At Cloud Elemental, nurturing fresh talent is at the heart of our mission. Our Elemental Academy programme is designed to seamlessly integrate recent graduates, providing them with the skills and knowledge needed for Cloud consultancy success.
Patryk Maik, one of the newest additions to the Academy, has written a short piece reflecting on his first few weeks with us as part of the Elemental Academy. Check out his article below to learn how he’s finding his way and how the Elemental Academy is helping him translate his academic success into real-world consultancy & engineering skills.
My name is Patryk, and I am a Graduate DevOps Consultant at Cloud Elemental. I’ve been part of the Elemental Academy for just two weeks, but with the team being so welcoming and helpful, it feels like I have been here for a long time.
After graduating with a degree in Computer Science from the University of Greenwich, my exposure to Cloud technologies was limited. However, I was eager to continue my learning journey to dive into the world of DevOps. The Elemental Academy presented itself as the perfect opportunity to bridge the gap between academia and the industry.
While at the University of Greenwich, I gained a solid foundation in Computer Science, but Cloud technologies like AWS weren’t part of the curriculum. This gap in my knowledge initially seemed daunting, but it also fuelled my motivation to learn.
Why Cloud Elemental?
The Elemental Academy stood out to me because of its comprehensive training program, which balances practical tasks with preparation for AWS certifications. What’s more, it offers a unique focus on developing the soft skills that are essential for client-facing roles. The Academy provides everything needed to succeed as a DevOps engineer, from technical expertise to consultancy skills. Also, most importantly, my first impression of Cloud Elemental was that it is a company which nurtures learning and supports growth & progression. After a few weeks, my opinion is unchanged!
My Experience with the Cloud so far
Starting with no prior experience with AWS, I had to absorb a lot of information quickly. The learning curve is steep, but the support from my fellow Elementals has been invaluable. Whenever I hit a roadblock, there is always someone to guide me in the right direction, making the initial challenges more manageable.
My first hands-on experience with AWS was actually during the interview process, where I was given an AWS-based practical task to test my problem-solving abilities. After joining the Academy, I was assigned more complex tasks, such as replication across different AWS accounts and adding KMS encryption to secure data. These initial tasks have already broadened my understanding of AWS and its capabilities.
So far, I’ve completed three AWS certifications: AWS Partner: Sales, Technical, and Cloud Economics. Currently, I’m focused on preparing for the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam, which will solidify my foundational knowledge and prepare me for more advanced certifications.
How about the culture?
Weekly meetings at Cloud Elemental provide a platform to present our progress on tasks, which has been instrumental in developing my presentation skills. Watching experienced consultants present their work has also been a great learning experience, offering insights into effective communication and problem-solving.
Collaboration with my fellow Elementals has been a key part of the learning process. Everyone is eager to help, providing guidance and sharing their own experiences, which has been incredibly helpful in tackling challenges and finding solutions.
In just two weeks, I’ve learnt a lot about AWS services and improved my presentation skills. The supportive environment at Cloud Elemental has made it much easier to overcome the difficulties of learning new technologies and processes.
Looking ahead, my immediate goal is to pass the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification. Beyond that, I’m excited to dive into hands-on projects that will give me practical experience with pipelines and further enhance my skills as a DevOps consultant.
As Patryk embarks on the Elemental Academy journey, we’re excited to support him by bridging theoretical learning with real-world experiences. The Elemental Academy is more than just a programme – it’s a key part of our commitment to growth and excellence.
We look forward to seeing how Patryk will enhance our team and drive our collective success!
For more information on the Elemental Academy and how we work to support Computer Science grads, click here.
Patryk Maik
Graduate Consultant & DevOps Engineer
Patryk Maik
Graduate Consultant & DevOps Engineer
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