Now’s the time to launch a career in cloud computing

A blog post by David Linthicum, Chief Cloud Strategy Officer, Deloitte Consulting LLP 

The pandemic forced many enterprises to accelerate their cloud adoption journey, yet cloud is a very complex, technical endeavor, and its rapid adoption has created a shortage of talent needed to drive the demands of cloud. Conversely, this shortage has created opportunities for students set to enter the workforce, people looking to make a career change, and IT veterans expanding their technical abilities. Regardless of the path, there’s a way to launch an exciting career in cloud.

From college to cloud

Now more than ever, it’s a great time to learn cloud computing in college, as many universities offer a variety of cloud courses, whether it’s a specific cloud provider, computer science in general, or even more granular sub-disciplines. For students who aren’t sure whether a career in cloud is right for them, they can explore cloud topics as an elective without having to make a larger commitment. In addition to coursework, many colleges and universities offer job placement assistance to help students assess their skill set with available career opportunities so students can make the best career choice postgraduation.

Changing careers and moving to cloud roles

In response to the cloud computing industry’s growth potential, many professionals are interested in transitioning to a cloud career; even people currently in nontechnical roles are showing a growing interest in making a shift to cloud-based roles. The good news is that there are numerous on-demand, online trainings that can provide basic IT education and cloud computing. Having a foundational understanding of general concepts such as architecture, database management, security, storage, and memory models will make it easier to understand cloud, what each cloud provider does, and how they work together in complex multi-cloud deployments. Alternatively, working professionals can acquire cloud skills by enrolling in a community college or an institution offering continuing education and learn from their cloud-related courses.

IT veterans shifting gears to cloud computing roles

For IT veterans who have spent a large part of their career in IT but want to explore emerging technologies to stay relevant and competitive in their field, moving to cloud is an attractive option. Because this group has sufficient foundational knowledge about tech concepts and service providers, expanding their skill set to include cloud computing should be much easier. These learners can take on-demand coursework, earn vendor certifications, or even go back to school and take specific computer courses to round out their skills.

Finally, it’s important for IT veterans to ensure they’re joining the right team—one that has a vision of implementing and experimenting with cloud in business processes. Finding a mentor who is willing to recommend training, projects, and even other employers to put your newly acquired skills into action can be one of the most effective ways to make a successful transition.

Leverage cloud technology to bring the best value to your career

No matter where you are today, if you’re interested in a career in cloud, there’s an opportunity to explore it. Not only is there a significant demand, but there’s a tremendous opportunity to help enterprises transition into more sustainable and agile organizations, which can help these companies (and you) become a true disruptor.

Listen to this podcast, Chart your path to a fulfilling career in cloud computing, to learn from Deloitte’s Chief Cloud Strategy Officer, David Linthicum, about how to make a prolific career in cloud.