Do you still want to be an AWS Solutions Architect? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 😊 Interested in Skillshare? The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial: skl.sh/techwithlucy09221
I applied for a senior partner solution architect. I've finished the first three loop interviews. I'll do one more today and do the last interview next week. Please wish me luck.
Reasons why you should be an AWS Solutions architect: 1) If you enjoy interacting with customers ( i.e. ppl )and understand their needs. 2) If you feel excited to learn and build new skills 3) If you want to provide advice and suggestions only ...rather than building it yourself. 4) if you don't want your roles to be defined 5) If you find role of AWS solution architect fulfilling.
I've been a solution architect for years, and can definitely attest to the info in this video. A key area of focus for me is interacting with customers and other technical folks to ensure that customers are getting the right solution to meet their needs. My goal is not to sell a specific technology or platform, but more to ensure they solve current and future problems.
@@muhammadali-rn4sd No, not really, but it depends on what role you're looking to get into. I think an understanding of software development is beneficial, but it's by no means necessary.
@muhammadali-rn4sd solution architect is a broad term. I worked in infrastructure design, but now I'm in presales. You won't know the difference just looking at titles. If you see specific programming languages, OOP, TDD, or similar terms, the role is for software architecture not system archieecture
If your role is a "AWS" solution architect, you are selling an "AWS" solution even if the right answer is "run it on-prem with Kubernetes". I was interviewing for a Cloud Solutions Architect role and was not particularly keen on joining the company I was interviewing for, so was willing to screw the interview. So I did ask them the same question - Am I expected to recommend a cloud based solution even if I feel a non cloud solution is a better fit? "Of Course not, we do what's best for the customer" was the reply. But I didn't hear from them after that. If your role as a word cloud in it, you are supposed to sell the cloud. If you are working for AWS, you definitely are supposed to sell AWS even if that's not the best fit for the customer.
Thank you Lucy. Reason #1 was all I needed to see to know that a Solutions Architect isn't going to be for me. I'm in a place where I'm trying to figure out exactly what I want to do in tech and I've learned that IT Help Support and interacting with customers isn't quite what I'd like to do. I'll look into Cloud Architect, AI Engineering, or a software engineering position of some sort. Thank you again for this video Lucy!
Good point! I personally enjoy travelling for work (to other countries), but sometimes "commuting" between places between the country can be tricky / takes up a lot of time. Thankfully a lot of customer engagements these days have shifted to virtual / video calls now - and don't always require travel to the customer site😊
This is a great video. This gives me more confidence to build my career in cloud computing coz I always love to learn more skills and I used to ask myself every day to keep learning🥰
#4 is definitely so true. Some customers will inquire of you about quite literally *everything!* even things that are completely out of scope??? At times it's hard. You really have to learn diplomacy and never respond like an annoyed parent chastising a child for continually pestering them. Great content btw!
Quite insightful. I only see myself as an average fit for a Solutions Architect role.. My primary interest lies with DevOps and I'm currently striving in that path. After having watched several vids from you and others, I've realized the need to clearly define my path so I don't end up writing all AWS certification exams in series only to be clueless at the very end as to what role best fits me. The earlier one discovers his/her primary area of interest, the better one kick-start investing and building oneself in the respective area. I guess it's more conservative too in terms of resources that will be expended. In all, I think I'm a best fit for both roles, just that my preference for one surpasses the other. At certain point in life too, if you can't have what you love, you gotta love what you have😘😊
Thanks for watching as always! 🙌 That's definitely a great point - never good to just do certification exams just for the sake of it, without having an end goal. Let me know how your journey goes with exploring DevOps! 😄
Hey abass , i m currently on the devops path , i m cloud practitioner certified , what s the next AWS certificate you recommand for a non developper background ! SAA or Sysops?
@@mohamedchedly1784 Hi Muhamed, I'll probably allow Lucy to guide us through that.. For me however, I skipped the cloud practitioner exam and went for the Solutions architect Associate exam. While I hone my skills in DevOps with reading, taking courses and project based learning to encapsulate hands on and gathering related skills as opposed to just watching videos, I plan taking courses on Developer Associate and Sysops. After which I'll prepare extensively and go write DevOps Pro exam directly. That's my current road map.. Why I had to skip Dev Associate and Sysops exam and go for DevOps Pro is actually due to my lack of financial strength.. If you do have the means, taking Dev Associate and Sysops Exam will aid you a lot in your quest.
Great content as always Lucy, keep going! I am getting my learning badges and later going for certifications, solutions architect is a role I am interested, and if not the knowledge will be useful as a software engineer as well.
Hey Lucy, as always you have explained things very well in simple to understand terms. It makes it easy for people to understand the role of Cloud Architect and Solutions Architect. Quick Qtns: 1) Do Solutions Architects specialize in different industries or technologies? 2) Other than progressing to become a Cloud Architect, what roles do Solutions Architect typically move into after a few years? Thank you!
Hey Ronald! I’m also an AWS Solutions Architect and I can answer your questions. (1) You can if you want. We have generalist SAs that cover the broader spectrum of our services, but we also have Specialist SAs that can dive deeper into specific technologies (e.g, an IoT SA) or industry (automotive, finance, pharma, energy…). (2) Because we span over multiple areas, we can move into different roles. The most tenured SAs usually move to some sort of technical leadership role, like CTO, directors, or any role where experience with technical decisions is important. SAs with less experience usually move to a role where building things play a bigger role.
I’m preparing for the cloud practitioner exam right now. I’m still interested in solutions architect, but this video has definitely given me more to think about when choosing my path after the CP exam!
Thanks, I appreciate it! Couldn't agree more - I believe in "intentional living" and living a life true to yourself. It does take some time to get there, and I can't say I'm completely at that stage. But I'm making progress towards doing more things that bring me joy & fulfilment!😊
Hey Lucy!! Thank you once again for clearly defining the role of solutions architect! You always break things down into it's simplest terms and I really appreciate that as it makes carving out my cloud path easier. Quick question, would you still recommend that we get the SAA certification if we think we wouldn't want to be a SA just to have more education in cloud, or not so much? I have a desire to be on the network design end of cloud and i've noticed that design principles are heavily covered in the SAA cert guide. Well thanks again and be well, be safe and Cheers!
Thanks for the support as always! 🙌 Yep, the SAA certification isn't just for people interested in becoming an AWS Solutions Architect. In fact, it does include a focus on networking concepts - would recommend 😊
As someone who's come from a developer background, I think the SAA certification was time well spent. It wasn't that difficult and it gave me a good perspective in terms of different solution options and the tech landscape.
Feel lucky to get to know your super helpful channel, Lucy. - There are tons of AWS Services, but ofc SA won't use the entire services on their job right? Only some of the most important one like EC2 and friends. Do you mind to specifically share the AWS Services that normally used by SA? Maybe we can focus more on the specific topics 😊
Thanks for the support! 😊 Good question, instead of specific AWS services, I would focus on common architectural patterns. E.g. A traditional 3 tier web application (uses VPC, EC2, RDS, S3, CloudFront) I recommend searching up common architectural solutions and having a look at the corresponding AWS services. This will typically reflect what customers are looking for help on.
@@TechwithLucy This is a great tip. Are there any particular resources you would recommend for learning common architectural solutions? Keep up the great work. Thank you :)
Thanks for making the video. This is very helpful information. I recently achieved AWSsolutions architect associate, more as a way to enable additional certifications. It was hard to get the cert and it can be distracting in that I kind of feel I should be applying for roles utilizing those skills. Understanding more about what the role truly involves is helpful.
As cloud eng with a dev background, I would say you define the reasons really well. This is precisely what I am facing now. Currently, I am planning and preparing to switch back to a dev role instead of a cloud engineer. ;D
I'm in my 50's trying my hand at tech. Finished the Google IT certification and I like the industry, now I'm in free code camp. I just heard about AWS love customer service and continued learning. But if AWS is not my cup of tea what would you recommend for someone my age who wants to be a nomad. Thanks
Hi Lucy, I'm a Management Consultant and the way you detailed the role of a SA, it appears a lot like a Consultant.. just with a focus/specialization in the cloud. Would you say that's correct - a SA is pretty much a type of Consulant?
Going off #4, "if you want your role clearly defined," what are the cloud computing jobs (e.g. DevOps, Developer, SysOps) that do have clearly defined tasks day-to-day? Thank you so much for the helpful video!
Thank you for covering this topic. I wanted to become SA for the pay it offers but I still keep thinking is it really what I wanted? Now I'm kind of clueless. Main draw back for me is the first reason.
I appreciate the honest response! It depends, if you haven't worked much with customers before, who knows - you might up finding it enjoyable. 😄 However, if you've had experience working with customers and didn't like it at all, then it's better to consider a less client-facing role.
You should not become SA just for the pay it offers. Find your passion. You can make the same amount of money and even more when you love what you do. There are tons of jobs that offer a good pay. It's not easy to know if you like it until you finally try it. But you can ask yourself whether you would enjoy talking to customers, designing solutions, and learn and study constanly to provide the most cost effective solution.
As a direct result of your video I Never Ever want to be a aws certified anything! Lol! Just kidding! Still want to be certified! Thanks Lucy! Have a great day!!!
Hi Lucy!!! Well, after watching this video. You just made me love this role the more😍😍😍. I can't wait to pass the exam, get certified and get a job as a AWS Solutions Architect 🕺🕺🕺. Thank you for all you do Lucy
Thanks for confirming that I DO want to be a solutions architect. Regarding reason 3, I have a workaround. I enjoy making a direct impact. The way I scratch this itch is I have my own side projects that allow me to be an architect, developer and engineer. And as a bonus it brings in a few extra dollars.
I think I would do well in either position cloud architect, or SA. Although, I feel my experience, skills and knowledge would allow me to really excel in an SA role.
Very helpful video. I now know with confidence that I’m not cut out to be a solutions architect! I’ve been a software developer for 20 years. AWS is an increasingly asked-for skill set in the positions I see. Cloud architecture is probably closer to what I should concentrate on.
A much needed video Lucy, thanks for uploading this. Most people blindly dive into solutions architecture, either cloud or in software development, but they don't have a clear cut idea of what the role actually involves. I've been getting trained in AWS since some time now and I'm targeting to get the CCP certificate to get into entry level jobs, and I don't feel inclined towards architecture. I'm more interested in sysops or networking or security specialisation in the long run, or even cloud support roles
Spot on! Let me tell you, I couldn't find ANY videos or articles explaining why people shouldn't become a Solutions Architect. That's why I felt the need to make the video 👍 Thanks for watching, and best of luck on your career journey 😄
"Sharpening the saw" is at least half my job these days. I've been moving into a Solutions Architect role for years within my company. As part of that learning effort I've been working my way through the various AWS certifications. Thanks for this to show how I'm on the right track!
Yep you're right, Amazon is a very customer-focused company. 😄 We like to say "we start with the customer, and work backwards" - so everything we do is in the customer's best interests and what we believe will benefit them
I have been trying to understand how to have user, group, permissions in AWS cognito. I want to assign users to group and permissions to group through an interface available to the admin user from the product itself. The product will be built on AWS amplify using react js and graphql API
Would it be sensible to take on the role of a solutions architect as a stepping stone to becoming a cloud architect? I've gotten my certs but my current team hasn't had any large enough projects that required designing or building out large workloads to really test my skills. I've done a couple of workshop exercises and labs as well, but I'm not sure if I'm getting realistic results.
Hmm here’s what I’m thinking: If your goal is to become a cloud architect, any hands-on cloud experience will be helpful, including becoming a solutions architect. However, there are definitely ways you could go straight to a Cloud Architect role without having to become a solutions architect first. I reckon maybe take whatever opportunity you can to gain real-world / hands-on experience to help you with the goal. 😄
I still want to pursue solutions architect!!! But I have a question non related what is the future of cloud with w3 coming to play? What can potentially happen to cloud engineers/jobs will things change to where we have to upskill even more? Because I’m interested in learning stuff in blockchain, tokenization in assets which Central banks are working on like India!!!!
Some SAs I know, have had web3 & blockchain discussions with their customers - usually the major banks. I haven't had a customer discussion about those technologies yet - but yes, if these technologies get adopted more and more, as Solutions Architects, we will all have to upskill to help customers who are looking to innovate in those fields. 😄
@@TechwithLucy thank you for the response. It’s gonna be pretty interesting how cloud changes to adapt and how things get automated over time from AI allowing for us to focus on more important things.
@Tech With Lucy. If I do want to get into the Cloud industry and I don't like dealing with customers. What other paths or work would you recommend for someone who really just does not like dealing with people up front, but does enjoy working with all kinds of networking, scripting and systems?
Thank you Lucy, you answered some very important questions I had. Based on my previous experience with customers they can be a pain and I prefer to steer clear of them. I will look at other career paths.
The points are well put. To help widen the discussion I'd like to make this point. For reason 1 - communicating with customers, it is often the case that a solution architect's role is to communicate with other stakeholders. In fact, if they're not doing this then something is not right. This applies to all companies - small and large and irrespective of whether you're a consultant or working internally at a company. The architect needs to be confident with grasping the current state of play and putting forward a more compelling architecture in terms of cost, reliability, security, etc. (basically all the pillars in the AWS well architected solution). And at the same time helping to the meet the business goals. And obviously if you're not doing number (2) with sharpening the saw then your knowledge can be out of date.
I think you're reason 2 should be applied to anything with tech. The industry is always moving and if you're not willing to keep up then it is not the industry for you.
I failed my loop in August for Specialist SA EC2 Graviton (London). I was working as a Sr. Applications Eng. at Arm (Manchester) and an SA role is a dream job for me mainly because of my personality and inclination. I enjoy working with the customer, (have always worked as an AE my life), I have spent days and weeks training customers, been a tech advisor for HPC customers globally, have always been into learning and acquiring new skills and keep me up to date with the new trends. I felt sad failing it because the role had already gone to someone else since the whole interview thing got quite delayed (over 2.5 months form the date of application) and I was then interviewed for parallel roles on IoT + Digital Twin or HPC core.
Sounds Awesome to me, the fact that I just have to have deep understanding of things and not actually build them for customers makes this the perfect role.
What I find baffling is when teams think they can consist of only solution architects (because it's a difficult certificate and is a good balance of everything in AWS!) and create good quality solutions that heavily rely on a developer's perspective (like lambda, infrastructure-as-code, containers, etc). It drives me as a cloud developer insane that everyone just shrugs and spends 3 days fixing horrible code with an even worse solution (or fixing things manually 3 times a day for months instead of spending 2 days to just fix the damn issue in the code!). I don't mind if a solution architect comes up with some sort of solution that involves all that VPC magic, but they better stay away from writing the actual lambda or containerized code!
Its sounding like.. You are an marketing agent and you have to sell some service to the customer, regardless of what he is asking for.... Keep learning new ways to sell by knowing more about your product and client vulnarabilities
I disagree with one of the reasons: "If you are not willing to continuously learn and build skills" - I think that we always will need to do that above all in any technical and computer-related career
I passed AWS SAA exam and recieved my result today , problem is i can't see my digital badge in credly. What to do ? I have uploaded the pdf certificate on my linkedin and hosted it on google drive (Is there any better alternative than this).
What type of customers exactly looking for advises and help,what they trying to achieve exactly by reaching out ,any explanation on that please And thanks for your videos ,really helpful
According to adrian cantrull from cantrill io the only difference between cloud architect and solution architect is that you are build architecture for the cloud rather than any type of infrastructure. What you are describing sounds like a sales or support engineer role. Im shocked to hear this is how aws utilizes its solution architects and doesnt match many of the job descriptions i see for this role.
Came to watch it because I thought no way Cloud based industry is for me. Coming out of this video, I feel like I can be a good fit in solutions architect role
What was your background before you became an associate SA? How many years of AWS hands on experience did you have and how many certifications did you do before you applied to AWS? I am interested in transitioning into an AWS SA role in 2-3 years (currently working as an AWS consultant for a partner company)
Hi Lucy, I had a quick question. What is the difference between Solution Architecture and Software architecture for tech. Also what role is better for people who are more into designing?
The difference is the scope pontue job. Software architects will focus on a single application and how the multiple modules of it talk to each other (keep in mind that the module could be an external application, like a database or a data broker). Solution architects will focus on how those applications integrate with each other, the infrastructure to support it, and best practices around security and data management.
How can a frontend developer with 2 years of experience, transition to AWS solution architect ? Any advice here guys ? What are the pre requisites for Entry level job ?
Chances are, since you landed the job, the interviews saw you as a good fit - both in terms of skills & interests. 😄 But definitely try to reflect on the reasons provided in the video to see if the role is something you'll enjoy!
The best solution architects are able to see beyond the technical challenges in front of them. They have a solid appreciation of the strategic / business challenges that their customer faces and utilise this to not only architect technical solutions, but solve solve business challenges and present new opportunities and ways of thinking.
Hi Lucy! Love your content! If you knew about all of these factors would you still become a Solutions Architect? Are you currently allowed to work from home? if you don’t mind answering what is your current salary as an Associate Solutions Architect?
Hey lucy, great content as always, I have got a quick question. i wanna dive into the field of DevOps , Is it recommended to skip the CCP exam and directly prepare for the solutions architect exam? P.S: I dont have experience working on cloud . Thanks in advance!
It's possible to do SAA cert without doing CCP first - different people will recommend different approaches, but I personally recommend doing CCP first, because starting off with SAA without a cloud background is a bit tricky. Definitely up to you! 😄
Do you still want to be an AWS Solutions Architect? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 😊
Interested in Skillshare? The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial: skl.sh/techwithlucy09221
Hey Hi can you please make aws devops career path.. I want to transfer my career from full stack engineer to cloud devops mode.
@@RakeshBitling Thanks for the vid suggestion! Will add it onto the list of ideas 😊
@@TechwithLucy now i cancelled aws soln architect certification plan ..heading towards Devops mode
I applied for a senior partner solution architect. I've finished the first three loop interviews. I'll do one more today and do the last interview next week. Please wish me luck.
I am a TPM for a Saas company and I honestly love my role as PM/SA on projects...It is the research that does it for me!!
Reasons why you should be an AWS Solutions architect:
1) If you enjoy interacting with customers ( i.e. ppl )and understand their needs.
2) If you feel excited to learn and build new skills
3) If you want to provide advice and suggestions only ...rather than building it yourself.
4) if you don't want your roles to be defined
5) If you find role of AWS solution architect fulfilling.
Haha correct! 😊
@@TechwithLucy 😁
BTW, Thank-you for making these videos !! They are really helpful !! 👍🏻
the job itself is remote right?
@@CharlonClarkedepends if the employer wants you to be. But it can definitely be a remote
I've been a solution architect for years, and can definitely attest to the info in this video. A key area of focus for me is interacting with customers and other technical folks to ensure that customers are getting the right solution to meet their needs. My goal is not to sell a specific technology or platform, but more to ensure they solve current and future problems.
Bro is it necessary to learn code first?
@@muhammadali-rn4sd No, not really, but it depends on what role you're looking to get into. I think an understanding of software development is beneficial, but it's by no means necessary.
Thanks for the kind information, i am not good at coding could you please name some "roles" among this field. Would be very helpful for me
@muhammadali-rn4sd solution architect is a broad term. I worked in infrastructure design, but now I'm in presales. You won't know the difference just looking at titles. If you see specific programming languages, OOP, TDD, or similar terms, the role is for software architecture not system archieecture
If your role is a "AWS" solution architect, you are selling an "AWS" solution even if the right answer is "run it on-prem with Kubernetes". I was interviewing for a Cloud Solutions Architect role and was not particularly keen on joining the company I was interviewing for, so was willing to screw the interview. So I did ask them the same question - Am I expected to recommend a cloud based solution even if I feel a non cloud solution is a better fit? "Of Course not, we do what's best for the customer" was the reply. But I didn't hear from them after that. If your role as a word cloud in it, you are supposed to sell the cloud. If you are working for AWS, you definitely are supposed to sell AWS even if that's not the best fit for the customer.
Thank you Lucy. Reason #1 was all I needed to see to know that a Solutions Architect isn't going to be for me. I'm in a place where I'm trying to figure out exactly what I want to do in tech and I've learned that IT Help Support and interacting with customers isn't quite what I'd like to do. I'll look into Cloud Architect, AI Engineering, or a software engineering position of some sort.
Thank you again for this video Lucy!
Another one that no one seems to mention is travel. I've been told that Solutions Architects travel a lot, which became the deal breaker for me.
Good point! I personally enjoy travelling for work (to other countries), but sometimes "commuting" between places between the country can be tricky / takes up a lot of time. Thankfully a lot of customer engagements these days have shifted to virtual / video calls now - and don't always require travel to the customer site😊
I like travelling😊
This is a great video. This gives me more confidence to build my career in cloud computing coz I always love to learn more skills and I used to ask myself every day to keep learning🥰
So glad to hear that! 😊 Keep learning 🙌
#4 is definitely so true. Some customers will inquire of you about quite literally *everything!* even things that are completely out of scope??? At times it's hard. You really have to learn diplomacy and never respond like an annoyed parent chastising a child for continually pestering them. Great content btw!
Quite insightful. I only see myself as an average fit for a Solutions Architect role.. My primary interest lies with DevOps and I'm currently striving in that path. After having watched several vids from you and others, I've realized the need to clearly define my path so I don't end up writing all AWS certification exams in series only to be clueless at the very end as to what role best fits me. The earlier one discovers his/her primary area of interest, the better one kick-start investing and building oneself in the respective area. I guess it's more conservative too in terms of resources that will be expended.
In all, I think I'm a best fit for both roles, just that my preference for one surpasses the other. At certain point in life too, if you can't have what you love, you gotta love what you have😘😊
Thanks for watching as always! 🙌 That's definitely a great point - never good to just do certification exams just for the sake of it, without having an end goal. Let me know how your journey goes with exploring DevOps! 😄
Hey abass , i m currently on the devops path , i m cloud practitioner certified , what s the next AWS certificate you recommand for a non developper background ! SAA or Sysops?
@@mohamedchedly1784 Hi Muhamed, I'll probably allow Lucy to guide us through that.. For me however, I skipped the cloud practitioner exam and went for the Solutions architect Associate exam. While I hone my skills in DevOps with reading, taking courses and project based learning to encapsulate hands on and gathering related skills as opposed to just watching videos, I plan taking courses on Developer Associate and Sysops. After which I'll prepare extensively and go write DevOps Pro exam directly. That's my current road map.. Why I had to skip Dev Associate and Sysops exam and go for DevOps Pro is actually due to my lack of financial strength.. If you do have the means, taking Dev Associate and Sysops Exam will aid you a lot in your quest.
Great content as always Lucy, keep going!
I am getting my learning badges and later going for certifications, solutions architect is a role I am interested, and if not the knowledge will be useful as a software engineer as well.
Thanks for watching! 😊 All the best on your cloud journey 💪
Hey Lucy, as always you have explained things very well in simple to understand terms. It makes it easy for people to understand the role of Cloud Architect and Solutions Architect. Quick Qtns: 1) Do Solutions Architects specialize in different industries or technologies? 2) Other than progressing to become a Cloud Architect, what roles do Solutions Architect typically move into after a few years? Thank you!
Hey Ronald! I’m also an AWS Solutions Architect and I can answer your questions. (1) You can if you want. We have generalist SAs that cover the broader spectrum of our services, but we also have Specialist SAs that can dive deeper into specific technologies (e.g, an IoT SA) or industry (automotive, finance, pharma, energy…). (2) Because we span over multiple areas, we can move into different roles. The most tenured SAs usually move to some sort of technical leadership role, like CTO, directors, or any role where experience with technical decisions is important. SAs with less experience usually move to a role where building things play a bigger role.
@@rafa-borges Thank you very much for taking the time to reply my question! It has clarified my understanding of the profession greatly! :)
I’m preparing for the cloud practitioner exam right now. I’m still interested in solutions architect, but this video has definitely given me more to think about when choosing my path after the CP exam!
The CP exam is a great starting place for branching off into many different directions. Good luck with your journey.
@@burropoco thank you! :)
Whats your final decision?
U have learned good life lessons at a younger age. One should enjoy what he/she does at the end of the day. Thank you for sharing Ikigai.
Thanks, I appreciate it! Couldn't agree more - I believe in "intentional living" and living a life true to yourself. It does take some time to get there, and I can't say I'm completely at that stage. But I'm making progress towards doing more things that bring me joy & fulfilment!😊
Hey Lucy!! Thank you once again for clearly defining the role of solutions architect! You always break things down into it's simplest terms and I really appreciate that as it makes carving out my cloud path easier. Quick question, would you still recommend that we get the SAA certification if we think we wouldn't want to be a SA just to have more education in cloud, or not so much? I have a desire to be on the network design end of cloud and i've noticed that design principles are heavily covered in the SAA cert guide. Well thanks again and be well, be safe and Cheers!
Thanks for the support as always! 🙌 Yep, the SAA certification isn't just for people interested in becoming an AWS Solutions Architect. In fact, it does include a focus on networking concepts - would recommend 😊
@@TechwithLucy Thank You so Much!!!☺
As someone who's come from a developer background, I think the SAA certification was time well spent. It wasn't that difficult and it gave me a good perspective in terms of different solution options and the tech landscape.
Feel lucky to get to know your super helpful channel, Lucy.
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There are tons of AWS Services, but ofc SA won't use the entire services on their job right? Only some of the most important one like EC2 and friends. Do you mind to specifically share the AWS Services that normally used by SA? Maybe we can focus more on the specific topics 😊
Thanks for the support! 😊 Good question, instead of specific AWS services, I would focus on common architectural patterns. E.g. A traditional 3 tier web application (uses VPC, EC2, RDS, S3, CloudFront)
I recommend searching up common architectural solutions and having a look at the corresponding AWS services.
This will typically reflect what customers are looking for help on.
@@TechwithLucy This is a great tip. Are there any particular resources you would recommend for learning common architectural solutions? Keep up the great work. Thank you :)
@@mufreauddinchoudhury8215 She shared the learning resources here ua-cam.com/video/Mfb9nen2-pQ/v-deo.html go check it out.
Being in this role as a Solutions Architect is no different being a Doctor of Medicine. It's a continuous learning process. Nice video.
Thanks for making the video. This is very helpful information. I recently achieved AWSsolutions architect associate, more as a way to enable additional certifications. It was hard to get the cert and it can be distracting in that I kind of feel I should be applying for roles utilizing those skills. Understanding more about what the role truly involves is helpful.
Thanks for watching, and glad you found it helpful! :) Yess, next step would be making use of the skills, let me know how you go! 😀
As cloud eng with a dev background, I would say you define the reasons really well. This is precisely what I am facing now.
Currently, I am planning and preparing to switch back to a dev role instead of a cloud engineer. ;D
Why?
I'm in my 50's trying my hand at tech. Finished the Google IT certification and I like the industry, now I'm in free code camp. I just heard about AWS love customer service and continued learning. But if AWS is not my cup of tea what would you recommend for someone my age who wants to be a nomad.
Thanks
Hi Lucy,
I'm a Management Consultant and the way you detailed the role of a SA, it appears a lot like a Consultant.. just with a focus/specialization in the cloud. Would you say that's correct - a SA is pretty much a type of Consulant?
Going off #4, "if you want your role clearly defined," what are the cloud computing jobs (e.g. DevOps, Developer, SysOps) that do have clearly defined tasks day-to-day? Thank you so much for the helpful video!
I luv to be a Solution Architect for exactly all the negative reasons which you highlighted. Looking for a rewaeding career as a Solutiona Architect.
Did you have to learn linux, programming languages and so on just to tak to customers?
Im ur new subscriber...ur videos are really good...keep going lucy🍭🦋
Welcome to the "Tech with Lucy" family 👋 Let me know if you have any video suggestions!
Thank you for covering this topic. I wanted to become SA for the pay it offers but I still keep thinking is it really what I wanted? Now I'm kind of clueless. Main draw back for me is the first reason.
I appreciate the honest response! It depends, if you haven't worked much with customers before, who knows - you might up finding it enjoyable. 😄 However, if you've had experience working with customers and didn't like it at all, then it's better to consider a less client-facing role.
You should not become SA just for the pay it offers. Find your passion. You can make the same amount of money and even more when you love what you do. There are tons of jobs that offer a good pay. It's not easy to know if you like it until you finally try it. But you can ask yourself whether you would enjoy talking to customers, designing solutions, and learn and study constanly to provide the most cost effective solution.
As a direct result of your video I Never Ever want to be a aws certified anything! Lol! Just kidding! Still want to be certified! Thanks Lucy! Have a great day!!!
Haha 😆 Best of luck on your cloud journey!
I’m not a SA but i have great SA that support me in my territory , regards from AWS Indonesia Public Sector
Amazing 😄
Hi Lucy!!! Well, after watching this video. You just made me love this role the more😍😍😍. I can't wait to pass the exam, get certified and get a job as a AWS Solutions Architect 🕺🕺🕺. Thank you for all you do Lucy
Woohoo! I'm glad, thanks for watching, wishing you all the best in this journey :)
Thanks for confirming that I DO want to be a solutions architect.
Regarding reason 3, I have a workaround. I enjoy making a direct impact. The way I scratch this itch is I have my own side projects that allow me to be an architect, developer and engineer. And as a bonus it brings in a few extra dollars.
Lucy just told me I don't have what it takes!
I still want take my SA certificate, I really want get into Cloud Engineer type of role. Thank you, this was a great informative video! ❤🙏😊
Great! 😄 Cloud Engineer video coming very soon 👀
I think I would do well in either position cloud architect, or SA. Although, I feel my experience, skills and knowledge would allow me to really excel in an SA role.
Awesome! 😄 Both career paths can be pretty rewarding - let me know how you go
Very helpful video. I now know with confidence that I’m not cut out to be a solutions architect!
I’ve been a software developer for 20 years. AWS is an increasingly asked-for skill set in the positions I see. Cloud architecture is probably closer to what I should concentrate on.
Communicating with clients is already a given for many roles. It's a softskill that is pretty much unavoidable.
Definitely not, am an introvert devOps is my lane
Thank you for the videos Lucy still want to be a part of the AWS team. Have a great day
Amazing, thanks for watching 😄
A much needed video Lucy, thanks for uploading this. Most people blindly dive into solutions architecture, either cloud or in software development, but they don't have a clear cut idea of what the role actually involves. I've been getting trained in AWS since some time now and I'm targeting to get the CCP certificate to get into entry level jobs, and I don't feel inclined towards architecture. I'm more interested in sysops or networking or security specialisation in the long run, or even cloud support roles
Spot on! Let me tell you, I couldn't find ANY videos or articles explaining why people shouldn't become a Solutions Architect. That's why I felt the need to make the video 👍 Thanks for watching, and best of luck on your career journey 😄
Great video. Thank you for spending time to make this great video.
Thanks for the support! Always happy to spend time helping our Tech With Lucy community 😄
"Sharpening the saw" is at least half my job these days. I've been moving into a Solutions Architect role for years within my company. As part of that learning effort I've been working my way through the various AWS certifications. Thanks for this to show how I'm on the right track!
Before a CSA, where were you from? Mind to share? Thanks
makes sense if you are working for AWS , you interact with customer since Amazon is a customer centric company .
Yep you're right, Amazon is a very customer-focused company. 😄 We like to say "we start with the customer, and work backwards" - so everything we do is in the customer's best interests and what we believe will benefit them
Lucy, thank you for clarifying the difference between a solutions architect and a cloud architect.
I have been trying to understand how to have user, group, permissions in AWS cognito. I want to assign users to group and permissions to group through an interface available to the admin user from the product itself.
The product will be built on AWS amplify using react js and graphql API
That was new for me. I imagined something different.
Thank you for making this video... Still want to be sa.. Your videos are always helpful and always motivates me to learn more about aws..
So glad to hear that! 😊
good advice
Thanks for the support!
Would it be sensible to take on the role of a solutions architect as a stepping stone to becoming a cloud architect? I've gotten my certs but my current team hasn't had any large enough projects that required designing or building out large workloads to really test my skills. I've done a couple of workshop exercises and labs as well, but I'm not sure if I'm getting realistic results.
Hmm here’s what I’m thinking: If your goal is to become a cloud architect, any hands-on cloud experience will be helpful, including becoming a solutions architect.
However, there are definitely ways you could go straight to a Cloud Architect role without having to become a solutions architect first.
I reckon maybe take whatever opportunity you can to gain real-world / hands-on experience to help you with the goal. 😄
I still want to pursue solutions architect!!! But I have a question non related what is the future of cloud with w3 coming to play? What can potentially happen to cloud engineers/jobs will things change to where we have to upskill even more? Because I’m interested in learning stuff in blockchain, tokenization in assets which Central banks are working on like India!!!!
Some SAs I know, have had web3 & blockchain discussions with their customers - usually the major banks. I haven't had a customer discussion about those technologies yet - but yes, if these technologies get adopted more and more, as Solutions Architects, we will all have to upskill to help customers who are looking to innovate in those fields. 😄
@@TechwithLucy thank you for the response. It’s gonna be pretty interesting how cloud changes to adapt and how things get automated over time from AI allowing for us to focus on more important things.
@Tech With Lucy. If I do want to get into the Cloud industry and I don't like dealing with customers. What other paths or work would you recommend for someone who really just does not like dealing with people up front, but does enjoy working with all kinds of networking, scripting and systems?
Yes, I still want to be a SA at AWS.
Thank you Lucy, you answered some very important questions I had. Based on my previous experience with customers they can be a pain and I prefer to steer clear of them. I will look at other career paths.
So, it's better to become a doctor?
I guess doctors are customer(patient) facing too 😆
Def not. Way more liability
#1 is a defo no, i don't like to deal with customers
And #4 is just scary tbh😅
The points are well put. To help widen the discussion I'd like to make this point. For reason 1 - communicating with customers, it is often the case that a solution architect's role is to communicate with other stakeholders. In fact, if they're not doing this then something is not right. This applies to all companies - small and large and irrespective of whether you're a consultant or working internally at a company.
The architect needs to be confident with grasping the current state of play and putting forward a more compelling architecture in terms of cost, reliability, security, etc. (basically all the pillars in the AWS well architected solution). And at the same time helping to the meet the business goals. And obviously if you're not doing number (2) with sharpening the saw then your knowledge can be out of date.
Lucy. Thank you so much for these videos seeing another woman accomplish this is giving me positive vibes ❤ you’re giving me strength girl !!!
Yes, I still would like to become a Solutions Architect
Yay! 😎
Could you share your experience? Do you like to work as a SA? Thanks for the great video.
Good idea! I could make a video on “why you SHOULD become a solutions architect” 😄
I think you're reason 2 should be applied to anything with tech. The industry is always moving and if you're not willing to keep up then it is not the industry for you.
I Passed AWS certified Solutions Architect - Associate, but i don't know what to do in next step.
JAJAJAJAA this video just encourage me to become a solution architect, thanks LUCY!!!!
I failed my loop in August for Specialist SA EC2 Graviton (London). I was working as a Sr. Applications Eng. at Arm (Manchester) and an SA role is a dream job for me mainly because of my personality and inclination. I enjoy working with the customer, (have always worked as an AE my life), I have spent days and weeks training customers, been a tech advisor for HPC customers globally, have always been into learning and acquiring new skills and keep me up to date with the new trends.
I felt sad failing it because the role had already gone to someone else since the whole interview thing got quite delayed (over 2.5 months form the date of application) and I was then interviewed for parallel roles on IoT + Digital Twin or HPC core.
Good luck, don't give up, I have a friend who failed the first time and tried again several months later and got it
good pros and cons, but I am in. I will send my daughter IKIGAI book. Thanks!
Sounds like I'd be a pretty good fit :D
Thumbs up for educating on IKIGAI
Hi yes love your channel and yes still want to be a SA.even at my age lol
Never too early or late to start!
great video Lucy! Still wondering when I can be invited to be part of your video...
This was so helpful, thank you.
Thank you Lucy, am on my path to being a Cloud Architect. However, I still like being a Solutions Architect. I am okay with the terms.
Sounds Awesome to me, the fact that I just have to have deep understanding of things and not actually build them for customers makes this the perfect role.
Thank you Lucy. Thank you for "IKIGAI" too. I will check it out. Great content.
What I find baffling is when teams think they can consist of only solution architects (because it's a difficult certificate and is a good balance of everything in AWS!) and create good quality solutions that heavily rely on a developer's perspective (like lambda, infrastructure-as-code, containers, etc). It drives me as a cloud developer insane that everyone just shrugs and spends 3 days fixing horrible code with an even worse solution (or fixing things manually 3 times a day for months instead of spending 2 days to just fix the damn issue in the code!).
I don't mind if a solution architect comes up with some sort of solution that involves all that VPC magic, but they better stay away from writing the actual lambda or containerized code!
I love your videos! Keep it up
Thank youu! 😊🙌
lol, now I realize that architect and solution architect are different
Yup 2 different things 😄
I'm not tryna be a dickhead but for me it's all about money
What if you can have both money and happiness though 😄
Its sounding like..
You are an marketing agent and you have to sell some service to the customer, regardless of what he is asking for....
Keep learning new ways to sell by knowing more about your product and client vulnarabilities
I disagree with one of the reasons: "If you are not willing to continuously learn and build skills" - I think that we always will need to do that above all in any technical and computer-related career
I hate meetings and talking to clients/people in general :)
Ahahaha it’s ok there’s defs many other roles out there! 😄
Very refreshing and honest!
I passed AWS SAA exam and recieved my result today , problem is i can't see my digital badge in credly. What to do ? I have uploaded the pdf certificate on my linkedin and hosted it on google drive (Is there any better alternative than this).
What type of customers exactly looking for advises and help,what they trying to achieve exactly by reaching out ,any explanation on that please
And thanks for your videos ,really helpful
Your Content is Amazing.
According to adrian cantrull from cantrill io the only difference between cloud architect and solution architect is that you are build architecture for the cloud rather than any type of infrastructure.
What you are describing sounds like a sales or support engineer role.
Im shocked to hear this is how aws utilizes its solution architects and doesnt match many of the job descriptions i see for this role.
Is Associate Cloud App Dev, A2C ProServe, AWS SDT the same thing as this job position
Came to watch it because I thought no way Cloud based industry is for me. Coming out of this video, I feel like I can be a good fit in solutions architect role
Yay! 😊
Oh yes, I still want to become a Solutions Architect!!
What was your background before you became an associate SA? How many years of AWS hands on experience did you have and how many certifications did you do before you applied to AWS?
I am interested in transitioning into an AWS SA role in 2-3 years (currently working as an AWS consultant for a partner company)
What are the major differences between cloud architecting and solution architecting?
Is it worth it even if you’re not trying to be a solutions architect per se? Let’s say a backend developer or software developer or such?
Hi Lucy, I had a quick question. What is the difference between Solution Architecture and Software architecture for tech. Also what role is better for people who are more into designing?
The difference is the scope pontue job. Software architects will focus on a single application and how the multiple modules of it talk to each other (keep in mind that the module could be an external application, like a database or a data broker). Solution architects will focus on how those applications integrate with each other, the infrastructure to support it, and best practices around security and data management.
Still perfect fit to be an architect. Sadly Russia is under sanction and I cannot apply for Amazon without spoken hebrew.
How can a frontend developer with 2 years of experience, transition to AWS solution architect ? Any advice here guys ? What are the pre requisites for Entry level job ?
Haha still want to be..
I love the Ikigai concept. I will read the book for sure! Thanks!
This popped up when I have joining as an SA 4 days later. Should I still be excited ?
Chances are, since you landed the job, the interviews saw you as a good fit - both in terms of skills & interests. 😄 But definitely try to reflect on the reasons provided in the video to see if the role is something you'll enjoy!
You say no direct impact,
But is there opportunities to grow to a more impactful position
The best solution architects are able to see beyond the technical challenges in front of them. They have a solid appreciation of the strategic / business challenges that their customer faces and utilise this to not only architect technical solutions, but solve solve business challenges and present new opportunities and ways of thinking.
Hello, Lucy! Do you think I still have a chance to enter AWS without any college degree? Thank you!!
Definitely possible! As long as you can gain the relevant knowledge / experience in other ways 😄 Will make a video on this soon.
So you have to learn linux, python, networking, aws,docker, kubernetes only to talk with customers??
This video is great thx A
I still want to be a Solution architech, BTW i love the meaning of "IKIGAI"
Hi Lucy! Love your content! If you knew about all of these factors would you still become a Solutions Architect? Are you currently allowed to work from home? if you don’t mind answering what is your current salary as an Associate Solutions Architect?
Hey lucy, great content as always, I have got a quick question. i wanna dive into the field of DevOps , Is it recommended to skip the CCP exam and directly prepare for the solutions architect exam?
P.S: I dont have experience working on cloud .
Thanks in advance!
Not lucy, but have you ever worked in a tech role?
It's possible to do SAA cert without doing CCP first - different people will recommend different approaches, but I personally recommend doing CCP first, because starting off with SAA without a cloud background is a bit tricky. Definitely up to you! 😄
@@erythsea unfortunately I don't
@@TechwithLucy thanks again for your suggestion ☺
love the channel mate, good work!
Thank you! 😊