Leveraging IT Certifications to Launch a New Career
Raja Sivagnanam had enjoyed career success for more than 20 years in the hospitality industry, and as a chef, but he always wondered about an IT career. Finally, his interest in becoming an IT professional became too much for him to resist. It was literally staring him in the face every day. His wife is a senior IT system administrator. With guidance from her and a growing network of IT professionals, he launched his new career combining formal education with networking and pursuing key IT certifications to prove his new skills and pry open new career doors.
Impressed with his wife’s work on a Linux initiative using open source applications, Raja decided to learn automation testing using Java language. He took a six-month course in core Java, working during the day as a chef, and studying in the evening. The first certification he earned was the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), which his wife helped him study for, acting as his in-house tutor. However, as he applied for jobs he found that his lack of IT work experience was holding him back.
During Covid Raja’s wife started a study group for Kubernetes with friends and colleagues. He joined the group and was mentored by CNCF ambassador Ramesh Kumar. “I was introduced to Ramesh by my wife in 2020. I was discussing my career and education goals, and he started to guide me on how to achieve them. He recommended that I earn the KCNA certification since it might give me an edge in finding a job in my new field,” he said. After earning his Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA), with the encouragement and support of Ramesh, Raja went on to earn his Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) certification as well.
To fill in his IT educational experience, Raja, who holds a BS in hospitality administration, earned an associate degree in software assurance engineering from the Canadian College of Technology and Business, Vancouver, BC, Canada and has completed the A+ Hardware course at Vancouver Community College, BC, Canada.
To date his IT work experience has included project engagements in automation framework creation. “My Linux Foundation certifications have definitely helped me get my foot in the door. I would not have had these opportunities without them,” he said.
In the future, Raja would like to learn about open source AI and said after his wife completes her current work on an open source AI certification he plans to learn from her. As for his career goals, he’s open to all possibilities. He said, “If I go to a new industry I can learn the technology. I’m open to any industry or field where I can use my Linux Foundation certifications and training.”
Raja Sivagnanam, CKA, KCNA
IT Consultant
linkedin.com/in/raja-sivagnanam-b626a9227
