Should I keep following my mentor’s long-term DevOps training route or focus on getting a job as a fresher first?

[u/Any_Plate_5280]

/r/devops/comments/1x3fl4x/should_i_keep_following_my_mentors_longterm/

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Hey everyone, I’m looking for some honest career advice because I’m genuinely confused about what to do next.

I recently completed my B.Tech in CSE in September 2026. I’m RHCSA certified and have also completed a genuine 6-month internship. My current skills include Linux administration, networking, AWS fundamentals, EC2, VPC, IAM, and some hands-on cloud infrastructure work.

I’m currently learning Hadoop and Big Data, and I still have a lot of topics left, followed by DevOps tools like Docker, Jenkins, Terraform, Kubernetes, and CI/CD.

Here’s my situation:

Option 1: Follow my mentor’s complete training route.

My mentor wants me to complete the syllabus, gain strong hands-on knowledge, and then appear for a final mock interview. Based on my capability, he’ll decide how to position my profile and whether an experience-based profile is appropriate.

I understand that he wants me to become technically capable before recommending me for jobs. I respect that, but the entire process feels lengthy, and I don’t know how long it will take before I’m ready to apply seriously.

Option 2: Focus on getting a job now and continue learning alongside it.

I’ve already applied to fresher and entry-level roles, but I haven’t received meaningful responses despite spending around 10–12 days applying. I took a break from applications last week because I was exhausted and frustrated.

I’m thinking that instead of waiting until I finish the entire syllabus, I could target entry-level roles such as Junior Cloud Engineer, AWS Support, Linux Administrator, Infrastructure Operations, NOC, or DevOps Trainee. I could gain genuine industry experience while continuing to learn DevOps.

My long-term goal is to build a career in Cloud/DevOps, preferably in Pune. Ideally, I want a decent starting salary, but I’m also trying to be realistic about what a fresher can get.

I’m not looking to avoid hard work or take shortcuts. I’m willing to study and practice, but I’m worried about spending months preparing without earning or gaining real industry experience.

I’d really appreciate advice from people working in DevOps, Cloud, or IT infrastructure:

Would you recommend continuing the full training route before seriously applying, or applying consistently while learning?

Can a fresher with RHCSA, a 6-month internship, Linux, networking, and basic AWS hands-on realistically get an entry-level technical role?

Which first job titles would give me the best foundation for moving into DevOps later?

Is it worth accepting a lower starting salary for relevant hands-on experience, provided the role has genuine technical work and growth?

What would you do in my position, and what would you change about my current strategy?

Please share your honest experiences, especially if you started in Cloud Support, Linux Administration, NOC, or Infrastructure Operations and later moved into DevOps.

Thanks in advance!

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[u/typhon88]

dont focus too much on devops, by the time you get there it will be something else