Kubernetes is rapidly taking over from Docker containerization technology. It does not mean to say that Docker is entirely out of the picture. It just means that Kubernetes is garnering more considerable attention, globally, nowadays. Although both are open-source platforms, establishments favoring DevOps approaches are supporting Kubernetes too.
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What does this mean then for your IT career?
It means that you should strive to become an expert on Kubernetes for healthy career growth. Of course, you stand to make a lot of money, too, for organizations are highly benevolent towards people possessing specialized knowledge! Therefore, find a genuine coaching center with well-qualified professionals taking up the roles of trainers. Apply for admission to CKA certification. CKA stands for a certified Kubernetes administrator.
Acquiring CKA Certification
The CKA training program covers many areas of study. Therefore, you should be able to absorb a great deal of useful knowledge.
Eligibility
It could be that you have not had much to do with Kubernetes before. Yet, you desire to understand how you may work with it. Well, the best way to do so is to enroll in the training and certification program. Then again, you may already be a Kubernetes cluster administrator. Add to your existing knowledge via this course.
Other eligible candidates include administrators working with cloud, systems, or Linux. Similarly, software engineers and software developers should find such extra qualifications handy for progressing in their respective careers.
Pre-Requisites
You must have some background information for greater comprehension. It means that you must have a good foundation regarding containerization. If you have an acquaintance with Docker, it should prove even more advantageous for you. Then again, you might have worked with Linux shells before. It will prove beneficial. However, if you have not, there is no need to worry. Such experience is not mandatory for attending the training program.
The Learning Process
You have two options. One method is to engage in self-paced learning. It refers to the fact that you may educate yourself according to your convenience. After all, who knows your learning level better than you do? The concerned training establishment will provide access to all study materials in alignment with the curriculum. Therefore, you should have no difficulty in pursuing your studies, with expert instructors standing by to provide some timely help.
Blended learning is another method of learning. The package comprises self-study, instructor-led sessions, and personalized mentoring. The instructor-led classes refer to online interactions, wherein you may get answers to your queries. The personal mentor is an anchor in times of stress when you seek relevant advice.
Examination and Certification
The final examination is not a theoretical one. It is a practical one. Here, you will have to provide solutions for performance-based problems. Your tool will be a command line. The exam runs for three hours.
The tasks will cover all the domains that are part of the concerned training curriculum. Some of the most important ones include core concepts, troubleshooting, scheduling, storage, security, networking, and cluster maintenance. Similarly, you would benefit by learning about logging, monitoring, installation, configuration, validation, and application lifecycle management. Of course, diverse training establishments have different curricula.
The pass percentage is high, around 75%. Anything below that will award you the label, fail. If you fail, you may retake the exam per the rules of the concerned organization. If you clear the final exam, you receive a certificate, which is valid for two years. After two years, you will have to appear for a renewal examination.
A Lucrative Career
Five roles are highly in demand for Kubernetes professionals. They include DevOps engineer, software engineer/senior software engineer, cloud engineer, software architect, and full stack developer. They tend to take full advantage of Kubernetes containerization technology for the following reasons.
It Improves Productivity
Kubernetes has a vast ecosystem. If this ecosystem becomes an integral part of engineering workflows, organizational productivity is bound to increase. Despite its size, the ecosystem is easy to handle. It is because professionals bring tools that are compatible with cloud-native software into play. Thus, the outcomes are marvelous.
It Stabilizes Applications
Whatever application is running, it should be functioning reliably and efficiently. Kubernetes permits specific set-ups for supporting high-availability applications, have rolling updates on hand for changing software, etc. Therefore, applications run smoothly and with less effort.
It is the Solution for the Future
Kubernetes will progress even more in the future since cloud vendors support it wholeheartedly. They feel that it is tremendous for providing out-of-the-box solutions for cloud services.
It can prove to be a cheaper alternative to other solutions, especially where companies go in for broad applications.
Kubernetes can cater to a large customer base too. It is because the design is such that it lends support to distributed and large systems.
Salary Statistics
When Zip Recruiter surveyed the salaries that Kubernetes professionals earned in 2019[1], the results were astounding! The national average wage in the U.S. was $144,245. Additionally, organizations were not specific about hiring employees acquiescent with the core competencies of Kubernetes alone. Anyone, and everyone, with some knowledge of this accessible containerization technology, was welcome. In other words, businesses could offer diverse positions requiring different types of experiences and expertise to interested employees. All that they had to do was to exhibit interest in automation, cloud-native development, orchestration, etc.
LinkedIn conducted a survey too. It discovered that someone with over two years of experience in handling software and Kubernetes could easily earn over $180,000.
These are but two examples, and only confined to the U.S. Different survey companies could come up with different results about the salaries that Kubernetes professionals earn. After all, the geographical locations, positions, roles, and responsibilities, etc., vary. However, there is no denying that certification in Kubernetes should fetch you lucrative rewards. It also promises a career that will sustain for years to come.
