Maximizing Efficiency in Passing Exams Every 18 Months

Introduction:

Welcome to today’s blog post, where we delve into continuous learning and its challenges, especially when passing exams every 18 months. It’s a journey that many of us can relate to—juggling work, life, and the pursuit of staying up-to-date with the latest certifications. In this post, I’ll share my approach to making the learning experience efficient, drawing from my recent experience preparing for the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure 2023 Certified DevOps Professional exam.

The Pain of Passing Exams Every 18 Months:

Let’s face it; passing exams every 18 months is no walk in the park. It requires dedication, time, and effort. The pressure to stay relevant in your field can be daunting, and it feels like a constant uphill battle for many. But instead of dwelling on the pain, I focus on turning these challenges into opportunities for growth.

Efficiency in Learning:

There’s rarely a surplus of free time in my line of work. Learning must be integrated into meaningful tasks and projects. This constraint has led me to develop strategies for efficient learning, where every exam preparation becomes a chance to practice and acquire new skills.

A Practical Approach:

One of my fundamental beliefs is that it’s not enough to skim the surface of a topic. I thrive on understanding how things work under the hood. This approach is precious when preparing for exams. It’s about going beyond rote memorization and genuinely grasping the subject matter.

My Recent Endeavor: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure 2023 Certified DevOps Professional Exam:

My recent journey toward passing the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure 2023 Certified DevOps Professional exam was challenging. However, I was fortunate to have some prior experience with OCI DevOps Service. In my previous role at Oracle, I co-wrote a Reference Architecture for this service, which gave me a solid foundation.

My Preparation Process:

I embarked on my preparation journey by creating a comprehensive training plan. Starting with an empty project, I worked towards achieving fully automated CI/CD using a Managed Build Stage in the Build Pipeline and a Deployment Pipeline with OKE (Oracle Kubernetes Engine) as the target environment. All the knowledge and practical experience I gained are compiled in a GitHub repository and self-study training that I highly recommend for your self-study.

Expanding Your Knowledge:

While the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure 2023 Certified DevOps Professional exam primarily focuses on DevOps Service, it also covers two other essential technologies: OCI OKE Service and OCI Container Instances. To aid your practical discovery and certification efforts, I’ve crafted two additional courses you can explore.

Utilize Oracle University Resources:

In addition to my resources, I strongly recommend taking advantage of the valuable content available at Oracle University. The video courses they offer are a goldmine of knowledge and insights. Even better, they are free until the end of this month, making it the perfect time to dive in and accelerate your learning.

Conclusion:

Passing exams every 18 months may be a challenging endeavor, but it’s also an opportunity for continuous growth and development. By adopting an efficient learning approach, diving deep into the subject matter, and making the most of available resources, you can pass exams and excel in your chosen field. So, seize the moment, embark on your learning journey, and embrace the power of knowledge.

All Best,

Martin, The Cook.