Breaking In, Growing Up: 5 Lessons from 5 Years in the Australian IT Industry

After sharing my story in From Overseas to Oz: My IT Journey as an International Student in Australia, I thought it was time to reflect on everything that’s happened since.

Over the past five years, I’ve gone from being an international student trying to find my place in tech to consulting companies on their cloud platforms and applications. It’s been a journey of continuous growth—and one thing’s for sure: the learning never really stops.

This post isn’t about how I got my first job. It’s about what came after. Here are the five biggest lessons I’ve learned working in the Australian tech industry.

1. Keep Learning—Always

I started my career in the world of routers and switches. Back then, my work was hands-on and physical—inspecting sites, preparing network designs, writing requirement documents, and configuring hardware. Fast forward to today, and my day-to-day couldn’t be more different: I work in Agile teams, write infrastructure-as-code, help deploy cloud applications, and spend more time in GitHub than a server room.

When I first entered the Cloud industry in Australia, all I had was an AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification—but no real-world experience. So, the transition felt overwhelming. I had to quickly pick up a wide range of skills: Git, Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation), Linux, CI/CD, Docker, Python, and more.

What helped me through this learning curve:

• Online resources – YouTube tutorials, Udemy courses, blogs, and hands-on labs.

• Supportive mentors – colleagues who took the time to guide and coach me.

I backed up my learning with additional certifications, including the AWS SysOps Associate and AWS SA Professional. I was also lucky to be working in consulting which gave me the opportunity to apply what I learned across different environments and industries, which only accelerated my growth.

Lesson: The tools will change. The tech will evolve. But your ability to learn is your superpower.

2. Mentorship Is a Game-Changer

Looking back, I wouldn’t have made it through those early years without the support of people around me. I spent so much time just trying to keep up—with new technologies, understanding how projects were structured, and learning how to deliver real value to clients. And during that time, my imposter syndrome was real.

Mentorship came in many forms. It was technical coaching, yes—but also people I could bounce ideas off or run things by before presenting them to a wider audience. Sometimes, support is just having that one person you trust to give you honest feedback or reassure you that you’re on the right track.

If you’re just starting out, find that circle—people who push you, support you, and want to see you succeed. And later, be that person for someone else.

Lesson: Having the right support system can make or break your confidence—and your career.

3. Set Goals—and Keep Revisiting Them

I’ve always believed in asking: What’s next?

For me, that usually starts with a 5-year goal. It’s not rigid, but it gives me direction. For example: “I want to move into this role or build expertise in this area”—then I work backwards. What certifications, experiences, or skills do I need to get there?

Life doesn’t always go according to plan, so I set short-term goals too. Whether it’s learning a new tool, improving my communication skills, or simply regaining motivation after a rough patch—short-term goals keep me grounded.

Lesson: Long-term goals give you direction. Short-term ones give you momentum.

4. Personal Branding: Yes, It Really Matters

Before moving to Australia, I had never really come across the concept of personal branding. But it’s something I quickly came to understand—and value—once I entered the industry here.

At its core, personal branding is simply about sharing your work and making your journey visible. It doesn’t have to mean having a huge following or constantly being online. For me, it started quite simply: attending events, volunteering to speak, and gradually putting myself out there. Over time, that turned into writing blog posts, contributing to discussions in the tech community, and eventually co-hosting a podcast with Leah—something I never imagined doing when I first started.

I’m still figuring it out as I go, but I’ve come to appreciate how powerful it can be. Whether it's showcasing a project you’re proud of, sharing a lesson you’ve learned, or just starting a conversation—your voice matters. And the more you share, the more confident you become in your own story.

Lesson: Don’t overthink it. Say yes, show up, and grow into the opportunity.

5. The Quiet Power of Networking

Networking did not come naturally to me. I’m not the chattiest person in the room, and it usually takes me a few interactions to feel comfortable with someone. So, the idea of going up to strangers at tech events or reaching out on LinkedIn felt pretty awkward at first.

But I did it anyway.

I pushed myself to attend events, talk to new people, participate in podcasts—even when I didn’t feel 100% confident. And what I’ve learned is: networking is a skill you build over time. It’s not about being extroverted; it’s about showing up, being curious, and maintaining meaningful connections.

Your network isn’t just about job leads—it’s about learning from others, growing together, and building a support system in an ever-evolving industry.

Lesson: Networking isn’t about being extroverted—it’s about building real, meaningful connections that help you learn and grow.

Final Thoughts

These are just a few of the lessons that have shaped my journey so far—and I know the learning is far from over. The last five years have been filled with challenges, growth, and a lot of figuring things out along the way.

If you're navigating your own path in tech—especially in a new country—I hope this gave you a glimpse of what’s possible. Progress isn’t linear. We all start somewhere, and we all grow in different ways.

Thanks for reading—I'd love to hear what resonated with you or what lessons you’ve picked up on your journey. More to come next time!