The Solutions Architect job is NOT what you think.

The Solutions Architect role varies between different companies. If you're looking to land an entry level job as a Solutions Architect, you need to understand what the role actually does.
There's a growing trend towards a more sales oriented Solutions Architect role than the typical more implementation focused role. This isn't a "bad thing", as such, but as a beginner you need to know the difference to inform your job hunt. This video breaks it down.
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Solutions Architect Tweet Survey:
/ 1591873238308642817
Luca Mezzalira:
/ lucamezzalira
GPS:
/ madebygps
/ madebygps
learntocloud.guide
Andrew Brown:
/ andrewbrown
/ @examprochannel
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00:00 - Introduction
02:40 - Guest introductions - GPS, Andrew, Luca
03:30 - The confusions surrounding Solutions Architect for entry-level.
05:50 - Is Solutions Architect a genuine entry-level role?
07:15 - What is a Solutions Architect? And why is it so ambiguous?
10:10 - A sales-oriented Solutions Architect vs Implementation
15:05 - Why cloud provider Solution Architects can be a different breed
17:35 - Answered: Is Solutions Architect an entry-level role?
18:10 - Why you don't NEED to start as a Solutions Architect
19:00 - Why career switchers can be more successful as Solutions Architects
19:29 - Why you should tailor your job hunt to companies specifically
20:30 - Watch next: analysing over 2,000 cloud job descriptions
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▶ A PRACTICAL START WITH CLOUD / AWS
I highly recommend Stephen Mareeks AWS courses. If you’re a total beginner I recommend the “Certified Cloud Practitioner” otherwise the “Associate Developer”. If you plan to take the exam, I also highly recommend Jon Bonso’s practice exams:
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Why I recommend Stephane and Jon’s courses:
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▶ WRITE A CLOUD RESUME THAT LANDS YOU THE JOB
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▶ BUILD YOUR RESUME (AS A PROJECT) USING CLOUD TECHNOLOGY
The “Cloud Resume Challenge” is a 12 step project. I love the challenge, I’m an active member of the Discord, and I have a whole playlist on KZbin to help you complete the challenge. There is a book (it’s optional), but I strongly recommend it. Get the “Cloud Resume Challenge” book:
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▶ CLOUD BOOKS & COURSES COURSES
For my full set of recommended cloud books, courses, best monitors, keyboards and everything else, check out:
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[@MadeByGPS]

Solid video, that GPS person seems pretty cool.

[@openupthecloud]

Yeah, seems chill NGL.

[@ThoughtfulTechyCloud]

There's so much more to getting a job as a Solutions Architect than simply passing a certification. Beyond tech, Solutions Architects need business, relationship building, and great communication skills just to name a few to truly stand out from the crowd. Nice video 👍

[@KenSherman]

Oh snap! You gotta a comment from ThoughtfulTechy Cloud.😮

[@longjawnsilva8877]

Bet I’m more of a people person who’s good at business. But if I can be an aws architect I’ll be fine

[@supersoniqamanyi3075]

Ah, the Solutions Architect role, the mystical unicorn of job titles. It's like big Techs thought, 'Let's create something so vague and elusive that no one can really define it, and then watch everyone scramble to fit in, like a small elliptical hole 🕳️ for triangles and every other pegs.' Well played, Techs, well played. 👍😅

[@starsoffyre]

I work at AWS as a Cloud Architect, which (you may be surprised) is internally a different role vs a "Solutions Architect". My main role is a combination of technical delivery (implementation) and consulting, with not much sales involved. When I joined (at L4 level), I only had 1 YoE in IT. Simply taking certs and knowing how to answer MCQs won't get you a job, but taking certs AND using the knowledge to build your experience will drastically increase your chances.

[@tptoodle]

Before solutions arichitect were much better paid and focused to find a solution, but these days most of the org expect a solutions architect to be familar with the whole application or cloud suit, e.g. AWS cloud - which is impossible to do so, unless you have been working on AWS and worked on all the products over the years. Some companies expect solutions architect to be hands on too. I am also seeing some companies are hiring SAs with traditional approach too though but are very few

[@MartinezVM]

​@@tptoodle Solutions Architect as a whole is still well paid. As Cloud Architect you're still a Cloud engie on roids.

[@cyberpunkspike]

@@tptoodle Companies are chock full of shitty cloud architects right now, exploding at the brim in fact, and they keep wanting more. A good SA has 15+ years implementing, period. If you can't engineer, you can't architect for engineers.

[@mo.dia97]

"Read, Read, Read the job description.." Thank you !

[@Gevorian]

I'm so glad I got to be a technical project manager before pursuing the SA role, I feel that it brought a lot of your mentioned skills out that some other people may lack. I am a great communicator, collaborator, and will always do my best to make the client & stakeholders happy. Though I haven't gotten a solutions architect role as of yet, I do hope to in the near future.

[@jasminefernandez7881]

Thank you for the transparency and realistic explanation. I ran into SA on TikTok yesterday and have been doing my research so far but one has been this honest till I ran into your video. I do want to get my certification and learn coding. I just want to step into it realistically. Thank you again!

[@MysoreMasala]

Please make more such videos. This was mind blowing. Everyone easily generalizes but hardly anyone take the time to find out the nuances of cloud roles.

[@openupthecloud]

Glad you found it useful ! Will do my best to put out more videos that dive into the real-life day-to-day of different cloud roles for sure. SA was a start point for me, since it comes up so much. Any other roles you're looking at in particular? Or ones that you'd like to know more on?

[@indianapapi]

Great video. It means something different for each company and each type of company. If you work for a software sales or development sales company, the job is much more sales, writing proposals, quotas, etc. If you are part of the app dev team and working for a company where your job is more internal, then it is more what people think it is. Where you are designing cloud solutions for your company's developers to build their solutions on.

[@samirayusifova4518]

This is the best video on the topic of cloud solution architecture! I wish I had watched it before pursuing my career in clouds. I had naively believed that obtaining couple of AWS certs would immediately open all doors within solution architecture. I was so gullible! Thank you so much for creating and sharing this valuable content! 🎉🎉🎉

[@CloudLady5]

so what did you need to do to land a job?

[@metalheadvlogs]

You raise some very interesting points here, but it certainly mirrors my own experience. I've been working in IT for almost 20 years now in various roles, but only in the last 3 years have I been looking at architect roles. I took a job as an SA back in 2021 with one company, but unfortunately it wasn't what I expected (more focus on sales and support instead of implementation). I left that job, returned to my previous role at my old company and have been promoted last August to the SA role. It's certainly more focused on implemetation as you describe here, with a lot of customer focused work as well. It's probably still not the ideal role in my head (mostly due to bandwidth and getting pulled back for a lot of firefighting), but it's certainly a stepping stone.

[@carolw3391]

As a solution engineer from other field trying to land a job related to cloud, this is a very good video for me to understand some misunderstanding. I face a lot of situation you mentioned there and I have that aha moment. Thank you very much!

[@openupthecloud]

Hey Carol! Glad the video was of use to you! Indeed, I don't see a lot of people talking about this topic of the Solutions Architect role. Probably because often people are trying to make Solutions Architect sound as cool as possible, and the most desirable role in cloud! Rather than being more transparent about the fact that for entry level the SA role can look more like a sales or customer focused role than an internal implementation and building role. That's absolutely fine, but something to be aware of and look for when you're searching for SA jobs! Best of luck with the job hunt! Let me know if you have any questions!

[@mo.dia97]

I started with the Help Desk then System Administrator, Then Network Engineer, then DevOps Engineer, Then now Senior DevOps/ Cloud Engineer, hopefully I can get the Solution architect job next

[@asohnoelle5883]

Hi, how did you move from networking to devops? Any tips ?

[@Sosa_handles]

Real. We need help how did you move from network engineer to devops

[@rghosh044]

It need not be many years. It needs to be diverse experience across various IT functions and technologies. I worked 1 year as a developer, 3 years as a support engineer, 1 year as a cloud and devops engineer across 4 different companies and now I am a Solutions Architect at Amazon

[@LeanMachineFitnessTV]

Great video 😊 I’ve been working as 2nd line helpdesk engineer role for 2 years now and we are heavily cloud based. My goal was to go for the solutions architect cert with Microsoft but after hearing it’s more of a sales role was slightly put off. I want to work more on building solutions than selling them to clients. I have my exams booked already so will still get the the certs but will have to job specific when looking for my next role.

[@openupthecloud]

Yeah. Being a Solutions Architect in a more customer-facing or pre-sales capacity can be a step on the road towards becoming more of a builder type of architect. But there's many paths for sure. You could start with something more technical and work your way up, like software engineer, cloud engineering, etc. Or start with those other more customer-facing role. I'm sure over time your preferences will change, and not all careers are the same. Just glad that you're aware that some roles are more of a pre-sales type gig, than a builder gig, that's the main takeaway ! Thanks for stopping by! 🙏

[@anahash3221]

so you mean solutions architect does not need technical background?? i am from non IT background can i become a solutions architect , I donot want a job that will keep me superbusy updating my technical skills all the time. plz answer

[@Iron.M.an.]

@anahash3221 I'd stick to something non technical which a good solution architect must have a firm grasp of all areas of technology and be upto date on new technology. I'd suggest if you want to progress into something try project management or business analyst

[@JohnTube2K]

SA’s role is not entry…. you can’t jump into this job function out of college and carry any weight with other IT teams or stakeholders

[@iziwealth3677]

This video has so much information in it thank you

[@openupthecloud]

Really glad you found it useful ! If you have any other questions, let me know !

[@danisharrouf4660]

Great input on the topic, thank you

[@openupthecloud]

Thanks Danish ! If you have any other questions, let me know !

[@jessehagenouw9341]

Always putting out high quality content! Great work Lou!

[@openupthecloud]

Thanks Jesse !!! Out here trying to make the industry more accessible, and share access to stories and opinions like these !

[@KenSherman]

AWSome😏😉 you got an interview from 1 of my original faves Gwen AND even A. Brown! It's the 1st time I've even seen his face.

[@paulclarkiv]

Great video man!

[@samjackgreen]

The video the industry deserves.

[@mamneo2]

Incroyable.

[@samjackgreen]

@@mamneo2 why

[@openupthecloud]

Thanks Sam, that really means a lot, I also felt quite compelled to make this video 🙏

[@sarahfkini1915]

Very interesting approach to look at cloud architect rule. Thanks for sharing

[@openupthecloud]

Thanks Sarah. I'm quite consciously and deliberately aiming to share perspectives that I think the community might not have yet been exposed to, such as this one. I have no personal vested interest if anyone does, or doesn't shoot for the Solutions Architect role (that's a personal decision) so that liberates me to give what as much as I can, a fairly honest, balanced and quite "down the middle" opinion on the topic. Thanks for stopping by and dropping a comment!

[@rp3823]

Each cloud platform (AWS, Azure and GCP) provide free online training, as well as support forums. Hands on practice and project building make for a better resume and interview talking points. 🤓

[@mornelindeque864]

Pretty solid and honset video. Thanks

[@konversationswitkent]

This was very helpful. I am a realtor and looking to get into the cloud practitioner sales role..I believe it is possible. Thanks

[@scifithoughts3611]

Very good advice!

[@jcdenton7914]

I'm considering the Solutions Architecture Associate as an entry to cloud, but I have 3 years IT experience already and I'm not expecting 6 figures for my first cloud role. So do I have to worry about 70k being impossible to get? I'm considering AWS over CCNA because I want to code more and do the things people are assuming they don't have to do.

[@ricardocarrillogonzalez7049]

Nice content, didn't even realize that! Boy oh boy. Wondering if I should just utilize my Az-900 and just do some python projects for now. instead of the SAA-03 cert. Since I only have some Service Desk experience. ☹

[@emmanuel.n8458]

Don't let. Video kills your dream. Get your cert, and try it out. You never know

[@damonaniton]

When I have suggested that SA is not an entry level role people looked at me like I had 7 heads.. When I suggest to people that the cloud is nothing more than a virtual DC and that people still need those ancillary skills that an actual "architect" would have you would have thought I said a 4 letter word. As if I had not been in the industry for going on 25 years.

[@markstep2909]

Hello sir, I am a data analyst but wanting to transition to AWS solutions architect role because I do not fancy the analytical research and development side anymore and I am starting to hate writing SQL. I am looking into designing more or into cloud conputing. What do you suggest.

[@Douglas_Gillette]

Great comment. The cloud is common technologies that have been virtualized.

[@ufgrcatlanta]

I wanna find that sweet spot between technical and business where I could be a translator between both teams

[@sevimsoffice]

this also exactly me

[@Wolfpackmerkers]

Ditto

[@openupthecloud]

If that's the type of thing you're interested in, as well as "solutions architect" titles, consider doing some research into "account management", "project/program management", "product management", "consultant", "business analyst" as these will also have those types of skillsets / needs.

[@samirayusifova4518]

Also is it possible to conduct interviews with people from AWS, discussing their daily roles as AWS engineers? For example, interviewing Viktoria Semaan, (Sr Developer Advocate at AWS - not sure what this role is about), Linda Haviv (another Developer Advocate at AWS), Rajdeep Saha (Principal Solution Architect at AWS)? Please, please, please 😊

[@billabong272]

Solutions Architect is just a ticket for me to hopefully land a job in software development that is implemented in cloud.

[@openupthecloud]

Sounds great - best of luck on your journey!

[@ZayGo-ks6js]

Great Content! I have about 11 years of sales experience, 6 as an Enterprise Account Executive. I'm almost done studying for my AWS - SAA exam, should I be confident in applying for roles immediately due to my soft skills experience?

[@KenSzefryrice]

Currently a AWS SA, it’s not what one would think. You need experience, ability to understand business needs, technical minded, and able to handle yourself when customer objections come at you. Also it has pre-sales role involve too.

[@leeparker6200]

I think cloud dev-ops engineer is the way to go if people want to aim for a role thats in demand and pays well.

[@openupthecloud]

Yeah.... I used to think DevOps was a complex role to try and explain. Now I think Solutions Architect takes the crown as the most challenging, nuanced role for beginners to try and land. Add into that the fact that I think it's heavily targetted at entry level, so you're going to have more competition. Cloud Engineer is one of the more straight-forward roles for entry-level. Since Cloud Engineer is a very hard skills focused role, hitting a set of certifications and building a few decent projects and building lots of hard technical skills (the usual strategy) will apply better to that type of role, than a role like Solutions Architect which will be significantly more ambiguous to prepare for (unless you shoot for a single company, but that's also almost an all-or-nothing strategy, which carries risk).

[@michaellerch]

Dev-ops engineer is great step for beginners. Like any coding / dev environment no one really knows what they're doing project to project unless they're seniors... but even the seniors are like "Hmmm... yeah... did something like this yeeeears ago. Good luck!" lol. but I'd agree it's still a good step and gets beginners a good stage to prove themselves on.

[@thetruthsayer8347]

@@michaellerch Devops is an entry level role? 🤔

[@michaellerch]

@@thetruthsayer8347 If you went to college for CS? You betcha. Entry level out of college. Entry out of high school mmmmm probably not, but if you got the skills to back it up heck ya.

[@ComeHereGreatness]

@@michaellerch Think again, I have a CS degree with lots of experience and it's still tough trying to get a role.

[@mryusif-hs8ty]

I changed my mind. I’m going to Data Analyst

[@michaellerch]

Great video by the way. Keep the beard. My profile pic is old but I'm rockin the beard too.

[@openupthecloud]

Ha! Now, this is the feedback that I need! 😆

[@KianaSuiitz]

Wow. This is disturbing. Smh they should stick to what we got our certification in and that needs to be our role. Thank you for this information. 😊

[@superstreamsilly]

I'mactually studying business information systems and I actually want to do this role.

[@openupthecloud]

Awesome, best of luck !

[@Jokikiolu]

Go become a developer first, I'd say for at least 5 years

[@rishabincloud]

Was waiting for this video, solid! Btw when is Rishab coming to your channel?

[@openupthecloud]

Just editing up part 2 of this, then I'd love to do a chat about building personal roadmaps, I think that's a big topic for people. What to consider, why this skill rather than that. How to pick certifications that compliment each other, etc! Soon Rishab, soon!

[@openupthecloud]

Finally, Rishab made it to the channel ! kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2bRYYd3aqxsm6c

[@rishabincloud]

@@openupthecloud and he showed up in suit??!!😱

[@michaellerch]

I still like the idea of Solutions Architect. I've always been a vision / creative guy. I can always think and dream stuff up faster than I can build it. If I had a team to build the stuff I design that'd be pretty sweet :) That said... everyone is so focused on getting a "job" in cloud. I'd like to hear more on contract or self-employed go-getters out there that are crushing it in Cloud. I think there's opportunity there.

[@openupthecloud]

I am a Product Manager, which kinda fits the bill of what you mention with "vision / creative". I can understand what you mean. Freelance content is interesting, for sure would love to talk more about that topic in the future. There is indeed opportunity there, it's also a good way to step around gatekeepers to the industry... Some people that come to mind as freelancers, who also talk about it openly and in public: twitter.com/daedtech twitter.com/SamCompleteCode twitter.com/chiche_ds twitter.com/QuinnyPig twitter.com/daedtech twitter.com/adamdotdev

[@derelictmanchester8745]

AWS...even free, but you are blocked, and requested for card details, these charges are to use the labs...

[@forayintothecloud]

I know of someone that got a devops role at KPMG they went through a AWS restart program and only had the ccp and knowledge of terraform yaml etc no prior experience this really shocked me when i heard this i thought KPMG only hire graduates from russell universities

[@danieljust295]

Of course, because SA is generalist and DevOps is specialist, SA without speciality will not land job.

[@forayintothecloud]

@@danieljust295 what's SA and the person didnt have any speciality aws certs the advantage they had was they enrolled onto a goverment funded aws course who had kpmg as an employer partner , connections will land you jobs not certs

[@danieljust295]

@@forayintothecloud Interesting…

[@komalthecoolk]

Thank you for making this video. AWS and other companies have degraded the title of Solutions Architect by naming an entry level cert after it. That's a shame.

[@davei2938]

Scrum master is that 6 figures :3

[@JT4NN3R]

The one thing i don't like about this video is that there is plenty of mention why Solutions Architect isn't an entry level certification, but fails to suggest what is. If we can't get into AWS based jobs with no IT experience then where CAN we??

[@openupthecloud]

I do feel you... however it's a longer, and more nuanced topic, and the video here was already getting quite long. I have a long format video talking about some of the different roles in cloud and some thoughts on choosing them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2HLkq1sot6grrs I also have a reference of some roles here that can be a start point: openupthecloud.github.io/system/roles

[@thetruthsayer8347]

I thought a solutions engineer is a sales engineer 🤔

[@mamneo2]

Incroyable.

[@JohnTube2K]

People who get entry level roles as a Solution Architect are basically getting hired as a cheap body versus someone with 10+ years industry experience. Basically people get what they pay for. Doing this role without any real world experience prior is a hard sell. This is typically not an entry level role.

[@derelictmanchester8745]

Good posting...shreds away all the false guides into neverland jobs...

[@lost-prototype]

Next up: System architect and then technical architect.

[@joebywan]

Great video, but please please please normalise the volume between the cuts. Listening to Andrew, then yourself, he's much quieter, and you're booming after I've had to turn up the volume to hear him properly.

[@openupthecloud]

Hey Joseph! Ahhh, that's useful feedback, thank you ! I'm not so sharp with editing and sound yet, but I am improving ! Will try and make some adjustments for the next one, hopefully that'll improve things.

[@mamneo2]

I thought the same!

[@aleksandrsavvopulo4510]

It is funny to see how IT industry struggling with assigning unambiguous name to the specific role. Yeah, variables naming is the hardest part, i know. 😂

[@jonathanniels]

LOL this was me

[@mattx4253]

As a 20 year sales expert I’m learning cloud tech now because I AM the person who does this kind of role. Not nerds without people skills

[@Jokikiolu]

hahaha, you're silly. Just jealous because school was hard

[@mattx4253]

@@Jokikiolu wtf are you even talking about clown 🤡

[@Thrillhouse911]

Watch video at 1.25x minimum. Holy shit

[@ritwiksrivastava6862]

Hey Lou, I saw your story about cloud community and dropped you a text on Insta.

[@openupthecloud]

Hey, I'll get back to you v.soon, if you send me your email, I can add you in quicker !

[@derelictmanchester8745]

Good posting...shreds away all the false guides into neverland jobs...

[@derelictmanchester8745]

Good posting...shreds away all the false guides into neverland jobs...

[@derelictmanchester8745]

Good posting...shreds away all the false guides into neverland jobs...