In the age of digital transformation, cloud engineering is among the most sought-after career paths in tech. With organizations increasingly shifting their infrastructure to cloud platforms, the demand for cloud engineers continues to grow — but so does the competition. The idea that you can breeze into a cloud engineering role by stacking a few certifications or skipping hands-on experience is a myth that needs debunking.
This article lays out a no-nonsense, step-by-step roadmap to breaking into the cloud industry in 2025 — even if you’re starting from scratch, have no degree, and are transitioning from a non-technical background. Based on lived experience, practical advice, and a healthy dose of realism, this guide is designed for those serious about putting in the work, building real skills, and crafting a tech career that lasts.
Is Cloud Engineering Really for You?
Before diving head-first into the world of cloud computing, take a moment to be brutally honest with yourself. This path is not a shortcut to a six-figure salary — it’s a demanding, slow-burn process that requires discipline, time, and unwavering persistence.
Social media may tempt you with stories of rapid success: “Passed AWS in a week!” or “Landed cloud job with no experience!” But in reality, cloud engineering is rarely anyone’s first tech job. The market is fiercely competitive. Employers are looking for proven skills and real-world experience — not just badges or certificates.
If that discourages you, or if you’re hoping for a shortcut, this might not be the path for you. But if you’re ready to commit to the grind, to build a career from the ground up, then you’re in the right place.
Step One: Know the Destination Before You Start
Clarity is key. You can’t hit a target you haven’t defined. Start by going to LinkedIn, Indeed, or your local job portals and looking up roles related to cloud engineering — think “Cloud Administrator,” “Systems Administrator,” or “DevOps Associate.” These aren’t your dream roles yet, but they’re great stepping stones.
Make a list of job descriptions that interest you. Carefully analyze their required skills, tools, and certifications. This becomes your personal roadmap — your curriculum. The goal? By the end of the year, you want to be technically qualified to apply for those roles.
Whether you’re starting with some familiarity or from absolute zero, tailor your learning journey based on what these job postings ask for. If the gap is large, give yourself the time — maybe a year or more — to close it. This is not a race; it’s about readiness.
Step Two: Get Your Foot in the Tech Door — Any Door
Your first tech job is rarely glamorous — and that’s okay.
Whether it’s help desk support, IT analyst, or tech support, these entry-level roles are invaluable. They teach you the essentials: documentation, ticketing systems, troubleshooting, time management, and interpersonal communication under pressure. These aren’t just “starter” skills — they’re foundational to everything that follows.
Yes, the pay is often low, and the work can be repetitive. But if you’re serious about becoming a cloud engineer, this is your launchpad.
If a support role isn’t feasible due to financial reasons, consider leveraging your existing background — sales, healthcare, education, etc. — to find tech-adjacent roles. For example:
- Sales → Transition to Tech Sales.
- Education → Move into EdTech training roles.
- Healthcare → Explore Health IT systems support.
The goal is to gain exposure to technical environments and workflows, even if you’re not engineering cloud solutions just yet.
Step Three: Get Certified — But Do It Right
Certifications matter — but only when they’re tied to skills and projects.
Avoid the trap of “certification hoarding.” Collecting badges without actually understanding the tools won’t help you in interviews. Instead, focus on two meaningful certifications that align with your job roadmap. Good starting points include:
- Cloud Certification: AWS Certified Solutions Architect (Associate), Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104), or Google Associate Cloud Engineer.
- Complementary Certification: Consider Linux (LFCS), Networking (CompTIA Network+), or Security (CompTIA Security+), depending on your interests and the niche you want to move into.
The secret sauce? Build a project with each certification. Don’t just learn — apply.
Example:
After completing your AWS certification, deploy a multi-tier web application using EC2, S3, and RDS.
Then, after completing your Linux certification, integrate server monitoring tools and harden your infrastructure.
Real projects demonstrate initiative and applied knowledge — and they stand out more than any certificate on a resume.
Step Four: Keep Applying and Embrace Rejection
Start applying — even before you feel “ready.”
You’ll likely face dozens of rejections. That’s normal. It happens to everyone — even those who eventually land top roles at companies like Microsoft. The early rejections teach you how to fine-tune your resume, get comfortable with interviews, and develop resilience.
There’s power in getting those first phone screens and technical assessments, even if you stumble. Each experience makes you sharper.
Persistence beats perfection. Treat each rejection as feedback, not failure.
Step Five: Build, Share, Connect
You’re not alone. The cloud community is vast — and many are on the same journey.
Join communities like Learn To Cloud Discord, LinkedIn groups, or Reddit’s r/cloudcomputing.
Share your projects online via GitHub, a personal blog, or video walkthroughs.
Attend virtual or local meetups, tech events, and webinars.
Engage with mentors or peers who are a step ahead.
Visibility helps. Community support helps even more. Both accelerate your growth and open doors you might not find on your own.
The Reality Check: Time, Discipline, and Grit
Here’s the unfiltered truth: This journey isn’t easy. But it’s absolutely worth it.
Many aspiring cloud engineers give up because they chase shortcuts or underestimate the grind. The reality? It may take a year or more of consistent effort — working a support job by day, learning by night, building on weekends, failing, retrying, and slowly leveling up.
If you’re prepared for that — truly prepared — then the path is not only possible, but promising.
One real-world example? The creator of this guide went from working in retail making $15 an hour to becoming a cloud engineer at Microsoft, earning over $200,000 a year. No degree. Just grit, time, and relentless effort.
Conclusion: Your 2025 Cloud Career Starts Now
Cloud engineering in 2025 is not about quick wins. It’s about slow, steady, intentional steps that lead to real transformation.
Start where you are. Assess your current skills. Get that first tech role — even if it’s not glamorous. Learn deliberately. Build real projects. Connect with others. Apply relentlessly. And above all, embrace the process.
Because on the other side of the grind is a career that’s stable, impactful, and rewarding — financially and intellectually.
So as you set your goals for the year ahead, remember: This is not a sprint. It’s a journey of deliberate evolution. And if you’re willing to put in the work, cloud engineering isn’t just a dream — it’s your future.
