He Landed a Senior SRE job with his Homelab

What's up guys? I just wanted to share What's up guys? I just wanted to share this win from the CubeCraft community. this win from the CubeCraft community. this win from the CubeCraft community. Eric here landed a senior S sur role and Eric here landed a senior S sur role and Eric here landed a senior S sur role and I think he just did a great job in I think he just did a great job in I think he just did a great job in explaining the interview process how we explaining the interview process how we explaining the interview process how we went about this and I think it's good to went about this and I think it's good to went about this and I think it's good to share it with you so you can also learn share it with you so you can also learn share it with you so you can also learn how to do this. So Eric here he how to do this. So Eric here he how to do this. So Eric here he describes last week I accepted an offer describes last week I accepted an offer describes last week I accepted an offer for an S sur role after a three round for an S sur role after a three round for an S sur role after a three round interview process and I want to give interview process and I want to give interview process and I want to give major credit to the hands-on experience major credit to the hands-on experience major credit to the hands-on experience I gained through my CubeCraft home lab I gained through my CubeCraft home lab I gained through my CubeCraft home lab setup. So, right off the bat here, you setup. So, right off the bat here, you setup. So, right off the bat here, you read that this stuff that I've been read that this stuff that I've been read that this stuff that I've been preaching on this channel for months, preaching on this channel for months, preaching on this channel for months, years now, is that this stuff works, years now, is that this stuff works, years now, is that this stuff works, guys. Build a home lab and do it today. guys. Build a home lab and do it today. guys. Build a home lab and do it today. You won't get it by just doing You won't get it by just doing You won't get it by just doing certifications. He he shows it here in certifications. He he shows it here in certifications. He he shows it here in the first sentence. He says that his the first sentence. He says that his the first sentence. He says that his Cubere home lab setup helped him with Cubere home lab setup helped him with Cubere home lab setup helped him with this. So how the company found me? He this. So how the company found me? He this. So how the company found me? He applied over a 100 roles and it's a applied over a 100 roles and it's a applied over a 100 roles and it's a health a tech health organization using health a tech health organization using health a tech health organization using AI migrating their monolithic AI migrating their monolithic AI migrating their monolithic applications to cloud services running applications to cloud services running applications to cloud services running on Kubernetes. Again here's another on Kubernetes. Again here's another on Kubernetes. Again here's another trend that I I'm harping on all the trend that I I'm harping on all the trend that I I'm harping on all the time. Learn Kubernetes guys. Do it. You time. Learn Kubernetes guys. Do it. You time. Learn Kubernetes guys. Do it. You have to learn Kubernetes because this is have to learn Kubernetes because this is have to learn Kubernetes because this is where the the money is. This is where where the the money is. This is where where the the money is. This is where everything is going. And not just for everything is going. And not just for everything is going. And not just for running applications. It's also for running applications. It's also for running applications. It's also for creating a a an API that ties everything creating a a an API that ties everything creating a a an API that ties everything together. Kubernetes is taking this together. Kubernetes is taking this together. Kubernetes is taking this role. Mark my role. Mark my role. Mark my words. So after he submitted his resume, words. So after he submitted his resume, words. So after he submitted his resume, the the resume, the HR coordinator reach the the resume, the HR coordinator reach the the resume, the HR coordinator reach out and the interview process kicked off

out and the interview process kicked off out and the interview process kicked off from there. Drawn by their mission, from there. Drawn by their mission, from there. Drawn by their mission, technical challenge and a chance to help technical challenge and a chance to help technical challenge and a chance to help drive their cloudnative transformation. drive their cloudnative transformation. drive their cloudnative transformation. So this is very important that you So this is very important that you So this is very important that you select companies based on their mission, select companies based on their mission, select companies based on their mission, their values. If you want to stay there their values. If you want to stay there their values. If you want to stay there long term, it's also very important that long term, it's also very important that long term, it's also very important that you that you that you that you select a company and apply for it. you select a company and apply for it. you select a company and apply for it. And then this drive, this this this And then this drive, this this this And then this drive, this this this identification with their values also identification with their values also identification with their values also comes through in the interview process. comes through in the interview process. comes through in the interview process. It's not just about the tech skills. It's not just about the tech skills. It's not just about the tech skills. It's about focusing on their mission. It's about focusing on their mission. It's about focusing on their mission. And if that resonates with you, then it And if that resonates with you, then it And if that resonates with you, then it will also resonate with them that you will also resonate with them that you will also resonate with them that you are on the same track. are on the same track. are on the same track. So let's talk about he talks about the So let's talk about he talks about the So let's talk about he talks about the interview process. The runs included a interview process. The runs included a interview process. The runs included a technical deep dive focused on technical deep dive focused on technical deep dive focused on Kubernetes, EKS, CI/CD, GitOps and AWS Kubernetes, EKS, CI/CD, GitOps and AWS Kubernetes, EKS, CI/CD, GitOps and AWS infrastructure as code. I was asked to infrastructure as code. I was asked to infrastructure as code. I was asked to walk through how I would troubleshoot walk through how I would troubleshoot walk through how I would troubleshoot broken deployments, manage multi-enf broken deployments, manage multi-enf broken deployments, manage multi-enf clusters and secure container workflows.

clusters and secure container workflows. clusters and secure container workflows. So as you see, it's not just about So as you see, it's not just about So as you see, it's not just about harping up some facts. He's asked to harping up some facts. He's asked to harping up some facts. He's asked to walk through how he would troubleshoot walk through how he would troubleshoot walk through how he would troubleshoot deployments and manage multi-environment deployments and manage multi-environment deployments and manage multi-environment clusters and secure container workflows. clusters and secure container workflows. clusters and secure container workflows. So it's just not not just about knowing So it's just not not just about knowing So it's just not not just about knowing facts like what is a cube API server and facts like what is a cube API server and facts like what is a cube API server and what is what is a gateway API. You what is what is a gateway API. You what is what is a gateway API. You actually have to understand it on a actually have to understand it on a actually have to understand it on a deeper level if you want to land these deeper level if you want to land these deeper level if you want to land these positions. And this is why in my courses positions. And this is why in my courses positions. And this is why in my courses I go so deep into this. like my my I go so deep into this. like my my I go so deep into this. like my my deployment um the module on pods alone deployment um the module on pods alone deployment um the module on pods alone is an hour long. The module on is an hour long. The module on is an hour long. The module on deployments is an hour long. I go super deployments is an hour long. I go super deployments is an hour long. I go super deep into learning how to troubleshoot, deep into learning how to troubleshoot, deep into learning how to troubleshoot, how to view the logs, how how to view the logs, how how to view the logs, how to make sure that you know understand to make sure that you know understand to make sure that you know understand what's going on through a rolling what's going on through a rolling what's going on through a rolling update, how you can observe these update, how you can observe these update, how you can observe these processes, security that's that's I put processes, security that's that's I put processes, security that's that's I put so much emphasis on this because you see so much emphasis on this because you see so much emphasis on this because you see in these interviews people ask about it in these interviews people ask about it in these interviews people ask about it and you know if you do a codecloud and you know if you do a codecloud and you know if you do a codecloud course then you get the certification course then you get the certification course then you get the certification and you learn the basic skills but do and you learn the basic skills but do and you learn the basic skills but do you actually learn how to how to view you actually learn how to how to view you actually learn how to how to view the cubectl help documentation in a the cubectl help documentation in a the cubectl help documentation in a matter of split second seconds seconds matter of split second seconds seconds matter of split second seconds seconds using grap. Do you learn how to edit using grap. Do you learn how to edit using grap. Do you learn how to edit text on the command line? All of this text on the command line? All of this text on the command line? All of this stuff is just so important. It's just so stuff is just so important. It's just so stuff is just so important. It's just so important. Now next part is the system important. Now next part is the system important. Now next part is the system design and observability. He had to design and observability. He had to design and observability. He had to discuss designing a reliable cloudnative discuss designing a reliable cloudnative discuss designing a reliable cloudnative platform and how I would implement

platform and how I would implement platform and how I would implement monitoring and alerting i.e. with Splunk monitoring and alerting i.e. with Splunk monitoring and alerting i.e. with Splunk or similar. In my case, I showcase or similar. In my case, I showcase or similar. In my case, I showcase Prometheus and Grafana as relayed by Prometheus and Grafana as relayed by Prometheus and Grafana as relayed by Misha Vandenberg. So again, he picked Misha Vandenberg. So again, he picked Misha Vandenberg. So again, he picked this up in my courses because I'm big on this up in my courses because I'm big on this up in my courses because I'm big on observability and how to set it up uh observability and how to set it up uh observability and how to set it up uh because it's such an important part of because it's such an important part of because it's such an important part of being a platform engineer, DevOps being a platform engineer, DevOps being a platform engineer, DevOps engineer, as SRE topics like container engineer, as SRE topics like container engineer, as SRE topics like container runtime behavior, GitHub action runtime behavior, GitHub action runtime behavior, GitHub action workflows and rollback strategies came workflows and rollback strategies came workflows and rollback strategies came up and all of this again is also I just up and all of this again is also I just up and all of this again is also I just recently released a DevOps master class recently released a DevOps master class recently released a DevOps master class where we take building a Python where we take building a Python where we take building a Python application containerizing it making it application containerizing it making it application containerizing it making it from 1 gig megabyte images to 50 from 1 gig megabyte images to 50 from 1 gig megabyte images to 50 megabyte images, deploying them, running megabyte images, deploying them, running megabyte images, deploying them, running CI/CD with GitHub actions and deploying CI/CD with GitHub actions and deploying CI/CD with GitHub actions and deploying that to Kubernetes through GitOps. I that to Kubernetes through GitOps. I that to Kubernetes through GitOps. I have it all covered have it all covered have it all covered here and that's why where he learned here and that's why where he learned here and that's why where he learned this. So stakeholder and team this. So stakeholder and team this. So stakeholder and team communication, the final round focused communication, the final round focused communication, the final round focused on crossunctional collaboration, on crossunctional collaboration, on crossunctional collaboration, documentation and mentoring junior documentation and mentoring junior documentation and mentoring junior engineers. So again, I also talk a lot engineers. So again, I also talk a lot engineers. So again, I also talk a lot lot about that you won't just get it by lot about that you won't just get it by lot about that you won't just get it by the just the tech skills, right? You the just the tech skills, right? You the just the tech skills, right? You need to have soft skills. You need to need to have soft skills. You need to need to have soft skills. You need to learn how to present yourself in an learn how to present yourself in an learn how to present yourself in an interview, how to communicate, how to interview, how to communicate, how to interview, how to communicate, how to write proper emails even, you know, this write proper emails even, you know, this write proper emails even, you know, this kind of stuff. It's so important that kind of stuff. It's so important that kind of stuff. It's so important that you learn as a DevOps engineer that you you learn as a DevOps engineer that you you learn as a DevOps engineer that you learn how to function inside of an learn how to function inside of an learn how to function inside of an organization properly. It's not just organization properly. It's not just organization properly. It's not just about technical stuff. It's about about technical stuff. It's about about technical stuff. It's about bringing teams together, communicating bringing teams together, communicating bringing teams together, communicating with stakeholders, all of that stuff.

with stakeholders, all of that stuff. with stakeholders, all of that stuff. And again this is then of course what And again this is then of course what And again this is then of course what you learn in the personal branding and you learn in the personal branding and you learn in the personal branding and soft skills course that we soft skills course that we soft skills course that we have. So so far he has already pulled have. So so far he has already pulled have. So so far he has already pulled everything he I I like to see this so everything he I I like to see this so everything he I I like to see this so much. I love seeing people succeed like much. I love seeing people succeed like much. I love seeing people succeed like Eric because they join and then they Eric because they join and then they Eric because they join and then they they take everything and apply it and it they take everything and apply it and it they take everything and apply it and it makes me so happy to see these things makes me so happy to see these things makes me so happy to see these things work because I know they work. They work because I know they work. They work because I know they work. They worked for me. this is why why I'm able worked for me. this is why why I'm able worked for me. this is why why I'm able to teach these. But when someone then to teach these. But when someone then to teach these. But when someone then takes those um principles and applies takes those um principles and applies takes those um principles and applies them and land a senior SRE role, oh, them and land a senior SRE role, oh, them and land a senior SRE role, oh, this makes me so happy and I'm I'm I'm this makes me so happy and I'm I'm I'm this makes me so happy and I'm I'm I'm just so so glad and I'm just so so just so so glad and I'm just so so just so so glad and I'm just so so fortunate to be able to do this as my fortunate to be able to do this as my fortunate to be able to do this as my work to help people succeed and to help work to help people succeed and to help work to help people succeed and to help them reach the career of their dreams. them reach the career of their dreams. them reach the career of their dreams. So here he talks about how my home lab So here he talks about how my home lab So here he talks about how my home lab helped the eight the edge came from helped the eight the edge came from helped the eight the edge came from building and breaking things in my building and breaking things in my building and breaking things in my cubecraft home lab. Here's how it showed cubecraft home lab. Here's how it showed cubecraft home lab. Here's how it showed up during the interviews. So right off up during the interviews. So right off up during the interviews. So right off the bat you you see here this stuff the bat you you see here this stuff the bat you you see here this stuff works guys. I spoke from real experience works guys. I spoke from real experience works guys. I spoke from real experience setting up multiode EKS clusters on my setting up multiode EKS clusters on my setting up multiode EKS clusters on my Ubuntu OS machine. I could explain Ubuntu OS machine. I could explain Ubuntu OS machine. I could explain deployments, namespaces, networking deployments, namespaces, networking deployments, namespaces, networking services and storage works not just in services and storage works not just in services and storage works not just in theory but how I handle pod deployment theory but how I handle pod deployment theory but how I handle pod deployment failures, drifts and rollbacks. Again failures, drifts and rollbacks. Again failures, drifts and rollbacks. Again here in my uh Kubernetes foundations here in my uh Kubernetes foundations here in my uh Kubernetes foundations course this is exactly what you see course this is exactly what you see course this is exactly what you see here. So pods deployments networking here. So pods deployments networking here. So pods deployments networking storage monitoring it's all there.

storage monitoring it's all there. storage monitoring it's all there. I shared how to use cubectl logs I shared how to use cubectl logs I shared how to use cubectl logs describe and metrics dashboard to trace describe and metrics dashboard to trace describe and metrics dashboard to trace live issues exactly like I done in the live issues exactly like I done in the live issues exactly like I done in the lab. So you need to don't just do these lab. So you need to don't just do these lab. So you need to don't just do these certifications and think you're dumb. certifications and think you're dumb. certifications and think you're dumb. No, you have to build your home lab. You No, you have to build your home lab. You No, you have to build your home lab. You have to start applying this at home. I have to start applying this at home. I have to start applying this at home. I learned more in my home lab than when I learned more in my home lab than when I learned more in my home lab than when I was working in enterprise Kubernetes was working in enterprise Kubernetes was working in enterprise Kubernetes environments because that is all locked environments because that is all locked environments because that is all locked down. You can't really mess around down. You can't really mess around down. You can't really mess around there. In your home lab, this is the there. In your home lab, this is the there. In your home lab, this is the place where you can experiment, where place where you can experiment, where place where you can experiment, where you can break stuff. you can break stuff. you can break stuff. When asked about scaling, I brought up When asked about scaling, I brought up When asked about scaling, I brought up scenarios for my test workloads and HPA, scenarios for my test workloads and HPA, scenarios for my test workloads and HPA, horizontal pod autoscaler and tuning horizontal pod autoscaler and tuning horizontal pod autoscaler and tuning experiments. He had the place to do this experiments. He had the place to do this experiments. He had the place to do this and I even discussed my GitOps and CI/CD and I even discussed my GitOps and CI/CD and I even discussed my GitOps and CI/CD workflows from my lab that got a lot of workflows from my lab that got a lot of workflows from my lab that got a lot of nods. This was a combination of what I nods. This was a combination of what I nods. This was a combination of what I learned from Misha's course along with learned from Misha's course along with learned from Misha's course along with other sources I picked up along the way. other sources I picked up along the way. other sources I picked up along the way. So what he's referring to here then is So what he's referring to here then is So what he's referring to here then is the the Kubernetes home lab course. So the the Kubernetes home lab course. So the the Kubernetes home lab course. So this one, this course goes again super this one, this course goes again super this one, this course goes again super deep into setting up your home lab. You deep into setting up your home lab. You deep into setting up your home lab. You don't need much, just an old laptop or a don't need much, just an old laptop or a don't need much, just an old laptop or a Raspberry Pi. We go deep into GitOps Raspberry Pi. We go deep into GitOps Raspberry Pi. We go deep into GitOps theory theory theory and and then we go deeper into storage and and then we go deeper into storage and and then we go deeper into storage security, exposing it to the internet, security, exposing it to the internet, security, exposing it to the internet, managing secrets, ingress traffic, all managing secrets, ingress traffic, all managing secrets, ingress traffic, all of this.

of this. of this. So the lessons learned theory is good So the lessons learned theory is good So the lessons learned theory is good but being able to say I did this in my but being able to say I did this in my but being able to say I did this in my cluster is gold. Having a place where I could gold. Having a place where I could experiment freely gave me the confidence experiment freely gave me the confidence experiment freely gave me the confidence to speak clearly and troubleshoot live to speak clearly and troubleshoot live to speak clearly and troubleshoot live scenarios under scenarios under scenarios under pressure. If you're in the CubeCraft pressure. If you're in the CubeCraft pressure. If you're in the CubeCraft community and still building out your community and still building out your community and still building out your lab, keep at it. It's not just for lab, keep at it. It's not just for lab, keep at it. It's not just for learning. It's jobinning leverage. It it learning. It's jobinning leverage. It it learning. It's jobinning leverage. It it is guys. Eric Eric proves it. Being part is guys. Eric Eric proves it. Being part is guys. Eric Eric proves it. Being part of the CubeCraft DevOps community has of the CubeCraft DevOps community has of the CubeCraft DevOps community has been a gamechanging investment for me. I been a gamechanging investment for me. I been a gamechanging investment for me. I still have ways to go as I keep still have ways to go as I keep still have ways to go as I keep improving myself with the knowledge and improving myself with the knowledge and improving myself with the knowledge and practical experience. practical experience. practical experience. So, as you see guys, what I the stuff So, as you see guys, what I the stuff So, as you see guys, what I the stuff that I teach on social media, on that I teach on social media, on that I teach on social media, on YouTube, like I'm doing this because I YouTube, like I'm doing this because I YouTube, like I'm doing this because I want to help people land jobs, right? want to help people land jobs, right? want to help people land jobs, right? And when someone then takes it and And when someone then takes it and And when someone then takes it and applies it, it's just it makes me so applies it, it's just it makes me so applies it, it's just it makes me so happy. And then here in the in the in happy. And then here in the in the in happy. And then here in the in the in this part of the community, we also have this part of the community, we also have this part of the community, we also have so many more testimonials of people who so many more testimonials of people who so many more testimonials of people who are are doing exactly the same. So this are are doing exactly the same. So this are are doing exactly the same. So this is just a long long list that got a is just a long long list that got a is just a long long list that got a DevOps job, got a job, finally amazing DevOps job, got a job, finally amazing DevOps job, got a job, finally amazing community, positive feedback ahead. So community, positive feedback ahead. So community, positive feedback ahead. So guys, if you take this seriously, if you guys, if you take this seriously, if you guys, if you take this seriously, if you truly want to become a platform truly want to become a platform truly want to become a platform engineer, S sur, DevOps engineer, if engineer, S sur, DevOps engineer, if engineer, S sur, DevOps engineer, if this is truly what you want, then I this is truly what you want, then I this is truly what you want, then I encourage you to just join CubeCraft.

encourage you to just join CubeCraft. encourage you to just join CubeCraft. Try it out for a month. See if what if Try it out for a month. See if what if Try it out for a month. See if what if it will work for you because I'm it will work for you because I'm it will work for you because I'm confident that it will. 636 members confident that it will. 636 members confident that it will. 636 members already think so. So why not you? Thank already think so. So why not you? Thank already think so. So why not you? Thank you so much for watching and I'll see you so much for watching and I'll see you so much for watching and I'll see you in the next