Software Developer Resume Template Example

What Software Developer Resume Template Should You Use?

During your job search, a resume is the primary tool you’ll use to showcase your skills, experience, and accomplishments to potential employers. Before you can start writing, you’ll need to pick an appropriate resume template. The best resume template for software developers should be visually appealing and industry-specific. Look for templates that showcase your technical abilities and relevant experience in a way that makes it easy for hiring managers to scan quickly. By choosing the right template, you can create a resume that sets you apart from other candidates and gets you noticed by employers in the tech industry.

What to Include in a Software Developer Resume

After selecting your resume template, it’s time to dig in and fill out each section. Your resume should include all the basic elements, such as your contact information, profile, work experience, education, and key skills. Let’s examine what information you should include in your software developer resume.

  • Contact Information. This section should include your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a link to your online professional profile such as LinkedIn. It’s essential to ensure this information is current so hiring managers can easily contact you for an interview.
  • Profile. Write your profile using two to three sentences, briefly summarizing your professional goal and what you have to offer the company. Tailor this paragraph to speak directly to the software development industry by highlighting your technical skills, experience working with specific technologies, and any unique contributions to previous projects.
  • Work Experience. List your previous software development roles in this section. Provide your job titles, company names, dates of employment, and a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments. Focus on your achievements and quantify them whenever possible by including specific metrics that show your impact.
  • Education and Certifications. Present your educational background by listing pertinent degrees in reverse chronological order. Include degree titles, institution names, and dates of attendance. If you hold software developer certifications, list these the same way. Provide the certificate title, organization name, and date completed.
  • Key Skills. Make a list of your top technical skills and interpersonal skills. Research each job you apply for and only list the skills most relevant to the position. This is a great place to show that you made an effort to align your resume with the company’s needs.

How To Write a Software Developer Resume

Crafting a software developer resume that stands out from the competition requires proper planning and attention to detail. Beyond including all the basic resume info, you should take a strategic approach to your writing. Below we’ll cover tips for quantifying your experience, highlighting skills, using action verbs, and tailoring your resume for each job application. We’ll also discuss what to do if you don’t have much experience to draw from. These tips will help you create a customized and effective resume showcasing your unique skills and qualifications as a software developer.

Quantify your experience

In today’s competitive market, job seekers must distinguish themselves from the crowd of applicants. Quantifying your work experience on your software developer resume is one way to do this. You can show the results you achieved in previous roles using concrete numbers (e.g., the number of support tickets you’ve completed or the percentage increase in website traffic). This evidence demonstrates your technical skills and shows employers that you’re a results-driven professional who can bring tangible value to a company.

Do
  • “Reduced manual testing time by 35% by designing and implementing automated testing scripts using Selenium and JUnit.”
Don’t
  • “I was responsible for creating automated testing scripts with framework tools to decrease manual testing time.”`

Tailor your resume for each application

Another key to crafting a compelling software developer resume is aligning your document with the specific job requirements and company culture of each position you apply for. To do this, start by reviewing job descriptions carefully. Identify key skills and qualifications the company is looking for and incorporate these into your resume.

You should use some of the same language and industry-specific keywords they use. Doing so demonstrates that you have the skills and experience they seek. Tailoring your resume will increase your chances of landing an interview by speaking directly to the employer’s needs.

Highlight hard and soft skills

Show off your technical and interpersonal abilities with a key skills section. You should include two types of skills on your software developer resume: hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are the technical knowledge, such as coding languages and tools. Soft skills are personal qualities that help you work well with others, such as communication and problem-solving. By showing both types, you convey your ability to execute job duties while remaining professional and respectful of others. Include these skills in a simple bulleted list that is easy for recruiters to scan.

Common Hard and Soft Skills for Software Developers

Hard Skills Soft Skills
Algorithm Design & Analysis Adaptability
Cloud Computing Critical Thinking
Object-Oriented Programming Problem-Solving
Software Testing & Quality Assurance Self-Learning
Source Code Management Time Management

Use common action verbs

In your professional experience section, avoid using passive language and vague terms. Use strong action verbs to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments. These words will help convey your impact in previous roles and add energy and authority to your software developer resume. Use these verbs at the beginning of your sentences to paint a clear picture of how you executed your duties and show hiring managers that you achieved results. Take a look at our list of action verbs below to get you started:

Action Verbs
Analyzed Built
Created Debugged
Designed Developed
Implemented Programmed
Researched Solved

What if you don’t have experience?

If you’re an entry-level software developer with no prior experience, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to create a strong resume that will catch the attention of potential employers. Focus on highlighting any relevant coursework, projects, or internships you’ve completed that demonstrate your skills and knowledge of software development. Feel free to include extracurricular activities or personal projects that showcase your passion for the field. Emphasize your willingness to learn, ability to work collaboratively, and desire to problem-solve effectively. Consider obtaining a relevant certification or taking online courses to bolster your skills and make your resume stand out.

Software Developer Resume Template Text Example

George Moore
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code

Profile

Results-oriented software developer with a strong background in full-stack development and experience in Agile environments seeking a position with Edge360. Proficient in JavaScript, Node.js, React, and Ruby on Rails. Committed to delivering high-quality code and building scalable applications using over five years of experience and knowledge.

Key Skills

  • Back-end Development
  • Cloud Computing Platforms
  • Database Management and Administration
  • DevOps Tools
  • Testing Frameworks

Professional Experience

Mid-Level Software Developer, Latitude, Inc., Remote
October 2020 – Present

  • Collaborate with senior developers to design and develop web-based applications using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and AngularJS, resulting in the completion of three major projects within 12 months
  • Migrate large-scale software systems to a new cloud-based infrastructure, improving system uptime and creating a more scalable solution for future growth
  • Participate in daily code reviews, providing feedback and suggestions to improve overall code quality and maintainability, resulting in a 25% reduction in code defects quarterly

Junior Level Software Developer, BeaconFire Solution, Princeton, NJ
June 2017 – October 2020

  • Reduced manual testing time by 35% by designing and implementing automated testing scripts using Selenium and JUnit
  • Worked on database design, including data modeling and schema design, for multiple projects using MySQL and MongoDB
  • Assisted with troubleshooting and debugging issues in the software development life cycle to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality code

Certifications

  • Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP), IEEE Computer Society, 2020
  • Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP), (ISC)2, 2017

Education

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Software Engineering, September 2013 – June 2017
Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

A resume should be a forward-looking value proposition that showcases your most relevant accomplishments for a target role — not a rear view summary of your previous roles and responsibilities.

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