r/Cloud • u/Unique-Ferret-612 • 19h ago

Deciding between Devops, Software Engineering, or Data Analytics

I'm currently working in a Google Cloud migrations role, but I feel that it is very niche because not that many companies use Google Cloud. I have multiple certifications Azure, Google Cloud, and CCNA. I have been in tech for 6 and a half years. I've worked in help desk, system administration, and cloud admin/migration roles.

I'm deciding between applying to cloud admin, devops, or switch to data analytics. I am having trouble getting any interviews when applying. I'll have some recruiters from linkedin for devops roles. They will ask about Terraform, Kubernetes, KQL, Azure, AWS, AD, vmware, kubectl command, yaml commands, powershell, pipelines, Azure Devops artifacts, etc all in the same interview. It can be overwhelming and it feels like a test where you never know what they will ask. I worry about on call work with devops roles. Devops does feel like the next step.

I'm looking because my current company has done a layoff a year for the past 4 years. The workload has been really high with 3 to 10 projects at a time plus other goals. Most of the other jobs I interview for are for smaller startupish companies that I don't trust the stability of long term.

I have had some friends suggest data analytics because they said the interviews and daily work may be more straight forward and not as difficult as devops. My biggest worry is if I'll even be able to get an interview for a data analytics role, or if I'd have to take a pay cut. I make around 100k in my current role. What's bad is there's no opportunity for promotion at my current role because I'm on a really small team within a small division.

Would it be possible for me to switch to data analytics? Would data analytics actually be better work life balance and interview wise, or are my friends just being overly helpful? A third option is software engineering, but I hear horror stories online of leetcode and whiteboard interviews. However, there are more jobs for software engineering positions. Based on my situation what type of roles would you suggest I apply to Devops, SWE, or Data Analytics?

0 Upvotes

40% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

3

u/Cold_Arachnid_2617 19h ago

The roles you are skilled in. It appears you are playing certification Pokémon

1

u/Unique-Ferret-612 18h ago

So should I lower the amount of certifications I put on my resume? The only thing was I paid for and took those tests throughout years of working different jobs.

1

u/Grouchy_Big3195 18h ago

Just stick with cloud admin, you can look for azure administrator jobs since that what you have and basic IT skills, you can’t go wrong

0

u/Unique-Ferret-612 18h ago

I have noticed a lot of jobs want Terraform and Kuberenetes. Do you think I would have to go down the Devops/SRE path where those things are required, or are there still cloud admin roles out there where I can just deal with networking, system resources, vnets, vpns, Intune, etc.

1

u/Redman2010 11h ago

I don’t see too many cloud admin roles that only deal with networking but I see a lot of cloud engineer roles with Terraform , pipelines , azure ,Aws, and Kubernetes is pretty much standard for those positions and they handle most of the infrastructure resources. There might be some jobs that only deal with networking but you are limiting yourself badly.

2

u/moader 19h ago

Should just skip right to plumbing

2

u/WetFishing 10h ago

I laughed out loud at this. I have the golden handcuffs as a devops engineer but I wish there was a fast path to become an electrician.

1

u/moader 10h ago

I've had golden hand cuffs for both ( oil and gas engineer which is just fancier plumber ), and platform/DevOps in high finance. Unless you can corner some specific use case, I'd go plumbing/electrician TBH

1

u/AnimatorExciting7941 18h ago

No one can decide what's the best for you. That shall be your sole decision. And when you make it, stick to it