{"id":14931,"date":"2025-05-19T04:39:42","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T04:39:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.motionrecruitment.com.au\/?p=14931"},"modified":"2025-05-19T04:41:26","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T04:41:26","slug":"how-to-break-into-devops-a-recruiters-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.motionrecruitment.com.au\/how-to-break-into-devops-a-recruiters-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Break Into DevOps"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Recruiter\u2019s Guide from Motion Recruitment<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a DevOps recruiter here at Motion Recruitment, I often speak with tech professionals eager to make the leap into DevOps\u2014but unsure of where to start. Whether you’re coming from a development background or an infrastructure\/operations role, transitioning into DevOps is not only possible, it’s an exciting career move that can open doors to high-impact, in-demand roles across the tech industry.<\/p>\n

In this guide, I\u2019ll walk you through how to pivot into DevOps based on your background, the core skills to focus on, and practical ways to get hands-on experience.<\/p>\n

1. Breaking into DevOps from a Development Background<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re a software developer, you already bring strong coding, debugging, and application-building skills to the table. The transition into DevOps will involve expanding your expertise into automation, infrastructure management, and CI\/CD pipelines.<\/p>\n

How to get started:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Learn infrastructure as code (IaC) tools like Terraform or Ansible.<\/li>\n
  • Get comfortable with containerisation (Docker) and orchestration platforms (Kubernetes).<\/li>\n
  • Explore CI\/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or CircleCI.<\/li>\n
  • Understand the deployment process and how to build repeatable, automated workflows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    2. Moving into DevOps from an Infrastructure or Operations Background<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    If you\u2019re coming from IT infrastructure, system administration, or operations, you\u2019ve already got a solid grasp of systems, networking, and security. DevOps will ask you to work more closely with developers, adopt code-driven approaches, and automate traditional manual tasks.<\/p>\n

    How to build on your experience:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Learn basic scripting and version control (Git is essential).<\/li>\n
    • Study configuration management tools like Puppet or Chef.<\/li>\n
    • Practice deploying and managing infrastructure through code using tools like Terraform.<\/li>\n
    • Embrace container technology and CI\/CD principles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Core Skills and Technologies to Master<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Regardless of your background, there are several key tools and practices that every aspiring DevOps professional should learn:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Containerisation:<\/strong> Docker<\/li>\n
      • Orchestration:<\/strong> Kubernetes<\/li>\n
      • CI\/CD Pipelines:<\/strong> Jenkins, GitLab CI, CircleCI<\/li>\n
      • Infrastructure as Code (IaC)<\/strong> Terraform, Ansible, AWS CloudFormation<\/li>\n
      • Version Control:<\/strong> Git<\/li>\n
      • Cloud Platforms:<\/strong> AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP)<\/li>\n
      • Monitoring & Logging:<\/strong> Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        These technologies form the backbone of modern DevOps practices. Mastering them will not only make you a competitive candidate but also give you the confidence to contribute meaningfully from day one.<\/p>\n

        \u00a0Gaining Real-World Exposure<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        Getting hands-on experience is crucial\u2014and yes, it can be daunting at first. But there are plenty of accessible ways to start building your DevOps toolkit.<\/p>\n

        Here\u2019s how to get started:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Online Courses & Certifications<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        Platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and Pluralsight offer comprehensive DevOps training. Look for certifications from AWS, Microsoft, and Kubernetes to validate your skills.<\/p>\n

        \u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Build Projects & Contribute to Open Source<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        Create your own DevOps projects or contribute to open-source initiatives. This is one of the fastest ways to apply what you’ve learned in a real-world setting.<\/p>\n

        \u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Participate in DevOps Challenges<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        Sites like DevOpsChallenge and hackathons can sharpen your skills under real-world constraints and time pressure.<\/p>\n

        \u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Use Free Cloud Tiers<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure all offer generous free tiers. Use them to build and deploy projects without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n

        \u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Internships & Freelance Gigs<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        Even short-term internships or freelance DevOps work can give you the practical experience hiring managers love to see.<\/p>\n

        \u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DevOps Bootcamps<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        If you\u2019re looking for an immersive, fast-track option, consider enrolling in a DevOps bootcamp. Many programs offer job support and hands-on labs that mimic real-world environments.<\/p>\n

        \u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Engage With the DevOps Community<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        Join forums, attend local meetups, and follow DevOps influencers and blogs. The community is incredibly active and supportive, and you\u2019ll learn a lot just by engaging with others.<\/p>\n

        The journey into DevOps may look different depending on where you’re starting from\u2014but the destination is the same: a dynamic, high-growth career at the intersection of development and operations.<\/p>\n

        At Motion Recruitment, we see firsthand how demand for DevOps professionals continues to grow. With the right skills and a commitment to continuous learning, you can absolutely make the transition\u2014whether you\u2019re a developer, sysadmin, or starting from scratch in the tech industry<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        For further help with your DevOps journey reach out to Sinead@motionrecruitment.com.au<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Breaking into DevOps is achievable, whether you’re from a development or infrastructure background. By learning key tools like Docker, Kubernetes, and Terraform, and gaining hands-on experience, you can transition into one of tech\u2019s most in-demand fields. Start small, stay curious, and keep building your skills.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":14934,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"dark-header.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14931","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.motionrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14931","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.motionrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.motionrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motionrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motionrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14931"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.motionrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14931\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14938,"href":"https:\/\/www.motionrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14931\/revisions\/14938"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motionrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/14934"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.motionrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14931"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motionrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14931"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motionrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14931"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}