Transcription
Would you like to know how to build a portfolio or a project list as a cloud architect, enterprise architect, or solutions architect? If so, this video is for you.
Hi, my name is Mike Gibbs. I'm the CEO of GoCloud Careers and I've spent about two decades now coaching people to get their first tech job, get promoted in tech. And one of the things that I consistently see and hear people ask questions is how do I build a project list for my cloud architect projects because they understand they can't build the GitHub page and it's not like they can set up a WordPress website or a Linux website and the employers aren't going to look at that as relevant experience and here's the reason why it's not what we do.
So if a cloud architect is very different than a cloud engineer and we can't show code snippets because we don't code as architects, we can't show GitHub type things or projects we've worked on, what can we do? So that's what we're going to talk about. So if you're going to build a portfolio, you're going to have a nice portfolio if you build it right. And we're going to talk about everything you need to put in that cloud architect portfolio, which is a list of your cloud architect projects that's going to reflect well on you. And this is going to be really important if it's your first cloud architect job or enterprise architect job, but it's going to be important long term to have a collection of what you've done, at least the things that you're able to talk about and that shows your skills, capabilities, competencies, and even your work.
So, if I was going to build an empty portfolio um and that that people might want to see, the first thing I would add to it is an executive summary doc document. And that's going to be a short one-page document that's going to frame your enterprise architecture philosophy or cloud architecture philosophy, your core competencies, and any kind of business impacts you are able to make, which is really what your goal is as an architect, enhance your client's business performance.
Now, in your portfolio, you may have some architecture blueprints and diagrams, maybe some uh high-level capability maps, and maybe business architecture maps, some value stream maps, technical architecture diagrams. Now, as an architect, chances are you created some reference architectures for common situations. Maybe uh what a hybrid cloud connection would look like. Uh maybe a zero trust security architecture you've worked on. Maybe some event-driven microservices, some reference architectures for how they would work in common situations. Maybe you've created a you've worked on a case study or you've done some project write-ups. We've created some thought leadership documents and you know a couple of type documents which can create a strategy and you could talk about a problem in the architectural solutions and what the architecture solutions did for the business.
Another kind of thing that's typically in a cloud architect portfolio or an enterprise architect portfolio is governance and standards artifact. So examples of architecture review board documents or a charter that maybe you created u maybe some policy framework for example maybe some compliance checklist something that really shows governance and compliance.
Now something we commonly do as enterprise architects but a lot of cloud architects do as well is technology roadmaps. Maybe you've crafted some multi-year technology roadmaps for organizations or even if it's a case study and inside there you created a technology roadmap that's aligned with the business goals and the milestones that were inside of that case study or in your actual real architecture.
Now often we do a lot of migrations. Maybe we migrate to the cloud. Maybe we migrate some of the technology systems off the cloud. Maybe we migrate from a data center to two different clouds. What have you. So there's typically something in an architecture portfolio. You've created maybe a migration strategy document. Uh maybe you've got some cutover plans along the way, some impact analysis of what will happen if you move from one system in the data center to one in the cloud. Whatever change management uh was necessary to get that moved on. Hopefully you have something some kind of migration and transformation playbook.
Perhaps you might want to put some risk and compliance assessments in your cloud architect or enterprise architect portfolio where you're looking at say some threat models and some heat maps and some uh migration plans tied to regulatory requirements. Are you do you have to move something to GDPR or socks what have you.
Um typically in a portfolio you might also list your certifications. Great certifications for architects. Things like TOGAF, the AWS solutions architect professional, the Azure solutions architect, the Google professional cloud architect. CISSP is a really another good one because it's a very high-level overall security document and uh I've found found that one was fairly helpful for my career and and so many people who have taught the CC CISSP's P2 that have gleaned one.
Uh thought leadership document. Obviously, as architects, we're going to be constantly writing thought leadership documents to shape the industry, to shape the market. So, part of your portfolio should be some of these documents, white papers, even blog posts that you've actually written. But make sure they're great and they show you as a great architect.
Maybe you have some testimonials and some references, some people in high places that'll say good things about you to list in your portfolio. And of course, some way to find you, a very polished personal bio, a LinkedIn page and links to it and make sure that LinkedIn page looks good when people go connect to it. And even an invitation to maybe schedule a call with you.
And if you put these kinds of things in a portfolio where it starts with an executive summary and explains you know what you can do your capabilities and then you start showing some architectural blueprint and some reference architectures you created and you go through some case studies or some client write-ups that you've done without and maybe you de-identify the client obviously because you can't and make sure you're not violating any kind of NDA with the client. Maybe you've got some uh governance and standards artifacts or documents that you created along the way, some technology roadmaps, some migration playbooks, some transformation playbooks, some risk assessments, uh some of your certifications, any kind of thought leadership you've written, and of course testimonials and references, and of course, how to find you because if you're doing all this work, you build your career, you want people to know how to find you.
This is what needs to go into a cloud architect portfolio, an enterprise architect portfolio, a solutions architect portfolio. And these are the actual projects that are going to work that are going to get you hired because this is what we do with architects. And these are going to be building your architect skill.
Now, if you'd like to become a cloud architect, enterprise architect, AI architect, security architect, network architect, all any kind of architect you desire, join us for a free architecture webinar. We hold one every single week. We talk about what we do in these jobs, the skills you need, and of course, they're on Zoom, so I'll answer any questions you have about building an architecture career. And uh you can find that free webinar in the description of this video.
Now, while you're in the description of this video, there are free ebooks you can uh get sent to you, books on how to win the interview, books on skills you need for various architecture positions, and they're all free. So, sign up. We also hold architecture programs that teach the entire career if you're interested in that as well.
Now, if you uh like enjoyed this video, maybe you give it a like. Uh subscribe to our channel and hit the bell to be notified of new videos to assist you in your architecture career, whether it be a cloud architect, enterprise architect, AI architect, security architect, network architect, or any other kind of architect. This is Mike Gibbs signing off for now, and I look forward to seeing you in a free webinar or another video. Take care.