Software Developer Resume Examples & Template W/ Skills

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Explore our complete resume examples selection for tips and resources tailored to every career path.

What’s the difference between a software developer and a software engineer?

While the roles may seem similar, the required knowledge, skills and experience for a software developer position is different than those for a software engineer role.

What is a software developer?

A software developer is responsible for designing application software and computer systems. Developers are often the people creating the frameworks of new software or important systems and work in a more independent setting.

A software developer resume needs to emphasize programming languages like JavaScript, Python and Oracle, any professional experience in the field, and any related software engineering skills you might have. Refer to our example of a software developer resume on this page for inspiration and a jump start to crafting your resume.

Skills of a software developer:

• Programming languages like Python, Java and C++
• Write and test code
• Creativity
• Verbal and written communication
• Presentation skills
• Web design development
• Time management skills

What is a software engineer?

A software engineer works on more intensive projects that include designing, developing, and testing the computer system and software for the infrastructure of the entire business. Software engineers work in a team setting and may require project management experience because of project complexities.

Skills of a software engineer:

• Wider range of programming languages
• Software development
• Computer operating systems
• Debugging software and systems
• Mathematics
• Leadership
• Project management skills

Take a look at our ResumeHelp Software Engineer resume sample or Software Engineer CV example pages for more on how to create a rocking software engineer resume or CV.

The right format and design for your software developer resume

Before you begin creating your resume, you need to decide which of the three resume formats will effectively highlight your job qualifications. Here are the formats you can use for your software developer resume:

• Chronological resume: Sets up your work experience in reverse-chronological order, placing emphasis on work history. Good for job seekers with more than a few years of experience.
• Functional resume: Emphasizes your skills rather than work experience. Good for job seekers with less than a few years of work history, recent graduates or job candidates with little relevant experience for the job.
• Combination resume: Also known as the hybrid resume, this format combines the emphasis from both the chronological and functional resume formats, equally focusing on an applicant’s relevant skills and work experience.

Follow these resume formatting tips to craft the most professional looking resume:

• Select a professional font like Arial, Times New Roman or Helvetica.
• Keep the margins consistent on your software developer resume. Stick to 1-inch margins all around.
• Use an easy-to-read font size so the hiring manager can read your resume smoothly. Set your name at the top of the resume in a 16 or 18-point size, headings at 14 or 15-point size and the resume body wording in an 11 or 12-point size.
• Use consistent line spacing – single or 1.5 spacing works effectively.
• Download in the file format that is requested in the job posting based on the employer’s requirement. Typically, it will be a PDF or MS Word format.
• If you need a bit of extra guidance, use one of our professional resume templates. They’re recommended to use for software developer resumes and made by experts to pass applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Look at our software developer resume samples to write your professional resume. To create a quick and very professional resume, use our Resume Builder, which will provide you with step-by-step instructions and dozens of resume templates to choose from. If you’re looking for a resume template that emphasizes your skills, the Harvard Resume template is a great option.

How to write a software developer resume

Header and contact information

The header is placed at the top of your software developer resume and should contain all your contact information, including:

• Your full name
• Phone number
• Email address
• Portfolio link or LinkedIn profile link (If applicable)

Resume summary or objective

Below the header, you’ll position your resume summary or resume objective. While each presents a two- to three-sentence introduction that highlights your best skills and experience, each has different purposes based on the longevity of your experience. You can refer to software developer resume profile examples for inspiration on writing your opening statement.

Resume summary

A summary is utilized for more experienced job seekers, as it provides an overview of your top skills and career achievements to date. It should contain top hard skills and soft skills you have that make you stand out against other candidates.

Resume objective

An objective is ideal for entry level job candidates or career changes that lack relevant job experience. It focuses on important skills and includes a statement about your career and intended job goals.

Skills section

The skills section should be a short list of six to eight bullet points that goes over your best abilities that relate to the job. Here’s some examples of popular software developer skills:

5 top soft skills for a software developer position:

1. Effective communication
2. Attention to detail
3. Problem-solving/critical thinking
4. Organization
5. Creativity

5 top hard skills for a software developer position:

1. Backend, front-end or full-stack development
2. Microsoft Office
3. Programming languages you know
4. HTML, sql server
5. Mathematics

Work experience section

The work experience section needs to include all your relevant professional experience related to software development. Be sure to use action verbs, quantify your achievements and highlight accomplishments rather than mundane tasks. List your work experience to match specific responsibilities that the new job wants by referring to the job description to pull keywords and other relevant skills to match on your resume. Many resumes are run through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before they are read by recruiters, so knowing exactly what keywords that the employer is looking for, is key to getting your resume advanced to the next stage. Be sure your skill sets match the role you are applying for.

Your work experience can also include any previously-held positions or internships. If you are a recent graduate, elaborate on academic courses and projects related to software development.

Education

In your education section, present your top academic credential (e.g., Bachelor’s Degree in computer science) along with the name and location of the institution you received the degree from. It’s important to  include licenses and certifications as well as college education. You can also add relevant coursework, honors or other notable academic work to this section if it pertains to the job description.

Education example:

Bachelor of Computer Science
New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY, May 2021 

Additional sections

If you have abilities that you want to be recognized for to stand out among other candidates, create additional sections for relevant certifications, awards, online portfolios, projects, publications and other important achievements, as long as they apply to the job at hand. You can easily create these sections using our Resume Builder.

Related resume examples and tips

ResumeHelp has plenty of other resources and guides for writing a solid resume to accompany your references. 

Senior software engineer resume examples –  Examples help you showcase your specific experience to show a hiring manager that you’re right for the software engineer job. 

Technical resume examples – Discover how to create a technical resume that makes employers want to call you in for an interview.

Tips on computer skills for your resume – Learn which computer skills to feature on your resume to get you noticed by hiring managers.

More resume design tips – Designing the perfect resume is quick and easy with ResumeHelp’s expert tips and templates.

More resume examples for hundreds of jobs – Browse through 300+ free resume examples to help you create the most powerful resume for the industry you are interested in.

Resume format guide – Get expert help to select from the three types of resume formats that best matches your career level, experience and job type.

How to write a resume – Learn to craft a resume that gets noticed by looking at our expertly written resume examples, templates and writing guides.

The big takeaways

1. Select the right format: Chronological, functional or combination (hybrid).
2. Include your current contact information and email address.
3. Write your resume summary or objective, work experience and skills to match the job ad.
4. List quantifiable work experience, highlighting achievements not duties.
5. Present experiences in bullet points to make accomplishments stand out.
6. Add relevant additional sections with certifications, licenses, awards and more.
7.  Keep your resume to one page so it’s quicker to read for busy hiring managers.
8. Write a professional cover letter to show a glimpse into your personality.
9. Proofread your resume before submitting to catch misspelling, typos or grammatical errors.
10. Use the ResumeHelp Resume Builder to create an eye-catching resume that draws attention.