Since employers are looking for people with experience, how can an individual learn AWS until he becomes hireable? Does it requires doing alot of side projects to explore AWS?
While it does requires some industrial knowledge before you will fully understand some of the concepts like high availability, the value of centralised logging, and some decisions that will allow smooth operations, it doesn’t mean you can’t get started on the basics of cloud computing.
One can always sign up a free account with AWS and trial the services, watching AWS online lessons video and if you like attend some of the AWS courses to get started.
Like I have mentioned, just the certifications alone wouldn’t make you great. These knowledge are add-on to your existing knowledge. Simply I wouldn’t trust someone just come to me with a AWS SA certified as a first year software engineer, I doubt any sane hirer will unless the hirer has some wishful thinking or unrealistic expectation of the candidate.
But a relevant certificate to where you are will makes you more attractive as a candidate. If you are just starting out as a software developer, an AWS certified developer will most definitely show more value, likewise if you are already a solution architect, the associate SA certification definitely will make you shine abit more.
None of these certifications are standalone, they are tere just to make your resume more attractive, and of course, like I have mentioned. Grow the knowledge of using the platform properly, that is where you will progress. Not knowing cloud computing from this point onwards as a software engineer generally is a disadvantage to your resume, because it is no longer a question if cloud clouding is the way to go.
