How Helped a Mid-Career Professional Transition to Cloud Engineering

A mid-career IT support professional came to us feeling stuck. Despite completing several cloud certifications, they couldn’t seem to land interviews for cloud engineering roles. Their resume was still heavily focused on past IT support experience which made it hard for employers to see their potential in the cloud space. After months of applying without success, they felt frustrated and unsure of how to move forward. That’s where we stepped in.

The Challenges: This candidate faced a few key hurdles:

1. Career Transition Roadblock: They had cloud certifications but lacked real-world cloud experience, making it difficult to break into the new field.
2. CV Misalignment: Their resume emphasised IT support work, rather than highlighting the cloud skills they’d been acquiring.
3. Unclear Next Steps: They knew they needed more to stand out but weren’t sure what specific certifications or practical experience would give them the best chance.
4. Employer Hesitance: Without hands-on cloud experience, hiring managers were unsure about their ability to succeed in a cloud engineering role.

Our Approach: A Personal, Step-by-Step Career Strategy

At 3RGT, we believe career transitions are personal journeys. It’s not just about checking off a list of qualifications, it’s about building confidence, finding the right path and showing employers the real potential. Here’s how we helped:

1. Understanding the Bigger Picture

We started by sitting down and listening to the candidate’s story. We understood their frustrations, feeling stuck in IT support despite earning certifications, dealing with the discouragement of repeated rejections and being uncertain about the next step. After understanding their career goals, we developed a personalised plan to help them pivot to cloud engineering.

2. Tailored Learning Plan

While they had certifications, we wanted to ensure the skills they were showcasing were aligned with what employers were looking for. We helped them:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate: To build a solid foundation in cloud architecture.
• Terraform or Kubernetes Training: To demonstrate expertise in modern infrastructure-as-code practices.
• Hands-On Labs & Projects: To create a portfolio with real cloud projects, providing evidence of their technical abilities.

3. Refocusing the Resume & LinkedIn Profile

We didn’t just make a few tweaks to the resume, we overhauled it to ensure it reflected the candidate’s cloud engineering skills. The resume was refocused to highlight certifications, hands-on projects and transferable skills. We also updated their LinkedIn profile, making sure it aligned with their cloud career goals and showcased their growing expertise.

4. Gaining Practical Experience & Building Confidence

Employers wanted proof that the candidate could actually do the work. So, we encouraged them to:

• Build a cloud portfolio with projects demonstrating their hands-on abilities.
• Share their work on GitHub and write blog posts to show their knowledge and passion for cloud technologies.
• Network within the cloud community to gain insights, referrals and valuable connections.

5. Interview Preparation

Transitioning to a new field often means tough interview questions. To ensure the candidate felt confident, we:

• Held mock interviews focused on cloud engineering scenarios and common challenges.
• Helped them position their IT support experience as an asset, showing how their problem-solving skills and adaptability would be valuable in cloud roles.
• Provided insights into what cloud employers are really looking for, so they could speak the language with confidence.

The Results: A Successful Transition

Before:

• The resume still reflected IT support work, without showcasing cloud engineering skills.
• Struggled to secure interviews despite a strong background and cloud certifications.
• Felt unsure about what to focus on next and how to bridge the gap between certification and practical experience.

After:

• A stronger professional profile: With a revamped resume and LinkedIn profile, they started attracting the attention of cloud recruiters.
• Increased interview invitations: Within just a few weeks, they began receiving interview requests from top cloud engineering companies.
• New role, new beginning: Two months later, they secured a Junior Cloud Engineer role with a respected tech company, marking the start of their new career in the cloud space.
• Confidence for the future: With a solid portfolio, a growing network, and continued support, they are on track for long-term growth in cloud engineering.

Why This Matters to Employers:

By working with 3RGT, we don’t just help candidates find a job, we prepare them for long-term success. Here’s why this is important for employers:

• Our candidates come with the right cloud certifications and hands-on experience, so they’re ready to take on cloud engineering challenges from day one.
• The candidate’s ability to problem-solve, adapt and bring fresh perspectives from their previous roles in IT support made them a valuable asset from the moment they started their new role.
• When you work with 3RGT, we ensure our candidates are not just fit for the job, they’re set up to thrive and grow within the cloud engineering field.

At 3RGT, we don’t just place people in jobs—we help them build sustainable careers. Whether you’re looking to transition into a new field or advance within your current one, we work with you to develop the right skills, strategies, and confidence to succeed.

Ready to make your own career transition?

Let us help you unlock your potential. Contact us today to learn how we can support you on your journey.