How To Write A Software Engineer Resume That Gets Interviews
- Demonstrate real impact with finished projects
Simply stating that you worked on a cloud-based application gives a hiring manager neither indication of your abilities nor the level of your contribution. Also, any finished project is x10 times more credible than an unfinished one, and stating that you worked on something doesnt mean you finished it. A finished project has outcomes. Bad example: worked on a cloud-based application
Good example: Spearheaded a $12M cloud-based application development from design to distribution as a senior software engineer in a 12-people team More examples of that in the Experience section of this guide.
- Focus on the employer, not yourself.
A natural instinct of 99% inexperienced resume writers is to start selling yourself. I can I work with , and I did Yes, in a way you are a product. But you dont see I drive people on a BMW slogan. Its Sheer Driving Pleasure. Bad example: Expert knowledge of Python libraries Good example: Reduced the loading time of a 10 million photo library by 68% by developing a preloading algorithm using Pythons SciPy library More examples on that in the Summary, Experience, and Skills sections of this guide.
- Resume format does make a difference. But not in a way you might expect.
Ensure that you can print and export your sample resume as a PDF file so recruiters can review it on their lunch break.
Lets start with your resume format first.
Skills To Add In Software Engineer Resume Objective
Mentioning your skills is an essential part of your resume career objective and since the profile of a software engineer is a technical one, it is important to add the requisite skills in your software engineer resume objective. Here are the top skills you need to put in your software engineer resume objective:
- Brilliant problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Analytical skills to assess software applications and carry out necessary improvements
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Detect bugs and suggest requisite solutions
- Detail-oriented professional
- Extensive knowledge of software design and experience in the same
- Strong designing and planning skills
- Experience in quality assurance
Summary Or Career Objective
Recruiters look at each résumé for less than 6 seconds. With hundreds of resumes to go through, its understandable that recruiters will merely skim through them seeking the most crucial information. As a result, youll want to make the most crucial information stand out.
A resume summary or objective, which are short paragraphs that are put on top of your resume, is the best method to do this. Theyre designed to swiftly demonstrate why youre the ideal applicant for the software engineering/developer position. In an easy-to-read manner, you must summarise your years of experience, talents, and education. This section should be no more than 4-5 lines long. They can be thought of as a preview for the rest of your resume.
What, though, is the distinction between the two sections?
A resume summary is a two- to the four-sentence description of your professional accomplishments and experiences. A resume objective is a two- to a four-sentence summary of your career goals. So, summary or objective, which is better for your situation? In general, experienced software engineers/developers should use a summary. If you have the talents but not the industry experience, a resume objective is a good option .
Resume Objective
Resume Summary
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Mid Level Software Engineer Resume Example And Template
- Prove you are the perfect workhorse. Its true that middle software engineers are the workhorses of the programming world. They deliver the most impact with routine code, optimize their workflows down to the letter, and have excellent coding habits. Highlight the following qualities in the context of your software projects to present yourself in the best light:
- ability to deliver huge amounts of work with less or zero supervision
- active collaboration with team members and team leads
- deep understanding of platforms and tools relevant to the target company tech stack
- Target resume to the company environment. Targeted resume, or tailoring your resume to the specific job description, is a highly effective technique for landing job interviews. But dont just target your resume to the job description as often technical job descriptions are written by non-technical HR managers. Research target company blogs, LinkedIn profiles of its developers, and social media to learn more about the companys tech environment and its current challenges. Use this information to frame your experience for maximum impact. While non-technical recruiters might skip such details, an experienced team lead will certainly not.
> Software Engineer Resume Tips
Functional Resumes of a software engineer should not be too long and should fit within two pages resume or three pages resume. The first page should reflect the objective, skill set and expertise details. The second and third page should contain details about projects, responsibilities, and education. The sample resume should be tailored to suit the job description, skills, and expertise so that it can catch the eyes of the recruiters easily. The inclusion of keywords is an important aspect and one can do more research about how to include them with relevance to the job applied. Highlighting ones strengths is also a good idea to make the resume more valuable.
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Keep Your Resume Crisp
Your software engineer resume should not be more than one page in length. The recruiters dont have the time to read all the pages of the resume meticulously. This is a harsh truth we all have to face while sitting for the job interviews. So, you must present yourself professionally and consistently with concise information on your resume. A resume is like a window through which they get to know you, and eventually improves your chances of being hired. So for this, you need a short and crisp resume.
An effective manner to reduce the size of your resume is to present the timeline of your work experience in bullet points. Present relevant information into the work timeline.
Always make sure you have well-structured sentences in your resume without mistakes. Otherwise, it would put a bad impression on the recruiter, and lower the chances of being shortlisted for the job.
What Recruiters Look For In A Software Engineering Resume:
- Strong skill set in collaborating with other members of the team, such as project managers, graphic designers, UX designers, other developers, systems analysts, and sales and marketing specialists.
- Ability to create new software programs and computer operating systems by researching, designing, and writing them.
- Capabilities in enhancing existing programs and improving functionality
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Full Stack Software Engineer Resume
Use this template
Why this resume works
- Not all full stack software engineers are created equal. Despite having similarities among skills, such as HTML, CSS, MongoDB, and Jest proficiencies, the main differentiation will be in whatever your main programming language isJavaScript, Python, Go, or other programming languages.
- Include multiple programming languages in your resume skills section to show your increased value to recruiters and better fit ATS screening criteria.
- Adding specific keywords is a must for a great full stack software engineer resume. This resume optimizes itself in a non-standardized job market by highlighting more than one main programming language.
Learning How To Write A Killer Rsum By Example
As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Lets take another look at this résumé:
The Essentials from a Glance
One-page résumé
Recruiters do not have all day to read your résumé. On average they view it for less than 6 seconds. Keep it short and concise.
Sections
Place sections in order of importance from top to bottom. The Personal Projects section is a unique, must-have for people looking for a software engineering position.
Consistent layout + font per section
Make sure each section contains a uniform look. Consistent style is important as it enhances the readability. Readability is essential.
So why does this résumé work? Lets explore the numbered bullet points.
Who Are You
Target Audience: Anyone writing a résumé
Starting off real easy. Your name. Place your name at the top of your résumé in a large legible font.
No need to be all fancy about it with extravagant colors or fancy fonts. Plain and simple does the trick. You want the recruiter to see this easily from a mile away because you want them to know who you are. A recruiter who has to do minimum work is a happy recruiter. A happy recruiter is one who is more likely to give you an interview.
Recap: Make it ridiculously easy for the recruiter to read and find your name.
Target Audience: Anyone writing a résumé
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Which Software Engineering Skill Has The Highest Demand
Today, there is a very high demand for software skills in working with databases. Normally, the following skills are most wanted:
This does not mean that companies are hungry for anyone who has taken an Introduction to Python course. Each company has specific targets in mind and the aforementioned skills are just means to reach those targets.
Senior Software Developer Resume Example
- Added Angular Material to enhance websites styling and conform to Material Design.
- Implemented Dynamic Routing for creating simple and consistent navigation between webpages.
- Utilized jQuery and jQuery UI to create custom inputs allowing for more intuitive user interface.
- Used Ajax to call RESTful API and load data onto web page for seamless transition.
- SQL Server stored procedures and functions created for database access and decreased overhead.
- Utilized indexes and views as tools in SQL database.
- Debugged API using Postman and browsers network activity monitor to inspect low level interactions.
- Design Rest API Website to monitor, start and stop services using C# and C++
- Implemented methods in Service layer to reduce front end complexity.
- Used Visual Studio as IDE for backend, Atom for front end.
- Daily Standups with Agile and Scrum projects and used Kanban to complete list of project related items and documentation.
- Used AWS Beanstalk for deploying and scaling web applications and services developed with Java.
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Use Active Voice And Power Verbs
Writing in the passive voice will lengthen sentences and make information less impactful. Use the active voice to create short sentences and hold a recruiterâs attention. This will encourage them to read more information on your resume.
You can incorporate the active voice by using action words or power verbs at the start of your sentences. For example, âManaged,â âCoordinated,â âPlannedâ to show leadership skills or âDesigned,â âDeveloped,â âDevised,â âEngineeredâ to show creative abilities.
A simple online search will yield a number of resources to help you find the right vocabulary to describe your role to create the right impact.
Pro Resume Tip: Avoid using too many buzzwords. Jargon and buzzwords that donât sound natural will make your resume appear inauthentic.
What Is A Good Profile Summary For Software Engineers With Little Experience
The profile summary depends on your work experience and the knowledge that you have gained in your job. You should highlight the major tasks which you have mastered and you can change your profile summary by keenly studying the job descriptions of new openings.
There is nothing wrong with changing the profile summary for every job you are applying for, you have to match your profile summary with the requirement of the new job openings.
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Software Engineer Resume Guide For 2022
When you apply for an engineering job at a company, the first person looking at your resume is, well, not a person. Companies use something called an Applicant Tracking System to filter out a majority of applicants for a role based on keyword matching.
If you pass this step, your resume will get reviewed by a non-technical recruiter. Then at last, the technical hiring manager will look at your resume.
How do you write a resume that will get you through all of these hoops to get that first interview? Thats what this guide is designed to help you do!
Weve analyzed numerous resumes from software engineers and have distilled what works and what doesnt in order to get your foot in the door.
Heres what were going to cover in this guide:
- How to properly format your resume to appease the ATS filters, including what sections to include and omit.
- How to talk about your work experience and personal projects to convincingly appeal to technical and non-technical audiences.
- What to put in the very important skills section of the resume.
- How to customize your resume for each job to which you apply .
How To Put Projects On Your Resume The Right Way
Projects are usually a section that is highly recommended for graduates that lack vast working experience, yet have some personal projects that are relevant to the job theyre applying for.
Add a Projects’ section to your resume if you have major achievements outside your work that are related to the job.
Those can be open-source contributions, professorship at prestigious tech Universities, or freelance work with major tech companies.
In any way, make sure those projects stand out and add value to your resume without taking too much precious space.
The project section is formatted the same way as an Experience section, yet you can leave the dates out due to their flexible nature.
Lets talk about how you should format your Education section now.
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Sample Resume Of Software Engineer In Text Format
Shashi Aggarwal
Software Engineer
9806754930 | shashiaggarwal@gmail.com
Software Engineering graduate with fundamental knowledge of software design, development, and testing. Prior experience in Software Testing, Automation, designing, developing, and implementing test plans, test cases, and test processes. Strong inclination towards exploring, learning, and understanding newer business domains and new technology.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Software Engineer HCL, Mumbai Mar 2017 – Aug 2021
- In charge of gadget development .
- Developed new functionality for the kernel in many areas.
- Collaborated with other teams on the implementation of certain kernel features
- Identified and fixed kernel problems that affect Chrome OS platforms and functionalities.
- Participated in feature planning meetings, cross-team meetings to cooperate with other developers, and manage third-party contractor and vendor relationships as needed.
Software Engineer Intern Capgemini, Mumbai Feb 2020 – Dec 2020
- Assisted the Network Management Systems team with documentation, specifications, designs, test plans, proposals, software design, development, and testing
- Worked closely with the team in early product phases to facilitate agile development methodology
- Participated in software development using Agile & Scrum development process
- Assisted in defining, automating, and executing development tests in support of the feature/ functionality being developed
EDUCATION
SKILLS
PROJECTS
Cryptocurrency Price Tracker
Show What You Achieved Using Your Skills
In addition to including your skills, you need to back up the accomplishments on your resume with hard numbers. This helps illustrate your value to an employer by breaking down exactly what youre capable of achieving.
Heres an example of how to do this effectively:
- Designed internal website for agents and management, saving an average $8,000 in labor costs per week.
In this example, the candidate emphasizes their ability to successfully take on a large-scale development project .
Mastering the Dos and Donts
- Find your crossover skills relating to the job posting
- Research as much as possible in the company before applying
- Write a resume summary like an elevator pitch
Dont:
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What Should Be Included In A Software Engineer Resume
If you are joining a new company as an intern or fresh graduate, your degree and coursework play a fundamental role in assessing your expertise. However, for an experienced software developer, the following list includes the key points to include in your resume.
Personal Projects and Work Experience:
This is the most important technical part of your CV as it highlights specifically what you have worked with i.e., have hands-on experience with, not just theoretical knowledge about.
Languages and Programming Languages:
This is the first portion of the skills section and is essential to help recruiters understand your experience and strength points. It is important to include proficiency in each language.
A good idea would be to check which languages are required for the job you are applying to and to organize your list accordingly.
Tools and Operating Systems:
This is the second portion of the skills section and allows the recruiter to understand what you are familiar with
Quantify Your Software Engineering Experience
Including numbers and key metrics will help you tell your story on your resume better. Hiring managers dont want to see generic qualifications. They want to learn more about the experience specific to your background. If your application streamlined manual operations for a company, provide a number for how many work hours this saved every year. If you were creating custom software solutions for large customer accounts, you should attempt to quantify how much the client was valued at to create a sense of scope. Below, youll find some examples to help you quantify your experience on your resume.
Example #1
Good
- Developed, programmed, and tested a new mobile application for banking customers using GitHub to improve finance management functionality, which generated positive feedback from 90% of user surveys and garnered over 2M downloads
- Developed a software solution for customers generating a large amount of revenue and integrated new features
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Software Engineer Resume Projects
The size of your projects section on your software engineer resume should be directly tied to how junior you are when applying for a developer job. The more junior you are, the more space you should allocate to your projects.
If you have two-plus years of experience, you should only list one project with which youre 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 its great to say you know Ruby, its 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 if you show how you used it, it demonstrates even stronger mastery of that skill.
If you worked on substantial coding projects during school, you should include them here. When possible, always try to include the projects you have listed on your resume in your Github profile or on your personal website.
Heres the format of how you should talk about your projects on your resume: