step-by
06:00-step guide to creating five unique cloud projects on AWS.
06:03It's something you can complete in just a weekend, and I have the detailed instructions all packed inside.
06:08There's also a Slack community included for you to ask questions if you've run into any issues with building.
06:14I'll have a link to it in the description below for you to have a look, and you can use
06:17the code YouTube10 for 10% off.
06:19The next factor I wanted to mention is the need for continuous learning.
06:23Everyone working in the cloud has to play the long game, because as cheesy as it sounds, it's about the
06:28journey, not the destination.
06:30The benefit to this is being able to stay updated with the latest technologies and trends.
06:34You'll always be equipped with fresh skills that are in demand, and you won't fall behind if you keep learning
06:39and adapting.
06:40Plus, if you have a real interest or passion for tech, it can be really fun to learn through conferences,
06:45by building side projects, and expanding your skills in your spare time.
06:49Of course, the con to this is if you don't like the idea of continuous learning.
06:52To some of you, it may sound exciting, but for others, it can be quite exhausting.
06:57Cloud providers are constantly introducing new services and updates, so it could feel like a never-ending cycle.
07:03This can be challenging, especially if you're balancing work, family, and other responsibilities.
07:07But to be completely honest with you, most fields in tech are like this, and it's not something really unique
07:13to cloud.
07:13The good news is that all the skills you build will be transferable in some way or another.
07:18And that's what I want to discuss with you in this final factor.
07:21The final factor to consider is the value of transferable skills.
07:24Now, one of the biggest advantages of learning cloud technologies is that the skills you develop aren't just limited to
07:30one industry.
07:31They're going to be applicable across a whole range of fields.
07:34As a solutions architect, for example, you develop skills in areas like problem solving, project management, and leadership.
07:40This means that if you ever decide to pivot your career outside of the cloud, you'll have transferable skills to
07:45make that transition easier for you.
07:47The great thing about cloud skills is that they're pretty highly sought after.
07:51You can use them to manage data, enhance security, or optimize IT systems in different industries.
07:57For example, cloud security is important in finance, and data storage is important in the healthcare space.
08:02On the other hand, though, while cloud skills can be transferred between industries, you'll need to adapt them to meet
08:08your specific role.
08:08For example, working in healthcare might require you to understand specific regulations like HIPAA, if you're in the US, and
08:15this differs to general cloud security practices.
08:18And so, what I'm saying is, while the core skills are transferable, you'll still need to upskill and tailor your
08:23skills to fit the industry that you're in.
08:25Alright, let's return to the question, is cloud computing still worth learning in 2024, or is it too late to
08:31start your journey?
08:32By considering all the factors in this video, we can see that entering the cloud space is still a smart
08:37move, but it's just not as easy as it was a few years ago.
08:40While the bar for cloud talent may be rising though, there are still plenty of opportunities for those with the
08:45right mindset, knowledge, and skills.
08:47I believe that cloud is the future, and I hope you'll join me on this journey.
08:51Thanks so much for watching, and check out this playlist to start learning.
08:54Alright, bye for now!
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