How I became a DevOps Engineer

"Before getting hired, I didn’t put much emphasis on soft skills. Now, I’d say career orientation sessions are absolutely essential."

Even the most solid structures can shake when you feel like you're on the wrong path.

That’s exactly how Sorin felt—a professional with experience in the construction industry, having spent years in various roles in this domain. However, at the end of the day, he felt the need for a change—something more than just spending hours on construction sites.

Discover how Sorin broke down career barriers and transitioned to DevOps, in a spectacular transformation of his professional life. See how he leveraged his skills to build a career in technology and landed a Junior DevOps role in an incredibly short time, even before completing his IT School course.

Tell us more about yourself. 🙂 What field were you working in before IT School, and what was your role?

I graduated from the Faculty of Construction at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. During my studies and after graduation, I held several jobs in the construction field, taking on roles such as draftsman, production engineer, and site manager.

What motivated you to switch careers to IT, specifically to DevOps?

Being surrounded by many people working in IT, I started comparing it to my own field.

From the way the job was structured to the people they worked with, IT seemed like a much better environment for me.

Did you have any prior knowledge of the technologies covered in the course, or did you do research beforehand?

To be honest, I’m probably not the best example in this regard. It was more of an instinctive decision. Seeing what a similar job entailed, I asked my brother for advice on where to start.

His answer was Linux, followed by DevOps. So, I looked up courses, and in a very short time, I signed up. I actually did more research after enrolling. 😃

How was your experience during the course?

The beginning was a bit challenging- until I got to know my classmates and the trainer. After just a few sessions, the atmosphere became much more relaxed, and the pressure decreased.

The courses were well-structured and explained in a way that made them accessible to everyone.

Did you experience any fears or difficulties during the course? If so, how did you overcome them?

My first fears appeared during the very first hour of the course when I met the other participants. I felt a bit discouraged when I saw that many of my classmates had an IT background, and I worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep up.

In the end, it turned out to be a good thing. Every challenge was discussed from multiple perspectives, not just from the trainer’s point of view.

How were the career orientation sessions at IT School?

Before getting hired, I didn’t put much emphasis on soft skills. Now, I’d say career orientation sessions are absolutely essential.

They provide valuable insights, especially if you're coming from a different industry, helping you understand how important communication really is.

How long did it take you to land a job after completing the course?

I started applying for jobs while still taking the course and managed to get hired before finishing it as an intern.

What is your current job title, and what does your work involve?

After completing my internship, I stayed with the company as a Junior DevOps Engineer.

My main responsibilities include building cloud infrastructure, developing CI/CD pipelines, and monitoring various applications.

What do you enjoy most about your new job and field?

The flexibility it offers and the people I work with—those are definitely my favorite aspects.

What’s next for you? What new goals do you want to achieve?

My main objectives are learning new technologies and improving my communication skills.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career change but unsure of where to start?

If you’ve reached the point where you’re considering a career switch, you have nothing to lose.

Do some research on what each role entails and decide whether you want something completely different or something that complements your existing skills.

Inspired by Sorin’s story?

Your interest—or even just curiosity about a new field—can open doors to exciting career opportunities. Discover what your learning journey could look like in our DevOps Course! 🚀