Why pursuing a cloud certification is helpful for the career trajectory of young developers?

By Bhavesh Goswami, Founder & CEO, CloudThat

It is very evident that things cannot be changed to the way they were before the pandemic. With businesses adopting a forward-thinking stance and not shying away from the benefits of emerging technologies, everything we see today has a digital makeover. One of the essential areas driving this paradigm shift is cloud computing. When examining worldwide utilities, 90% of businesses have multi-cloud architectures installed in their framework.

Besides, IT services companies like Wipro, Infosys, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS), and Mindtree Ltd are investing in building cloud-specific solutions to win large deals from clients looking to modernize their existing infrastructure. The strategy is apparently paying dividends with Infosys increasing its revenue by 42.1% and Cognizant by 20% owing to cloud adoption.

Looking at economic statistics in more detail, it is predicted that by the end of 2022, India’s public cloud sector will produce USD 4.58 billion in revenue. It is anticipated to reach $13.5 billion over the following four years. It is safe to say that cloud will become the prerequisite for most job roles crucial for businesses.

In the areas of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics, the recent arrival of 5G has already resulted in a 1.5 lakh talent requirement, according to the Telecom Sector Skill Council report (TSSC). Over the past few months, Wipro alone employed over 79,000 cloud professionals and 10,000+ cloud-certified candidates.

Freshers and young developers can anticipate fantastic opportunities in this industry. Jobs in this line of work are among the most reputable, dependable, and secure. The salary ranges that the industry offers are also respectable; with high chances of getting sizeable wage increases with an increase in caliber. According to Ambition box reports, the average yearly income for cloud database administrators in India is 12.0 Lakhs, with salaries ranging from 4.6 lakhs to 27.0 lakhs.

With sufficient cloud certifications, candidates can even better their chances of securing lucrative job prospects. Appropriate cloud credentials, according to hiring managers, are a consideration when evaluating candidates. Organizations are in the practice of offering extra incentives to employees who acquire a preferred certification. Accenture, to be specific, pays Hot Skill Bonus to employees whose skill set aligns with the current market position.

Wipro, too, promised skill-based bonuses to employees skilled in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and alike in-demand areas. And not to forget, several tech giants also sponsor paid certifications for their employees. And if the Global Knowledge 2019 IT Skills and Salary report is to be believed, IT professionals with six or more certifications reported earning 8 Lakhs more than those who only held one certification.

Young developers can choose from a variety of skill certification programs to be prepared for diverse positions. Some certifications like the Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals don’t even require candidates to have a technical background. They can easily begin with the basics and continue advanced role-based certifications as they go. Some of the prominent cloud certifications include:

• AWS cloud certifications – AWS offers 12 certifications organized into four groups:
> Fundamental level – one course (for beginners)
> Associate level – three courses
> Professional level – two courses
> Specialty – six courses

• Azure cloud certifications – Microsoft offers three programs, both beginner and advanced, for all skill levels:
> Azure Fundamentals
> Azure Administrator Associate
> DevOps Engineer Expert

• Google cloud certifications – Google offers three options for cloud practitioners:
> Associate cloud engineer – an introductory certification
> Professional cloud architect – an advanced program
> Professional data engineer – a specialty certification

It is also imperative to obtain cloud certifications through industry-recognized channels; a substantial advantage being extensive coverage of only the necessary modules. Accredited institutions also allow young developers hands-on experience on many capstone projects. This gives them a sizeable advantage in finetuning their newly gained skills, knowledge, abilities, and confidence. After all, it is better to have a certification portray your experience than convey it verbally to hirers.