computer science resume projects

11 Computer Science Resume Examples for 2024

Creating a good computer science resume can be complex. This article offers examples and practical advice. Learn how to highlight skills in coding, software engineering, and data analysis. We will help you with structure, keywords, and achievements to include. Make your resume stand out to employers.

• 16 Nov 2024 - 1 new section (Showcase leadership in tech roles) added
• 20 Oct 2024 - 1 new resume template (Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - AI & Cloud Computing) added
• 02 Sep 2024 - 1 new section (Show leadership and growth) added

  Next update scheduled for 24 Nov 2024

Here's what we see in the best computer science resumes.

Use Numbers To Show Impact : The best resumes in this field show impact by using numbers. List metrics like time saved , issues reduced , code efficiency , or system uptimes improved . This shows your value.

Include Relevant Skills : Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are Python , Java , SQL , HTML/CSS , Git . But don't include all of them, choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

Highlight Project Experience : Show your project work. Employers look for phrases like led project , developed system , or managed database . This helps you stand out.

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Computer Science Resume Sample

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Positioning your education

Place your computer science education early on if you are new to the field. If you just finished a degree, a coding bootcamp, or a related course, show this at the top of your resume so employers understand your recent focus. It shows that your latest learning is in areas important for the job.

If you have been working for some time, your real-world experience is more relevant. In this case, list your job experience first and your education section after. This helps highlight practical skills and achievements that are valuable in computer science roles. Remember to keep the details clear and the structure easy for a hiring manager to review.

Highlight problem-solving

Employers in computer science value problem-solving skills. Detail any projects where you solved complex problems or optimized processes.

Show your ability to work in a team by mentioning collaborative projects or hackathons you participated in.

Junior Software Developer Resume Sample

Ideal resume length.

Keep your computer science resume to one page if you have less than 10 years of professional experience. It is important to show your ability to prioritize and organize information. Focus on recent projects, programming skills, and relevant work history.

If you are a senior professional with a lot of experience, a two-page resume is fine. Use the first page for your most impressive achievements and technical skills. Always ensure every detail you include adds value and relates to the computer science field.

Senior Software Engineer Resume Sample

Show your coding skills.

Computer science roles often require strong coding abilities. List specific programming languages you know, like Python, Java, and C++.

Include any coding projects or repositories, such as GitHub links, to show your hands-on experience.

Computer Science with Cybersecurity Specialization Resume Sample

Optimize for ats.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by many employers to screen resumes before a human ever sees them. To ensure your resume passes through the ATS, you need to follow some key tips.

• Use simple and clear formatting. Avoid graphics, tables, and columns which can confuse the ATS.
• Include specific keywords related to computer science, such as programming languages (e.g., Python, Java) and technical skills (e.g., machine learning, data structures).

By optimizing your resume for ATS, you increase the chances of it being seen by a hiring manager.

Transition to Computer Science Resume Sample

Customizing your resume.

To stand out, ensure your resume speaks directly to the job you're applying for. Show how your experience and skills match the role's requirements. This means using keywords from the job description and focusing on relevant accomplishments. Remember, a resume that looks like it's been made just for the job will catch a hiring manager's attention.

• Match job listing keywords with your skills such as Python scripting or cloud computing expertise .
• If you have senior experience, include leadership-focused points such as managed a team of 10 developers .
• For career shifters, connect your past roles to computer science tasks, like used data analysis to inform business decisions .

Data Scientist Resume Sample

Key technical skills to highlight.

When you're applying for computer science roles, it’s important to show you have the right technical skills. You might wonder where to put these skills on your resume. A clear skills section can help your resume pass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) checks that many companies use.

Here are some of the top skills you should consider including if they match your experience and the job you want:

• Programming languages like Python , Java , or C++
• Web development skills with HTML , CSS , and JavaScript
• Understanding of database management with tools like SQL and NoSQL
• Software development practices such as Agile methodologies
• Knowledge of data structures and algorithms
• Experience with version control systems like Git
• Proficiency in operating systems like Linux or Windows
• Familiarity with cloud computing services such as AWS , Azure , or Google Cloud Platform
• Skills in machine learning or artificial intelligence
• Understanding of network security principles

You don't need to list every skill you have. Just choose those that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. Remember to include examples of projects or work experience where you have used these skills. This helps employers see how you've applied your knowledge in real-world situations.

Principal Machine Learning Engineer Resume Sample

Showcase leadership in tech roles.

When you're applying for a position in computer science, it's vital to highlight any leadership roles or promotions you've had. This shows potential employers that you can take charge and drive projects to success.

Consider these points:

• If you've led a team, specify the size and the scope of the project. For example, 'Led a team of 5 developers in creating a scalable e-commerce platform, resulting in a 20% increase in sales.'
• For promotions, outline the progression. You might say, 'Promoted from junior developer to senior developer within 2 years due to strong project management skills and successful deployment of robust applications.'

Think about any mentorship roles you've taken on, such as guiding interns or new team members. This can be a form of leadership. Phrases like 'Mentored 3 interns, leading to full-time offers for all' can be effective. Remember, leadership isn't just a title; it's about the impact you make.

Lead DevOps Engineer Resume Sample

Quantify your impact.

When crafting your resume, showing your impact with numbers can make a strong case for your skills. To do this, think of ways you have used your computer science expertise to benefit previous employers or projects.

• Consider improvements you've made to system efficiency. For example, if you optimized an algorithm, quantify the increase in processing speed, like a 25% faster runtime .
• Did you help reduce costs? Calculate the percentage saved, such as a 20% reduction in cloud storage expenses .

Even if you're not sure of the exact numbers, you can estimate them based on outcomes. For instance:

• If you developed a new feature or software, estimate the number of users it impacted or the increase in user engagement .
• For bug fixes or system enhancements, note the decrease in customer complaints or the number of support tickets resolved .

Use these metrics to demonstrate the value you bring as a computer science professional.

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - AI & Cloud Computing Resume Sample

Show leadership and growth.

When you apply for jobs in computer science, showing that you have grown in your career is important. If you have led a team or received a promotion, it is good to include this on your resume. Here are some ways to show evidence of leadership and promotions.

• Include your job titles and the dates you held them to show progress. For example, 'Junior Developer, May 2018 - August 2019' to 'Senior Developer, September 2019 - Present'.
• Use bullet points to highlight leadership roles, such as 'Led a team of 4 in developing a secure e-commerce platform'.

Think about projects where you were in charge or times when you helped others to do better. These can show leadership too. Here are more ideas:

• Mention any awards or recognition you received for leading a project or improving a process.
• Discuss how you mentored new team members or interns, for example, 'Trained 3 interns on project management and coding standards'.
•   Computer Science Student Resume Examples
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15+ Programming Projects for Resume to Show Your Coding Skills

Are you trying to get your first programming job to set foot in the fast-growing IT sector? Or perhaps you’re a seasoned programmer hustling to get a placement in your dream fortune 500 company?

Write your resume in 15 minutes

Our free collection of expertly designed resume templates will help you stand out from the crowd and get one step closer to your dream job.

If you have been trying for some time, you might have already realized there’s a missing part on your resume: programming projects.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you should know about selecting and listing programming projects for your resume .

This includes:

• 15+ programming project examples: code, no-code, and low-code.
• How to list them on your resume: the right way.
• How to get hired even when there’re no active vacancies in the company.
• Tips to land your dream job faster with your programming projects. ‍

A programming resume needs a modern resume template that blows away the hiring manager with its simplicity of design. We have listed many resume templates that suit programmers’ profiles which you can try for FREE.

Why Do You Need to List Coding Projects On Your Resume?

Your work experience on the resume would speak about your skills and achievements. The problem is that everyone has worked somewhere in IT and the technical skills they have mastered are almost the same.

Then there’s you with a portfolio of outstanding personal projects that are highly relevant to the position you’re applying for.

I would love to be that hiring manager to make an on-the-spot hiring decision.

There’re reasons to list projects on your resume for both entry-level and experienced programmers. Here are a few of them 👇.

When you are new

When you’re applying for your first programming job or internship, you can’t keep your experience section empty. A great way to fill up your resume is with your personal programming projects.

The best time to start is while you are still studying. Start early.

In a Career Transition

If you’re an experienced network engineer or a web developer and trying to change your career into a software development job, your previous experience though they are technical would not impress a hiring manager.

Taking some quality time to develop a few programming projects that showcase your skills would be ideal rather than explaining your coding skills in an interview.

It’s also a great way for you to assess the technical requirements and skills for the new job.

Shows your passion

Even if you are an experienced candidate, having worked on a couple of personal projects would come in handy – it shows your passion for the task as opposed to most people coding just for the paycheck and not having a real interest in their work.

More Exposure

A personal programming project gives you more exposure to technical and non-technical aspects of development.

At work, you only get to handle a part of a project and you won’t have time to think about the rest. You’ll be working with a team of developers, designers, copywriters, and even with marketing teams.

Now, in your personal project, you’ll take charge of everything – and that will give you a sound understanding of how each function interrelates to develop a final product.

15+ Coding Projects You Could List on Your Resume

This list consists of projects that you can complete by yourself. However, the area of specialization, skill requirement, and time consumption would be different for each project. Choose what is relevant to you before you start.

We have listed 15 categories of best programming projects to list in your resume where you will find many project ideas under each of them.

1. A website

Creating a website would be a great project if you’re interested in web development.

Personal blog ‍

The simplest project you could start with is a blog or a personal portfolio.

You could use any content management system (CMS) to build your website – you could use Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress. The most cost-effective option is WordPress as it’s completely free. You’ll only have to spend on the domain, hosting, and any third-party plugins if necessary.

The basic programming skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript would come in handy to create a personalized web experience.

If you create a personal portfolio, you could easily demonstrate the other programming projects on the website so that it will be easier to send it to the recruiters. Make sure the website you create is mobile responsive.

E-commerce and other commercial websites ‍

If you’re particularly looking for a career in web development, creating a basic e-commerce website would add a lot of value.

In this project, you’ll use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You’ll also learn product integration techniques, add to cart, check out, and payment gateway integration.

Also, consider creating a listing website for real estate, used car selling website, or garage sales, which could even turn out to be a side hustle if you could bring in some traffic.

Games are a great way to showcase your understanding of basic logic and algorithms.

Based on your interest and requirement, the type of games you should be creating would be different.

If you’re planning to apply for a major game development firm, that won’t be enough. Then you should use C++, Python, and JavaScript to create more complex games – you could start with a Chess game or Snake game.

Though creating more sophisticated games with 3D characters and storylines takes more time and resources, if you’re interested, you could create one with a game engine software like Unity, CryEngine, Godot, or Unreal Engine may be as a group project.

3. A mobile application

If you’re interested in developing mobile applications for Android and iOS, having a couple of projects on your portfolio would be important.

You could showcase your technical skill in Java with Android app creation and Swift is a robust open-source programming language created by Apple to develop iOS applications.

Start with simple mobile applications such as a calculator, To-Do-List, Daily Planner, or a task management software and eventually move into more complex programming projects such as a listing app, messaging app, or a simple mobile shopping app.

Be creative. Think about a concept that you’ll throw your money to make an impulsive purchase decision on your app store or play store. If you as a user value it, there’ll probably be many people who think it is useful.

Check on platforms like Quora and Reddit to learn what people talk about in terms of their needs. Create an application to solve such a problem.

Top firms need top talent who make creative developments with their technical skills.

4. A data analysis model or data forecasting model

Data analysis or data forecasting models are not generic applications. Thee are very specific to a problem an organization or a project face.

Therefore, the solution is also a unique one.

You’ll be able to showcase your understanding of basic statistics, data structures, math, logic, and machine learning algorithms in coding such a program.

Python, C, and C++ are excellent programming languages to develop data models – data analysts will use SQL to communicate with the database.

5. A chatbot

Chatbots are widely used on corporate websites, mobile applications, and social media pages to save time on repetitive communication.

If you’re to create a chatbot, you need to collect the right data to feed into the AI and test them to train it.

You can use any popular programming language including Python Java, and PHP to create one.

Choosing a suitable algorithm would be important here. Some of the popular algorithms used to create chatbots are Markov chains, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Support Vector Machines, and Decision Trees.

These are projects with great commercial significance and the hiring manager would love to explore more about you.

API stands for Application Programming Interface – which enables two software components to communicate with each other to perform a task.

Here’re a few example programs you could create with APIs:

• A social media post scheduling tool
• Weather reporting mobile app
• A hotel or flight booking website
• Car ride booking website connected to the map

You could create an API using any language that can interface with SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) – Java, PHP, and Python are mostly used.

7. An AI-powered software

What if you could create something so exciting like Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri, or Cortana?

You could showcase your programming skills, artificial intelligence knowledge, and data processing skills in a single project.

However, this could be quite complex. So if you’re an experienced candidate trying to get a placement in one of the fortune 500 companies or applying directly to an AI-based programming job, you should try this.

You could create a self-driving toy car, a virtual assistant, or an AI-based marketing automation software. The right project could even make you an entrepreneur and you’ll no longer need your resume.

SaaS (Software as a Service) is a way of delivering applications over the internet instead of the conventional installation method. Most applications are delivered either free of charge or at a monthly subscription which the user can cancel at any time.

There’re hundreds of Billion Dollar businesses that have emerged in SaaS in many industries such as healthcare, fitness, technology, communication, design, and many more .

These are some of the popular examples:

• Adobe creative cloud

Especially if you’re applying to work for a SaaS platform, having a simple yet creative SaaS in your portfolio would be an advantage.

You could even use JavaScript or SQL to develop your SaaS, but Python would be a great choice because of its flexibility in many use cases.

9. A payment gateway

Though this will be a quite challenging project to take up, it surely will stand out your application from the rest of the developers.

Python would be the go-to language for developing a payment gateway while you’ll get experience in different APIs and web security features – such as two-factor authentication and fraud detection systems.

10. A simple robot

Use Python, C, and C++ to code a robot.

Robots are being popular for the last half a century and the developments are still going on to create use cases to effectively utilize robotics technology.

You don’t have to create a complex robot that can drive a vehicle or go shopping with your grandparents.

Create a simple project that showcases your programming skills and mechanical systems knowledge. You’ll get hands-on experience using motors, motion sensors, cameras, and a whole lot of hardware.

Consider creating:

• A stair climber
• A line follower
• A floor cleaner
• A robotic arm ‍

11. A simple simulation

You could build an interesting computer simulation project. Every simulation doesn’t have to be visual and some could give a numerical or textual output depending on the project.

You could use JavaScript, Python, or C++ to code the simulation.

12. Web scraping

Web scraping is the process of extracting content and data from a website. This is particularly an illegal practice to do it for a publically unavailable domain.

But if you do it right: the legal way, it would have tremendous applications for companies to collect important data efficiently from other websites on the internet.

Python is the most popular language for web scraping. Its large collection of libraries such as Numpy, Matlplotlib, and Pandas provides faster web scraping and data manipulation techniques.

13. A simple blockchain project

A blockchain is a digital ledger of transactions that is publicly distributed across its entire network making it impossible to cheat, hack, or change.

As blockchain is becoming popular and powerful with web 3.0, having a project under your wing would be highly valuable.

Here’re some of the projects you could consider creating:

• A cryptocurrency wallet or a blockchain wallet
• Digital asset marketplace (DAM)
• A fake product identification system
• A peer-to-peer ridesharing platform
• A blockchain-based simple voting system ‍

Solidity is the most stable programming language used for blockchain developments while other coding languages such as Java, Python, C++, and Ruby can also be used.

14. A simple NFT project

This is a type of blockchain project that is widely popular these days with many use cases and most employers are requesting candidates to have a basic understanding of the technology.

NFT (Non-Fungible Tokens) are unique cryptographic tokens that exist on a blockchain. These tokens can not be replicated making them easier to buy, sell, and transfer without fraud.

Though you could create an NFT without any coding, try creating it from scratch to take full technical advantage of it in your portfolio. Coding the solidity smart contract, deploying it onto the Mainnet, and setting the NFT price would get you through an important earning curve.

You’ll need the skills in Metamask, Solidity, Hardhat, Pinata, and Alchemy for the project.

15. A no code or low code project

The world is going in the direction of no-code and low-code developments. If you’re a programming specialist, you’re part of a team that facilitates this change.

But if you’re a beginner in IT, you could create some low-code and no-code projects to showcase your creative thinking and logical problem-solving approach.

Here’re some example projects you could create without coding:

• Websites: most CMSs allow to build websites with just drag and drop functions
• Mobile apps: simple task manager, weather app

How to Find Relevant Programming Projects to Work On?

All these projects need skills in different programming languages and most importantly TIME. You can’t do all these and you don’t have to before applying for a job.

As a programmer, you might have already decided your path – the type of work you’re looking for – and the type of company. If you haven’t decided yet, it’s time to do that.

Search your ideal job description on LinkedIn and see the type of coding skills they’re looking for.

Go to your ideal company website and crawl through it to find out the company’s vision, mission, and future strategic direction. Study their plan for the next 10 years – and their views on new technologies.

With these, you’ll have a pretty good understanding of what projects you should focus on.

Get Paid for Your Projects

When you decide which projects you’re going to execute, without jumping straight into coding, see whether you know anyone in your network who would need this.

You can post about the project on LinkedIn stating that you’re looking for a sponsor or a client for the project.

For example, if you decide to build an e-commerce website, build it for a real business. Give the client a great price that they can’t get from outside.

This is important for three reasons:

• You can cover your cost and the value of your time.
• You don’t have to keep paying for the domain and hosting for years.
• A live project example is worth more in an interview than a mere sample. ‍

Tips to Land Your Dream Job with Your Coding Projects

This is an approach in which you could get a placement in a firm even if they don’t have active vacancies right now.

This is also called Permissionless Apprenticeship.

The best platform to execute this is LinkedIn.

Connect with the technical managers, hiring managers, and C-level executives of the company you want to get a job in.

Find an immediate solution or improvement you could make to their software, system, or product.

Create a sample of the work and post that on LinkedIn mentioning the managers who are connected.

Showcase where they can improve instead of criticizing their existing systems.

There’s a higher chance you’ll get a placement for a job, internship, or even a chance to implement a one-time freelance project in the company.

How to List Programming Projects on Your Resume Masterfully

When writing your projects on the resume, use a consistent format. Make a separate section on your resume after your main experience and education sections – name it "Personal Projects", "Programming Projects", or "Coding Projects".

As you send your resume in digital format, include links to your projects.

Here’s the format we suggest to write your projects:

• Name of the project and timeline
• Project description
• Client (if available)
• Programming languages used
• Challenges faced/ results achieved
• Link to the project
• Link to the source code ‍

Pick the information you’re going to write based on the project and the space availability.

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Where Else to List Your Projects on the Resume?

You could list some of your projects in the other sections of your resume if you find them related to the position you’re applying for.

Add the link to your portfolio website that you created in your header. That is your project which consists of detailed information about all other projects you carried out.

Professional Summary

If one of your projects is directly related to the position you’re applying for, you could include that in the professional summary.

Professional summaries introduce candidates and their key achievements to hiring managers – show them that you’re a perfect fit for the job by including the most relevant project from your portfolio.

Include any achievements or accomplishments related to your project in your professional summary.

Cover Letter

A cover letter should consist of 3 or 4 short paragraphs describing your key skills and experience. Use one paragraph to briefly describe your key project experience related to the job.

Show the hiring manager that you're already familiar with the work you'll be doing.

Check out our resume builder to create a perfect cover letter .

Create your resume with the best templates

Should I write a separate section for personal coding projects on my resume?

If you are an entry-level candidate without any previous experience in the industry, you could list your personal projects under your main experience section. This way, you can utilize more space in your resume to showcase your projects in detail.

However, if you’re an experienced candidate with years of experience, you should have a separate section after your experience and education to list your personal projects.

How to write coding projects in progress on the resume?

If you have started a programming project and are still on your way to completing it, you could list that on your resume. In this, you should state after the project name that the project is in progress. Also, note an expected completion date.

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Our free collection of expertly designed cover letter templates will help you stand out from the crowd and get one step closer to your dream job.

Sample letters to download

Advice for getting a job

Instructions.