Google Cloud Platform (GCP) certifications are a coveted achievement in the cloud computing world. Along with the prestige of passing a rigorous exam, certificants traditionally received exclusive swag tailored to their specific accomplishment. However, Google in 2023/24 shifted its approach to swag for certified professionals.

The Old Way: Exam-Specific Swag

Previously, each GCP certification exam came with its own unique set of swag items. This allowed certificants to show off their specific achievements, whether it was the Associate Cloud Engineer badge on a T-shirt or the Professional Cloud Architect logo on a water bottle.

The New Way: Unified Swag Collection

As of now, Google offers a unified collection of swag items that are not tied to specific exams. This new line includes a variety of apparel and accessories in a sleek, professional style, all proudly displaying the „Google Cloud Certified Professional” designation.

What’s in the Swag Bag?

The current Google Cloud Certified Professional swag collection includes:

• Welcome Kit: A mug and other items in a yellow box.
• Tees: Black and gray baseball tees, both fitted and unisex.
• Hoodies: Black zip-up hoodies (fitted and unisex), white pullover hoodies (fitted and unisex).
• Jacket: Black fleece jacket, both fitted and unisex.
• Pullover: Black athletic quarter-zip pullover, both fitted and unisex.
• Backpack: 15″ laptop backpack.

Why the Change?

While Google hasn’t officially commented on the reason behind this change, a few potential factors could be at play:

• Streamlining: A unified swag collection simplifies the logistics of production and distribution.
• Inclusivity: The new swag line appeals to a broader range of certificants, regardless of their specific exam path.
• Brand Consistency: The unified design creates a more cohesive and recognizable look for Google Cloud certified professionals.

What Does This Mean for Certificants?

While some may miss the exam-specific swag, the new collection offers a more versatile and stylish way to showcase your GCP certification. The high-quality items are suitable for both professional and casual settings, making them a practical and fashionable addition to your wardrobe.

The Future of GCP Swag

It’s unclear whether Google will return to exam-specific swag in the future. However, the current collection demonstrates a commitment to providing certificants with valuable and desirable rewards for their hard work and expertise.

It has been a while since I posted. Mainly due to the amount of work, publishing the book and PhD studies.

This article is just an update on GCP certified swags original post. Two years go by very fast so I had to rectify all my credentials in GCP! I will put some more posts on the tips but this is not important today! Today I want to show the list of 2022 GCP swags!

Here they are!

Update 08.2022

Database Engineer swags

As the supply chains are still not working great Google has not yet posted the picture of these swags set. But they already say what will the box contain!

It will most probably include!

Google Cloud Certified Professional Phone Grip:

It’s an opposable thumb for your phone. It lets you take selfies like a pro and share with your circle of fans, friends or family. It lets you text with the greatest of ease, and it stands up your phone to watch a movie.

Google Cloud Certified Professional Mug:

12 oz double wall 18/8 stainless steel thermal mug with copper vacuum insulation, clear push-on lid with matching swivel closure, synthetic cork base, and powder coated finish.

Google Cloud Certified Professional Laptop Sticker:

3″ diameter sticker that let’s the world know about your great accomplishment.

I will post the actual item as soon as receive them!

Collaboration Engineer swags

Security Engineer swags

Update 7.02.22: I have just checked and some new swags popped up!

Network Engineer swags

also some updated for this exam in February:

DevOps swags

If you don’t know how to start your certification journey try this book out! Me and Brian we have put all our experience in this single book!

After achieving all 11 GCP certificates I finally have unlocked access to all GCP certified swag! I will be updating the Swag Alert post shortly but wanted to share with you my top 4 swags.

If you want to know how you u can get the swags check out the post: https://gcpfellow.com/2020/02/18/google-cloud-certified-swags/

NUMER 1 – Google Cloud Certified Fellow Patagonia jacket

NUMBER 2 – Google Cloud Certified jacket from NEXT conference.

NUMBER 4: Google Cloud ML Engineer vest (Marmot)

NUMBER 4: Google Cloud Certified hoodie

Let me know what is your favourite GCP certified swag!

Today it is my 10th anniversary of starting my career at Atos Bydgoszcz. When I was 25years old I believed I will never spend more than 2 years in one company. Now I see how wrong I was. 🙂

To make the story short I want to say don’t regret those 10 years and it has been an amazing experience working in a company with so many talented people on board! Today I don’t want to talk about my career but tell you how it started and why is stayed in one company for so long.

When on the 4th grade of the Technical University the only knowledge I found might be useful was gained from the CCNA course… Looking at the job offers for Admin I was shocked… how come can they expect all those skills… It would take me years to get to that level… Fortunately, I got an internship in Madrid and got my hands on both network equipment and servers. I even had a chance to play with VMware! Amazing year at Metrovacesa company!

After a year, I came back to Poland, and lucky enough, once I got my Master’s degree I took a chance to participate in a free MCSA course… I have learned so much in 3 months… I decided to take the entire certification track and I was MCSA at the age of 25. 🙂

Still, when I was back in Madrid I remembered I was pinged by a company in Bydgoszcz if I want to work for them… At that time I googled the city and comparing it to Madrid I thought „no I will never move there”.

This time being in Poland I reviewed the offers again and said ok… let’s apply. I really want to start my career in IT. A couple of interviews and there I go! I was a member of Atos Origin Bydgoszcz Team! Second Line Support Engineer sounded so distinguished!

I started back in 2010 and joined as a Wintel/AD admin and was dropped into a massive contract with over 100 Domain Controllers… What a playground! I literally could not wait to wake up and go to the office!

It was great days working with the senior guys really showed me what hard works mean. I am sure I would not be where I am without them! Thanks! Robert, Dawid, Maciej, Tomasz! The Wintel Engineer times were great! Lots of stressful moments but they gave ma feeling of what IT Operations is!

Through those years I was changing the projects multiple times and finally ending up being Lead Architect for Cloud Engineering team. I met so many awesome people that affected who I am now! I cannot thank them enough!

Obviously, I have been offered to work outside of Atos multiple times (like all of us working in IT). This includes companies that I always dreamed of working for including VMware, Nutanix, Google… Was it a good decision to stay? Yes, it was for me. I always make a list of pros and cons of moving to a new employee which includes:

• Personal situation
• Career goals
• People I will work with
• Future opportunities
• Diversity of work
• Location
• Finances
• Work from home capabilities

As you see this list has priorities. As an example technology, I work with will be always more important than money! It is especially tempting when you are a junior employee and you get a good financial offer. I always use this list and I am really glad it kept me with Atos.

The most valuable tip I can give you today is: Don’t think about your career as a means of getting money. Invest in it and do what you love. When you are passionate about your work the money will come!

Also remember the company is people! It is people making the decisions not the company. Get a good manager and build relations with your team it is worth it!