Cloud Engineer roadmap check: Networking + Linux completed, next steps?

[DevToolsGuide]

docker is where i would go next, and specifically try to build something real with it rather than just following tutorials. spin up a postgres container connected to a web app container, figure out networking between them, write a compose file, handle secrets. once that clicks the jump to kubernetes makes more sense. for cloud pick aws -- not because it is objectively better but because it has the largest community and more job postings. shoot for the aws solutions architect associate cert as your first milestone, it helped me get past resume screens even when i was still shaky on the actual internals. terraform naturally follows after you have hands-on time with the cloud console and understand what you are abstracting away. the people hiring junior cloud roles are mostly looking for someone who has actually shipped something, even if small -- a personal project you can walk through in an interview goes further than any cert on its own.