The careers for DevOps professionals have been on the rise in the past several years and have become rather well-paid in demand.
However, with a large number of online courses, choosing the right one can be an issue.
Securing the best DevOps course online is tricky since, by now, there are plenty of courses offered online. Here are some guidelines to get a general idea of the topic to assist you in finding the best suitable DevOps course as provided in this article.
How to Choose the Best DevOps Course Online
Here are the top 9 guides on choosing the best DevOps Course Online:
- Identify Your Learning Objectives
- Evaluate your current knowledge and skills
Knowing where you stand is the first and critical step.
For a beginner, it is recommended to find courses that deal with the introduction to DevOps, what it is and how it operates.
If a person has an intermediate or advanced level of knowledge then, choose the courses that teach more about tools and advanced procedures.
- Define Your Career Goals
Clarify your career goals.
Are you interested in a new position focused on DevOps, or do you want to similarly level up your position with DevOps knowledge?
Therefore, understanding your goals will assist you in selecting the right course for your career.
- Course Content and Curriculum
- Comprehensive Coverage
Confirm if the course has the following foundational DevOps areas, CI/CD, automation testing, configuration management, and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
Otherwise, the curriculum you use is old, and it may not contain the current tools and technologies in the market.
- Practical Applications
Seek classes that provide realistic labs, projects, and cases to solve on the topic.
The extremity of the practical task is to pave the way to use pure theory in practice, which is vital for understanding the key concepts of DevOps.
- Instructor Expertise
- Qualifications and Experience
Opt for classes that are offered by instructors with related professional backgrounds.
The experience that some instructors have with DevOps certifications and actual field experience can be a major benefit.
- Teaching Style
Preview sample lectures to determine the mood and teaching characteristics of the instructor.
Make sure that they are capable of articulating well-complicated concepts as well as handling the students in class.
- Course Format and Flexibility
- Learning Style Compatibility
Consider your learning style. Self-paced courses allow you to work on many courses at a time and thus fit well into the busy schedule of a working person.
Instructor-led courses offer a set up timetable and immediate communication between the tutor and the learners which is found to be more effective for some of the learners.
- Access to Resources
Check that the course can offer participation in open-source-accessible learning materials and Q&A sessions, eBooks, webinars, etc.
- Certification and Accreditation
- Recognized Credentials
Determine if the certification is desirable and will be appreciated when applying for a particular job. Industry-accredited certificates go a long way in a person’s career.
- Accreditation
Ensure that the course has been accredited by credible bodies with a focus on the profession. The accreditation of the courses guarantees quality in education and training.
- Career Support
Certain programs provide employment placement services and guidance that can also be quite valuable.
For instance, StarAgile has a 100% job guarantee program for their DevOps training, which demonstrates the company’s dedication towards the students and their achievements.
- Reviews and Ratings
- Student Feedback
Check for feedback on various platforms like Coursera, Udemy, StarAgile, and LinkedIn Learning to know how others have fared in the past.
This feedback can characterize the course, the effectiveness of the instructor together with the overall worth of the course.
- Course Ratings
Choose those courses, which received many positive reviews and indications in terms of ranking.
It has been observed that better ratings given to a course usually mean that the course is quite effective and reliable as well.
- Cost and value for money of the project
- Budget
While comparing different courses, it is also important to look at their prices and what they offer.
Make sure the course is affordable within your price range but does not compromise on the basic needs and value.
- Financial Aid
Find out if the course provider provides any form of financial assistance or scholarships.
Most services offer options for financing support to expand the availability of classes.
- Return on Investment (ROI)
Evaluate the potential return on investment about the enhancement of career opportunities and improvement of salary after certification.
They found that investing in a reputable course can benefit them in the long run.
- Additional Features
- Community and Networking Opportunities
Programs that allow entry to a group of alumni may be of great benefit since they include networking opportunities.
Group discussions foster understanding among the students and the capability to solve problems in their discussions.
- Support Services
Search for courses that are accompanied by sufficient support such as mostly technical assistance, counseling on employment and coaching among others.
These services will be useful for improving your studying and achieving the aimed career.
- Trial Period and Refund Policy
- Trial Access
Another strategy is that some platforms provide the possibility of a trial run of the course material to decide on the course.
Trial access could be useful for deciding whether the course corresponds to the client’s expectations or not.
- Refund Policy
But before enrolling for a course, it is good to know the refund policy of the provider in case the course fails to impress you.
It is also good to have a clear refund policy that gives a customer extra confidence while spending their money.
Conclusion
To find the best DevOps course online, one has to consider several factors that define great learning including goals, topics, tutors, flexibility, the importance of certification, reviews, price, and bonuses.
Analyzing the mentioned aspects will allow choosing an optimal course for the learner that will help achieve the desired result in the line of work in DevOps.