My Journey from Developer to DevOps

I’m Muhammad Yaseen, a February 2023 BSCS graduate from COMSATS University Islamabad. My career started during university when I began working as a Desktop Application Developer using Java and MySQL. In my third semester, I also began freelancing and earned my first $10 on Fiverr. That small amount gave me the confidence to continue freelancing, and it helped me support myself financially. However, I soon realized my real interest was in Mobile App Development.

In the sixth semester, when my university offered a Mobile App Development course, I decided to shift away from desktop development and focus entirely on mobile apps. I started learning React Native, taking on small freelance projects and collaborating with others on more complex ones. My goal was always to learn and improve, rather than just making money.

After graduation, I tried to find a job as a Junior React Native Developer but faced challenges due to my high salary expectations. I quickly realized that not everyone gets the same opportunities and that I needed to adjust my approach. After two months, I landed an internship in Web Development (React.js), where I strengthened my skills and began freelancing in web development as well. I taught myself Node.js and worked on full-stack projects, both web and mobile, under the MERN stack.

During my freelancing career, I completed over 150 projects, many of which were international. Some of my best projects are showcased on my GitHub, although some couldn’t be shared due to privacy contracts.

I eventually realized that while freelancing was financially rewarding, I needed professional experience to build a solid career. I took on a remote React Native job, which was going well, but I wanted an in-house role. Unfortunately, the gap in my résumé due to freelancing led to many rejections.

After talking to colleagues and mentors, I was advised to explore DevOps—a field that was growing fast. Although the job market required at least two years of experience even for entry-level roles, I didn’t give up. I applied for a three-month DevOps internship at a multinational company and was surprised to be selected for a test and interview.

Out of many candidates, I topped both the test and interview and was offered the internship. I worked hard during those three months and, by the end, was one of the few selected for a full-time job. This experience taught me that every setback I faced was a step toward something better.

Lesson Learned

Through this journey, I’ve realized that everything happens at the right time. We may face struggles, rejection, and disappointment, but ultimately, the Rizq (provision) Allah has written for us will find its way to us. Our job is to keep trying and trust the process. Allah’s plan is always better than what we imagine, and everything happens when it's meant to.