How to Survive (and Succeed) in Your First 90 Days as a DevOps Engineer

Hello “👋”

Welcome to another week, another opportunity to become a great DevOps and Software Engineer

Today’s issue is brought to you by TheEngineeringLadder→ A great resource for devops and software engineers. We break down career-changing lessons in DevOps and Software Engineering to help you level up fast.

💡 PS: Before we dive into today’s topic, I have something special to share with you...

If you’ve been following TheEngineeringLadder, you know I always talk about one thing —
Proof of skill is more powerful than potential.

And that’s exactly why I created something game-changing for Software and DevOps Engineers who want to stand out in the job market:

The 90-Day Career-Ready Engineer Challenge
A fully practical, build-focused program where you’ll engineer 15 real-world portfolio projects that recruiters, employers, and clients can’t ignore.

This isn’t another “watch and learn” experience.
It’s a build-and-show experience. It’s designed for engineers who are ready to create undeniable EVIDENCE.

Here’s what you’ll get:
✅ 15 projects you can add to your portfolio and resume
✅ Hands-on guidance and accountability for 90 days
✅ Systems you can deploy, document, and showcase internationally
✅ A competitive environment with a prize for the top engineer

Whether you want remote roles, better offers, global visibility, or stronger confidence — this challenge gives you the evidence to make it happen.

🔥 I’m taking only 10 engineers. Once the seats are gone, it’s closed.
Send me a message here if you want in.

Build proof. Build leverage. Build your career.

When most engineers land their first DevOps job, they celebrate.
And rightfully so. You worked hard for it.

But once the excitement fades, reality kicks in.

New tools.
New systems.
New responsibilities.

You’re suddenly surrounded by dashboards, alerts, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code scripts you didn’t write.
And deep down, you start to wonder:

I’ve been there.
And here’s what I’ve learned — the first 90 days can either build your confidence or break it.

1️⃣ Don’t Rush to Prove Yourself

Your instinct will be to “show value fast.”
But in DevOps, speed without context creates chaos.

Instead of rushing to automate everything, spend your first few weeks understanding how the systems actually work.

Ask questions like:
💡 What’s our deployment workflow?
💡 Where are the biggest reliability pain points?
💡 What causes the most alerts?

You can’t fix what you don’t understand.

2️⃣ Document Relentlessly

Every time you learn something new — a command, a process, a setup — write it down.
Documentation is your second brain.
It will save you when incidents hit or senior engineers aren’t around.

Bonus tip: Keep your notes in Notion or Obsidian. You’ll thank yourself later.

3️⃣ Build Relationships Early

DevOps is a team sport.
Your success depends on how well you communicate with developers, QA, and product managers.

You don’t need to know everything — but you need to know who to ask when you don’t.

People trust you faster when you ask clear, humble questions and follow through with action.

4️⃣ Learn the Business, Not Just the Tools

The best DevOps engineers understand why uptime matters.
They know which services drive revenue, and which systems can’t fail.

That awareness turns you from a tool user into a business enabler — and that’s where real career growth starts.

Final Thoughts

Your first 90 days aren’t about proving you’re the smartest person in the room.
They’re about learning, listening, and laying the foundation for reliability.

Take notes.
Ask smart questions.
Understand the “why” behind the “what.”

That’s how you turn your first 90 days into a launchpad for the rest of your career.
PS:
If you’re updating your resume or portfolio this week, check out my new Notion template —
 Resume Mastery for Software & DevOps Engineers.
It helps you turn your experience and projects into clear, measurable impact — the kind recruiters actually remember.