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24 Software Engineer Resume Examples Designed for 2024

• Software Resumes
• Software Engineer Resumes by Experience
• Software Engineer Resumes by Role

Writing Your Software Engineer Resume

If you’re looking to take the next step in your software engineering career, there’s no better time than now, especially with many companies releasing salary information thanks to  pay transparency laws across the states .

You have the skills and experience to land your next software engineer job, but figuring out  how to write a resume  is entirely different.

We’ve analyzed countless developer resumes seeing what works and what doesn’t. That’s why we’ve written 24 software engineer resume samples that have  helped developers get jobs at top tech companies like Google, Uber, and Twilio .

Whether you’re wondering how to use ChatGPT to write a resume or are already  checking your resume  for improvements, you’re in the right place to help you get more interviews in 2024!

Software Engineer Resume Example

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Always check the job description and the company’s mission statement to determine what you should include in your resume. If you have experience that doesn’t fit into your software engineer resume, but you still want to include, you can try to add some in your  software engineer cover letter .
• Try to include metrics relating to revenue, increased user counts, or increased efficiency. There are numbers there; you just have to find them!

Software Developer Resume Example

• Because of the amount of niche positions, you need to be careful when titling your resume. Always adjust the title on your resume to match the job to which you’re applying.
• Even if your work experience is different from the description, you can include some of the necessary skills and keywords. However, if your work experience is vastly different from the job description, you might want to consider applying for a different type of job.

New Grad Software Engineer Resume Example

• A word of caution: resist the urge to feature just anything in your piece. Instead, strive to unearth duties and wins relevant to the target company and its KPIs. Talk about using Jenkins for integration automation, building custom UIs with Django, optimizing databases with MySQL, and more.

Software Engineer Intern Resume Example

• Companies will understand that you’re just starting out in your career, so including technical courses like ‘Computer Organization and Architecture’ in your software engineer intern resume will show them you have a solid understanding of the fundamentals.

Software Engineer New Grad Resume Example

• If you’re a recent grad, employers will understand that you have limited work experience but would like to see some proficiency in the technical aspects of the job. Use the job description to know the company’s requirements and adjust the skills you include in your software engineer resume to align with what the company is looking for.

Entry-Level Software Engineer Resume Example

• Plus, a template lets you easily adjust stylistic elements like color, font type, and layout. Make your resume as unique as you are!
• The first option is to demonstrate your ability to create and maintain new projects that are easily scalable and solve real problems. You can include college projects, personal projects, or even start something new so you have something to add!
• The second option is to show off any internships you’ve gotten. You can treat them just like work experience, but you can include it in your work experience or projects section.

Junior Software Engineer Resume Example

• Your time as a developer in a personal endeavor may have involved several responsibilities and accomplishments that make for a worthy addition to your junior software engineer resume.

Associate Software Engineer Resume Example

• Of course, if you have more than 10 years of experience, use a  resume summary  instead. Objectives and summaries aren’t too different, but summaries have more achievements and experience.
• Personal pronouns like “I,” “me,” and “my” take up space, so cut them out.
• Use active voice and active verbs to make sure your work experience bullet points are as short as possible.

Senior Software Engineer Resume Example

• Highlighting a lengthy career with multiple software engineering roles is key to getting noticed, especially when you pair it with quantifiable data from various sources.
• Always check the job description to get an idea of what the employer wants to see. Try to include six to eight skills in your  resume skills section  to give a wide range of your available skills.
• Focus more on adding technical skills, but you can include a few soft skills to highlight how well-rounded you are.

Experienced Software Engineer Resume Example

• For example, take the case of a Certified Software Development Associate (IEEE) certification included in this resume. It’s credible evidence that proves you have a concrete understanding of software design, testing, maintenance, and quality assurance—all of which are integral to any software engineering role.

Mid-Level Software Engineer Resume Example

• Your mid-level software engineer resume should give prominence to accomplishment metrics that touch on your application tools competencies, process streamlining, project timeline reductions, and ability to utilize resources to meet outcome expectations.

Lead Software Engineer Resume Example

• Your lead software engineer resume will go up a notch once you mention a master’s degree in computer science. It gives more credibility and shows that you’ve professionally learned how to lead other engineers and also keep systems running smoothly.

Staff Software Engineer Resume Example

• Did your overhauling MYSQL schema indexation expedite data access? Mention time saved in hours per month or week. Can you recount how many technical guides you built or published or how many users benefited from your software programs? Specify the numbers. Dollar-amount savings should also suffice in your metrics.

Software QA Engineer Resume Example

• Subsequently, choose a template (preferably Elegant) that gives ample spacing in the skills section for you to write down all the things you’re an expert at. Keep things simple by using a good color accent and let loose on all your past work experiences.

Director of Software Engineering Resume Example

• It is paramount that your director of software engineering resume shows your numbers for managing teams, cutting costs, expediting processes, and properly managing and prioritizing resources to exceed targets and goals.

Software Engineering Manager Resume Example

• Adding measurable results to your software engineering manager resume will help an employer evaluate the progress and results you’ve brought to companies you’ve previously worked with. This simple addition of observable statistics can go a long way in setting your resume apart from the crowd.

Google Software Engineer Resume Example

• For instance, adding tools and cloud-based services under the Google Cloud umbrella to your Google software engineer resume shows the company you’re well-versed in multiple development solutions.

Principal Software Engineer Resume Example

• While you may have several hobbies and interests, ensure you include those most relevant to the role you’re applying to. Participating in coding challenges and hackathons shows you’re passionate about software engineering, even outside work hours—something any employer will love to see!

Python Developer Resume Example

• That’s why it can be useful to include a projects section. Of course, you want the majority of your resume to focus on work experience, but if you’ve got some unique experience that might fit the  software engineer job description , consider adding this optional section.
• We’d recommend making your  web developer skills  section about 70 precent technical skills, but you can include soft skills for the rest. 

Software Engineer Front-End Resume Example

Full-Stack Software Engineer Resume Example

• Include multiple programming languages in your  resume skills section  to increase your value and better fit the ATS screening criteria.
• Start by reading the  software engineer job description  and looking for repeated keywords. You can also look at other local software engineer jobs to look for more key phrases to include.

Embedded Software Engineer Resume Example

• This will inform recruiters and hiring managers that, in addition to your technical coding skills, you have applicable knowledge of CPU architectures, operating systems, and more. You can also include soft skills related to communication and collaboration to showcase your ability to work with teams.
• This is the perfect place to briefly convey your achievements, your experience, and what you hope to accomplish at your future company. Always tailor it to each job for which you apply!

Software Integration Engineer Resume Example

• Your layout should have a good “visual voice” that’s as unique as you are, so don’t be afraid to play with colors, font types, and layouts. So long as it’s easy to read, format your resume to match your style!
• For example, did you start working with a team and end up leading a team? That’s an excellent example of scalable growth!
• Highlight versatile skills (like types of tools you’ve used) and scalable achievements to prove that you can improve your future workplace!

Security Engineer Resume Example

• Our special  resume tip : cut the fluff away from any novice jobs to leave more room for more impressive credentials you got later in your career.
• Demonstrate how your programming skills have evolved or how your interpersonal abilities helped advance your team. And be sure to back your claims with data! 
• Having a variety of jobs shows that you’re well-rounded with a host of skills you may not have obtained otherwise.
• Show this off in your work experience bullet points with a mix of transferable skills and unique abilities from other positions.

Related resume guides

• Scrum Master
• Tableau Developer
• Program Manager
• Web Developer

When you apply for an engineering job at a company, the first person looking at your resume is actually not a person. Companies use something called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to filter out a majority of applicants for a role based on keyword matching.

If you pass this initial scan, your resume will get reviewed by a non-technical recruiter. Then at long last, the technical hiring manager will look at your resume.

So, how do you write a resume that will get you through all these hoops to get that first interview? That’s what this guide is designed to help you do!

We’ve analyzed numerous resumes from software engineers and to come up with valuable  resume tips  to get your foot in the door.

Here’s what we’re going to cover in this guide:

• What to put in the vital skills section of your resume.
• How to properly  format your resume  to appease the ATS filters, including what sections to include or omit.
• How to talk about your work experience and personal projects to convincingly appeal to technical and non-technical audiences.
• How to customize your resume for each job to which you apply (it’s easier than it sounds).

Software engineer skills for resume

The skills section is a vital part of your software engineer resume. This will make or break whether you get through the first phase of the resume review, aka the dreaded ATS scan.

Your  resume’s skills section  shouldn’t be a laundry list of frameworks and programming languages. Especially don’t try to include what you wouldn’t be comfortable coding; just reading about Java is not enough to have it in your skills section.

The worst thing that can happen is that you claim knowledge of a programming language and then can’t answer basic questions about that language in an interview. It’s much better to have true expertise in one programming language than to claim knowledge of 10 different languages.

Good hiring companies know that quality engineers can learn new frameworks as needed. So, it’s a big red flag if you list every programming language under the sun.

There are a few options for organizing your skills section on your resume. First, you can organize them by your proficiency level. You can use categorizations like “Advanced” vs. “Familiar” or “Expert” vs. “Working Knowledge.”

Skills organized by proficiency

Or you can organize them by the type of skill you’re discussing. So you can separate the programming languages you know, the frameworks, the tools, and the databases you’ve used.

Skills organized by skill type

Finally, you can list the programming languages you know and include the frameworks associated with that language you’ve used. You can also list your years of experience with that language. This is useful for recruiters, but it can take up a lot of space on your resume, so make sure your resume format allows for an extended skills section.

Skills organized by years of experience

Software engineer resume format

Threading the needle of making your resume ATS-readable, HR-readable, and technical-hiring-manager-readable is not an easy task. So, try to quantify your achievements without getting too in the weeds (while also not being too broad).

General formatting tips

The most important  resume formatting  tip that you should internalize is making your resume one page long, maximum. Recruiters spend, on average, only  six seconds reviewing your resume . They’re not going to read a several-page resume.

Here are the quick hits for how to properly format your resume:

• Keep it to one page.
• Avoid long paragraphs of text to make it readable.
• Bullet points should be self-contained, complete ideas.
• Keep your tenses consistent. Refer to old roles and projects in the past and refer to your current position in the present.
• Avoid pronouns like “I” or “we.”
• Check for grammar and spelling errors . Don’t let this be the reason you don’t get the job!

It’s tough to fit all of your projects and work accomplishments on a single page, but remember, you’re more than your resume. Recruiters understand this and know if a resume looks good initially, they can ask more questions in the interview.

Your goal with your resume isn’t just to include your best talking points; it’s also to make the life of the person reviewing it as easy as possible. Make sure you don’t have long paragraphs of text so it’s easier to read. Break up your would-be paragraphs into singular ideas that are more appealing to the reader.

Bad bullet point formatting

Designed and built out the backend for a client application that enabled users to build their own recipe books. Used Angular on the front-end and NodeJS on the back-end. Working closely with product managers, scaled this application to 200,000 users and generated annual revenue of $1.4M. (If you’re still reading this, then well done, because it’s far too long.)

Good bullet point formatting

• Designed and built out the back-end for a client application that enabled users to build recipe books.
• Used Angular on the front-end and NodeJS on the back-end. Working closely with product managers, scaled this application to 200,000 users and generated annual revenue of $1.4M.

Your bullet points should be self-contained, so you don’t need periods after each point. Within your bullet points, make sure your verb tenses are consistent (past tense is preferable).

Also, we’d recommend avoiding singular pronouns, so don’t use “I” or “we.” They waste time and look unprofessional, so don’t include them. For example, instead of saying, “I worked on building the back-end for a project,” you should say, “Worked on building the back-end for a project.” There are plenty of ways to avoid saying “I.”

Lastly, please  review all grammar and spelling . Don’t give recruiters or hiring managers an easy excuse for someone to put you into the “no” pile. Too many great software engineers don’t  check their resumes  and leave typos and punctuation errors.

Contact information and title

Your name should be the first thing on your resume, and it should be listed in a bigger font. Directly underneath it, you should include a title. This title should always be the job for which you’re applying. So, if your current title is “software engineer” and you’re applying for a senior engineering role, your title should be “senior software engineer.” After your title, include your contact information, including:

• City and zip code (you don’t need to give your specific address)
• Email address (make sure it sounds professional and includes your name)
• Telephone number
• LinkedIn profile URL
• GitHub profile URL
• Personal website (if you have one)

And although you know already to review your resume for typos,  triple-check your contact section  for anything that’s incorrect. We once had a great engineer misspell his email here, and although he was a great fit for the role to which he was applying, the company couldn’t contact him, so he didn’t get an interview!

This may seem like a lot of information to include, but you can make it compact. Here’s a great example:

What you include in the education section of your resume will vary depending on whether you’re applying for an entry-level software engineering role or a more senior role.

Regardless of your seniority, you should always include the school you attended, the year you graduated, and your major. If you had a minor or a specific concentration, include that.

If you’re applying for anything  other  than an entry-level role, that’s all you should include in your education section. Why? Because real estate is valuable on a resume, and your work experience and projects will convey more about your qualification than your GPA or college courses.

Suppose you’re  applying for a software engineering internship  or  looking for your first full-time role . In that case, your education section will be more expansive to accurately convey your qualifications. Plus, you’ll want to mention relevant courses to the role for which you’re applying. For software engineering roles, this means any classes related to software engineering. Took a databases class? Completed an algorithm design course? You get the idea.

If you want to include your GPA, make sure it’s above a 3.2. Otherwise, leave it out.

Entry-Level Software Engineer Education

Senior Software Engineer Education

Software engineer resume summary

Unless it’s done exceptionally well, we strongly recommend that you don’t include a  resume summary  or objective on your software engineer resume. Why? Because they rarely, if ever, convey meaningful information to the person reviewing your resume. Let’s break down a typical objective statement:

Sample software engineer resume objective

I have 3+ years of experience, and I’m looking to leverage my Django expertise to work on challenging problems as a Senior Software Engineer.

There isn’t anything new in this objective. Their 3+ years of experienceand Django expertise should be demonstrated in their work experience. There’s no customization for the specific job, and it’s far too short.

Remember, recruiters typically only look at your resume for six seconds. Don’t make them waste precious time on anything that doesn’t demonstrate new information about why you’re a great fit for the role.

Anything unique to your situation or circumstance (for example, you’re undergoing a career change) should be discussed when creating a cover letter . You can elaborate on what you’re looking for in your next role without the constraint of space.

Work experience

Your work experience section is, without a doubt, the most important section on your resume. This is where a resume reviewer spends most of their time and attention. It’s here that they’ll decide whether they want to move you onto the first stage of the interview process. So, this is not the place to be humble. Show off the good work you’ve done.

If you’re a junior developer, this section will be shorter (in favor of a longer “Projects” section). If you have two-plus years of work experience, this should take up the majority of the space on your resume.

So how do you talk about your work experience convincingly? The key is to  be specific  and  quantify the impact of your work  whenever possible.

Developers rarely work in complete isolation, especially at larger companies. So you must tease out what you did specifically on each project. If you worked as part of a team to turn a multi-page web app into a single-page app, and you were in charge of re-designing the back-end infrastructure for the new app, talk about that specifically.

Good work experience description

Architected the new back-end in Ruby to change multi-page primary product into a single-page app, resulting in $1.2M in annual incremental revenue.

Bad work experience description

The team changed our primary product from a multi-page app to a single-page app, resulting in $1.2M in annual incremental revenue.

Notice that when talking about your actual work, you want to be specific about your particular role. However, when talking about the project’s impact, you can talk about the overall effect that the team had.

Again, quantify the impact of the projects you worked on whenever possible. Businesses hire engineers to move the company forward, and the best way to demonstrate you can do that is to show you’ve had a measurable impact in your past roles.   Rough estimates of impact are okay if you don’t have exact numbers; just be reasonable and logical in your assessments.

Here are some other ways you can try to quantify your work:

• Reduced downtime by X%
• Improved the speed of the application by X%
• Implemented a product feature that improved customer retention by X%
• Improved customer satisfaction (as measured by NPS) by X%
• Built a feature that improved click-through rate by X%
• Scaled a product that successfully handled X concurrent users
• Automated a process that saved X hours of manual labor each week
• Improved a product feature that increased usage by X%
• Worked on a project that led to a cost savings of $X
• Implemented unit tests that improved test coverage by X%
• Fixed a bug that reduced customer complaints by X%  

The formula for discussing your work experience is “my specific contribution to a project” + “the overall quantitative impact.” This describes the same work experience, just in different ways.

Let’s look at an example of this in action to see how effective it is.

Good: Specific contribution plus quantitative impact

Bad: Vague description and no quantitative impact

Software engineer resume projects

The size of your projects section on your software engineer resume should be directly tied to your seniority level when applying for a developer job. The more junior your role, the more space you should allocate to your projects.

If you have more than two years of experience, you should only list one project of which you’re especially proud. Most of your resume should be composed of what you did in your previous jobs.

Try to talk about your projects in the same way you would talk about your work experience. The goal of your projects is to demonstrate your technical skills in context. Show how you used a language or framework to build something that satiated your curiosity or solved a problem.

Your projects should give more color to your skills section. While it’s great to say you know Ruby, it’s even better to say how you built the back-end of your movie recommendation engine in Ruby. Anyone can list a skill on their resume, but showing how you used that skill demonstrates even stronger mastery of that skill.

If you worked on substantial coding projects during school, you should include them here. When possible, always include the projects you’ve listed on your resume in your Github profile or on your personal website.

Here’s the format of how you should talk about your projects on your resume:

• Describe the problem you were trying to solve and how you solved it at a high level. In the example above, “Built an Android app to allow party-goers to vote on what song should play next.”
• Next, discuss some technical details in either one or two bullet points.

Again, you’re trying to demonstrate two things to a hiring manager with your projects. First, you want to give context to the skills you list on your resume. Next, you want to show that you can identify a problem and then implement a solution to solve that problem.

Interests & hobbies

If you have a bit of extra space and have a hobby or interest that might interest employers, you should include it. Some companies appreciate personality, so this would be the place to highlight that.

Customize your resume for each job

We know, we know; customizing your resume is tedious. But we have some good news! You don’t have to overhaul your resume for each job to which you apply. You will likely have to change one or two bullet points on your resume for each application.

Read the  software engineer job description  for the job to which you’re applying. Do any particular projects you’ve worked on or languages you’ve used come to mind when reading it? Those should absolutely be included in the resume you submit for that role.

Now, let’s say you’re applying for the following role:

Clearly, they want an engineer who has experience developing APIs. So, instead of just one bullet talking about my experience building out APIs, you should allocate two to three bullet points to my work.

When customizing your resume for each job you apply for, be sure to expand on the work experience or projects you’ve worked on that are especially relevant to the position at hand.

How to write an effective software developer resume

Here are the major takeaways you should keep in mind when  writing a professional resume :

• Keep your resume to one page.
• Proofread your resume  multiple times  to avoid any grammar or spelling errors.
• If you’re applying for an entry-level role, mention any relevant college courses. Otherwise, don’t let your education section take up a lot of space.
• Unless you tailor it, you don’t need a summary or objective section on your resume.
• Only include skills for which you’d be comfortable being interviewed.
• Always mention your specific contribution and quantify the overall project’s impact on the business.
• If you’re applying for an entry-level role, talk about any personal coding projects you worked on.

Remember, the goal of this resume is to get your foot in the door. Once you get that first phone interview, your skills and personality will surely shine through.

Applying to new jobs can be daunting, but one of the most complex and most confusing parts is now over. You’ve done the research, and you’re ready to  write your resume ! You can use our free  resume builder  to start your resume from scratch or a template, and our  free resume checker  uses AI-powered tips to suggest improvements and resolve errors.

You’ve got the knowledge; now go land your dream job!

Software Engineer Resume [2024] - Example + How-to Guide

You’re a software engineer. You use your talents to build the future.

Well, once you get the job.

There’s one thing in your way:

The huge pile of other resumes sitting on the recruiter’s desk.

It’s time to make your talents stand out.

In this guide, we take you through a step-by-step process to creating a software engineer resume that gets results.

• An example of a finished software engineer resume that works
• How to write a software engineer resume that’ll fill up your interview diary
• How to make your software engineer resume stand out [with top tips & tricks]

For some inspiration, here’s a software engineer resume example, created with our very own online resume builder :

Looks good, right?! Now it’s time to create your own.

Besides the software engineer resume example, we've got a bunch more examples for professionals in the computer science field:

• Java Developer Resume
• Web Developer Resume
• Computer Science Resume
• Artificial Intelligence Engineer Resume
• Engineering Resume
• Data Scientist Resume
• Data Analyst Resume
• Data Entry Resume

How to Format a Software Engineer Resume

Now, before you can highlight your talents, you need to format your resume correctly. 

Your resume should be easy to read and not be hard work for the recruiter to skim through. 

The “reverse-chronological” resume format  is the most commonly used format, and we can see why. It positions your top talents at the top of your resume, so the recruiter can immediately see your value proposition.

These software engineering resume formats also get our approval…

• Functional Resume – If you have strong software engineering skills, but a small amount of work experience, this resume format is recommended
• Combination Resume – The final format combines both “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological” formats. As such, it is ideal for software engineers who have skills AND work experience.

Once you’ve chosen your format, you need to organize your resume layout .

Use a Software Engineer Resume Template

Word is a great application for creating documents.

Creating a resume with text editors is a different story all together!

This is due to formatting issues.

In fact, there’s a chance your entire layout will fall apart as you make alterations. 

Want to skip any formatting issues? Use a software engineer resume template .

What to Include in a Software Engineering Resume

The main sections in a software engineering resume are:

• Work Experience
• Contact Information

Want to go a step further? You can also add these optional sections:

• Awards & Certification

Interests & Hobbies

But wait – what should you write for each of these sections? 

Read on to learn how.

Want to know more about resume sections? View our guide on What to Put on a Resume .

How to Correctly Display your Contact Information

Now, this section doesn’t need any creativity, but it must be factually correct. 

Play close attention to this section – the last thing you want is an impressed recruiter who wants to interview you, but can’t contact you!

The contact information section must include:

• Title – Align this to the job description, which is “Software Engineer”
• Phone Number – Check this multiple times
• Email Address – Use a professional email address ([email protected]), not your childhood email ([email protected])
• (Optional) Location - Applying for a job abroad? Mention your location.
• Lauren Hill - Software Engineer. 101-358-6095. [email protected]
• Lauren Hill - Ninja Software Engineer. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

How to Write a Software Engineer Resume Summary or Objective

Here’s a shocking fact for you –

Recruiters spend less than 6 seconds on each resume .

With hundreds of resumes to get through, it’s no surprise that recruiters simply glance over resumes looking for the most important information. 

As such, you want to make the most important information clear to see.

The best way to do this is via a resume summary or objective , which are snappy paragraphs that go on top of your resume.

Their purpose is to quickly highlight why you are the best candidate for the software engineering job. They can be seen as a “small preview” to the rest of your resume.

But what is the difference between the two sections?

A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.

• Experienced software engineer with a strong background in developing award-winning strategies for a diverse clientele. 12+ years of industry experience includes leading large engineering teams to achieve concrete goals on a strict deadline. Strong skills include Database management and MySQL, .NET and Java.

A resume objective is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of what you want to achieve professionally.

• Motivated software engineer looking to pursue a successful career in software development at Company X, where I can help in the delivery of state-of-the-art software solutions. Experience includes coding, troubleshooting, and testing for my own personal projects while at University X. Relevant skills include PHP, Data Structures, Machine Learning, and Debugging.

So, which one is best for your situation, summary or objective?

Generally, we recommend experienced software engineers go with a summary. If you have the skills but lack the industry experience, you should choose a resume objective (graduates, career changers, or those still studying).

How to Make Your Software Engineer Work Experience Stand Out

Recruiters want to know that you can do the job, and do the job well. The easiest way to instil confidence in the recruiter is with your work experience.

Here’s how we recommend you structure your work experience section:

• Position name
• Company Name
• Responsibilities & Achievements

Software Engineer

ElectronicsX

03/2017 - 07/2020

• Built an ecommerce site integrated with multiple payment APIs for a 32% in company revenue
• Developed new infrastructure to easily handle over a million client files 
• Consistently achieved 100% compliance with industry best practices
• Reduced security breaches by 84%

To separate your resume from the competition, you should highlight your top achievements. Doing so will allow the recruiter to see the obvious benefits in hiring you.

Instead of saying:

“In charge of infrastructure”

“Developed new infrastructure to easily handle over a million client files”

Simply put, the first statement doesn’t say much.

This is in direct comparison with the second statement that shows how your work benefited the company greatly. Hard numbers that prove your skills – can’t argue with that!

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Not everyone will have a wealth of work experience.

Maybe you’re a graduate looking for your first engineering job?

The question is how to tackle this part of your resume when you have no experience.  

The answer –

Talk about your internship experience, volunteering work, or any achievements at your place of education. 

You can even create a portfolio of your own work!

There are several ways to build a portfolio (and even get paid for it):

• Pick up some relevant freelance gigs on UpWork
• Start you own software project as a side-hustle

Are you recent engineering graduate? Make sure to check out our student resume guide!

Use Action Words to Make Your Software Engineer Resume POP!

…are all common words that the recruiter sees time and time again.

However, you don’t want your resume to resume the competition, which means you should use power words to make your achievements stand out:

• Conceptualized
• Spearheaded

B.A. in Software Engineering

The University of Chicago

2012 - 2016

• Relevant Courses : Software Engineering Project, Distributed Systems Development, Information Systems Modelling, Specification of Software Systems, Software Evolution, Software Quality, Agile Methods

Now, you may need more information. If so, here are the answers to some of the most frequent questions that we get:

What if I haven’t completed education yet?

• Regardless of whether you’re an engineering graduate or still studying, you should still mention every year of education to date

Should I include my high school education?

• Generally, only include your highest form of education. Therefore, include your high school education if you don’t have a relevant degree in engineering

What do I put first, my education or experience?

• Experiences are the priority, so those go first. If you’re a recent graduate, you will likely need to start with education

Need more information? Check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top 10 Skills for a Software Engineer Resume

Your software engineer resume must do one thing—

Show that you’ll do a better job than the other candidates.

But how can you do this? 

Well, by highlighting the right software engineer skills on a resume.  

This is done by looking at the job description, and then comparing the skills needed with the skills you already have.

Put all relevant skills on your resume. Here are the most commonly used skills for a software engineer resume:

Hard Skills for a Software Engineer:

• Data Structures
• Machine Learning
• Web Development

Soft Skills for a Software Engineer:

• Creative Thinking
• Communication
• Time-Management
• Team Player
• Try to sprinkle your skills throughout the document, not just in the skills section. You can drop some of your skills in the resume summary, education section, and work experience section.

Here’s a more comprehensive list of 101+ must-have skills this year .

What Else Can You Include?

That’s all of the essentials covered.

But ask yourself one question –

Does your resume stand out ?! 

The above sections should be enough to get you onto the shortlist, but adding some extra sections could be the deciding factor between you and another candidate.  

Awards & Certifications

Have you won an award for your engineering work?

Have you completed any courses that improve your skills?

If you have any awards or certifications, be sure to list them in your resume!

Here’s an example:

Awards & Certificates

• “Advance Software Engineering” - Coursera Certificate
• “Critical Thinking Masterclass” - MadeUpUniversity

Even though you will unlikely need to speak an alternative language in your job, the skill is still impressive to any recruiter. As such, feel free to add a language section if you have space.

Rank the languages by proficiency:

• Intermediate

Now, you’ll probably thinking, “why is my love of fishing relevant to the job application?”

Well, listing your hobbies allows the recruiter to get to know who you are.

They can also show that you’ll be a good part of the team, especially if you enjoy social activities. 

Here’s which hobbies & interests you may want to mention.

Include a Cover Letter with Your Resume

Cover letters are just as important as they always have been.

You see, a cover letter instantly makes your application specific and more personal. 

Unlike a generic resume that has been sent to ten other companies, a cover letter shows the recruiter that you want to work for their company.

For a winning cover letter, you need the correct structure. Here’s what we recommend:

You should complete the following sections:

Personal Contact Information

Your full name, profession, email, phone number, location, and website (or Behance / Dribble).

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, email

Opening Paragraph

As the recruiter will likely skim through your application, you need to win their attention within the first few sentences. Use concise language to mention:

• The position you’re applying for
• Your experience summary and best achievement to date

Now it’s onto the main body of the cover letter, where you should delve into the following specifics:

• Why you want to work for this specific company
• What you already know about the company
• How your engineering skills will help you to do the job
• Which similar positions have you held before

Closing Paragraph

To wrap up your cover letter, you should:

• Conclude the main points made in the body paragraph
• Thank the recruiter for the job opportunity
• Finish with a call to action that leaves the conversation open, such as “At your earliest opportunity, I’d love to discuss more about how I can help company X” will work

Formal Salutations

End the letter in a professional manner. Something like, “Kind regards” or “Sincerely.”

For more inspiration, read our step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter .

Key Takeaways

Congratulations!

If you followed the advice above, you’re well on your way to landing that elusive software engineering role.

Before we go, let’s summarize the main points:

• Format your software engineer resume correctly. Use the reverse-chronological format, and then follow our layout recommendation
• Use a summary or objective at the top of your resume
• Highlight your achievements in your work experience section
• Make sure your portfolio is the best it can be. If you don’t have one, think about getting one
• Include a convincing cover letter to separate you from the competition

Suggested Reading:

• Guide to Green Careers - All You Need to Know
• How to Answer “What Is Your Greatest Strength” [4 Samples]
• Why Should We Hire You - 10+ Best Answers

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How to create an effective software engineer resume

What makes a great software engineer resume? Comparing a good resume with a bad resume makes it easier to spot the difference. Read on to create your best developer resume ever!

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in software engineering and development will grow by 22% in the decade between 2019 and 2029. Globally, according to Evans Data Corporation, the number of developer jobs is expected to increase to 28.7 million in 2024.

Though more software engineer positions will open up in the coming years, more candidates will be vying for your position. And that's especially true for the higher-paying jobs at top startups and multinational companies.

Meaning, don’t phone it in if you want a serious shot at an interview. You need to know how to write a killer software engineering resume to be considered.

Well, you’re in luck!

Below, you’re going to learn exactly how to write a resume for software engineering jobs. What to include on your resume, how to structure it, things to omit, and more - it’s all here. There is no need to hire a resume writing service, as you can do this by choosing a great developer CV template on Google Docs or Microsoft Word or start building your resume using our resume builder.

For this guide, Arc partnered with Christian Eilers, career expert and CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer) to lay out exactly how to write a resume for software engineering jobs in detail.

Whether you’re starting from scratch, already have the alpha version of a software engineer resume drafted up, or want to find a software engineer example resume, you’ll find all the best advice and expert tips below to transform it into a stable release candidate .

Read more: What to Include on a Software Developer Resume — and What to Leave Off

So, ready to get going?

Here’s how to write a software engineer resume that’ll land you interviews:

Contact information section

As you might have guessed, the first software engineering resume section is all about your contact details and personal information.

While it is easier than the other resume template sections, many software engineer candidates actually mess this part up. Turns out, there’s way more to consider than what you might have thought.

First, take a look at a bad example SWE resume contact section:

And here’s a good example:

Now, what makes the good example good and the bad example bad?

Hint: it’s not the formatting.

Here are the important details to consider when preparing your contact information section:

Name - First name and last name is fine, but a middle name or initial could help when there are many others with similar names on Google and LinkedIn. Job title or branding statement - An optional subtitle below your name listing your current professional title or short personal description is a common and accepted practice. You could put "Entry Level Software Engineer, User Interfaces" if you want to be specific. With that said, you want to avoid convoluted titles like "Full-Stack Dev Ninja," as this title may not work well with ATS. Email address - Don’t turn IT recruiters off with your old high school handle (e.g., [email protected] ). Use a basic, professional email address with just your first and last name. You can also create an alias or a brand new email address if necessary. Phone number - Give your cell phone number rather than your home phone number, and include your country code. As recruiters may leave a voicemail, make sure you have ample space. Also, re-record your voicemail greeting if it’s unprofessional. Physical address - In most cases, don’t include your home address or mailing address, as it’s usually unnecessary. Add it only if the company you’re applying to requires local candidates for onsite positions. Website - A personal portfolio website is a great supplement to your resume for software engineer jobs. Use it to document your past professional, freelance, and personal projects in detail. LinkedIn profile - Around 72% of recruiters use LinkedIn to make hiring decisions. Before sending your software developer resume, complete your profile and update it with current information. To showcase your software engineer skills, complete LinkedIn skills assessments to earn badges and impress IT recruiters with your expertise. GitHub URL - If you’re active on GitHub, add a link to your profile to show off your projects, repositories, and other development activities. Many hiring managers give you bonus points if you’ve contributed to open-source projects. Other social media profiles - In most cases, leave your other social profiles off, as they’re likely irrelevant (and easily found on Google anyway). However, add these profiles to round out your resume if you are a software engineering thought leader on Reddit or Twitter. Sensitive information - Don’t include your social security number, date of birth, political affiliations, religion, or other super-personal details. It's not safe and could lead to bias, which may result in you being excluded from consideration. Formatting - Feel free to be a bit creative here and consider customization options, but don’t go overboard. Make sure your name stands out (larger font size, bold, etc.), and align as you please. Keep the header the same on both your software engineer cover letter and resume template for consistency. Hyperlinks - Make it as easy as possible for recruiters and CTOs by hyperlinking any URLs in your software engineering resume.

Finally, before we move on to the actual resume content, a warning — make sure to clean up your online presence!

Whether you list your social media profile links or not, an interested hiring manager or head of IT will Google your name to see what comes up. You want it all (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) to be professional, so thoroughly comb them beforehand for lewd photos, political rants, and other potentially offensive material. Hide them, or better yet, remove them completely!

Hiring managers and IT recruiters spend an average of six seconds scanning through every single resume the first time around, which is really no time at all.

If they notice something they like during that quick glance, your software engineer resume will be reviewed more thoroughly. If not, it’s game over at this particular company, unfortunately.

So, write an irresistible introduction paragraph to capture their attention.

This opening statement is a sales pitch that tells them, "Here's why you should continue reading my resume and keep me in the running as a software engineer job candidate." Let’s start off by looking at two examples of this opening paragraph.

First, here’s a bad software engineer resume example:

And here’s a good resume summary example:

The second resume sample provides enough information, like education, years of experience, and quantifiable measurements of success. With these information in hand, the HR hiring manager or tech recruiter is much more likely to pass your developer cv on to the head of IT for further review.

Let’s dive deeper to understand the characteristics of a compelling opening statement on software engineer resumes:

Concise & complete - A perfect resume summary statement is only about 3-5 sentences long, yet it touches on everything. Important keywords - It’ll allude to, or directly mention, key skills, education, professional experience, certification, and other items meant to keep your candidacy alive. Numbers as proof - Don’t simply write that you have certain technical skills or knowledge of software applications. Give the recruiter hard numbers to back up your claims. For example: “I increased speed and accuracy” is vague and requires clarification, but “I increased speed and accuracy by 12% in 6 months ” shows hiring managers just how capable you are. Tailored - The introductory paragraph should be tailored to each software engineer job you apply for. Start by mentioning the role and company you are applying to. Look at the job posting to find hints about the type of person they want.

There are two main kinds of resume introductions:

Resume summary - When you have previous experience in software development jobs or as an SWE, this is the one you’ll use. As the name suggests, it summarizes your relevant skills, experience, and education while showcasing key accomplishments. All in a way that is tailored to this particular job, of course. Resume objective - Also known as a "career objective," use a resume objective when you have little or no experience in software development or engineering (like if you’re fresh out of university or changing careers). Here, give quantifiable achievements from college or other professional areas that are transferable to software engineering. Then, mention your goals for a career in software engineering to wrap it up.

And, a quick pro tip —

Write your career objective or resume summary paragraph last. Though it's positioned at the top of the page, completing the rest of your software engineering resume first allows you to flesh out the important numbers and critical details. Once you’re done, you can circle back and fill in this opening paragraph, and it’ll be a heck of a lot easier!

Work experience section

Next comes the work experience section, where you’ll compile your previous job history.

As in the last section, let’s look at a good example and a bad example of a software engineering resume job experience section before discussing the best way to go about it.

Here’s a not-so-great professional experience example:

Now take a look at this good example work experience section:

Here’s what makes the second software engineer resume example the better choice:

Order - In your work experience section, the first line should be your job title, as it’s the most relevant information. Below each job title, include the company name, your working location (not their HQ city), and the dates you were employed. Start with the most recent software engineering position and work backward (reverse-chronological order). Active voice - Use active voice rather than passive voice. It’s way more powerful and effective to say “I formed and mentored a team” than to say “the team was formed and mentored by me.” Quantifiable achievements - Just as a checksum verifies the integrity of an associated file, achievement numbers verify how well you carried out past responsibilities. You can say you oversaw the redesign of a website, but you can prove you did a great job if you add something like “... leading to a 35% sales increase.” Power verbs - Things like “worked on,” “responsible for,” and “helped” are weak resume words and phrases. Add some oomph to your writing with powerful, software development-related words (e.g., “tested,” “engineered,” “transitioned”). Formatting - Group work experience achievements into bullet points. Around 3-5 bullet points per entry is ideal. Also, let it breathe - rather than cramming it all in there. Make use of negative space to help each point stand out. A solid text block is hard for recruiters to parse in that initial 6-second scan! Be consistent - You can choose to spell the full month name or abbreviate the state in which you worked. Just be sure to follow that same styling everywhere else in the work experience section and other resume areas.

Please note that we recommend a great mid-level or senior software engineer resume to have the work experience section immediately follow the introductory statement. However, if you’re writing a resume with little or no experience (perhaps for a software development internship or junior software engineer position), move more relevant sections higher, particularly skills and education. Always put the most impactful items highest.

Education section

Depending on where you’re applying, your academic history may play an important role in software engineering. Even if you are a self-taught developer or learned through a coding bootcamp, many job descriptions for software engineer roles still require some university education. While your degree may be completely unrelated to information technology, it’s still important to display your scholastic credentials in the best way possible.

Before we dive into how to write a resume education section, let’s again take a look at some resume examples.

A bad software developer resume example:

And a good SWE resume sample:

Note that there are many ways to organize the education section of your senior or junior software developer resume.

A general rule of thumb: the less professional experience a job seeker has (say on a junior software engineer resume), the more info ought to be included to compensate.

Here are the must-have elements:

Degree - If you've earned a degree, the first line of each entry should be the degree name and your major. Follow the naming convention the job description uses when deciding to choose between “bachelor’s degree,” “BS,” or “B.S.” If you’re working on a degree, write instead “Majoring in Computer Science,” for example. School Details - On the following line, simply write the name of the university and the city and state (or city and country). Dates - Follow the same dating format you used above in the work experience section. Format - In the bad example, the date is a second column within the education entry, which itself is in the resume’s second column. This very likely would make it difficult to parse if scanned into HR’s ATS (applicant tracking system) software. The fewer columns, the better, but a single column is best!

And some optional items to consider:

GPA - Adding your grade point average is often problematic, as anything much less than a perfect GPA will turn them off. Relevant coursework - Include college classes you took that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. And not just specifically connected to software engineering. For example, if you’re applying to become the lead software engineer, adding that course you took on business leadership is a great way to increase your chances! Minor - Listing a minor (or double major) on your resume shows you can balance a heavy workload and are eager to soak up knowledge. Honors - If you graduated with honors or earned any academic awards, show them off. Projects - Similarly, highlight any relevant software engineering projects, academic publications, or research papers.

Finally, while most job descriptions may specifically seek someone with a degree in computer science or software engineering, don’t pass up the chance just because your university history doesn’t match. As one of the more modern employment sectors, they may still consider you - especially if you have enviable software engineering skills and experience.

For those of you applying for software engineer jobs with non-traditional learning pathways in your past, we’ve got you covered! Use the resume education section to list traditional education, and we’ll talk more about where to add the others in just a moment.

Skills section

The software engineering resume skills area should be well thought out. Managers are looking for abilities you have that are relevant to the position, and anything that doesn't just get in the way.

Reread the job description. Find the software engineer skills they’re looking for, and, if applicable, include these in your resume skills list.

Here’s a bad resume skills example:

And this is a better example:

Let’s look at the characteristics of a great SWE resume skills section:

Quantity - Include only relevant skills that will help you land the software engineering position. These will usually be listed in the job description. As a software engineer, there's probably no point listing your proficiency with Microsoft Office, but more relevant software applications should certainly be included. Go “Hard” - Hard skills are those that can be developed through learning, such as technical skills, while soft skills are acquired as life goes by, such as people skills. Go heavier on the hard skills. Grouping - IT managers often prefer you to include skill levels to identify just how proficient you are at each one. Follow our convention above or choose your own, but omit any skills with which you have only a rudimentary understanding. Format - Remember that ATS we mentioned earlier? To make sure hiring software will read your resume correctly, opt for a text-based format (see the good software engineer resume example) over bar charts or fancy graphics.

An important thing to remember - your entire resume shows off your software engineering skills and abilities, not just this skills section. And, other places often show these skills off in a better way, particularly when accompanied with numbers.

You can save crucial resume real estate by thoughtfully cherry-picking, especially for soft skills. For example, rather than (or on top of) adding “communication skills” or “leadership skills” here, imply you are a great communicator or leader using the career summary statement, education section, or work experience bullet points.

If you’re looking to apply Pareto’s principle (the “80/20 rule”) to writing a resume for software engineering jobs, the certification and awards section will surely give you the most bang for your buck.

If you can include this section, the few words you list here may just be the most impactful items found on your resume. Why? Certifications and awards, including online qualifications, automatically prove a certain level of technical skills and knowledge, especially when delivered from an industry-renowned organization.

However, though just a few words long, there’s a right way and a wrong way to list them.

Here’s a bad software engineer resume sample:

First and foremost, the bad example is hard to notice as it’s crammed there into a corner. The good example makes use of white space all around to ensure the contents stand out to hiring managers.

Also, always remember to stay consistent . The bad example uses the full name of one certification as the first entry but the abbreviation for the second. Our recommendation is to write out the full name and include the abbreviation in parentheses to maximize resume keywords.

Finally, if you have several certifications and awards each, consider splitting them up into their own sections. Otherwise, one section combining both is just fine.

Personal projects section

Software developers are a passionate, dedicated, enterprising bunch, and you likely have some (or many) personal projects, open-source contributions, or freelance work to show off. And that’s great! These software side projects are very useful in getting the hiring manager on your side.

Let’s just figure out how to highlight your software projects in the best possible way.

A personal projects section *on* a resume is a good idea for lower-level software engineering positions with little professional experience. If you’re writing an entry-level software development resume or a resume for a software engineering internship position, add a few of your proudest projects. Having these projects shows you’re not just in it for the paycheck, but rather you are wholly passionate about software development and engineering.

But, for mid-level and senior software engineering resumes, link out to an online portfolio of your projects in the resume contact information section instead. As a software engineer with experience, you’re going to need all the room on the resume you can get, which is why the online projects portfolio is better. However, if you find yourself with room to spare, by all means, include them!

Anyway, if you’ve decided to add projects directly onto your resume, here’s what to do:

Grouping - When listing more than a couple of projects, group them into subheadings like “Technical Projects,” “Business Projects,” and “Other Projects.” Title - On the first line, identify the type of project. It could be something like “iOS Mobile Application” or “eCommerce Chatbot.” If you have a website with expanded details on the project, hyperlink the title there. Description - Give a short description of the project, no more than 3 sentences. Perhaps include the problem it solved, why you created it, and the client (if applicable). Skills - To end each entry, identify the skills you used (e.g., API access, JavaScript Interop) or tech stacks required to complete the project (e.g., LAMP, MEAN).

An entry-level software engineer resume should be about a *single page* in length, and an experienced candidate should have a two-page resume at most. If your side projects resume section is causing your document to become too long, opt for linking to an online portfolio of projects, instead.

Other important parts of a resume

Above are some of the most common and important sections to include on a resume for software engineer positions, but other areas may help your chances as well. The important thing is to tailor each resume for one particular software engineer job description, rather than sending one generic resume everywhere.

Here are a few additional sections to consider for a good software engineer resume:

Languages - I don’t mean Java, Go, or Python here, but human languages. Adding languages you’re fluent in, along with your proficiency level in each, could be a great addition — especially if you’re joining an international team! Volunteer work - Volunteering speaks to your character, commitment, and values. Any job seeker with a volunteer work experience section will definitely earn some extra points. Publications - Are you an IT thought leader? Let the recruiter know with a few choice links to articles you've published on software design, containerization, or big data! Memberships & affiliations - Highlight your dedication to computer science, information technology, and software engineering in particular by listing professional organizations where you have an active membership. Hobbies and interests - This may seem irrelevant at first, but, like volunteering experience, they help to portray you as a human rather than just as a candidate. If you have some extra space left over on your resume template, consider adding hobbies and interests you’re proud of. Coding Bootcamps - If you attended or graduated from a coding bootcamp, don’t be shy! Adding this type of non-traditional coding school and education to your resume is more and more common these days. Plus, it looks great to recruiters, especially for software developer resumes with little experience. Courses - If you took courses related to software development but unrelated to a specific college degree (for example, the University of New South Wales’ “Introduction to Systems Engineering” on Coursera ), add these in a section separate from your other education. Do the same for courses you took for other skills you want to show, such as leadership, communication, or business, for instance. Additional activities - Have other life experiences or activities which may benefit your chances of landing that tech interview but nowhere to put them? Create a section called “Additional Activities” on your developer CV template. Here you can put things like conferences you attended (or better yet, spoke at), side projects you have, and other projects and pursuits.

And finally —

A software engineer cover letter .

A cover letter may not exactly be part of a resume, but you definitely ought to include one *with* your resume.

Just be sure to use it wisely.

Tailor your software engineering cover letter to the job description. Don’t repeat your resume on the cover letter, but use it instead to expand upon or add value to your resume. Explain why you’re applying and why you believe you’re the most eligible candidate for the software engineering position. Highlight key skills, experience, qualifications, and other items which support your claim.

“Every job is essentially a problem looking for a solution. So every job posting has within it a problem that the company is trying to solve by hiring a human to do that,” as Lisa Smith, Engineering Manager at Zapier, told Arc . If you can use your resume and cover letter to convey how hiring you helps them solve their problems, you’ll be well on your way to that software engineer interview.

And just before you send off your application, do a quick resume review to ensure everything is in order, from your resume format to your relevant skills section. Reread the software engineer job description to see if you missed anything. If possible, get a friend, family member, or roommate to proofread your documents or resume builder draft. Now, send your perfect resume to the hiring manager or IT recruiter, and keep your fingers crossed for a smooth job search experience.

💻 Create an effective software engineer resume

Want to land interviews for your dream job? Click "Create my resume" now to start crafting your best resume ever with Arc's resume builder!

📚 More Tips on Crafting Your Software Engineering Resume

8 Resume Format Tips for Senior Software Developers

10 Hard and Soft Skills to Put On A Resume

8 Best Sites for Free Resume Templates for Software Developers

What to Include on a Resume — and What to Leave Off

8 Best Resume Builders & CV Makers for Software Developers in 2023

How to List Programming Languages (& Other Technologies) on a Resume

❓ software engineer resume faqs.

Still have some questions about our resume builder or questions about software developer resumes in general? Check the following resume frequently asked questions — and their answers.

Why should I use Arc’s developer resume builder?

At Arc, we help developers get great remote jobs. So looking at developer resumes is something we do all day, every day. We've designed a resume builder to include all the must-have information for recruiters to notice and pick you from a sea of applicants.

What if I don’t have a resume to upload? Can I make one from scratch?

No resume? You can just create a new one using this resume builder . Without a resume, we can't pre-fill the template and you'll need to do some more writing. That said, you'll still get professional tips and will be able to use the optimized resume template.

How long should a resume be?

Have you ever been told that your resume must only be one page long? If you're a recent grad or a junior developer, one page might be sufficient. However, if you're a seasoned developer, you may need up to two pages to cover all the crucial information that makes you a competitive candidate.

With that said, your resume should be concise and as relevant to the job you're applying to as possible. Why? On the one hand, technical recruiters don't usually spend more than 6-8 seconds skimming through any given resume. But just as important: the 1-page or 2-page rule sets up a constraint for you to only include the most relevant experiences and achievements.

When writing your resume, you should always make sure the highlighted skillsets, experiences, and achievements map onto the job description of any given job. This means your resume should look different for every job you're applying to .

As a final reminder, try not to include every project you've contributed to or led simply because they seem meaningful to you. Always think from the hiring manager's point of view. Does the experience help them understand how your skills fit the role? If not, consider leaving it out.

How to add a resume to LinkedIn?

While LinkedIn allows its users to essentially host their resumes — a summary, work experience, skills, education, certifications, and volunteer experience — on its platform, LinkedIn is more about networking and gaining exposure. As your resume should be uniquely tailored to each job you apply to , your LinkedIn profile should only be an overview of your experience, skillsets, and connections.

"Featured Media" Want your resume to show on LinkedIn? Upload it as a "Featured Media." After converting your resume to a PDF file or multiple PNG files, you may add your resume as a "Featured Media" by clicking on "Add Profile section" via your profile. The catch: the resume you upload is likely a generic resume that doesn't specifically cater to the exact jobs you're interested in. Resumes as "Featured Media" may be useful for providing extra information about you to proactive recruiters or for displaying your design abilities, but these resumes are still rather generic.

"Easy Apply" and "Upload Resume" If you're actively looking for new opportunities, we'd recommend tailoring your resume for each job. Once you click on a specific job's "Easy Apply" button, you'll see an option to "Upload Resume." Click this and follow the prompts. Make sure the resume you attach follows the best practices we provide in other sections of this FAQ.

What skills should I put on my resume?

Developers often include a separate "Skills" section on their resume that lists their technical skills in bullet point form. This is a great strategy because hiring managers can quickly scan your resume to see what skills you possess. To showcase your hard skills, you should list some of the skills you possess in the following areas:

• Programming languages
• Operating systems
• Data structures
• Database software
• Web frameworks
• Debugging tools
• Project management tools
• UI and UX design skills

(Make sure you use standardized spelling of technical terms — if in doubt, check!)

With that said, soft skills should be woven into your resume in succinct, story-telling bullet points. As the old saying goes, it's better show than tell when it comes to soft skills. When you're writing about your experiences, these are some of the soft skills you want to keep in mind:

• Critical thinking skills
• Collaboration ability
• Self-driven attitude
• Communication skills
• Conflict resolution skills
• Troubleshooting skills
• User-centric mindset
• Leadership skills

What is the best font for resume?

You've probably browsed enough websites and apps to know that fonts and font sizes can make or break a product and its readability/brand consistency.

The same applies to your resume.

Your resume is the first impression you make on the hiring manager and is part of your self branding. What fonts are best?

• Calibri: It's a sans-serif font that's professional and easy to read. However, it's quite an ordinary font.
• Cambria: It's serif font that's easy to read, especially when the font size is small. However, it can be seen as a little too traditional or old-fashioned.
• Helvetica: It's a minimalistic, iconic, and easy-to-read sans-serif. However, if you're using a Windows computer, you'll have to purchase it.
• Georgia: Like Cambria, it's a serif font that's easy on the eyes. With that said, it's a pretty generic font, so it wouldn't highlight your sensitivity to design.
• Verdana: The sans-serif sister to Georgia, Verdana is great for smaller fonts. Again, the downside of Verdana is that it doesn't add any "wow" factor to your resume.
• Garamond: A classic serif from the 1400s, Garamond is classy and easy to read. It is, however, 600 years old, so some may consider this font too old-school.

Feeling a little too overwhelmed by all the fonts out there? Just decide whether you want to use a serif font or a sans-serif font . Serifs are fonts with little lines at the end of each stroke in a letter while sans-serifs are those without lines at the end of each stroke. Serifs tend to be easier to skim but a little old-fashioned, whereas sans-serifs might be tougher on the eye but modern, simple, and minimalistic.

Besides what fonts you use, you should also make sure your font size is larger than 10pt. The standard font size is 12pt, but for names, job titles, and company names, you can either enlarge the font or bold the words for emphasis.

In addition to fonts, you should pay attention to white space, color schemes, and formats. If you want to show off your design skills, you can add in some unique design elements or even consider making your resume look like an infographic . With that said, if design is not your strong suit, just keep your resume simple and clean.

What are the best action verbs and power words for resumes?

Still using "worked on" or "participated in" to start off your sentences on your resume? It's time to bring more power and action into your resume to show off your assertiveness and proactiveness. Here are some powerful action verbs to help you start each bullet point in your resume:

• Trained/Mentored
• Volunteered
• Decreased/Increased

and some more inspirations from MIT Career Advising & Professional Development .

Some technical "power-words" you can add in to the content of your experience and achievements include:

• Highly available
• Fault-tolerant
• Maintainable
• High-performing
• Asynchronous
• Distributed
• Large-scale

and more from CV Compiler about how other power words can be incorporated into your resume.

Instead of painting yourself as a passive participant, use action verbs to assert the active role you played in the completion of different projects. Incorporate power-words to showcase the impact of your contribution to products you’ve worked on and the company you’ve worked for.

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• Senior Software Engineer - Cloud Services
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How to write a software developer resume?

[ Click here to directly go to the complete software developer resume sample ]

"It is not enough to do your best: you must KNOW what to do, and THEN do your best." -W.Edwards Deming

You may be doing your best in trying to achieve your dream job, but do you really know what you are doing is the right thing?

You must understand and analyze the situation before leaping into a conclusion.

Likewise, you need to understand the importance of a resume and learn how to perfectly curate it before sending it out for targeted job applications.

Listed below is a summary of our Software Developer Resume 2022 Blog:

• Every resume has its unique identity and you need to write your name as the header to maintain yours.
• Suitable keywords should be used to customize your resumes according to the targeted job profile that you are applying for.
• Provide only the required personal information in your resume for the recruiters to get in touch with you.
• Provide an overview of your resume by composing a resume summary/objective to highlight your career achievements.

As a software developer, you possess the ability to design, identify, install, and test certain software systems.

Learn how to communicate these abilities to the recruiters through the perfect software developer resume format to make them recognize you as a suitable applicant and shortlist you for the targeted job profile.

Your professional experience, educational qualification, internships, certifications, etc. are all important factors that also contribute to determining your software developers salary.

By the end of this blog, you will be able to write a job-winning resume while learning:

• What to write in your software developer resume and how to write it?
• How to effectively write software developer resume sections?
• How to draft an impeccable sooftware developer resume summary?
• How to write your professional experience section in your resume?

. . . All so you can get the job that you want!

Our Online Resume Builder is stocked with a huge library of examples and a perfect software developer resume template.

All you have to do is to pick the most suitable pre-filled resume template and fill it with your own details.

Software Developer Resume Sample

To start with, let us take a look at our software developer resume template to know what an ideal software developer resume format should look like:

• DB/RDBMS: SQLPlus, Oracle 11g/12c, MySQL, DBCA, OEM, RAC/RMAN, TOAD, Expdp/Impdp, Tkprof, Statspack, AWR/AWS
• Cloud: Amazon EC2/EBS/VPC, Simple Storage Service, Amazon Machine Images, Elastic Map Reduces, Ansible
• Languages: SQL, UNIX, OOPS Concept, Asp.NET, C#.Net
• OS & Misc.: Windows NT/2000, Linux (Red Hat 5/6), Window 8.1, SVN, GIT, Word, PPT, Excel, etc.
• Testing Tools: Apache JMeter, SQL LoadRunner, iOS Driver
• Supervised data file objects & sizing, monitoring database usage /growth, and executed standby database
• Configured & installed Oracle 9i/10g/11g/12c and upgraded it from 10.2.0.1 to 10.2.0.4 ( currently upgrading to 11.2.0.3 )
• Maintained logins, DB yield & development for table space management , indexes, user profiles, storage parameters, etc.
• Developed & maintained web-based applications, project documentation with SDLC development standards
• Executed SQL programs to support the table creation, stored procedures, functions, views, etc. to achieve SLA targets
• Provided Oracle DBA expertise on system performance, capacity planning, maintenance of patching & installation
• Executed and designed test plans for multiple projects while maintaining high quality via requirements traceability
• Reported and resolved defects or issues in the bug tracking system to meet project deadlines & objectives
• Reconciled financial records from multiple sources to ensure adherence of data quality as per reporting standards
• Identified and investigated project issues to recommend alternatives for system identification, analysis and resolution
• Top 5 percentile of the class
• IBM Bluemix Cloud RoadShow & Training | IBM Developer Connect | ‘13- '14
• Dell EMC Oracle DBA Training | DELL EMC Forum | ‘12
• White Board Foundation Certified | Skill Speed Institute (SSI) | ‘11

What is a Software Developer Resume & why do you need it?

To be recognized as a suitable professional by a recruiter, you need to communicate your skills to them through your senior software developer resume.

Most recruiters use the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) to pick the most suitable applicant by filtering through resumes.

Now, your job is to make sure that you rank high on the ATS and get into the radar of the recruiters who can give you the shortlist to get closer to your software developer job.

It is possible only if you make use of the keywords used by the recruiters in the job listing of the profile that you are applying for. So make sure that you include all those relevant keywords that highlight your skills as a software developer.

Doing so will not only make you rank high on the ATS but also take you a step closer to landing your dream job.

Hiration's tips on dos and don'ts while writing a resume can help you curate the perfect resume.

Software Developer Resume Sections

Every resume consists of some specific sections that allow you to communicate the different aspects of your details and pieces of information to the recruiters.

Here is a list of all the traditional standard section that needs to be framed in every resume for any job profile that you are applying for:

• Personal Information
• Profile Title
• Summary/Objective
• Professional Experience

The following mentioned sections can be framed when you need to enhance your resume or if explicitly required to curate:

• Certifications (if any)
• Additional Information (if any)
• Awards & Recognitions (if any)

You can also read more about the importance of different resume sections on Hiration's 2022 Guide to sections in a resume .

Raise your chances of getting shortlisted for the job of your dreams by making use of our huge library of pre-filled resume templates that you can personalize to suit your specific requirements.

How to write your Software Developer Resume

There are three stages of writing the perfect resume which you need to religiously follow to curate your senior software developer resume.

The following sections give you an insight into the different stages of resume writing so make sure that you go through them thoroughly.

• Stage 1: Master Software Developer Resume
• Stage 2: First Draft of Software Developer Resume
• Stage 3: Final Draft of Software Developer Resume

Master Software Developer Resume

The first step before you start framing the first draft of your software developer resume format is to create the master resume.

Create a master folder wherein you can list down all the details and pieces of information related to your professional experience, education, certification, internship, contact details, etc.

Your master resume can be used as the master folder to store all the details that would be required to fill in your resume so make sure that you do not miss out on any details.

Some information may not be required in your current resume but list them anyway because it can be used in your future resume updates.

Doing so can help you save time and also make sure that you do not miss out on any important points which you may need to mention in your resume.

First Draft of Software Developer Resume

The first draft of your resume requires you to compose the outlines of your resume so that you do not skip any important section in your resume.

In the second stage of resume writing, you need to compose the following sections:

• Awards & Recognition (if any)

Always make sure that you frame every standard section in your resume and include the optional sections whenever required to enhance the impact of your junior software developer resume.

Final Draft of Software Developer Resume

In the final stage of writing your resume, you need to compose two important sections that have been listed below:

Key Skills : This section can help you justify your skills. Simply scan through your professional experience section and pick your core skills and objectively highlight them out in the “key skills” section of your resume. Frame this section as the last second step of resume-writing.

Summary/Objective : this section can help you give an overview of your resume. Compose a resume summary if you have over 3 years of professional experience and compose an objective if you have no or very less work experience. This section should be framed as the last step of resume-writing.

Software Developer Resume: Header

The one thing that can help the recruiters keep track of your senior software developer resume without hassle is your resume header.

Follow the below-mentioned points to frame the perfect resume header:

• It should be written in the topmost section of your resume.
• It should be written in the largest font in the range of 16-20 font size .
• Leave a single space between your first and last name.
• In case you have a middle name, write only the initial of your middle name followed by a period and place it between your first and last name.

Learn the art of framing a professional resume header from Hiration’s 2022 Guide To Writing The Perfect Resume Header .

Look at the resume header sample given below to understand how an ideal resume header is framed:

Our Online Resume Builder can help you stand out among any other average resume for the recruiters to shortlist you for the targeted job profile.

Software Developer Resume: Personal Information

The personal information section of your resume is an important section that can help you provide the recruiters with your contact details and current location.

Here is a list of what an ideal personal information section should contain:

Contact Number

Email Address

Current Location

In any likely case that your resume is shortlisted by the recruiters for the targeted job, they need your contact number to get in touch with you.

In some cases, they may want to interview you over the phone or confirm with you before scheduling any face-to-face interview.

So you need to provide your active phone number in your resume so that you do not miss out on any possible calls from the recruiters to get closer to your dream job.

Your mobile number can be mentioned in the below-given format:

• Mention the ISD code of your country as a prefix before your phone number
• Add a plus sign (+) before the ISD code
• Eg: +1 83404 58303

Another convenient means of communication between you and the recruiters is via emails.

You need to provide your email address in your resume for the recruiters to easily get in touch with you as it is fast and efficient.

Always provide your official email address that has your real name to maintain a professional approach.

And strictly avoid giving out those email IDs that have fancy names as it can present you as an unprofessional applicant.

While providing your current location in your senior software developer resume, you need to keep the following points in mind:

• Do not give out unnecessary details that are not required by the recruiters. Information such as the name of your street, your house number, and the name of your locality.
• In case you are looking for a job in your own country, mention your city and state of residence. On the contrary, if you are looking for a job outside your country, simply give mention of your city and country of residence as it is more than enough.

Before you start listing out your personal details in your resume, make sure to go through the hiring guideline of the organization or company that you are applying for a job.

To learn more about this section, read Hiration's 2022 Guide to composing your contact information .

Refer to the software developer resume sample given below to understand what ideal personal information section should ideally look like:

Software Developer Resume: Profile Title

There is a vast number of job profiles in the job industry and your profile title helps you maintain your professional identity in a resume.

It communicates the below-given facts to the recruiter:

• Your current designation.
• Your functional industry.
• Your level of seniority in your line of work.

Apply the below-mentioned guidelines to professionally write your profile title:

• Use the second-largest text in your resume after your resume header.
• Frame it in the ideal font range of 14-16 font size.

Exaggerating your profile title is a big no because it will pass off as intentionally cheating the recruiter. And it may jeopardize your job application.

So always make sure that you provide only the accurate profile title to make the recruiters recognize your professional status.

Refer to our software developer resume example to see how an ideal profile title is framed:

Upload it on our tool and get an in-depth and constructive analysis of your junior software developer resume with our AI-powered Resume Review Service.

Software Developer Resume: Professional Experience

The professional experience section is like the heart of your resume which plays a major role in communicating you as a professional to the recruiters.

The three important factors that need to be implemented in your professional experience section are given below:

STAR Format

• Frame Points

Bucketing & Bolding

The STAR format is important as it can help you give the recruiters an insight into the significant details of your work experience in the best way.

STAR stands for the following points:

• S stands for the situation /context/backdrop of your contributions to an organization.
• T stands for the actual task that was assigned to you as part of your role and responsibility.
• A stands for your action taken by you as a strategy to execute the assigned task.
• R stands for the result or outcome of your action in the form of an achievement figure.

Providing achievement figures can effectively work in your favor as it highlights your specific contributions and achievements for the recruiters to recognize you as a suitable applicant.

Framing Points

To communicate your work experience to the recruiters, you need to frame every statement that describes your professional activities.

Let us look at the two software developer resume examples that can help you have a better understanding of the importance of framing points and how it can be implemented:

Software Developer Resume Example 1

"I effectively supervised data file objects and sizing to monitor database usage and growth. Installed Oracle 9i/10g/11g/12c and successfully upgraded it from 10.2.0.1 to 10.2.0.4. Maintained DB yield and development for table space management, storage parameters, user profiles, and all the other necessary factors. Developed web-based applications and documentation of programs with the required SDLC development standards. Achieved the required SLA targets by executing SQL programs to support all the aspects of the functions, views, table creation, stored procedures, etc. Provided Oracle DBA expertise on system performance for capacity maintenance of installation and patching."

Software Developer Resume Example 2

Supervised data file objects & sizing to monitor the database usage and growth Installed Oracle 9i/10g/11g/12c and successfully upgraded it from 10.2.0.1 to 10.2.0.4 Maintained DB yield & development for table space management, storage parameters, user profiles, etc Developed web-based applications and documentation of programs with SDLC development standards Achieved SLA targets by executing SQL programs to support the functions, views, table creation, stored procedures, etc Provided Oracle DBA expertise on system performance for capacity maintenance of installation & patching

Framing Points: Analysis

As observed from the above-given software developer resume examples, framed points are clear to read.

Use bullet points to frame every point as shown in example 2. Doing so can not only make it clear to read but help you be specific with your statements.

Avoid lengthy paragraphs (example 1) as it may divert the recruiters' interest from your resume due to its bulky nature. The recruiters may find it overwhelming and may not be interested in going through your resume.

In conclusion, frame every points to hold on to the recruiters' interest in going through your professional experience section and communicate your professional experience.

Let us look at another set of software developer resume examples that can help you have a better understanding of the importance of bucketing and bolding and how to apply it in your framed points:

Configuring & Installing Management Supervised d ata file objects & sizing to monitor the database usage and growth Installed Oracle 9i/10g/11g/12c and successfully upgraded it from 10.2.0.1 to 10.2.0.4 Maintained DB yield & development for table space management , storage parameters, user profiles, etc Web Application & Development Developed web-based applications and documentation of programs with SDLC development standards Achieved SLA targets by executing SQL programs to support the functions, views, table creation, stored procedures, etc Provided Oracle DBA expertise on system performance for capacity maintenance of installation & patching

Bucketing & Bolding: Analysis

Both the above-given software developer resume examples are stating the same points but example 2 is more organized as compared to example 1.

Create unique headings (bucketing) and list all the similar points under the relevant buckets.

Once you list down all the similar points, pick the highlights of your career and bold them to make it stand-out.

Doing so can not only make it easier for you to organize your points but also help you highlight all the aspects of your professional achievements and contributions.

Framed points can make your points clear but applying bucketing and bolding can effectively enhance its clarity for the recruiters to recognize your skills.

In conclusion, apply bolding and bucketing to your framed points to make it easier for the recruiters to read and comprehend your professional experience statements.

Learn how to perfect this section by going through Hiration's Blog on how to compose the work experience in your resume .

Given-below is a software developer sample resume showcasing an ideal professional experience section:

Software Developer Resume: Education

Your education section can help you communicate the software developer degree that you possess.

To begin your career as a software developer the least degree you need to have is a bachelor's degree. A degree in computer science or a related field is required as well.

Make sure that you mention the details of all your educational qualifications in the resume to make the recruiters recognize you as a suitable applicant.

Ideally, the following details of your software developer qualifications should be mentioned in your resume:

• Name of the school/university you have attended.
• Name of the courses you have pursued.
• The location of your school/university.
• Enrollment and graduation dates in the month & year format.

Refer to Hiration's 2022 Guide on how to list education on your resume to correctly curate the education section.

Apart from the software developer resume examples provided so far, here is our software developer resume sample:

Software Developer Resume: Certifications

The competition is fierce in the job world and you need to be the best to stand out among any other average applicant.

If you have any certifications that are related to the job profile that you are applying for, make sure to provide the details.

Doing so can make the recruiters recognize you as a professional applicant who is certified as a professional who is suitable for the targeted job profile.

The certification section of your resume should contain the following details:

• Certification course name.
• Name of the institute of affiliation.
• Location of the institute of affiliation.
• Enrollment and completion date of the course in the month & year format.

You can ideally list these points in the format given below:

{Name of certification} | {Affiliating Institution} | {Location} | {Date} (month & year format)

Make sure to go through Hiration's 2022 Guide on listing certifications on a resume to learn how to perfectly frame this section.

Here is a resume sample illustrating how an ideal certifications section can be curated in your resume:

Raise your chances of getting shortlisted by composing your resume with our professionally designed Hiration's Online Resume Builder

Software Developer Resume: Additional Information

In case you speak more than one language, it can be mentioned as additional information in your junior software developer resume.

You can also mention the details of any hobby that reflects on your productive skills and enhance your professional skills as a software developer.

This section can highlight any additional information that is related to the job profile that you are targeting.

Write a stellar resume to boost your chances of a shortlist with Hiration's Online Resume Builder

Software Developer Resume Key Sections

Software developer resume: key skills.

The recruiters have a limited time-window to go through your resume and you need to make the best use of this timeline to communicate your software developer skills.

This section can help you rank high on the ATS and to achieve that you need to make use of the significant keywords used by the recruiters.

Scan through the professional experience section of your resume and pick those skills that have been justified in your one-liner points. Once you pick the significant keywords, list them in your key skills section.

It would be easier for the recruiters to recognize your relevant skills as a professional software developer and hence raise your chances of being shortlisted for the targeted job profile.

Read Hiration's 2022 Guide on what skills to put on a resume to learn how to efficiently curate this section.

Refer to our software developer resume sample showcasing the perfect key skills section:

Software Developer Resume Summary

The software developer resume summary is another important section to highlight your professional skills for the recruiters to easily recognize you.

It is an overview of your resume that should be composed as per the following guidelines:

• A summary should be written at the end to make it easy to decide what to skip and what to frame in your resume summary.
• You should pick the most significant highlights of your career from your professional experience section.
• It should include the keywords that have been used by the recruiter in the job listing.
• A resume summary should be limited to 4 lines only and can be 5 line sand more only when your professional work experience is more than 10 years.
• A resume summary should be composed only if you have over 3 years of work experience.

Learn how to compose the perfect resume summary from Hiration's 2022 Resume Summary Guide .

Attached below is a sample software developer resume showcasing the ideal summary of your software developer resume summary:

In the meanwhile, you can make resume-writing an effortless affair with Hiration's Online Resume Builder .

Software Developer Resume Objective

A resume objective is also an overview of your resume for software developer that should be composed if you do not have enough work experience to frame a resume summary.

You should compose a resume objective if:

• you have no work experience.
• you have very limited work experience of less than 3 years.
• you are a fresh graduate writing an entry-level resume.

Do not make the mistake of asking what the recruiter can do for you, instead mention what you can do for the recruiter.

Avoid highlighting a shopping list of all that you are expecting from an organization and mention the values you are capable of delivering.

The role of your software developer resume objective is to sell your skills as a professional software developer and to convince the recruiter that you are the most suitable applicant.

Hiration's 2022 Guide on Resume Objectives can help you compose the perfect resume objective.

Resume Review & Free Resume Templates

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Your resume will be reviewed in compliance with the below-mentioned parameters:

• Design Compatibility
• Conversion Scope
• ATS Compliance
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• Resume Formatting (font, margins, the order of sections, etc.)

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Online Resume Builder for Software Developer Resume

Here is a list of the resources that come with our Online Resume Builder:

• Option to save unlimited resumes
• 25+ resume designs
• Full rich-text editor
• A sharable link
• Live resume editor
• Unlimited PDF downloads
• 100+ resume templates
• 1-click design change

Also, feel free to go to our Online Resume Builder and make use of the pre-filled templates and replace them with your details as per your requirement.

Key Takeaways

• Make the best use of your resume header to help the recruiters keep track of your resume by writing your name.
• Avoid mentioning unnecessary details related to your personal information.
• Provide achievement figures to specify your achievements and contributions to an organization.
• Frame one-liners to state your professional experience to make it easier for the recruiters to recognize your professional skills.
• Create unique buckets to list your similar points and bold the highlights of your career.
• Provide an accurate profile title to make the recruiters recognize the level of your professional experience.
• Give an overview of your resume by composing a suitable resume summary or objective.

Now that we have reached the end of this blog, make use of all the software developer resume examples and software developer resume samples that we have provided in this blog as it can help you in writing a great resume.

Go to Hiration resume builder and create a professional resume for yourself. Additionally, reach out to us at [email protected] and you can get 24/7 professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries.

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• Fresher Software Developer Resume Example

Resume Examples

• Common Tasks & Responsibilities
• Top Hard & Soft Skills
• Action Verbs & Keywords
• Resume FAQs
• Similar Resumes

Common Responsibilities Listed on Fresher Software Developer Resumes:

• Developing software applications according to specifications
• Writing code in various programming languages
• Debugging and troubleshooting software applications
• Testing software applications for functionality and performance
• Documenting software applications and processes
• Working with other software developers to design and develop software applications
• Participating in code reviews
• Developing user interfaces
• Integrating software components
• Creating and maintaining databases
• Developing automated tests
• Participating in software design meetings

Speed up your resume creation process with the AI-Powered Resume Builder . Generate tailored achievements in seconds for every role you apply to.

Fresher Software Developer Resume Example:

• Developed a user-friendly mobile application using Java and Kotlin, resulting in a 15% increase in user engagement within the first three months of launch.
• Collaborated with a team of five developers to implement agile methodologies, reducing project delivery time by 20% and increasing team productivity by 25%.
• Documented software applications and processes using Confluence, resulting in a 10% improvement in team communication and knowledge sharing.
• Integrated software components using RESTful APIs, resulting in a 20% improvement in application performance and functionality.
• Created and maintained databases using SQL, resulting in a 15% reduction in data errors and a 10% increase in data accuracy.
• Developed automated tests using Selenium and JUnit, resulting in a 25% reduction in manual testing time and an increase in testing coverage by 30%.
• Wrote code in Python and C++ to develop a scalable microservices architecture, improving system reliability by 30% and supporting a 20% increase in customer base.
• Participated in code reviews and software design meetings, resulting in a 15% improvement in code quality and a 10% reduction in bug-related delays.
• Debugged and troubleshot software applications using Visual Studio and Eclipse, resulting in a 20% reduction in production issues and an increase in customer satisfaction by 15%.
• Agile methodologies
• RESTful APIs
• Microservices architecture
• Code reviews
• Visual Studio
• Troubleshooting
• Software design
• Team collaboration
• Communication
• Time management

Top Skills & Keywords for Fresher Software Developer Resumes:

Hard skills.

• Programming Languages (e.g. Java, Python, C++)
• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
• Web Development (e.g. HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
• Database Management (e.g. SQL, MySQL, Oracle)
• Version Control (e.g. Git, SVN)
• Debugging and Troubleshooting
• Software Testing and Quality Assurance
• Algorithms and Data Structures
• Operating Systems (e.g. Windows, Linux, macOS)
• Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
• Agile and Scrum Methodologies
• Cloud Computing (e.g. AWS, Azure)

Soft Skills

• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
• Attention to Detail and Accuracy
• Time Management and Prioritization
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Communication and Collaboration
• Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills
• Creativity and Innovation
• Analytical and Logical Thinking
• Learning Agility and Curiosity
• Self-Motivation and Initiative
• Empathy and Customer-Centric Mindset
• Patience and Perseverance

Resume Action Verbs for Fresher Software Developers:

• Collaborated
• Implemented
• Troubleshot

Generate Your Resume Summary

Resume FAQs for Fresher Software Developers:

How long should i make my fresher software developer resume, what is the best way to format a fresher software developer resume, which keywords are important to highlight in a fresher software developer resume, how should i write my resume if i have no experience as a fresher software developer, compare your fresher software developer resume to a job description:.

• Identify opportunities to further tailor your resume to the Fresher Software Developer job
• Improve your keyword usage to align your experience and skills with the position
• Uncover and address potential gaps in your resume that may be important to the hiring manager

Complete the steps below to generate your free resume analysis.

Related Resumes for Fresher Software Developers:

Fresher software engineer, entry level software developer, junior software developer, computer science graduate, entry level programmer, software developer intern, entry level full stack developer, entry level software engineer.

Resume Worded   |  Proven Resume Examples

• Resume Examples
• Engineering Resumes
• Software Developer Resume Guide & Examples

Senior Software Developer Resume Examples: Proven To Get You Hired In 2024

Jump to a template:

• Senior Software Developer
• Lead Software Engineer
• Software Development Manager
• Software Development Lead
• Chief Software Architect

Jump to a resource:

• Senior Software Developer Resume Tips

Senior Software Developer Resume Template

Download in google doc, word or pdf for free. designed to pass resume screening software in 2022., senior software developer resume sample.

Senior software developers are experienced engineers that often lead the development team. They usually have four to ten years of experience in the field and are familiar with up-to-date trends in the industry. A senior software developer is responsible for designing the product standards, delegating, tasks, and monitoring colleagues to make sure they are following the specifications and delivering their job on time.

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Recruiter Insight: Why this resume works in 2022

Tips to help you write your senior software developer resume in 2024,    quantify your achievements with metrics..

Your role as a senior software developer can have a big influence on the development team's operations. Therefore, your achievements can be easily quantified. By doing this, you will provide more reliability to your resume by illustrating your influence on the organization’s bottom line.

   Demonstrate your project management skills.

Senior software developers have a managerial role. They are responsible for overseeing the development team’s performance and providing guidance. You must make sure everyone is on track with deadlines and following technical standards. That’s why it is important to include your project management skills in your resume.

Lead Software Engineer Resume Sample

Software development manager resume sample, software development lead resume sample, chief software architect resume sample.

As a hiring manager who has recruited software developers at companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, I've seen thousands of resumes throughout my career. The following tips are based on the best practices I've observed from the strongest resumes that landed interviews and job offers. If you are applying for a senior software developer role, make sure to incorporate these into your resume.

   Highlight your technical leadership experience

Companies look for senior developers who can lead projects and mentor junior developers. Emphasize your experience in these areas:

• Led a team of 5 developers to launch a new product feature that increased user engagement by 30%
• Mentored 3 junior developers, resulting in their promotions to mid-level roles within 1 year
• Spearheaded the adoption of a new testing framework that reduced bug reports by 25%

Avoid simply listing your daily responsibilities or technologies used without providing context on your leadership impact.

   Show your impact with metrics and results

The best resumes provide specific metrics and results to demonstrate the impact you had. Compare this:

• Developed new features for a web application using React
• Developed new features for a web application using React, resulting in a 20% increase in user sign-ups and $500K in additional revenue

Quantify your impact wherever possible, and tie your work to business outcomes to show the value you provide.

   Tailor your skills to the job description

Read the job description carefully and make sure your resume highlights the key skills and experience they are looking for. For example, if the job mentions experience with cloud platforms, include bullets like:

• Migrated 10 on-premise servers to AWS, reducing infrastructure costs by 30%
• Designed and implemented a highly available architecture on Google Cloud Platform for an application with 1M+ daily active users

Avoid a generic list of every programming language or framework you've ever used. Focus on the ones most relevant to the specific job you're applying for.

   Include links to your projects or portfolio

Hiring managers want to see examples of your work. Include links to your GitHub profile, personal projects, or online portfolio. For example:

• Contributed to an open-source machine learning library used by 500+ developers (link to GitHub repo)
• Built a full-stack web application for a non-profit organization, resulting in a 50% increase in donations (link to live site)

Make sure your linked projects are up-to-date, well-documented, and demonstrate your best work that is relevant to the job you're applying for.

   Highlight your soft skills and collaboration abilities

Senior developers need to have strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams. Show this through bullets like:

• Collaborated with product managers and designers to define and implement new features, resulting in a 25% increase in user engagement
• Presented technical talks at 3 industry conferences, sharing knowledge with the broader software community

Avoid focusing solely on your technical abilities. Demonstrate that you can work well with others, communicate complex ideas, and contribute to the team's success.

   Show your career progression and growth

Hiring managers want to see how you've grown and progressed throughout your career. This shows your ability to learn, take on new challenges, and adapt to change. Compare this:

Software Developer, ACME Inc, 2015-2022 - Developed software features - Fixed bugs and improved performance - Collaborated with team members

Senior Software Developer, ACME Inc, 2019-2022 - Led the development of a new microservices architecture, resulting in a 50% improvement in system performance and scalability - Mentored and trained 5 junior developers, improving the team's overall productivity by 30% Software Developer, ACME Inc, 2015-2019 - Developed and maintained web applications using React and Node.js - Collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software on time and within budget - Implemented automated testing processes, reducing manual QA time by 75%

Show a clear progression in your responsibilities, technical skills, and impact over time. This demonstrates your potential for continued growth in a senior developer role.

Skills For Senior Software Developer Resumes

Here are examples of popular skills from Senior Software Developer job descriptions that you can include on your resume.

• Enterprise Software
• Technical Leadership
• Agile Methodologies
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Software Development
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Cloud Computing

Skills Word Cloud For Senior Software Developer Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Senior Software Developer job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more likely you should include it in your resume.

How to use these skills?

Similar resume templates, business intelligence.

Java Developer

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Resume Guide: Detailed Insights From Recruiters

• Software Developer Resume Guide & Examples for 2022

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Senior Software Developer Resumes

• Template #1: Senior Software Developer
• Template #2: Senior Software Developer
• Template #3: Lead Software Engineer
• Template #4: Software Development Manager
• Template #5: Software Development Lead
• Template #6: Chief Software Architect
• Skills for Senior Software Developer Resumes
• Free Senior Software Developer Resume Review
• Other Engineering Resumes
• Senior Software Developer Interview Guide
• Senior Software Developer Sample Cover Letters
• Alternative Careers to a Software Engineer
• All Resumes
• Resume Action Verbs

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Java Developer Resume for 2024 [Templates & Samples]

Home Blog Programming Java Developer Resume for 2024 [Templates & Samples]

In my experience, the software development landscape continues to sprawl with newer technologies, programming languages, and frameworks. However, one thing that has consistently been fundamental to the process is Java. The cross-platform flexibility I’ve had when working with Java is unparalleled. 

If you’re interested in software development, familiarity with Java is a non-negotiable aspect. Plus, it’s an excellent way to commence your software journey. However, to become a Java developer, you must get certified and complete a Java certification course . Once you have the relevant skills, you can apply for a Java developer’s role.

Based on my experience as someone who started from scratch in Java development, I have created this guide to help you through the process of applying for a Java developer’s role. Besides education and skills, an effective Java developer resume helped me land a modest role. So, let me help you create a high-performing Java developer resume. 

Java Developer Resume: Overview

Gaining knowledge and skills in Java is not going to cut it. Once you have the relevant qualifications, the way you present yourself and let the employers know of your expertise, you won’t get a good job. Read the sections below to see how to create a good Java developer resume. 

Resume Format - Java Developer

A neatly and concisely created resume suits all jobs, whether a Java developer, software engineer , or any other role in any industry. However, an effective Java software developer’s resume contains all the necessary information and relevant qualifications, skills, and experience.

Below are some key points to remember while creating your Java web developer resume.

A. Create a Solid Java Developer Resume Structure/Template

Like any other job resume, you must stick to a proper structure while creating your Java lead developer resume. An effective resume contains all basic information like contact number, email address, work experience, roles and responsibilities, hard and soft skills, accomplishments, certifications, additional courses/diplomas, etc. 

B. Work Experience Section

This section is one of the most important ones. Often, it follows your professional job summary/objective. In this section, you must include all relevant work experiences in Java. Start from the most recent job and then trace your experiences back. Be concise while explaining your role, responsibilities, skills used, and accomplishments for each position. 

Below is an example experience section in the Java developer resume sample.

Stick to this format: job title - employer’s details, your employment duration, and your key responsibilities there. 

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Entry-level Java developers often lack prior work experience, which is very common. Fortunately, even employers understand that a Java developer resume for freshers will not carry much experience. If you are new to the field, you can rely on training programs, internships, or other additional courses to prove your practical knowledge. 

Here is an example.

C. Contact information

Your Java developer profile summary must have the correct personal information. This includes your full name, email address, and contact phone number. Feel free to mention your residential address and any relevant social profile, such as LinkedIn (if you have any).

Below is how you can add your contact information.

D. Add your education

Your educational background is a necessary criterion. For a Java developer’s role, recruiters often select candidates with a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree. This, coupled with some additional developer courses, training, or work experience, makes it easier for the recruiters to shortlist your Java developer resume summary.

Below is an example.

Tip:  Start with your latest educational qualification/credential. Add your degree, educational institute, and address in one line. 

E. Include Java developer skills tailored to the job

Recruiters often skim through resumes or utilize technologies to shortlist resumes with certain job-specific keywords. These keywords could be your key skills, preferred age group, years of experience, or anything else. Using such keywords/key skills can improve your chances of being shortlisted for the next rounds of interviews. 

Below is an example of some Java developer resume skills.

F. How do you craft an effective Java resume summary?

Your professional summary is a crucial element of your Java lead developer resume. This section highlights your most relevant qualifications and puts you in a better position to be selected. That said, do not add unnecessary information or irrelevant details, like your achievements in school or some other work experience out of Java-based development. Try framing it within 3-4 sentences and include as much of your education, skills, and experience as possible. You can also mention additional credentials, like some online Programming certification you gained. Stick to the point, and you will have a high-performing job summary.

Here is a Java developer job summary example to give you an idea.

G. Use action words to strengthen your resume

Action words break your resume’s monotony and add more impact to it. These words can draw recruiters’ attention and showcase your skills proactively. Words like coordinated, developed, strategized, stimulated, steered, streamlined, etc. can point to your achievements in previous jobs. They show how you have already been a successful Java developer.

H. Add extra sections to your resume

We have covered all basic sections of your Java developer job summary. However, some additional sections can improve your resume. Sections like “Awards and Certifications,” “Interests,” and “Languages Known” can add an edge to your candidature. With such information, recruiters can paint a holistic picture of your personality and see how well you can fit the organization culturally. 

I. Write a Java Developer Cover Letter

A cover letter is a persuasive piece of writing that conveys your proficiency and professionalism to the employer. Consider it a business letter conveying your intention to work in the organization and highlighting your relevant skills, education, and qualifications. When written correctly, it can help improve your chances of being selected. 

Here is an example of an effective cover letter for a Java developer. 

As you can see in the sample above, be precise about the heading and mention it in the subject. Begin with the objective of writing this letter and then introduce yourself - your name, job title, and other information.

Next, get into the details of your roles and responsibilities in previous jobs to let the reader know of your capabilities and how you will fit into their organization. Demonstrate all necessary skills, credentials, and competencies to improve your chances of getting shortlisted for an interview. 

Sign off on a hopeful note of hearing back from them. 

Best Practices to Make Your Resume Easy to Scan

If your resume is not scannable and hence not shortlisted, it won’t matter if you are a good fit or skilled at your job. This is why including keywords, all basic sections, and providing a structure is necessary to make your resume stand out and exhibit clarity. We have compiled a table of Do’s and Don’ts to help you create a Java developer resume that’s easy to scan. So, follow the tips and create a better-performing resume.

Java Developer Resume Examples /Samples

We have added some example Java developer resumes in this section. 

1. Intern Java Developer Resume Sample

2. Entry-level Java Developer Resume Sample

3. Mid-level Java Developer Resume Example

4. Experienced Java Developer Resume Example

Tips to Make Your Java Developer Resume Format

Here are a few tips to ensure your Java developer resume is clear and concise.

• Follow a reverse chronological order. It is the most widely used format, and recruiters appreciate its clarity, starting from your recent job, education, etc. 
• A functional resume will be a better option if you are new to the field, a self-taught Java developer, or lack much experience. 
• One-inch page margins,
• A normally sized (11-12 pt) professional font,
• 1.0 or 1.5 line spacing,
• Try winding your resume within a page.

Top 10 Skills for a Java Developer Resume

• Java : This programming language is widely used to build software for the web, mobile applications, desktops, etc. Technologies like Java Swing are fundamental to creating personalized user interfaces and distributed architectures. 
• HTML : It involves front-end navigation, page building, and templates. HTML, along with CSS and JavaScript, is widely used for client-side validations, making it a vital component.
• CSS : This language is also used in client-side validations to get real-time updates across different browsers and devices. 
• MVC Framework : Model-View-Controller or MVC is a design pattern Java developers use to work on user interfaces, data processing, and applications. 
• XML : Java developers often use the JDBC module to convert data volumes from databases like Oracle/SQL into XML format for storage and exchange.
• JQuery : Drop-down menus, visual display elements, user menus, etc., are rich and intuitive elements built using JQuery. 
• Databases : Java developers require proficiency in database management, specifically Oracle or SQL databases, to interact with data stores and convert it into XML or other readable formats
• Collaboration : Teamwork and collaborative decision-making strengthen professional relationships, which is important for employers because employees often work in groups rather than alone.
• Problem-solving : Identifying bottlenecks and areas for improvement is crucial for building user interfaces, and a proficient Java developer must also know how to overcome these issues. 
• Time Management: A successful Java developer requires proficiency in task prioritization, execution, delegation, and management. They must efficiently determine task duration and delegate tasks to team members for timely completion.

Creating a clear and concise Java developer resume is fundamental to standing out, especially in this growing field. Regardless of your experience in this industry, you must clearly state all your educational qualifications, skill training, and courses to let the employers know of your fitness for the role. 

If you are new and still seeking ways to enhance your Java developer skills before applying for a job, enrolling in the KnowledgeHut Java certification course can be a great place to start. You will get hands-on experience in Java programming and know what your work will look like.

Frequently Asked Questions

The ideal length of a Java developer resume is 1-2 pages. However, stick to a single page if you do not have more than 4 years of experience.

A Java developer resume must have the following essential elements:

• Educational background,
• Work experiences,
• Key Java developer skills.

You can also include additional sections like Achievements, Languages, etc.

To create maximum impact, follow these tips:

• Utilize a reverse chronological order. It is the most widely used format, and recruiters appreciate its clarity, starting from your recent job, education, etc. 
• A functional resume will be a better option if you are new to the field, a self-taught Java developer, or lack much experience.
• Follow a basic format:
•  One-inch page margins
• A normally sized (11-12 pt) professional font
• 1.0 or 1.5 line spacing
• Try winding your resume within a page

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An engineer who landed a $300,000 job at Google shares the résumé that got him in the door — and 3 things he'd change on it today

• Sahil Gaba taught himself programming to secure his first job at a small fintech and then at Amazon.
• When he was 29, he managed to land offers from Meta, Uber, and Google within weeks of each other.
• Here's the résumé that got him in the door at Google — and what he'd change on it today.

Sahil Gaba was about to graduate with a master's degree in mechanical engineering when he realized the appeal of computer science.

He noticed that friends who had switched to the computer-science field were having a relatively easy time landing jobs — so he decided to try it, too.

"One summer, I spent a good three, four months learning programming," Gaba, who grew up in India, told Business Insider.

"I was quite optimistic. I went to the job market, tried to get some jobs, but still couldn't get any of those Big Tech companies," he said.

He finally landed a software-engineering role at a small fintech company in Chicago but felt he wasn't learning the most up-to-date software skills with them.

"I had that itch of working in Big Tech," Gaba said. So he spent his evenings learning newer technologies and honing his interview skills.

Catching a big break

It paid off. After two years at the company in Chicago and hundreds of rejections later, he got his first job in Big Tech: a software-engineering role at Amazon.

Related stories

Within 18 months of starting at Amazon, he landed offers from Meta, Uber, and Google within a few weeks of each other. He accepted a role with Google with a starting salary of about $300,000 a year. He was 29 years old at the time.

Here's the résumé he used to land jobs at Meta, Uber, and Google:

What he'd change on his résumé today

The résumé above landed Gaba job offers with three tech giants. Even so, Gaba says there are a few things he'd tweak on it today.

Lead with experience, not skills: Gaba said he created this résumé before landing his first Big Tech job at Amazon. "At that time, because my work experience was not that strong, I put my skills at the top," he said. It would have made more sense to lead with work experience, he said. "I would still want to include my skills, but just for the keywords purposes."

Focus on the new: Gaba said he'd reduce the emphasis on achievements from college. "The honors and awards, they're very old," he said. "I feel like if you've not gotten anything in recent times, you might as well skip them." Similar logic applies to sections such as "coursework."

Simplicity of language: When it comes to touting achievements, Gaba said he'd now prioritize making the language easy to understand. "In the beginning, I would try to add cool acronyms in there — you can alienate your recruiter or hiring manager very quickly by doing that," he said.

But there are some things he'd keep the same.

De-emphasizing education : "I've worked pretty hard for all those degrees, but I know that in the context of the job that I'm looking for, those degrees are not that important," Gaba said. He put his education on the right side of the page since most people tend to read left to right and would therefore see the more-relevant section first.

Hobbies: Gaba said he'd also retain the section called "interests" because it makes for a good icebreaker in interviews: "If you find something that overlaps, it starts a discussion, and it leads to a warm start."

Gaba now works in Google's Seattle office as a software engineer.

BI verified his employment history and his pay history.

Got a story to share about your personal résumé journey? Email this reporter at [email protected] .

Watch: Nearly 50,000 tech workers have been laid off — but there's a hack to avoid layoffs

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