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Building Your First Cloud Portfolio

Simple Steps for Beginners

Author

Nevin Selby
September 10, 2025

Getting started in cloud computing can be exciting, but it often feels hard to show your skills, especially if you haven’t landed your first job yet. A cloud portfolio changes that. It’s a living collection of your projects, hands-on labs, and technical demos that help you tell your story and showcase real growth.

Here are easy, practical steps so anyone can start building a cloud portfolio, with clear examples and honest advice drawn from my own journey and lessons learned.

Why Build a Cloud Portfolio?

A portfolio is more than just a list of certifications. It’s proof you can solve problems, learn new things, and make ideas work. Employers and recruiters like to see real projects. Even simple setups and experiments show initiative and help make you memorable.

Step 1: Choose Small, Doable Projects

Think about tasks that beginners can try and finish in a day or two. You don’t need a big budget or a complicated setup. Here are some ideas:

  • Deploy a basic website using a cloud service (static site on Google Cloud Storage, AWS S3, or Azure Blob)

  • Set up a virtual machine, then write down what you did and why

  • Build and schedule a cloud function that sends you email reminders or grabs data from the web

  • Use free labs online to practice database creation or serverless triggers

As you get stronger, try projects that connect services. For example, create a website hosted on a VM that sends notifications with a cloud function.

Step 2: Document Every Step

For each project, make simple notes or screenshots as you work:

  • Why did you choose this project?

  • What tools or services did you use?

  • What steps did you follow?

  • Where did you get stuck, and how did you fix it?

  • What would you do differently next time?

You don’t need fancy words. Clarity and honesty show you are hands-on and know how to learn and adapt.

Step 3: Share Your Work Online

Your portfolio doesn’t have to be a custom website, though that’s a nice bonus. Simple places to share include:

  • GitHub or GitLab: Create public repositories with your code, sample files, and notes (readmes)

  • Google Docs or Notion: Collect your screenshots, explanations, and reflections in shareable documents

  • LinkedIn: Write a post for each project, or add portfolio projects in the 'Featured' section on your profile

Always use clear titles and short summaries. For example, “Launched Website with Google Cloud Storage, Step-by-Step Guide and Lessons Learned.”

Step 4: Add Labs and Demos

Many cloud providers offer free hands-on labs (like Google Cloud Skills Boost or AWS Cloud Quest).

  • Complete labs and save your results or badges.

  • Record short demo videos explaining what you did (screen recordings are fine).

  • Link your labs and demos to your GitHub or online portfolio page.

This gives your portfolio extra credibility and shows ongoing learning.

Step 5: Reflect and Update Your Portfolio Regularly

Go back every month or so and ask:

  • What new skills have I learned?

  • Are my projects still accessible?

  • What feedback did I get, and how can I use it?

Update your descriptions, add new links, and remove anything that doesn’t represent your current level.

Step 6: Connect Your Portfolio to Your Resume and LinkedIn

Include a link to your portfolio in your contact details and summary. Mention key projects (with a short description) under 'Projects' or 'Experience.' Employers love to click and see your work for themselves.