Cloud certification exams: 5 tips for preparation

The economic impact of COVID-19 has also led to more people looking for new jobs. One bright spot in the job search is the steady growth of the cloud computing industry, which offers opportunities for people with cloud skills, and increasingly for people in non-IT roles, such as sales or marketing, where an understanding of cloud technologies is an advantage.

Cloud certification exams enable new job opportunities

A variety of digital and virtual training options are available for those interested in the cloud. Obtaining certification for the cloud industry can increase the chances of getting a job, and Investigations show that certifications pave the way to higher salaries and provide a competitive advantage. 93 percent of organizational decision makers agree that certified team members add value beyond the cost of certification (Global Knowledge).

5 tips to prepare for cloud certification exams

If you're looking to take a cloud training course, below are five tips you can use to increase your success.

Tip #1: Set goals and assign them to certifications

Before diving into online courses or reading technical white papers, visualize your goals and get a picture of what success looks like. Work back from there to better understand what steps are necessary to achieve your goals.

Align your personal interest with in-demand cloud roles. This will help you identify appropriate industry certifications that validate your skills and allow you to stand out when applying for jobs.

Tip #2: Use learning materials for self-study

Access training materials, on-demand and live lessons, and practice tests online. Digital training enables learners to develop skills and knowledge for any cloud domain with short, self-paced, and often free courses from multiple learning and cloud providers.

Many training providers provide learning paths or look for an official exam guide to help you prioritize. Research which training provider and training program will best prepare you to pass the industry certification exam.

Tip #3: Find community

You are not alone! In addition to online learning resources, there are also countless online communities where you can interact with people who are also preparing for a certification exam. In these groups, you can get insider knowledge about the most important aspects of studying, helpful resources to help you make the most of your study time, or information about how the exam works. A good place to find online communities are LinkedIn groups and certification-specific subreddits.

Tip #4: Establish consistent study habits

The amount of time required for coursework and hands-on experience varies by certification. A good rule of thumb is that you should plan 15 to 20 hours for studying and preparing for basic level exams, and five times that time for an Associate level exam. You should allow 5 times more time for a subject or specialty level exam than for an associate level exam.

Tip #5: Gain "hands-on" experience before the test day

Get hands-on experience. Sign up for lab-style training to learn about the technology in real-world scenarios. Use free versionen to experiment with the technology. Also tutorials on the Self-study, can help step by step. Finally, find a friend or professional mentor who works with the technology on a daily basis and whom you can ask for advice.

Cloud training and certification programs offer both professionals and job seekers a unique opportunity to gain new skills and take advantage of growing career opportunities in the cloud. Validating a demonstrable level of cloud skills through industry certification can provide a clear competitive advantage in the job market.

Author:
Scott Barneson is Director of Learning Products for AWS Training and Certification. Scott leads global curriculum development, product management, and AWS certification programs to help individuals and organizations acquire and validate in-demand cloud skills.