Megh Shah

As a DevOps aspirant, everyone knows that an AWS certificate is one of the best ways to learn DevOps. But  going into the exam without preparation is sure to increase your chances of failure.   I’m thrilled to share my journey of achieving a perfect score of 1000 out of 1000 in the AWS Solutions Architect – Associate exam. In this blog post, I will walk you through my proven strategies and techniques that can help you crack the AWS SAA exam with impressive scores. So, let’s dive in and unlock the secrets to AWS Exam success!  1. Understand the Exam Domains Start by thoroughly understanding the exam domains outlined in the AWS SAA exam guide. This will give you a clear understanding of the topics that will be covered in the exam. Organize your study plan around these domains and allocate sufficient time to each one.  2. Study Materials Gather high-quality study materials to build a strong foundation of knowledge. While there are numerous resources available, I highly recommend the following:  a. Online Courses: Enroll in online courses that provide comprehensive coverage of the exam topics. Look for courses that include video lectures, hands-on labs, and practice exams. Some popular options include A Cloud Guru and Udemy [ Recommended: Ultimate AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate (SAA)].  b. AWS Documentation and Whitepapers: AWS offers extensive documentation and whitepapers that cover various services and architectural best practices. Dive deep into these resources to gain a comprehensive understanding of AWS services, their features, use cases, and architectural patterns.   c. Practice Exams: Solve as many practice exams as you can get your hands on. This will familiarize you with the exam format, improve your time management skills, and boost your confidence. The Skillcert pro and Udemy practice exams are highly recommended.  3. Create Your Own Study Notes Create your own concise and well-structured study notes as you go through the study materials. Summarise key concepts, key facts, and AWS service information in a format that works best for you. Condensing information will help to reinforce your understanding and serve as a valuable resource during revision.  4. Hands-On Experience While theoretical knowledge is essential, basic hands-on experience is equally important. Create a free AWS account and practice implementing various AWS services. Build sample architectures, configure security settings, and explore the different AWS features. The more practical experience you gain, the better you will understand the real-world applications of AWS services.  5.Join Study Groups and Online Communities Collaborate with other aspiring AWS Solutions Architects by joining study groups or online communities. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your knowledge. Explaining concepts to others not only helps solidify your understanding but also exposes you to different perspectives and alternative approaches.  6. Focus on Exam Objectives Align your preparation with the exam objectives and ensure you have a strong grasp of each topic. Pay extra attention to areas that carry more weight in the exam. For example, AWS Well-Architected Framework, security best practices, and cost optimization are often emphasized.  7. Time Management and Exam Strategy Develop a time management strategy to ensure you can answer all the questions within the allocated time. During the exam, read each question carefully, use Elimination Technique to eliminate obviously incorrect options, and choose the best answer based on your knowledge and the AWS best practices you have learned.  8. Revise and Practice Dedicate ample time for revision before the exam. Review your study notes, revisit challenging topics, and take additional practice exams. Identify areas where you need more practice and focus your efforts accordingly.   9. Stay Calm and Confident On the day of the exam, stay calm and trust in your preparation. Take deep breaths, read each question carefully, and answer with confidence.  BONUS TIP: When taking an exam, non-native English speakers can request a 30-minute exam time extension. If you are not a native English speaker, you must take advantage of this.   Remember to do your best!  Cracking the AWS Solutions Architect – Associate exam is no easy feat, but with the right preparation and strategies, you can achieve outstanding results. Remember to understand the exam domains, gather comprehensive study materials, create your own study notes, gain hands-on experience, and engage with study groups and online communities. Focus on the exam objectives, manage your time effectively, and practice extensively. With dedication and perseverance, you can conquer the AWS SAA exam and open doors to exciting opportunities in the cloud computing industry.  Now it’s time to embark on your AWS SAA exam journey. Begin by organizing your study plan, gathering study materials, and setting a target exam date. Commit yourself to consistent and focused preparation, utilizing the strategies outlined in this blog. Our DevOps Career Starter course helps you do that, and much more! Start preparing for this with us now! 

DevOps has become a vital role in today’s fast-paced tech industry. As a DevOps Engineer, your resume is your first impression to potential employers. If you wish to get noticed by a hiring manager, you need to create a resume that stands out from other candidates. Whether you’re a seasoned DevOps Engineer or a DevOps fresher, this guide will help you create a winning DevOps Engineer resume:   1. Include a Professional Summary Section Think of this as a short sales pitch of yourself. This summary statement should only showcase your pertinent experiences, most relevant skills and achievements that will exhibit your personality and potential. Some employers may not have the luxury of time to scan everything you wrote so this part will basically prompt them to continue reviewing your profile or not. Ideally, this can go between 2-3 sentences long. Check out some samples here: How To Write an Effective Resume Summary (With Examples) | Indeed.com).   2. Highlight Your Technical Skills. Look from the recruiter’s perspective and determine what programming languages, tools, and technologies you want to see. For those who have extensive background, prioritize the most relevant tech stacks for you, and don’t forget to mention your proficiency level. Highlight also any certifications you have earned in DevOps-related technologies.  3. Make Your DevOps Experience Quantifiable Writing a list of day-to-day tasks is a no-no. Give specific examples of how you have implemented DevOps best practices in your previous stints and how it has impacted the team’s productivity and efficiency. Use numbers to quantify your achievements in terms of developing, deploying, and maintaining applications. For example, mention how you increased the deployment frequency by 50% or reduced the application downtime by 80%. This will demonstrate your impact and add credibility to your achievements.   4. Take Note of Your Soft Skills.  DevOps requires working closely with multiple teams, including developers and business executives. Here at IAMOPS, we value collaboration skills since we work with cross-functional, remote teams. According to a study, around 77% of employers value soft skills such as communication and problem-solving skills (Brecht, 2018). Your ability to troubleshoot issues and come up with innovative solutions during the application development lifecycle can be your edge in a pool of applicants with similar technical abilities.  5. Pay Attention to the Layout for the Overall Impact.  An impressive resume is concise, organized and easy-to-read. Use bullet points and clear font to make your skillsets and projects scannable. Keep it as short as: 1) Professional Summary 2) Skills Section 3) Work Experience 4) Education 5) (Optional) Additional Info. Canva offers a wide range of attention-grabbing templates that you can explore. An article says that for most recruiters, professional experience is secondary to the overall impact of a resume (Great Learning Team, 2022). This includes format, how well it’s structured and the ease of surfing through the document. A useful rule of thumb when it comes to the overall impact is: Less is more.   Key Points to Remember in Creating a Winning DevOps Resume Conclusion In summary, to make your resume stand out for a DevOps engineer position, highlight your technical skills and relevant experiences, soft skills such as leadership and creative thinking, and quantify your achievements. Customize your resume for the job description and keep it concise and easy to read. By following these tips, you’ll increase your chances of getting noticed and landing your dream DevOps job.