Transitioning from a QA in India to an SRE in Poland (My Story)
Vamsi Penmetsa’s Journey Highlighted in a Podcast with GK, (Cloud Advocate)
Transitioning careers in the tech industry can be challenging, but with the right mindset, skills, and networking, it’s entirely possible. This article delves into my journey of transitioning from a QA role in India to an SRE role in Poland. I’ll explore my educational background, the skills I developed, and the strategies I used to achieve my career goals.
Introduction 00:43
In the ever-changing realm of technology, career transitions are a well-worn path. Yet, moving from a QA role to an SRE position in a foreign land is no simple endeavor. This is my tale — one of determination, perpetual learning, and strategic networking. May my journey illuminate the way for those seeking to pivot within the tech world.
Educational Background
My academic voyage began in the quaint village of Mogallu in Andhra Pradesh, a place steeped in history as the birthplace of Shri Alluri Sitarama Raju. My 10th grade saw completion in Bhimavaram, and I then set my sights on Hyderabad for my intermediate studies, with dreams of cracking the IIT entrance exams. Though IIT eluded me, I pursued a bachelor’s in IT in Bhimavaram, clearing the EAMCET exam, and finally completing my B.Tech in 2019.
Early Career and Challenges
My career dawned with three offers from prominent MNCs in India. I chose Bangalore, guided by my mentor’s advice that it would hone my communication skills. After a year, Hyderabad called me back, and I embarked on the journey as a manual tester for Microsoft, albeit through a third-party vendor.
Many came to interview for the manual tester position alongside me, but they withdrew after learning it was for a manual testing role. As freshers in a multinational company, everyone desires a developer position. However, I saw the potential in leveraging the Microsoft brand name, seized this opportunity wholeheartedly, and it has been a life-changing decision.
Transition to DevOps 03:18
In the realm of manual testing, I struck a deal with my manager: I would transition to an automation engineer if I could automate our manual test cases within three months. With tools like Python in hand, I succeeded and was promoted to an Azure DevOps engineer, proving that proactive efforts do pay off.
Innovating oneself through reinvention and stepping out of the comfort zone can be a game-changer in one’s career.
Key Skills and Certifications
My tale underscores the value of continuous learning and certification. At Microsoft, I amassed Azure certifications including AZ-900, AZ-104, and AZ-400. These not only sharpened my skills but also bolstered my resume, making me a more appealing candidate for future roles.
Certifications are valuable when pursued with genuine effort because, ultimately, you should not lie yourself by using shortcuts.
Networking and Personal Branding 24:57
A cornerstone of my career evolution was leveraging LinkedIn for networking. Beginning in August 2020, I connected with professionals across Europe and the USA. My active engagement and content sharing swelled my network to over 10,000 connections. This visibility was crucial in securing job offers from Europe.
Consistency is the key, and always strive to stand out from the crowd.
Moving to Poland 12:07
Poland beckoned, driven by the demand for DevOps professionals in Europe. Despite initial trepidations about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, my research assured me of Poland’s safety and prospects. This move marked a pivotal career milestone, offering enhanced quality of life and professional growth.
For me, Poland is the most underrated country in Europe. With its safety, quality of life, and cost of living, Poland truly has it all.
Role as an SRE 16:17
Today, as an SRE in Poland, my focus is on the reliability of production systems. SRE demands a sharper lens on incident management, change management, and continuous monitoring compared to DevOps. My background in automation and cloud technologies has been vital to my success.
Manul tester -> Automation Engineer -> Cloud DevOps Engineer -> platform Engineer -> SRE
Grasp the opportunity with both hands, which only arises when you present yourself as it emerges before you; timing and hard work are the crucial elements.
Conclusion
From a QA tester in India to an SRE in Poland, my journey is a testament to perseverance, lifelong learning, and effective networking. I hope my story inspires tech professionals to embrace change, seek learning opportunities, and leverage platforms like LinkedIn to advance their careers.
DevOps Professionals and Aspirants on Linkedin (Group🔗)
Key Takeaways
- Continuous Learning: Always seek to improve your skills and knowledge.
- Certifications: Obtain relevant certifications to add value to your profile.
- Networking: Use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with industry professionals.
- Perseverance: Stay determined and be willing to take risks for better opportunities.
By following these steps and leveraging the power of networking and continuous learning, you too can achieve your career goals and make significant strides in the tech industry. 🤞Best of LUCK….
Full video in cloud advocate youtube channel 150K+ SUBS …..
In 2021, GK’s content inspired me to delve into DevOps as a career path, all starting from a glimpse of his viral video thumbnail. Now, the chance to share my journey with his 150K+ YouTube subscribers via this podcast feels like a serendipitous completion of a cycle. I hope this video serves as encouragement for you to welcome career shifts by taking risks and persistently innovating, tracking your progress each day.
“There’s nothing of any importance in life-except how well you do your work.” — Ayn Rand
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