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24 Software Engineer Resume Examples Designed for 2024

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

Writing Your Software Engineer Resume

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

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

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

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

Software Engineer Resume Example

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

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

Software Developer Resume Example

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

New Grad Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Software Engineer Intern Resume Example

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

Software Engineer New Grad Resume Example

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

Entry-Level Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Junior Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Associate Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Senior Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Experienced Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Mid-Level Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Lead Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Staff Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Software QA Engineer Resume Example

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

Director of Software Engineering Resume Example

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

Software Engineering Manager Resume Example

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

Google Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Principal Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Python Developer Resume Example

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

Software Engineer Front-End Resume Example

Full-Stack Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Embedded Software Engineer Resume Example

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

Software Integration Engineer Resume Example

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

Security Engineer Resume Example

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

Related resume guides

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Software engineer skills for resume

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

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

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

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

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

Skills organized by proficiency

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

Skills organized by skill type

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

Skills organized by years of experience

Software engineer resume format

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

General formatting tips

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

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

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

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

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

Bad bullet point formatting

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

Good bullet point formatting

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

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

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

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

Contact information and title

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Entry-Level Software Engineer Education

Senior Software Engineer Education

Software engineer resume summary

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

Sample software engineer resume objective

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

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

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

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

Work experience

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

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

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

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

Good work experience description

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

Bad work experience description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good: Specific contribution plus quantitative impact

Bad: Vague description and no quantitative impact

Software engineer resume projects

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Interests & hobbies

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

Customize your resume for each job

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

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

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

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

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

How to write an effective software developer resume

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

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

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

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

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

Canadian Resume [Format, Tips & Examples for 2024]

Canada is a unique country that combines some traits you’ll find in the USA with some you’ll find in Europe.

This goes for resumes, too.

That’s why, when applying for a job in Canada, you have to make sure your resume conforms to Canadian application standards.

Naturally, you might be wondering - what does a Canadian resume even look like?

If you’re a foreigner, you’re likely drawing a blank trying to figure out what makes a Canadian resume different from the one in your own country. Even if you’re Canadian, you might still need to brush up on your resume writing skills.

Luckily for you, we’re here to show you how to write a compelling Canadian resume.

Here’s what we’re going to go over:

• Differences Between Canadian, US, and European Resumes
• Canadian Resume Formatting
• A Step-By-Step Breakdown on How To Write A Canadian Resume

And more!  Let’s get started!

Canadian Resume Example

Let’s take a look at a Canadian resume example:

Here’s what this resume does right:

• Reverse-chronological format. This format highlights your most recent work experience first and is a recruiter favorite all around the world.
• Relevant contact details. This resume example highlights the candidate’s first and last name, phone number, email address, location, and LinkedIn URL.
• Captivating resume summary. The paragraph nested in the header summarizes the candidate’s most essential skills and accomplishments.
• Action words. The candidate uses action verbs and power words to describe work responsibilities.
• Bullet points. The resume leverages bullet points to appear easy to read, organized, and reader-friendly.
• Additional sections. Language proficiency, certifications, awards, and interests all give a holistic view of the candidate and add value to their application.

Free Canadian Resume Templates

Creating a resume from scratch is time-consuming work. 

You need to twitch the margins, keep the fonts uniform, carefully align every element you add, and make sure it never spills over to page two.

But you can skip all that hassle if you use a resume template .

Novoresume’s templates are created in collaboration with recruiters and meet all job market requirements. 

Any template you use can save you time and let you write your resume in minutes.

Canadian Resume Specifics

There are a few basic things to keep in mind when crafting your Canadian resume. First things first:

The terms resume and CV can be used interchangeably in parts of Canada. In Quebec, for example, both terms refer to a one or two-page-long summary of a candidate’s career that’s tailored to the job they’re applying for.

Outside of Quebec, however, a CV is different from a resume in that it’s far more detailed and appropriate for academic positions or specific senior-level applications. 

Most job postings will ask for a resume unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Some other things to keep in mind about Canadian resumes include:

• Keep your resume one to two pages . A one-page resume is more than enough if you’re a recent graduate or new to the job market. Two-page resumes are recommended for seasoned professionals, and in certain cases, a three-page resume can be acceptable.
• Write your resume in the same language as the job offer. If you’re going for a position in Quebec and the advertisement is in French, then use French. Don’t assume they’ll accept a resume in English unless it’s explicitly written so on the job posting.
• Skip personal information and photos. Your resume should never give away your appearance, gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, religion, marital status, number of children, or any personal identification numbers.
• Don’t list references with your application unless the employer has requested them. Assumably, you can provide references if requested, so dedicating space on your resume when you’re not asked to is a waste.

Canadian Resume vs. US Resume

Both the USA and Canada prefer using resumes over CVs. In fact, Canadian and US resumes are almost identical.

The biggest difference? The language the document is written in.

You might be thinking - wait, I thought Canada used English?

Only partly.

Canada has two official languages - English and French. Both of these languages have standardized Canadian spellings, so that means they are not 100% the same as American English or European French.

Most of the terminology on your Canadian resume will be just about the same as it would be on its US equivalent. The biggest difference will probably be the added “u” to words like colour, and favourite , and the spelling of words like catalogue, centre, and cheque, as opposed to catalog, center, and check.

Before submitting your application, consider using a grammar checker like Grammarly or QuillBot to make sure your resume is up to par with Canadian spelling conventions .

Canadian Resume vs. European Resume

Typically, a resume in most of Europe, Asia, and the Pacific is referred to as a CV. The term resume in Canada refers to the same document that a CV refers to in Europe.

Both documents are meant to be one to two pages long, and list skills and experience relevant to the position you’re applying for. So in this sense, a European CV is actually different from a Canadian CV.

In Canada, a CV is an extensive document and is usually required in academic settings rather than for corporate job applications. The CV can be anywhere from two to ten pages long since it’s meant to list everything - from work experience to projects to publications.

European resumes also tend to be more detailed. For example, they can include details on high school education and grades, even if the candidate has a college degree. In Canada, that’s not the case. Your high school education is irrelevant if you have a higher degree of education.

The biggest difference between Canadian resumes and European ones is the amount of personal information you’re allowed to give away. For example, in Germany including a picture of yourself on your resume is common, but that’s absolutely not the case in Canada. There, your date of birth and nationality are a no-go.

These bits of information can be used to discriminate against you, so you’re supposed to keep them out of your resume as a precaution to give everyone a fair chance. Recruiters often consider resumes that overshare details of the candidate’s life (e.g.: race, age, date of birth, religion, political affiliation, etc.) unprofessional.

Step-By-Step Guide to Writing Your Canadian Resume

You’ve seen what a Canadian resume looks like. Now it’s time to write your own.

If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry -  we’ve here to help you get it right.

Just follow these steps:

#1. Use the Correct Format

The most popular resume format in Canada is the reverse-chronological format (which is also called the chronological format).

It’s so widely used that it’s expected by most recruiters. The chronological format puts your most recent work experiences first and then goes back in time.

Here’s an example of what it looks like:

One of the other formats is the functional resume format , also known as the skills-based resume format, which focuses on your key strengths and abilities. It’s recommended for career changers or recent graduates with little-to-no experience in the field they’re applying for.

Then, we have the combination resume format . As the name suggests, it mixes elements of both the chronological and functional format. This format gives equal attention to a candidate’s experience and skills. It provides a detailed skill summary and is a good choice for applicants who have a noticeable employment gap but plenty of work experience nonetheless.

#2. Follow These Layout Tips

If your resume looks cluttered and unorganized, the hiring manager is less likely to want to read it.

But paying attention to your resume’s layout can get you a better chance.

Stick to these formatting tips when building your Canadian resume:

• Have separate sections for all the information you want to add.
• Use a professional and easily legible resume font . 
• Let your resume breathe - leave in enough white space so the contents are easier to read, by setting your resume margins to 1” on all sides. 
• Save your resume in the correct document size. Canadian resumes use a standard North American letter size (8.5 x 11 inches), instead of the A4 size common elsewhere. You can do this easily in the Novoresume editor by choosing “Layout” in the top menu and choosing “US Letter Format”.

#3. List the Right Contact Information

Once you’ve sorted out your resume layout, it’s time to start filling in its content.

The contact information section is the first thing you should list. Here’s what to include:

• Name and surname
• Canadian phone number
• Address (City and Province)
• Professional email address

Optionally, you can include a link to your LinkedIn profile, a personal website, or an online portfolio. Just make sure they’re updated and relevant to the application.

#4. Write Your Resume Summary

Each resume only has a few seconds to catch a recruiter’s attention, so you have to make yours eye-catching and easy to read.

Here’s where a resume summary comes in. 

Going at the top of your resume, a resume summary is a two or three-sentence-long summary of your career. It includes:

• Your professional title and years of experience. 
• Two-three of your biggest achievements.
• One-two of your top relevant skills for the position.

If you’re less experienced, you can opt for a resume objective instead. A resume objective focuses on your skills and motivation to grow in your chosen field, rather than on prior experience and professional achievements.

When applying for a remote job for a company based in Canada, mention this in your resume summary. If you’re looking for a company that’s going to relocate you to Canada , make sure to mention that in your resume instead, so you don’t waste time for yourself or the hiring manager.

#5. Include Your Work Experience

Work experience is the most important section on a Canadian resume . 

It lets you expand on your past achievements and responsibilities, proving to the hiring manager you’re the best candidate for the job.

Here’s how you should structure this section:

• Start with your most recent job and go back in time. That said, don’t go back more than ten or 15 years ago, even if you’re a senior professional. The hiring manager doesn’t care about your job as a server from back in college.
• Start with your job title. The recruiter will immediately know if you have the necessary experience for the job from reading your job title.
• Add your company name and location. Sometimes you can even add a brief description of your former employer, particularly if it’s a smaller business that isn’t well-known.
• Include your dates of employment. There’s no need to be super detailed, so just stick to the mm/yyyy format.
• List your job responsibilities and achievements. Provide 4-6 bullet points for your most recent position and 2-3 bullets for older jobs.

Structuring your work experience the right way is only half the work. To stand out from the competition, you want this section to be as impressive as possible.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help with that:

• Reference the job ad, and focus on the top skills and qualifications required from candidates. Tailor your work experience around the skills that you do have to draw attention away from the ones you don’t.
• Focus more on achievements over day-to-day responsibilities. The hiring manager already has an idea of what your responsibilities for a certain job were. What they’re interested to know is what you achieved while doing it.
• Quantify your accomplishments as often as possible. Use the Laszlo Bock formula ( “accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z” ) to provide a timeframe, scale, and results for what you’ve achieved. e,g: “ Increased annual revenue growth from 5% to 10% through the implementation of a financial roadmap. ” 
• Use powerful words and action verbs . Recruiters hate hearing generic phrases like “responsible for” or “team player,” so using the right vocabulary can help you stick out. 

Are you a recent graduate with no work experience on your resume ? Don’t sweat it - we’ve got a guide to help you find your first job .

#6. Add Your Education

In Canadian resumes, the education section typically goes right under your work experience.

Here’s how you should format this section:

• Program Name. E.g: “B.A. in Computer Science”
• University Name. E.g: “Ohio State University”
• Years Attended. E.g: “08/2018 - 06/2022”
• Achievements (optional). E.g. “Minor in Linguistics” 

It should look something like this:

B.A. in Computer Science

Concordia University

08/2019 - 06/2023

• Summa Cum Laude
• Minor in Business Analytics

Follow these tips to make this section pop:

• Don’t describe your high school education if you have a university degree.
• Mention courses you’ve taken that are relevant to the industry you’re applying to. (E.g: Statistics and Probability for a Data Analyst)
• Stick to a reverse chronological format when listing your degrees. E.g: A Ph.D. is listed above a Master’s Degree, which is listed above a Bachelor’s degree, etc.
• If you don’t have work experience, you can emphasize your academic background. Just list your education at the top of your resume instead of the work experience.

#7. Highlight Your Greatest Skills & Strengths

The skill section shows which candidates have the necessary expertise for the job, and no Canadian resume is complete without it.

Skills are typically divided into two categories:

• Soft skills consist of personality traits and characteristics developed in your personal and professional life. They involve communication skills , people skills, interpersonal skills , etc.
• Hard skills, or technical abilities, are skills you can gain from experience, training, or education. These can include computer skills or proficiency in the use of specific tools.

The trick here is, don’t list every skill you’ve ever learned, just the ones relevant to the job you’re applying for.

If you’re going to be a graphic designer, your Photoshop skills are more important than your forklift certification. Recruiters want to know which skills make you the right candidate for them, not which skills make you the most well-rounded individual.

Scan the job description and jot down which of your skills the company is looking for. Then add them to your Canadian resume.

Just make sure you don’t focus solely on one type of skill over the other. A good application covers both soft skills and hard skills, depending on the job requirements.

Here’s an example:

#8. Leverage Additional Sections

If you’ve covered all the essential resume sections and have some space left, consider adding some optional resume sections.

These sections aren’t as vital as the ones we’ve covered so far, and they won’t do as much heavy lifting on your resume as your work experience, skills, or education.

However, they can help set you apart from candidates with similar work experience and skills as yours. 

For example, if choosing between two equally qualified professionals, and the position includes collaboration with French-speaking employees or business partners, the hiring manager is likely to choose a candidate who can speak French.

Here are the additional sections you can include on your resume:

• Languages . Being able to communicate in more than one language gives you an advantage over other candidates.
• Internships. Adding any relevant internships to your resume shows you have some experience that’s prepared you for the job you’re applying to.
• Volunteer experience . Any experience volunteering is a great addition to any resume since it shows you’re a caring person who wants to give back to your community.
• Hobbies and interests . Certain hobbies or interests might give the hiring manager a look into who you are as a person, and work in your favor.
• Certifications and awards. Any relevant qualifications or awards, such as online classes, can go here.
• Publications. If you’ve published anything, ranging from magazines to research articles, you can add it to your resume.
• Projects. Interesting projects you’ve worked on can show the hiring manager your passion and dedication to your field.

#9. Include a cover letter

Cover letters are still an essential companion piece to any resume.

Adding a cover letter to your application shows the hiring manager you’re ready to take all the necessary steps to land the job.

Cover letters also complement resumes by allowing you to elaborate on things you don’t have the space for in your resume, such as certain achievements or employment gaps.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what your cover letter should include:

• Header. As with your resume, include your updated contact information with your name, surname, Canadian phone number, and professional email address. Be sure to include the employer’s contact information as well.
• Greeting line. Make sure you address the cover letter correctly with a greeting line like “ Dear John Doe, ” or “ Dear Mr. Doe, ”. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, just use something like “ Dear [Department] Team. ” 
• Introduction. Start off with a brief summary of why you’re writing the letter and which position you’re interested in. To grab the hiring manager’s attention, use your opening paragraph to also describe two or three of your top achievements.
• Qualifications and motivation. The body of your cover letter should emphasize your skills, experience, and enthusiasm for the position. Use it to explain exactly what makes you the right candidate and how you’re the right fit for the company.
• Closing paragraph . Wrap up your letter with a call to action and an official signature line.

Struggling to write your cover letter? Check out these cover letter examples to get inspired.

FAQs About Canadian Resumes

Do you still have any questions? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Canadian resumes.

1. How can I create a Canadian resume as an international student?

Whether you’re looking to apply to a university in Canada, secure an internship , or land your first job after your graduation, your main focus should be on your academic achievements.

Education is highly valued in Canada and your credentials and relevant coursework will boost your resume, so long as you keep it relevant to the position you’re applying for.

When describing your education, you can also add the location next to your school or university’s name. E.g.: “Marmara University, Turkey” instead of just “Marmara University”.

2. Should the Canadian resume be in a PDF or Word file format?

Generally speaking, a PDF is the preferred format for resumes since it remains the same regardless of what operating system or device you use to open it. Moreover, it keeps your formatting and illustrations in place, and can’t be edited by accident when a recruiter mislicks.

Most career websites in Canada accept resumes as both PDF and Word files. Nonetheless, we recommend you have your Canadian resume exported to PDF unless the job ad specifically requests Word.

3. Do Canadians say CV or resume?

Depending on what part of Canada you’re in, people might say CV and resume interchangeably. However, outside of Quebec, these are two different documents.

Resumes are typically not longer than two pages and are meant to be tailored to the job you’re applying for. CVs, on the other hand, are far more detailed and appropriate for academic settings or specific senior-level applications.

4. What should you NOT include on a Canadian resume?

As an anti-discrimination measure, pictures of yourself and personal information, are legally prohibited from job applications. This means your nationality, age, gender, religion, immigration status, political affiliation, marital status, and social insurance number, have no place on your resume.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it’s taboo for applicants to include their salary expectations on a Canadian resume. Salary expectations should only be provided if requested by the employer, and even then, they are best included in a cover letter, never on your resume.

Download Canadian Resume Templates

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Why do I need a Canadian Resume?

As a newcomer, finding a job in Canada is usually a top priority. The first step for your job search is to have a resume and a cover letter that you can share with potential employers or networking contacts. Resume formats from other countries will not necessarily work in the Canadian job market. On the other hand, a good Canadian-style resume will help you:

• Pass the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that many Canadian employers use
• Demonstrate your understanding of the Canadian job market
• Highlight your strengths and professional achievements,
• Position you as an ideal candidate for the role.

Who are these templates for?

These free resume templates are for newcomers who are looking for a job in Canada. Whether you’re just starting your career in Canada, re-entering the job market after a break, or exploring full-time job opportunities in a new industry, these free Canadian resume formats will lay a strong foundation for your job search.

How to create an impressive Canadian resume

An impressive Canadian resume must showcase your unique qualities and strengths that make you a good fit for the job. To do this, your resume should be concise, readable, distraction-free, and rich in keywords that match the job description. With the right resume format, you can draw recruiters’ attention to the strengths of your application, such as your stellar experience, skillset, and more. You can also minimize the visibility of weaknesses, such as employment gaps or lack of industry experience.

Unsure about which resume template is right for you? Download the Canadian resume format that best matches your experience level:

• Experienced professional with no major employment gaps, looking for a job in the same industry – choose the reverse chronological resume template
• Recent graduate OR looking to switch career fields – the functional resume may be the best fit
• Professional with limited experience, multiple short-term work stints, or significant work gaps – your may want to use the combination or hybrid resume .

For more tips and best practices on crafting a resume that will help you land a job in Canada, read our articles on Canadian resumes and cover letters and 10 resume mistakes to avoid while looking for a job in Canada .

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By Katie LoFaso

• Arrow Right Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com How to write a Software Engineer resume in 5 steps
• Arrow Right Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com Sample Software Engineer resume and template
• Arrow Right Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com Software Engineer job skills
• Arrow Right Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com Job outlook and salary for Software Engineers
• Arrow Right Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com Launch your career as a Software Engineer with Multiverse

Many aspiring tech professionals start their job hunt by writing a Software Engineer resume. This document showcases your experience, technical skills, and other important qualifications. A strong resume makes a positive impression on potential employers and helps you stand out in the job market.

Below, we break down the process of crafting an effective software engineering resume. We also offer tips and resources to help you become a Software Engineer.

How important are resumes for Software Engineers?

Like most jobs, a resume is essential if you want to pursue a Software engineering career. This document demonstrates your qualifications for a role.

Many employers read resumes first to identify suitable Software Engineers. An effective resume will showcase your practical skills and fit for the roles you’re applying for.

So, what sort of qualifications should Software Engineers highlight in their resumes?

Remember: Software Engineers write code and use computer science principles to design and build solutions. They handle every aspect of the software development process. They may work on data structures, operating systems, software architecture, web pages, and other products.

This career path requires strong interpersonal skills. Software Engineers typically work closely with Product Developers, UX Designers, and non technical stakeholders. They must work effectively with developers to build successful and scalable software.

How to write a Software Engineer resume in 5 steps

Tech companies often receive hundreds or even thousands (opens new window) of applications for every job posting. Recruiters spend an average of three to seven seconds (opens new window) skimming each document to find top candidates. In other words, a well constructed resume is essential to getting your foot in the door for the most competitive roles.

Follow these steps to write a standout software engineering resume that conveys key information quickly.

1. Choose a resume format

There are several ways to format a resume, depending on which qualifications you want to spotlight.

Chronological

A chronological resume organizes your work history by date. It lists your experience in reverse chronological order, with the most recent experience at the top.

Job seekers often use this format to showcase their career progression. For example, you may have started as an IT Support Technician and become a Junior Software Developer. Listing these roles in chronological order highlights your career growth.

A functional resume emphasizes skills over work history. You’ll identify key skills and list relevant experiences beneath them. For instance, an aspiring Software Engineer could highlight their coding skills and knowledge of quality and security standards. This format works best for people without extensive or relevant work experience.

Combination

A combination resume is a hybrid of the chronological and functional formats. These resumes include a prominent skills summary to highlight the candidate’s qualifications. It also has an experience section with a chronological work history.

A hybrid resume spotlights your qualifications while also providing a clear employment timeline. This format is suitable for entry level applicants or those who want to highlight diverse skills.

2. Structure the resume with headings

Resumes include various sections outlining your experience and qualifications. Use headings to distinguish between each section clearly.

Here are suggested headings to include:

• Executive summary
• Work experience

Below, we’ll break down each section in more detail.

3. Review Software Engineer job descriptions

Before filling in your resume, browse software engineering positions on LinkedIn and other job boards. Look for common keywords and skills in these job postings. This research will help you create a list of relevant qualifications and experiences to feature in your resume.

4. Write and format content

Fill in each section of the resume that you outlined in step two. Follow these basic resume rules:

• Use bullet points to organize information
• Keep information concise, and don’t write long, complex sentences
• Maintain consistent formatting for each section
• Use statistics to quantify your achievements, such as “designed a new user interface that increased conversions by 20%”
• For most early to mid-career resumes, don’t exceed one page

5. Tailor the resume for every position

Once you’ve created a template resume, tailor it for every application. Review each job posting carefully and incorporate relevant keywords into your resume. You should also adjust your executive summary to spotlight accomplishments related to the specific role you’re applying for.

Sample Software Engineer resume and template

Find inspiration by searching online for sample Software Engineering resumes. Here’s a concise and easy-to-read example from Gergely Orosz's Pragmatic Engineer (opens new window) blog:

If you’re applying for entry level positions, follow this basic Software Engineer resume template:

• Contact information

This header appears at the very top of the resume and includes:

• Link to your portfolio or personal website

Executive summary / career objective

This two to three-sentence summary explains why you’re the right candidate for the job. It highlights your achievements, qualifications, and career goals.

Here’s an example of an executive summary for a Junior Software Engineer:

“Self-motivated Junior Software Engineer with hands-on experience in full-stack development. Skilled in Java, Ruby, and associated frameworks. Passionate about collaborating with cross functional teams to create innovative web applications.”

Professional experience

List your previous positions, including job titles, employers, and employment dates. If you’re an entry level Software Engineer, this section could include:

• Apprenticeships
• Internships
• Volunteer work

Junior Engineers can also include non-tech jobs with transferable skills. For instance, if you’ve worked as a customer service representative, you’ve likely gained strong problem solving skills.

Educational background

List your degrees, certifications, and other formal education. Provide the institution and the completion date for each qualification.

A self-taught Software Development Engineer could include online courses, a coding bootcamp, workshops, and other educational programs.

List applicable interpersonal and programming skills to demonstrate your suitability for the position. Use the job description to identify the most relevant competencies.

Highlight your technical skills by listing two or three professional or personal projects. Give a concise description and a link to view each project online.

Here are two examples of software solutions that an aspiring Software Engineer could develop:

• Onboarding redesign : I removed three steps from the user onboarding experience and drove an increase of 15%
• Mobile app feature addition : I worked on the design and implementation of a new geolocation feature in the company’s mobile app, which improved user engagement by 25% by enabling location-based service recommendations.

Software Engineer job skills

According to a recent Hired survey (opens new window) , here are the top software engineering skills to include on resumes in 2024:

• AWS and other cloud computing platforms
• Programming languages like Java, JavaScript, and C#
• Structured Query Language (SQL)
• Frameworks, such as React and Node.js
• Artificial intelligence skills, such as machine learning and natural language processing
• Continuous integration
• Technical leadership and collaboration

Job outlook and salary for Software Engineers

The forecasted growth of the tech industry makes it the ideal time to learn how to become a Software Engineer. The BLS predicts that tech companies and other employers will open over 150,000 jobs annually (opens new window) between 2022 and 2032.

Here’s an example of a basic career progression in this field and the average salaries for Software Engineers at each stage:

• Junior Software Engineer - $97,000 to $178,000
• Senior Software Engineer - $150,000 to $220,000
• Software Engineer Manager - $173,000 to $271,000

Source: Glassdoor

Launch your career as a Software Engineer with Multiverse

The rapidly expanding software engineering field has many exciting job opportunities. Software Engineers can specialize in numerous areas, such as artificial intelligence and game development.

If you’re looking for the best way to launch your career, consider learning how to become a Software Engineer with a Multiverse apprenticeship. Our 15-month software engineering program provides a solid foundation in computer science, data science, and web development you can use to launch your career as a Junior Software Engineer making close to six figures. You’ll learn coding skills, study new technologies, and participate in project based learning. Apprentices earn a competitive salary and gain practical experience while working for top employers — an advantage only offered by the unique apprenticeship structure.

Complete our simple application (opens new window) to learn more. You can also read about how a recent Multiverse apprentice has used their training to launch a successful career.

Katie LoFaso

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With a Canadian Resume and Cover letter, you can obtain employment more quickly. Canadian resumes must adhere to a certain format, known as the Canadian Resume format. If you're serious about earning a job offer from a Canadian employer via any Immigration program, you'll need an impressive resume. Your Resume must pass the ATS, reach the HR Recruiter, and be referred to the recruiting manager. Here is a Canadian Resume Template that can be downloaded immediately from your laptop/desktop.

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

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

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

Software Engineer Resume Templates

Jump to a template:

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

Jump to a resource:

• Keywords for Software Engineer Resumes

Software Engineer Resume Tips

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

Get advice on each section of your resume:

Template 1 of 18: Software Engineer Resume Example

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

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

How To Write Your Skills Section On a Software Engineer Resumes

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

Skills Word Cloud For Software Engineer Resumes

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

How to use these skills?

Resume bullet points from software engineer resumes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other Engineering Resumes

Product manager.

Sales Engineer

Software Engineer Resume Guide

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Resumé & Cover Letter

• Working in Canada
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Your resumé (also known as Curriculum Vitae or CV) is a written compilation of your education, work experience, credentials and accomplishments. Its purpose is to highlight your most relevant skills and pique the interest of a potential employer and obtain an interview.

Sample Resumés:

• Architecture v1
• Architecture v2 
• Bioengineering v1
• Bioengineering v2
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering v1
• Civil Engineering v2
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Management Consulting
• Materials Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mining Engineering v1
• Mining Engineering v2
• Software Engineering

Cover Letter

Cover letters are your opportunity to convey why and how you are the candidate the employer is looking for. Its purpose is to demonstrate a good match between the job requirements, your skills and your interest in the position offered, by way of specific examples drawn from your previous experience.

Make an appointment with a Career Advisor or sign in to myFuture to view workshop dates.

Related Content

Resources: how to guides.

How to Find Jobs  How to Contact Employers  How to Write a CV & Cover Letter  How to Interview  How-to Guide for Filming Yourself Career Fair Mini Guides 

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