Front End Developer Resume Example & Guide (20+ Tips)

As a F/E dev, you’ll take data and convert it into something visually appealing for the rest of us to enjoyably digest.

But first— You need to convert your employment, skills, and educational data into a resume the IT manager enjoys reading. Not to worry.

This front end developer resume guide will show you:

• Front end developer resume examples better than 9 out of 10 others.
• How to write an entry-level front end developer resume that gets more interviews.
• Tips on how to put IT skills and technical abilities on a front end resume.
• How to describe your work history to get any developer jobs you want.

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Before we start, here are other F/E developer-related resume examples and some guides:

• Angular Developer Resume
• Full Stack Developer Resume
• UX Researcher Resume
• Information Technology Resume
• Programmer Resume
• Software Engineer Resume
• Senior Software Engineer Resume
• Web Developer Resume
• Examples of Resumes That Get Jobs

Here’s how to write a front end developer resume:

Front-End Developer Resume Example

1. Choose the Best Front End Developer Resume Format

Before you begin writing, learn how to format your resume effectively.

Use the reverse-chronological format. 

Not only is this layout the most common and readily understood by IT recruiters and HR personnel, but it also is easy for them to read.

Here’s how to format a front end developer resume:

• Begin with a compelling resume summary or resume objective statement.
• In reverse-chronological order, document your work and educational history.
• Talk up your front end skills and web development abilities.
• Include additional sections as necessary, such as IT certifications and foreign languages.
• Don’t forget to attach a front end developer cover letter before you send it off.

Choose the best resume font as you write, make use of white space, and add bold headings to guide the IT recruiter through your various resume sections. 

Pro Tip: Save your front end web developer resume as a PDF. The front end developer resume PDF is able to be read correctly on any device, unlike a Microsoft Word doc. But check the job ad first to make sure it’s okay.

Want to choose a different format for your front end web developer resume? We’ve got other resume layouts in our guide: How to Choose the Best Resume Format

2. Write a Compelling Front End Developer Resume Summary or Objective

At the top of any resume, whether for Google front end developer jobs or employment at a small blog, is the heading statement.

You’ve got two options: the resume summary or the resume objective.

Got plenty of years bending HTML to your will?

Use the resume summary.

The summary statement, also known as a qualifications summary, is a brief paragraph highlighting your front end development experience, skills, and achievements. It also promotes you by listing one of your proudest achievements, using numbers, to prove you’re competent. 

Here are two front end dev resume example summaries:

Front End Developer Resume Summary Example

In the wrong example, you simply state front end responsibilities. You say you’re good at such-and-such, but how will they know?

There’s a bug in that code.

The right example, however, offers the hiring manager a quantifiable achievement using numbers to really drive it home that you’re more than capable. 

That’s a problem-free deployment.

Now— 

What if you’re a newbie to the world of professional front end development?

Use a resume objective.

A career objective is perfect for those writing a resume with little experience in web development. 

Instead of your past work history, it shows your commitment by stating your career goals. It also supplies a numbered accomplishment to prove you’re ready.

Here are two front end developer resume objective examples:

Front End Developer Resume Objective Example

As with the summary statement, show rather than tell. If you have numbers to back up your claims, add them!

Pro Tip: Whether you go with the summary or objective on your front end developer resume template, write it last. It’s easier and more effective to get your work history, IT skills, and education in order to help inform the direction of your heading statement.

Need help with writing your heading statement or getting past that initial writer’s block when staring at a blank resume? Have a look at these guides: 

• How to Write a Resume Summary
• How to Write a Resume Objective
• How to Start a Resume

Making a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide, use ready-made content tailored to your job and have a resume ready in minutes.

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3. Describe Your Front End Developer Experience on a Resume

Employment of web developers is projected to increase 15% from 2016 to 2026 in the United States, alone.

That’s over 24,000 devs to compete against.

So— 

Whether it’s a junior front end developer resume or a front end supervisor resume, go hard on your resume work experience section.

Here are two front end developer job description examples:

Front End Developer Job Descriptions on a Resume—Examples

Now, what makes the right example right?

• First, it lists the most relevant front end duties to wow the IT recruiter. 
• It starts with a job title, employment dates, company name, and company locations.
• Subsequent employment positions are listed in reverse-chronological order.
• Then, it begins each bullet point with powerful verbs. 
• Finally, it adds a verifiable achievement just as in the heading statement to prove you’re perfect for them.

That’s a front end resume that’s also a high-end resume!

But, what if you have no front end web developer experience?

No problem. 

Take the experience you do have and only highlight those job duties and responsibilities which are relevant to front end developer jobs.

Pro Tip: Tailor your resume to this one specific front end job rather than writing a boilerplate document to send everywhere. IT recruiters, HR managers, and CTOs alike will just trash your generic resume.

4. Document the Education on a Front End Resume Correctly

While some web developer jobs require only a high school diploma, many of the best ones prefer a bachelor’s degree minimum.

Whatever your case may be— 

Write the education section on a front end resume in a way that doesn’t disappoint. 

Here’s how:

Front End Developer Resume With No Experience—Education Section 

That’s for a completed bachelor’s degree, but what if you’re still working on university?

Add it like this:

Is high school your highest-completed education so far?

List it like this: 

However, if you’ve completed a college degree, skip high school on your resume. 

Writing a front end developer resume with no experience?

If your education is more impressive, move it over your work experience section so they see it first.

Pro Tip: In the above examples, we listed coursework relevant to web development jobs. However, if you have any other scholastic wins, such as Latin honors or student organizations, add those as well!

Is your academic section different from these common educational scenarios? Have a look at this guide then: Education Resume Section: How to List High School & College Education

5. Put Front End Developer Skills on a Resume

You’ve got mad web development skills.

But— 

Which tech skills to list on front end developer resumes?

Start by making a list (like the one we have below) of general skills you have related to front end web development. 

Include both hard skills and soft skills. Soft skills are life-gained abilities, such as attention to detail or time management. Hard skills are measurable traits you can learn in a shorter period of time, such as integration testing or AJAX.

20+ Must-Have Front End Developer Skills for a Resume

• HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
• Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
• JavaScript (JS)
• JavaScript (JS) Libraries (e.g., jQuery)
• CSS and JS Frameworks (e.g., AngularJS, Bootstrap)
• CSS Preprocessors (e.g., Sass, LESS, Stylus)
• Version Control (e.g., Git, Subversion, Mercurial)
• Responsive Design & Mobile-First Websites
• Content Management Systems (CMS)
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Microdata & Microformats
• Ruby and Ruby on Rails
• Performance Testing, Load Testing & Debugging
• Object-Oriented Programming
• Agile Methodology & SCRUM
• Technical Skills
• Project Management Skills
• Computer Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Time Management Skills
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Decision Making Skills

Now you have a list of front end skills, but you can’t fit them all on your developer resume.

So— 

Check back with the job advertisement. 

Here’s a sample front end developer job description responsibilities section:

• Create in-house web and mobile applications. [1]
• Design mockups and wireframes.
• Bug fix, QA, and problem solve.
• Maintain, update, and improve existing company websites. [2]
• Implement websites, landing pages, and applications from concept through deployment, with a responsive, mobile-first approach. [3]
• Work closely with other team members on the development team.
• Perform code reviews.
• Mentor junior developers.

See that?

Reading the F/E dev job ad carefully, you know exactly the best resume keywords to use.

Now, take a look at these example front end developer skills sections:

Front End Skills Resume Examples 

Both examples make you look like an MVP— 

In the wrong one, you’re barely a minimum viable product.

However, if you follow the right example, you’ll surely be their most valuable player.

And lastly, are you applying to be a head, lead, or senior front end developer? As a slightly supervisory position, make sure to list leadership skills and management skills, as well.

6. Add Extra Sections for an Effective Front End Developer Resume

You have the core of client-side job resume in top form.

However, it’s not quite ready for deployment just yet.

What’s missing?

Extra resume sections which really set yourself apart from your peers.

Here are some examples of additional sections on a resume for front end developer jobs:

Front End Web Developer Resume Samples: Extra Sections

1. Certifications on a Resume

IT certificates you’ve earned look amazing on any resume. Here are great certification options to bolster any programming resume:

• Front End Web Developer Certification by W3C (edX)
• Pluralsight Front End Web Development Certification
• General Assembly Web Development Certification

2. Volunteer Work on a Resume

Any volunteer work might make you look like a saint, but stick to those that boost your web developer resume. Helping out at a soup kitchen is great, but it’s better to add that instance where you overhauled the library’s website free of charge.

3. Language Proficiency Levels

You might know JavaScript or Python, but what about secondary human languages? If you’re proficient in a foreign language, add that to your resume!

4. Hobbies & Interests

Avoid adding irrelevant passions to any web development resume, such as brewing beer. However, if you have IT interests outside of the front end sphere, that definitely helps to round you out as a candidate.

5. Professional Website Portfolio

Do you have dozens of programming projects you’ve worked on, are proud of, and want to show off to the head of IT? Add a link to a professional website portfolio to humblebrag your successes. Like quantifiable wins, these act as proof that you’re a full stack developer who know what they’re talking about. Check out that link for more front end developer portfolio ideas.

Pro Tip: Check your online presence before sending in your resume. You know the hiring manager will google you anyway, so get out ahead of any problems.

Want more ideas for things to put on a resume? Here’s the full guide: What to Put on a Resume (20+ Good Things You Should Include to Win)

7. Attach a Front End Developer Cover Letter With Your Resume

Did you know that more than 53% of employers say that if you skip a cover letter, they’ll skip you?

That means— 

Cover letters are necessary, whether you’re an Amazon front end developer or a webmaster of a tiny lifestyle blog.

Here’s how to write a cover letter for developer jobs:

• Know how to format a cover letter before you start writing.
• Write a cover letter introduction that compels them from the beginning.
• Talk up your programming skills, IT abilities, and development experience.
• Use a quantifiable accomplishment or two to prove you’re as awesome as you say.
• Sign of with a powerful call to action when ending a cover letter.

Cover letters are where you pour out your heart and soul, compared to the monotonous statistics and figures in the front end development resume.

So— 

Show some passion for the front end job, and display enthusiasm for the chance at joining this particular company.

Emotion goes a long way in connecting you to an IT interview!

Pro Tip: One neat trick to use on a cover letter is the postscript hack. A P.S. below your signature on a cover letter for front end developer jobs catches their attention once more at the end, even if the rest of your words made them fall asleep.

Want to see our curated strategies for writing effective front end developer cover letters? See this complete guide: 35+ Successful Cover Letter Tips

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

Let’s sum it all up. When writing a front end web developer resume, remember to:

• Choose the right resume format before you begin, which is usually the reverse-chronological resume layout.
• Start at the top with a captivating objective or summary on your front end developer resume template.
• Continue with your work history. Give relevant job responsibilities and quantifiable wins to impress them.
• List your education, including major, school name, school location, graduation date, and relevant coursework.
• Jot down a list of your skills which are appropriate for web developer resumes, using resume keywords taken from the job ad.
• Include appropriate additional sections to stand above the other candidates, such as certifications, languages, and volunteer work.
• Attach a front end cover letter before you send your resume off.

Now THIS is a front end engineer resume resume that won’t get sent back!

Got any questions regarding our front end developer resume examples? Need help writing your web developer skills section? Let’s chat below in the comment section, and thanks, as usual, for reading!

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Sources

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm
• https://www.edx.org/professional-certificate/front-end-web-developer-9