What are cloud engineer skills for CVs? (Plus job info)

Updated 24 August 2023

As we become an increasingly digital society, both individuals and businesses continue to use cloud computing in their daily lives. This has revealed a clear demand in the market for cloud engineers and individuals trained in cloud computing. A cloud engineer typically has several skills they use within their daily role, some of which are specialist and some are more transferable. In this article, we explain the primary cloud engineer skills for CVs and look at the best way to showcase them.

What are the main cloud engineer skills for CVs?

Cloud engineering is a varied profession and is beneficial across a wide range of sectors, provided they're using digital solutions in their approach. While some cloud engineers utilise specialised qualifications or training in their role, there are several fundamental skills that nearly all cloud engineers have at their disposal. Here are some of the key cloud engineer skills for CVs that you can consider:

Linux

Many companies frequently use the Linux operating system for their cloud engineering or development. This means that for cloud engineers, it's important to have a fundamental understanding of the architecture, infrastructure, maintenance and running of Linux servers. While this is a relatively transferable skill for cloud-based computing, it's more of a specialised skill taught via formal education, online courses or practical experience.

Programming languages

Cloud engineers regularly make use of programming languages, including Java, Ruby, Python, SQL, .NET and PHP. It's important for an engineer to understand these languages to provide a more complete service. While many developers or professionals working in computing may understand these languages, cloud engineers have a more advanced understanding of how they're used within cloud computing.

DevOps

DevOps is a common framework used in cloud engineering. Having a hands-on understanding of its practices and how you can apply them is valuable for employers seeking a cloud engineer. Amazon Web Services (AWS) DevOps is a desirable skill to have by cloud providers or companies making use of cloud services.

Cloud providers

Since engineering best practices and technical cloud features can vary among providers, having a broad understanding of the sector is useful for employers. If a cloud engineer understands what each provider can offer, they're more likely to stand out in a competitive market. Learning more about cloud providers also helps to expand the engineer's knowledge base, which you can then apply to different challenges in a role.

Cloud security and recovery

With more individuals and businesses using the cloud in an increased capacity, it's more important than ever to remain secure. Cloud-based services regularly host sensitive data, which is making cloud engineers with an understanding of security much more valuable. Likewise, recovery in the cloud is incredibly important, which can provide employers with an increased sense of security and trust.

What soft skills does a cloud engineer need?

While a cloud engineer benefits from having exceptional technical skills, they also require a range of transferable soft skills that can help them excel in their field. These skills are more applicable across the general workplace, although they can have a direct impact on cloud engineering. Here are soft skills to consider:

Problem-solving

Having a good understanding of problem-solving skills is excellent for cloud engineers that regularly fix issues that might not have obvious causes. Cloud engineering is a complex role with a variety of different elements that may cause issues. Problem-solving skills are useful during the debugging phase of engineering and are transferable across any role, particularly in computing.

Communication

Communication is important for cloud engineers as it allows them to explain relatively technical terms to an audience that may not understand advanced terms. Good communication skills help cloud engineers present solutions to common issues and collaborate with other engineers on projects. Outside of the immediate role, good communication can help a cloud engineer work with external partners, including providers, especially when troubleshooting more intricate issues.

Creative thinking

Since cloud engineers work with a range of different clients that all have different needs, creative thinking is important. These skills can help cloud engineers create innovative, efficient cloud-based solutions to the problems they're experiencing. Cloud-based computing covers a broad range of applications, many of which different industries can utilise, which is where creative thinking can help find solutions to unprecedented challenges.

Leadership

For cloud engineers that are looking to build a long-term career in the industry, leadership skills can help an individual find advancement in the role. Leadership skills provide the opportunity to manage a team of cloud engineers or IT specialists when rebuilding cloud-based systems. You may develop leadership skills through online courses or practical experience shadowing a senior cloud engineer.

How to highlight cloud engineer skills during an application

Since you can utilise cloud engineering skills in a variety of ways, it's important to know how to highlight your level of experience and skills on your CV to potential employers. During your job search, there are several key points where you can highlight your skills throughout an application. What follows is how best to demonstrate your skills in each of the three elements:

1. Start with the most relevant skills

The best place to highlight your cloud engineer skills in a CV is within the skills section or while you're discussing past successes during your career. The most important thing to consider is to add context where possible. If you're listing bullet points under a job role, you could list specific examples of your experience. You can also provide content when talking through past successes on your CV. If you mention a specific problem you faced, you might explain how you approached the solution with cloud engineering skills.

2. Bring attention to unique experiences in your cover letter

A cover letter is an easy way to highlight specific skills and experiences that you feel relate directly to the job position you're applying for. The cover letter provides the opportunity for individuals to correlate skills they may have to situations that might help the new employer specifically. A cover letter is also an opportunity to show where you've used cloud engineering skills to create value and possess transferable soft skills that apply to many situations. Remember, since you've already listed the skills on your CV, provide examples within your cover letter.

3. Share how you've applied your cloud engineer skills in the job interview

The job interview is your final opportunity to explain your skills in more depth. If you've explained specific skills, situations or challenges within your CV or cover letter, you can use the interview to expand on how you achieved a solution to the problem. Here you can explain the technical skills that you used during the process or even your thought process and how you came to the reasoning you did. The role that you're applying for dictates how in-depth your explanations may be.

Including skill levels in your CV

Typically, employers receive dozens of applications for the same role, which makes it imperative for a candidate to do as much as they can to stand out and help the employer find the most important information as quickly as possible. Below are some general tips for helping you list skill levels on your CV:

Lead with your strongest skills

Once you've established the skills that you're looking to demonstrate on your CV, consider sorting them into categories of proficiency. List your strongest, or most relevant, skills first to make sure the employer sees the skills you are most confident in at first glance. If the skills that you're highlighting match the desired skills for the role, you immediately improve your chances of being shortlisted. Tailor your CV for the position to make sure the information at the top of your CV is what you want an employer to read first.

Use a CV template

If you're creating a CV and want an eye-catching skills section, consider using a pre-designed template that includes graphics or charts. A visual representation of your skills can often make the entire section of the CV more engaging. Browse the CV templates available online and choose one that best suits your skills or the role you're applying for. Design-led roles may be much more visual than a CV from an accountant, for example.

Highlight technical skills first

When you're organising your skills, lead with your technical skills, or hard skills, before your personal qualities or soft skills. This ensures a prospective employer sees the relevant information first, especially if they're only glancing at CVs for a single position. This isn't a set rule, but for cloud engineers, it's typically best to demonstrate your hard skills first as they're the most important set of skills you can demonstrate to a potential employer.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.