Constructing a profession as a software program developer will be beneficial, however generally is a aggressive area to interrupt into, particularly in 2024 when over 130,000 layoffs have occurred at tech corporations already. Whereas not all 130,000 could have been software program engineers, they haven’t been immune from the cuts.
A technique builders can set themselves up for higher alternatives is to pursue certifications for abilities which can be related to their profession. A certification affords a chance for builders to indicate others that they’ve a specific talent; It’s one factor to listing Kubernetes as a core competency on their resume, and one other to say they’ve handed the certification examination for one of many CNCF’s Kubernetes certifications.
“Persons are actually glad by taking a certification, as a result of it’s the validation of some data,” stated Christophe Sauthier, head of CNCF certifications and trainings, in a current episode of our What the Dev? podcast. “It’s one thing that we really feel is admittedly necessary as a result of anyone can say that they know one thing, however proving that normally makes an actual distinction.”
A 2023 CompTIA report discovered that 80% of US HR professionals surveyed relied on technical certifications in the course of the hiring course of. Sauthier stated the CNCF has carried out a survey trying into the impression of certifications as nicely, and has additionally seen that individuals who acquire them typically profit.
“Greater than half the individuals who answered the survey stated that taking some coaching or certification helped them get a brand new job,” stated Sauthier. “It’s a manner for folks to be extra acknowledged for what they know, and likewise to normally get higher pay. And once I say lots of people get higher pay, it was about one third of the individuals who answered our survey who stated that that they had a better pay due to taking coaching or certifications.”
One other survey from CompTIA in 2022 confirmed that IT professionals that obtained a brand new certification noticed a median $13,000 enhance in wage.
choose a certification
With a purpose to see these advantages, it’s necessary for anybody pursuing a certification to consider which one will finest swimsuit their wants, as a result of they arrive in all sizes and styles.
Sauthier says he recommends beginning with an entry-level certification first, as this may allow somebody to get used to what it means to take a certification.
Then, it would make sense to maneuver onto extra superior certifications. As an example, the CNCF’s Licensed Kubernetes Safety Specialist (CKS) certification is “fairly robust”, he stated. Nonetheless, its issue is what appeals to folks.
“Persons are actually attracted by it as a result of it actually proves one thing,” he stated. “You might want to truly remedy actual issues to have the ability to move it. So we provide you with an surroundings and we let you know, ‘okay, there may be this problem,’ or ‘please implement that,’ and we’re then evaluating what you probably did.”
Sauthier did word that issue alone shouldn’t be a deciding issue. “After I’m trying on the varied certifications, I’m extra concerned about taking a look at one thing which is extensively adopted and which isn’t opinionated,” he stated. Having it not be opinionated, or not tied to a selected vendor, will make sure that the talents are extra simply transferable.
“Many distributors from our neighborhood are constructing their bricks on prime of the nice venture we have now throughout the CNCF, however the certifications we’re designing are focusing on these bricks so it is possible for you to to reuse that data on the assorted merchandise which were created by the distributors,” he stated.
He went on to elucidate how this informs the CNCF’s strategy of certification improvement. He stated that every query is permitted by a minimum of two folks, which ensures that there’s vast settlement.
“That’s one thing that’s actually necessary so that you’re certain once you’re taking a certification from us that the data that you’ll validate is one thing that it is possible for you to to make use of with many distributors and plenty of merchandise over our complete neighborhood,” he stated. “That’s actually one thing necessary for us. We don’t need you to be vendor locked with the data you could have once you take one in all a certification. In order that’s actually a very powerful factor for me, and never the problem of the certification itself.”
The CNCF lately took its certification program a step additional by introducing Kubestronaut, an achievement folks can get for finishing all 5 of its Kubernetes certifications. At present, there are 788 Kubestronauts, who get added advantages like a personal Slack channel, coupons for different CNCF certifications, and a reduction on CNCF occasions, like KubeCon.
