AWS Training and Certification Blog
Small steps, big outcomes: Growing your cloud and AI skills with purpose
With AI and cloud computing reshaping industries and how people work, there’s never been a better time to invest in your professional growth. The World Economic Forum estimates that more than one billion jobs will be radically transformed by technology in the next decade. The good news? You don’t need to overhaul your life to make significant progress. Let’s explore how dedicating as little as 20–30 minutes a day can set you on a path to success in cloud and AI.
Skills: The new career currency
The demand for cloud and AI skills is soaring. While this might seem daunting, it’s great news for learners like you. Here’s why:
- 98 percent of people who invested in digital skills training last year saw career benefits—from higher earnings to greater job satisfaction.
- There’s a growing need for cloud expertise, with 64 percent of organizations reporting skill gaps in their teams.
- Per an AWS study on AI skills, employers estimate that workers who acquire AI expertise could see their paychecks jump by 35% or more, with IT (47%) and sales and marketing (48%) seeing the highest pay bumps.
AWS Director of Products and Services Jenni Troutman puts it this way: “AI is transforming jobs by automating routine work and enabling greater creativity. Like the internet revolution, AI will create new roles while making existing ones more efficient.”
Your success strategy: One step at a time
Building valuable skills doesn’t have to be overwhelming. AWS Skill Builder, our online learning center, makes it straightforward to follow your learning strategy with structured paths, hands-on practice, and progress tracking—all in one place. If you have 20 minutes to spare during your morning coffee or lunch break, you’ll find learning options that fit your schedule.
Here’s a learning strategy to get you started:
- Pick a clear goal (maybe it’s understanding the basics of generative AI or preparing for an AWS Certification).
- Dedicate 20–30 minutes of your day to learning.
- Get hands-on with guided labs or try game-based learning such as AWS Cloud Quest.
- Validate your skills through AWS Certifications and knowledge badges.
- Connect with peers and AWS experts for motivation and tips.
Whether you’re new to AI or a seasoned pro, AWS has a learning path for you. If you’re new to IT, cloud, and AI, start with these free resources on AWS Skill Builder:
- AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials – 6-hour intro to cloud basics
- Introduction to Generative AI – Art of the Possible – Learn the fundamentals of generative AI
- AWS Cloud Quest: Cloud Practitioner – Interactive learning experience where you build real-world solutions
- AWS SimuLearn: Get Started with Generative AI – Practice in a simulated business scenario
If you’re an IT or cloud professional and you want to take your skills to the next level, check out these educational opportunities:
- Explore free role-specific learning plans for solutions architects, developers, machine learning (ML) engineers, and more.
- Dive deeper into generative AI with the AWS SimuLearn: Generative AI Practitioner learning plan.
- Try AWS SimuLearn: Explore the Amazon Bedrock Playgrounds to practice building solutions with services such as Amazon Bedrock.
- Attend free AWS Training Live sessions.
- Explore the AWS Free Tier and get hands-on experience with AWS products and services.
If you’re a team lead, build high-impact teams with a Skill Builder Team subscription. Drive innovation through cloud, AI, and ML expertise and maximize your cloud investment.
Real people, real growth
Need some inspiration? Check out these success stories:
- Watch how Chris Gonzalez made the transition from band director to cloud architect at an AWS Premier Partner organization.
- Learn about Grey Newell’s career journey in Zero to hero: Your guide to career growth through AWS Certifications in the AWS Training and Certification Blog.
- Watch as data analyst and AWS Data Hero Wendy Wong shares how she learned generative skills with an AWS Skill Builder subscription.
Conclusion
Your daily investment of 20–30 minutes can lead to big changes over time. When you’re ready, validate your skills and knowledge with industry-recognized AWS Certifications. Ready to take that first step? Visit AWS Skill Builder and start your learning journey today.