How to develop IT skills: practical tools from Google

In the previous article, Askar Aitov from Google for Developers talked about the benefits of IT communities. It's true, being part of a community is important. Now let's move on to practice and talk about specific tools that will help you learn and gain experience.

Published 3 min read

This article is a simple guide to two useful resources from Google, available to everyone in Central Asia, whether you are in Almaty, Tashkent, Bishkek, or any other city.

Askar Aituov, city — Almaty, developer relations manager at Google, LinkedIn

1. Gain systematic knowledge with Google Cloud Skills Boost

If you want to acquire a sought-after IT profession, you need solid foundational knowledge. Google Cloud Skills Boost is a course platform that helps prepare for various cloud specialties.

There are ready-made Learning Paths that lead to a specific goal. You can choose what interests you:

— Cloud Architect: learn to design IT systems for companies
— Data Engineer: learn how to work with big data using tools like BigQuery
— Machine Learning Engineer: start creating AI models using Vertex AI and TensorFlow
— Security Engineer: learn to protect data and systems in the cloud
— and many other tracks, such as for management — Cloud Digital Leader, Responsible AI for leaders, or Gen AI leader.

Each program consists of videos, text, and, most importantly, hands-on labs. You will work in a real Google Cloud environment. Upon successful completion of quests, you earn Skill Badges — digital badges. You can add them to your resume or LinkedIn profile to showcase your skills to employers.

2. Learn by doing: useful Google Codelabs

Knowledge is good, but experience is even better. On the Google for Developers website, there is a Codelabs section. This is a large library of free step-by-step instructions. With their help, you learn by building small but real projects. You write code immediately and see the results.

Try something new: creating AI agents

Currently, one of the most interesting areas in IT is AI agents. These are programs that use artificial intelligence to independently perform complex tasks.

You can try creating such an agent yourself. For example, there is a Codelab called Google's Agent Stack in Action: ADK, A2A, MCP on Google Cloud. In this project, you will assemble a system of several AI agents that work together as one team:

One agent sets the overall task. The second creates a detailed plan. The third analyzes information. The fourth performs actions, such as publishing content.

Working on this project, you will gain practical experience with new technologies and better understand how modern AI systems are built. This is a valuable skill for your future resume.

What to do next

Combining theory from Skills Boost and practice from Codelabs is a great way to quickly develop your skills. There is no need to wait for the right moment — you can start learning today to build your career in IT.

Start your learning path: Google Cloud Skills Boost
Find an interesting project: Google Codelabs
Build your first AI agent: Google's Agent Stack in Action Codelab
Get free access by joining a study group of any GDG in your city or online at gdg.community.dev

Start small, try new things, and gradually move toward your goal.