I have about 3 years of experience in DevOps. I want to know how easy it is to switch to a dev role? My main concern being the culture of devops work and the pay gap. Devops roles don't pay as much. Any advices? TIA
Not easy.
Learn any programming language (Java , python)
Learn databases (mongo, MySQL)
Learn framework (spring for Java and django etc for python)
Write crud operations
Then you can explore more topics.. like exploring different concepts in programming languages and frameworks
How hard is it to get the recruiters attention? Because since there's not much development experience before?
Pick a framework spring or nodejs or golang, build a full fledged app (backend and frontend), host it somewhere, put the code in GitHub with an air tight readme and docs, so a newbie can set it up and run. This is a proof you can code.
Whitewash your LinkedIn and resume, re-word each line to looks as a developer, use starting phrases like "Built", "Spearheaded", "Designed". This will make you appear on filters of recruiters on LinkedIn.
Replace "devops" with "platform engineer", this will pull recruiters, founders, managers.
Start learning data structures and algo and keep solving leetcode everyday until you land a SDE role. This will help you crack interviews.
Devops pays less than devs. How did you conclude that? From what I've seen, for the same band, they're in the same payrange
I've worked at 2 different companies. It's the same. Unless you are exceptionally good, devops generally pays lesser.
It's same even in the company you are from @WorstVista . DevOps engineers / SREs / infra engineers are paid less than backend since we guys aren't revenue generating for company
Go with Frontend. It is easier to get started compared to backend. Although to master it is a time consuming process
HTML/Css
Css framework (Tailwind or anything)
Vanilla JS with DOM (mandatory for concepts). Build atleast one intermediate project without any framework
React Ecosystem or Angular for a FE framework
Build atleast 3-4 real world and convincing projects. No todolist type project
Advanced FE concepts (Read YDKJS and explore React undet the hood)
Drop the ops 🤣
More seriously, you can start by building internal dev tools (perhaps something to ease devops role, e.g. deployment dashboards) before making the switch to a proper dev role.