resume templates for software engineer

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18 Software Engineer Resume Examples - Here's What Works In 2024

Software engineers need to be equipped for a field of ever-changing technology. showing your adaptability in your work is essential for any software engineer’s resume. today we’ll be helping you by providing five software engineer resume templates to help you do just that: display your technical versatility, prove your results, and demonstrate necessary skills in 2023..

Software engineers play a crucial role in various elements of software development. The programs that you run on your computer? The many apps installed on your phone? Some of the tech inside smartwatches? At some point, a software engineer was needed to finish the product. Even the coding of this website required a software engineer to make. With technology continuously on the rise, so is the demand for software engineers. The need for them hasn’t declined in a long time. Developers have a bright future in the job market; employment in this field is projected to boost 22% over the next decade. Because technology is ever-changing, recruiters want to see a willingness to learn and adapt. However, they also want to see your experience with various software programs or skills like HTML/CSS, Python, Java, and more. If you’re transitioning to or from a role like data analytics, many of the skills you learned or used will be useful in your new job. Continue reading to view examples of effectively written software engineer resumes that will get you your next job.

Software Engineer Resume Templates

Jump to a template:

• Software Engineer
• Entry Level Software Engineer
• Senior Software Engineer
• Software Test Engineer
• Software Engineering Lead
• Software Engineer Intern
• Experienced Software Engineer
• Junior Software Engineer
• Principal Software Engineer
• Mid-Level Software Engineer
• Software QA Engineer
• Lead Software Engineer
• Software Architect

Jump to a resource:

• Keywords for Software Engineer Resumes

Software Engineer Resume Tips

• Action Verbs to Use
• Bullet Points on Software Engineer Resumes
• Related Engineering Resumes

Get advice on each section of your resume:

Template 1 of 18: Software Engineer Resume Example

A software engineer is a multifaceted professional who is involved in the entire software development life cycle. Software engineers can work for a variety of companies and industries. Software engineers are responsible for gathering requirements from clients, developing software based on these requirements, programming features, testing code, troubleshooting bugs, maintaining software, and much more. To become a software engineer, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or IT. An associate's degree with relevant experience and certifications may also be considered. Hiring managers will be looking for some with technical knowledge and experience in creating code. They may look for someone with prior experience as a test engineer or technical support engineer. Ideal candidates for this role will be knowledgeable in many coding languages, with strong problem solving and project management skills.

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Tips to help you write your Software Engineer resume in 2024

   showcase the breadth of your coding language knowledge on your resume.

There are several coding languages software engineers may use depending on the project at hand. The more coding languages you are fluent in, the more dynamic you will look to hiring managers. You should list off all of the coding languages you are comfortable working with on your resume for this reason.

   Highlight your ability to build software according to client requirements

Often, software engineers are answering to a client who wants a specific outcome. Though it may be challenging to meet client requirements, it’s imperative that software engineers are skilled at taking client requirements and meeting them using problem-solving skills. You should showcase any prior examples where you met difficult or unusual software requirements from clients on your resume.

Skills you can include on your Software Engineer resume

Template 2 of 18: software engineer resume example.

Software engineers with a few years of experience will want to list a good amount of relevant skills, and explain their application in their experience. This sample provides a list of skills needed for the job. It also talks about how those skills were used to deliver effective results. In your resume, talk about what skills/programs you’ve used and how you benefited the company from using them.

   Tailored to the software engineering job

Along with mentioning the job title at the top, this sample lists the job title a few times throughout the whole resume. It also lists certain key terms that are common for this profession. In your resume, try to use keywords that are relevant to the position. This will help your resume pass the ATS during the application process.

   Demonstrates effective results with context

This sample explains how certain skills were used to achieve positive results for the company. A notable example is “ahead of schedule by 6 months.” If a project you’ve completed on the job was finished ahead of schedule, explain that in your resume. Employers want to see that you’re efficient in your work.

Template 3 of 18: Entry Level Software Engineer Resume Example

As an entry-level software engineer, you'll be working in an exciting field with numerous opportunities to grow. With the tech industry constantly evolving, it's essential to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and skills. When writing your resume for this role, focus on showcasing your technical proficiency, teamwork abilities, and desire to learn new technologies. In the second paragraph, emphasize your relevant practical experience, such as internships, coding bootcamps, or personal projects that demonstrate your competencies and passion for software engineering.

Tips to help you write your Entry Level Software Engineer resume in 2024

   highlight programming languages and frameworks.

As an entry-level software engineer, it's crucial to demonstrate your proficiency in key programming languages and frameworks relevant to the job you're applying for. List them in a dedicated section on your resume and mention any certifications or coursework that supports your skills.

   Showcase personal and collaborative projects

Hiring managers look for candidates who not only have the technical skills but can work effectively in a team. Showcase any personal or collaborative projects you've worked on, highlighting the technology stack, challenges faced, and your contribution to the project to emphasize your aptitude and teamwork abilities.

Skills you can include on your Entry Level Software Engineer resume

Template 4 of 18: entry level software engineer resume example.

If you’re a recent college graduate or completed a Bootcamp, this is the resume template for you. The key here is for you to sell yourself with the skills you’ve learned, projects you’ve completed, and software tools you’ve used. Internship experience, if any, will be useful to highlight as well. This sample lists many activities, projects, and classes that are relevant to the position, and communicate effective use of the knowledge they have.

   University projects and activities relevant to software engineering

We understand that you may not have much experience right out of college. That’s why you should list relevant activities you’ve done while in school. This sample does so by listing important courses, projects completed and explaining the different software used.

   Strong action verbs related to software engineers

This sample communicates strong relevant verbs to highlight their experience. Use of words like “developed”, “designed”, and “implemented” all help to show usage of the skills they have. Use action verbs like these in your resume to show you can apply the knowledge you have to real situations.

Template 5 of 18: Senior Software Engineer Resume Example

A senior software engineer is a managerial role who oversees many facts of a company’s software development team. Typically, senior software engineers have many years of experience in software engineering roles and are highly talented programmers. The responsibilities of the senior software engineer include managing mid-level software engineers, creating and spearheading new projects, problem solving high level issues and bugs, guiding junior engineers in coding, and more. Since this is a senior level role, hiring managers will be looking for a candidate with a mix of experience and knowledge. A bachelor's degree in computer science or IT will be required, though a master’s degree can help you stand out. Moreover, hiring managers will be looking for candidates with several years of experience in relevant roles. Previous experience as a software engineer, IT development manager, or software analyst will be valuable to land this role. Most importantly, candidates for this role must have strong leadership and project management abilities.

Tips to help you write your Senior Software Engineer resume in 2024

   showcase progression in responsibility on your resume.

For this role, it’s important to showcase your leadership skills alongside technical skills. Your resume should show how you gained more responsibility in previous related roles. Showcasing a progressive journey will tell hiring managers you are ready for the challenge of leasing a software engineering team.

   Consider a certificate in agile project management

Agile project management frameworks, often known as SCRUM, are popular with software engineers and their teams. This type of management allows teams to plan, structure, and manage work with an emphasis on communication and flexible reprioritization. A senior software engineer may need to use these principles to keep their team on the right track. Gaining a certification in SCRUM can help you stand out for a senior software engineer role.

Skills you can include on your Senior Software Engineer resume

Template 6 of 18: senior software engineer resume example.

It takes more than being skilled in different software to excel as a senior software engineer. You also need to convey that you can effectively lead a team that delivers positive results. This sample demonstrates the success they’ve had bringing individual success and managing a team that also succeeds.

   Shows growth in promotions

Recruiters love to see that your success led to achievement and promotion. If you’ve been promoted, describe that promotion, listing timelines and achievements leading up to it. An example found in this sample is “promoted within 18 months due to strong performance and organizational impact”.

   Strong senior software engineer skills

While it is key to list the skills you’re proficient at, you should list which skills you excel at. Did you achieve high marks for something complex? Were you in charge of a project that led to large profits? Elaborate on the skills used to accomplish these feats in your resume.

Template 7 of 18: Software Test Engineer Resume Example

As a software test engineer, you play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of software products. Your expertise in testing methodologies, as well as your ability to identify and resolve issues, are highly sought after by employers. In recent years, companies have been adopting agile development processes and incorporating automation tools in testing, making it even more important for you to stay up-to-date with these trends. When crafting your resume, it's essential to showcase your knowledge in these areas and demonstrate how you've contributed to successful projects in the past. A well-written resume for a software test engineer should highlight not only your technical abilities but also your ability to work effectively within a team. Employers are increasingly looking for candidates who can communicate well with both developers and other stakeholders, so be sure to emphasize your soft skills as well as your technical prowess.

Tips to help you write your Software Test Engineer resume in 2024

   highlight your testing methodologies.

As a software test engineer, it's crucial to showcase your understanding of different testing methodologies (like unit testing, integration testing, and system testing) and how you've applied them in your past experiences. Detail your approach to testing and any specific tools or frameworks you've used to carry out those tests.

   Showcase automation and scripting skills

Automation is becoming increasingly important in the software testing process, so it's essential to emphasize your skills in utilizing automation tools and scripting languages, such as Selenium, JUnit, or Python. Describe any projects where you've implemented automated testing solutions and how you've contributed to improving overall efficiency.

Skills you can include on your Software Test Engineer resume

Template 8 of 18: software test engineer resume example.

Software testing is different from the other similar job titles listed. Instead of building software, you’re testing it. This sample explains how they did various quality assurance tasks to find flaws and boost performance. Add your achievements in your experience to show that you know what to specifically look for when testing software.

   Numbers and metrics relevant to software test engineers

Because you’ll be testing numerous software to improve results, you need to provide metrics of your results. This sample does this by numerically explaining how much productivity and efficiency were increased.

   Emphasis on project management skills

Experience leading a team is necessary for this role. It’s also great for when you desire to level up within a company. This sample lists how effective team leadership led to satisfactory results. If you’re chasing a promotion, list some of your project management experience throughout your resume.

Template 9 of 18: Software Engineering Lead Resume Example

If you're a software engineer with a few years of experience under your belt, use a template like this one. It's simple, effective at highlighting our work experience, and minimizes the emphasis on the education section (the dates are omitted which is good to prevent ageism, especially if you graduated more than 10 years ago).

Tips to help you write your Software Engineering Lead resume in 2024

   resume summary highlights key accomplishments.

The first rule about including a resume summary is that it does not repeat accomplishments mentioned elsewhere on the resume. This resume stresses new software engineering and leadership skills right at the top of the resume, and includes an award too. If you include a summary, try to include a mix of both technical accomplishments (e.g. projects you developed or led), as well as career-related accomplishments (e.g. being promoted).

   Strong mix of relevant action verbs

Each bullet point starts with an action verb that stresses the skills relevant to the role. For example, action verbs like "Led", "Spearheaded", or "Launched" emphasize leadership.

Skills you can include on your Software Engineering Lead resume

Template 10 of 18: software engineer intern resume example.

This is an entry-level position. Tasks assigned to you may include coding, testing apps and patches, debugging, etc. While you may not have extensive software engineer experience, recruiters will expect to see that you are qualified as a software engineer. You can prove this by listing relevant certifications, tools, and degrees. Keep in mind that as an intern you will likely not be paid or may be paid a minimal amount.

Tips to help you write your Software Engineer Intern resume in 2024

   highlight the range of your capabilities..

Show recruiters that you will be an asset to the software engineering team by including the wide range of tasks that you have had experience completing.

   Work on expanding your toolset.

You may not be able to impress recruiters with your experience, but you can impress them by having an extensive tools list. So keep learning new relevant software and programs to add to your list. It’ll put you above your competitors and show recruiters your dedication to the industry.

Skills you can include on your Software Engineer Intern resume

Template 11 of 18: experienced software engineer resume example.

As the name indicates, this position calls for an applicant with extensive experience as a software engineer. Your tasks may include developing new software or apps, coding, creating patches, testing software, etc. As a senior in the department, you may also be put in charge of a team of more junior engineers. Managerial skills will also need to be shown if this is the case.

Tips to help you write your Experienced Software Engineer resume in 2024

   keep your tools section current..

Because you have had extensive and lengthy experience in the field, you may forget to update your tools section to incorporate new software, languages, and programs that have been developed. Remember to keep updating your tools list to reflect current industry standards.

   Highlight your managerial skills and successes.

This is a senior position so show recruiters that you would be a good team leader within the department. Mention if you have led teams before, the size of the teams you have led, and what success your teams have had under your leadership.

Skills you can include on your Experienced Software Engineer resume

Template 12 of 18: junior software engineer resume example.

A junior software engineer might be new to the industry or has had minimal experience. You will work under a senior software engineer or manager and will be given tasks like coding, testing, and fixing bugs, among others. Recruiters strongly prefer to see an educational background in software engineering or a similar field and expect you to be experienced using industry-standard tools.

Tips to help you write your Junior Software Engineer resume in 2024

   have a thorough skills list..

Your skills list can be used to impress recruiters where your experience section may not. Here you can list all software and languages you are skilled in under the tools section, and list the tasks you can complete. Make sure you keep updating this list.

   Show growth through promotions.

Recruiters will want to see a progression in your career up to this point. Showing promotions in your career indicates to recruiters that you are an exemplary employee that previous employers have felt was deserving of a promotion.

Skills you can include on your Junior Software Engineer resume

Template 13 of 18: principal software engineer resume example.

This position is the highest ranking software engineer position and there is usually only one principal software engineer in a company. In this position, you will oversee the entire software engineering department and so may find yourself spending more time managing and leading teams and projects, rather than doing the software engineering yourself. Regardless, recruiters will need to see that you are an expert at software engineering and that you have had a long and successful career.

Tips to help you write your Principal Software Engineer resume in 2024

   mention your style of leadership..

Recruiters will want to know if your leadership style fits in with the company’s ethos and culture. If you have a specific style, be sure to list it. This applicant uses Agile methodology to lead.

   Include extra communication skills.

If you speak any extra languages, be sure to include them. You may find it useful when applying to an international or multicultural company.

Skills you can include on your Principal Software Engineer resume

Template 14 of 18: mid-level software engineer resume example.

This position is also sometimes called a junior software engineer position. You may not have extensive experience coming into this role but you should have a strong software engineering educational background and skill set. You will be working under a senior software engineer or a principal software engineer.

Tips to help you write your Mid-Level Software Engineer resume in 2024

   use metrics to show you value addition..

All companies and recruiters are impressed by decreases in costs and increases in productivity, output, profit, and efficiency. Use metrics to show where your work has led to success in these areas.

   Get certification where possible.

Because you might not have a lot of experience, proving your skills may be the main way to impress recruiters. A way to prove your skills and put you above your competitors is to get certification in industry-standard software, especially new software.

Skills you can include on your Mid-Level Software Engineer resume

Template 15 of 18: software qa engineer resume example.

A software QA (Quality Assurance) engineer tests software to discover any points of weakness or defects. To do this you must be able to design test plans, carry out the tests, and properly report any bugs or defects you may come across. This position requires you to be thorough and creative when designing and enacting test plans.

Tips to help you write your Software QA Engineer resume in 2024

QA testers are tasked with finding anything that stops an app or software from not operating at its most efficient. If your testing led to an increase in response time or a decrease in launch time, this will be particularly impressive to recruiters. So include these successes with metrics of just how successful you were.

   Include any recognition and awards.

Show recruiters that your work stood out and earned you recognition in previous positions. It is an easy way to indicate your skill level and to present you as the best amongst your peers.

Skills you can include on your Software QA Engineer resume

Template 16 of 18: lead software engineer resume example.

A lead software engineer is tasked with developing, maintaining, testing and evaluating software. You may be assigned a team to manage and lead, and may also work directly with clients. Communication skills are therefore paramount. You also need to have an extensive background as a software engineer and an extensive skills list that at least covers industry standards. Take a look at this strong lead software engineer resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Lead Software Engineer resume in 2024

   highlight your leadership/managerial experience..

Tell recruiters the size of the teams you have led and what impressive progress your team made under your leadership. They need to trust that not only are you a good software engineer but that you can effectively lead a team of software engineers.

   Use software engineering keywords.

An easy way to indicate your level of expertise is to use software engineering keywords. It shows a good understanding of the industry. An assimilation of its keywords into your everyday communication can only come from extensive experience.

Skills you can include on your Lead Software Engineer resume

Template 17 of 18: software architect resume example.

A software architect is a software engineer in charge of designing software systems and programs. You will also be responsible for troubleshooting problems and finding software solutions. You need to have a strong software development background and a strong skill set. Take a look at this strong resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Software Architect resume in 2024

   have a focused technical skill set..

Focus your skill section on the skills most fundamental to your software architect tasks. This applicant has included skills like ‘integration’ and ‘software architectural design’.

   Show career progression in software development.

Show recruiters that you are exceptionally skilled and successful by showing promotions in your career. It will also show recruiters your dedication to your profession. This applicant started as a programmer and moved their way up to a software architect position.

Skills you can include on your Software Architect resume

Template 18 of 18: software architect resume example.

Software architects make high-level decisions for the software development process. They identify the project’s requirements and create an actionable plan to develop them. This includes designing the structure needed for the software and tools the team will use. That’s why you should highlight skills in your resume, such as systems design and databases.

   Indicate your knowledge of agile principles.

As a software architect, you will be responsible for supervising the entire software development process, so you need to work with a system that promotes productivity, such as Agile. Most employers might look for candidates with knowledge of Agile principles, so it’s important to mention this in your resume.

   Mention your experience with DevOps practices.

As a software architect, you may have to coordinate with both the development and operations teams, so some DevOps skills might be relevant for this position. DevOps practices will help you automate and integrate processes for the successful completion of the project.

As a career coach and hiring manager, I have worked with numerous software engineers to help them create resumes that stand out. I have also spoken with hiring managers at top tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon to gain insights into what they look for in software engineer resumes. Based on my experience and research, here are some essential tips for crafting a compelling software engineer resume that will catch the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.

   Highlight your technical skills and programming languages

Employers want to know what technical skills and programming languages you possess. Be sure to list them prominently on your resume, ideally in a separate 'Skills' section.

• Languages: Python (Expert), Java, C++ (Intermediate), and JavaScript (Familiar)
• Frameworks: React, Angular and Flask
• Databases: MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL

Avoid simply listing generic skills or ones that are not relevant to the job you're applying for. Instead, tailor your skills section to the specific requirements mentioned in the job description.

   Quantify your achievements and impact

When describing your work experience, use metrics and numbers to quantify your achievements and the impact you made. This helps employers understand the scope and significance of your contributions.

• Worked on a team that developed a new mobile app
• Helped improve the performance of the company's website

Instead, provide specific details and numbers:

• Developed a mobile app that was downloaded by over 50,000 users in the first month of launch
• Optimized the company's website, reducing page load time by 40% and increasing user engagement by 25%

Using metrics makes your achievements more tangible and impressive to potential employers.

   Showcase your projects and provide links

As a software engineer, your projects are a crucial part of your resume. They demonstrate your practical skills and give employers a sense of the type of work you can do. When listing projects, provide a brief description of each one and highlight your role and contributions.

• Personal Blog - Created a responsive blog using React and Node.js, deployed on Heroku, and attracted over 1,000 monthly readers
• Collaborative Task Manager - Worked in a team of 4 to develop a task management web app using Vue.js and Firebase, implemented features such as user authentication and real-time updates

To make your projects even more impactful, include links to live demos, GitHub repositories, or blog posts that showcase your work. This allows employers to explore your projects in more depth and see your coding skills firsthand.

   Demonstrate your problem-solving abilities

Employers value software engineers who can solve complex problems efficiently. Use your resume to showcase your problem-solving skills by providing examples of challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

Faced with a performance bottleneck in a critical system, I profiled the code, identified the issue, and implemented a caching solution that reduced response times by 75% and allowed the system to handle 10x more traffic.

When describing problem-solving experiences, focus on the impact of your solutions and how they benefited the company or project. This demonstrates your ability to think critically and deliver results.

   Tailor your resume to the job description

One of the most important things you can do to make your resume stand out is to tailor it to the specific job you're applying for. Read the job description carefully and identify the key skills, technologies, and experience the employer is looking for.

For example, if the job description emphasizes experience with cloud platforms like AWS or Azure, make sure to highlight your relevant experience prominently on your resume.

• Deployed and managed a microservices architecture on AWS using EC2, S3, and Lambda
• Implemented CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps to automate build, test, and deployment processes

By tailoring your resume to the job description, you show employers that you have the specific skills and experience they are looking for, increasing your chances of getting an interview.

   Highlight your soft skills and teamwork abilities

While technical skills are essential for software engineers, employers also value soft skills and the ability to work well in a team. Use your resume to showcase your communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.

• Collaborated with cross-functional teams, including designers and product managers, to deliver high-quality features on time
• Mentored junior developers, providing guidance on coding best practices and helping them grow their skills
• Presented technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and alignment

By highlighting your soft skills, you demonstrate that you're not just a strong coder but also a valuable team member who can contribute to a positive work environment and drive successful projects.

Software engineering is an analytics-heavy profession. It’s going to involve many percentages, projects, and the use of different software. Hard skills are necessary to excel in this job. But software engineers need to be proficient at teamwork or team management. To succeed in a company project, you’ll need to gather all of the info necessary to get the job done. Recruiters want to see your resume communicate that you can use relevant skills for projects, and for helping others reach a common goal. To make your resume stand out against the competition, follow our suggestions:

  List your skills, then talk about them

This is a highly technical field. It’s not enough to just say that you know programs like Java, SQL, or CSS. You need to show that you know how to use them. How have you used different programs in your previous jobs? Did you use it in a large project? What did you accomplish, improve, or make more efficient? Think about these questions as you fill out the experience section of your resume.

   Don’t leave out metrics

As previously mentioned, it looks good if you talk about the things you accomplished or improved on in your previous job. But it makes your resume even stronger to have the numbers support your claims. If you were responsible for doing something that led to a “25% increase in annual revenue,” recruiters want to see that. It communicates how effective you are at using the tools you know. It also looks good to hiring managers when they see that you can possibly help the company earn money, reduce costs, increase productivity, or solve customer issues more effectively.

   Talk about every relevant achievement

Did you win an award on the job for your superior work? Were you promoted at any point? Did a team meet or exceed a goal under your leadership? Talk about it. If previous managers recognized your exceptional work, it’ll catch the eyes of hiring managers as well.

   Describe your projects

Even entry-level software engineers gain from talking about a project. That’s a way for you to demonstrate your project management skills. If you were in charge of --or started-- a project, then talk about it. Show recruiters that you can work with, or lead, a team to generate positive results.

Writing Your Software Engineer Resume: Section By Section

  header, 1. put your name front and center.

Your name should be the most prominent element in your resume header. Put it on its own line at the top, using a larger font size than the rest of your contact details.

Here's an example of how to format your name:

Avoid formatting your name like this:

• John Q. Smith, Software Engineer

Remember, your goal is to make it easy for hiring managers to remember your name and find your contact information quickly.

2. Include essential contact details

After your name, list your key contact details on a single line, separated by vertical lines or bullet points. Essential details to include are:

• Phone number
• Email address
• LinkedIn profile URL
• GitHub profile (optional but highly recommended for software engineers)

Here's an example of a well-formatted contact details line:

• 555-123-4567 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/johnsmith | github.com/johnsmith

Keep your email address professional, ideally [email protected] . Avoid outdated email providers like AOL or Hotmail that may make you seem out of touch.

3. Decide whether to include your location

In the past, job seekers were advised to always include their full address in their resume header. However, with the rise of remote work and privacy concerns, this is no longer necessary.

If you're applying for jobs in your local area and want to demonstrate that you're a local candidate, you can include your city and state, like this:

Seattle, WA

However, if you're open to relocating or primarily seeking remote software engineering roles, you can leave your location off your resume header entirely. This can help avoid any potential bias from employers who may prefer local candidates.

  Summary

A resume summary for a Software Engineer is an optional section that provides a brief overview of your professional experience, skills, and career goals. While a summary is not strictly necessary, it can be beneficial if you have extensive experience or are making a career change. However, avoid using an objective statement, as it is outdated and focuses on what you want rather than what you can offer the employer.

When crafting your summary, tailor it to the specific Software Engineer position you are targeting. Highlight your most relevant qualifications, technical skills, and achievements. Be concise and objective, using metrics to quantify your impact where possible.

To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your Software Engineer resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Software Engineer Resume Summary Examples , or Software Engineer Resume Objective Examples .

1. Emphasize your technical expertise

As a Software Engineer, your technical skills are your greatest asset. Use your summary to showcase your proficiency in programming languages, frameworks, and tools that are relevant to the position you are seeking. For example:

• Experienced Software Engineer with expertise in Java, Python, and C++, and a strong background in developing scalable web applications using Agile methodologies.
• Proficient in full-stack development using React, Node.js, and MongoDB, with a track record of delivering high-quality, maintainable code.

Avoid simply listing your skills without context, as it doesn't demonstrate how you've applied them in your work. Instead, tie your skills to specific projects or achievements to show their impact.

2. Highlight your problem-solving abilities

Software Engineers are often tasked with solving complex problems and finding innovative solutions. Use your summary to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to overcome challenges. For example:

• Creative problem-solver who developed a machine learning algorithm that improved product recommendation accuracy by 25%, resulting in increased user engagement and revenue.
• Collaborative team player with a proven ability to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks, optimizing application speed and scalability.

Avoid using generic phrases like "problem-solver" or "critical thinker" without providing concrete examples. Instead, use specific instances that showcase your ability to analyze problems and develop effective solutions.

3. Tailor your summary to the company and role

To make your summary more effective, customize it to the specific Software Engineer position and company you are targeting. Research the company's mission, values, and projects, and incorporate relevant keywords and phrases into your summary. For example:

Passionate Software Engineer with 5+ years of experience developing robust, scalable applications for the fintech industry. Skilled in Agile development, microservices architecture, and cloud computing using AWS. Seeking to leverage my expertise to contribute to [Company Name]'s mission of revolutionizing the way people manage their finances.

Avoid using a generic, one-size-fits-all summary that could apply to any Software Engineer position. Instead, tailor your content to demonstrate your fit for the specific role and company culture.

  Experience

Your work experience section is the heart of your software engineer resume. It's where you prove to employers that you have the technical skills and experience to excel in the role you're applying for. In this section, we'll cover what to focus on in your work experience section and share examples of how to make your achievements and contributions stand out.

1. Highlight your technical skills and tools

Employers want to see that you have hands-on experience with the programming languages, frameworks, and tools relevant to the job. Be specific about the technologies you've used in each role.

Instead of this:

• Developed software applications
• Worked on front-end and back-end code

Highlight your technical skills like this:

• Developed web applications using React, Node.js, and MongoDB
• Built RESTful APIs with Python and Django
• Implemented CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins and Docker

Not sure if your technical skills are coming through? Try Targeted Resume , which scans your resume against a job description and identifies missing skills and keywords that employers look for.

2. Quantify your impact with metrics

Numbers jump off the page and grab attention. Whenever possible, use metrics to quantify the impact of your work. Think about how you improved processes, optimized code, or contributed to business objectives.

Weak, vague bullets:

• Improved application performance
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams
• Managed project timelines

Impactful, quantified bullets:

• Reduced page load time by 40% by implementing lazy loading and code splitting
• Collaborated with product and design to ship new features that increased user engagement by 25%
• Delivered project under budget and 2 weeks ahead of schedule

If you don't have access to metrics, use numbers to provide a sense of scale, like the size of the codebase, user base, or team you worked with.

3. Showcase promotions and leadership

Career progression and leadership roles are strong signals to employers that you are a high performer. If you've been promoted, make it obvious by listing your different titles separately.

Software Engineer, ABC Corp Senior Software Engineer, ABC Corp Tech Lead, ABC Corp

Also highlight your leadership experience, whether that's mentoring junior developers, leading projects, or driving technical initiatives.

• Mentored 3 junior developers and onboarded 6 new hires
• Led a team of 5 engineers to rebuild the payment processing system
• Spearheaded the adoption of TypeScript across the organization

Make your promotions and job titles stand out by bolding them. Recruiters often scan for this to quickly assess your career trajectory.

4. Tailor your bullets to the job

Hiring managers look for candidates whose experience aligns closely with the job requirements. Review the job description and prioritize the projects, skills, and achievements on your resume that are most relevant.

For example, if you're applying for a front-end focused role, emphasize your experience with:

• JavaScript frameworks like React, Angular, Vue
• HTML, CSS, responsive web design
• Performance optimization, accessibility, cross-browser compatibility

If the job involves more back-end work, focus on your experience with:

• Server-side languages like Java, Python, Ruby
• Database management, SQL, NoSQL
• System design, scalability, security

Score My Resume is a helpful tool that analyzes your resume against 30+ key criteria, including how well your skills and experience match the job requirements. Get objective feedback to improve your resume's tailoring and relevance.

  Education

Your education section is an important part of your software engineer resume. It shows employers that you have the necessary background and training for the job. Here are some tips to help you write an effective education section:

1. Put your education section at the top if you're a recent graduate

If you graduated within the past few years, it's best to put your education section above your work experience. This is because your education is likely to be your strongest qualification at this stage in your career.

Here's an example of what your education section might look like:

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science University of California, Berkeley Graduated: May 2022 GPA: 3.8/4.0 Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Software Engineering, Database Systems

2. Keep your education section concise if you have several years of experience

If you have several years of work experience, you can keep your education section short and to the point. Employers will be more interested in your professional accomplishments than your academic background.

Here are some examples of what not to include:

• Irrelevant coursework or projects
• High school education (unless it's your highest level of education)
• Outdated or non-accredited certifications

Instead, focus on your degree, university, and graduation year:

Master of Science in Software Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2015

3. Include relevant certifications in your education section

If you have certifications that are relevant to software engineering, you can include them in your education section. This can help demonstrate your expertise and commitment to professional development.

Some examples of relevant certifications include:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
• Oracle Certified Java Programmer

Be sure to include the full name of the certification, the issuing organization, and the date you earned it.

Action Verbs For Software Engineer Resumes

The use of weak action verbs will hurt the overall strength of your resume. You don’t want to use generic verbs. You want to use ones that are complementary to the software skills you’ve used. Try not to overuse one action verb; variety helps keep your resume unique. If you’re not sure which action verbs to use, here’s a list of action verbs that are useful for software engineers.

• Conceptualized
• Architected
• Restructured
• Troubleshooted

For more related action verbs, visit Software Engineering Action Verbs .

For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs .

Action Verbs for Software Engineer Resumes

Skills for software engineer resumes.

To get your resume noticed, it needs to list skills that make you look like you’d be successful in the role. It’s equally important to talk about how you used these skills to succeed. If you want your resume to be seen, thoroughly read through the job description. Find keywords and hard skills in the description that you can use in your resume. Doing so will get your resume past ATS and in the hands of hiring managers. Here is a list of skills and keywords we’ve analyzed from job descriptions; use these to make your resume powerful.

• Software Development
• Agile Methodologies
• Cloud Computing
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Software Project Management
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Enterprise Architecture
• Distributed Systems
• Software Architecture
• Microservices
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Web Services
• Integration
• Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)
• Enterprise Software
• Technical Leadership

How To Write Your Skills Section On a Software Engineer Resumes

You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:

Skills Word Cloud For Software Engineer Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Software Engineer job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.

How to use these skills?

Resume bullet points from software engineer resumes.

You should use bullet points to describe your achievements in your Software Engineer resume. Here are sample bullet points to help you get started:

Designed and implemented 50+ E2E tests using Selenium & Protractor, simulating each user group's actions

Analyzed impact and effectiveness of in-app UI changes on customer retention; identified features of customer behavior and recommended additional menu modifications [R, MySQL, Chart JS]

Developed web scraping program in Python to help the firm download public data, including over 10,000 company descriptions and stock quotes, enriching internal data and increasing research efficiency by over 50%

Designed and implemented an automated system for processing employee timesheets, eliminating the need for manual handwritten timesheets and resulted in a 10/hr per week time saving

Led code review sessions with peers to present and analyze system designs; recommendations reduced defect creation rate by 35%

For more sample bullet points and details on how to write effective bullet points, see our articles on resume bullet points , how to quantify your resume and resume accomplishments .

Other Engineering Resumes

Product manager.

Sales Engineer

Software Engineer Resume Guide

• Software Developer Resume Guide
• Web Developer Resume Guide
• Programmer Resume Guide
• Front End Developer Resume Guide
• DevOps Resume Guide
• Full Stack Developer Resume Guide
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• Python Developer Resume Guide
• IT Manager Resume Guide
• Cyber Security Resume Guide
• Salesforce Resume Guide
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• Node.js Resume Guide
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• Platform Engineer Resume Guide
• Automation Engineer Resume Guide
• C, C++, and C# Developer Resume Guide
• Technical Support Resume Guide
• Project Engineer Resume Guide
• Security Manager Resume Guide
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• IT Specialist Resume Guide
• Packaging Engineer Resume Guide
• Oracle Resume Guide
• Planning Engineer Resume Guide
• Blockchain Resume Guide
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• Kafka Resume Guide
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• PHP Developer Resume Guide
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• Security Analyst Resume Guide
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• Director of Software Engineering Resume Guide
• Environmental Engineer Resume Guide
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• Director of Information Technology Resume Guide
• AWS Resume Guide
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• Materials Engineer Resume Guide
• UAT Tester Resume Guide
• Software Engineer Resume Example
• Entry Level Software Engineer Resume Example
• Senior Software Engineer Resume Example
• Software Test Engineer Resume Example
• Software Engineering Lead Resume Example
• Software Engineer Intern Resume Example
• Experienced Software Engineer Resume Example
• Junior Software Engineer Resume Example
• Principal Software Engineer Resume Example
• Mid-Level Software Engineer Resume Example
• Software QA Engineer Resume Example
• Lead Software Engineer Resume Example
• Software Architect Resume Example
• Tips for Software Engineer Resumes
• Skills and Keywords to Add
• Sample Bullet Points from Top Resumes
• All Resume Examples
• Software Engineer CV Examples
• Software Engineer Cover Letter
• Software Engineer Interview Guide
• Explore Alternative and Similar Careers

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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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The Complete Software Engineer Resume Guide

Looking for a job as a software engineer? That’s exciting! Whether you’re changing careers  or just looking for your next job, this fast-growing industry offers career development opportunities galore. Plus, it can pay quite well .

With great pay and growth potential, the job hunt can be competitive. If you want a shot at a job interview, you need to know how to write a compelling software engineering resume, and you’ll want to create a web developer portfolio .  

Writing your first resume, or revamping your old one, can feel daunting. It doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ll walk you through the resume writing process step-by-step and give you plenty of software engineer resume examples. You won’t feel overwhelmed after reading this! 

In this complete guide, you’ll learn the following:

• Do software engineers even need a resume?

Step 1: Work out your structure

• Step 2: Gather your information

Step 3: Fill in your contact information

Step 4: add your three most relevant work experiences, step 5: list your education, step 6: include your skills.

• Step 7: Share your certifications and awards
• Step 8: List your software engineering projects

Step 9: Write your introductory statement

Step 10: proofread, mistakes to avoid when creating a software engineer resume, where to go for great software engineer resume templates.

Let’s start with the basics; why do you even need a resume? 

1. Do software engineers even need a resume?

Yes, software engineers need a resume. Many developers will tell you they’ve gotten multiple job offers with just a resume. Of course, they might not mention that they also had an active GitHub history, polished portfolio, or connection in the industry. But that’s beside the point.

The number one reason you need a resume to land a software engineering job is that almost every job you apply for will require you to have one. But secondly, your resume is how you’ll showcase your transferable skills . 

Even if you don’t have much experience with software engineering, you still need to create a software engineer resume. A compelling document with all your most relevant experience will showcase how you learned to code and the skills you can transfer to your new role.

You can also optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS)–but we’ll discuss that later. First, let’s learn how to create a software engineer’s resume that wins.

2. How to write a software engineer resume step-by-step

Okay, so we’re all on the same page now–you need a resume! But how do you write one? Buckle up! This is where we walk you through the resume writing process–one step at a time. 

This section may seem a bit long, but that’s because we’re going to go into every single part of your software engineer resume and make it as compelling as possible. Feel free to start writing your resume in another window while you read through each step. Learning while doing is often the most effective way! 

Resume layout (design) and copy (words) go hand-in-hand. If you don’t budget your words for the space you have, you won’t be able to fit it all on one page. It’s helpful to begin by choosing a resume template or layout. 

There are templates all over the internet for free that you can use! More on that later. If you don’t want to use a template, you can use the outline in Step 2 below to create your layout in a word processor, PDF maker, or graphic design tool. 

Step 2: Gather your information 

Before filling in your resume, open up a blank document or your notes app to gather the information you’ll need for your resume. If you’ve already optimized your LinkedIn for the job search, you might want to pull that up too. 

Here’s what you should include in your software engineer resume, from top to bottom: 

• Contact information
• Introduction paragraph
• Work experience
• Certifications and awards (optional)
• Projects (optional)

Here’s a software engineer resume example with a great layout from BeamJobs . There’s even enough room to include certifications and awards in the left-hand column!

Here’s what you need to include in this section: 

• First and last name 
• Job title, branding statement, or subtitle
• Email address
• Cell phone number
• LinkedIn profile
• Website (optional)
• Social media profiles (optional)
• Physical address (optional)

Your contact information is the simplest part of writing a resume. But it’s being analyzed by recruiters as much as the rest of what you’ve written. Here are some tips for making this section as small and effective as possible. 

Under your name, you can include a subtitle listing your current job title or a one-sentence personal description. If you don’t have a current job title, you can put the job title you’re looking for or a more creatively branded title. For example, you could put “Entry-Level Software Engineer” or “Skilled Full-Stack Developer.” 

Firstly, if you want to come across as professional, make sure your email address isn’t your old AOL email address. I’ll admit it! My email was [email protected] until I got to college. But I would never put that on a resume. Instead, my email is a polished version of my first and last name with no numbers. 

To save space, you don’t need to include your physical address unless you apply for a fully in-person job that favors locals. You don’t need to include your social media profiles unless you’re a thought leader in the industry. You can also omit your website if you don’t have a software engineer portfolio website .

Here’s what your resume contact information section might look like, courtesy of Resume Worded : 

When you think about writing your resume, this is probably what you imagined. This part will be easier if you’ve already optimized your LinkedIn for the job hunt. If you haven’t, budget some time to gather everything you need. 

Before you dive into writing this section, you will need the following: 

• A list of all of your relevant work experience (anything with transferable skills or software engineering)
• Data points from your jobs to demonstrate your achievements
• Information about your bootcamp, professional training program, or college (if you’re new to software development)

Once you have these items, you can start with the basics. Pick your top three-to-five most relevant experiences. Format each job on your list to reflect the structure outlined below.  

Here’s how to structure each of your experiences: 

• Job title – bolded
• Company name and the location where you worked – standard text
• Dates of employment – italicized

Keep your structure consistent throughout your resume. There’s no right or wrong way to choose whether you’ll abbreviate. But if you abbreviate one state you worked in, abbreviate them all. If you spelled out the entire month of your employment, spell out every month. 

Next, list them chronologically, beginning with your most recent experience. Here’s the creative part! It’s time to describe your work experiences. It’s best to list three to five bullet points per experience. 

In your bullet points, include some quantifiable accomplishments that are data-proven and action verbs relating to tech but not jargon. Keep your tone present and active, not passive. 

This is a software engineer resume example, also from Resume Worded: 

If you’re a career changer, your college education might not be relevant to the job you’re applying for now. 

Regardless, you should still include it. If you don’t have much experience, you should include information about your software engineer education here in five bullet points. Cover what you learned, how you got hands-on experience, and the projects you did. 

If you already have software engineering experience, this section isn’t as important for you. You can simply include where you went to school and one bullet or less about relevant coursework. 

Whether you’re new to software development or not, you can elaborate on your undergraduate and graduate degrees in certain circumstances. If you were a double major or had a minor, you can list that too on your software engineer resume. If you had a phenomenal GPA, you could list it. But if your GPA was less than 3.8, you can leave it out. 

Here’s how to format your education: 

• Name of program or degree — bolded
• Institution and location—standard text
• Dates attended — italicized

Each job you apply for will use a specific naming convention in the description like BS, b.s., bachelor’s degree, bootcamp, or boot camp. Try to edit this to match every job description. You may not always fit the education level specified in the listing. That doesn’t matter! You should still apply for it if you think you’d be a good fit. 

Here’s an example of what your software engineering resume might look like if you took CareerFoundry’s Full-Stack Web Development Program :

The skills section might be where you shine! Hiring managers and recruiters are looking for specific development skills and that’s why you should list them in the job description. For each coding job you apply for, you can customize this section to fit the job description. 

It shouldn’t need to be stated but—don’t lie! Run through the job description and pick the skills you’re proficient in. In this section, it’s usually best to only list hard skills . Group your skills by Expert, Advanced, and Familiar. 

Step 7: Share your certifications and awards (optional)

If you have any certifications or awards, include this section! But if you don’t, skip to Step 8. Keep this section of your software engineer resume brief. You only need one line per award; you can simply list each award or certification and the date you received them. 

Certifications can serve as proof to your employer that you’ve achieved a certain skill level. If that skill or certification is in the job description, include it in your resume. Whatever you list, include both the full name and the abbreviation. Obviously, only include certifications you’ve actually earned. 

For example, a software engineer’s resume skill section might look like this: 

Step 8: List your software engineering projects (optional)

If you’re looking to apply for software engineering jobs , you’ve probably worked on a few projects by now. Whether personal projects, open source, internships, freelance, or bootcamps projects, you can use them on your resume. 

Career changers and anyone new to software development should take advantage of this section. If you already have experience in software engineering, you probably don’t need this—simply list your portfolio in your contact information and move on to Step 9. 

Before you fill in this section, you’ll need a list of the projects you’ve worked on. If you have more than three, group your projects by type. You can use whatever categories seem fitting to you but consider ones like business projects, user interface projects , technical projects, mobile development, etc.

Here’s how to format your projects in your software engineer resume: 

• Project Title — bolded
• 2-sentence description—standard text
• Skills—italicized

This is what your projects section might look like: 

You can hyperlink the title of your project to a portfolio piece with more details, the live project, or your GitHub. 

Stop now if your resume can’t fit on one page with more than just the title. But if you still have room, include a description of the problem your project solved, why you created it, and the client you made it for. Then, list the skills or tech stack you used to create the project. 

It might be odd to see the introductory statement as one of the last steps in the software engineer resume-writing process. Even though this goes at the top of your resume, we recommend you write it last. It’s much easier to write it at the end for most people. 

A summary statement is essentially an introductory paragraph. You’ll use these three-to-five lines to inject some personality into your resume. This is the first thing the interviewer will see. 

There are two ways you can approach this. You can either treat it as a summary or an objective . If you already have experience in software engineering, you can summarize your skills, experience, notable accomplishments, and education. If you don’t have experience, you’ll want to opt for an objective. 

With an objective, you’ll share tangible achievements from your bootcamp, professional training, college, or internship. You’ll also want to point out your transferable skills and career goals. 

This is the most challenging part of writing your resume. You’ll have less than 8 seconds to make a good impression on a recruiter or hiring manager. So, think of this paragraph as a hook to get them to keep reading. Here’s how to maximize your summary statement. 

Your summary statement should touch on the following: 

• Your unique strengths, expertise, and transferable skills
• Your personality traits that are relevant to the job 
• Notable achievements 
• The type of position or industry you’re seeking

Wherever possible, mention numbers or statistics to back up your statements. Rewrite your summary for every single job you apply for. It may feel tedious, but if you tailor it to that company and that role specifically, you’re far more likely to get straight to the recruiter screen and land an interview.

They might not notice if you have a spelling mistake on your resume, but typos never look good! Your summary paragraph is the most crucial thing to edit, but it doesn’t hurt to check over the entire thing. You can use AI editing software like Grammarly , or enlist a friend to proofread it. Better yet, ask your career counselor or mentor–if you have one! 

Okay, that might be a lot of information. We’re almost through with this complete guide. But before we let you go, we want to let you in on a few things you shouldn’t do when you’re writing your resume. 

Don’t use the same exact resume for every job you apply for

While it’s tempting to write your resume once and walk away, it’s not that simple. You should create your resume and edit it for each job you apply to. Adjust the objective statement, skills, and experience to reflect keywords in the job description. 

Don’t include any sensitive information on your resume

In the US you don’t need to include your date of birth, social security number, political affiliations, religion, or other personal details. These are dangerous to include, and they’re not relevant to the person who’s going to be reading your resume.

Don’t use fancy graphics

These days, most companies use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)  to screen applicants before sending software engineer resumes to a hiring manager or recruiter. Make your resume as text-based as possible: most ATS can’t read graphics well. 

Don’t send in your resume as a word document

Save it as a PDF before you submit it. 

Don’t let your resume exceed one page

If you can’t fit it all, omit the optional sections, trim down your experience descriptions, or reduce the skills you’ve included. 

If you want to use a resume template, ensure they’re ATS-friendly. There are plenty of beautiful templates out there with graphics and charts that won’t help you get an interview. 

There are hundreds of places you can go to get resume templates online. There are free and paid options. Most offer both free and paid versions. We rounded up the best resume template sites for software developers. Our favorites are the ones that tech professionals or coders created. 

Here are our top five favorite resume template sites:

• BeamJobs —made by tech professionals for career changers, diverse tech workers, and experienced developers. 
• Career Cup — founded by Gayle Laakmann McDowell, author of Cracking The Coding Interview
• Resume Worded — LinkedIn and resume optimizer 
• Kick Resume — a generic resume builder
• JobScan — exclusively ATS-friendly resume builder

Writing a software engineer resume is not easy, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. As long as you remember to proofread your work, use a few keywords from the job description, and stay away from graphics, you’ll be golden. 

Whatever you do, tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for and include a unique introductory paragraph. And if you want to use a resume template, ensure it’s ATS-friendly. With these tips and the steps we outlined, you’re sure to write a stellar software engineer resume.

You’ve just finished the complete guide to writing a software engineer resume. Now get started creating yours, and prepare to apply for jobs. Good luck!

As students of CareerFoundry’s Full-Stack Web Development Program reach the end of their studies, they get paired up with a career specialist. Y ou’ll work closely with them to connect the dots between your previous accomplishments with your newfound coding skills.

Together, you’ll create a winning software engineer resume that showcases your talent, and carefully craft your online presence to appeal to tech employers. You’ll also fine-tune your technical interview skills , learning how to confidently market your experience and negotiate salaries.

If you’d like to learn more about the world of coding, check out these articles:

• What Does a Backend Developer Do?
• What on Earth Is CSS? A Beginner’s Guide
• The Ultimate 2024 Guide to Frontend Developer Salaries

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Software Engineer Resume Examples For 2024 (20+ Skills & Templates)

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Looking to score a job as a Software Engineer?

You're going to need an awesome resume. This guide is your one-stop-shop for writing a job-winning Software Engineer resume using our proven strategies, skills, templates, and examples.

All of the content in this guide is based on data from coaching thousands of job seekers (just like you!) who went on to land offers at the world's best companies.

If you want to maximize your chances of landing that Software Engineer role, I recommend reading this piece from top to bottom. But if you're just looking for something specific, here's what's included in this guide:

• What To Know About Writing A Job-Winning Software Engineer Resume
• The Best Skills To Include On A Software Engineer Resume

How To Write A Job-Winning Software Engineer Resume Summary

How to write offer-winning software engineer resume bullets.

• 3 Software Engineer Resume Examples

The 8 Best Software Engineer Resume Templates

Here's the step-by-step breakdown:

Software Engineer Resume Overview: What To Know To Write A Resume That Wins More Job Offers

What do companies look for when they're hiring a Software Engineer?

Companies look for Software Engineers who are proficient in languages such as JavaScript, Python, or Java, with expertise in essential tools and frameworks.

Companies also seek candidates who can collaborate, solve problems, communicate well, and align with their values and tech interests.

Your resume should show the company that your personality and your experience encompass all these things.

Additionally, there are a few best practices you want to follow to write a job-winning Software Engineer resume:

• Customize your resume to the job description: Tailor your resume for each job application, matching your skills, experiences, and proficiency in programming languages and tools with the requirements of the software engineer role you have an eye on.
• Detail your previous experiences: Provide detailed information about your past experiences, emphasizing responsibilities related to software engineering.
• Quantify achievements and impact: Use specific metrics, such as the percentage of performance improvement, the number of lines of code written, or the successful completion of projects within deadlines.
• Showcase technical skills and tools: Clearly outline your technical skills, programming languages, and tools you are proficient in.
• Make it visually appealing: Use a clear and professional layout for easy reading. Maintain consistency in the font and formatting throughout and limit your resume to one or two pages.
• Use keywords:   Use a skills section to provide a quick overview and consider incorporating relevant keywords from the job description. This helps automated applicant tracking systems (ATS) identify your compatibility with the role and ensures your resume passes through initial screenings.
• Proofread your resume: Proofread your resume to eliminate errors (I recommend using the Hemingway App or Grammarly ). Also, if you want to make sure that your work is easy to understand and effective, it's always a good idea to ask for feedback from your colleagues or mentors!

Let's dive deeper into each of these so you have the exact blueprint you need to see success.

The Best Software Engineer Skills To Include On Your Resume

Keywords are one of the most important factors in your resume. They show employers that your skills align with the role and they also help format your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

If you're not familiar with ATS systems, they are pieces of software used by employers to manage job applications. They scan resumes for keywords and qualifications and make it easier for employers to filter and search for candidates whose qualifications match the role.

If you want to win more interviews and job offers, you need to have a keyword-optimized resume. There are two ways to find the right keywords:

1. Leverage The 20 Best Software Engineer Keywords

The first is to leverage our list of the best keywords and skills for a Software Engineer resume.

These keywords were selected from an analysis of real Software Engineer job descriptions sourced from actual job boards. Here they are:

• Development
• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Communications
• Communication
• Organization
• Team Member
• Verification
• Time Management
• Problem-Solving

2. Use ResyMatch.io To Find The Best Keywords That Are Specific To Your Resume And Target Role

The second method is the one I recommend because it's personalized to your specific resume and target job.

This process lets you find the exact keywords that your resume is missing when compared to the individual role you're applying for.

Here's how it works:

• Open a copy of your updated Software Engineer resume
• Open a copy of your target Software Engineer job description
• In the widget below, paste your resume on the left, paste the job description on the right, and hit scan!

ResyMatch is going to scan your resume and compare it to the target job description. It's going to show you the exact keywords and skills you're missing as well as share other feedback you can use to improve your resume.

If you're ready to get started, use the widget below to run your first scan and get your free resume score:

Copy/paste or upload your resume here:

Click here to paste text

Upload a PDF, Word Doc, or TXT File

Paste the job post's details here:

Scan to compare and score your resume vs the job's description.

Scanning...

And if you're a visual learner, here's a video walking through the entire process so you can follow along:

Employers spend an average of six seconds reading your resume.

If you want to win more interviews and offers, you need to make that time count. That starts with hitting the reader with the exact information they're looking for right at the top of your resume.

Unfortunately, traditional resume advice like Summaries and Objectives don't accomplish that goal. If you want to win in today's market, you need a modern approach. I like to use something I can a “Highlight Reel,” here's how it works.

Highlight Reels: A Proven Way To Start Your Resume And Win More Jobs

The Highlight Reel is exactly what it sounds like.

It's a section at the top of your resume that allows you to pick and choose the best and most relevant experience to feature right at the top of your resume.

It's essentially a highlight reel of your career as it relates to this specific role! I like to think about it as the SportsCenter Top 10 of your resume.

The Highlight Reel resume summary consists of 4 parts:

• A relevant section title that ties your experience to the role
• An introductory bullet that summarizes your experience and high-level value
• A few supporting “Case Study” bullets that illustrate specific results, projects, and relevant experience
• A closing “Extracurricular” bullet to round out your candidacy

For example, if we were writing a Highlight Reel for a Software Engineer role, it might look like this:

You can see how the first bullet includes the Software Engineer job title, the years of experience this candidate has, and it wraps up with a value-driven pitch for how they've helped companies in the past.

The next bullet is a “Case Study” of specific results they drove at their past experiences and the third one covers relevant skills for the role. The last bullet wraps up with a certification and additional skill set.

This candidate has provided all of the info any employer would want to see right at the very top of their resume! The best part is that they can customize this section for each and every role they apply for to maximize the relevance of their experience.

Here's one more example of a Software Engineer Highlight Reel:

The content of this example showcases the candidate's years of experience and wraps up the first bullet with a high-value pitch, while the following bullet points focus on measurable results. The final bullet point wraps up by mentioning their academic achievements.

If you want more details on writing a killer Highlight Reel, check out my full guide on Highlight Reels here.

Bullets make up the majority of the content in your resume. If you want to win, you need to know how to write bullets that are compelling and value-driven.

Unfortunately, way too many job seekers aren't good at this. They use fluffy, buzzword-fill language and they only talk about the actions that they took rather than the results and outcomes those actions created.

If you apply this framework to each of the bullets on your resume, you're going to make them more compelling and your value is going to be crystal clear to the reader. For example, take a look at these resume bullets:

❌ Responsible for building applications to help achieve company goals

✅ Software Engineer with 9+ years of proven experience leveraging React and PHP to build SaaS applications supporting 1M+ users

The second bullet makes the candidate's value  so much more clear, and it's a lot more fun to read! That's what we're going for here.

That said, it's one thing to look at the graphic above and try to apply the abstract concept of “35% hard skills” to your bullet. We wanted to make things easy, so we created a tool called ResyBullet.io that will actually give your resume bullet a score and show you how to improve it.

Using ResyBullet To Write Crazy Effective, Job-Winning Resume Bullets

ResyBullet takes our proprietary “resume bullet formula” and layers it into a tool that's super simple to use. Here's how it works:

• Head over to ResyBullet.io
• Copy a bullet from your resume and paste it into the tool, then hit “Analyze”
• ResyBullet will score your resume bullet and show you exactly what you need to improve
• You edit your bullet with the recommended changes and scan it again
• Rinse and repeat until you get a score of 60+
• Move on to the next bullet in your resume

Let's take a look at how this works for the two resume bullet examples I shared above:

First, we had, “Responsible for building applications to help achieve company goals”.

ResyBullet gave that a score of 25/100.  Not only is it too short, but it's missing relevant skills, compelling language, and measurable outcomes:

Now, let's take a look at our second bullet,  “Software Engineer with 9+ years of proven experience using Jira for agile project management, reducing project delivery time by 15%.”

ResyBullet gave that a 50/100. Much better! This bullet had more content focused on the experience in the Software Engineer role, while also highlighting measurable results:

Now all you have to do is run each of your bullets through ResyBullet, make the suggested updates, and your resume is going to be jam-packed with eye-popping, value-driven content!

If you're ready, grab a bullet from your resume, paste it into the widget below, and hit scan to get your first resume bullet score and analysis:

Free Resume Bullet Analyzer

Learn to write crazy effective resume bullets that grab attention, illustrate value, and actually get results., copy and paste your resume bullet to begin analysis:, 3 software engineer resume examples for 2023.

Now let's take a look at all of these best practices in action. Here are three resume examples for different situations from people with different backgrounds:

Software Engineer Resume Example #1: A Traditional Background

Software Engineer Resume Example #2: A Non-Traditional Background

For our second Software Engineer Resume Example, we have a candidate who has a non-traditional background in Sales. Here's an example of what their resume might look like:

Software Engineer Resume Example #3: Senior Software Engineer With A Master's Degree

For our third Software Engineer Resume Example, we have a candidate who has 14+ years of experience and a Master's Degree. Here's an example of what their resume might look like:

At this point, you know all of the basics you'll need to write a Software Engineer resume that wins you more interviews and offers. The only thing left is to take all of that information and apply it to a template that's going to help you get results.

We made that easy with our ResyBuild tool . It has 8 proven templates that were created with the help of recruiters and hiring managers at the world's best companies. These templates also bake in thousands of data points we have from the job seekers in our audience who have used them to land job offers.

Just click any of the templates below to start building your resume using proven, recruiter-approved templates:

Free Job-Winning Resume Templates, Build Yours In No Time .

Choose a resume template below to get started:.

Key Takeaways To Wrap Up Your Job-Winning Software Engineer Resume

You made it! We packed a lot of information into this post so I wanted to distill the key points for you and lay out next steps so you know exactly where to from here.

Here are the 5 steps for writing a job-winning Software Engineer resume:

• Start with a proven resume template from ResyBuild.io
• Use ResyMatch.io to find the right keywords and optimize your resume for each role you apply to
• Open your resume with a Highlight Reel to immediately grab your target employer's attention
• Use ResyBullet.io to craft compelling, value-driven bullets that pop off the page
• Compare the draft of your resume to the examples on this page to make sure you're on the right path
• Use a tool like HemingwayApp to proofread your resume before you submit it

If you follow those steps, you're going to be well on your way to landing more Software Engineer interviews and job offers.

Now that your resume is taken care of, check out my guide on how to get a job anywhere without applying online!

Paula Martins

Paula is Cultivated Culture's amazing Editor and Content Manager. Her background is in journalism and she's transitioned from roles in education, to tech, to finance, and more. She blends her journalism background with her job search experience to share advice aimed at helping people like you land jobs they love without applying online.

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Software Engineering Resume Examples & Writing Guide for 2024

Creating an outstanding software engineering resume is a crucial step in getting your foot in the door in the competitive field of software development. 

In this guide, brimming with examples, useful tips, and adaptable templates, we'll simply walk you through the process of crafting a resume that sets you apart . Whether you're a veteran in the field or just setting out on your coding journey, the steps outlined here will ensure your application doesn't just blend into the binary, but leaves a lasting impression.

Here's what's under the hood:

• Navigate resume samples tailored to different levels of experience in software engineering
• Properly format your software engineering resume
• Write a strong software engineering resume summary
• Include your best hard and soft skills as a software engineer
• Describe your work experience and key projects as a software engineer
• Include action words to make your resume pop
• List your educational credentials properly
• Select the perfect extra sections for your software engineer resume
• Avoid common mistakes on a software engineering resume
• Include a relevant cover letter
• Find out more about the job outlook and average salary for software engineers
• Access top job search resources for software engineers

Oh, and if you want to turn your LinkedIn profile into a resume with just one click, we've got you covered.

Software engineering intern resume sample

What's this software engineering intern resume sample doing right?

• Education takes center stage: In the competitive world of internships, this resume distinguishes itself by highlighting the candidate's educational background. It weaves a captivating tale interlaced with preferred, relevant classes, thesis topics, and active involvement in events like Robocot and Hackathon. It’s a showcase of learning, enthusiasm, and tech prowess.
• Highlighting relevant projects: An intriguing addition in this intern resume is a focused display of relevant projects. The candidate brilliantly demonstrates their hands-on experience with technologies such as C#, MySQL, Firebase, and more. These tangible instances of technical expertise serve to validate the candidate’s skills and boost their professional credibility, despite their early career stage.

How could we improve this resume sample?

• Welcoming core skills: One area ripe for improvement in this resume is the inclusion of both hard and soft core skills. A well-rounded candidate is not just about applicable knowledge or technical abilities, but also interpersonal and transferable skills.
• Evolving project descriptions: Though the resume introduces relevant projects, the door is open for enhancement in how these are described. The key lies in striking a balance between the project outline and highlighting the specific achievements stemming from these projects. Retelling the project's story with a focus on results can provide a sharper angle on their value proposition.

Junior software engineer resume sample

What stands out in this entry-level software engineering resume sample?

• Including relevant coursework: At an entry-level, relevant coursework can elevate a software engineering resume significantly. While real-world experience might be sparse, coursework allows candidates to showcase the practical and theoretical knowledge they possess. It offers potential employers a lens into your educational focus and how it aligns with the job requirements.
• Showcasing technological competencies:  Another strength of this entry-level resume lies in its mention of various technical skills within the description of their internship experience. Showing familiarity with diverse tech tools can be highly advantageous. It can position candidates as quick learners who are able to ride the wave of quickly evolving industry trends.

What can enhance this resume sample?

• Streamlining campus involvement: While it's great that the candidate shows diverse campus involvement, portions of this content seem out of sync with a software engineering resume. For instance, being part of an acapella group, while interesting, is not entirely relevant. Clearing some of this clutter and maintaining focus on activities related directly to software engineering can make this section stronger.
• Highlighting the award: The resume drops mention of an award within the internship experience. This significant accolade could have its own spotlight. By giving such achievements their own separate awards section, candidates can emphasize their recognitions and let them speak volumes about their competency.

Senior android developer resume example

What does this resume example ace, and why should you take note?

• Highlighting progress with numbers:  This candidate cleverly captures their impact. They've put numbers to work, showcasing a dip in application crashes and a swift decrease in app load times. When success is spelled out in percentage terms, it's hard to ignore.
• Flashing the certification card: Don't underestimate the power of professional certifications. Especially in a field like software engineering, where each credential can dramatically edge up your standing. Including relevant certifications in your software engineering resume not only underscores your competence but also aligns perfectly with the role you're eyeing.

What can make this resume sample better?

• Shuffling the order of sections: For a senior position, the spotlight naturally gravitates to work experience and core competencies. In this resume, education leads the parade — a slight misstep. The candidate would better command attention by placing their work experience or key competencies first.
• Expanding the list of achievements: While this resume does feature accomplishments, for a senior role, there's room for more. Increasing the array of listed achievements can only enhance the profile, giving it additional weight and making it more compelling. Showcasing a broader range of success stories is always beneficial when aiming high.

Embedded software engineer resume sample

What makes this resume sample great?

• Strong action words giving this resume dynamic energy:  This software engineer resume sample is a standout, particularly due to its efficient use of powerful action words. Verbs like "spearheaded", "streamlined", "conducted", and "developed", bring a sense of dynamism and pro-activity to the resume. They illustrate not just what the candidate did, but how they drove impact.
• Tailored skillset highlighting specific competencies:  This resume also does a great job at specifying computer skills and listing software specialties like C++, Eclipse, and GDB. These technical elements add authenticity, proving this candidate doesn't just know the buzzwords but genuinely has the skills.

How can we improve this QA engineer resume sample?

• Reordering sections:  Looking at potential improvement areas, the placement of the education section could be reconsidered. For an experienced candidate like this, work experience might be more relevant to the hiring manager. And so, getting that upfront could add more weight to the resume.
• Shifting focus from objectives to achievements in the professional profile:  Instead of leaning towards an objective, the professional profile could highlight the candidate's achievements more. This is a chance to showcase the valuable contributions made in past roles, promising the potential value add to the new employer. All in all, it's about indicating the 'achiever' in the candidate, not merely the 'doer'. 

Web developer resume sample

Why does this web developer resume sample work?

• Balanced skill sets: A major strength of this web developer resume is its inclusion of both hard and soft skill sets. It showcases not just technical prowess in coding languages and web development tools, but also highlights interpersonal skills such as teamwork and problem-solving. This creates a well-rounded candidate who excels in both the nuts and bolts and the heart and soul of web development. 
• Extra sections — the icing on the cake: Another good aspect of this resume is the thoughtful addition of extra sections such as volunteering activities and certifications. Besides showcasing the candidate's wider interests and dedication to personal growth, it also reflects a dynamic personality ready to go the extra mile.

What can make this resume sample work even better?

• Work experience enhancement: This resume could use more specificity in the work experience section. Instead of a general statement like "Conducted market research and analysis and reported findings to manager", why not try:   "Led UI market analysis, resulting in a 20% increase in user engagement." This concise, result-oriented approach works to highlight your impact clearly and efficiently.

Software testing fresher resume sample

What sets this resume apart?

• Impact-oriented work experience:  A plus for this software testing resume is its impact-oriented work experience. Bullet points that highlight the impact of the task like "...identified and resolved critical defects, ensuring product quality and customer satisfaction" turn duties into tangible achievements, showing clear value to potential employers
• Highlighted academic achievements: Another positive aspect of this resume is the detailed portrayal of educational accomplishments. A standout GPA, academic awards, and participation in relevant activities not only show great academic prowess but also demonstrate hard work, diligence, and commitment.

What could make this sample better?

• Quantifying achievements: Despite its strengths, the resume could use more quantifiable achievements. For example, instead of saying "resolved critical defects," why not specify how many? Numbers add credibility and offer a measure of your impact. It's a simple way to make your resume more concrete and compelling.

Data engineer resume sample

Why does this data engineer resume example pop?

• Critical responsibilities and achievements are chosen: A strong point for this data engineer resume is its careful selection of key responsibilities and achievements. It cuts through the clutter, presenting a streamlined snapshot of the candidate's value-add. The fact that a recruiter can get a clear picture of your resume in just about 7 seconds (he rumored review time for recruiters) shows that this resume is doing its job well. It's easy to read and gets straight to the point - that's a big win!

What can be enhanced?

• Showcasing work experience upfront: A potential improvement for this data engineer resume could involve reordering the sections. For experienced candidates like this, work experience typically holds more weight than education. Shifting it to the forefront would immediately draw attention to the candidate's hands-on involvement in the field, increasing the chances of making an instant impact.

Junior Java developer resume sample

What's good about this junior developer resume sample?

• Spotlight on adaptability and discipline: One of the key strengths of this junior developer resume is the profile's emphasis on adaptability and discipline in a remote work setting. By highlighting proficiency in common remote work tools like Slack, Asana, and Zoom, it shows readiness to hit the ground running in today's digital work environment.

What can make this resume even better?

• Quantifiable achievements: The work experience section could benefit from the inclusion of quantifiable achievements. Specific figures can illustrate the impact of your work more effectively. For instance, instead of saying "designed and developed various user-friendly websites and applications", something like "Developed 15+ user-friendly websites and applications, increasing client website traffic by 30%" might add more punch.
• Impact-first framing (because 'how' matters): Also, the impact made by the tasks could be focused on, besides the task itself. For example, instead of "Reviewed and tested existing code to discover and fix bugs.", consider something like: "Enhanced software reliability by reviewing and fixing bugs in the existing code." 

Software developer resume sample

What makes this software developer resume sample stand out?

• Quantified achievements:  A significant highlight of this software developer resume is the use of quantified achievements. Statements like "Achieved 20% growth for Organization" and "Improved website performance and speed by 25%" not only quantify the extent of the candidate's impact but also draw attention to their problem-solving abilities.
• Personal projects showcasing initiative and passion: Adding personal projects to this software developer resume is a savvy move. They demonstrate not just the candidate's technical skills, but also their initiative, passion, and commitment to software development outside of a work context. In essence, personal projects serve as the candidate's portfolio.

Android developer resume sample

Why does this Android developer resume sample work?

• Effective achievements — results in action: This Android developer resume shines in how it links responsibilities to tangible results. Highlighting achievements such as contributing to "50% increase in user engagement" or causing a "40% decrease in query time" transforms the work experience section into a persuasive narrative of the candidate's real-life impact.

What could be improved in this resume sample?

• Include a profile:  It's important to include a compelling professional profile that provides a quick snapshot of the candidate's skills, experiences, and career objectives. Think of it as your elevator pitch, letting potential employers quickly understand who you are and what you bring to the table.
• Avoid repetition: While the resume has several strengths, a potential improvement lies in diversifying the action verbs used. The repetition of words like "developed", "led", and "collaborated" could risk dulling the impact of these actions. Alternatives could include "engineered", "spearheaded", "partnered with teams", giving a refreshing variance to the narration.
• Experience before education: Lastly, for an experienced candidate like this, leading with education before work experience might be less advantageous. Typically, employers are more interested in recent applicable experience over academic qualifications. Reshuffling these sections could make the resume more aligned with what hiring managers are looking for.

1. Properly format your software engineering resume

Crafting the content of your software engineering resume might seem like the hard part. However, presenting this information in a user-friendly format is equally important. 

With numerous format types to consider, let's boil it down to the three most common ones you're likely to encounter — namely, the chronological, functional, and hybrid formats.

• Chronological format: A chronological format , as the name suggests, arranges your work history in reverse order, with the most recent job first. This format serves seasoned professionals best, highlighting your career progression and expertise.
• Functional format: A functional format , on the other hand, emphasizes skills over job history. This format is favored by fresh graduates or those planning to switch careers who might not have a wide range of related work experience. Instead of focusing on job positions, it magnifies your skills relevant to the software engineering sector.
• Hybrid format: A hybrid format combines aspects of both chronological and functional formats. It's effective if you want to highlight specific capabilities while still detailing your work history. This format allows you to showcase your expertise upfront, backed by your professional experience.

Remember, the best format is the one that highlights your strengths and fits the job description. Regardless of the chosen format, ensure consistency across your resume. Keep fonts professional and layouts neat, giving employers no excuse not to call you in for an interview!

So, choose your preferred template and make your software engineer resume shine.

Try our AI Resume Writer and have your resume ready in minutes!

2. write a strong software engineering resume summary or objective.

Right at the top of your resume, beneath your contact details, should sit your resume summary or objective . While a summary encapsulates your professional experience and key achievements, a resume objective communicates your career goals and demonstrates how you can benefit the organization. 

If you’re just starting out in the software engineering field, changing your career path, or have specific goals, using a resume objective may be ideal for you. It allows you to focus on how your skills and career ambitions align with the company's needs and mission.

Let's illustrate with examples:

Bad example of a software engineer resume objective 

Seeking a challenging software engineering role to advance my career.

This objective falls short because it's solely focused on the applicant's wants, and lacks specifics on how the company would benefit from their contribution.

Good example of a software engineer resume objective 

Entry-level software engineer with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and proficiency in Java and Python. Looking to leverage academic knowledge, internship experience, and passion for programming to solve unique challenges and contribute to XYZ Tech's mission of creating innovative software solutions.

Why is this example correct? This objective succeeds where the previous example failed. It demonstrates the candidate's qualifications and skills, shows how they intend to apply them, and links their goals to those of the company. 

As an experienced software engineer, you should be writing a resume summary . It should articulate your expertise, key achievements, and any unique value you can provide to the company. Communicate your most relevant skills in line with the job description.

Let's take a look at contrasting examples to understand how to effectively formulate your resume summary:

Bad example of a software engineer resume summary

Software engineer with many years of experience. Has worked in different types of businesses, can code in various languages.

Why does this example fall short? This resume summary is overly broad and lacks specificity. It doesn't tell prospective employers what your career focus is, or exactly what skills and experience you bring to the table.

Good example of a software engineer resume summary

Seasoned Software Engineer with eight years of expertise, specializing in system design, data security and full-stack development. Proficient in C++, JavaScript, and Python with a proven track record of crafting efficient, scalable solutions. Led a development team at XYZ Tech that improved software release efficiency by 30%.

Why is this summary correct? This example details the candidate's experience, specialized skills, indicates their professional focus, and showcases a quantifiable achievement relevant to the role.

Remember, a strong resume summary or objective is just the launching pad you need to propel you into the interview shortlist. Make it compelling, specific, and tailored to the software engineering role on offer.

3. Include your best hard and soft skills as a software engineer

Choosing the most relevant skills to showcase on your software engineering resume is crucial. This calls for understanding the distinction between hard and soft skills and their significance in your applications. 

Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities that can be measured, like proficiency in a programming language or understanding of agile methodologies. 

Soft skills , on the other hand, relate to how you work and interact with others. They're less tangible but equally important — think problem-solving or teamwork.

When you're tailoring your resume to a specific job ad, it's essential to highlight the skills mentioned in the job description first . Why? Because hiring managers or Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) may be specifically looking for these skills.

Here are examples of hard and soft skills relevant to a software engineer:

Best hard skills for a software engineer resume

• Java, Python, C++, or other programming languages
• Full-stack development
• Database management
• Debugging and code review skills
• Knowledge of algorithms and data structures
• Agile methodologies

Best soft skills for a software engineer resume

• Problem-solving
• Attention to detail
• Time management
• Communication
• Adaptability

Recognizing the most effective hard and soft skills relevant to the role shows your understanding of the job and proves your direct value to your potential employer. The right blend of these skills can make your software engineering resume shine brighter than the rest.

4. Describe your work experience and key projects as a software engineer

Your work experience section is a chance to display your professional journey and achievements. It's typically formatted in reverse chronological order and features the following:

• The name of the company and the period of employment
• A bulleted list summarizing your main responsibilities, achievements, and key skills demonstrated or acquired.

Now, let's consider two contrasting examples of a work experience and key projects section for a software engineer:

Bad example of a software engineer work experience section

Software Engineer, ABC Tech March 2018-Present

• Was part of the development team

Why is this example incorrect? This example fails to show specific responsibilities, skills, or achievements the candidate held or earned during their tenure. It's vague and doesn't demonstrate the impact of the applicant's work.

Good example of a software engineer work experience section

• Engineered an efficient database management system, improving data retrieval times by 15%.
• Led a team of five in developing an innovative client solution that boosted user engagement by 40%.
• Implemented strategic quality assurance methods to eliminate software errors by 30%.
• Directed successful integration of third-party API's into company software, expanding functionality and user experience.
• Optimized code performance, resulting in a 25% speed increase in software operations.

Key project

• Project Lead, Cloud Migration Project: Oversaw the successful migration of the company’s product suite to a cloud-based architecture. Resulted in a 70% cost reduction in infrastructure expenses and improved uptime by 30%.

Why does it work? This revised software engineer work experience section uses strong action verbs , specifies responsibilities, and includes quantifiable achievements , which clearly shows the candidate's impact at work.

It also includes a clearly defined key project , detailing the candidate's role and the impact their leadership had on the project's success

All in all, a compelling work experience and key projects section paints a vivid picture of your capabilities. Remember to use dynamic language, be specific, include quantifiable achievements, and align your experience with the software engineering job description to showcase your fit for the new role.

5. Include action words to make your resume pop

Using action words in your software engineering resume can significantly enhance its impact. They convey your experience and achievements in a dynamic, results-oriented manner that can catch a hiring manager's attention. The importance of these power verbs lies in their ability to:

• Paint a vivid picture of your abilities in action 
• Highlight your initiative
• Show results and developments that you've been instrumental in

Here's a list of impactful action words for your software engineering resume

• Streamlined
• Implemented

These action words can be your best pals while crafting your resume. They help make your resume stand out from the crowd and are more likely to grab the reader's attention. So, remember, what you say is important, but how you say it can make all the difference.

6. Make your education section count

Including an education section in your software engineering resume is critical, regardless of the level of experience. It reflects your formal training, provides context to your other qualifications, and can be a tiebreaker in close calls.

Even if your education isn't in software engineering , it's valuable information. Any degree demonstrates a dedication to learning, and critical thinking skills. Mention any relevant courses you have taken or learning projects you have undertaken.

Software engineering education section example (no related background)

Bachelor of Arts in Physics

Yale University, 2015 - 2019

• Relevant Courses: Programming for Scientists, Electronics and Circuit Analysis
• Projects: Collaborated on a 4-person team to create an application predicting particle motion using Python.

If your degree directly relates to software engineering , it serves as strong evidence of your knowledge and skills in this field. Highlight any esteemed honors, relevant subjects, or notable projects related to software development.

Software engineering education section example

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Harvard University, 2010 - 2014

• Honors: Graduated Summa Cum Laude, Dean's List 2012-2014
• Key project: Built a full-stack web application as part of end-of-year project, which significantly increased departmental efficiency.

Including an education section helps round out your software engineer resume, providing further insight into your qualifications. Regardless of your field of study, this section illustrates your problem-solving abilities, exposure to relevant concepts, and potential to contribute meaningfully to a software engineering role.

Find out your resume score!

7. Select the perfect extra sections for your software engineer resume

Including extra sections in your software engineering resume can give you the edge by showcasing your well-rounded personality, interests, and other competencies beyond your professional and academic life. 

These sections should add value and align with the role or the company culture you're applying to.

Here are three examples:

• Volunteering: Volunteering experience, particularly if it's tech-focused, can reflect positively on your ability to apply your skills to real-world situations. It also showcases your social commitment.
• Certifications: Certifications can add value to your resume, especially if they demonstrate specialized skills or increase your expertise in a specific area. This could include coding languages or platforms.
• Personal projects: Side projects that show the application of your skills give potential employers a concrete demonstration of what you are capable of, even if these projects were not part of your professional or educational experience.

Here’s how you can list your extra resume sections

Volunteer activities

• Code Mentor, Girls Who Code (2018 - Present): Providing mentoring in basic coding principles and problem-solving skills to a weekly class of high school girls interested in tech.

Certifications

• Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE 8 Programmer 
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Personal projects

• Fitness Tracker App: Developed a personal fitness tracking app using React Native and Firebase, with features like activity logging, progress charts, and goal setting.

These examples offer a glimpse into your personality, display your dedication to your field, and provide a hands-on showcase of your relevant skills.

8. Avoid common mistakes on a software engineering resume

Crafting a flawless resume is no less than programming a complex system — attention to detail is crucial. Here’s how to sidestep common pitfalls in your software engineering resume:

1. Avoid vagueness

• Mistake: "Experienced in coding."
• Fix: "Proficient in Python, Java, and C#, with over five years of hands-on experience in both front and backend coding."

2. Shun the one-size-fits-all approach

• Typical error: Using the same resume for every job application.
• Fix: Instead, tailor your resume to each role you apply for. Highlight the skills and experiences most relevant to the individual job description.

3. Be wary of overstating

• Regular misstep: "World-class software engineer."
• Fix: Show your worth through your achievements and validated skills on your resume, rather than using superlatives. E.g., "Developed a data analytics tool that boosted revenue by 20%."

4. Check for typos and errors

• Common blunder: Typos or incorrect information.
• Fix: Proofreading your resume multiple times is essential. Consider enlisting a trustworthy friend or using a tool like Grammarly to avoid overlooked mistakes.

5. Striking the balance

• Frequently noticed mistake: Either underestimating your role in a project or taking all the credit.
• Fix: Giving due credit to team efforts and accurately representing your contributions is vital. It shows your ability to work in a team while showcasing your personal contributions.

Remember, your resume is often the first impression a potential employer has of you - make it count by avoiding these common mistakes.

9. Pair a relevant cover letter with your software engineer resume

A cover letter , while often overlooked, can be a powerful companion to your software engineering resume. It's especially pertinent when the job posting asks for one , or when you want to provide context or detail that your resume just doesn't accommodate.

The primary difference between a resume and a cover letter lies in their purpose and format. While a resume is a concise snapshot of your skills, experience, and education relevant to the role, a cover letter is a place to connect the dots, tell your story, and elaborate on details related to the position.

A well-tailored cover letter can offer valuable insights into your personality , motivation , and fit for the role . It's your chance to catch the hiring manager's attention, show you've done your homework about the company, and express why you're excited about the role beyond coding languages or software development strategies.

Remember, an effective cover letter doesn't rehash your resume. It complements it. It's an opportunity to showcase your communication skills and to share your professional journey in a way that a bullet-list just cannot capture. So the next time you're sending out your polished software engineering resume, consider pairing it with a compelling cover letter. You might just increase your chance of landing that coveted interview call.

10. Average salary and outlook for software engineers

Crafting a standout resume is the first step to securing a rewarding career in the field of software engineering. And understanding the industry's salary and growth outlook can surely add to your motivation. 

According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) , the average yearly salary for software engineers was $127,260 in May 2022. This impressive figure reflects the high demand for skills and competencies that software engineers bring to the table.

Moreover, the future looks particularly bright for the profession. Overall employment of software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to grow by a robust 25 percent from 2022 to 2032 . This is much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations.

In terms of job availability, an average of 153,900 openings for software engineers are projected each year over the decade. This means that, armed with a strong resume and the right skills, your chances of landing a role are on a favorable path.

With attractive salaries and promising job prospects, software engineering certainly stands out as a rewarding career choice.

11. Top job search resources for software engineers

To support your job search journey and career growth in software engineering, plenty of resources are available. Utilizing these can help you stay current with the latest developments in the sector, refine your skills, and broaden your network. Here are some noteworthy tools and platforms:

• GitHub: It's an essential tool for showcasing your programming chops and collaboration on projects. Building a strong GitHub profile can significantly impact recruiters and hiring managers.
• Stack Overflow: This platform is a hub of information where developers help each other solve coding problems. It's also a source of coding news and job advertisements.
• LeetCode: Sharpen your problem-solving skills and prepare for technical interviews with the practice problems and mock interviews available on this platform .
• Learning platforms: Learning platforms like Coursera or Udemy offer a variety of coding courses, often taught by industry experts. You can access courses specific to various programming languages or software engineering general practices.
• Meetups or developer groups: Check meetup.com or search online for local software engineering groups or forums. Attending these meetings can help you network with fellow professionals.
• Tech blogs & podcasts: Following reputable tech blogs or podcasts like Coding Horror , A List Apart , or Software Engineering Daily can keep you updated with the latest trends in the tech world.

It's crucial to remember that being successful in your software engineer job search isn't only about having an exceptional resume. It's also about constant learning, networking, and staying abreast of industry trends. The resources listed above can provide invaluable support on your journey.

Software Engineering Resume FAQ

Create a dedicated 'tech skills' section and list your programming languages and technical expertise, arranging them based on your proficiency or relevance to the job.

Detail your project experiences under "Work experience and key projects". For each project, include the name, your role, the technologies used, and measurable achievements. Also, consider providing a link to your online portfolio or GitHub account.

Include a separate "Certifications" section and list all your relevant certifications along with their issuing authority and dates.  

Focus on academic projects, internships, relevant coursework, certifications, and technical skills. Highlight transferable skills and express enthusiasm for the industry.

Don't ignore employment gaps . Instead, explain them in your cover letter or an 'additional information' section on your resume. Showcase any constructive activities during the gap, like freelance projects, courses, or volunteering that kept your skills relevant.

Julia Gergelova

Julia is a professional writer, translator and graphic designer. She holds degrees in translation and interpretation, and has international work experience from a number of different countries in Europe as well as China and Panama. Julia formerly taught academic writing and as a graphic designer contributed to outlets such as  The Business of Business . She has a passion for lifelong learning and good coffee.

Subcategories

• Back-End Developer / Engineer
• Front-End Developer / Engineer
• Software Tester
• Web Developer

All software engineering resume examples

Related software engineering cover letter examples

Resume guides

How to write a professional resume summary [+examples], how to put your education on a resume [+examples], how to describe your work experience on a resume [+examples], let your resume do the work..

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• • Successfully converted whole project from python 2 to 3.8.0
• • Scripted unique test plans, test scripts and processes to remove previously known redundancy by 40% and ensured predictable outcomes
• • Developed a desktop application to automate database testing process, improved efficiency by 65%
• • Automated process to create usage graphs, saving $500,000 / year & increasing accuracy
• • Moved the automation solution into a commercial software ($60k/year)
• • Designed and developed reusable software components which used in 3 different project with reducing development effort by 50%
• • Re-engineered critical modules within a sprint to rely on a centralized library to optimize performance by 68%
• • Rated with the best annual performance rating for all the years during my stint; given to top ~5% employees
• • Helped to increase the accuracy of the reporting systems by 4%
• • Delivered configuration management tools to track server settings for performance testing which saved 25% of initial machine setup
• • Developed monitor reports that are using in-memory cache, updating the data shown to the user every 1 second
• • Optimized customer resources and reduce turnaround time by 20%
• • Performed root cause analysis for more than 10 issues to identify bugs and rolled out fixes to production within 24 hours
• • Fueled additional revenue stream through responsive customer support, generating $18k in new license sales within first three weeks of new release
• • Improved user interfaces by updating menus to be more intuitive, increasing sales by 5%
• • Reduced the time by 75% to process 70,000 to 1, 00,000 instruments from 16+ seconds to less than 4 seconds by redesigning the algorithm
• • Wrote optimized scripts for ​data-heavy & processing heavy task automation
• • Spearheaded the revamp of tech stack which resulted in 40% decrease in server costs

18 Software Engineer Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your software engineer resume must highlight your technical competencies. Include the programming languages and development tools you're proficient in. Emphasize your problem-solving abilities and your experience with system architecture. Demonstrating completed projects can showcase your practical application of these skills.

All resume examples in this guide

Software Engineer Intern

Software Engineer New Grad

Entry Level Software Engineer

Junior Software Engineer

Mid-Level Software Engineer

Senior Software Engineer

Associate Software Engineer

Director Of Software Engineering

Embedded Software Engineer

Principal Software Engineer

Software Development Engineer

Software Development Manager

Software Engineering Manager

Software Specialist

Software Support Engineer

Software Team Lead

Staff Software Engineer

Software engineer resume with Enhancv's Elegant resume template

Resume Guide

Resume Example

Resume Format

Resume Experience Section

Hard & Soft Skills

Certification & Education

Resume Summary/Objective

Software Engineer Cover Letter

Key Takeaways

By Experience

As a software engineer, you are like a swiss army knife, able to adapt and meet expectations with whatever task that’s thrown at you. Whether you’re engineering modern applications with JavaScript or designing and implementing PHP web applications, your software engineering success hinges on your ability to innovate and achieve your client’s expectations.

In that same way, you want to create a software engineer resume which achieves your goal: to land your dream job. At Enhancv, our job is to create resumes which allow you to get your foot in the door and to gain a highly sought after interview.

In this article, we will provide you with:

• How to detail your unique software engineer experiences over a wide variety of disciplines, such as mastery of programming languages, web development, and software development methodologies;
• How to summarize your career achievements in delivering scalable and robust software solutions;
• How to highlight your certifications from recognized bootcamps or specialized courses in AWS and Azure.

Before you go on, there are other resume examples with guides that can be relevant for you:

• Front-end developer resume
• Back-end engineer resume
• Full-Stack developer resume
• Python developer resume
• Node.js developer resume
• PhP developer resume
• Net developer resume

Software engineer resume example

Elegant resume template.

What does this resume example do well?

• Focusing attention on their programming skills: First, the author of this resume highlights their knowledge of programming languages. But they also list the operating systems they are comfortable working with, while also highlighting it throughout their resume. In fact, in their achievement section, they even mentioned that they created a unique Chabad which reduced customer costs by 240%.
• Showcasing their achievements through real-world numbers: Right as soon as your eyes glance over to the right side of the page, one phrase immediately sticks out, “Spearheaded a $12M software project.” The author of this resume chose to highlight their achievements through quantifiable, real-world examples. They shared that they increased efficiency by 30%, and successfully coordinated a yearlong project. These points prove to a potential hiring manager they are competent and able to handle a position.
• Highlighting their strengths: In addition, the author of this resume has a large section focused on their strengths. In this section, you can see the author mentions they were gold medalists for excellence in academics for five years.

How to format a software engineer's resume

As a software engineer, you should approach your resume like you would a line of code. When you format your code, you’re not just doing it for aesthetic reasons, but you’re doing it to enhance readability and make the codebase easier to maintain. In that same way, a properly formatted resume can enhance the readability of your resume for a potential hiring manager. In fact, by just making small tweaks to your resume, you can present yourself in a much more appealing way and potentially position yourself to get that much sought-after interview.

Below, you’ll find some helpful tips to keep in mind when you’re formatting your resume :

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The top sections on a software engineer resume:

What hiring managers want to see on a software engineer resume, how to write your software engineer resume experience.

Your resume experience section will be the first thing that a recruiter looks for when they scan your resume. They’ll scrutinize the contributions that you made in your previous role, checking to see what impact you made. That’s why you should bolster your experience and skills with real, quantifiable examples from your career.

Below, you’ll find a list of two experience sections. One of them will be the correct way to fill out an experience section, while the other will be a resume section that falls below expectations. Use both examples as a guideline to create your own:

• • Helped to implement Agile methodologies within a cross-functional team of software engineers.
• • Conducted regular code reviews and mentored junior developers.
• • Actively participated in the evaluation and selection of new technologies and tools to improve development processes.
• • Designed and developed a scalable microservices architecture using Node.js and Docker.

What’s the issue with this resume experience section?

There’s not a single quantifiable example here. What exactly did implementing Agile methodologies do in your previous job? There’s nothing here to show the impact that the applicant made. Also, some of the weak verbs should be changed to active, engaging verbs. The verb ‘helped’ is a weak verb, which could be shifted to ‘collaborated’ or just simply ‘implemented’.

• • Led a cross-functional team of five engineers in the successful implementation of Agile methodologies, resulting in a 20% increase in project efficiency and on-time deliveries.
• • Conducted regular code reviews and mentored junior developers, resulting in a 30% improvement in code quality and adherence to coding standards.
• • Designed and developed a scalable microservices architecture using Node.js and Docker, reducing response times by 40% and ensuring high availability for a customer-facing application serving over 1 million users.

What does this do right?

There are quantifiable examples scattered throughout this resume experience section, and this helps to show the impact that the applicant has made in their previous roles. Not only that, but the applicant uses unique keywords of specific programming languages and open-source server platforms which would help their resume make it through a scan by applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Start every one of your bullet points with a power verb to make them super impactful. Examples of power words include collaborated, developed, advocated, facilitated, and transformed.

How to quantify impact on your resume

It’s important to quantify the impact you’ve made in previous roles because you can add credibility to the claims that you make. Chances are, as a software engineer, you’ve spent a great deal of time creating and developing software, fixing bugs, and creating programs and applications that can benefit people. But you likely have spent very little time reflecting on the impact that you’ve made.

Potential hiring managers don’t want to see a bland list of the things that you’ve done. They want to see real-world examples of the difference you’ve made. In order to do this, use the PAR (Problem-Action-Result) method to refine your contributions. List a specific problem and then share the actions you took to achieve a specific result.

Below, you’ll find a list of the top quantifiable achievements to include on your resume:

• Scalability: “Designed and implemented a scalable microservices architecture, enabling the application to handle 3x more concurrent users.”
• Bug Reduction: “Achieved a 15% decrease in post-release bug reports by implementing comprehensive testing suites.”
• Increased Application Performance: “Improved application response time by 30% through code optimization.”
• Efficiency Improvements: “Automated deployment processes, reducing deployment times from 4 hours to 30 minutes.”
• User Growth: “Contributed to a feature that increased user engagement, resulting in a 25% growth in monthly active users.”
• Customer Satisfaction: “Resolved customer issues with a 24-hour turnaround time, leading to a 20% increase in customer retention.”

How to list your hard skills and soft skills on your resume

In the IT field, you’ll likely find it easier to go into detail about the hard (technical skills) that you possess. You have a technical education which has allowed you to develop your coding and programming languages to become proficient in them. No doubt when someone asks what you do for a living, you might list off several technical skills you have and explain how that fits into your role in a company.

These technical skills may form the core of your experience, but you also possess soft (also known as people) skills. Whenever you collaborate with an interdisciplinary team filled with marketing experts, managers, and research and development professionals, you have to use communication skills to explain the decisions and actions you’ve taken.

Below, you’ll find two lists. The first one lists all the hard skills a software engineer should include on their resume. The second will include all the soft skills to include.

Best hard skills for your software developer resume

Best soft skills for your software engineer resume, 5 examples of skills to include on your resume:.

• Collaboration: “Provided leadership to an interdisciplinary team as the subject matter expert on hosting issues, staff and customer logins, and upgrades to servers.”
• Problem-solving skills: “Created ecommerce sites integrated with PayPal, Authorize.net, and other payment APIs. Navigated issues related to a complex ecommerce site.”
• Leadership: “Led a team of 5 programmers to structure several internal systems, including custom REST APIs through Python.”
• Attention to detail: “ Refined the application’s features to root out and fix bugs, which optimized overall performance, efficiency, and reliability.”
• Adaptability: “Modified and designed HTML, JavaScript, and CSS web pages in order to optimize the performance for quicker loading.

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

In the IT field, possessing the right education and certifications can make all the difference in finding the right job. In fact, if you possess the right educational background and certifications, you may be able to win job offers over more experienced software engineers.

Here’s what you need to include when listing your education on your resume:

Listing certifications on your resume:

Best certifications for your software engineer resume, how to write your software developer resume summary or objective.

There is a big difference between a resume summary on a resume objective. A resume objective, also known as an objective statement, is a short, position-focused statement that describes the value that you could add to the position you’re applying for. A resume objective tends to be used more for those who are new to the field, or those without as much experience.

You can use bullet points in your resume objective to help break up a large paragraph of text. It also helps to draw the eye to each of the individual unique skills you possess.

In contrast, a professional summary goes into a little more detail than a resume objective does. Resume summaries go into more depth about how each unique set of skills you possess will aid the company. Using real-world, quantifiable examples, a resume summary should effectively build your case on why your experience shows you’ll be the best candidate to fill the position. Resume summaries can be used by those who have more experience under their belt.

Let’s first examine a couple of resume objectives for software engineers, and see what they do bad and well.

One major issue with his resume objective is that it lacks specific details about the technical skills that the applicant possesses. Don’t be afraid to explain individual skills that you highlight later on in your resume.

What does this example do right?

It’s a lot more specific, going into more detail about the skills and abilities that the applicant possesses. Not only does it mention programming languages, but it also mentions their unique background in database management and cloud technologies.

Now, let’s move on to resume summaries and focus on how to do them well and what to avoid.

This resume summary doesn’t have the same impact as the one you will read below. It misses the unique programming languages that the applicant possesses, as well as not possessing powerful words. For what could be a great resume summary, it falls lifeless and flat.

Conversely, not only does it showcase all the unique programming languages and skills the applicant possesses, but it also shows that the applicant is looking for a new challenge. This shows someone who is driven to create an impact and to innovate.

Cover letter matching your software engineer resume

Cover letters are important because they allow a hiring manager to learn a little more about you than what your resume can offer. In your cover letter, be sure to go into more depth about the skills and experience you possess, while also showing how you are interested in the position you’re applying for.

Below, you can find a list of tips to help you craft your cover letter:

• Cover letter header: Make sure to include all the contact information that you provided in your resume and make sure that they match.
• Address the letter to a hiring manager: Do your best to find the specific person who is hiring for the position. If you tailor your cover letter to a specific hiring manager, it’ll show that you took the time to find out their name and put it on the cover letter.
• Write a salutation and introduction: Begin your cover letter with a salutation like “Dear ___” and then write an introductory paragraph. Your introductory paragraph should give a first taste of who you are. It should also include a bit of information about why you are interested in working at the company you’re applying for.
• Describe technical and soft skills: Next, include some specific skills that you possess. Make sure to quantify and provide real-world examples of the skills.
• Call to action: Finish off your cover letter with a call to action, a specific statement that provokes a response. This can include asking them to contact you through email or your phone number provided.

Check our software engineer cover letter here .

Software Engineer resume examples

Explore additional software engineer resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

You're likely to gain more software development knowledge during your initial months on the job than throughout four years as a computer science major.

Both technical and non-technical recruiters appreciate real project experience, as it demonstrates your ability to thrive in a production environment, collaborate with a team, and adhere to guidelines.

If your work history is sparse, focus on presenting your experience through software projects. Side applications, contributions to open-source code, and even relevant Fiverr gigs can give you a competitive advantage over candidates with less experience.

Your GitHub profile can be a wildcard in the hiring process. Some recruiters may scrutinize it to make their decision, while others might disregard it completely.

Prepare for the possibility that someone will review your GitHub page. What will they find? Unnecessary comments? An empty profile? Regardless of whether the code was written three or five years ago, your work will be evaluated based on today's standards.

Include your GitHub link on your resume only if you believe it adds value. Otherwise, it could work against you.

Mid-level software engineers are indeed the "workhorses" of the programming world. They deliver significant impact through routine code, optimize their workflows precisely, and exhibit excellent coding habits.

Highlight the following qualities in the context of your software projects to present yourself in the best light:

• Ability to deliver substantial amounts of work with minimal or no supervision;
• Active collaboration with team members and team leads;
• Deep understanding of platforms and tools relevant to the target company's tech stack.

Beyond operating independently at a highly-skilled level, senior software engineers are also capable of leading teams and serving as mentors.

When applying for senior positions, concentrate on your team's achievements and collaboration, rather than your personal accomplishments. Tech companies seek senior software engineers who can effectively guide less-experienced staff.

Examine the size of your target company's software department and emphasize experience with teams of comparable sizes. Showcase your successes as a leader and prove your ability to consistently solve company problems.

Structure parts of your experience using a challenge-solution-business outcome framework to attract the attention of your dream company.

Key takeaways

Looking to build your own Software Engineer resume?

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13 Software Engineer Resume Examples for Your 2024 Job Search

Software Engineers are highly technical experts, skilled at designing, developing, and maintaining complex software applications. Just like a robust software program, a software engineer's resume should be well-structured, tested, and optimized for performance. In this guide, we'll review 7 software engineer resume samples and share key insights for making an impression in this highly competitive field.

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• Related Resumes

Common Responsibilities Listed on Software Engineer Resumes:

• Design, architect, develop, test, and deploy software solutions that meet customer requirements
• Work in teams to produce high-quality software products
• Create software architectures, designs, and specifications
• Develop and debug user interfaces, server-side solutions, third-party services, and migration strategies
• Take ownership of complex technical tasks and break them down into manageable chunks
• Proactively seek out technical solutions and offer alternatives when necessary
• Proficiently maintain, fix, refactor, and extend existing software solutions
• Monitor system performance and stability and troubleshoot and optimize software
• Provide technical guidance to peers and younger engineers
• Create automated unit tests and integration tests
• Develop software according to best practices and maintain software engineering standards
• Manage the design, development, and deployment of new software products

You can use the examples above as a starting point to help you brainstorm tasks, accomplishments for your work experience section.

Software Engineer Resume Example:

• Spearheaded the development of a large-scale software system to meet regulatory standards, resulting in a 25% improvement in customer satisfaction
• Upgraded a critical server-side solution with automation and optimized code to enhance security and process speed by 27%
• Developed custom software architectures, designs, and specifications to meet customer design requirements and exceed project deadlines
• Collaborated with a cross-functional team to design and deploy versatile and intuitive software solutions, driving a 6% increase in customer loyalty
• Implemented a cutting-edge database migration strategy that increased database performance, while reducing operational maintenance costs by 25%
• Installed, maintained, and debugged third-party services to optimize software performance, resulting in improved system stability and reliability
• Tutored and provided technical guidance to peers, leading to a 15% improvement in code quality and a 15% reduction in software development bugs
• Successfully managed the creation and debugging of user-interfaces, resulting in a 14% reduction in customer support tickets
• Devised automated unit tests and integration tests to ensure software conformance with best practice standards, resulting in a 20% improvement in team productivity
• Object-oriented programming
• Database Design and Development
• Relational Database Management Systems
• Web Application Development
• Software Architecture and Design
• Software Development Lifecycle
• Agile Methodologies
• Software Testing and Quality Assurance
• Code Version Control
• Software Troubleshooting and Debugging
• Cloud Platforms and Virtualization
• Business Analysis and Requirements Gathering
• Project Management
• IT Security and Risk Mitigation
• Automation and Scripting
• Continuous Integration/Delivery
• Data Structures and Algorithms
• User Experience Design
• Software Documentation
• Technical Team Leadership
• Software Engineering
• Machine Learning

Entry Level Software Engineer Resume Example:

• Successfully collaborated with co-workers to develop and implement a regular software maintenance schedule in order to ensure system reliability and robustness.
• Implemented automated unit and integration testing to identify bugs and reduce manual testing hours.
• Compiled comprehensive technical documentation to ensure future teams could maintain the software applications.
• Developed application solutions that effectively addressed and integrated business requirements for multiple projects
• Troubleshot and debugged existing software systems, leading to major improvements in workflow, user experience, and product stability
• Assisted in the successful deployment and support of multiple software applications
• Analyzed existing software processes and suggested novel solutions to increase overall system performance
• Researched and implemented new technologies to maintain system integrity
• Adhered to coding standards, thereby enhancing code effectiveness and optimizing development best practices
• Software Development
• Software Testing
• Automated Testing
• Unit Testing
• Integration Testing
• Troubleshooting
• Problem-Solving
• Documentation
• Database Management
• Application Design
• System Performance Analysis
• Requirements Gathering
• Algorithm Design & Development
• Business Analysis
• Quality Assurance
• Release Management
• Web Programming
• Data Structures
• Mobile Application Development

Experienced Software Engineer Resume Example:

• Designed and developed highly performing software systems from specifications, increasing the company's productivity and speed of operations.
• Mentored and helped junior engineers with the implementation of new software components and technologies for the company's systems.
• Led several code reviews for software application modules and systems, resulting in improved quality performance.
• Analyzed customer queries and technical issues to identify software bugs and produced innovative solutions to reduce troubleshooting times.
• Improved software performance and quality standards by regularly maintaining and updating existing codebases.
• Developed unit test plans and automated tests that ensured stable releases and improved product stability.
• Developed technical specifications and designs that met customer requirements and business needs
• Utilized best practices and cutting-edge technologies to optimize software for best performance
• Led design review sessions for resolving software issues, resulting in significant cost savings for the company
• Object-Oriented Programming
• Database Design & Modeling
• Software Development Life-Cycle (SDLC)
• Code Refactoring
• Quality Assurance (QA) Testing
• Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery
• Algorithms & Data Structures
• Rest Api Design & Development
• Cloud Technologies (Azure, AWS, GCP)
• System Architecture Design & Implementation
• Version Control (Git, Subversion)
• Service-Oriented Architecture
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (Ml)
• Security & Authentication Protocols
• Scripting & Automation
• Docker & Containerization
• Blockchain Technologies

Fresher Software Engineer Resume Example:

• Developed test plans and cases to ensure software met technical and functional requirements, and subsequently created modular code that adhered to this criteria, as well as client expectations.
• Delivered successful bug fixes and troubleshooting to coding issues within software versions while understanding and implementing software development processes.
• Documented coding and design changes into GIT/Subversion repositories, and actively participated in group code reviews to keep software up-to-date and accurate.
• Participated in internal development team meetings and collaborated on project scope, working to refine resourcing and provide development timelines for completion
• Analyzed user requirements, devised and drafted functional specifications, and conducted unit tests to ensure desirable user experiences
• Learned cloud technologies and architecture for AWS, Azure, and GCP, and presented these advancements in projects to ensure accuracy and deployability
• Debugged coding issues and implemented feedback from team members to update code and create new models
• Reviewed existing and incoming software changes to document the design, outline goals, and determine KPIs
• Established and maintained software versions, ensuring cloud compatibility and collaboration with internal stakeholders to meet project deadlines
• Database knowledge/SQL programming
• Java development
• RESTful API development
• Agile/Scrum methodologies
• Cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Version control (GIT/Subversion)
• Domain-Driven Design
• JavaScript development
• Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
• Web Services (REST/SOAP)
• Procedural and Functional programming
• Linux/UNIX fundamentals
• Debugging/troubleshooting
• Networking fundamentals

Junior Software Engineer Resume Example:

• Developed features and functionalities for multiple software applications, making them more user-friendly and intuitive for customers and staff
• Refactored existing code in order to improve application performance, scalability, and reliability
• Participated in design reviews and code reviews, collaborating with other software engineers and stakeholders throughout the development process
• Created and maintained programming and project documentation, ensuring clear and timely communication between colleagues, customers, and product owners
• Wrote, modified, debugged, and tested code using the appropriate software development tools
• Identified, diagnosed, and resolved technical issues in code to maintain stability and consistency in the software applications
• Participated in daily standups and technical meetings to discuss product updates, customer feedback, and code quality
• Implemented unit and system testing for all software programs to meet employer and customer specifications
• Stayed up-to-date on development best practices and standards, allowing for efficient problem solving and maintenance
• Agile methodology
• Test-driven development
• Relational database management
• Version control systems
• Cloud computing
• Java/C++/Python/Ruby/PHP
• API design and development
• Systems architecture and design
• Scripting languages (e.g. Bash, PowerShell)
• Application development framework
• Web/mobile development
• Networking/distributed systems
• Application security
• Source code management
• Quality Assurance (QA)
• Documentation and UMLs

Senior Software Engineer Resume Example:

• Overhauled existing software applications to enhance reliability, performance and scalability; increased consumer conversion rate by 25%
• Mentored and led a team of junior developers to create project designs, software testing and quality assurance plans, and execution oversight and review
• Aggregated software project knowledge and documentation to create a central resource for future development teams

and maintenance

• Developed high-quality software applications for a client base, resulting in improved customer satisfaction by 35%
• Architected and implemented software solutions utilizing advanced technologies and methodologies, improving development turnaround time by 20%
• Optimized existing software codebase to eliminate unnecessary complexity and achieve increased efficiencies in debugging and maintenance
• Generated cost savings of over $200,000 by streamlining development process, automating unit testing and refactoring code
• Implemented user-friendly UI/UX design standards to ensure applications are intuitive and compliant with industry standards
• Designed and conducted software validation testing to assess the functionality and efficacy of the software, ensuring accuracy of requirements and expectations
• Object-oriented Design/Analysis
• Agile/Scrum/Lean Methodologies
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Database Design and Implementation
• Debugging and Troubleshooting
• Java/C/C++/Python Programming
• Web-based Programming
• Cloud Computing Technologies
• Software Design/Architecture
• Test-driven Development
• Continuous Integration and Delivery
• Mobile App Development
• User Experience Design Techniques
• Source Control Management Tools
• Application Security & Optimization
• Networking Protocols & Technologies
• Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning

Software Engineer Intern Resume Example:

• Designed, developed, implemented and tested new software solutions for internal and external partners using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP, contributing to the successful completion of a major organizational project
• Developed extensive technical documentation to accurately and clearly explain new and existing software applications
• Assisted both colleagues and end-users with their technical inquiries, helping them to understand complex system architectures, perform troubleshooting and debugging
• Partnered with software architects and systems engineers to ensure quality of software product, and created test plans to execute successful unit testing
• Researched and evaluated emerging software technologies, tools and trends to inform decisions and improve existing software implementations
• Developed user-friendly and interactive interfaces with various functions to improve the user experience, and documented each process step to create a helpful team reference manual
• Investigated and advocated for new and innovative software solutions, working closely with product designers and software engineers to implement suggested change
• Maintained a tech blog, providing the open source community with the latest trends, best practices and inside knowledge about software engineering
• Translated basic user cases into working prototypes and complex models with data structures to meet the requirements and solve customer-facing bugs
• Technical Documentation
• Troubleshooting and Debugging
• Research and Evaluation of Software Technologies
• User Interface Design
• Innovative Problem Solving
• Prototyping
• Systems Analysis
• Open Source Contributions
• Agile Methodology
• Software Architecture
• Software Testing and Documentation
• Object-Oriented Design
• Cross-Platform Development

Senior iOS Software Engineer Resume Example:

• Developed and launched a new iOS application that increased user engagement by 25% and generated $500K in revenue within the first six months.
• Optimized application performance by implementing caching and reducing load times by 40%, resulting in a 15% increase in user retention.
• Mentored and trained junior engineers, resulting in a 30% improvement in code quality and a 20% reduction in bug-related delays.
• Integrated an iOS application with external systems, resulting in a 50% reduction in manual data entry and a 25% increase in data accuracy.
• Developed and maintained automated tests, reducing testing time by 60% and increasing test coverage by 40%.
• Researched and evaluated new technologies, leading to the adoption of Swift and improving development efficiency by 30%.
• Designed and developed a complex iOS application that supported a 50% increase in user base and generated $1M in revenue within the first year.
• Optimized application performance by implementing lazy loading and reducing memory usage by 30%, resulting in a 20% increase in user retention.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop new features, resulting in a 15% increase in user engagement and a 10% increase in revenue.
• Swift programming language
• Objective-C programming language
• iOS SDK and frameworks
• UIKit and SwiftUI
• Auto Layout and Interface Builder
• Core Data and data persistence
• Networking and RESTful APIs
• Multithreading and concurrency
• Performance optimization techniques
• Unit testing and test-driven development
• Continuous integration and continuous deployment
• Git and version control systems
• Agile methodologies and Scrum
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Mentoring and team leadership
• Research and technology evaluation
• App Store submission and distribution
• Accessibility and localization
• Security best practices
• Mobile app analytics and user engagement

Google Software Engineer Resume Example:

• Designed and implemented a new automated testing framework, resulting in a 50% reduction in testing time and a 25% increase in test coverage.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to optimize application performance, resulting in a 30% reduction in latency and a 20% increase in user satisfaction.
• Developed and maintained documentation for software applications, resulting in a 40% reduction in onboarding time for new engineers.
• Developed and implemented a new build and deployment process, reducing deployment time by 60% and minimizing production issues by 50%.
• Designed and implemented a new microservices architecture, improving system reliability by 40% and supporting a 25% increase in customer base.
• Collaborated with other engineers to troubleshoot and debug software applications, resulting in a 30% reduction in bug-related delays.
• Developed and maintained software applications using Google Cloud Platform (GCP), resulting in a 20% increase in application performance and a 15% reduction in operational costs.
• Designed and implemented software solutions using Google technologies such as Java, Python, and Go, resulting in a 25% increase in team productivity and a 20% reduction in development time.
• Participated in code reviews and provided feedback, resulting in a 30% improvement in overall code quality and a 20% reduction in production issues.
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Microservices architecture
• Automated testing frameworks
• Application performance optimization
• Software debugging and troubleshooting
• Build and deployment processes
• Code review and feedback
• Software documentation
• Application scalability
• System reliability
• User satisfaction

VMware Engineer Resume Example:

• Designed and implemented a disaster recovery plan for a large financial institution, reducing recovery time by 50% and ensuring business continuity in the event of a disaster.
• Developed and maintained automation scripts for virtual machine provisioning, resulting in a 30% reduction in manual effort and a 20% increase in efficiency.
• Provided technical support and training to over 100 users and IT staff, resulting in a 25% decrease in support tickets and an overall improvement in user satisfaction scores by 15%.
• Managed the migration of a large healthcare organization's virtual infrastructure to vSphere 7, resulting in a 40% reduction in downtime and a 25% increase in system performance.
• Developed and maintained capacity planning and performance tuning for a large e-commerce company's vSphere environment, resulting in a 20% reduction in hardware costs and a 15% increase in system efficiency.
• Researched and evaluated new technologies and products related to vSphere environment, leading to the adoption of a new storage solution that improved system performance by 30%.
• Designed and implemented a virtualization infrastructure for a large government agency, resulting in a 50% reduction in hardware costs and a 30% increase in system performance.
• Developed and maintained security policies and procedures for a large financial institution's vSphere environment, resulting in compliance with industry regulations and a 20% reduction in security incidents.
• Monitored and troubleshooted a large manufacturing company's vSphere environment for performance and availability, resulting in a 25% reduction in downtime and an overall improvement in system reliability by 15%.
• VMware vSphere expertise
• Disaster recovery planning
• Virtual machine provisioning automation
• Technical support and training
• vSphere 7 migration
• Capacity planning and performance tuning
• Research and evaluation of new technologies
• Virtualization infrastructure design and implementation
• Security policy development and maintenance
• vSphere environment monitoring and troubleshooting
• Hardware cost reduction
• System performance optimization
• Compliance with industry regulations
• System reliability improvement
• Strong communication and collaboration skills

Embedded Software Engineer Resume Example:

• Designed and developed embedded software for a real-time system, including scheduling, synchronization, and communication protocols, resulting in a 25% improvement in system performance.
• Developed software for low-level device drivers, including GPIO, UART, and I2C, resulting in a 30% reduction in system crashes and improved system stability.
• Developed software for embedded applications, such as motor control and sensor fusion, resulting in a 20% increase in system accuracy and reliability.
• Developed software for communication protocols such as CAN, SPI, I2C, and Ethernet, resulting in a 15% reduction in system downtime and improved system reliability.
• Developed software for embedded operating systems, such as Linux and FreeRTOS, resulting in a 20% improvement in system performance and reduced system crashes.
• Developed software for embedded systems, such as debugging, testing, and validation, resulting in a 25% reduction in software bugs and improved system stability.
• Developed software for embedded systems, such as ARM Cortex-M, PIC, and AVR, resulting in a 30% improvement in system performance and reduced system crashes.
• Developed software for embedded systems, such as bootloaders, bootstraps, and firmware, resulting in a 20% reduction in system downtime and improved system reliability.
• Implemented version control, configuration management, and build systems, resulting in a 25% reduction in development time and improved team productivity.
• Embedded software development
• Real-time systems design
• Low-level device drivers
• Communication protocols (CAN, SPI, I2C, Ethernet)
• Embedded operating systems (Linux, FreeRTOS)
• Debugging and testing
• ARM Cortex-M, PIC, and AVR microcontrollers
• Bootloaders, bootstraps, and firmware
• Version control and configuration management
• Build systems and automation
• Motor control and sensor fusion
• Scheduling and synchronization
• Software validation and optimization
• Team collaboration and productivity
• Developed and implemented a new feature for an existing software application, resulting in a 10% increase in user satisfaction and a 5% increase in user retention.
• Collaborated with a team of developers to troubleshoot and resolve software issues, resulting in a 20% reduction in bug-related delays and an overall improvement in software quality.
• Contributed to the development of technical documentation, ensuring that it was accurate and up-to-date for future reference.
• Designed and developed a new software solution from scratch, meeting all project requirements and delivering it on time and within budget.
• Collaborated with other developers to identify and implement new features, resulting in a 15% increase in user engagement and a 10% increase in revenue.
• Participated in code reviews and provided feedback to other developers, improving overall code quality and reducing the number of bugs in the software.
• Developed and maintained a database of customer information, ensuring that it was accurate and up-to-date at all times.
• Worked with other developers to develop and implement unit tests and integration tests, ensuring that software was thoroughly tested before release.
• Stayed up-to-date with new technologies and development trends, attending conferences and workshops to improve skills and knowledge.
• Programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, C++)
• Web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
• Database management (SQL, NoSQL)
• Software development methodologies (Agile, Scrum)
• Version control systems (Git, SVN)
• Debugging and troubleshooting
• Unit testing and test automation
• API development and integration
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Technical documentation
• Code review and optimization
• Continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD)
• Cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
• Mobile app development (Android, iOS)
• Machine learning and artificial intelligence frameworks
• Cybersecurity best practices
• Time management and organization
• Adaptability and continuous learning

Principal Software Engineer Resume Example:

• Led the technical design and development of a complex software project, resulting in a 30% improvement in system performance and a 25% reduction in response time.
• Implemented a software testing plan that increased test coverage by 40% and reduced the number of critical bugs by 50%.
• Provided technical guidance and mentorship to junior software engineers, resulting in a 20% improvement in their coding skills and a 15% increase in their productivity.
• Developed and maintained a codebase for a mission-critical software system, achieving a 99.9% uptime and ensuring uninterrupted service for millions of users.
• Researched and evaluated new software technologies and tools, leading to the adoption of a cloud-based infrastructure that reduced operational costs by 30%.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot and debug complex software applications, resulting in a 40% reduction in customer-reported issues and an improved user experience.
• Designed and implemented a scalable microservices architecture, enabling the company to handle a 50% increase in user traffic without any performance degradation.
• Developed and maintained technical documentation, ensuring that the software development team had up-to-date and accurate information, resulting in a 20% reduction in development time for new features.
• Monitored system performance and provided performance tuning and optimization, resulting in a 25% improvement in response time and a 15% reduction in server costs.
• Expertise in software design and architecture
• Proficiency in coding and programming languages
• Strong knowledge of microservices architecture
• Experience with cloud-based infrastructure
• Ability to develop and maintain a large codebase
• Skill in software testing and debugging
• Proficiency in performance tuning and optimization
• Ability to research and evaluate new software technologies and tools
• Experience in technical documentation and knowledge transfer
• Strong leadership and mentorship skills
• Ability to handle high user traffic systems
• Knowledge of system monitoring and maintenance
• Experience in reducing operational costs and improving system performance
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Knowledge of Agile and Scrum methodologies
• Understanding of DevOps principles
• Familiarity with containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines
• Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices.

High Level Resume Tips for Software Engineers:

Highlight your technical skills: As a software engineer, your technical expertise is crucial. Emphasize your experience with software development methodologies, programming languages, and other technical tools and frameworks. Showcase your project experience: Highlight the projects you have worked on, the technologies you have used, and the results you have achieved. Be specific and quantify your accomplishments wherever possible. Highlight your software architecture skills: Software engineers must understand how to design software architectures that meet the needs of a business or organization. Highlight your experience with software design patterns and system architecture.

Must-Have Information for a Software Engineer Resume:

Here are the essential sections that should exist in a software engineer resume:

• Contact Information
• Resume Headline
• Resume Summary or Objective
• Work Experience & Achievements
• Skills & Competencies

Additionally, if you're eager to make an impression and gain an edge over other software engineer candidates, you may want to consider adding in these sections:

• Certifications/Training

Let's start with resume headlines.

Why Resume Headlines & Titles are Important for Software Engineers:

Software engineer resume headline examples:, strong headlines.

Experienced Software Engineer: 4+ Years of Technical Expertise

Innovative Software Engineer: Working with Emerging Technologies and Team Collaboration

Good headlines demonstrate the job seeker's hard and soft skills as they relate to the role they're applying for. The headlines demonstrate their value proposition in a concise and direct way. Additionally, good resume headlines incorporate industry-relevant keywords to ensure the content is tailored to the job description.

Weak Headlines

Software Guy with 4 Years of Experience

Just Looking for a Paycheck: Software Development

Weak resume headlines can be confusing, vague and uninspiring. They do not mention any relevant skills, nor do they portray the individual as a capable Software Engineer. Each headline fails to convey anything unique or valuable about the person. Additionally, resume headlines that make no reference to the context of the job which make the job seeker appear shallow.

Writing an Exceptional Software Engineer Resume Summary:

A resume summary is a critical component for Software Engineers, as it provides a valuable opportunity to highlight the skills, experiences, and accomplishments of your career in a brief and impactful way.

When written well, a resume summary can (and should) do the following:

• Quickly Showcase Relevant Skills: A well-crafted summary allows Software Engineers to quickly showcase their technical abilities, such as programming languages they are proficient in, as well as their ability to work in different development environments.
• Stand Out from the Crowd: In the extremely competitive world of software engineering, a killer summary can truly set your resume apart.
• Highlight Key Achievements: A summary provides a front-and-center place to showcase your most notable technical achievements and accomplishments as a Software Engineer, like contributing to the development of new software or resolving a complex technical problem.
• Impress the Hiring Manager: A strong summary will leave a lasting impression on the hiring manager and increase the chances of your resume being shortlisted for further consideration.

Here are some the key best practices to write an exceptional resume summary:

• Tailor it to the specific job you are applying for by highlighting relevant skills and experiences.
• Mention quantifiable achievements, such as successful project delivery or improvements to system performance.
• Use keywords related to the software development field to make your resume more attractive to both people and applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Keep the summary concise and to-the-point, ideally under 4 sentences.
• Avoid generic statements and cliches and try not to repeat any information already included in other sections of your resume.

Software Engineer Resume Summary Examples:

Strong summaries.

• Highly-skilled Software Engineer with 4 years of experience in developing and deploying software solutions. Proven success in designing and developing software applications that meet customer requirements.
• Innovative Software Engineer with 4 years of experience in creating and optimizing software applications. Skilled in using a variety of software development tools and technologies to develop solutions for customers.

Why these are strong:

• These summaries demonstrate the Software Engineer's experience in developing and deploying software solutions, and in designing and developing software applications. They also demonstrate the Software Engineer's ability to use a variety of software development tools and technologies to create and optimize software applications for customers.

Weak Summaries

• Experienced Software Engineer with 4 years of experience in developing software applications. Experience in deploying software solutions.
• Skilled in developing and deploying software solutions.

Why these are weak:

• These summaries are too generic and lack specifics. They do not demonstrate the Software Engineer's ability to design and develop software applications that meet customer requirements, or to use a variety of software development tools and technologies to create and optimize software applications for customers. They also do not demonstrate the Software Engineer's experience in deploying software solutions.

Resume Objective Examples for Software Engineers:

Strong objectives.

Highly motivated Software Engineer seeking to join an innovative and creative team, with experience in web languages such as HTML and CSS, as well as coding in C# and Java.

Eager to apply expertise in software development to help the company reach the highest levels of efficiency, with the ability to work independently, or as part of a team, in a fast-paced environment.

• What makes the great objective great is that they provide concise information that showcases the Software Engineer's skills and attributes. The great objective also states the individual's desire to join an innovative team and to help the company reach higher levels of efficiency.

Weak Objectives

• I am looking for a job as a Software Engineer.
• Experienced Software Engineer who wants to increase their salary.
• What makes the poor objective poor is that they do not showcase the individual's skills, attributes, or any real ability to benefit the company. Furthermore, the statements are too generic and are not clear in their purpose.

Generate Your Resume Summary with AI

Speed up your resume creation process with the ai resume builder . generate tailored resume summaries in seconds., how to impress with your software engineer work experience:, best practices for your work experience section:.

• Highlight programming languages and technologies used in past roles: Specify the programming languages, frameworks and technologies used on projects/applications. Be as specific as possible.
• Reference technical roles in detail: Describe specific accomplishments in technical roles such as development, programming, engineering, data analysis, database administration.
• Showcase project-based work: List projects worked on in the past and detail the components involved in each one.
• Show problem-solving skills: Detail how technical challenges were solved, highlighting any areas of expertise used to resolve the issue.
• Demonstrate leadership skills: Describe accomplishments in team-based roles such as managing projects, leading technical initiatives, and developing relationships with stakeholders.
• Include achievements and results: Show any awards or recognition received as a result of the job and provide specific results of the work produced.
• Include organizational impact: Detail the big-picture impact of the work, the team, or the projects.
• Use quantifiable terms: Give details using specific quantifiable terms such as time saved, size of codebase, number of lines of code, etc.
• Describe unique challenges: Describe any unique or complex challenges faced and how they were solved.
• Include relevant courses or trainings: Cite any courses or specific trainings taken for continuing education or professional development.

Example Work Experiences for Software Engineers:

Strong experiences.

Built a microservices-based architecture for a customer management system, resulting in a 50% reduction in system downtime and improved scalability.

Developed a real-time analytics dashboard for a leading telecommunications company, providing key business insights and driving strategic decisions.

Led a cross-functional team of engineers, designers, and product managers in the delivery of a new cloud-based product, on time and within budget.

Contributed to the development of a machine learning-powered recommendation engine, resulting in a 20% increase in user engagement and revenue.

Developed and maintained an enterprise-level system for a major financial institution, ensuring high availability and security.

Mentored junior engineers in the team, sharing technical knowledge and contributing to the team's overall growth.

• The strong work experiences for a software engineer showcase technical skills, impactful results, and leadership qualities. They demonstrate a track record of delivering high-quality software solutions that drive business results and provide value to clients or customers. The examples highlight technical accomplishments such as designing and building microservices-based architecture, developing real-time analytics dashboards, and delivering new cloud-based products. They also showcase soft skills such as mentorship, cross-functional teamwork, and technical knowledge sharing.

Weak Experiences

Worked as a software engineer on various projects.

Assisted senior developers in coding and debugging.

Participated in code reviews and contributed to the development of technical documentation.

Worked as a software engineer on multiple projects.

Wrote code for various applications and modules.

Debugged and resolved technical issues.

• The weak work experiences for a software engineer are generic and lack detail and context. They do not showcase technical skills, results, or leadership qualities, and do not provide any information about the impact the individual had in their role. The examples simply list responsibilities without any metrics, achievements, or impact, making it difficult to evaluate the candidate's experience and potential value as an employee. They lack specificity and do not provide any insights into the candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, or ability to drive results.

Top Skills & Keywords for Software Engineer Resumes:

Top hard & soft skills for software engineers, hard skills.

• Software development methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum)
• Object-oriented design and programming (OOP)
• Algorithms and data structures
• Web development (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
• Relational databases (e.g., SQL, Oracle)
• Version control (e.g., Git, SVN)
• Software testing and quality assurance
• Cloud computing (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Operating systems (e.g., Linux, Unix, Windows)
• Integrated development environments (IDEs)

Soft Skills

• Strong Communication Skills
• Problem Solving
• Attention to Detail
• Adaptability
• Critical Thinking
• Organizational Skills

Go Above & Beyond with a Software Engineer Cover Letter

Software engineer cover letter example: (based on resume).

Dear Hiring Manager, I am excited to apply for the Software Engineer position at [Company]. With over [number of years] years of experience in software development, I am confident that my skills and expertise will contribute to the continued success of your company. In my previous role as a Software Engineer, I spearheaded the development of a large-scale software system that met regulatory standards and improved customer satisfaction by 25%. Additionally, I upgraded a critical server-side solution, enhancing security and process speed by 27%. My experience in developing custom software architectures, designs, and specifications has allowed me to meet customer requirements and exceed project deadlines consistently. I am well-versed in collaborating with cross-functional teams to design and deploy versatile and intuitive software solutions that have resulted in a 6% increase in customer loyalty. I have implemented cutting-edge database migration strategies, which improved database performance and reduced operational maintenance costs by 25%. Additionally, I have installed, maintained, and debugged third-party services to optimize software performance, resulting in improved system stability and reliability. As a mentor and technical guidance provider, I have successfully improved code quality by 15% and reduced software development bugs by 15% for my peers. I have also devised automated unit tests and integration tests to ensure software conformance with best practice standards, leading to a 20% improvement in team productivity. I am confident that my skills in software development, collaboration, and leadership will make me a valuable addition to your team. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to discussing my qualifications further in an interview. ‍

Sincerely, [Your Name]

A cover letter is an essential tool for any software engineer looking to stand out from the competition. It's an opportunity to showcase your technical skills, highlight your relevant experience, and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position.

While a resume provides a summary of your skills and experience, a cover letter allows you to personalize your application and connect with the hiring manager on a deeper level. It's an opportunity to explain why you're passionate about software engineering, and show how you can add value to the organization.

Here are some of the key reasons for pairing your software engineer resume with a cover letter:

• It demonstrates your technical skills: As a software engineer, technical skills are key. Your cover letter provides an opportunity to showcase your ability to write code, troubleshoot problems, and develop innovative solutions.
• It shows your enthusiasm for the position: A well-written cover letter can demonstrate your passion for the role and the organization. This can make a big difference in the hiring manager's decision-making process.
• It highlights your relevant experience: Your cover letter allows you to explain how your skills and experience align with the requirements of the job. This can help the hiring manager understand why you're a good fit for the role.
• It sets you apart from other applicants: A well-crafted cover letter can help you stand out from other applicants who may have similar experience and qualifications.

We understand that writing a cover letter may seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Remember that the cover letter is an extension of your resume, so you can use the same format and content as your resume. It's also a chance to address any gaps or questions that the hiring manager may have after reading your resume.

Tips for aligning your cover letter with your resume:

• Use the same header as your resume: This will help the hiring manager identify your application as a complete package.
• Align the content of your cover letter with the requirements of the job: Use the job description as a guide to highlight your relevant skills and experience.
• Use keywords from the job posting: Incorporate relevant keywords from the job posting to help your application get past applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Keep your cover letter concise and focused: Aim for one page and avoid repeating information from your resume.
• Proofread carefully: Errors in your cover letter can undermine your credibility, so make sure to proofread carefully before submitting your application.

Resume FAQs for Software Engineers:

How long should i make my software engineer resume.

The ideal length for a Software Engineer’s resume should be two pages. Brevity is key - highlighting your software engineering experience, achievements, and education should be the priority. Any necessary additional information or details can be added after this. Try to focus on concisely presenting your most relevant expertise and accomplishments so as to keep the resume concise and in-depth.

What is the best way to format a Software Engineer resume?

For Software Engineers, the best resume format is one that emphasizes the candidate’s technical strengths and accomplishments, highlights their related experience and training, and excludes any irrelevant information. To provide an effective overview of an engineer’s skills, it is suggested to keep the design of the resume clean and efficient, relying on the most relevant, impactful bullets and relevant keywords to provide an organized and compelling story. Additionally, it is important to tailor the resume to each position by leveraging buzzwords and phrases found in the job description.

Which Software Engineer skills are most important to highlight in a resume?

Some of the hard skills that Software Engineers should include in a resume are: coding proficiency (in a variety of programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, Python, etc.), knowledge of development tools, experience with databases and SQL, ability to work with source control management, excellent problem-solving Skills, and ability to develop algorithms and debugging. Additionally, Software Engineers should be proficient in operating systems and software design, databases, eCommerce platforms, and cloud platform and associated technologies. Knowing various application and development frameworks such as NodeJS, Drupal, and API integration is also important for Software Engineers. Finally, Software Engineers should have experience in designing and implementing unit and integration tests and ensuring application security.

How should you write a resume if you have no experience as a Software Engineer?

If you have no experience as a Software Engineer, be sure to highlight any academic, technical and/or quantitative coursework that is relevant to the position. Also list any programming languages, systems or libraries that you have experience with. If you have relevant course projects, internship projects, or programming projects that you completed, include those in your resume too. Show your enthusiasm for software engineering by citing any certifications, awards, or other extracurricular activities you have been involved with. Finally, make sure to demonstrate your transferable skills, such as problem-solving, teamwork, and communication, and how you have applied in them in other areas. These can help distinguish your resume from others without software engineering experience.

Compare Your Software Engineer Resume to a Job Description:

• Identify opportunities to further tailor your resume to the Software Engineer 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

Related Resumes for Software Engineers:

Entry level software engineer resume example, experienced software engineer resume example, fresher software engineer resume example, junior software engineer resume example, senior software engineer resume example, software engineer intern resume example, software engineer resume example, senior ios software engineer resume example, vmware engineer resume example, google software engineer resume example, embedded software engineer resume example, more resume guidance:.

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• Contact information

Introduction paragraph

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• Personal projects
• Other important parts
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• 🔥 Software engineering jobs

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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3 Google Software Engineer Resume Examples & Templates [Edit Free]

Google Software Engineer Resume

Modern google software engineer resume, professional google software engineer resume.

• Google Software Engineer Resume Writing 101

You’ve mastered the ins and outs of your programming languages of choice, and you’re feeling ready for a new adventure. Setting your sights on Google proves you’re confident in your knowledge of algorithm design, coding, data structures, and Google’s product stack.

Jobs at Google are known for being difficult to get, so to get your foot in the door, you need to create a cover letter and craft an effective resume .

Good news: we’ve helped experts like you land their dream jobs at Google before! Check out our Google software engineer resume examples and resume tips to level up your career.

Microsoft Word

Google Docs

Why this resume works

• Contrary to popular belief, you can still win the recruiter’s favor without fancy formats; a simple, one-page, one-column Google software engineer resume with only a few sections providing the necessary info (we’re talking the header, work history, education skills, and certifications) will do.

Related resume examples

• Junior software engineer
• Principal software engineer
• Software engineer new grad
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• Software engineer

What Matters Most: Your Software Engineering Skills & Experience

Whether you utilize your mastery of Java to develop scalable applications, or perhaps your JavaScript knowledge to deploy responsive web apps, you’ve got skills that Google is always looking for.

It’s important to show your diverse skillset in your resume. This is the first thing recruiters scan, so try to hit all of the most important buzzwords.

Be highly specific here. Instead of a vague “programming languages,” dive into what exactly you’re at, such as JavaScript and its frameworks, like Angular or React.js. 

Similarly, talk about the tools you use on a daily basis, be it Visual Studio Code or Git. Don’t forget to flaunt your knowledge of Google’s own systems, like the Google Cloud Platform or Google Cloud Storage.

9 best Google software engineer skills

• Google Cloud Platform
• Git Version Control
• Docker Containers
• Google Cloud Armor

Sample Google software engineer work experience bullet points

Recruiters now know you’re proficient in Python or familiar with Google Cloud Armor, but how did you utilize those skills? Your work experience fills out the blanks.

Much like with skills, try to get super specific and rely on data to tell the full story. Google recruiters know the intricacies of software development, so simply telling them that you “worked on an SQL project” doesn’t suffice. 

Instead, emphasize the benefits of your work. You can do this by rephrasing that to “Optimized data retrieval operations using SQL, reducing database load by 17%.”

Tie this in with your skills section and create a cohesive resume that tells Google you know what you’re about and that you’ve already got your fair share of achievements to prove it.

Here are a few examples:

• Led the migration of a critical application from on-premise to Azure cloud infrastructure, reducing operational costs by 32%
• Leveraged Docker and Kubernetes to reduce errors by 29% by streamlining the deployment process
• Pioneered and developed a machine learning model using TensorFlow, resulting in a 21% increase in recommendation accuracy
• Re-designed and optimized a web application with JavaScript, ensuring mobile optimization and improving web traffic by 8% over 3 months

Top 5 Tips for Your Google Software Engineer Resume

• Many people dream of working at Google, so your skills alone might not get you all the way there—it’s important to also show passion and commitment. Use both your resume and your cover letter to express your intimate knowledge of Google’s products, such as Android, GCP, or Kubernetes.
• On a similar note, a portfolio that shows that you have a real love for software engineering can go a long way, too. Make sure to put your personal website or GitHub repository near the top of your resume and fill it with relevant projects, like a deep learning model you’ve built using TensorFlow.
• In a massive company like Google, the ability to work well in a team is important—and yet, you should never put “teamwork” under your list of skills. Instead, use one of your work experience bullet points to describe the cross-functional teams you’ve worked with and the resulting software solutions.
• You might want to fill your resume with all the programming languages Google usually seeks, which means Python, Go, Java, JavaScript, and C++. However, it’s best to include things you have no problem showing off during a technical interview. It’s better to master two languages than have a slight knowledge of five.
• If you’re already using a resume template when applying to other jobs, you might be tempted to re-use it. Short advice: don’t. Read the job description carefully and craft a new resume , specifically with a Google software engineer job in mind.

Highlight the projects you’ve participated in! Fill your GitHub repository with projects relevant to Google, such as a cross-platform mobile application built in React.

Your work experience is more important, but certifications are great to add. Google has plenty of certifications under the Google Certified Professional umbrella, such as the GCP-PCA, PDE, PCD, CNE, or CSE.

Make it concise and easy to read, with a strong focus on technical skills , like Java, Python, or MongoDB. Attach relevant data, like a reduction in product deployment time, to show your greatest achievements.

• Reading List
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• The Software Engineer's Guidebook
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The Pragmatic Engineer's Resume Template

A clean template I created while writing The Tech Resume Inside Out . This template is a good choice to use for developers applying for tech positions. This CV / resume template is featured - and analyzed - in my book, The Tech Resume Inside Out: What a Good Software Engineer Resume Looks Like .

This template is a proven one with more than 6,500 downloads. People messaged me to share they got recruiter calls at Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Robinhood, Stripe, Uber and other companies using this template. Of course, the template is a small part in this: the contents of your resume are more important.

Download the resume template in two formats:

• Google Doc : Pragmatic Engineer's Resume Template - make your copy and edit.
• Word : Pragmatic Engineer's Resume Template.docx
• Don't forget to replace with your own email address and data! Some people have forgotten this step and I end up getting interview invitations.

Here's how this template looks like:

The template ported to Standard Resume

I have partnered with Standard Resume and ported an improved version of this template to Standard Resume Pro - one of the very few resume builders that I actually recommend, as it gives added value with a web-based resume, URL tracking, and templates optimized for hiring managers. Here's how the "ported" version of this template looks like on Standard Resume:

To use this template, head over to Standard Resume here and choose the "Parker" template.

A machine learning engineer shares the résumé template that got him his first job and his senior role at Google

• Sahil Dua taught himself the basics of software engineering while at university.
• Dua shares the résumé that helped him land his first job, a software development role in Amsterdam.
• He also emphasizes the importance of gaining visibility both in-person and online.

Sahil Dua's journey into software and computer science began with a robotics competition.

In his first year of college in Delhi, where he studied electronics engineering, he started building some robots with friends. He soon realized he was more passionate about software than hardware, which led him to learn outside the classroom.

"Everything I learned in computer science is actually what I learned in my own time on top of studying for my electronics degree as well," he told Business Insider.

Over the next three years of university, Dua taught himself coding and learned about different operating systems and networks. He applied those lessons at several tech internships and by cofounding a startup.

While students in India often seek job placements through their university, Dua proactively applied to jobs on his own as well, including opportunities overseas.

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This is the résumé he used to land a software development graduate program role at Booking.com in Amsterdam right after college. Later, he used an updated version of that résumé — with the same template — for a software engineering role at Google, where he's worked for more than four years.

Dua is currently a senior machine learning engineer at Google's Zurich office.

BI has verified his employment history.

Looking back on the document, Dua said two things on his résumé helped in his job search. He would also change two things if he were a junior developer now.

Emphasize projects: Dedicating a section to projects and listing them out helped give interviewers starting points for discussion before he had a lot of job experience, he said. "Those projects would make me stand out because they demonstrated that I had practical experience, even when I was looking for a job straight out of university." Dua said he applies the same principle to his LinkedIn profile, where he lists 26 projects.

Use unique formats: Dua wanted a template to solve two purposes. First, he found that a single-column résumé would not give him enough space to list everything. "The second reason was that I wanted my résumé to stand out" but also not be so "extreme that it seems weird to look at," he said about his two-column template. He found this template on GitHub .

While he would make a couple of tweaks, such as removing links to his personal Twitter account and decreasing emphasis on education, there are two other ways he would enhance his profile now.

Build a personal brand: Dua said that he would revamp the "achievements" section of his résumé to include projects such as giving talks at technical conferences. Speaking at events like Python-focused conference PyCon gave him visibility within the industry, even in the early years of his career, and led to the opportunity to write a book.

Make yourself searchable online : Dua adds links to his online profiles on his résumé and takes steps to build more online visibility. "Anytime I'm doing any courses online, I make sure that I post it on LinkedIn as a certificate," he said about learning new skills like machine learning. This ensures that "my profile is getting clicks or it's getting up there when people are searching for those fields." On LinkedIn, he uses his current job section to add more about his role and achievements than his one-page résumé allows.

Career experts recommend Dua's approach to enhancing LinkedIn profiles to be more search-friendly.

Recruiters actively seek candidates using keywords, said Nick Shah, founder of Peterson Technology Partners, a 26-year-old tech staffing agency based in Park Ridge, Illinois.

"Job seekers should research the keywords that are relevant to their industry and incorporate them into their profile to increase their chances of appearing in search results and catching the attention of recruiters," Shah previously told BI .

Shah said job seekers should clearly define their roles in LinkedIn's work experience section and provide examples and achievements, much like what Dua does on his profile.

Do you work in tech, finance, or consulting and have a story to share about your personal résumé journey? Email this reporter at [email protected] .

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