DevOps is one of the biggest buzzwords in IT/software development right now, and it’s only expected to get bigger. The collision of development and operations aims to enhance communication and collaboration between software developers and IT professionals, and the rapid growth of this market has resulted in huge demand for skilled DevOps professionals.
As companies work smarter and introduce new technology, they’re increasingly looking for people who can enhance their technical capacities and drive development efficiencies in the process.
IT recruitment agency Amsource Technology has compiled some advice on the skills needed to succeed in the world of DevOps.
Experience with configuration management tools
Candidates who can confidently use configuration management tools such as Chef, Ansible and Puppet will likely have an edge over those who cannot. These tools can help to support and optimise software deployment, and there are plenty of options to choose from. What’s most important is the skill level of the DevOps professional wielding the tool, so whichever you choose, make sure you know it well.
Soft skills
Soft skills can be as important as hard skills, if not more so, for employers. A 2013 Vanson Bourne survey found soft skills were the most in-demand attributes in a DevOps candidate, showing the need for professionals to be well-rounded. Clear communication, collaboration and flexibility are all desired by employers in the field, so jobseekers would pay to focus on these skills alongside their more practical, technical knowledge.
OpenStack knowledge
According to a Dice salary survey, DevOps workers with OpenStack skills were amongst the top five highest paid employees. The cloud computing programme has set itself apart from the rest of the industry with its open source model and collaborative development process. It helps engineers to work quickly and maximises existing infrastructure, allowing for autonomy and innovation.
Learn programming languages
Knowledge of programming languages is key for a variety of tech roles, and there’s no exception for DevOps. Some of the more popular languages in this sphere include Ruby, Java, Python, Shell and Perl, but there are plenty on the market that offer something slightly different. Ideally a DevOps professional will have strong working knowledge of more than one language, so if you’re looking to transition into this field or expand your career development opportunities, train up in a few.
Infrastructure insight
DevOps engineers in particular should have a working understanding of datacentre-based and cloud infrastructure components. This includes aspects such as how software is racked in networked, methods for load balancing, running virtual machines and networking basics such as layers, networking in cloud and access between applications.
Infographic
The team at Amsource Technology have compiled a helpful infographic summarising the skills information.
Edited from press release by Cecilia Rehn.
