Software Engineer Resume Examples, Template, and Guide

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Software engineering roles and common skills

Front-end developer:

Works on programming the visual side of a site or program — the elements of a website that users interact with.

Back-end developer:

Works on programming the foundation or structure of a site or program. People in this role may work on API and write SQL server scripts.

Both types of software engineers may have a background in computer science. Both require advanced technical skills and engineering skills. Ensure your skills stand out to the recruiter by listing these (or similar) essential software engineering skills on your resume:

• Programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, Linux, Oracle and CSS
• Cloud and cloud security
• DevOps methodologies
• IT Automation
• Full stack development
• Project management
• Time management
• Problem-solving skills
• Adaptability and flexibility

How to format your software engineer resume

Before we dive into writing each section of your software engineering resume, let’s first talk about resume formats, as your resume format will determine how your resume is structured.

• Chronological resume: We highly recommend choosing the chronological format if you have more than nine years of work experience. This format highlights the work history section and aims to show career progression.
• Functional resume: On the other end of the spectrum is the functional format. Also known as the skills-based resume, this format is ideal for job seekers with less than two years of experience because it emphasizes learned skills and training outside of a traditional job.
• Combination resume: In between, you can find the combination format. As the name suggests, this format combines chronological and functional resumes, putting equal focus on the work history section and the skills section. This makes it ideal for candidates with three to eight years of experience.

For those needing more space to detail awards, certifications, publications or honors, our guide on Software Engineering CV provides crucial advice and examples.

Next, it’s important to have the right resume formatting.

• Stick to the right margins. Your software engineer resume should have 1-inch margins all around but you can take them down half an inch if you need extra space.
• Write with a professional font. Using a font like Papyrus will make you stand out for all the wrong reasons. Choose fonts like Georgia, Times New Roman, Helvetica or Arial instead.
• Space lines correctly. Each line should have a single or 1.5 spacing.
• Select a readable font size. Ensure hiring managers read your software engineer resume with a header that’s 16- or 18- point size, headings that are 14- or 15-point size and body text that’s 11- or 12-point size.
• Proofread before sending. Typos will negatively impact your job application, so get rid of them. Once you’re ready, submit your resume in PDF or MS Word format unless the potential employer asks for something different in the job description.
• Stick the landing with a resume template. Our pre-formatted and professional resume templates will save you time on your resume layout and are created by experts to pass applicant tracking systems (ATS), it also lets you begin customizing your software developer resume template for free.

How to write a software engineer resume

Below you’ll find software engineering resume examples for each section, as well as professional writing advice. For a more detailed guide and extra tips, read our How to Write a Resume article to write a perfect resume.

The best resume will be customized for each new job so it’s best to use keywords from the job posting in your skills section, work experience section and throughout your resume. Including keywords will help busy hiring managers to recognize your qualifications when scanning your resume. Tailoring your resume to the job posting can be especially important for a software engineer resume. Each job description can require vastly different tasks and technical skills depending on what side of the software you’re working on. You can tailor your resume to show the most relevant skills and professional experience for the position.

1. Header and contact information

The resume header should have your professional contact information. Make sure to write your name, phone number and email address correctly. If you have a professional portfolio or social media account on LinkedIn, the header is also a great spot to place that information.

2. Resume summary or resume objective

Below the header, you’ll typically find the resume summary or resume objective. Both give the potential employer a summary of your resume skills and relevant work experience but they’re not interchangeable.

A resume summary is better for software engineering job seekers with more than three years of experience. Write a two- to three-sentence introduction with your top skills relevant to the job description and include the number of years you’ve been in the software engineering industry. Here is a good summary for resume example:

Solutions-driven software engineer with more than eight years of experience developing and implementing innovative software solutions. Highly skilled in end-to-end project management, database management, .NET and MySQL. Able to work under tight deadlines and pressure situations in large engineering teams.

A resume objective — also called a career objective — is recommended for job seekers who are changing careers or have less than two years of software engineering experience. The resume objective should highlight your qualifications, key skills and your desire for employment. Here’s an example of how to write an objective for a resume:

Enthusiastic software engineer seeking entry-level software engineer position at tech startup to hone my skills. Experience using programming languages to code, troubleshooting and testing software created for my personal projects. Relevant skills include debugging, data structure and PHP programming.

3. Skills section

As a software engineer, your resume can quickly get diluted if you list every soft skill and hard skill you possess. Instead, read over the job posting for the position you want and use bullet points to single out the engineering skills the employer wants most, such as:

Relevant hard skills:

• Programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, Linux, Oracle and CSS
• Cloud and cloud security
• DevOps methodologies
• IT Automation
• Github
• Full Stack development
• Project management
• Application Programming Interface (API)

Relevant soft skills:

• Time management
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Adaptability
• Flexibility
• Multitasking skills
• Organizational skills
• Interpersonal skills

4. Work experience section

Now, it’s time to write your work experience. Here are some tips for capturing it accurately:

• Focus on work accomplishments and major job responsibilities instead of daily tasks. Find achievements that set you apart from other job seekers.
• Write three to five bullet points per job title and include the company name and dates of employment for each.
• Use action verbs at the beginning of each statement to make your work history read stronger. Instead of writing, “I worked in developing…” write “Developed software…”
• Tailor your resume to the job by looking up resume keywords from the job posting. For example, if the job lists collaboration as a desired trait, mention a previous work success that shows off your collaboration skills.
• If you don’t have professional experience, consider internships, volunteer work, extracurricular activities or relevant personal projects that have allowed you to gain valuable skills.

For example:

Front-end Developer / May 2020 – July 2022
Click Tech, Orlando, FL

• Created original and user-friendly websites using HTML programming language for more than 12 clients.
• Designed mobile applications and features for telehealth app, increasing customer satisfaction by 35%.
• Collaborated with back-end developers and web designers to improve user experience by 56%.

5. Education

Use the education section to highlight your educational background.

• If you’re currently a college student interested in a software engineer internship, include your high school diploma and expected college graduation date.
• College graduates with bachelor’s degrees in computer science or another related field should only list their degrees and not their high school diplomas. You can include special honors you’ve earned or projects you’ve undertaken as long as they prove your software engineer qualifications.
• Software engineer professionals who graduated more than 10 years ago don’t have to include their graduation date.

Certifications can also help to illustrate your skill level. Because software engineering is a skill set that can be self-taught, having proven credentials can enhance your chances of getting a job, especially if your education section or work history is lacking. You can list your certifications in the education section. Some relevant certifications include:

• Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional
• Certified Software Development Professional
• Certified Software Engineer
• CIW Web Development Professional
• Amazon Web Services (AWS Certified Developer)
• Salesforce Certification Exam
• Oracle Certification Exam
• Certified Agile Leadership
• Microsoft Certified Software Engineer

6. Additional sections

You also have the option of creating additional sections to highlight your certifications, awards, publications and other important achievements. Just make sure they’re relevant to the software engineer job.

More resume examples and tips

Get all the tips you need with our expert resources. From hundreds of resume examples to career advice and expert job interview tips to land the software engineer job of your dreams.

• Software Developer Resume Examples: View more resume examples for a software engineer on our dedicated samples page for this job.
• Programmer Resume Examples: Show hiring managers you can speak their language with our programmer resume samples.
• How to Include Programming Projects on a Resume: Have you put your programming skills to the test on a personal project? Here’s how to include that experience in your software engineer resume.
• Resume Design: Get more tips and tricks on designing your software engineer resume.
• Harvard Resume template: A versatile option that can be adapted for various job profiles, from entry-level positions to senior roles.
• Resume Basics More Tips and Guides: Learn additional resume writing tips with our resume guide.