Software Engineer & Developer Resume Examples & Format

Your software engineer resume could become a gateway to a new job.

And not just any job but one with a brand new Herman Miller chair, a maxed-out MacBook Pro with vertical and horizontal monitors, and a business credit card as a perk.

Not to mention a staff kitchen down the hall that looks like it’s been transported from the Zuckerberg mansion with plenty of free food.

Now—

If you want to get a job like this, your software developer resume can’t be just like any other.

Read on and you’ll see software engineer resume examples you can adjust and make yours. Plus, you’ll learn an easy formula for writing a resume for software engineering that will land you 10x more interviews than any other resume you’ve written in the past.

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Sample software engineer resume—See more templates and create your resume here.

Software Engineer Resume Sample to Get You Inspired (Text Version)

Considering other jobs in information technology? See related resumes:

• IT Resume Sample
• Programmer Resume Sample
• Web Developer Resume Sample
• Front-End Developer Resume Sample
• Android Developer Resume Sample
• Web Designer Resume Sample
• DevOps Resume Sample
• Network Engineer Resume Sample
• Computer Technician Resume Sample
• Technical Resume Sample
• QA Resume Sample
• Cyber Security Resume Sample

Now, here’s the job-winning software engineering resume formula:

This is how to get off to a good start—

Make sure your software developer resume has just the right format. How? Tick off all the items on the checklist below:

• Choose the standard chronological resume format as it’s the most readable.
• Top each section of your resume with an appropriate heading.
• Pick professional resume fonts that aren’t too fancy.
• Use 11–12pt font size for the best readability; make headings 2–4pts larger.
• Set the resume margin to one inch on all sides of the document.
• Avoid cramming too much stuff into your resume and embrace white space.
• Don’t use double spacing, stick to single-line spacing.
• Export your resume to a PDF file unless the job ad asks you otherwise.

Now that you know the basics of formatting your document, here’s a look at what sections it should consist of:

• Place the resume header at the top and fill it in with your contact details.
• Next comes the opening paragraph, i.e. resume summary or resume objective.
• The experience section should present your professional background.
• The education section of your resume is where you add information on schools.
• Finally, the skills section should highlight your strengths and relevant skills.
• Last but not least, consider including some extra sections, such as languages, certifications, hobbies and interests, etc.

Not really sure how to format your resume in the most effective way? Read our guide: How to Format a Resume

And here’s how to make the best software engineering resume step by step:

This is easily the most important section of your software developer resume.

Why?

Because it shows you’ve got the knowledge, skills, and experience to get the job done better than anyone else. Which is exactly what the employer needs.

So, if you want to impress the recruiter, follow these simple steps to write your professional resume job description:

• Put your latest position at the top of the section and let the previous ones follow.
• Include your job title, company name, address, and dates worked in each entry.
• Stay under six bullet points for each entry, and add numbers to reflect your impact wherever you can.
• Go for the right resume action verbs to pass the initial ATS scan and impress the reader afterward.

And make sure you tailor your resume to the job offer. The examples below will show you how:

Experienced Software Engineer Resume—Job Description 

You can see the difference, can’t you?

Now—

The thing is that the software engineer resume samples above have been written by the same person.

If you didn’t know this, you’d have thought that one of the candidates is much better qualified than the other.

This is exactly why how you describe your experience is just as important as what experience you’ve had.

The question is how to tackle this section when you’re writing an entry-level software engineer resume with no experience.

Easy!

Fall back on your internship experience, volunteering gigs, or educational accomplishments. Just make sure whatever you put there is relevant to the job advertised.

Have a look at the examples below:

Entry-Level Software Engineer Resume Examples—Job Description 

The samples above show that even though the candidate may not have had a lot of paid professional experience, they’re able to identify the relevant stuff and know how to put it to good use.

Remember—

Highlighting your strong points and addressing the company’s exact needs are key to writing a successful software engineer resume and landing an interview.

Want more detailed advice on how to make your professional experience stand out? Read our dedicated guide: How to Write a Work Experience Section for a Resume

Here’s the thing—

Even if you’ve heard that the education section requires the least attention on a resume for a software engineer, it still deserves enough to make it look good.

Why?

Your resume is only as strong as its weakest part, so make sure there’s not a single section that underdelivers.

Here’s how to get everything right:

For seasoned pros with bags of experience it’s enough to list the name of the school, degree earned and dates attended.

Here’s what an experienced software engineer resume education section can look like:

Resume for Software Engineers—Example of the Education Section

In contrast, this is how the education section on an entry-level resume for software engineers can look:

Sample Resume for a Software Engineer—Education Section (Entry-Level Position)

The second example has several additional elements that clearly show that the candidate knows exactly what skills the company seeks, and how their academic background can benefit the company.

Here’s a couple of ideas on what you may consider including in the education section on your software engineer resume.

• Type of degree
• Study abroad programs
• Relevant coursework
• Major/minor
• Latin honors
• GPA on a resume
• Dean’s List

But—

Before you decide to add any of the information listed above, double-check the job ad to see which of these things are relevant to the job at hand.

If you’re looking for more detailed information on what your education section should consist of, read our comprehensive guide: How to Put Your Education on a Resume

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

4

List Software Engineer Skills on a Resume Relevant to the Position You’re After

Do you really think that hiring managers have time to read dozens of resumes that a job offer attracts?

No. They don't.

Just like Tony Stark hunting for a needle in a haystack, they use a magnet.

In the HR Universe, it’s called the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

It sends the resumes with the right keywords to a “Read These” folder. The others go to a “Forget These” folder.

Don't worry. You’re about to learn how to put the right software engineer resume skills keywords to get you hired.

Here’s how you do it:

• Go back to the job ad and list all the skills the employer requires of the candidates.
• Prepare a master list of all the skills you can offer.
• Compare both lists and pick out the skills you see on both lists—these skills should end up on your resume.
• Make sure the list of skills you put on a resume consists of 5 to 10 items.

One more thing.

You don’t have to limit yourself to listing your software engineering skills in a dedicated skills section on a resume. Sprinkle your entire software engineer with relevant soft skills and hard skills. Put some in the resume profile up top and in the experience section as well.

You may have to rephrase some of the bullet points but it’s well worth the effort.

If you follow these steps your resume will be full of relevant skills and keywords throughout.

Use the lists below as a source of inspiration for your software developer resume:

Software Engineering CV—Skills List

For your convenience, we’ve split the skills for software developer resumes into three categories:

Soft Skills

• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Decision-making skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Organizational skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Teamwork skills
• Time management skills

Hard Skills

• Computer skills
• Project management skills
• Technical Skills
• Web Development
• Data Structures
• Open Source Experience
• Coding
• Security
• Machine Learning
• Debugging
• PHP

Programming Languages

• Java
• SQL
• C#
• Java Script
• C++
• Python
• iOS
• PHP
• Ruby on Rails

The examples below illustrate how you can put skills on your software engineer resume:

Skills to Put on a Junior Software Engineer Resume

• Adaptability
• Knowledge of agile methodology
• Competitive spirit with a passion for results
• Effective oral and written communication practices
• Interpersonal skills
• Java/J2EE, .NET/C#, HTML
• Self-motivated

Skills on an Experienced Software Engineer Resume

• Adept at data structures
• C++
• Analytical skills
• Java
• Leadership
• Source Code Management Systems (Git, Mercurial, and SVN)
• SQL
• Teamwork

And one more thing—

Don’t lie on your resume. Only list the skills that you really have and that are relevant to the job you’re pursuing.

Looking for detailed advice on making the most of your skills on a resume? Head straight to our guide: 99+ Skills to Put on a Resume

To truly stand out from the crowd of equally qualified candidates, you must show the recruiters there’s much more to you.

How?

Give your resume a unique character by including such sections as interests and hobbies, volunteering, certifications or foreign languages.

Take a look at the examples below to get inspired:

Software Engineer Resumes—Additional Section Examples

If you have any professional certifications, it’s a good idea to display them on your software engineer resume.

Want to find out what else you may want to include in your resume? Here’s a guide with all the information you’ll ever need: What to Put on a Resume: 20+ Great Examples

You’ve almost finished writing the best software engineer resume. Almost.

There’s just one more thing you need to add.

The opening section a.k.a. the resume profile.

The resume profile is a short paragraph that serves as a kind of summary of the entire document and highlights your strengths.

The resume profile comes in two flavors.

The resume summary, which—as the name rightly suggests—summarizes the entire document. This type of resume profile is suitable for more experienced candidates as it focuses on your professional experience and past achievements.

These resume summary examples show you how this looks in practice:

Software Developer Resume Summary—Examples 

Here’s a simple formula to help you write a similar resume summary for a software engineer:

• Say how much professional experience you have.
• Refer to the company by name. This will make your entire document feel personal.
• Specify exactly how you’d like to help the company.
• Address the skills that the company has specified in the job offer.
• Accentuate your key professional achievements and quantify them.

All these things are exactly what’s missing from the wrong example. It’s so generic that it could fit any job ad, and as such, it would have no impact whatsoever.

Now let’s have a look at the other type of resume profile—

Namely, the resume objective.

How does it differ from the resume summary?

The resume objective brings your skills (rather than experience) to the fore and that’s why it is more suitable for those writing junior software engineer resumes or those making their first resume with no experience.

Here are several examples to get you inspired:

Software Engineer Resume Objectives—Examples

Just like in the previous set of software engineer resume samples, the wrong example is simply too generic to spark anyone’s interest.

On the other hand, the first of these shows that you know what the job is about and that you’ve got the skills to do it right.

If you need more advice, examples, and ideas on how to start your resume in the most spectacular way, read our detailed guide on How to Start a Resume: Opening Paragraph Examples

Do you need a cover letter? 

No. If you don’t care about landing the interview.

But it’s not the scenario we’re considering here, is it?

Now—

Studies prove that almost 50% of recruiters believe a well-written cover letter will boost your chances of landing an interview alongside a resume tailored to the job. Also, studies on employer preference point out that over 50% of recruiters prefer applicants to attach a cover letter to their job application.

So, how to write a job-winning software engineer resume cover letter?

Here’s a couple of hints to help you out:

• Open your cover letter with a captivating cover letter introduction. Say a couple of words about yourself and get the recruiter interested enough to read the rest.
• Say what you like about the company, and how you’d like to help it grow.
• Show off some of your most impressive (preferably quantifiable) achievements.
• End your cover letter saying why you’re a great fit and include a clear call to action.
• Last but not least, format your cover letter appropriately.

That’s it!

If you need more detailed advice, head straight to our guide on how to write a cover letter.

And if you’re looking for a pre-written sample you can tweak and customize, this guide is just the thing you need: Software Engineer Cover Letter: Sample, Writing Guide & 15+ Examples

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:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Recap—Software Engineer Resume In a Nutshell

Here’s how to write a job-winning software developer resume:

• Start with writing up your professional experience in powerful bullet points that highlight your relevant duties and accomplishments.
• Make a meaningful education section. Choose the things that are pertinent to the position and remember that the more experienced you are, the fewer details you need to provide here.
• Pick out your strongest skills that are in line with your experience and list them in a separate experience section.
• Make your software engineer resume unique by adding several extra sections, for example, certifications, hobbies and interests, or knowledge of foreign languages.
• Write a captivating introduction to your resume that will spark the reader’s interest right off the bat.
• Format your resume for a software engineer to make it look well-organized and professional.
• Write a software engineering resume cover letter to show off your motivations and highlight your strengths.

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