DevOps Resume Example
A career as a DevOps engineer typically involves automating deployment processes and monitoring system performance. If you want to stand out with your DevOps engineer applications, you'll need to create a professional resume that makes a strong impression on employers. In this article, we'll highlight tips and examples for creating a DevOps engineer resume that makes a winning impression on recruiters and hiring managers.
After reading this guide, you'll know what it takes to create a resume that really stands out from other DevOps engineer applicants. The guide will show you practical examples of how to structure your resume to show off your best and most relevant skills and career achievements. It will also show you how to tailor your resume according to the job description and your unique skill set. Read on to learn how to write a perfect DevOps resume, from the advice of careers experts at Jobseeker.
Core sections to include in a DevOps engineer resume
It's essential to include a few core sections in your DevOps resume, while there are also a few optional sections you can make use of to strengthen your application.
If you're applying for junior, entry-level or graduate DevOps engineer positions and you lack work experience, consider using a skills-based resume format to emphasize your skills and education. Soft and transferable skills are often more highly valued by employers for junior roles, so highlight these. Also add any internships, volunteer work or training courses you've undertaken.
If you have some experience as a DevOps engineer, use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format and focus on showing how you've used the skills required for the job in your career to date. Use your work experience section to highlight your career achievements and show how you meet the job description. Offer evidence of the impact you had on successful outcomes for the company.
If you're applying for senior DevOps engineer positions, you'll want to list career achievements and successes that emphasize your senior status. Use a reverse-chronological format and add extra sections to show key career highlights. Your senior resume will likely be more comprehensive than resumes for more junior roles. You can add extra details about your career, such as awards, publications presentations, professional memberships or certifications.
While the content and format of your resume may vary depending on your experience levels, it's important to always include the following sections:
Resume Header
Your DevOps resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Make sure your resume header is as brief as possible and doesn't take up too much valuable space. Choose a clear, professional design that sets the tone for your application.
Only include professional, name-based email addresses in your resume header. If you have an old email address that uses nicknames, puns, references to your personal interests or anything else that could appear unprofessional, set up a new email just for your job applications. Finally, always double-check your contact details are correct and up-to-date before sending your resume.
Peyton Thomas
peyton.thomas@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA
linkedin․com/in/peyton–thomas123
Resume Summary
Next, write a short paragraph to introduce yourself. You could also call this section 'resume summary' or 'personal profile'. In two or three sentences, explain your professional background, achievements and key skills. If you choose to write a resume summary, this focuses on your career experience to date. On the other hand, a resume objective addresses your future plans and career ambitions. Furthermore, when writing your profile, focus on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for DevOps engineer roles.
Alternatively, use this summary to introduce your personal career ambitions and explain why DevOps engineer roles are a good fit for you at this stage of your career.
A good resume summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for DevOps engineer roles, while leaving the reader with an impression of your unique qualities and strengths. The most effective resume summaries also provide evidence to back up the claims made in them. See below for some great examples of what to include in your DevOps resume summary.
Good example:
DevOps Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and extensive experience as a Site Reliability Engineer (SRE). Skilled in automating infrastructure, monitoring system performance, and ensuring high availability and reliability of services. Proficient in CI/CD pipelines, cloud platforms, and containerization technologies. Strong problem-solving abilities and a collaborative approach to optimizing systems and processes for efficient and scalable operations
Bad example:
Worked in tech with a degree in computers. Did some stuff with keeping systems running and making sure things don't break. Know a bit about setting up automated processes and checking how systems are doing. Familiar with using cloud things and putting stuff in containers. Good at figuring out problems and working with others to make things run smoothly and grow
Conversely, an ineffective resume summary would include generic, unspecific information on your skills and experience, while failing to provide any useful information on what makes you a unique and interesting candidate. The visual above includes some examples of what not to do with your DevOps resume summary
Employment History
In your work experience section, list any previous relevant roles you've worked in, as well as your key achievements as a DevOps engineer. List each relevant role in reverse-chronological order starting with your current or most recent role. Add your job title, the organization name, its location and the dates you worked there.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to DevOps engineer roles.
The best resume work experience sections focus only on the most relevant previous jobs, and link each bullet point back to a skill or experience listed in the job description. It's also critical to provide evidence that shows the value you added to each role in a quantifiable way, such as project outcomes, key performance indicators or feedback from customers, colleagues or managers. See the examples below for some ideas of what a great resume work experience looks like.
Good example:
Site Reliability Engineer (SRE), January 2022 - Present
TechNerve Solutions, Miami
- Reduced system downtime by 40% through proactive monitoring and automated incident response strategies
- Implemented robust CI/CD pipeline, reducing deployment time by 50% and improving release frequency
- Achieved 99.99% service availability by optimizing infrastructure and applying advanced fault-tolerance techniques
Bad example:
Site Reliability Engineer (SRE), January 2022 - Present
TechNerve Solutions, Miami
- Improved system performance and reliability through various strategies and techniques
- Enhanced deployment processes to increase efficiency and speed
- Optimized infrastructure for better service availability and resilience
In the graphic above, you'll see some examples of less effective resume work experience sections. A poor resume work experience section would typically use vague descriptions of activities in previous jobs, while focusing too much on responsibilities rather than achievements. Failing to focus on the skills and experience that match the job description is likely to harm your chances of success.
Education
Under education, add details of any degrees or professional qualifications relevant to DevOps engineer roles.
Opportunities as a DevOps engineer and similar roles in the sector usually require a specialist degree. If you have a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree, be sure to mention this in your resume. You might also want to list any qualifications that highlight your monitoring and logging or cloud platform management.
Enter the name and level of the qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study or graduation. If you have space, include some bullet points outlining any specialist areas of study, awards or high grades, so the employer can learn more about your unique skill set and knowledge.
Membership or leadership of any societies, clubs or causes while studying can also make a positive impression on hiring managers. Consider adding these to your education section for more insight into how you used your time as a student.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, 2017 - 2020
University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
Skills
In your skills section, list any skills you've acquired or developed that are relevant to DevOps engineer positions. Consider adding infrastructure as code, problem-solving skills or any other necessary skills for the job. Additionally, read the job description to make sure your skills match those required for DevOps engineer positions. You could also include some unique skills that help you stand out as a candidate.
How to include hard skills on your DevOps resume
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, your list of hard skills provides a strong indication to the reader of your expertise in DevOps engineer roles, and how well you'll fit into the position. Add up to five key hard skills that show you're an ideal candidate for the role. It can also be beneficial to add context to each skill, showing how you've used it to positive effect in your career to date.
The best resume hard skills sections focus on specific technical skills necessary for the job, showcasing skills that you have particular expertise in. There are some examples of valuable hard skills for a DevOps resume below.
- Cloud platform management
- CI/CD pipeline automation
- Infrastructure as code
Soft skills on your DevOps resume
Your soft skills are the core qualities and personal characteristics that make you a good employee. They tend to apply to multiple professions and jobs, though the soft skills you'll require may change as you move from junior to senior positions. In fact, you can develop soft skills throughout your career, and they tend to be suitable for various roles and professions. In this section, add four of five transferable skills that match the job description.
The strongest resume soft skills sections include a mix of skills that match your best personal strengths, and that reflect the skills listed in the job description. See below for some examples of effective soft skills for a DevOps engineer resume.
- Problem-solving skills
- Effective communication
- Team collaboration
Licenses and Certifications
Your certifications section is the place to mention any relevant professional DevOps engineer certifications, licenses or qualifications. These could be official licenses required for the job or certifications that improve your employability. Therefore, list any official licenses and certifications, along with their dates, so employers can assess whether you've got the necessary qualifications to work as a DevOps engineer.
Below you can find several examples of certifications for a DevOps engineer resume:
- AWS Certified DevOps, 2022
- Docker Certified Associate, 2022
- Kubernetes Administrator Certification, 2022
Expert Tip:
Optional Information
In addition to the core sections of a DevOps engineer resume, there are several optional sections you could include to enhance your chances. Add any of the sections below that help you showcase your key skills and experience.
Hobbies
Listing your hobbies and interests can reveal key qualities that some employers may value. They also help to show a different side of your personality, and can help your resume create a more memorable impression on hiring managers. If you're short on real world work experience, hobbies and interests can be a useful way of providing more information about your qualities. Only include hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and personal qualities, and add something different to your application.
Voluntary Work
Listing volunteer work is another useful way to prove your relevant experience for DevOps engineer roles. Write your volunteer section in a similar format to your work experience, including your role, the organization name, relevant dates and the details of your contribution.
References
It's not typical to include references in a DevOps resume, but some employers might ask for them. Don't add references unless requested by the employer. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
Please contact me for a list of references.
Best words to use in a DevOps engineer resume
Start each bullet point in your work experience section with a strong verb to show actions you took. Choose from the list of words below to make the best possible impression.
- Automate
- Deploy
- Configure
- Monitor
- Integrate
- Optimize
- Troubleshoot
- Manage
- Collaborate
- Secure
If you need help creating a resume that impresses HR managers, take a look at Jobseeker's professional resume templates. You can also access beautiful cover letter templates that help your application stand out.
Sample DevOps resume
The DevOps resume example below includes all the sections above, so you can see how a completed resume looks:
1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA
•
peyton.thomas@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/peyton–thomas123
DevOps Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and extensive experience as a Site Reliability Engineer (SRE). Proven track record in automating and optimizing mission-critical deployments, enhancing reliability, and ensuring high availability of services. Proficient in CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, and cloud platforms. Skilled in collaborating with development and operations teams to streamline processes and drive continuous improvement
Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)
2020
-2022
TechWave Solutions (Raleigh)
- Reduced system downtime by 40% through proactive monitoring and automated incident response strategies
- Implemented robust CI/CD pipelines, decreasing deployment times by 50% and increasing release frequency from bi-weekly to daily
- Achieved 99.99% service availability by optimizing infrastructure, scaling resources, and enhancing fault tolerance mechanisms
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
2017
-2020
College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Cloud platform management
CI/CD pipeline automation
Infrastructure as code
Problem-solving skills
Effective communication
Team collaboration
AWS Certified DevOps
Docker Certified Associate
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Key tips for a DevOps resume
Tips to write the best resume
- Read your resume carefully before sending it, to avoid errors that could prove costly to your chances.
- Tailor your resume for each application you send. Review the job description and adapt the content to reflect the specific requirements, including key skills and experience.
- Use a professional resume format with clear headings, a defined structure and consistent margins for optimum readability.
- Action verbs can help show the actions you've taken and the impact you've made in DevOps engineer jobs (e.g. 'troubleshoot', 'manage', 'collaborate').
- Kick off your DevOps resume with a strong summary or objective statement that highlights your key skills and achievements.
Steer clear of these common resume writing errors
- Don't crowd your DevOps resume with too many unnecessary details. Focus on only the most critical skills and achievements.
- Don't include irrelevant work experience in your resume because it takes up valuable space and is unlikely to improve your chances of success.
- Don't fill your resume with industry jargon or business-speak that could alienate the reader.
- Don't forget to keep your header up-to-date with every application, to make sure you don't include old contact information.
- Don't use an unprofessional email address. Instead, create a simple email address based on your name.
How to make an ATS-friendly resume
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is just one of the tools employers and recruiters can use to streamline their hiring practices. This typically includes screening candidates by scanning and ranking their resumes based on their likely suitability for any vacancy. When drafting your DevOps resume, there are a few guidelines to follow to give you the best chance of passing the ATS screening stage and progressing with your application.
Create an ATS-optimized resume by following these quick tips:
- Use a traditional resume format, such as reverse-chronological or functional. These will give your resume a structure that's easier for ATS systems to scan.
- Use keywords throughout your resume that reflect the job description, so ATS resume scanners can recognize a strong connection between your skills, and those in the job description.
- Include clear headings in each section that match the traditional resume structure and format. This will make it easier for the ATS software to scan your resume.
- Adopt a clean, unfussy design that gives your content enough white space to breathe. Use professional, readable fonts and subtle use of color and other design elements.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
If you need help creating a professional resume, take a look at our expert career articles and variety of resume examples created by careers experts.
Frequently Asked Questions about a DevOps engineer resume
After writing your DevOps resume, you'll want to write an accompanying cover letter that helps your application stand out.
Firstly, choose whether you're going to write a full cover letter, or whether a brief email confirming your application and drawing attention to your resume will be sufficient.
For a full, traditional cover letter, follow formal letter-writing conventions with your header, address line and greetings. The main text of the letter tends to be split into three short paragraphs. Firstly, introduce yourself, confirm the role you're applying for and explain why you're applying for the DevOps engineer role. In the second paragraph, highlight your skills and experience that are most relevant to the job description. The third paragraph gives you the opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and your gratitude to the employer, while leaving a call to action which encourages them to make contact with you.
Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates were created by experts to help you make a strong impression with your applications. Follow the simple steps to create a winning cover letter today.
There are plenty of ways to still make a positive impression with your DevOps resume, even if you lack relevant work experience. Use a functional resume format instead of the standard reverse-chronological structure. This emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience. Additional resume sections such as volunteer work, hobbies and interests, certifications and internships can all help you showcase your relevant skills. These can be more prominent in your resume if you haven't got a lot of work experience.
Use a resume headline to make it easy for the reader to start assessing your suitability for DevOps engineer positions at first glance. A well-written resume headline is also a way to increase your chances of passing the ATS resume scanning stage, by referencing keywords that match the job description. Write a short, concise resume headline incorporating the job title, one or two key skills that match the job description and a reference to your reputation or track record.
You can use this example resume headline as a template for creating your own:
- Aspiring Junior DevOps Engineer
- Expert in Automation & Cloud Solutions
- Senior DevOps Engineer & Innovator
The best format for your resume depends on two key factors. Firstly, the amount of relevant work experience you have. Secondly, the type of role and its level of seniority. For applicants without much relevant work experience, a functional resume format tends to be best. This places the emphasis on your key skills and relevant qualifications. For more senior roles where you have plenty of relevant experience, use a reverse chronological format. This resume structure places work experience at the heart of the document, using it as a showcase for your skills and achievements.
Takeaways for a winning DevOps resume
Writing a strong, impactful resume is about using your experience to demonstrate your relevant skills and achievements. You can do this through your work history or other resume sections. Use a suitable resume format and tailor your resume for every application you submit.
Use Jobseeker's resume templates, other tools and resources to create an application that impresses employers. Sign up today to access a wealth of valuable resume and cover letter resources. A stylish, professional cover letter can make all the difference to your job prospects. See Jobseeker's cover letter examples, written by careers experts, to help you craft an eye-catching application.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
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