About
Hi there, I am Ovidiu.
Hello and Welcome! I'm Ovidiu, a self-taught Python programmer and enthusiastic IT professional. My journey in IT began around 1995 when I had my first encounter with a PC. From spending countless hours at internet cafes to visiting friends who had computers at home, my fascination with technology grew. In 1996, I got my own PC, and my excitement led me to an interesting experience—I accidentally deleted the operating system. Determined to fix it, I embarked on a self-taught journey to reinstall the OS, which turned out to be one of my most challenging moments. I felt a mix of excitement and fear because my parents had made a real effort to get that PC for me.
During my teenage years, my friends and I frequently gathered in houses or garages for LAN parties. It was during these gatherings that I found myself taking on the role of the designated system and network administrator. I was responsible for setting up the network and troubleshooting any issues with my friend's PC's. Initially, we had a local network, but as home internet became popular, we started hosting larger and longer LAN parties, ensuring that everyone had access to the internet as well.
But things got even crazier when we decided to go full-blown rebels. We hatched a plan, climbed a pole outside a friend's place, and hooked up a ridiculously long UTP cable to hijack the local internet provider's switch. With a little MAC address magic, we all scored internet access! It was a glorious and hilariously audacious feat, proving that when it came to LAN parties, we weren't just gamers—we were adventure seekers, tech whizzes, and champions of online connectivity!
Although I always aspired to pursue a career in IT, I didn't enroll in a Computer Science University. Instead, I obtained a bachelor's degree in Marketing and Economic Sciences. However, my passion for technology never waned, and I continued to learn and experiment with new technologies.
During my time in college, I secured my first job in Tech Support, which I saw as my entry point into the IT field. Unfortunately, I found the job to be extremely boring, and the opportunities seemed limited. Nevertheless, upon graduating, I had an idea to expand my family's business, online. Combining my knowledge of marketing and IT, I successfully created the company's online store.
In 2018, I founded my own company called Player One Gaming, an online retailer specializing in PC peripherals. I utilized my sharpened marketing, and IT skills to develop the store and establish a strong online presence.
At the beginning of 2023, in March, I made the decision to pursue my dream of working in the IT field and become a DevOps engineer. As part of my preparation, by the end of May 2023, I have already completed two Python courses on Udemy. You can see the projects that I've built so far on my GitHub page. My next steps include refreshing my knowledge of Linux, learning Bash, AWS, CI/CD, Ansible, Terraform, Docker, and Kubernetes.
Overall, my journey reflects an unwavering passion for IT and a continuous drive to learn and adapt to new technologies. Transitioning into a DevOps role aligns perfectly with my background and interests. I am excited to embark on this path and explore the possibilities it holds.
Skills
“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.”
Lao Tzu
Resume
“The right understanding of any matter and a misunderstanding of the same matter do not wholly exclude each other.”
Franz Kafka
Certifications
Wantsome.ro System Engineering & DevOps Course
Does not expire
Certificate Of Completion, Wantsome.ro
- This was the most comprehensive course that I took so far. I was guided by two great mentors with years of experience in the DevOps field.
- Designed and implemented CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, automating the build, test, and deployment lifecycle for containerized applications.
- Used Ansible to automate system configuration and enforce consistent environments across Vagrant-based development machines and cloud-based test servers.
- Built and managed containerized services with Docker, creating reproducible builds for microservices, integrated into CI pipelines.
- Employed Vagrant to create portable and isolated development environments for local testing and multi-VM scenarios.
- Gained experience with infrastructure as code principles and environment provisioning through shell scripts and automation tooling.
- Focused on DevOps culture and practices including version control, continuous delivery, infrastructure automation, and cross-team collaboration.
- Final project involved setting up a full CI/CD workflow, available on GitHub.
100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp
Does not expire
Certificate Of Completion, Udemy
- Completed 100 Days of Code Challenge by Angela Yu.
- Uploaded the most important projects that I built during the course on GitHub.
The Complete Python Bootcamp From Zero to Hero in Python
Does not expire
Certificate Of Completion, Udemy
- Completed the course by Jose Portilla.
- You can see some of the projects I built on GitHub.
The Ultimate DevOps Bootcamp - 2023
Does not expire
Certificate Of Completion, Udemy
- Completed the course by KodeKloud and Mumshad Mannambeth
- Learned Linux, Networking Basics, GIT, Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, Ansible and Terraform.
Education
Marketing and Economic Science
2007 - 2010
Spirtu Haret University, Bucharest
Studied marketing and international economics affairs.
High-School
2003 - 2007
Mihai Eminescu High-School, Barlad
Philology major.
Professional Experience
Administrator
2018 - Present
Player One Gaming
- Built and managed the company website (PlayerOne.ro) using modern web tools.
- Designed and executed digital marketing strategies (SEO, Google Ads, Facebook/Instagram Ads).
- Implemented basic hosting, DNS configuration and SSL certificate management.
- Performed basic troubleshooting and tech maintenance of internal systems.
- Managed daily operations including inventory, order processing, and customer support.
- Sourced and imported high-quality merchandise from global suppliers.
- Oversaw logistics, vendor communication, and stock level planning.
Delivery Driver
2016 - 2017
Prospect Commercials(Amazon)
- Delivered Amazon parcels in accordance with strict guidelines, ensuring accurate and timely deliveries to customers.
- Managed and organized delivery routes efficiently, resulting in decreased delivery time and increased customer satisfaction.
General Assistant
2015 - 2016
Bartlett Mitchell London
- Operated as a barista, consistently delivering high-quality coffee and excellent customer service.
- Assumed additional responsibilities in different areas of the canteen as needed.
- Worked the till system and restocked the coffee bar, ensuring a sufficient supply of ingredients and maintaining a clean and organized workspace.
On-Line Sales Manager
2011 - 2015
Liveli
- Designed and built the company's web store.
- Led social media marketing and advertising efforts, implementing strategies to increase brand visibility, drive website traffic, and generate sales leads.
- Managed the end-to-end online sales process, including order processing, payment verification, and shipping logistics.
- Provided exceptional customer service by promptly responding to inquiries, offering product information, and resolving complaints to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Ensured the stock is always equal to the demand by constantly analyzing the sale stats and the physical stock.
Frontline Operator
2009 - 2010
RCS & RDS
- Provided first-line support for internet, TV, mobile, and landline services, addressing technical and account-related inquiries.
- Diagnosed and resolved common network connectivity issues, including IP conflicts, DNS resolution, and router/ modem malfunctions.
- Guided customers through troubleshooting steps for various operating systems (Windows, macOS).
- Logged incidents and service requests in accordance with ITIL principles, ensuring accurate documentation and ticket escalation.
- Collaborated with technical teams to escalate unresolved issues and track resolution status.
- Delivered professional and empathetic customer communication, improving overall user satisfaction.