Trying to take your career to the next level and validate your technical expertise? The Google Cloud Platform provides a series of certifications that demonstrate to the world your capacity to “design, develop, manage, and administer application infrastructure and data solutions on Google Cloud technology”. As we mentioned in ‘Need a Job? You’d Better Learn to Code‘, practically every industry is looking for developers, and this demand continues to rise from year to year. As a result, learning how to read, write, and understand code is a vital skill set that guarantees you a highly lucrative career. Can’t wait to get started? Here are some tips to help you pass that exam and get Google Cloud Certified:
1. Choose your desired certification
Currently, there are eight certifications on offer, including roles for Professional Cloud Architect, Professional Data Engineer, and Professional Cloud Developer. This chart by Google shows you the various languages available per certification, with the Associate Cloud Engineer exam being offered in seven languages. Click on each role to read a brief description of what each position entails, to find one that best suits your capabilities and interests.
2. Read through exam guides
Arguably the most useful aspect on offer for each certification is an exam guide. Each exam guide provides a detailed breakdown of all the specific topics you need to know inside and out. For the Associate Cloud Engineer certificate, this includes:
1. Setting up a cloud solution environment
2. Planning and configuring a cloud solution
3. Deploying and implementing a cloud solution
4. Ensuring successful operation of a cloud solution, and finally
5. Configuring access and security.
We suggest going through each topic in detail and identifying your key strengths, as well as any areas that may require further study.
3. Search online to find tips and tricks
Studying for the exam on your own can be a very intimidating and time-consuming. The good news is that there are plenty of sources outside of Google that can help you prepare for your exam. You could join the 160,000 people currently taking classes on Udemy. Alternatively, you could read about some of the experiences of people who passed all the Google Cloud Certification exams like Satish Vj. Most people who have passed the exams are keen to offer advice, so don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
4. Take the practice exam as many times as you need
To prepare you for the real thing, Google offers a practice exam for each certificate with similar questions and concepts that may pop up on the certification exam. You can take this exam as many times as you wish, and your score will help determine your level of preparation. Why is it so important to take practice exams? For one thing, failing the exam is rather cost-prohibitive. It costs $200 to take the actual exam, and if you don’t pass, you can only retake the exam after 14 days, and for another $200.
5. Schedule and take your exam
Feeling confident? It’s time to register for your exam and find a test center near your location. According to this article by Jeff Hale on Towards Data Science, the testing process is difficult due to the large breadth of material you’re required to cover. He adds that “it’s not even clear exactly how many Google products could be on the exam because new products are always being added and products are being changed”. That’s why it’s always best to ensure that your study resources are as up to date as possible.
In the end, getting Google Cloud Certificate may be a lengthy process, but it’s definitely worth your while. Google claims that getting Cloud certifications can lead to positive financial growth. To further motivate you, the Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect certification landed at the number one spot on the top-paying certifications list of Global Knowledge‘s 2019 survey, so it’s definitely something to aspire to.