Early IT Introduction Sparks High Velocity Cloud Career
Aleksandr’s first experience with computers began in 1999 when he was 8 years old. He described it as “a real adventure” for his parents since there were only two or three computers in the region near his home in Bulgaria, and no internet or connection to the outside world. His first computer had a 40 GB hard drive, 256 MB of RAM, and ran on Windows 98—a classic as he called it. It was through magazines available to him that he learned how this “wonder machine” worked. He was soon hooked and his journey into the world of IT began.
As a student at Odessa State Polytechnic University, Aleksandr first learned about the Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) certification. With no Linux experience up to that time, he said it seemed like something out of a fantasy world, and “the dream remained on the shelf of unfulfilled dreams for 14 years.”
Making His Dreams Come True
Fast forward to the present where Aleksandr currently holds nine Linux Foundation certifications. “It’s no secret that the Linux Foundation is a globally recognized leader in the IT world, managing many tools that have become standards in various fields,” he said. “Certification under their guidance carries significant weight both in client interactions and for an engineer’s personal growth.”
He fondly remembers receiving his first Linux certification, the LFCS, as “an incredible feeling of pride and euphoria at the same time.” After that, his manager suggested that he pursue a career path in containers and automation, as it was expected to be a high growth field with a shortage of specialists. “I decided to start with the CKA, and it was quick and exciting,” he said, adding, “The CKAD is not much different, so I passed it as well.”
With the CKA and CKAD certifications under his belt, he said Linux Foundation Education senior manager Mary Campbell suggested that he participate in the Kubestronaut Program. “That’s where my race for the coveted blue jacket began,” he said. “That was my motivation, oddly enough.” He found his Kubestronaut pursuit somewhat serendipitous when he discovered that the knowledge he gained while preparing for the certification coincided with the information he was already implementing at work and knew how to use effectively. As a Kubestronaut, he now holds KCNA, KCSA, CKA, CKAD, and CKS certifications.
“My current position requires extensive knowledge in various fields, but I prefer to focus on cloud native tools,” Aleksandr said. “This allows me to quickly dive into projects and efficiently complete tasks. I would describe my role as something between a DevOps engineer, a cloud engineer, and a system administrator.”
Secrets of His Success
In addition to ambition and on-the-job experience playing important roles in earning his certifications, Aleksandr cites a variety of information sources for his exam preparation. His methods include YouTube, talking to specialists in a specific field, and Linux Foundation training courses. “To prepare for the LFCS exam, I highly recommend Linux System Administration Essentials (LFS207),” he said. “I haven’t found anything better.”
Based on this course, he created a table with all the commands and examples of their use, which he periodically revisits to refresh his knowledge. “It’s important to understand which form of material absorption suits you best. For example, I record everything electronically or, more often, in a journal that I call the ‘book of knowledge.’”
In advising fellow team members and IT professionals, Aleksandr recommends that training and certifications provide an excellent foundation for achieving your goals, but that it is crucial to include practical experience to the mix. “Hands-on experience, even in your own lab, is incredibly important,” he said. “All my preparation takes place on a local PC using WSL, kind, Docker, Git, and many other tools. This is where the magic happens.”
For his recent job interview for the role of enterprise Kubernetes cluster admin, he said his impressive list of certifications allowed him to bypass many technical questions because there was no need to cover them. He added, “However, I was ready for those questions as well, since the certifications encompass all the necessary knowledge.”
Finally, he advises, “Read and watch everything that interests you and seems incredibly difficult. Trust me, there comes a moment when everything falls into place, and you’ll have an epiphany about how everything is interconnected.”
Future Goals
Aleksandr’s fast-paced achievement of both Linux certifications and career advancement has created the enviable situation of not being sure of what career goal to tackle next. “It’s challenging for me to answer this question because I recently achieved all the goals I had set for myself,” he said. “Additionally, I experienced career advancement, which happened over a short period. However, I would say that I need to add a few programming languages to my portfolio to start working with devkits—I see this as a new horizon for myself.”
Aleksandr Grigorenko, LFCA, LFCT, LFCS, KCNA, KCSA, ICA, CKA, CKAD, CKS, Kubestronaut, HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate (003), AZ 900
Technical Cloud Consultant, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
