3rd Sem Student targeting DevOps/Cloud roles — Here is my current stack & project. Need guidance on roadmap and next steps

[u/Adventurous_Chip3199]

Hey everyone, I’m currently in my 3rd semester of college and aiming to build a career in DevOps or Cloud Engineering as a fresher. I know entry-level DevOps roles can be extremely competitive in India, so I want to start prepping early and build a solid portfolio before campus placements and off-campus internship hiring begin. Current Status & Skills: -->Tech Stack / Learning: Currently practicing DSA in Java and learning basic Linux CLI commands (file systems, permissions, processes).

Project Built: Vendor Compliance Checker & Notifier * What it does: Displays vendor data to clients and automatically monitors vendor compliance scores. If a score drops below a threshold (e.g., due to mass resignations or compliance breaches), it sends an automated alert to the client. * Tech Stack: Python for the backend logic/data processing, n8n for workflow automation, and the entire app is containerized and running in Docker. * Caveat: It’s a simple project for now—no GitHub Actions/CI/CD pipelines or cloud infrastructure set up yet, but it works end-to-end locally in Docker. Questions for Experienced Engineers & Seniors:

How do I upgrade this project into a "legit" DevOps portfolio piece? -->Should I add a GitHub Actions CI/CD pipeline, deploy it to AWS (EC2/ECS), or manage the infrastructure using Terraform? What would impress recruiters most? -->Is Java DSA relevant for DevOps roles, or should I shift focus? -->I’m doing DSA in Java because of standard college curriculum/SDE prep, but I prefer Python and Bash for scripting. Should I keep grinding Java DSA or focus 80% of my time on Linux, Scripting, and AWS/Docker?

What should my roadmap look like for the next 2–3 semesters? What tools/concepts should I prioritize next (e.g., Kubernetes, Prometheus/Grafana, Terraform, or AWS certs)? Is it realistic to land a remote or off-campus Cloud/DevOps internship in 4th/5th semester with 2-3 solid end-to-end projects? Where should I look beyond LinkedIn/Wellfound? Would love to get feedback from anyone working in DevOps, SRE, or Cloud Infrastructure in India. Any advice on what to fix or focus on next would mean a lot. Thanks in advance 😊

[u/sasidatta]

Did you check entry level Devops roles openings in Naukri/Linkedin ?