Becoming a DevOps Engineer in Just 6 Months - A 2025 Guide

hi my name is Misha and I changed my hi my name is Misha and I changed my career to devops in 6 months without any career to devops in 6 months without any career to devops in 6 months without any previous experience and I've been previous experience and I've been previous experience and I've been working as a devops engineer for three working as a devops engineer for three working as a devops engineer for three years now on top of that I was awarded years now on top of that I was awarded years now on top of that I was awarded with the Microsoft MVP award and I'm with the Microsoft MVP award and I'm with the Microsoft MVP award and I'm being invited to speak about devops on being invited to speak about devops on being invited to speak about devops on podcasts and events the journey into podcasts and events the journey into podcasts and events the journey into devops was hard because I didn't know devops was hard because I didn't know devops was hard because I didn't know where to start but if I knew what I'm where to start but if I knew what I'm where to start but if I knew what I'm about to share with you in this video I about to share with you in this video I about to share with you in this video I would have done it even faster than 6 would have done it even faster than 6 would have done it even faster than 6 months what watch this video Until the months what watch this video Until the months what watch this video Until the End and feel free to put it on double End and feel free to put it on double End and feel free to put it on double speed but if you take these things and speed but if you take these things and speed but if you take these things and put them into practice I guarantee put them into practice I guarantee put them into practice I guarantee you'll land your first position in no [Music] [Music] time number one systematize your time number one systematize your time number one systematize your learning when I started my career change learning when I started my career change learning when I started my career change into devops I knew I had an insane into devops I knew I had an insane into devops I knew I had an insane amount of new skills and information to amount of new skills and information to amount of new skills and information to learn I realized I needed to create a learn I realized I needed to create a learn I realized I needed to create a system for myself that would help me to system for myself that would help me to system for myself that would help me to learn as efficiently as learn as efficiently as learn as efficiently as possible I created a system by watching possible I created a system by watching possible I created a system by watching hundreds of hours of productivity hundreds of hours of productivity hundreds of hours of productivity YouTube and reading books but over the YouTube and reading books but over the YouTube and reading books but over the years I've honed this to Perfection and years I've honed this to Perfection and years I've honed this to Perfection and has become an insanely effective system has become an insanely effective system has become an insanely effective system to take notes and organize my life which to take notes and organize my life which to take notes and organize my life which allows me to learn new skills at record allows me to learn new skills at record allows me to learn new skills at record speed I've created a free playlist here speed I've created a free playlist here speed I've created a free playlist here on YouTube where I explain my entire not on YouTube where I explain my entire not on YouTube where I explain my entire not taking system and you can find it by taking system and you can find it by taking system and you can find it by following this

following this following this link number two learn Linux Linux is the link number two learn Linux Linux is the link number two learn Linux Linux is the most important skill to have as a devops most important skill to have as a devops most important skill to have as a devops engineer it's engineer it's engineer it's crucial everything runs on Linux and you crucial everything runs on Linux and you crucial everything runs on Linux and you will encounter it everywhere when you will encounter it everywhere when you will encounter it everywhere when you have mastered no taking Linux is the have mastered no taking Linux is the have mastered no taking Linux is the next skill to learn if you wish to next skill to learn if you wish to next skill to learn if you wish to become a cloud or devops become a cloud or devops become a cloud or devops engineer Docker containers are Linux engineer Docker containers are Linux engineer Docker containers are Linux kubernetes is Linux kubernetes is Linux kubernetes is Linux Microsoft Azure runs on Linux it's all Microsoft Azure runs on Linux it's all Microsoft Azure runs on Linux it's all Linux under the hood and you need to Linux under the hood and you need to Linux under the hood and you need to know it I've worked with people who call know it I've worked with people who call know it I've worked with people who call themselves devops Engineers but who themselves devops Engineers but who themselves devops Engineers but who cannot use the command line or have cannot use the command line or have cannot use the command line or have don't have a clue about the Unix file don't have a clue about the Unix file don't have a clue about the Unix file system I mean they're are great people system I mean they're are great people system I mean they're are great people but they are lousy Engineers quite but they are lousy Engineers quite but they are lousy Engineers quite frankly and if you want to be a good and frankly and if you want to be a good and frankly and if you want to be a good and if you want to be a good devops engineer if you want to be a good devops engineer if you want to be a good devops engineer you'll need to learn Linux you'll need you'll need to learn Linux you'll need you'll need to learn Linux you'll need to know it well to know it well to know it well but the good news is that the internet but the good news is that the internet but the good news is that the internet is full of excellent resources to learn is full of excellent resources to learn is full of excellent resources to learn Linux for free all you need is an old Linux for free all you need is an old Linux for free all you need is an old laptop to get started and I create a laptop to get started and I create a laptop to get started and I create a full series about learning Linux which full series about learning Linux which full series about learning Linux which you can view here number three join a here number three join a community when I started out niched community when I started out niched community when I started out niched communities weren't really a thing you communities weren't really a thing you communities weren't really a thing you only had Reddit but if you start asking only had Reddit but if you start asking only had Reddit but if you start asking beginner questions on Linux or devops on beginner questions on Linux or devops on beginner questions on Linux or devops on the subreddits you are going to get

the subreddits you are going to get the subreddits you are going to get downvoted and nobody's going to help you downvoted and nobody's going to help you downvoted and nobody's going to help you at least that was my experience and I at least that was my experience and I at least that was my experience and I was really really frustrated when that was really really frustrated when that was really really frustrated when that happened I didn't have a place to ask happened I didn't have a place to ask happened I didn't have a place to ask questions and that really really stunned questions and that really really stunned questions and that really really stunned my growth I was just fumbling about in my growth I was just fumbling about in my growth I was just fumbling about in the dark and I didn't know where to the dark and I didn't know where to the dark and I didn't know where to begin and this is exactly why I created begin and this is exactly why I created begin and this is exactly why I created my private school my private school my private school Community this is a community of over Community this is a community of over Community this is a community of over 300 season Engineers who are all eager 300 season Engineers who are all eager 300 season Engineers who are all eager to grow and to help each other every to grow and to help each other every to grow and to help each other every question usually gets answered within question usually gets answered within question usually gets answered within the same day and if you join this the same day and if you join this the same day and if you join this community you make an introduction and community you make an introduction and community you make an introduction and then you will get advice on what the then you will get advice on what the then you will get advice on what the right Next Step for you right Next Step for you right Next Step for you is if you join today you get access to is if you join today you get access to is if you join today you get access to the best devops community on the the best devops community on the the best devops community on the internet and if that wasn't enough you internet and if that wasn't enough you internet and if that wasn't enough you also get access to my entire course also get access to my entire course also get access to my entire course portfolio including the course series to portfolio including the course series to portfolio including the course series to build your no taking system learning how build your no taking system learning how build your no taking system learning how to learn and full courses on learning to learn and full courses on learning to learn and full courses on learning Linux and Linux and Linux and kubernetes you can ask me questions kubernetes you can ask me questions kubernetes you can ask me questions directly or you can even ask me directly or you can even ask me directly or you can even ask me questions live in one of the two Q&A questions live in one of the two Q&A questions live in one of the two Q&A calls I host every calls I host every calls I host every week I'm running a sale where you can week I'm running a sale where you can week I'm running a sale where you can save save save $120 by purchasing an annual membership $120 by purchasing an annual membership $120 by purchasing an annual membership and if you're in doubt you can book a and if you're in doubt you can book a and if you're in doubt you can book a free onboarding call with me check it free onboarding call with me check it free onboarding call with me check it out you won't regret out you won't regret out you won't regret it number four do everything in public it number four do everything in public it number four do everything in public the best decision I made when I started

the best decision I made when I started the best decision I made when I started my devops journey was to start a blog my devops journey was to start a blog my devops journey was to start a blog and to document my journey I've been and to document my journey I've been and to document my journey I've been offered jobs based on my blog alone and offered jobs based on my blog alone and offered jobs based on my blog alone and it established me as a devops expert in it established me as a devops expert in it established me as a devops expert in the field which even led to me being the field which even led to me being the field which even led to me being awarded the prestigious Microsoft MVP awarded the prestigious Microsoft MVP awarded the prestigious Microsoft MVP award I learned about doing everything award I learned about doing everything award I learned about doing everything in public from the book show your work in public from the book show your work in public from the book show your work by Austin Cleon and I'll put a link to by Austin Cleon and I'll put a link to by Austin Cleon and I'll put a link to that down that down that down below but in order to do everything in below but in order to do everything in below but in order to do everything in public you should start an X account public you should start an X account public you should start an X account Twitter and post about what you're Twitter and post about what you're Twitter and post about what you're learning every day and write about the learning every day and write about the learning every day and write about the problems that you solve in your home lab problems that you solve in your home lab problems that you solve in your home lab on a Blog this is a way to make your on a Blog this is a way to make your on a Blog this is a way to make your work visible to the world and to show work visible to the world and to show work visible to the world and to show that you are truly passionate about what that you are truly passionate about what that you are truly passionate about what you you you do number five learn a programming do number five learn a programming do number five learn a programming language as a devops engineer you'll language as a devops engineer you'll language as a devops engineer you'll need to automate tasks and work with need to automate tasks and work with need to automate tasks and work with various Tools in apis that's why various Tools in apis that's why various Tools in apis that's why learning a programming language is learning a programming language is learning a programming language is crucial I recommend learning either crucial I recommend learning either crucial I recommend learning either python or go python is versatile and python or go python is versatile and python or go python is versatile and beginner friendly while go is fast and beginner friendly while go is fast and beginner friendly while go is fast and great for building Cloud native great for building Cloud native great for building Cloud native applications but go has a much steeper applications but go has a much steeper applications but go has a much steeper learning learning learning curve I personally started with python curve I personally started with python curve I personally started with python and found it incredibly useful for and found it incredibly useful for and found it incredibly useful for scripting and automation focus on scripting and automation focus on scripting and automation focus on learning the basics and then apply your learning the basics and then apply your learning the basics and then apply your knowledge to devop specific tasks like knowledge to devop specific tasks like knowledge to devop specific tasks like writing scripts for cicd pipelines or writing scripts for cicd pipelines or writing scripts for cicd pipelines or creating tools to manage Cloud

creating tools to manage Cloud creating tools to manage Cloud resources make sure to apply it to resources make sure to apply it to resources make sure to apply it to devops projects as soon as devops projects as soon as devops projects as soon as possible number six pick one cloud possible number six pick one cloud possible number six pick one cloud provider and get some provider and get some provider and get some certifications cloud computing is at the certifications cloud computing is at the certifications cloud computing is at the heart of modern devops practices while heart of modern devops practices while heart of modern devops practices while there are several Cloud providers out there are several Cloud providers out there are several Cloud providers out there I recommend focusing on one to there I recommend focusing on one to there I recommend focusing on one to start with whether it's AWS Azure or start with whether it's AWS Azure or start with whether it's AWS Azure or Google Cloud pick the one that interests Google Cloud pick the one that interests Google Cloud pick the one that interests you most and is most demand in your you most and is most demand in your you most and is most demand in your area because I'm in Europe Azure area because I'm in Europe Azure area because I'm in Europe Azure Microsoft Azure seemed like the best Microsoft Azure seemed like the best Microsoft Azure seemed like the best choice for me Microsoft has large Data choice for me Microsoft has large Data choice for me Microsoft has large Data Centers located right here in the Centers located right here in the Centers located right here in the Netherlands which make them much more Netherlands which make them much more Netherlands which make them much more attractive for Enterprise and government attractive for Enterprise and government attractive for Enterprise and government clients because they want to keep their clients because they want to keep their clients because they want to keep their data inside of the country they they data inside of the country they they data inside of the country they they have to keep their data inside of the have to keep their data inside of the have to keep their data inside of the country an architect friend of mine once country an architect friend of mine once country an architect friend of mine once said managers want Azure developers want said managers want Azure developers want said managers want Azure developers want AWS and I based my decision on AWS and I based my decision on AWS and I based my decision on that the most important thing is to that the most important thing is to that the most important thing is to commit to only one provider in the commit to only one provider in the commit to only one provider in the beginning and I made the same mistake I beginning and I made the same mistake I beginning and I made the same mistake I thought I needed to um learn several and thought I needed to um learn several and thought I needed to um learn several and keep up to dat with all the updates on keep up to dat with all the updates on keep up to dat with all the updates on both don't imagine you can learn several both don't imagine you can learn several both don't imagine you can learn several or think that you have a better job or think that you have a better job or think that you have a better job better chance at a job because you know better chance at a job because you know better chance at a job because you know several specialize first and then learn

several specialize first and then learn several specialize first and then learn a second one later if you want a second one later if you want a second one later if you want to once you've chosen a provider dive to once you've chosen a provider dive to once you've chosen a provider dive deep into their services and aim to get deep into their services and aim to get deep into their services and aim to get certified one thing I like about certified one thing I like about certified one thing I like about certifications is that they give you a certifications is that they give you a certifications is that they give you a clear goal to work towards and a clear goal to work towards and a clear goal to work towards and a learning path to follow they are not a learning path to follow they are not a learning path to follow they are not a substitute for experience but they will substitute for experience but they will substitute for experience but they will help to validate that you have the help to validate that you have the help to validate that you have the knowledge of the subjects that you will knowledge of the subjects that you will knowledge of the subjects that you will be working with number seven start a home lab with number seven start a home lab theory is important but nothing beats theory is important but nothing beats theory is important but nothing beats hands on experience you can get that at hands on experience you can get that at hands on experience you can get that at home setting up a home lab is an home setting up a home lab is an home setting up a home lab is an excellent way to apply what you've excellent way to apply what you've excellent way to apply what you've learned and experiment with different learned and experiment with different learned and experiment with different Technologies you don't need expensive Technologies you don't need expensive Technologies you don't need expensive equipment like big server racks and all equipment like big server racks and all equipment like big server racks and all the fancy neon the fancy neon the fancy neon lighting all you need is an old laptop lighting all you need is an old laptop lighting all you need is an old laptop and a Raspberry Pi that's that's or a and a Raspberry Pi that's that's or a and a Raspberry Pi that's that's or a Raspberry Pi I mean that's enough to get Raspberry Pi I mean that's enough to get Raspberry Pi I mean that's enough to get started you already have that lying started you already have that lying started you already have that lying around in your home lab you can set up around in your home lab you can set up around in your home lab you can set up Linux servers experiment with Linux servers experiment with Linux servers experiment with containerization using Docker and containerization using Docker and containerization using Docker and eventually create your own kubernetes eventually create your own kubernetes eventually create your own kubernetes cluster this is the place where you can cluster this is the place where you can cluster this is the place where you can make mistakes break things and learn how make mistakes break things and learn how make mistakes break things and learn how to fix them without the pressure of a to fix them without the pressure of a to fix them without the pressure of a production environment production environment production environment and one one of the best things of the and one one of the best things of the and one one of the best things of the home lab is that you can document the home lab is that you can document the home lab is that you can document the entire journey of setting it up on your entire journey of setting it up on your entire journey of setting it up on your blog and on

blog and on blog and on X or X or X or LinkedIn create a home lab repo on LinkedIn create a home lab repo on LinkedIn create a home lab repo on GitHub and then commit all of the code GitHub and then commit all of the code GitHub and then commit all of the code there in public this also forces you to there in public this also forces you to there in public this also forces you to think about security and how to manage think about security and how to manage think about security and how to manage your secrets it's a great exercise and your secrets it's a great exercise and your secrets it's a great exercise and it will train you to keep your it will train you to keep your it will train you to keep your credentials out of your go code right credentials out of your go code right credentials out of your go code right from the beginning use environment from the beginning use environment from the beginning use environment variables instead Pro variables instead Pro variables instead Pro tip number eight apply for junior tip number eight apply for junior tip number eight apply for junior positions and internships from day positions and internships from day positions and internships from day one one mistake I made when I started one one mistake I made when I started one one mistake I made when I started out was waiting too long to apply for out was waiting too long to apply for out was waiting too long to apply for positions don't wait until you feel positions don't wait until you feel positions don't wait until you feel ready just start applying for junior ready just start applying for junior ready just start applying for junior devops positions and internships as soon devops positions and internships as soon devops positions and internships as soon as you have some basic skills and a as you have some basic skills and a as you have some basic skills and a certification many companies are willing certification many companies are willing certification many companies are willing to train Junior Engineers albeit for a to train Junior Engineers albeit for a to train Junior Engineers albeit for a lower salary but the interview process lower salary but the interview process lower salary but the interview process itself is a great learning experience itself is a great learning experience itself is a great learning experience even if you don't get the job you will even if you don't get the job you will even if you don't get the job you will gain valuable insights into what your gain valuable insights into what your gain valuable insights into what your employers are looking for and where you employers are looking for and where you employers are looking for and where you need to need to need to improve remember rejection is part of improve remember rejection is part of improve remember rejection is part of the process don't get discouraged use the process don't get discouraged use the process don't get discouraged use each application and interview as a each application and interview as a each application and interview as a learning opportunity keep refining your learning opportunity keep refining your learning opportunity keep refining your skills and expanding your knowledge and skills and expanding your knowledge and skills and expanding your knowledge and the right opportunity will come along the right opportunity will come along the right opportunity will come along interviewing is a skill in and of itself interviewing is a skill in and of itself interviewing is a skill in and of itself and the more interviews you do the and the more interviews you do the and the more interviews you do the better you will get at better you will get at better you will get at it number nine build a portfolio of

it number nine build a portfolio of it number nine build a portfolio of projects as you learn new skills it's projects as you learn new skills it's projects as you learn new skills it's crucial to apply them to real world crucial to apply them to real world crucial to apply them to real world projects building a portfolio of devops projects building a portfolio of devops projects building a portfolio of devops projects demonstrates your abilities to projects demonstrates your abilities to projects demonstrates your abilities to potential employers far more effectively potential employers far more effectively potential employers far more effectively than any certification than any certification than any certification alone start with a simple project like alone start with a simple project like alone start with a simple project like setting up a cicd pipeline for a basic setting up a cicd pipeline for a basic setting up a cicd pipeline for a basic web application and then gradually in web application and then gradually in web application and then gradually in increase the increase the increase the complexity you could create a complexity you could create a complexity you could create a microservice application deployed on microservice application deployed on microservice application deployed on kubernetes or build an infrastructure as kubernetes or build an infrastructure as kubernetes or build an infrastructure as code project or terraform using code project or terraform using code project or terraform using terraform or terraform or terraform or both document these projects thoroughly both document these projects thoroughly both document these projects thoroughly on your blog and on GitHub explain your on your blog and on GitHub explain your on your blog and on GitHub explain your thought process the challenges you faced thought process the challenges you faced thought process the challenges you faced and how you overcame them this not only and how you overcame them this not only and how you overcame them this not only showcases your technical skills but also showcases your technical skills but also showcases your technical skills but also your problem solving abilities and your your problem solving abilities and your your problem solving abilities and your communication skills this is all communication skills this is all communication skills this is all extremely important for devops roles extremely important for devops roles extremely important for devops roles it's not just about the tech it's also it's not just about the tech it's also it's not just about the tech it's also about collaboration the ability to voice about collaboration the ability to voice about collaboration the ability to voice your ideas how your social skills are your ideas how your social skills are your ideas how your social skills are it's all it's all it's all important and the last one number 10 go important and the last one number 10 go important and the last one number 10 go to local devups to local devups to local devups meetups don't underestimate the power of meetups don't underestimate the power of meetups don't underestimate the power of networking find local devops meetups and networking find local devops meetups and networking find local devops meetups and go to them these events are great go to them these events are great go to them these events are great opportunities to learn from experienced opportunities to learn from experienced opportunities to learn from experienced professionals to stay updated with professionals to stay updated with professionals to stay updated with industry Trends and potentially find job industry Trends and potentially find job industry Trends and potentially find job opportunities when I started I was shy

opportunities when I started I was shy opportunities when I started I was shy and hesitant to attend these events but and hesitant to attend these events but and hesitant to attend these events but once I did I realized how welcoming and once I did I realized how welcoming and once I did I realized how welcoming and helpful the devops community can be you helpful the devops community can be you helpful the devops community can be you can make valuable connections find can make valuable connections find can make valuable connections find mentors and even land job opportunities mentors and even land job opportunities mentors and even land job opportunities through these meetups through these meetups through these meetups if there aren't any meetups in your area if there aren't any meetups in your area if there aren't any meetups in your area consider starting one organizing a consider starting one organizing a consider starting one organizing a Meetup is a great way to build your Meetup is a great way to build your Meetup is a great way to build your network and to establish yourself in a network and to establish yourself in a network and to establish yourself in a local Tech Community you don't need to local Tech Community you don't need to local Tech Community you don't need to be a senior engineer to do this you be a senior engineer to do this you be a senior engineer to do this you don't need to be a guru to do this you don't need to be a guru to do this you don't need to be a guru to do this you can do this as an as an Junior engineer can do this as an as an Junior engineer can do this as an as an Junior engineer and will truly show your and will truly show your and will truly show your passion to find meetups Go to meetup.com passion to find meetups Go to meetup.com passion to find meetups Go to meetup.com or LinkedIn to find them or to start or LinkedIn to find them or to start or LinkedIn to find them or to start your own remember changing your career to own remember changing your career to devops is a journey it requires devops is a journey it requires devops is a journey it requires dedication continuous learning and dedication continuous learning and dedication continuous learning and persistence but with the right approach persistence but with the right approach persistence but with the right approach and right mindset it's absolutely and right mindset it's absolutely and right mindset it's absolutely achievable I did it and so can you I achievable I did it and so can you I achievable I did it and so can you I wish you the best of luck on your devops wish you the best of luck on your devops wish you the best of luck on your devops journey and check out my community if journey and check out my community if journey and check out my community if you want to ask for advice and get you want to ask for advice and get you want to ask for advice and get support along the way I can help you the support along the way I can help you the support along the way I can help you the community can help you and I really hope community can help you and I really hope community can help you and I really hope to see you there the link will be down to see you there the link will be down to see you there the link will be down below below below thank you for watching and see you in thank you for watching and see you in thank you for watching and see you in the next one