Top GCP projects to build your portfolio

The cloud computing market reached $602.31 billion in 2023 & is on track to grow at 21.2% annually through 2030. With that kind of expansion, companies need more cloud professionals—especially those skilled in Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

If you’re working in cloud or looking to break in, now is the time to build a strong portfolio. Hands-on GCP projects can showcase your skills, make you more competitive, and help you stand out to employers in this rapidly growing field.

Choosing the Right GCP Projects

Choosing the right GCP projects is crucial for building a portfolio that grabs recruiters’ attention. A well-curated set of projects highlights your technical expertise and demonstrates your ability to solve real-world problems using cloud technology. Here’s how to make the right choices:

1. Align Projects with Your Career Goals

Different cloud roles require different skill sets. Picking projects that align with your desired career path ensures your portfolio remains relevant.

Aspiring Cloud Engineers: Focus on infrastructure deployment, networking, and CI/CD automation with Kubernetes and Terraform.
Data Engineer Career Goal: Work on data pipelines, real-time analytics, and BigQuery integration.
AI/ML Interest: Choose projects involving machine learning model deployment, Vision AI, or Vertex AI.

2. Pick Projects That Demonstrate Practical Cloud Skills

Practical cloud skills are what recruiters look for in a resume. It demonstrates that you have the ability and the talent for hands-on implementation. Employers value problem-solving more than just knowing a tool. Choose projects that solve real-world challenges using cloud technology.

Some of the key hands-on experience areas you could explore are:

Cloud Automation: Automate infrastructure using Terraform or Deployment Manager.
Security & IAM: Implement best practices for identity and access management.
Serverless & AI Integration: Work with cloud functions, AI/ML APIs, and automation tools.

3. Learn Before You Build

Before jumping into projects, ensure you have a strong foundational understanding of GCP. Programs like the TechMaster Certificate Program in Cloud Computing can help you grasp core cloud concepts before working on hands-on projects.

By selecting the right mix of projects, your portfolio will showcase your skills and make you a top candidate for cloud-based roles!

Top GCP Projects for Your Portfolio

Now that you understand how to choose the right projects, let’s explore high-impact GCP projects that showcase your expertise and make your portfolio stand out. For each project, we’ll also provide ways to practice them if you’re not currently working in a cloud-related role.

1. Deploying a Scalable Web Application on GCP

Skills Covered: Cloud Run, App Engine, Cloud SQL, Load Balancing.

Project Overview:

Deploy a full-stack web application using Google App Engine or Cloud Run.
Set up a Cloud SQL database and integrate authentication using Firebase.
Use Cloud Load Balancer for high availability and automatic scaling.

Where & How to Do This Project:

Use Google Cloud Free Tier to set up and deploy an application.
If you don’t have a project idea, try cloning an open-source web app from GitHub and deploying it on GCP.
Use Google Cloud Skills Boost to complete hands-on labs on cloud deployment.

Recommended Course: Fundamentals of Google Cloud Solutions Engineering

2. Building a Data Pipeline with BigQuery and Dataflow

Skills Covered: Real-time Data Processing, Pub/Sub, Dataflow, BigQuery.

Project Overview:

Ingest real-time streaming data using Pub/Sub and process it with Dataflow.
Store and analyze data efficiently with BigQuery.
Visualize insights using Looker Studio (formerly Data Studio).

Where & How to Do This Project:

Use Google Cloud’s Public Datasets to create and analyze large datasets.
Simulate a real-world data stream using open-source IoT datasets or generate synthetic data.
Try hands-on Google Cloud Skills Boost labs focused on BigQuery and Dataflow.

Recommended Course: Google Cloud Architect Program

3. Serverless Function for Automated Image Processing

Skills Covered: Cloud Functions, Cloud Storage, Vision AI.

Project Overview:

Use Cloud Functions to trigger image processing when a new image is uploaded.
Store processed images in Cloud Storage.
Apply Vision AI to analyze images (e.g., detect objects, text, or faces).

Where & How to Do This Project:

Use the Google Cloud Free Tier to set up a Cloud Storage bucket and integrate it with Cloud Functions.
Find open-source image datasets online and automate their processing.
Explore Google’s AI and ML APIs via Qwiklabs to gain hands-on experience.

Recommended Course: AI and Machine Learning on Google Cloud

By working on these projects, you’ll gain real-world experience even if you’re not currently employed in a cloud-related role. These projects will strengthen your portfolio and help you land cloud jobs faster!

How to Showcase Your GCP Projects

Building GCP projects is just the first step—effectively showcasing your work is what sets you apart from other candidates. Here’s how you can present your projects in a way that grabs recruiters’ attention.

1. Host Your Projects on GitHub

A well-documented GitHub repository makes it easier for potential employers to evaluate your skills. Make sure to:

Include a README file explaining the project goal, technologies used, and setup instructions.
Use clear folder structures and meaningful commit messages.
Add code comments to explain important logic.

2. Write Blog Posts or Case Studies

Documenting your project journey helps demonstrate problem-solving abilities and technical expertise. You could publish your blog on Medium, Dev.to or LinkedIn and share it on Reddit or Google Cloud Developer Discord groups.

A well-written blog post should include:

The problem statement – What issue does your project address?
Project architecture – How did you design and implement it?
Key learnings and challenges – What did you overcome?

3. Create a Cloud Portfolio Website

A cloud portfolio website visually showcases your work and makes your projects more accessible to hiring managers. You can:

Host a simple personal website on Google Cloud Storage or Firebase Hosting.
Use Google Sites, GitHub Pages, or WordPress to create an easy-to-navigate portfolio.
Include links to GitHub repositories, blog posts, and project demos.

You turn your projects into powerful job-winning assets by effectively documenting and presenting your work. Recruiters are always looking for engineers who can build and communicate solutions.

Build, Learn, and Get Hired!

The demand for cloud professionals is growing, and a strong portfolio of hands-on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) projects can give you a competitive edge in the job market. By working on real-world projects, you’ll enhance your technical skills and demonstrate problem-solving abilities that employers highly value.

If you would like to know more about how you can get the necessary hands-on experience and get started, contact our Learner Support Team at [email protected]. They will be more than happy to guide you on your next steps.