Constructing a profession as a software program developer might be helpful, however is usually a aggressive area to interrupt into, particularly in 2024 when over 130,000 layoffs have occurred at tech firms already. Whereas not all 130,000 might 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 expertise which can be related to their profession. A certification gives a chance for builders to indicate others that they’ve a specific talent; It’s one factor to checklist 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.
“Individuals are actually glad by taking a certification, as a result of it’s the validation of some data,” mentioned 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 actually vital as a result of anyone can say that they know one thing, however proving that often makes an actual distinction.”
A 2023 CompTIA report discovered that 80% of US HR professionals surveyed relied on technical certifications throughout the hiring course of. Sauthier mentioned the CNCF has carried out a survey trying into the impression of certifications as effectively, and has additionally seen that individuals who receive them usually profit.
“Greater than half the individuals who answered the survey mentioned that taking some coaching or certification helped them get a brand new job,” mentioned Sauthier. “It’s a means for folks to be extra acknowledged for what they know, and in addition to often 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 mentioned that that they had the next 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.
The best way to choose a certification
With a purpose to see these advantages, it’s vital 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 could allow somebody to get used to what it means to take a certification.
Then, it would make sense to maneuver onto extra superior certifications. For example, the CNCF’s Licensed Kubernetes Safety Specialist (CKS) certification is “fairly robust”, he mentioned. Nevertheless, its issue is what appeals to folks.
“Individuals are actually attracted by it as a result of it actually proves one thing,” he mentioned. “You might want to truly resolve actual issues to have the ability to go it. So we offer you an setting and we inform you, ‘okay, there’s this challenge,’ or ‘please implement that,’ and we’re then evaluating what you probably did.”
Sauthier did notice that issue alone shouldn’t be a deciding issue. “After I’m trying on the varied certifications, I’m extra thinking about taking a look at one thing which is broadly adopted and which isn’t opinionated,” he mentioned. Having it not be opinionated, or not tied to a selected vendor, will be sure that the abilities are extra simply transferable.
“Many distributors from our group are constructing their bricks on high of the nice mission we’ve got 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 varied merchandise which have been created by the distributors,” he mentioned.
He went on to clarify how this informs the CNCF’s strategy of certification improvement. He mentioned that every query is accredited by no less than two folks, which ensures that there’s huge settlement.
“That’s one thing that’s actually vital so that you’re certain whenever 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 entire group,” he mentioned. “That’s actually one thing vital for us. We don’t need you to be vendor locked with the data you might have whenever you take one among a certification. In order that’s actually crucial factor for me, and never the problem of the certification itself.”
The CNCF just 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 the moment, 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.
