resume builder software engineer

Build my resume

• Resume builder
• Build a better resume in minutes
• Resume examples
• 2,000+ examples that work in 2024
• Resume templates
• 184 free templates for all levels
• Cover letters
• Cover letter generator
• It's like magic, we promise
• Cover letter examples
• Free downloads in Word & Docs

24 Software Engineer Resume Examples Designed for 2024

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

Writing Your Software Engineer Resume

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

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

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

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

Software Engineer Resume Example

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

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

Software Developer Resume Example

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

New Grad Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Software Engineer Intern Resume Example

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

Software Engineer New Grad Resume Example

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

Entry-Level Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Junior Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Associate Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Senior Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Experienced Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Mid-Level Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Lead Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Staff Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Software QA Engineer Resume Example

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

Director of Software Engineering Resume Example

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

Software Engineering Manager Resume Example

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

Google Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Principal Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Python Developer Resume Example

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

Software Engineer Front-End Resume Example

Full-Stack Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Embedded Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Software Integration Engineer Resume Example

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

Security Engineer Resume Example

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

Related resume guides

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Software engineer skills for resume

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

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

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

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

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

Skills organized by proficiency

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

Skills organized by skill type

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

Skills organized by years of experience

Software engineer resume format

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

General formatting tips

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

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

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

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

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

Bad bullet point formatting

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

Good bullet point formatting

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

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

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

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

Contact information and title

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Entry-Level Software Engineer Education

Senior Software Engineer Education

Software engineer resume summary

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

Sample software engineer resume objective

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

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

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

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

Work experience

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

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

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

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

Good work experience description

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

Bad work experience description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good: Specific contribution plus quantitative impact

Bad: Vague description and no quantitative impact

Software engineer resume projects

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Interests & hobbies

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

Customize your resume for each job

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

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

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

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

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

How to write an effective software developer resume

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Well, once you get the job.

There’s one thing in your way:

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

It’s time to make your talents stand out.

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Format a Software Engineer Resume

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

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

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

These software engineering resume formats also get our approval…

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

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

Use a Software Engineer Resume Template

Word is a great application for creating documents.

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

This is due to formatting issues.

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

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

What to Include in a Software Engineering Resume

The main sections in a software engineering resume are:

• Work Experience
• Contact Information

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

• Awards & Certification

Interests & Hobbies

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

Read on to learn how.

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

How to Correctly Display your Contact Information

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

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

The contact information section must include:

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

How to Write a Software Engineer Resume Summary or Objective

Here’s a shocking fact for you –

Recruiters spend less than 6 seconds on each resume .

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

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

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

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

But what is the difference between the two sections?

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Make Your Software Engineer Work Experience Stand Out

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

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

• Position name
• Company Name
• Responsibilities & Achievements

Software Engineer

ElectronicsX

03/2017 - 07/2020

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

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

Instead of saying:

“In charge of infrastructure”

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

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

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

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Not everyone will have a wealth of work experience.

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

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

The answer –

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

You can even create a portfolio of your own work!

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

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

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

Use Action Words to Make Your Software Engineer Resume POP!

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

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

• Conceptualized
• Spearheaded

B.A. in Software Engineering

The University of Chicago

2012 - 2016

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

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

What if I haven’t completed education yet?

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

Should I include my high school education?

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

What do I put first, my education or experience?

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

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

Top 10 Skills for a Software Engineer Resume

Your software engineer resume must do one thing—

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

But how can you do this? 

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

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

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

Hard Skills for a Software Engineer:

• Data Structures
• Machine Learning
• Web Development

Soft Skills for a Software Engineer:

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

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

What Else Can You Include?

That’s all of the essentials covered.

But ask yourself one question –

Does your resume stand out ?! 

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

Awards & Certifications

Have you won an award for your engineering work?

Have you completed any courses that improve your skills?

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

Here’s an example:

Awards & Certificates

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

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

Rank the languages by proficiency:

• Intermediate

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

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

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

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

Include a Cover Letter with Your Resume

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

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

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

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

You should complete the following sections:

Personal Contact Information

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

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, email

Opening Paragraph

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

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

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

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

Closing Paragraph

To wrap up your cover letter, you should:

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

Formal Salutations

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

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

Key Takeaways

Congratulations!

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

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

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

Suggested Reading:

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

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

• Hire developers
• Hire designers
• Hire marketers
• How Arc works
• Case studies
• Remote dev salary explorer
• Freelance developer rate explorer
• Job description templates
• Interview questions
• Remote work FAQs
• Team bonding playbooks
• Employer blog
• Remote jobs
• Remote companies
• Resume builder and guide
• Developer career blog

The ultimate software engineer resume builder & guide

Want to create a convincing software engineer resume? What you'll want to do is highlight your unique experience and skills. Use our resume builder below, verified by a Certified Professional Resume Writer.

🛠 Software engineering resume builder

Use our resume creator to build your developer resume, powerful and user-friendly resume creator.

Try our resume builder, complete with advanced tools, to highlight your professional story.

ATS-optimized resumes that win interviews

Create resumes that pass ATS and grab the attention of recruiters, hiring managers, and even CEOs.

Certified resume creator by professional resume writers

Generate and download your unique resume by using our resume builder software.

How it works

Upload your information.

We handle the formatting and auto-fill the content from your uploaded resume. Build your resume with our pro tips or create a new resume from scratch.

Get expert tips

Arc has placed thousands of developers worldwide into their dream remote jobs. We know what a developer CV should look like, and we'll guide you in writing your resume.

Download optimized resume

Ready to export your resume? Create an Arc account, download your resume, and browse remote developer jobs tailored for you!

• Contact information

Introduction paragraph

• Work experience

Certifications & awards

• Personal projects
• Other important parts
• More resume tips
• Resume FAQs
• 🔥 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.

🔥️ Apply for remote engineering jobs now

Ready to put your resume to use? Apply to the latest remote software engineer opportunities!

• Senior Software Engineer (Server) - Inventory
• Full Stack Developer

• Senior Staff Technical Product Manager - Adobe CX
• Director, Outbound Product Management - TMT

Ready to take your software engineer resume to the next level?

Software Engineer Resume Builder

Create a high-quality software engineering resume in less than 5 minutes for free. Sync your profile, and we handle the rest for you.

Sign up for your resume builder:

Built for developers, by developers

A job-winning software engineer resume template built using the details from your profile. Link to your CV from your portfolio website or download it as a PDF to share with hiring managers and recruiters.

Want to see it action? View Example Resume

We ❤️ feedback. Submit a ticket here if you have any feature requests, bug reports, or recommendations. Join our Slack and be part of a developer community to support career growth.

High Quality Resume in 5 Minutes or Less

It's incredibly simple. You can generate your developer CV with just a few clicks.

• Sign up with 1 click using GitHub OAuth
• Add your details to your profile
• Configure the visibility and details displayed using the "Configure Your Resume" button
• View your generated resume / {username} /resume
• Share anywhere or download as a PDF — free forever

Updates are Seamless

The worst part of resumes is having to redo them for new jobs or making sure the format doesn't break when you update a Word doc.

The resume builder removes this pain . Since the details of your CV come from your gitconnected profile, you simply have to add your most recent experience and accomplishments, and they will automatically propagate to your resume.

Build Once, Share Everywhere

Spend your time building great products and growing as a developer. Stop wasting hours updating and formatting your resume.

Be confident you will have a CV that is always up-to-date and ready to shared, prepared for any opportunity that comes your way.

Under the hood, we are using an extended version of the open source JSON Resume schema formatted data and React to render your CV. We have a beautiful default theme, but we will open source the logic to enable community templates and custom CSS.

Simple and Powerful Configuration

Don't want your picture on there? Hide it. Will your projects land you the job? Move them up.

The resume content is fully configurable, so build the resume perfect for you. Opt to show or hide any of the details.

Upcoming Features

• Open source themes and custom CSS
• Import JSON Resume structured data or LinkedIn to build a resume
• Open source generator to use outside gitconnected.com or offline
• Create multiple resumes

Control Your Privacy

You own your data. We will never sell it to third parties.

You can control the visibility of your resume by configuring it on your profile.

Why do we do this for free? We built this feature to solve our own problem: keeping our CV up-to-date and well-formatted, and we wanted to share this with our developer community. We are also building entirely opt-in premium career development courses and mentorship for those that are interested getting help to grow their career, but the resume feature will always be free.

Power Your Portfolio Website with Your API

Stop deploying and rebuilding your portfolio website to make changes. Your data is available through the /v1/portfolio/ {username} API endpoint to dynamically update your content. The JSON response follows the open source JSON Resume schema . Learn more about how to use your Portfolio API → .

• ResumeBuild
• Software Engineer

5 Amazing software engineer Resume Examples (Updated 2023) + Skills & Job Descriptions

Build your resume in 15 minutes, software engineer: resume samples & writing guide, professional summary, employment history.

• Troubleshoot and debug software applications
• Develop and implement automation processes
• Work with cross-functional teams to ensure quality software releases
• Test and document software solutions
• Identify and address system performance issues
• Design, develop, and maintain software applications

Do you already have a resume? Use our PDF converter and edit your resume.

Harry Turner

• Develop and maintain software coding standards
• Develop and maintain technical documentation
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop software solutions
• Implement software solutions
• Monitor system performance and troubleshoot issues

Oscar Nelson

• Analyze user requirements and develop software solutions
• Implement security measures to protect data

Bernie Nelson

• Research and recommend software upgrades
• Provide technical support for software applications

Gordon Edwards

Not in love with this template? Browse our full library of resume templates

Table of Content

• Introduction
• Resume Samples & Writing Guide
• Resume Example 1
• Resume Example 2
• Resume Example 3
• Resume Example 4
• Resume Example 5
• Jobs Description
• Jobs Skills
• Technical Skills
• Soft Skills
• How to Improve Your Resume
• How to Optimize Your Resume
• Cover Letter Example

The proliferation of technology in recent years has led to software engineering becoming one of the most in-demand professions in the workplace. Software engineers are responsible for everything from developing apps, software, and games, to maintaining and optimizing existing technology systems

Considering how much value they provide to a large variety of companies, it comes as no surprise that the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of software developers will grow 21 percent from 2018 to 2028. This is a significantly faster rate than the average projected growth for all occupations, which sits at only 5 percent. This is great news for software engineers, right? Well, on one hand, more jobs mean more employment opportunities. On the other hand, competition is already rife, and will only get worse. After all, the number of high-quality jobs still outweighs the number of low-quality ones and there are millions of software engineers already vying for the same jobs. The latest research from Evans Data Corporation estimates that there are 4.4 million developers in North America alone. 

So how do you ensure that your dream company chooses you as their next software engineer? Apply with a world-class software engineer resume. Without a resume that showcases why you’re the right person for the job, you won’t be able to score an interview - even if you tick all the boxes. If you don’t know how to create a resume that will impress recruiters, take a read of our expert guide below. 

Our software engineer resume template and writing guide will:

• Provide you with software engineer resume template samples
• Teach you how to create an ideal resume that impresses recruiters
• Highlight what you should include and avoid
• Show you how to make a professional resume using a resume builder

1. Multiple Template Examples

2. how to write an eye-grabbing software engineer resume, how to format your software engineer resume.

A reverse-chronological format is the most logical way to format your software engineer resume. This format directs recruiters to your most recent work experience first, and then the next most one, in reverse-chronological order.

The reason why you should set your resume up in this way is because recruiters usually pay particular attention to where you’re currently working and what you’ve achieved so far (or, if you’re currently unemployed, what your last job was and what you achieved there). This gives them a strong indication of where you are career-wise and whether it’s a good fit for the role at hand.

Another important section to feature in your resume is your “Education” section. This section should be relatively shorter than your experiences section as it should simply state key details about each educational experience e.g. your school, degree, major, and the years attended. That is, unless you lack work history - in which case you can include some details about your educational achievements.

There are also certain rules of thumb you should follow for the layout of your resume . We’ve listed the most important ones below:

• Number of Pages: 1 page only.
• Fonts to Use: Standard professional and easy-to read fonts such as Gill Sans and Cambria.
• Fonts to Avoid: Any experimental, boxy, or “robotic-looking” fonts such as Roboto Mono.
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides.
• Line Spacing: 1 or 1.15.
• Header size: 14-16 point size.
• Text size: 11-12 point size.

What recruiters will look for

Recruiters aren’t just looking for software developers who offer standard attributes such as a solid educational background, an impressive skill set, and relevant work experiences. They are after someone who genuinely brings something unique to the table. 

As we mentioned above, software engineering is a very competitive industry. By implication, every open role will attract hundreds, if not thousands, of applications, particularly if it’s at a well-known company such as Google, Facebook, or IBM. 

Recruiters therefore have no shortage of software engineer resumes to select from. This makes it imperative that your resume convinces them that you’re a one-of-a-kind candidate who can’t be passed up. Recruiters are looking for someone who’s clearly put effort into their application, while offering the right combination of skills and experiences needed to excel in the job.

You can convince a recruiter you’re who they’re looking for by ensuring your resume is logically formatted with a clean and simple layout. This will show you’re a consummate professional who values the recruiter’s time. You will also need to be strategic about which information you choose to present on your resume , as well as how you present it. To put it simply, your resume needs to present your skills and experiences in the best possible light. You can achieve this by paying careful attention to best practices for writing it, as our guide here highlights.

What skills to mention and how to do it correctly

Many software engineer resumes focus exclusively on candidates’ technical skills. While showcasing your technical skills is undeniably crucial, it’s vital that your resume demonstrates that you’re a well-rounded employee. Think about it: no one wants to work with someone who’s technically adept but lacks interpersonal and organizational skills.

Unlike your technical skills (which we discuss further directly below), you shouldn’t include your soft skills in a separate skills section. Instead, incorporate them naturally into your job experience section. For example:

• Compiled and presented key findings of a comprehensive technical report which identified major vulnerabilities in the company’s software, resulting in the implementation of greater security measures.  

The job description above not only effectively shows off the candidate’s technical abilities (i.e. identifying vulnerabilities and compiling a technical report), but also their soft skills (i.e. presenting their findings and their strong communication abilities).

If you’re having trouble figuring out which soft skills you can offer an employer, consider the following:

• Dependability
• Team work skills
• Time management skills
• Presentation skills
• Decision-making skills
• Critical thinking skills

How to list your technical skills and which ones should be mentioned

Recruiters won’t bother trying to figure out if you have the right technical skills to succeed in a job. Instead, they’ll select a candidate who has made their technical skills known from the get-go in their resume.

This is why it’s absolutely imperative that you feature your technical skills prominently. However, don’t just list an assortment of technical skills you have. They need to be relevant to the job you’re applying for. For example, if a job ad states that a company is after an iOS app developer, they want someone who has the specific skills necessary to effectively develop and maintain iOS apps. 

Once you have determined which skills to focus on, list them out in a dedicated section titled “Skills.” Only feature your technical skills in this section - no other types of skills should be included. 

You should also make sure to intertwine your technical skills in your job experience section. Doing so will help add substance to your achievements and give you yet another excuse to highlight what a highly-skilled professional you are.   

If you need some ideas of what technical skills to include, check out our list of popular ones below:

• Computer programming languages (e.g. Ruby, Java, JavaScript, HTML, C Language, C++, C#, HTML, Python, etc)
• Network protocols
• Tutorials and Demos
• Developing mobile and PC apps
• Data structures and algorithms
• Software debugging
• Documentation
• Databases and indices
• Object-oriented design
• Agile processes
• Status tracking tools 
• Security testing

Pro tip: If you have space, you can also mention one or two of your most eye-catching skills in your resume objective or resume summary.

How to show what you’ve achieved with each of your skills

The best way to show what you’ve achieved with each of your skills is to let your job experiences do the talking for you. Your job experiences should not just state what you have done in each role, they should also communicate how you drew on your skills to achieve impressive results. 

For example, if you want to show off your strong Java skills, highlight a concrete example of when you used them to advance the interests of your company. Likewise, if you are proud of your ability to work well in a team, be sure to include an eye-catching example which illustrates your strong collaboration skills.

What achievements to mention and how to do it correctly

When it comes to putting together an eye-grabbing software engineer resume, the achievements you choose to feature is one of the most important decisions you will make. 

Any achievements that are either a) irrelevant or b) written in a way that doesn’t immediately wow should be replaced or rewritten. You should primarily mention achievements that the recruiter is seeking from an ideal candidate. The best way to work out what these are, take a close look at the job ad. It will likely explicitly state which skills and experiences a company is seeking under the heading “Our ideal candidate will possess...”

You can also mention any other achievements that would pique a recruiter’s interest, such as those that had a significant and measurable impact on your company.

When writing out your achievements, your primary aim should be to engage the recruiter, and make them curious to find out more in person. This is why you should not only describe what your achievements are, but also why they are noteworthy. Where possible, it’s a good idea to quantify your results to drive home why they are valuable.

For example, the following achievement is written in such a bland and uninspiring way that it would make a recruiter’s eyes glaze over:

• Made changes to the company’s e-commerce software to make it faster and more popular than before.

Compare it to this version of the same achievement, which uses far more engaging and results-focused language that would instantly grip a recruiter:

• Upgraded and optimized the company’s e-commerce software to improve efficiency and usability, leading to a 200% increase in speed and 320% more visitors.

As the above example shows, on a resume, an achievement is only as good as you can describe it. You can turn a humble achievement into an eye-catching one, and an incredible achievement into a lacklustre one, simply by the language you use.

What to avoid mentioning

Your software engineering resume needs to clearly communicate why you’re the right software engineer for the specific job you’re applying for. Consequently, unless you have no experience in the field, you should only mention skills and achievements that are related to software engineering.

Leaving such information in will detract from your software engineering achievements and confuse the recruiter as to which type of work you actually want to undertake. In short, it’s preferable for your resume to be tight and have white space than be clogged up with irrelevant information. 

Pro tip: Are you wondering how you can prevent your resume from looking patchy if you lack professional experience in software engineering? Read the section below, “How to write a resume when you have no experience” for our expert tips.

How to write a resume objective (with examples)

If you’re just getting your start in the world of software engineering, it’s strongly recommended that your resume features a well-written resume objective. A resume objective is useful for novice software engineers as it gives you the chance to win over a recruiter even if you’re lacking professional experience. 

Your resume objective should tell the recruiter why you are worthwhile considering for the position. You therefore need to put your best foot forward by highlighting your most notable attributes and achievements. It’s even better if you can communicate how these attributes will benefit the company. 

Recruiters are always interested to discover why you even want a job in their company in the first place. So don’t forget to include your overall work goals in your resume objective.

Here are some examples of resume objectives to inspire your own:

• Final year BS Computer Systems Engineering student at UGA with a 3.5 GPA looking for a fast-paced software engineering position in the non-profit sector. Active member of the Society of Women Engineers University of Georgia Student Branch.
• Driven software engineer specializing in React and iOS app development aspires to work as a junior software engineer in an innovative company like Creative Minds Co. Has 1 year of experience as a junior app developer at a Forbes 500 company. Recently awarded Employee of the Month.    

How to write a resume summary (with examples)

Once you have more than a couple of years of experience, you will need to replace your resume objective with a resume summary. A resume summary is a brief statement about the most valuable professional experiences and skills you offer. 

Aim to make your resume summary as relevant to the job you’re applying to as possible. Keep the recruiter’s objectives in mind, and shape your resume summary accordingly. For example, if you are applying for a job primarily involving JavaScript development, highlight an achievement which involves you using it.

You should also emphasize any professional experiences that show your determination to grow professionally, such as any conferences and seminars you are/were involved in, and certifications you hold.

To get you started on writing your own resume summary, consider the following examples:

• Detail-oriented software engineer with over 6 years of app development experience at Stellar App, including 2 years of managerial experience. Holds Oracle Certified Master (OCM) certification and attends DeveloperWeek every year.
• Searching for an opportunity to apply my strong C++ and security testing skills developed over 8 years working at Crystalize Co. Regularly conducts in-house seminars for fellow software engineers and is a 2x speaker at Startup Grind Global.

Pro tip: To catch the recruiter’s eye, highlight your soft skills in addition to your technical skills. 

How to list any additional details, like certifications, awards, hobbies, and interests

Certifications.

Listing additional details that are relevant to software engineering can be just the thing that adds some extra flair to your resume. 

We strongly recommend that you clearly list any relevant certifications in a separate section called “Certifications.” Doing so will show that you have proactively sought to improve your soft engineering knowledge and skills. Some examples of certifications you may hold include: 

• Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification
• CCA Spark and Hadoop Developer certification
• CIW Web Foundations Associate certification
• Oracle Certified Associate (OCA), Oracle Certified Professional (OCP), Oracle Certified Specialist (OCS), and Oracle Certified Master (OCM) certifications

Hobbies and interests

There are only a few circumstances in which we recommend including your hobbies and interests on your resume. The reason we generally advise excluding them is because they take up precious real estate on your resume which could otherwise be used to emphasize more relevant information. 

One circumstance you should make sure to include them is if the job description requires it. Some companies ask applicants to include this information on their resume, by writing something along the lines of, “We want to find out more about who you are, so be sure to mention your hobbies and interests on your resume!”

In such a case, you can list out your hobbies in a section called “Hobbies.” You should only list 2 to 3, unless otherwise advised. Your hobbies don’t need to be software engineering related - so feel free to be truthful. Ultimately, they should give the recruiter an insight into what makes your mind tick outside of work.

The only other circumstance where hobbies could aid, rather than hinder, your chances of scoring a job is if you have no work experience. We’ll explain more details about this directly below. 

How to write a resume when you have no experience

If you have no professional software engineering experience to your name, the good news is that you will still be able to put together an eye-catching resume . However, you’ll need to be strategic about putting it together.

Instead of focusing on what you don’t have (that is, professional experience), focus on what experiences and skills you do have. Here are a few ideas that are sure to impress:

• Your skills: Even if you’ve haven’t yet worked as a software engineer, doesn’t mean you don’t have plenty of attractive skills to offer employers. In the “Skills” section of your resume, list any software engineering skills you have - even those you don’t have formal training in. Just be sure to note your level of proficiency for each skill. For example, JavaScript (proficient), HTML (advanced), CTT (familiar), etc.

If your resume is still looking too sparse, you may wish to add a “Hobbies” section. Ideally, you should list at least a few hobbies that have relevance to software engineering. For example, contributing to an open source project.

One piece of advice that every resume expert can agree to is the importance of targeting your resume for each application. The reason it is so vital to customize your resume each and every time you apply for a job is because applying with the same resume will drastically diminish your chances of a recruiter contacting you.

After all, recruiters can instantly recognize the difference between a generic resume an applicant sends out to a number of companies and one they have spent the time to specially put together just for their company. Needless to say, a recruiter will be far more interested in a candidate whose resume conveys their suitability to a position at their specific company.

The most straightforward way to ensure your resume is unique each time is to specifically address the criteria found in each job ad. Your resume should basically serve as a platform to show how you meet most or all of the criteria the recruiter is looking for. 

Incorporate any relevant language and “keywords” that feature in the job ad into your own resume. This is vital for two reasons. Firstly, doing so will demonstrate to the recruiter that you effectively address the criteria they’re looking for and that you’re taking the effort to apply with an original resume. Secondly, it will prevent your resume from being passed over by applicant tracking software (ATS) . ATS is a software program that HR professionals use to streamline the hiring process. It works by automatically filtering applications based on given criteria such as keywords. That means your application could be dismissed by a piece of software even before being seen by a human!

Pro tip: Don’t dismiss the prevalence of ATS! Research from Jobscan found that at least 98.2% of Fortune 500 use an ATS. 

• How to Use a ResumeBuild Template to Make a Software Engineer Resume

If you follow all of the expert tips we’ve shared in this guide, you’ll significantly increase your chances of scoring an interview. However, we know there are a lot to follow, and that you’d rather spend your time advancing your skills than tweaking your resume. 

That’s why we suggest using a resume template instead. It’s the best hack you’ll come across for making an eye-grabbing software engineer resume recruiters can’t get enough of.

At ResumeBuild , we have dozens of resume templates you can choose from. For example, our Gravity resume template gives your resume a modern but professional feel. The blue icon accents besides each heading help to catch the recruiter’s attention, while the layout is optimized to present your skills and experiences in a highly-organized manner. 

To help you put together your resume with one of templates, we’ve created an intuitive and easy to use resume maker . It is designed to give you step-by-step guidance so you can complete each section of your resume to perfection. 

Not only will it tell you exactly what information you need to include, it will also provide you with plenty of pre-made examples of job descriptions just for software engineer resumes. To use them, head to the “Experience” section in our builder. Under the “Career field” subsection, select “Computers and Technology.” Then, under “Career subfield” select “Software Engineering.” You can now select any pre-written examples you’d like to use either as-is or with some editing.

Give our resume maker a go for yourself, and you’ll see why thousands of people now rely on ResumeBuild to help perfect their resumes.

software engineer Job Descriptions; Explained

If you're applying for an software engineer position, it's important to tailor your resume to the specific job requirements in order to differentiate yourself from other candidates. Including accurate and relevant information that directly aligns with the job description can greatly increase your chances of securing an interview with potential employers. When crafting your resume, be sure to use action verbs and a clear, concise format to highlight your relevant skills and experience. Remember, the job description is your first opportunity to make an impression on recruiters, so pay close attention to the details and make sure you're presenting yourself in the best possible light.

software engineer

• 1 year of development experience on Angular 2/4/5/6, Nodejs, HTML, CSS, Bootstrap technologies.
• Communicate with staff or clients to understand specific system requirements.
• Document design specifications, installation instructions, and other system-related information.
• Collaborated on all stages of systems development lifecycle, from requirements gathering to production releases.
• Wrote clean, clear and well-tested code for projects.
• Exposure of Agile SDLC.
• Have good client interaction experience.
•  Involved in analysis, design and development of the application using XCode . Develop a iOS app under which  we can create, assign, track and  update from your mobile phone. Tasks can be Assign individuals or a group of people .It also send and receive task incentives as internal tokens.
• Experience of working on Apple Push Notification, Address Book, Cocoa Framework, iPhone Simulators, Cocoa Touch frameworks, SVN, JSON Parser.
• Implemented application designs based on MVC architecture.Utilized UIKit, NSSerialobject amongst other APIs.Designed applications for all types of screen sizes.
• Having working experience on SDK development in iOS.
• Code, Design and Build Angular applications.
• Experience in working with Angular modules, services, templates, directives, services and dependency injection to create a Single Page Application and communicating  them  with RESTful web services.
• Hands on Experience on Angular CLI (Command line Interface).
• The system is to add points for every associate who refer to be part of St. Luke’s Medical Center.
• I used codeigniter framework, CSS, Bootstrap, HTML, PHP, JSON, JQuery and MySQL database in creating this intranet application.
• Developing Reports in Crystal Report.
• Responsible for parsing JSON data to & from the server for presentation & storage purposes in the project.
• Responsible in system/website development
• Responsible to do maintenance work for ongoing project such as fix bugs, upload content and do changes or enhancement as needed.
• Responsible to do testing after finishing project or if there’s any issue raised on ongoing project
• Responsible to prepare product documentation such as UAT script and User Manual for client use. 
• Develop application-specific software.
• Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures.
• Design or develop software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcome and consequences of design.
• Supervise and assign work to programmers, designers, technologists, technicians, or other engineering or scientific personnel.

software engineer Job Skills

For an software engineer position, your job skills are a key factor in demonstrating your value to the company and showing recruiters that you're the ight fit for the role. It's important to be specific when highlighting your skills and ensure that they are directly aligned with the job requirements, as this can greatly improve your chances of being hired. By showcasing your relevant skills and experience, you can make a compelling case for why you're the best candidate for the job.

How to include technical skills in your resume:

Technical skills are a set of specialized abilities and knowledge required to perform a particular job effectively. Some examples of technical skills are data analysis, project management, software proficiency, and programming languages, to name a few. Add the technical skills that will get hired in your career field with our simple-to-use resume builder. Select your desired resume template, once you reach the skills section of the builder, manually write in the skill or simply click on "Add more skills". This will automatically generate the best skills for your career field, choose your skill level, and hit "Save & Next."

• Data Structures
• Algorithm Design
• Software Testing
• Object-Oriented Programming
• Software Architecture
• System Design
• Cloud Computing
• Operating Systems
• Web Development
• Database Design
• Mobile Development
• Agile Methodologies.

How to include soft skills in your resume:

Soft skills are non-technical skills that relate to how you work and that can be used in any job. Including soft skills such as time management, creative thinking, teamwork, and conflict resolution demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and show that you navigate challenges and changes in the workplace efficiently. Add competitive soft skills to make your resume stand-out to recruiters! Simply select your preferred resume template in the skills section, enter the skills manually or use the "Add more skills" option. Our resume builder will generate the most relevant soft skills for your career path. Choose your proficiency level for each skill, and then click "Save & Next" to proceed to the next section.

• Communication
• Interpersonal
• Time Management
• Problem Solving
• Decision Making
• Critical Thinking
• Adaptability
• Organization
• Public Speaking
• Negotiation
• Conflict Resolution
• Attention to Detail
• Self-Motivation
• Stress Management
• Collaboration
• Strategic Thinking
• Emotional Intelligence
• Flexibility
• Reliability
• Professionalism
• Computer Literacy
• Data Analysis
• Project Management
• Customer Service
• Presentation
• Written Communication
• Social Media
• Troubleshooting
• Quality Assurance
• Supervisory
• Risk Management
• Database Management
• Financial Management
• Visualization
• Business Acumen
• Process Improvement
• Relationship Management.

How to Improve Your software engineer Resume

Navigating resume pitfalls can mean the difference between landing an interview or not. Missing job descriptions or unexplained work history gaps can cause recruiters to hesitate. Let's not even talk about the impact of bad grammar, and forgetting your contact info could leave your potential employer hanging. Aim to be comprehensive, concise, and accurate.

Pauline Johnson

Unexplained year gaps and missing job experiences are a no-no, gaps in your resume can prevent recruiters from hiring you if you don't explain them..

• It's okay to have gaps in your work experience but always offer a valid explanation instead of just hiding it.
• Use the gap to talk about positive attributes or additional skills you've learned.
• Be honest and straightforward about the gap and explain it using a professional summary.

How to Optimize Your software engineer Resume

Keep an eye out for these resume traps. Neglecting to detail your job roles or explain gaps in your career can lead to unnecessary doubts. Grammar blunders can reflect negatively on you, and without contact information, how can employers reach you? Be meticulous and complete.

Jonathan Gray

• Develp annd maintaine technicall documention.
• Mointor systme performanc and trubleshoot isses.
• Desing, develope, an mantain softwre applicatons.
• Implement security measurs too protec data.
• Wrk wit cross-functional teams too ensur qualitiy software releasses.
• Colaborate with internall teams too develope softwere solutionss.
• Develp and maintaing softwre coding standrads.
• Identify'n adress system performance issiues.
• Implemnet securty measurs to protec datA.

Avoid Spelling Mistakes and Include your Contact Information

Missing contact information prevents recruiters from understanding you're the best fit for the position..

• Make sure you're not missing contact information on your resume. That should include your full name, telephone number and email address.
• Make sure to use a professional email address as part of your contact information.
• Highlight your contact information and double check that everything is accurate to help recruiters get in touch with you.

software engineer Cover Letter Example

A cover letter can be a valuable addition to your job application when applying for an software engineer position. Cover letters provide a concise summary of your qualifications, skills, and experience, also it also gives you an opportunity to explain why you're the best fit for the job. Crafting a cover letter that showcases your relevant experience and enthusiasm for the Accounts Payable role can significantly improve your chances of securing an interview.

Esteemed Recruitment Team

I am a highly motivated and experienced Software Engineer with 12 years of experience in Information Technology (It). I am excited to apply for the Lead Software Engineer position at Apple, where I am confident that I can contribute to your organization's success.

My life experiences have taught me the importance of hard work, dedication, and collaboration. Whether it was on the work, or just personally, I have always been committed to pursuing my goals with passion and tenacity. I am confident that throughout all of these years I have gained the skills and expertise necessary to succeed in this role and be a great asset for Apple. I am eager to join a team that shares my values and work towards a common goal.

Thank you for considering my application for the Lead Software Engineer role. I am very passionate about this field and possess a deep understanding of the industry so, I am thrilled about the opportunity to contribute to your organization's success.

Showcase your most significant accomplishments and qualifications with this cover letter. Personalize this cover letter in just few minutes with our user-friendly tool!

Related Resumes & Cover Letters

Contemporary

Professional

Looking to explore other career options within the Information Technology (It) field?

Check out our other resume of resume examples.

• Oracle Resume
• Mysql Resume
• Mongodb Resume
• Data Science Intern Resume
• Business Intelligence Resume
• Webmaster Resume
• Technician Resume
• Systems Engineer Resume
• Tech Lead Resume
• Technical Support Analyst Resume
• Test Engineer Resume
• System Administrator Resume
• Network Administrator Resume
• Network Engineer Resume
• Network Security Engineer Resume
• Salesforce Administrator Resume
• Sap Project Manager Resume
• Senior System Engineer Resume
• Software Engineer Resume
• Solutions Architect Resume
• System Analyst Resume
• Systems Analyst Resume
• Freelancer Resume
• It Support Analyst Resume
• It Support Resume
• It Project Manager Resume
• It Intern Resume
• It Director Resume

FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED HERE.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE HAVE ANSWERS.

4 Ways a Career Test Can Jump-Start Your Future (and Help Your Resume)

If you’re looking for a fresh path or a new passion, a career test could help you find it. You can take these tests online, in the comfort of your...

Avoid These 3 Resume Mistakes at All Costs

Your resume is your first impression for a prospective employer. The way you present yourself in that little document can make or break you – it can clinch you an...

Resume Design Tips and Tricks

Creating a resume that stands out from the rest doesn’t have to be rocket science. With just a few tips and tricks, you can make your professional resume a shining...

Build your Resume in 15 minutes

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

Resume Worded   |  Proven Resume Examples

• Resume Examples
• Engineering Resumes

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.

We're just getting the template ready for you, just a second left.

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

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
• Java Developer Resume Guide
• Python Developer Resume Guide
• IT Manager Resume Guide
• Cyber Security Resume Guide
• Salesforce Resume Guide
• Quality Assurance Resume Guide
• Quality Engineer Resume Guide
• Electrical Engineer Resume Guide
• System Administrator Resume Guide
• Scrum Master Resume Guide
• Civil Engineer Resume Guide
• Network Administrator Resume Guide
• Mechanical Engineer Resume Guide
• Manufacturing Engineer Resume Guide
• Network Engineer Resume Guide
• Node.js Resume Guide
• SQL Developer Resume Guide
• Integration Architect Resume Guide
• Engineering Manager Resume Guide
• Software Tester Resume Guide
• Service Technician Resume Guide
• 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
• Electronic Technician Resume Guide
• System Engineer Resume Guide
• IT Specialist Resume Guide
• Packaging Engineer Resume Guide
• Oracle Resume Guide
• Planning Engineer Resume Guide
• Blockchain Resume Guide
• Cloud Developer Resume Guide
• ETL Developer Resume Guide
• SharePoint Developer Resume Guide
• Kafka Resume Guide
• Audio Engineer Resume Guide
• HVAC Resume Guide
• Industrial Engineer Resume Guide
• Maintenance Technician Resume Guide
• Solutions Architect Resume Guide
• Implementation Specialist Resume Guide
• Software Architect Resume Guide
• PHP Developer Resume Guide
• Biomedical Engineer Resume Guide
• Robotics Resume Guide
• Chief Digital Officer Resume Guide
• Innovation Resume Guide
• Security Analyst Resume Guide
• IT Auditor Resume Guide
• Director of Software Engineering Resume Guide
• Environmental Engineer Resume Guide
• Technology Director Resume Guide
• Director of Information Technology Resume Guide
• AWS Resume Guide
• Director of Engineering Resume Guide
• 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

Download this PDF template.

Creating an account is free and takes five seconds. you'll get access to the pdf version of this resume template., choose an option..

• Have an account? Sign in

E-mail Please enter a valid email address This email address hasn't been signed up yet, or it has already been signed up with Facebook or Google login.

Password Show Your password needs to be between 6 and 50 characters long, and must contain at least 1 letter and 1 number. It looks like your password is incorrect.

Remember me

Forgot your password?

Sign up to get access to Resume Worded's Career Coaching platform in less than 2 minutes

Name Please enter your name correctly

E-mail Remember to use a real email address that you have access to. You will need to confirm your email address before you get access to our features, so please enter it correctly. Please enter a valid email address, or another email address to sign up. We unfortunately can't accept that email domain right now. This email address has already been taken, or you've already signed up via Google or Facebook login. We currently are experiencing a very high server load so Email signup is currently disabled for the next 24 hours. Please sign up with Google or Facebook to continue! We apologize for the inconvenience!

Password Show Your password needs to be between 6 and 50 characters long, and must contain at least 1 letter and 1 number.

Receive resume templates, real resume samples, and updates monthly via email

By continuing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Lost your password? Please enter the email address you used when you signed up. We'll send you a link to create a new password.

E-mail This email address either hasn't been signed up yet, or you signed up with Facebook or Google. This email address doesn't look valid.

Back to log-in

These professional templates are optimized to beat resume screeners (i.e. the Applicant Tracking System). You can download the templates in Word, Google Docs, or PDF. For free (limited time).

   access samples from top resumes, get inspired by real bullet points that helped candidates get into top companies.,    get a resume score., find out how effective your resume really is. you'll get access to our confidential resume review tool which will tell you how recruiters see your resume..

Writing an effective resume has never been easier .

Upgrade to resume worded pro to unlock your full resume review., get this resume template (+ 17 others), plus proven bullet points., for a small one-time fee, you'll get everything you need to write a winning resume in your industry., here's what you'll get:.

• 📄 Get the editable resume template in Google Docs + Word . Plus, you'll also get all 17 other templates .
• ✍️ Get sample bullet points that worked for others in your industry . Copy proven lines and tailor them to your resume.
• 🎯 Optimized to pass all resume screeners (i.e. ATS) . All templates have been professionally designed by recruiters and 100% readable by ATS.

Buy now. Instant delivery via email.

  instant access. one-time only., what's your email address.

I had a clear uptick in responses after using your template. I got many compliments on it from senior hiring staff, and my resume scored way higher when I ran it through ATS resume scanners because it was more readable. Thank you!

Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

For enquiries call:

+1-469-442-0620

• Web Development

Netflix Software Engineer Resume Examples in 2024

Home Blog Web Development Netflix Software Engineer Resume Examples in 2024

According to me, readers can use this article as a step-by-step manual to create an impressive resume for a Netflix job as a software security engineer . The extremely talented software engineer with a love for creating dependable, expandable, and creative solutions can easily create this Netflix Software Resume. With advice on how to personalize your Netflix software engineer resume to stand out from other candidates, it will cover the range of experiences and abilities you should emphasize to show that you are qualified for the position. To write a professional and approachable Netflix software engineer resume in 2024, readers will also learn what language and tone to use.

Netflix Software Engineer Resume Format

1. create a solid netflix software engineer resume template/structure.

[Your Name]

[Your Contact Information]

Objective:  Dedicated software engineer with a focus on efficiency and scalability in system development. In search of a demanding position at Netflix as a software engineer where I can help create innovative streaming technologies and improve user experiences.

2. Work Experience:

a. Lead Embedded Software Engineer at Rockwell Automation, OH

Developed a 15% more efficient production system using new embedded software for Rockwell Automation, OH. This technology has been used throughout the organization to monitor and react to environmental changes in real time.

Developed a new software platform for the industrial automation products of Rockwell Automation while serving as the team leader for seven software developers. This platform cut development time by 20%, saving over $200,000 in costs.

A new system for handling and tracking Rockwell Automation feature requests and software defects has been implemented. Customer satisfaction increased when this method reduced the time to resolve bugs from two weeks to one week.

Developed and implemented a unique software platform for Rockwell Automation, facilitating remote equipment monitoring. A 10% improvement in productivity was achieved due to this system's 50% reduction in downtime.

b. Honda R&D Americas, Inc., OH Senior Embedded Software Engineer

The development time of a new embedded system project was cut by thirty percent due to implementing an Agile-based development strategy.

The 25% less time was spent troubleshooting Honda's embedded systems due to the development of a new diagnostic tool.

A 40% increase in user interface speed was made to the embedded software already in place for Honda's connected car system.

It developed a custom debugging system that reduced the number of software faults discovered in production by 20% and raised debugging accuracy by 45%.

What if You Don't Have Work Experience?

When applying for a Netflix software engineering job without prior work experience, emphasize your schooling, projects, and applicable skills. Start with a compelling synopsis emphasizing your love of technology and desire to help. An education section describing your degree, pertinent coursework, and any projects or accomplishments in the classroom should come next. Match the programming languages, frameworks, and tools you highlight in the skills section to Netflix's tech stack. To illustrate real-world experience, list any volunteer work, internships, or Coding Bootcamp Software Engineer you have completed. In addition, emphasize any extracurricular activities, leadership positions, or collaborative experiences that demonstrate your capacity for cooperation and effective problem-solving. Ensure your resume is error-free, concise, and formatted correctly to leave a good impression.

3. Contact Information

Heli Shigley, Embedded Software Engineer [email protected] (563) 409-7132 Akron, OH

4. Education

Embedded Software Engineering Bachelor of Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Relevant Course: Data Structures and Algorithms, Programming Languages, Software Engineering, Embedded Systems Design, Digital Logic Design, Computer Architecture, Operating Systems, Computer Networks and Computer Security.

• Debugging and troubleshooting
• Real-time systems
• Microcontrollers
• RTOS (Real Time Operating System)
• IoT protocols and technologies
• Embedded Linux

An innovative software developer with a strong background in computer science and a strong motivation for success. It is competent in working in agile teams to produce excellent software solutions and knowledgeable in various programming languages and technologies. The Netflix software engineer resume summary demonstrates outstanding problem-solving and communication capabilities. I am ready to use my experience to further the dynamic work environment at Netflix, which values innovation and superior technical performance. The company aims to contribute significantly to creating innovative goods and services by proactively approaching issues and maintaining a continuous learning mindset.

7. Use Action Words to Strengthen Your Resume

Choosing the appropriate action words to use on a resume might be challenging. An excellent and persuasive Netflix Embedded Software Engineer resume must use various words. It includes fresh and intriguing terms that are crucial to catch the reader's attention because using the exact words again can make your resume seem repetitive. It will also help to highlight your technical expertise and experience in software engineering if you use action verbs that are specifically relevant to engineering. On a resume for an embedded software engineer, action words like "designed," "developed," "tested," "implemented," "debugged," "analyzed," and "optimized" are examples.

8. Extra Sections

Here are some of the extra sections that you can add to your Netflix software engineer cv mentioned below: 

A. Awards & Certification

I've received recognition for my dedication to and skill in software engineering throughout my academic and professional career. These honors confirm my commitment to quality work and my aptitude for creating creative ideas. To complement these successes, I've actively worked towards certifications to upgrade my skill set and stay current with developments in the field. These qualifications testify to my experience and show how proactive I am in my professional development, which ensures my value in the ever-changing technology industry.

B. Languages

I am not only technically proficient but also speak English, Spanish, and French with ease. This language diversity promotes a more profound knowledge of various cultures and viewpoints and makes communication easier. Being multilingual has been extremely helpful in fostering smooth cross-cultural interactions, cooperating with international teams, and overcoming language difficulties. It also highlights my versatility and adaptability, which are essential qualities for growing in various job situations and navigating today's interconnected world.

C. Interests & Hobbies

Hiking and camping outdoors help me discover nature, revitalize myself, and gain inspiration from the wonders of the natural world. I also love taking pictures with my camera; it allows me to preserve memories and capture fleeting moments. Playing instruments like the guitar and losing myself in the percussion rhythm brings me comfort and happiness when I venture into the world of music. In addition to offering a creative outlet, these activities build community, resilience, and teamwork—all of which benefit my career as a software engineer.

9. Netflix Software Engineer Cover Letter

Priyanka Bhati 11 Parihar Chowk, Jodhpur (Raj) 342008 [email protected] 0987654321 21 March 2024 Hiring Manager Netflix, Inc. Swami Vivekanand Society, Sant Nagar Pune (Maharashtra) 411008 Dear Hiring Manager, I'm writing to Netflix to express interest in the software engineer position listed. Having a solid foundation in software development through Web Development and designing courses and a love for coming up with creative solutions, I'm thrilled about the chance to support Netflix in its goal of providing audiences all over the world with top-notch entertainment experiences. During my work, I have developed my expertise in cloud computing, backend systems architecture, and full-stack web development. I have delivered scalable and reliable software solutions in various sectors during my career, including [name any pertinent industries]. My ability to work well in dynamic, fast-paced contexts is facilitated by my expertise in languages like Java, Python, and JavaScript, as well as my knowledge of frameworks like Spring Boot and React. Netflix's dedication to pushing technological boundaries to improve the user experience is one of the things that drew me in. Netflix's innovative culture and emphasis on data-driven decision-making stand out. I am excited to work with skilled teams to develop reliable and effective systems that satisfy users and spur company expansion using data insights and modern technology. Moreover, Netflix's ongoing education and personal growth principles appeal to me. I take the initiative to stay current with emerging technology and trends in the business, and I'm constantly keen to pick up new skills and techniques to further my work. I do not doubt that my versatility and eagerness to take on new tasks match Netflix's goals and objectives. I'm excited about the possibility of working with Netflix and supporting its goal of reshaping the entertainment industry. I'm thrilled to contribute my technical know-how, teamwork spirit, and quality commitment to this position. I appreciate your consideration of my application. I'm excited to discuss how my abilities and background fit your team's requirements. Warm regards, Priyanka Bhati

Best Practices to Make Your Resume Easy to Scan

In today's competitive job market, making your CV easy to scan is essential to getting hiring managers to notice it. To make sure that your Netflix software engineer resume for freshers is simple to read, follow these best practices:

• Make your formatting simple and easy:  To arrange your material, use bullet points and a professional, clear font. Maintain a unified formatting style for the entire document.
• Sort important information into priority:  At the top of each section, highlight your most noteworthy and applicable experiences and abilities to generate attention quickly.
• Make use of subheadings and headings:  Make sure that all of the sections on your resume—such as "Work Experience," "Education," and "Skills"—have clear headings. To further organize the content in each section, use subheadings.
• Assess accomplishments:  Quantify your successes as much as you can with measurements and data. This makes it easier for recruiters to determine your impact from previous work.
• Make smart use of white space:  Make sure to fill your resume with enough text. To improve readability and ease the strain on the eyes, leave enough white space between sections and bullet points in the writing.
• Highlight the most crucial terms: Include pertinent keywords from the job description in your resume to make it unique for each application you submit. Hiring managers could be attracted to your resume, and it may even make it through applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Make it short: If feasible, keep your Netflix software engineer CV  on one page, particularly if you're starting your profession. Choose wisely what to include, emphasizing your most relevant experiences and abilities.

Do's and Don'ts

Netflix software engineer resume example/sample.

Here are the examples of software developer resumes at different levels: entry-level and senior level.

1. Entry-Level Resume Sample

A resume sample for an entry-level software developer usually comprises a concise description that emphasizes the candidate's education, experience, and any projects or internships. It should also demonstrate problem-solving and teamwork capabilities, as well as programming language knowledge. Highlighting any certifications or prior work experience relevant to the business might also help the candidate.

2. Senior Level Resume Sample

The extensive experience in software development, project management, and team leadership are often cited in resume samples for senior-level software developers. It ought to showcase successes like managing intricate projects, teaching younger engineers, and putting creative solutions into practice. Furthermore, it is imperative for senior roles to demonstrate proficiency in modern technology in order for effective cross-functional team collaborations.

Download the Netflix Software Engineer Resume Template here!

Top 10 Skills for a Netflix Software Engineer Resume

A Netflix Software Engineer CV must emphasize a blend of primary talents, soft skills, and domain-specific knowledge. The top ten skills are as follows:

• Software development: It is essential to be proficient in several programming languages, such as Java, Python, and JavaScript. Engineers are expected to write clear, compelling, and easy-to-maintain code.
• Full-stack development: Able to work with front-end and backend technologies, such as front-end development frameworks, including React, and backend services frameworks, such as Spring Boot.
• Cloud computing: Building scalable and robust apps requires familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure, as well as knowledge of cloud services.
• Microservices architecture: Knowledge of creating and executing microservices -based designs, which allow software systems to be flexible and scalable.
• Big data technologies : Knowledge of big data frameworks and technologies like Spark, Hadoop, and Kafka, as Netflix works with enormous volumes of data for analytics and content suggestions.
• Machine learning and AI: Understanding of content optimization algorithms, personalized recommendation systems, and machine learning approaches.
• DevOps practices: Knowledge of infrastructure automation tools (like Terraform), containerization (like Docker), and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines to ensure adequate software application deployment and administration.
• Data structures and algorithms: Excellent knowledge of basic algorithms and data structures is necessary for creating optimized and efficient code.
• Collaboration and communication: Collaborating with cross-functional teams comprising product managers, designers, and other engineers requires strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Problem-solving skills: Possess the ability to recognize and address complex technical problems, develop creative solutions, and adjust to changing business needs and technology.

With KnowledgeHut's Coding Bootcamp , Software engineers set out on a life-changing adventure. Our extensive program, led by experienced professionals, gives you the most up-to-date industrial skills. You will gain expertise in in-demand technologies and accelerate your career in the fast-paced field of software development through practical projects and individualized mentoring. Come along and let your potential shine now!

A software engineer who is committed to achieving results and has a wealth of expertise in creating scalable and effective solutions for Netflix's streaming platform. Knowledgeable about various technologies and programming languages, such as Python, Java, and AWS services. Strong collaborative mentality and problem-solving abilities, as seen by productive cross-functional teamwork. Devoted to keeping up with new technological developments and consistently streamlining procedures. Devoted to producing top-notch goods that improve user experience. Eager to drive the company's technological advancement and contribute to Netflix's creative projects.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To make an impression on Netflix recruiters, highlight your relevant software engineering experience and proficiency with AWS, Java, and Python. Emphasize teamwork successes and a love of innovation and user experience to show that your culture fits Netflix's fast-paced work environment well.

Highlight technological abilities that apply to the Netflix platform, such as cloud computing, Java, Python, and knowledge of AWS services. Display your expertise in streaming technologies, distributed computing, and scalable system design. In addition, highlight your proficiency with microservices architecture, data processing, and pipelines for continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD).

In your resume, highlight specific instances where you overcame challenges or implemented solutions. Explain the issue, your strategy, and the successful result. When feasible, quantify the outcomes to show how effective your problem-solving abilities are.

Sachin Bhatnagar

With 20+ yrs of industry experience in media, entertainment and web tech, Sachin brings expertise in hands-on training and developing forward-thinking, industry-centric curricula. 30k+ students have enrolled in his tech courses.

Avail your free 1:1 mentorship session.

Something went wrong

Upcoming Web Development Batches & Dates