You may have already seen that Revolent’s AWS training programs equip you with the skills you need to excel in the cloud and that we’ll pay for your AWS certifications too. But what value do AWS certifications actually have for cloud professionals?
Put simply, AWS certifications are an industry-standard verification of the skills you have on your resume. This isn’t just you saying that you can do something, it’s a vendor watermark that proves your competency. Most cloud giants including Salesforce and Microsoft have their own certification program, and AWS is no different. They’re trusted by everyone within the ecosystem (and beyond) as evidence of your ability as an AWS professional.
What do I get out of it?
In short – money! According to the Jefferson Frank’s Careers and Hiring Guide: AWS Edition, 56% of professionals experienced a pay increase (25% on average) as a direct result of becoming AWS certified. And even if your primary motivation isn’t financial, there’s lots more to be gained from them, too.
When it comes to finding your next role, 84% of people who took part in the survey said that they believe certifications make them stand out as a candidate in the job market.
And with 59% of people on the platform now holding at least one certification, it’s an easy way to put yourself into the top half of candidates in the ecosystem. Be honest—if you were a hiring manager and had two applicants, with one of them saying that they were a certified AWS Developer, and the other one simply saying Developer, who would you hire?
And if you’re thinking you can cope with being in the bottom half, think again—18% of professionals who took part in the guide are currently working towards their first certification. Assuming they all pass, that would place you firmly in the 23% that are without. The odds aren’t looking so great now, are they?
Is there anything beyond money?
Of course! Career progression can often be a chicken and egg scenario—you can’t get a promotion without having the experience, but without the promotion, you can’t get the experience. With certifications, you can learn the area of AWS that you want to specialize in, and have verification from AWS as you look to make that next move in your career. That makes it a much safer bet for an employer looking to promote you, despite a lack of hands-on experience.
Beyond better career progression opportunities, AWS certifications will also make you better at your job. Being able to complete tasks more confidently while showcasing your new AWS knowledge will likely increase how efficient you are in the process, and we all like to feel comfortable and less stressed during our day, right?
You’ll also have a transferable industry qualification. So, if the time comes when you want to look at learning other platforms under a new employer, you’ll have recognized certifications (and the knowledge that comes with them) that show your competency, with many of those skills being transferable into other areas of tech.
What's in it for the employer?
While the bottom line is that it’s a good way to benchmark your abilities as a cloud professional, there are a number of other factors that come into play when an employer sees AWS certifications on your resume.
One of those is the commitment to learning. While learning AWS skills in a classroom isn’t necessarily a guarantee that you can apply it in a live implementation, it’s a great indicator that you have a thirst to develop your skillset and improve your knowledge base. For any hiring manager, that’s a hugely desirable trait. Hard, technical skills can be taught—but a genuine passion and desire to invest in your own development is much harder to instill.
Similarly, it shows that you are willing to learn the AWS platform and apply best practices and new ideas to the way you work. Few people enjoy change, so finding employees that are prepared to constantly reassess the way they do things is also incredibly desirable.
Finally, for AWS Partners it’s simply vital. Employee certifications play a big part in a company remaining part of the AWS Partner Network, which means that you’ll usually be required to hold at least one cert before you can work with that employer. It’s worth keeping this in mind if your long-term career goals involve working with a partner.
Who pays for the certifications?
The great news is that it doesn’t always require you to invest in certifications personally (although, again, if you do it’s a very attractive investment to have made in your own career).
Nearly half (48%) of employers paid for employee certs in full, with another 17% contributing towards the cost of them. That can also come in the form of certification vouchers, which can be an attractive perk offered by companies to AWS professionals that they hire. So, if you’re looking for a new job, make sure to ask your potential employer if they offer paid AWS certifications as part of your benefits package.
If you’re at the beginning of your cloud journey and are sold on the certification route, then another option would be to hook up with a training provider such as ourselves. At Revolent, we have five AWS careers training pathways, aimed at people with a tech background who are looking to move into a career as either an AWS Data, AWS Data Security or AWS DevOps specialist, as well as AWS Engineer/ Architect or AWS Software Engineer.
Our 12-week training courses are fully-funded, and we’ll pay for all the certifications you’ll need to become a certified and sought-after AWS specialist. We’ll also send you on a work placement with one of our world-leading clients so that you can get hands-on experience of AWS, and put what you’ve learned into practice.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, we’ll also pay you a salary throughout the two years you spend with us—not just once you’re out working with a client, but from the moment you start learning!
Where do I start?
If you want to go your own way, then the AWS certification program is open to anyone. Your best starting point will be the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner foundation course.
While AWS advises you to have six months of exposure to their cloud services before committing to this cert, its primary aim is to give you a basic knowledge of the cloud, as well as the services, pricing models, and security concepts involved. So, it is possible to get through it without that experience, but bear in mind that it’ll be hard work.
Alternatively, you can earn as you learn and join us at Revolent! As an AWS APN Training Partner, we have in-house AWS authorized trainers, who’ll be there to guide you from the very beginning and give you all the tools you need to get certified.
Just contact us, and one of our team members will get back to you within seven days for an informal chat to advise you on which option may be best for you.
Alternatively, if you think you’re ready to join us now, and you know which path you wish to take, apply through the AWS career page, and you could be join our next cohort of elite Revols on an unstoppable journey to AWS superstardom!
