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.
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 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.
We’ve put together a list of skills to put on your resume for software engineers to help guide you on what you should and shouldn’t include.
The worst thing that can happen is that you claim knowledge of a programming language and then cant answer basic questions about that language in an interview. Its 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. Its a big red flag to a technical person reviewing your resume 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
Next, you can organize them by the type of skill youre discussing. So you can separate the programming languages you know, the frameworks, the tools, and the databases youve used.
Use A Software Engineer Resume Template
Word is a great application for creating documents.
However
Creating a resume with text editors is a different story all together!
This is due to formatting issues.
In fact, theres a chance your entire layout will fall apart as you make alterations.
Want to skip any formatting issues? Use a software engineer resume template.
Recommended Reading: My Perfect Resume Customer Service Number
How To Create A Software Engineer Resume
A 2020 statistics from Glassdoor.com states that the annual salary of software engineers ranges between $63,000 and $134,000, with $92,046 as the average. So as an aspiring and fully-licensed software engineer such as yourself, you have a bright financial future ahead of you with your chosen career path. Here, we want to help you secure a position as a software engineer as soon as possible. One of the best things we can do is invite you to go through our guide below to learn how to create an impressive and professional resume that fits your career choice.
How To Write A Software Engineer Resume Summary Or Objective
Heres a shocking fact for you
Recruiters spend less than 6 seconds on each resume.
With hundreds of resumes to get through, its no surprise that recruiters simply glance over resumes looking for the most important information.
As such, you want to make the most important information clear to see.
The best way to do this is via a resume summary or objective, which are snappy paragraphs that go on top of your resume.
Their purpose is to quickly highlight why you are the best candidate for the software engineering job. They can be seen as a small preview to the rest of your resume.
But what is the difference between the two sections?
A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.
- Experienced software engineer with a strong background in developing award-winning strategies for a diverse clientele. 12+ years of industry experience includes leading large engineering teams to achieve concrete goals on a strict deadline. Strong skills include Database management and MySQL, .NET and Java.
A resume objective is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of what you want to achieve professionally.
So, which one is best for your situation, summary or objective?
Generally, we recommend experienced software engineers go with a summary. If you have the skills but lack the industry experience, you should choose a resume objective .
Don’t Miss: How To Add Interests On Resume
What Does An Entry
Entry-level software engineers work closely with more experienced professionals to create applications and programs. In addition to development, they test and update these products. At the beginning of their careers, software engineers, also called junior engineers, spend time familiarizing themselves with the program code.
Routine tasks fall to entry-level software engineers. These tasks include helping to upgrade software and applications, writing code documentation, and debugging existing programs and applications.
Entry-level software engineers may also be asked to choose a specialization. They include:
Python Developer Resume Example
Why this resume works
- Python developers arent very common outside the typical confines of the data analyst/scientist or machine learning world. With that being said, it’s all the more important that your Python developer resume continuously points towards development and not the traditional Python roles a recruiter would expect to see.
- Unfortunately, not all technical recruiters are particularly technical, which brings about its own unique challenges. An inexperienced or lazy recruiter could easily misinterpret Python development as one of the fields very commonly associated with the language. Guide the recruiter the entire way from start to finish and never facilitate an opportunity for misappropriation.
Recommended Reading: How To Add Aws Badge To Resume
Choosing The Best Resume Format For A Software Engineer
Resume formats for software engineers are chosen from the same options as most other professions. The choice is defined by how you outline your past job experience and how much emphasis you place on your skills:
- chronological format – favors the job experience section
- functional – favors the skills section
- combination – a middle of the road option.
From an engineers analytical and strategic perspective, consider which of these three resume formatsis the best fit for your job experience.
The most widely used chronological resume format is failsafe if youve worked mostly as an employee for one organization at a time. Your progressive job experience, skills and accomplishments are traced in reverse chronological order, from most recent to earliest.
But if your job history is more project-based, perhaps in mostly contract positions, then the functional resume format might work well. A functional or hybrid structure can also be useful for highlighting specialized skills or accomplishments, especially if relevant to where your sights are set now.
There is no right or wrong choice, but possibly a better one to bridge your past and future. Again, always think about what each prospective employer expects or should know about your employment history. Its yet another custom-tailoring strategy.
Key Takeaways For A Software Engineer Resume
Recommended Reading: What Are My Key Skills For A Resume
Write A Short And Attractive Summary:
Besides your personal information, you should also write a summary about yourself that includes your education, experience, skills, accomplishments, and career plans. This will help impress the employer by letting them know what’s in your resume and how capable you are in the Field.
A summary is the most important part of your resume. It’s a brief, one or two-sentence description of your qualifications that summarizes why you’re the best candidate for this job.
So, write a concise, compelling summary that still describes your key skills and accomplishments in enough detail so the hiring manager can understand why you’re qualified for the position.
Hard Skills Vs Soft Skills
Before we jump into which skills to include on your resume, we need to get some definitions out of the way:
- Soft skills are those that are hard to measure or prove expertise in. “Communication skills” are the textbook example of a soft skill.
- Hard skills are the tools and software you use to get your job done. Excel and QuickBooks are examples of hard skills.
A quick way to distinguish between hard and soft skills is to ask, “Is there a specific tool or software associated with the skill?” If the answer is “yes,” you’re likely dealing with a hard skill. If not, you’re talking about a soft skill.
As discussed above, companies use an ATS to filter out job applicants based on whether or not they include the right skills on their resumes.
The ATS filters are looking primarily for hard skills. That is, they want to make sure the people who are applying for a job know the right tools and software needed to succeed.
This doesn’t mean you should exclude soft skills from your resume. Why? After the ATS approves your resume, it’s passed on to the human hiring manager. They’ll likely want to see soft skills depending on the kind of role you’re applying to.
Use this guide to determine whether or not you should include soft skills on your resume.
Should I include soft skills on my resume?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” you should likely include soft skills on your resume .
You May Like: How To Update Your Resume On Linkedin
Utilize A Quality Portrait Photo
Your resume must also be, in a way, serve as a visual representation of yourself. For that reason, you must embed a high-resolution portrait of yourself, one that was taken within the past six months. For most people, they would rely on the services of professional to take their photos to ensure quality.
Other Important Parts Of A Resume
Above are some of the most common and important sections to include on a resume for software engineer positions, but other areas may help your chances, as well. The important thing is to tailor each resume for one particular software engineer job description, rather than sending one generic resume everywhere.
Here are a few additional sections to consider for a good software engineer resume:
And finally
A software engineer cover letter.
A cover letter may not exactly be part of a resume, but you definitely ought to include one with your resume.
Just be sure to use it wisely.
Tailor your software engineering cover letter to the job description. Dont repeat your resume on the cover letter, but use it instead to expand upon or add value to your resume. Explain why youre applying and why you believe youre the most eligible candidate for the software engineering position. Highlight key skills, experience, qualifications, and other items which support your claim.
Every job is essentially a problem looking for a solution. So every job posting has within it a problem that the company is trying to solve by hiring a human to do that, as Lisa Smith, Engineering Manager at Zapier,told Arc. If you can use your resume and cover letter to convey how hiring you helps them solve their problems, youll be well on your way to that software engineer interview.
Recommended Reading: How To Write A Profile For A Resume
Software Engineer Resume Examples For 2022
Your software engineer resume should be as good as your code. Follow our step-by-step guide for an ideal software engineer resume with proven examples and templates.
Here you can find more IT skills if you need an inspiration.
Add a portfolio link and GitHub link to your software engineer resume. Then you can wow the boss with your achievements beyond that single sheet of paper.
The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.
Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. Youre the perfect candidate, and well prove it. Use our resume builder now.
Expert Hint: According to TechBeacon, a good GitHub profile should list your website, a few programming exercises, and various apps and games.
Include Any Certifications You Have Earned In This Field:
The next thing that you should do is include any certifications you have earned in this Field. You can mention the name of the certification, as well as what it stands for. This will help hiring managers know you can handle their responsibilities and tasks.
You can create a compelling software engineering resume that will beat the competition by knowing these important things. So, let’s discuss how you can create a professional software engineering resume to get your dream job.
Also Check: What To Include In A Job Resume
Customer Service Skills For Resume
When a customer has a problem or a question, they need to get a prompt and accurate answer to ensure they remain a customer.
More than that, a strong customer service representative will build relationships with customers to help identify potential new features or directions to take a product.
To do this successfully, you need a potent blend of people skills while also knowing the tools of the trade.
- Supervised Learning
- Unsupervised Learning
- Customer Segmentation, Price Optimization
Senior Software Engineer Resume Example And Template
- Showcase your ability to guide and grow teams. Senior software engineers provide guidance, always figuring out what they can do to help the team members. When applying for senior positions, make sure your senior software engineering is focused on your team achievements and collaboration, rather than your individual highlights. As a bonus, check out the size of your target companys software department and emphasize having experience with teams of similar sizes.
- Show your ability to solve company-level problems. Did your work have a tangible positive impact on the business you worked for? If you can show that on your resume, consider yourself a unicorn. Many software engineers are doing great things for the companies they work at, but proving their work consistently produces measurable business outcomes is a trait of a perfect leader. Frame parts of your experience using challenge – solution – business outcome framework to put a big dot on your dream companys radar.
If you worry about how to feature many years of experience on your resume, check out our Resume Length: How Long Should a Resume Be in 2021 guide.
Read Also: How To Fill Out A Resume For A Job
Example Of A Software Engineer Resume
Here is an example of a well-done resume:
SAMANTHA PIERCE 456-7899 | spierce@email.com | Austin, TX 78701yourprofessionalportfolio.com/spierce
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARYMicrosoft Certified Professional with over eight years of experience in software engineering. Extensive background in full software development lifecycle including design, coding, testing, debugging and maintenance of web applications using .Net technologies. In-depth knowledge of web architecture, development techniques, object-oriented design, object-oriented programming, design patterns and agile methodologies.
SKILLS
Software Engineer, ABC CompanyJan 2018-Present
-
+ what you did + reason, outcome or quantified results
-
+ what you did + reason, outcome or quantified results
-
+ what you did + reason, outcome or quantified results
Title, Company Name
-
+ what you did + reason, outcome or quantified results
-
+ what you did + reason, outcome or quantified results
-
+ what you did + reason, outcome or quantified results
-
+ what you did + reason, outcome or quantified results
Title, Company Name
-
+ what you did + reason, outcome or quantified results
-
+ what you did + reason, outcome or quantified results
-
+ what you did + reason, outcome or quantified results
-
+ what you did + reason, outcome or quantified results
EDUCATIONBachelor of Science Engineering, Computer Science University of Michigan
Computer Engineering Mentor, Young Engineers CampJune-August 2009
Begin With Personal Information
If you are applying for a software engineering position, this section is the most important part of your resume. You should include your name and contact information at the beginning of the page. This will help hiring managers search for hundreds or thousands of candidates to find you. Make it easy for them to find you by including your email address and phone number.
Recommended Reading: How To List Presentations On Resume