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The business world has moved to the cloud. Recent statistics show that 90 percent of organizations now rely on cloud computing to some degree to support their operations. As a result, most businesses have also come to rely heavily on the technology professionals who design, deploy, and support cloud computing platforms.
Michael Gibbs, CEO of Go Cloud Careers, is on a mission to make sure that businesses have the cloud talent they need. His organization trains students for cloud careers with a unique program that provides what Michael refers to as “certification plus.”
“The type of training that we provide would normally cost $25,000 to $50,000 because it goes beyond teaching the critical technology skills for the cloud architect — the skills that the average certification provides — to give students what they need to also be a business leader,” Michael says. “Yes, we teach cloud computing. We teach architecture. But we also teach soft skills and business acumen. We teach CXO relevance. We teach people how to have executive presence and how to deliver presentations. We teach the student how to do an ROI model. We teach the student how to sell. We teach the student how to write, how to present, and of course how to negotiate.”
This “certification plus” approach has been extremely effective for the students that have gone through the Go Cloud Careers training program. It has been proven to provide a competitive edge in a competitive field, resulting in an incredibly high percentage of Go Cloud’s students who complete all program requirements securing six-figure jobs.
“Other cloud training programs offer students a 20-or-so-hour program, while our program is approximately 500 hours,” Michael explains. “All of the other training courses focus on helping people get certified. We help people get hired. We give them the tools necessary to do it, and we charge what the average cloud architect will make in a single day. We know that what we give them will empower them to secure a job.”
The Go Cloud Program also excels because of the decades of experience that Michael brings to the training space. Several years into his successful career in the technology industry, Michael discovered he loved helping others succeed in tech jobs. After a decade of coaching as a hobby, Michael opened Go Cloud Careers and began providing the elite career guidance that allows his programs, and the students who graduate from it, to stand out in the industry.
In 2022, Michael adapted his successful cloud architect training program to specifically assist those transitioning out of military service. Drawing upon insights received from engaging with the military community, he developed the Helping Our Heroes Get Hired program to leverage skills military personnel learn during their time of service for a successful technology career.
The Helping Our Heroes program also addresses some of the key challenges veterans face when transitioning from military service. For example, Michael found that veterans often struggle transitioning from the traditional ‘command and control’ leadership style employed in the military to something more appropriate for the civilian world. His program teaches alternative leadership styles that lead to success.
“We took the key components of the programs that are getting our graduates hired every day and optimized them for those who have been a part of the military community,” Michael explains. “I believe that everyone who leaves the military should have a wonderful six-figure job waiting for them. That’s why we created this program.”
Working as a cloud architect has become a dream career for many people in the tech space, and the training that Michael provides helps people to make that dream a reality. By giving his students the technical skills as well as the soft skills that contribute to career success, Michael allows his students to become every tech hiring manager’s dream candidate.
“Our focus is 100 percent optimizing the careers of our clients,” Michael says. “Whether someone is just starting out or looking to accelerate their cloud architect career, we want to help them become the stand out candidate who will get the job or get the promotion. We know that certification is not enough for long-term success, which is why we give our students ‘certification plus.’”
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Photo provided by the author.
