The Best Ways for Data Professionals to Market AWS Skills in 2022

Knowing your way around Amazon Web Services (AWS) is increasingly useful. Here are five ways to market your AWS skills in today’s job market.

By Devin Partida, Editor-in-Chief of ReHack.com on November 5, 2021 in AWS, Career Advice, Data Science Skills, Data Scientist

comments

Ensuring potential employers know about your capabilities is crucial when you’re trying to stand out among other data professionals. Knowing your way around Amazon Web Services (AWS) is increasingly useful. Here are five ways to market your AWS skills in today’s job market.

1. Mention Participating in a Competition

Just like cybersecurity professionals often form teams to deal with simulated attacks on networks and devices, people with AWS skills can go to contests that help them use their existing skills and learn new ones.

In one example you might not expect, the National Football League (NFL) has an annual contest where data professionals use AWS to create new opportunities related to the game and its associated statistics.

Michael Lopez, the NFL’s senior director of football data and analytics, said, "We are extremely proud of the innovative ways the NFL and our partners continue to use data and analytics to advance our game, and the success of the Big Data Bowl is an important part of this evolution.”

The event also has a mentorship component. It pairs 12 junior data scientists with some of the NFL’s analytics experts. Taking part in an event like this shows you’re eager to put your AWS skills to the test on a large scale.

2. Discuss AWS-Specific Certifications

Even if you already consider yourself to have highly advanced AWS skills, there’s always more to learn. Your knowledge can strengthen an entire organization by keeping it compliant with data storage and usage requirements.

For example, under PCI Requirement 6.5, a customer still bears the responsibility of any AWS apps they develop and for training their team related to those tools. More specifically, companies must address common software vulnerabilities. Taking the time to earn AWS certifications can show employers you have up-to-date knowledge and are ready to apply it.

Cloud-based skills are incredibly important for helping today’s society run. People use cloud apps to stay productive and collaborate with team members. Many of the systems used at departments that oversee policing, health care, transportation, and other essentials operate in the cloud. AWS offers digital badges you can use to display your certifications, making employers more likely to notice them.

3. Build a Portfolio in AWS

Portfolios are excellent ways for you to show off what you’ve done as a data professional. Although they don’t replace resumes, portfolios are good supplements because they let you showcase the visual aspects of projects.

One effective way to market your skills is to use AWS as your primary product to build the portfolio. Then, you’re not only showing off your capabilities overall, but also specifically proving you can apply AWS expertise in meaningful ways.

Some of the AWS tools you can use for portfolio-building purposes are available as part of the free tier. In any case, you can get started for minimal costs.

4. Increase Skills Through Connection

People who genuinely care about improving their skills usually seek out opportunities that help them grow. Although you can certainly learn on your own with enough dedication, it’s often even more valuable to gather with like-minded individuals. Swapping suggestions and advice lets you share what you know while absorbing the knowledge of others.

You don’t necessarily need to travel, either. For example, in June 2021, there was an AWS virtual conference for females in tech. Although the event happened in Australia and New Zealand, people worldwide could join.

The topics and activities spanned peer-to-peer networking, career development, artificial intelligence, and more. If you’ve attended AWS events before, it’s worth using them to market yourself. Doing so shows employers your commitment to career advancement and keeping your knowledge current.

5. Highlight AWS on Your Resume

Beefing up your resume is a more traditional but still effective way to call out your AWS abilities and get employers interested. Rather than merely listing AWS as a bullet point in a section of tools and platforms you use, support your skills with helpful context. Offer as many specifics as you can and focus on positive outcomes of AWS projects when applicable.

It’s also worthwhile spending more time describing particular AWS skills you have that are in above-average demand. For example, one survey found that DevOps was the top technical skill for aspiring AWS professionals to have on their resumes.

Since it’s becoming more common for business leaders to migrate to the cloud or keep their workloads in multi-cloud environments, it’ll likely pay off for you to mention any specific experience you have with managing multiple clouds or assisting with migration.

Sell Yourself With Confidence

Trying to make yourself as appealing as possible to a potential employer can be a daunting task. That’s often because many applicants balk at the idea of playing up their talents. However, it’s vital to realize that employers truly need people with AWS skills and who understand the intricacies of cloud environments.

Cloud computing is here to stay. These tips will help you convince employers that you have the knowledge to help their companies succeed.

Bio: Devin Partida is a big data and technology writer, as well as the Editor-in-Chief of ReHack.com

Related: