- blog
Google Cloud Certification Guide: Strategies for Success
Author
- Bijil Subhash
Date
- October 18, 2023
Introduction
The rising demand for modernising the technology infrastructure has increased organisations’ appetite for resilient and scalable solutions hosted on Google Cloud. However, harnessing the full potential of this powerful platform requires a cadre of experts well-versed in the intricacies of cloud computing. To facilitate this specialisation, Google Cloud offers a suite of certifications that are specifically designed to elevate professionals at all stages in their career to become proficient cloud practitioners.
At Mantel Group, we embrace a culture of continuous learning, which has been the centrepiece for delivering value to our diverse clientele spanning across multiple industries. Taking inspiration from my peers, I have recently embarked on a journey to obtain my inaugural Google Cloud certifications with the support of Kasna, Google’s premier consultancy partner in Australia and New Zealand. In this article, I’ll be sharing some insights and practical tips to help you pave your own way to success.
A Journey of Thousand Miles Begins With a Single Step
When I first decided to sit for the Google certification exam, I immediately booked a slot 4 weeks from that day and scheduled it in my calendar. I did postpone my exam at a later point due to professional commitments but the act of booking my exam in advance has artificially invoked a deadline, which was driving my motivation to study regularly with minimal procrastination. If you are someone who struggles to find motivation to study, I would highly recommend this strategy. From my experience, 4-6 weeks is just long enough to cover the grounds for most new technologies and short enough to stay engaged.
After booking the exam, I took the practice exam that Google provides for each certification. The benefit of the practice exam is that it provides an overview of what to expect in the exam and it helps set the baseline that you can revisit closer to the exam to assess your readiness. The outcome of the practice exam and the official Google exam guide was used to identify areas that I was lagging, laying the foundation of the plan I put in place to study over the next 4 weeks. Though it is important to have a plan in place to follow through, you should be willing to make changes and open to adjustments as you start to identify areas that may require additional focus.
Practices Makes Perfect
When it comes to learning, there is no one size fits all. I highly recommend a multimodal approach where you can immerse yourself in the content through various channels like video, text, illustrations etc. A multifaceted approach serves to reinforce your understanding by presenting the material from various viewpoints, solidifying your grasp on the subject matter. Given my inclination towards hands-on learning, I placed significant emphasis on practising each lesson, either in a simulated lab environment (Qwiklabs) or through the creation of personal projects. Be mindful of additional charges that you might incur if you go down the route of creating personal projects in Google Cloud. Overall, I recommend you to add a combination of structured lessons and practical exercise to your arsenal as you prepare for your Google Cloud certification.
The End is Nigh
As I got closer to the exam, my focus shifted from lessons to seeking out practice questions that resemble the ones that appear in real tests. The underlying objective here was to familiarise myself with interpreting the questions and the corresponding options efficiently, which has helped me cultivate a few strategies for enhancing the overall accuracy. First and foremost, my main objective when faced with a question was to break it down into its constituent parts; context, goal, and ask. This simple breakdown has helped clarify the questions that can be sometimes unnecessarily convoluted and/or wordy. Following that, I would assess the options to eliminate the obvious wrong answers, increasing the odds of being correct. Lastly and most importantly, it is important to not blindly trust intuition and instead evaluate each option objectively. It works in your favour if you can rationalise even the wrong answers as to why they are wrong. Remember, success lies not only in knowledge, but also in the ability to approach questions systematically and objectively.
Conclusion
Overall, my journey has reinforced the belief that with determination, a well-structured study plan, and a multifaceted learning approach, one can excel in their Google Cloud certification endeavours. Success in Google Cloud certification lies not only in knowledge acquisition but also in the development of a strategic and objective approach to questions. Remember, whether you’re a seasoned professional or just beginning your cloud journey, with dedication and the right resources, you too can excel in your Google Cloud certification pursuit. Embrace the challenge, stay committed, and let your journey towards Google Cloud expertise begin!