Building a Better Tech Team Starts with Breaking Stuff First
By George Goodwin
Hiring top tech talent is hard—especially when resumes and interviews don’t tell the full story. Every engineering candidate can talk a big game, but how do you know they’ll actually thrive in your fast-paced, problem-solving culture?
At Brokee, we believe there's a better way to find out: let them break stuff first.
This might sound chaotic—but it's not. It's the smartest, most practical way to discover how engineers really think, work, and solve problems. Here’s how breaking things (strategically) builds a stronger tech team—and how Brokee can help you do it right.
Why Traditional Hiring Methods Just Don’t Work Anymore
Resumes Are Outdated
A resume tells you what someone did—but not how they did it or if they were any good at it. Candidates can list buzzwords, past jobs, and degrees, but none of that guarantees they’ll be a fit for your tech stack, your pace, or your team culture.
Interviews Are Performances
Even the best technical interviews can turn into scripted performances. Candidates rehearse answers, memorize whiteboard problems, and get coached on what to say. You're not hiring a good test-taker—you’re hiring a builder, a debugger, a problem-solver.
What Is the "Break Stuff First" Approach?
At Brokee, we flip the hiring process on its head.
Instead of relying on interviews or take-home tests, we drop candidates into real, broken systems—the kind of buggy, messy, half-working tech environments your engineers actually deal with day-to-day.
Then we sit back and watch. How do they approach the problem? What do they prioritize? How do they communicate? Do they panic or dive in?
This tells you more in a few hours than three rounds of interviews ever could.
How Brokee Helps You Build a Stronger Engineering Team
1. Real Work, Real Results
With Brokee, candidates work on authentic problems pulled from actual codebases—not simplified toy problems. This gives hiring managers direct insight into how candidates will perform in the real world.
2. Less Guessing, More Doing
We move beyond hypotheticals and observe engineers doing what they were hired to do: debug, build, test, and iterate. No guesswork. Just real proof.
3. Unbiased and Fair
Our challenges are designed to be inclusive. We don’t favor fast talkers or resume-polishers—we focus on skills, thinking, and how candidates actually work.
4. Save Time and Hire Better
Brokee cuts down your time-to-hire by giving you high-signal data early in the process. That means fewer interviews and faster decisions—with more confidence that your new hire will hit the ground running.
Real-World Scenarios, Not Theoretical Tests
We’ve seen top engineers shine not because they aced an interview, but because they calmly untangled a nasty circular dependency or rebuilt a broken microservice on the fly.
This is what Brokee’s method is all about—giving hiring managers real evidence of real problem-solving.
How to Get Started with Brokee
Book a demo: We'll show you how our platform works and how it fits into your hiring flow.
Customize your challenge: Choose from a library of pre-built broken systems or bring your own.
Invite candidates: Watch how they work, not just what they say.
Hire with confidence: Make faster, smarter hiring decisions with real-world proof of skill.
Key Takeaways
Resumes and interviews don’t show how engineers really work.
Brokee puts candidates in real broken systems to test how they solve problems.
It’s faster, fairer, and more accurate than traditional hiring.
Hiring managers can see skill in action—not just words on paper.
Building a better tech team starts with breaking stuff first.
FAQs about Building a Better Tech Team Starts with Breaking Stuff First
Why does "breaking stuff first" lead to better tech hires?
It lets you see how engineers handle real problems under pressure. You’re hiring for problem-solving, not just knowledge.
Is this approach only for senior developers?
No! Brokee challenges can be customized for any level—from junior to senior engineers—based on what skills you're evaluating.
How does this help with diversity in hiring?
Brokee reduces bias by focusing on how someone works, not where they’ve worked or what school they went to.
What types of broken systems does Brokee use?
We use real-world scenarios based on common bugs, performance issues, architectural flaws, and more. You can also upload your own codebase challenges.
FAQs About Brokee
What is Brokee?
Brokee is a hiring platform that helps tech companies assess candidates by watching them fix real broken systems, instead of relying on resumes or interviews.
Who is Brokee for?
Brokee is perfect for hiring managers, CTOs, and recruiters looking to hire software engineers with real problem-solving skills—not just polished resumes.
Can I use Brokee with my existing hiring process?
Absolutely. Brokee can replace or enhance your current technical assessment phase. It integrates smoothly with your existing tools.
How do I try Brokee?
You can book a free demo to see how Brokee works and try out a sample challenge.
Ready to Hire Engineers Who Can Actually Solve Problems?
Don’t waste time on flashy resumes and rehearsed interviews. With Brokee, you get to see real skills in real time.
👉 Contact us and start building a better tech team—by breaking stuff first.
Why Speed and Skill Matter: Redefining DevOps Hiring in 2025
By George Goodwin
The tech hiring landscape is shifting fast. In 2025, DevOps hiring isn’t just about resumes or job boards anymore—speed and skill have taken the front seat. With product cycles shrinking, cloud infrastructures evolving, and AI integration becoming the norm, companies can’t afford to spend months finding the “perfect” candidate. They need people who can build, test, deploy—and do it now.
Let’s break down what’s changing in DevOps hiring, why it matters more than ever, and how businesses (and engineers) can adapt quickly.
Why Speed Matters in DevOps Hiring
Speed in hiring isn't about rushing—it's about being responsive to change. Traditional hiring pipelines can take 6–12 weeks. In DevOps? That’s an eternity.
The Problem with Slow Hiring
Great engineers get hired within days, not weeks.
Delays increase costs and project downtime.
Teams are forced to cover the gap, hurting morale and velocity.
As one CTO recently told me, “We missed out on a fantastic DevOps engineer because our process took too long. She had three offers before we even finished interviews.”
Fast Doesn’t Mean Careless
Modern hiring is about precision, not panic. With tools and platforms like Brokee, companies can now assess skill and cultural fit within hours—not weeks.
Why Skill is the New Resume
Let’s face it—resumes don’t always tell the whole story. DevOps roles are practical, and hiring should be too.
Real Skills > Buzzwords
In 2025, we’re seeing a shift toward project-based assessments, live challenges, and peer-reviewed portfolios. Platforms like Brokee help engineers show what they can do, not just tell.
“Portfolios and practical challenges are the new gatekeepers in DevOps hiring. We want to see engineers solve real-world problems before we hire them.”
— Hiring Manager, Top Cloud Security Firm
What Skills Are in High Demand?
CI/CD pipeline management
Kubernetes and containerization
Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Monitoring and incident response
Automation using Python, Go, or Bash
These are just table stakes. The real skill is being able to collaborate under pressure.
About Brokee: Helping Engineers Stand Out
Brokee is an engineer-first platform helping DevOps professionals showcase their skills beyond the traditional CV. We help companies hire smarter, faster, and fairer—without the noise of outdated hiring practices.
Engineers get a space to build a real portfolio.
Recruiters and hiring managers can filter by practical skills, not just job titles.
Results? Faster hires and better fit.
“Brokee helped us reduce our time-to-hire by 70% while improving candidate quality. It’s a game changer.”
— George Goodwin, Innovar Marketing Agency
Redefining DevOps Hiring: Key Takeaways
Speed wins. Top DevOps engineers get hired within days, not weeks.
Skills speak louder than resumes. Use real-world projects and challenges to vet talent.
Platforms like Brokee are reshaping the hiring process for both engineers and employers.
Modern DevOps hiring is all about agility, not formality.
FAQs About Why Speed and Skill Matter: Redefining DevOps Hiring in 2025
What is the biggest challenge in DevOps hiring today?
Finding engineers who are immediately ready to contribute. Traditional interviews don’t always reveal practical skill or team fit.
How can companies speed up their DevOps hiring process?
Use platforms like Brokee to assess skills early, cut unnecessary interview rounds, and streamline feedback loops.
What skills should I focus on to get hired in DevOps?
Focus on automation, container orchestration, monitoring, and cloud-native development. Just as importantly, demonstrate your skills in action.
Why are speed and skill so important in 2025?
Because the tech world moves fast—and companies need engineers who can keep up without months of onboarding.
Is Brokee just for developers?
Nope! Brokee is built for engineers across the DevOps lifecycle—from SREs to platform engineers to automation experts.
Final Thoughts
If you’re hiring in 2025, don’t rely on resumes or slow processes. Focus on what engineers can do, not just what they say they’ve done. And if you're an engineer? Build a portfolio and show your value—before the interview even starts.
“In DevOps, speed and skill are everything. The companies who hire fast and smart will win.”
— George Goodwin
Are you ready to hire faster and smarter in 2025?
Visit Brokee today and discover how we’re helping companies and engineers redefine DevOps hiring—one skill at a time.
Inside the Chaos: How Broken Systems Reveal the Best Engineers
When systems fall apart, most people panic. But the best engineers? They lean in.
There’s a common belief that good engineers build great things. But truly great engineers? They shine when things break. In this blog post, we’ll explore how broken systems offer a unique lens for spotting engineering talent—and how platforms like Brokee are helping engineers prove their worth, not just in interviews, but through real-world problem solving.
Why Broken Systems Are the Ultimate Test
Anyone Can Code in Comfort
In a perfect world, where systems are well-documented and APIs behave, engineers can glide through tasks. But real-world engineering is messy. It involves:
Legacy code
Confusing documentation
Missing error logs
Unexpected edge cases
This is where chaos comes in—and it’s in this mess that the best engineers stand out.
Broken Systems Expose Real Problem-Solving Skills
When systems break, engineers are forced to ask:
What’s really going on under the hood?
How can I troubleshoot this without clear direction?
How do I fix it without making it worse?
There’s no script. No Stack Overflow thread with the exact answer. Just an engineer, their brain, and a whole lot of uncertainty. That’s where mastery is revealed.
Traits That Shine in the Chaos
Critical Thinking
Top engineers look beyond symptoms. They dive deep, connect dots, and challenge assumptions.
Resourcefulness
They know where to dig, who to ask, and what tools to use. Whether it’s reading logs, tracing API calls, or reverse engineering code—they figure it out.
Communication
In broken systems, everything is on fire. Great engineers know how to explain problems and propose fixes in clear, non-technical language to teammates, PMs, and execs.
Grit
They don’t give up when the debugger fails. They dig deeper. They stay curious, calm, and determined.
Why Interviews Miss This Completely
Most interviews don’t show how engineers handle chaos. They test for:
Whiteboard problems
Pattern recognition
But they rarely simulate real-world mess. So engineers who are great at interviews may not always be great at debugging a critical outage on a Friday night.
How Brokee Helps Engineers Prove Their True Value
What is Brokee?
Brokee is a platform that gives engineers a chance to shine beyond the interview. Instead of just testing for textbook skills, Brokee puts engineers in real, broken scenarios. Think:
Buggy codebases
Systems without documentation
Products mid-failure
Engineers are scored on how well they troubleshoot, prioritize, and communicate—exactly the kind of skills teams actually need.
Why This Matters for Hiring Teams
Hiring a top-tier engineer isn’t about who can solve a puzzle. It’s about who can solve your problems. Brokee helps hiring teams:
Spot engineers with real-world resilience
Identify talent who can handle high-stress situations
Build teams that thrive in fast-moving, high-stakes environments
And for engineers, it’s a chance to say, “Here’s what I can do when it really matters.”
Actionable Takeaways
For Engineering Leaders
Stop relying solely on interviews. Simulate chaos to see who thrives.
Create internal challenge projects that mirror real system failures.
Use platforms like Brokee to find engineers who do more than code—they lead through problems.
For Engineers
Embrace broken systems—they’re your best training ground.
Document your problem-solving process. It tells a better story than your résumé.
Use tools like Brokee to showcase your skills in action, not just in theory.
Key Takeaways
Broken systems reveal true engineering talent—they test real-world problem-solving, not just theory.
Top engineers thrive in chaos, showing grit, resourcefulness, and clear communication.
Traditional interviews miss the mark when it comes to evaluating how someone performs under pressure.
Brokee.io helps engineers prove their value by simulating broken environments that reflect real challenges.
Hiring teams can make smarter decisions by evaluating engineers in realistic conditions—not just code quizzes.
FAQs about Inside the Chaos: How Broken Systems Reveal the Best Engineers
Why do broken systems reveal strong engineering skills?
Because they push engineers to go beyond syntax and textbook logic. Troubleshooting real, messy problems shows how engineers think, adapt, and communicate under pressure.
Can engineers really stand out through failure?
Absolutely. Great engineers aren’t the ones who avoid failure—they’re the ones who respond to it with clear thinking and creative solutions.
How can hiring teams test engineers in chaotic environments?
They can use challenge platforms like Brokee.io, simulate real incidents, or assign live debugging sessions as part of the interview process.
Show What You’re Made Of
Engineers – Want to prove your value where it counts?
👉 Sign up on Brokee and show how you handle real-world challenges.
Hiring managers and tech leads – Ready to build a team that thrives under pressure?
💡 Partner with Brokee and discover the engineers who turn chaos into progress.
Beyond the Interview: How Brokee Helps Engineers Showcase Their True Value
By George Goodwin
Tired of Interviews That Don’t Show What You Can Really Do?
Let’s face it—technical interviews can be awkward. Whether you’re answering textbook questions, solving algorithm puzzles that never show up on the job, or fumbling through take-home tests with no feedback… it’s not always a fair shot.
That’s where Brokee comes in.
Brokee is flipping the script on traditional hiring with live, broken environments that let engineers show what they actually know. Instead of talking about their skills, engineers get to prove their value by solving real-world issues—just like they would on the job.
Let’s break down how Brokee is helping engineers shine beyond the interview.
What Is Brokee?
Brokee is a platform built by engineers—for engineers.
It was founded by Maksym Lushpenko, a frustrated Cloud Engineer who was tired of the same broken hiring process. He created Brokee to help hiring teams evaluate real skills, not just resumes or rehearsed answers.
The Concept Is Simple And Brilliant
Give engineers a broken system
Watch how they fix it
Hire the ones who can
Every challenge is designed by senior System Engineers who know what it’s like to be on-call at 2 AM trying to fix a crashing website. These tests reflect the real-world chaos engineers deal with every day.
“When a website goes down, theory won’t save it. Practical skills will.”— Brokee Team
How Brokee Helps Engineers Show Their True Value
1. No More Fluff—Just Skills
Brokee doesn’t care where you went to school or how polished your GitHub is. What matters is whether you can solve real infrastructure problems in real time.
2. Live, Broken Environments = Real-World Pressure
These aren’t simulated quizzes or pre-recorded demos. Engineers are dropped into actual broken systems and expected to troubleshoot their way out—just like in a real job.
3. Evaluations Built by Real Engineers
All Brokee assessments are created and tested by experienced engineers who’ve been in the trenches. That means every task reflects actual DevOps work.
4. No More Take-Home Tests That Waste Time
Brokee challenges are built for efficiency. Candidates can complete a practical evaluation that gives hiring teams real insight—without wasting hours on assignments that go nowhere.
5. An Empowering Experience for Candidates
For engineers, Brokee is more than a test—it’s a platform to showcase your value. You walk away knowing you were evaluated fairly, and that your skills spoke louder than a resume ever could.
Brokee’s Bigger Purpose
Not only is Brokee revolutionizing how engineers get hired—it’s also making a difference in the world. As a Ukrainian-led company, Brokee actively supports Ukraine’s tech community with education, donations, and platform access.
“We don’t just build a better way to hire—we stand for something bigger.” — Brokee Team
✨Key Takeaways
Brokee replaces outdated technical interviews with real, broken environments
Engineers are evaluated based on practical, job-ready skills
Hiring managers get faster, clearer insights into candidate capabilities
The platform empowers engineers to prove their value—beyond the interview
FAQs about Beyond the Interview: How Brokee Helps Engineers Showcase Their True Value
What is Brokee?
Brokee is a technical assessment platform that tests engineers using live, broken systems to simulate real-world scenarios.
How does Brokee help engineers?
It gives engineers a platform to showcase their hands-on skills and problem-solving ability in realistic environments—offering a better alternative to traditional interviews.
What makes Brokee better than take-home tests?
Take-home tests often don’t reflect real work and can waste time. Brokee challenges are efficient, job-focused, and designed by actual engineers.
Is Brokee only for DevOps roles?
Currently, Brokee is focused on DevOps and System Engineering roles, but its core concept can be applied to many technical areas.
Who founded Brokee?
Brokee was founded by Maksym Lushpenko, a Cloud Engineer who wanted to fix the broken hiring process.
Ready to Go Beyond the Interview?
Whether you're an engineer tired of being misjudged or a hiring manager looking for top talent, Brokee offers a smarter, more practical way to assess technical skills.
👉 Visit Brokee’s website to learn more.
👉 Get in touch with Brokee if you want high-impact content like this for your brand.
How Brokee Helps Startups & Enterprises Scale Their DevOps Teams Fast
By George Goodwin
Introduction: The DevOps Hiring Challenge
Hiring DevOps engineers is one of the biggest challenges for startups and enterprises alike. Finding the right talent with real-world problem-solving skills can be time-consuming, expensive, and frustrating. Many companies rely on traditional hiring methods like resumes, coding tests, or take-home assignments, but these approaches don’t always reveal how well a candidate can handle real system failures under pressure.
That’s where Brokee comes in. Designed to help businesses scale their DevOps teams faster and smarter, Brokee’s hands-on, real-world technical assessments take the guesswork out of hiring.
The Problem with Traditional DevOps Hiring
Why Startups Struggle to Hire DevOps Engineers
Startups often face tight deadlines and limited budgets, making it essential to hire the right DevOps engineers quickly. However, traditional hiring processes slow things down because:
Resumes don’t prove real-world skills – Just because someone has experience on paper doesn’t mean they can troubleshoot live issues.
Take-home tests are inefficient – Candidates can get outside help, and reviewing submissions takes valuable time.
Interviews don’t reflect actual job challenges – Answering theoretical questions doesn’t show how someone would respond in an actual system failure.
Why Enterprises Need a Better Hiring Process
Larger businesses may have established hiring pipelines, but they still face challenges:
High volume of applicants – Filtering out unqualified candidates can be overwhelming.
Costly hiring mistakes – A bad DevOps hire can slow down workflows, cause downtime, and hurt productivity.
Inconsistent skill assessment – Different interviewers may evaluate candidates differently, leading to inconsistent hiring decisions.
How Brokee Helps Businesses Scale DevOps Teams Fast
Brokee provides a faster, more effective way to hire DevOps engineers by using real-world testing environments that accurately measure a candidate’s ability to diagnose and fix live system issues.
1. Hands-On Testing with Live, Broken Environments
Unlike traditional hiring methods, Brokee places candidates in actual DevOps scenarios where they must troubleshoot live failures—just like they would in a real job.
✅ See real problem-solving skills in action
✅ Test practical knowledge, not just theory
✅ Ensure candidates can handle high-pressure situations
2. Faster Hiring with Automated Evaluations
Brokee’s platform automatically evaluates how candidates perform in real-world scenarios, helping businesses:
✅ Filter out unqualified candidates quickly
✅ Reduce interview time by up to 50%
✅ Hire the right engineers 3X faster
3. Scalable Solution for Startups & Enterprises
Whether you’re hiring your first DevOps engineer or scaling a global team, Brokee adapts to your needs:
For startups – Quickly identify top talent without wasting time on weak candidates.
For enterprises – Standardize hiring across multiple teams with consistent skill evaluations.
4. Built by Engineers, for Engineers
Brokee was created by Maksym Lushpenko, a frustrated Cloud Engineer who saw firsthand how broken traditional hiring methods were. That’s why Brokee’s tests are designed by senior system engineers, ensuring they truly reflect real-world job demands.
Why Businesses Trust Brokee
🚀 3X faster hiring – No more weeks of back-and-forth interviews.
💰 Save on hiring costs – Reduce bad hires that cost businesses thousands.
🔧 Accurate skill assessment – Know if a candidate can do the job before hiring them.
Key Takeaways
Traditional DevOps hiring methods, such as resumes and theoretical interviews, often fail to assess real-world skills.
Brokee provides hands-on, real-world testing to evaluate candidates’ problem-solving abilities in live environments.
The platform helps businesses hire 3X faster, reducing hiring costs and improving efficiency.
Automated evaluations ensure that only the most qualified candidates move forward in the hiring process.
Startups and enterprises alike benefit from Brokee’s scalable hiring solution that adapts to different team sizes and needs.
Created by experienced engineers, Brokee ensures accurate skill assessment, leading to better hiring decisions and stronger DevOps teams.
FAQs about How Brokee Helps Startups & Enterprises Scale Their DevOps Teams Fast
1. How does Brokee’s hiring process work?
Brokee creates real-world, broken environments where candidates must diagnose and fix DevOps issues. Their performance is evaluated automatically, helping companies hire faster and with more confidence.
2. How does Brokee save time for hiring managers?
By automating the technical evaluation process, Brokee filters out unqualified candidates before the interview stage, reducing time spent on weak applicants.
3. Can Brokee be used for remote hiring?
Yes! Brokee’s platform is 100% remote, making it perfect for companies hiring globally.
4. What types of DevOps skills does Brokee test for?
Brokee evaluates a range of skills, including system troubleshooting, cloud management, automation, CI/CD, and security best practices.
5. How does Brokee help startups hire their first DevOps engineer?
Startups often lack the technical expertise to assess candidates properly. Brokee provides an objective, skill-based assessment, ensuring they hire the right talent without needing an in-house DevOps expert.
FAQs About Brokee as a Business
1. What is Brokee?
Brokee is a technical assessment platform designed to help companies hire DevOps engineers faster by testing candidates in real-world problem-solving scenarios.
2. Who founded Brokee?
Brokee was founded by Maksym Lushpenko, a Cloud Engineer who was frustrated with traditional hiring processes.
3. What makes Brokee different from other assessment platforms?
Unlike other platforms that use multiple-choice or take-home tests, Brokee simulates real DevOps challenges, allowing companies to see how candidates perform in actual job situations.
4. What industries can use Brokee?
Any business looking to hire DevOps engineers can benefit from Brokee, including startups, enterprises, and tech companies across various industries.
5. How can I get started with Brokee?
Visit Brokee’s website to learn more and start hiring smarter today!
Conclusion: Scale Your DevOps Team the Smart Way
Hiring the right DevOps engineers shouldn’t be a gamble. With Brokee’s real-world assessments, you can build a strong, capable DevOps team quickly and efficiently—without wasting time on bad hires.
🚀 Want to hire better engineers, faster? Contact Brokee today!
Why Practical Experience Matters More Than Certifications in DevOps Hiring
Introduction
The debate between experience and certifications in DevOps hiring is ongoing. While certifications prove theoretical knowledge, hands-on experience often carries more weight in real-world problem-solving. This blog explores why practical experience is more valuable than certifications when hiring DevOps professionals and how it impacts hiring decisions.
Perception and Certifications: The "Customer's" View
Certifications provide credibility, reassuring customers and stakeholders that a DevOps engineer has met industry standards. However, they don’t always guarantee the ability to handle real-world complexities. Many organizations prioritize certified professionals for compliance reasons, but in practice, experience is what truly drives efficiency and problem-solving.
Employers must balance external perceptions with actual job performance. While certifications can be impressive on a resume, they should not be the primary factor in hiring decisions.
DevOps - Degree or Certification?
A degree provides a broad foundation, while certifications focus on specific tools like AWS, Kubernetes, and Terraform. However, the real test of a DevOps engineer is their ability to automate workflows, troubleshoot systems, and optimize infrastructure. Employers value those who can apply their knowledge rather than just pass an exam.
Instead of relying solely on a degree or certification, DevOps professionals should build a portfolio of hands-on projects showcasing their problem-solving skills.
Why I Don’t Consider Your Certifications During an Interview
Many hiring managers, including myself, don’t weigh certifications heavily during interviews. Why?
Certifications don’t always reflect real-world experience.
DevOps is constantly evolving; adaptability is more important than memorized knowledge.
Practical problem-solving skills and the ability to work in high-pressure environments are key.
Instead, I focus on candidates’ hands-on skills, their experience with troubleshooting, and their approach to solving technical challenges. A real-world example of a past project, debugging an infrastructure issue, or automating a workflow tells me far more about a candidate’s ability than a certificate ever could.
Skill and Experience Vs. Certifications
While certifications validate foundational knowledge, they rarely demonstrate proficiency. Real-world experience helps candidates:
Navigate unpredictable system failures.
Develop effective troubleshooting techniques.
Work efficiently in teams under pressure.
Adapt to new technologies on the fly.
Certifications might get candidates an interview, but experience secures the job. A candidate who has built and maintained a CI/CD pipeline in production has a significant advantage over one who has just studied DevOps concepts.
Creativity, Problem-solving, and Critical Thinking
DevOps isn’t just about following best practices—it’s about solving unique problems creatively. Experience fosters:
The ability to think outside the box.
Decision-making in high-pressure situations.
Critical thinking that certifications cannot measure.
A truly skilled DevOps engineer combines technical knowledge with problem-solving and adaptability. Hiring managers look for professionals who can handle unexpected issues and devise innovative solutions rather than those who only know theoretical best practices.
Key Takeaways
Certifications prove theoretical knowledge but don’t guarantee practical skills.
Hands-on experience is essential for troubleshooting and problem-solving in real-world DevOps environments.
Adaptability and continuous learning are more valuable than holding multiple certifications.
Hiring managers prioritize experience over certifications in interviews.
Creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork are crucial for success in DevOps.
A strong DevOps portfolio with real-world projects carries more weight than a certification.
FAQs About Why Practical Experience Matters More Than Certifications in DevOps Hiring
Is it possible to get a DevOps job without certifications?
Yes, many DevOps professionals are hired based on their hands-on experience rather than certifications. Employers value practical problem-solving skills over theoretical knowledge.
Are certifications completely useless in DevOps?
No, certifications can help demonstrate foundational knowledge and commitment to learning, but they should be supplemented with real-world experience. A certification should enhance experience, not replace it.
How can I gain practical DevOps experience?
Working on personal projects, contributing to open-source, and setting up cloud-based environments are great ways to gain hands-on experience. Internships, freelance work, and home lab setups are also effective methods.
What does a hiring manager look for in a DevOps candidate?
Problem-solving skills, real-world troubleshooting experience, adaptability, and teamwork matter more than just certifications. Demonstrating hands-on expertise in automation, cloud infrastructure, and CI/CD pipelines will make a candidate stand out.
FAQs About Innovar Marketing Agency
What services does Innovar Marketing Agency provide?
We specialize in B2B client acquisition, lead generation, and marketing strategy to help businesses grow.
How does Innovar Marketing Agency help businesses?
We use data-driven marketing strategies, automation tools, and industry expertise to generate high-quality leads and drive revenue growth.
How can I contact Innovar Marketing Agency?
Visit our website or reach out via email to learn more about how we can help your business scale.
FAQs About Brokee
What is Brokee?
Brokee is a platform designed to help businesses optimize their operations through automation and data-driven insights.
How does Brokee benefit businesses?
Brokee helps businesses streamline processes, improve efficiency, and make data-backed decisions for better performance and profitability.
Who can use Brokee?
Brokee is ideal for businesses of all sizes looking to enhance their operational workflows and improve overall productivity.
How can I get started with Brokee?
You can visit our website to learn more, sign up for a demo, or contact our team for customized solutions.
Conclusion
While certifications have their place in DevOps, they should never be a substitute for hands-on experience. Practical skills, adaptability, and problem-solving are what truly make a DevOps engineer stand out. If you’re looking to build a strong DevOps career, focus on real-world learning, continuous skill development, and building a portfolio that demonstrates your expertise.
How Brokee is Disrupting the Hiring Process for DevOps & Cloud Engineers
Introduction
Hiring DevOps and cloud engineers has become a major challenge for businesses. The demand for skilled professionals is skyrocketing, but finding the right fit is easier said than done. Traditional hiring processes are slow, expensive, and often fail to deliver the best candidates.
That’s where Brokee comes in. Brokee is shaking up the hiring industry by offering a smarter, more efficient way to connect companies with top DevOps and cloud engineers. Let’s dive into how Brokee is changing the game.
Challenges in Hiring DevOps & Cloud Engineers
1. High Demand and Talent Shortage
The DevOps field is growing fast, and companies are struggling to find experienced engineers. The competition for top talent is fierce, making it hard for businesses to attract and retain the best candidates.
2. Lengthy Hiring Processes
Traditional hiring can take months. Screening resumes, conducting multiple interviews, and negotiating offers slow down the process. By the time a company decides, the best candidates have already taken other jobs.
3. High Costs
Recruiting agencies and job boards charge high fees without guaranteeing results. Small and mid-sized companies often struggle to afford these costs while competing with tech giants for talent.
4. Skills Gap
Many engineers have certifications but lack real-world experience. Hiring managers find it difficult to assess practical DevOps skills, leading to mismatches and poor hiring decisions.
5. Retention Issues
Even after hiring, companies face challenges in keeping their DevOps engineers engaged. High turnover rates mean businesses must constantly restart the hiring cycle.
How Brokee is Changing the Hiring Process
Brokee is transforming how companies find and hire DevOps and cloud engineers. Here’s how:
1. AI-Powered Matching System
Brokee uses advanced AI to match companies with the best candidates based on skills, experience, and culture fit. This eliminates hours of resume screening and speeds up the hiring process.
2. Pre-Vetted Talent Pool
Unlike traditional job boards, Brokee curates a pool of pre-vetted DevOps and cloud engineers. Every candidate is tested on real-world tasks, ensuring they have hands-on experience, not just certifications.
3. Faster Hiring Time
With Brokee, businesses can connect with top engineers in days instead of months. The platform streamlines the hiring process, so companies don’t lose out on top talent.
4. Cost-Effective Hiring
Brokee removes the need for expensive recruiting agencies. Companies pay only for successful hires, making the process budget-friendly.
5. Flexible Hiring Options
Need a full-time DevOps engineer? Looking for a contract-based cloud expert? Brokee offers flexible hiring solutions to match different business needs.
6. Focus on Retention
Brokee doesn’t just help businesses hire engineers—it also ensures they stay. The platform offers career growth resources and mentorship programs to keep DevOps professionals engaged and satisfied.
Dos and Don’ts When Hiring Your First DevOps Engineer
Dos:
✅ Clearly define the skills and experience needed.
✅ Use platforms like Brokee to access pre-vetted candidates.
✅ Test real-world DevOps skills before hiring.
✅ Offer career growth opportunities to retain top talent.
Don’ts:
❌ Don’t rely only on resumes—test candidates with practical tasks.
❌ Don’t rush into hiring without checking culture fit.
❌ Don’t overlook retention strategies—DevOps engineers need career growth.
What You Need to Know About Hiring DevOps Engineers in 2025
The DevOps hiring landscape is constantly evolving. Here’s what businesses should expect in 2025:
Remote Work is Here to Stay – More DevOps engineers prefer remote or hybrid roles.
AI in Hiring – AI-powered hiring tools like Brokee will become the standard.
Emphasis on Automation – Companies will seek DevOps engineers skilled in CI/CD and infrastructure automation.
Increased Focus on Cloud Skills – Cloud expertise will be a must-have for DevOps professionals.
FAQs About How Brokee is Disrupting the Hiring Process for DevOps & Cloud Engineers
1. What makes Brokee different from traditional hiring platforms?
Brokee pre-vets candidates, uses AI-powered matching, and speeds up the hiring process, making it faster and more reliable than traditional job boards.
2. How does Brokee ensure candidates have real-world experience?
Brokee tests engineers on practical DevOps tasks to ensure they have hands-on experience, not just certifications.
3. Can small businesses afford Brokee?
Yes! Brokee is cost-effective and offers pay-for-success pricing, making it accessible for startups and small businesses.
4. Does Brokee help with retention?
Yes, Brokee provides career growth resources and mentorship programs to keep engineers engaged.
5. Can I hire remote DevOps engineers through Brokee?
Absolutely! Brokee connects companies with top remote and on-site DevOps engineers worldwide.
Conclusion
Brokee is revolutionizing the way companies hire DevOps and cloud engineers. By leveraging AI, pre-vetted talent, and a streamlined hiring process, Brokee makes it faster, more cost-effective, and more reliable to find top engineering talent.
If you’re struggling with DevOps hiring, it’s time to try a better way. Check out Brokee and start hiring smarter today!
A Recruiter’s Guide to Evaluating DevOps Candidates Like a Pro
George Goodwin
DevOps is one of the most in-demand skills in the tech industry today. As companies strive for faster software delivery, improved scalability, and enhanced operational efficiency, the need for skilled DevOps engineers is skyrocketing. However, finding and evaluating the right DevOps candidates can be challenging for recruiters.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to assess DevOps professionals effectively. We’ll cover the core tools, essential skills, hiring best practices, and market trends so you can confidently identify top talent.
What is DevOps?
DevOps is a combination of software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) that focuses on automation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The goal is to streamline the software development lifecycle, ensuring rapid and reliable releases.
Key Concepts in DevOps
CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment): Automates code integration and deployment, ensuring frequent and stable software updates.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Uses coding tools like Terraform and Ansible to manage infrastructure instead of manual configurations.
Monitoring and Logging: Tools like Prometheus and Grafana help track system performance and resolve issues proactively.
Automation: Reduces manual tasks using tools like Jenkins and GitLab CI.
Collaboration: Encourages seamless communication between developers, operations teams, and security experts.
Core DevOps Tools and Technologies
Understanding the tools a candidate works with is essential for assessing their expertise. Here are some of the most common DevOps technologies:
Version Control Systems: Git, GitHub, GitLab
CI/CD Tools: Jenkins, CircleCI, Travis CI, GitLab CI
Configuration Management: Ansible, Chef, Puppet
Containerization & Orchestration: Docker, Kubernetes
Cloud Platforms: AWS, Google Cloud, Azure
Infrastructure as Code: Terraform, CloudFormation
Monitoring & Logging: Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack
Scripting Languages: Python, Bash, Go
A Definitive Guide to Hiring an Excellent DevOps Engineer
Hiring a DevOps engineer requires more than just scanning resumes for buzzwords. Companies need professionals who understand automation, cloud computing, and software lifecycle management. Here’s how to find the best candidates:
1. Craft a Clear Job Description
Define the role, expectations, and required technical skills upfront. Be specific about tools, cloud experience, and automation requirements.
2. Expand Your Talent Search
Look beyond job portals like LinkedIn and Indeed. Consider sourcing talent from:
DevOps communities and meetups
GitHub and GitLab repositories
Open-source contributions
3. Use Boolean Search Strings
Widen your candidate pool by using search strings like:
("DevOps Engineer" OR "Site Reliability Engineer" OR SRE OR "Cloud Automation Engineer") AND (Jenkins OR Kubernetes OR Terraform) AND (AWS OR Azure OR Google Cloud)4. Assess Soft Skills
Since DevOps roles require collaboration, candidates should demonstrate strong communication, problem-solving, and adaptability skills.
Skills That You Must Test for a DevOps Engineer Position
Technical expertise is crucial, but evaluating a candidate’s hands-on ability is even more important. Here are the top skills to assess:
1. Scripting & Coding
Candidates should be proficient in languages like Python, Bash, or Go to automate workflows and manage infrastructure.
2. Automation & CI/CD Pipelines
Evaluate their experience with CI/CD tools and their ability to implement automation in software deployment.
3. Cloud Computing
Ensure they have hands-on experience with AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure, including deploying applications in cloud environments.
4. Containers & Orchestration
Knowledge of Docker and Kubernetes is critical for managing scalable applications.
5. Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Test their ability to write Terraform or Ansible scripts to automate infrastructure setup.
6. Monitoring & Security
Assess their familiarity with tools like Prometheus, ELK Stack, and best security practices for cloud environments.
The DevOps Market and Adoption Statistics
The DevOps market is booming, with increasing demand for automation and cloud adoption.
The global DevOps market surpassed $7 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow by 20% from 2022 to 2028.
The U.S. DevOps market is estimated at $3.8 billion, making up 41.4% of the global market.
85% of organizations plan to adopt a cloud strategy by 2025, further driving the demand for skilled DevOps professionals.
FAQs About A Recruiter’s Guide to Evaluating DevOps Candidates Like a Pro
What are the most important skills for a DevOps candidate?
A strong DevOps candidate should have expertise in automation, cloud computing, scripting, containers, and continuous integration/deployment (CI/CD).
Where can I find top DevOps talent?
Look beyond traditional job boards. Consider GitHub, open-source contributions, DevOps meetups, and specialized DevOps communities.
How do I test a DevOps candidate’s practical skills?
Conduct live coding tests, ask them to automate a task, or have them troubleshoot a real-world DevOps scenario.
What is the average salary of a DevOps engineer?
Salaries vary, but experienced DevOps professionals can earn over $200K annually, depending on skills and location.
FAQs About Brokee
What services does Brokee offer?
Brokee specializes in B2B client acquisition, lead generation, and digital marketing strategies to help businesses grow.
How does Brokee help companies scale?
We use data-driven strategies, automation, and personalized outreach to connect businesses with high-quality leads.
Is Brokee suitable for startups?
Absolutely! We help startups accelerate growth by providing cost-effective lead generation and marketing solutions.
How can I contact Brokee?
You can reach out to us through our website or email us at info@brokee.io for more details.
Conclusion
Recruiting DevOps professionals doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By understanding key skills, tools, and hiring best practices, you can streamline your hiring process and secure top-tier DevOps talent. Use Boolean searches, test for practical skills, and leverage alternative sourcing channels to find the best fit for your company.
By following this guide, you’ll be evaluating DevOps candidates like a pro in no time!
Live Technical Assessments: The Future of Hiring System Engineers
By George Goodwin
The landscape of hiring system engineers is changing rapidly, and traditional recruitment methods are often no longer enough to identify the right talent. Technical assessments, specifically live ones, are becoming a game-changer in how companies evaluate potential hires. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the importance of technical assessments in engineering recruitment and explore how they’re shaping the future of hiring.
The Significance of Technical Assessments in Engineering Recruitment
Hiring system engineers has always been challenging, but technical assessments bring an entirely new level of precision to the process. Resumes alone can’t provide the full picture of a candidate’s capabilities. Live technical assessments offer a chance to evaluate real-world problem-solving skills, technical proficiency, and the ability to adapt to new challenges. These assessments allow companies to:
Ensure Skills Alignment: Technical assessments help ensure that candidates possess the specific skills required for the role, from coding to troubleshooting.
Validate Qualifications: With these assessments, companies can confirm the accuracy of the qualifications listed on a resume and check if the candidate truly understands the tools they claim to know.
Predict Job Performance: By assessing candidates in a real-time setting, companies can gain insight into how well a candidate might perform on the job.
Preparing for Technical Assessments in Engineering
If you’re a job seeker looking to ace your next technical assessment, preparation is key. Here’s how you can get ready:
Review Key Concepts and Projects: Brush up on the fundamentals—coding, algorithms, system design, and problem-solving. Consider revisiting past projects to discuss your process clearly.
Practice Problem-Solving: Use coding platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to practice solving problems quickly. This will help you become familiar with time constraints and improve your critical thinking under pressure.
Mock Interviews: Simulate the real experience by practicing mock interviews with peers or mentors. The more you practice, the more comfortable and confident you’ll be in the actual assessment.
Understanding the Purpose of Technical Assessments
You might be wondering, “Why do companies conduct these live technical assessments?” The simple answer is—they provide a more accurate, hands-on evaluation of a candidate's abilities. Let’s break it down:
Objective Evaluation: Traditional interviews often rely on subjective impressions, but technical assessments use clear, measurable criteria. This helps companies avoid biases and hire based on merit alone.
Real-Time Problem Solving: During live assessments, you get to demonstrate how you tackle complex issues on the fly. Companies can see how you approach coding challenges, troubleshoot errors, and manage your time.
Better Fit: These assessments not only test technical skills but also show how well you fit within the company culture. Employers want engineers who can collaborate and adapt, and live assessments give them the opportunity to observe this in action.
Why Conduct Technical Assessments When Hiring Software Developers?
The traditional hiring process—scanning resumes and conducting interviews—just isn’t enough to fully understand a developer’s capabilities. Here’s why technical assessments have become so important in the hiring process:
Traditional Interviewing Process: The Limits
While resumes provide a good snapshot of a candidate's background, they don’t reveal how someone actually performs in a real-world setting. The standard interview focuses on theory and past experiences, but it often overlooks whether a candidate can solve the specific problems the company is facing.
Enter Live Technical Assessments
Live technical assessments focus on actual problem-solving skills. This means candidates can demonstrate how they think on their feet, work through technical challenges, and use their knowledge to deliver real solutions. By conducting live assessments, companies get to observe candidates in action, which significantly reduces the risk of hiring the wrong person.
The Future of System Engineer Hiring: Live Technical Assessments
As the demand for skilled system engineers continues to grow, traditional methods will no longer suffice. Live technical assessments are not only more efficient but also more effective at identifying the best candidates. Let’s look at how this will shape the future:
Faster Hiring Process: Live technical assessments allow recruiters to quickly see if a candidate has the necessary skills, cutting down on the time spent evaluating resumes and conducting lengthy interviews.
Improved Hiring Quality: By focusing on actual performance rather than theoretical knowledge, companies will be able to hire engineers who can truly deliver.
More Inclusive Hiring Practices: These assessments level the playing field, ensuring that candidates are judged based on their skills and abilities, not their background or how well they perform in a traditional interview setting.
FAQs About Live Technical Assessments: The Future of Hiring System Engineers
What are live technical assessments?
Live technical assessments are real-time, hands-on tests used during the hiring process to evaluate a candidate’s technical abilities. They usually involve solving coding problems, system design tasks, or troubleshooting exercises in a time-constrained environment, allowing employers to see how candidates think and solve problems.
How do live technical assessments improve hiring?
These assessments give recruiters a clearer picture of a candidate’s actual skills. Unlike traditional interviews, which may focus on theoretical knowledge, live assessments focus on practical abilities, helping employers make more informed hiring decisions.
What types of assessments are used?
Common live technical assessments include coding challenges, system design exercises, and troubleshooting tasks. These tests simulate real-world problems that system engineers will likely face on the job.
How can I prepare for live technical assessments?
Preparation involves practicing coding problems, studying key technical concepts (like algorithms and data structures), and doing mock interviews. The more you practice, the better you’ll be at solving problems under pressure.
Why is Brokee a great choice for recruitment?
At Brokee, we specialize in streamlining the recruitment process for tech companies by offering advanced technical assessments. Our platform ensures that you get the right talent, quickly, with comprehensive assessments that test real-world skills in an objective, fair, and unbiased way.
In conclusion, live technical assessments are revolutionizing the way system engineers are hired. By focusing on practical problem-solving abilities, these assessments provide both companies and candidates with a more effective, accurate, and efficient hiring experience. As the demand for skilled system engineers continues to grow, embracing live assessments will be essential to staying ahead in this competitive market.
Skills Over Resumes: How to Assess Real-World DevOps Talent
Introduction
Resumes might tell you where a candidate has worked, but they don’t always reveal how well they can actually perform in a real-world DevOps environment. In today’s fast-moving tech landscape, hiring DevOps engineers based on skills rather than just job titles or degrees is the smarter approach.
This blog post will guide you on assessing real-world DevOps talent beyond the traditional resume. We’ll explore the essential skills, practical assessments, and strategies for identifying the right DevOps engineers for your team.
Why Skills Matter More Than Resumes
A resume lists qualifications, but it doesn’t measure hands-on expertise. DevOps is a highly technical field that requires problem-solving, collaboration, and automation skills. When hiring a DevOps engineer, focusing on real-world capabilities ensures you get a candidate who can thrive in a dynamic environment.
Key Skills Every DevOps Engineer Needs
1. Automation and Scripting
A strong DevOps engineer must be proficient in automation tools like Ansible, Terraform, and Kubernetes. Scripting knowledge in languages such as Python, Bash, or PowerShell is essential for writing infrastructure-as-code and automating repetitive tasks.
2. CI/CD Pipelines
Understanding Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines is crucial for delivering reliable software quickly. DevOps professionals should be skilled in Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or CircleCI to streamline software development and deployment.
3. Cloud Platforms
With most businesses moving to the cloud, experience with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud is a must. A skilled DevOps engineer knows how to manage cloud resources efficiently and securely.
4. Containerization and Orchestration
Containers, especially Docker and Kubernetes, have revolutionized software deployment. Candidates should be able to build, deploy, and manage containerized applications effectively.
5. Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Managing infrastructure through code ensures consistency and scalability. Familiarity with Terraform, CloudFormation, or Puppet is a major plus.
6. Monitoring and Logging
Real-time monitoring tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and ELK Stack help keep systems healthy. A DevOps engineer must be skilled in setting up and managing these tools.
7. Security Best Practices
Security should be integrated into every step of the DevOps lifecycle. Engineers must understand secrets management, secure coding practices, and compliance frameworks like SOC 2 or ISO 27001.
8. Collaboration and Communication
DevOps is as much about people as it is about technology. Engineers need strong collaboration skills to work effectively with development, operations, and security teams.
9. Problem-Solving and Adaptability
Things go wrong in tech—often. DevOps professionals need to be able to troubleshoot quickly and adapt to new technologies and workflows as they emerge.
How to Assess Real-World DevOps Skills
1. Practical Coding Challenges
Give candidates real-world problems to solve using automation scripts, CI/CD pipelines, or infrastructure as code.
2. Hands-on Labs or Take-Home Assignments
Set up a cloud environment and have them deploy a simple application, troubleshoot an issue, or set up monitoring.
3. Live Technical Interviews
Instead of just talking theory, have candidates share their screens and walk through a DevOps scenario in real-time.
4. Scenario-Based Questions
Ask how they would handle a major system failure, automate a repetitive task, or scale a cloud application under heavy load.
5. Open-Source Contributions or Past Projects
Review their GitHub repositories, DevOps blog posts, or open-source contributions to assess their real-world expertise.
FAQs about Skills Over Resumes: How to Assess Real-World DevOps Talent
1. Why is skills-based hiring important in DevOps?
Because DevOps is a hands-on field, real-world skills are more valuable than credentials. A candidate with practical experience can contribute faster and more effectively.
2. What are the best ways to assess DevOps skills?
Live coding challenges, hands-on projects, and reviewing past work (like GitHub repositories) are the best ways to gauge a candidate’s real abilities.
3. What tools should a DevOps engineer know?
Key tools include Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, Ansible, Jenkins, AWS, Azure, Prometheus, and ELK Stack.
4. How can companies test problem-solving skills in DevOps?
Present candidates with real-world issues, such as debugging a failing deployment or optimizing a CI/CD pipeline.
5. How does DevOps hiring differ from traditional IT hiring?
Traditional hiring often relies on degrees and experience, whereas DevOps hiring focuses more on practical, hands-on skills.
FAQs about Brokee
1. What is Brokee?
Brokee is a leading platform that connects businesses with top DevOps talent through a skills-based hiring approach.
2. How does Brokee help companies hire better?
We offer hands-on skill assessments, live coding challenges, and AI-driven talent matching to ensure you hire the best DevOps engineers.
3. What makes Brokee different from traditional hiring platforms?
Unlike resume-based hiring platforms, Brokee focuses on real-world skills, providing companies with proven DevOps talent.
4. Does Brokee support remote hiring?
Yes! We connect businesses with top DevOps engineers worldwide for both remote and on-site roles.
5. How can I sign up for Brokee?
Visit our website, create a company profile, and start assessing top-tier DevOps talent today.
Conclusion
Hiring DevOps talent based on skills rather than resumes leads to stronger, more capable teams. By using real-world assessments, hands-on projects, and practical interviews, businesses can ensure they hire engineers who can perform under pressure. Whether you’re looking for your next DevOps hire or refining your own skills, focusing on hands-on expertise will set you up for success.