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Software Engineer Resume Examples
Use these software engineer resume samples as a guideline, or visit our extensive library of customizable free resume templates.
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Software Engineer Resume Example (Text Version)
[Your Name]
[City, State ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number LinkedIn]
Resume Summary
[Insert your summary here. This should be a brief statement highlighting your core qualifications and career goals.]
Summary of Qualifications
- [Insert qualification #1]
- [Insert qualification #2]
- [Insert qualification #3]
- [Insert qualification #4]
[Type of] Skills
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 1]
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 1]
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 1]
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 1]
[Type of] Skills
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 2]
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 2]
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 2]
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 2]
Education
[Degree Earned]
[High School Name, Location]
[Graduation Date or Estimated Graduation Date]
- [OPTIONAL: Add relevant coursework or academic achievements]
- [OPTIONAL: Add any honors or awards received]
Work History
[Job Title #1 | Club or Employer Name #1]
[Location, Year]
[Job Title #2 | Club or Employer Name #2]
[Location, Year]
How to Write a Software Engineer Resume
Your software engineer resume format is as important as how you write your resume. This sample resume demonstrates the best resume layout to follow: 1-inch margins, bullet points and clear resume headings for each of the following sections.
Professional header and contact info
Include your name, contact information and a professional email address.
Compelling summary statement
A brief resume summary or objective highlighting two or three software engineering-relevant skills, experience or accomplishments.
Highlight your skills
Create a dedicated section to showcase hard and soft skills specific to software engineering, like Python, Agile and data management.
Emphasize your work history
List your work experience in reverse-chronological order. Include job titles, company names, dates of employment and key responsibilities and achievements for each role in a bullet list.
Supporting education section
Detail your educational background, mentioning any relevant degrees, diplomas or certifications obtained.
Additional sections
You can add resume sections for licenses, certifications, industry memberships or unions, awards, volunteer experience or spoken languages.
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How to Write a Software Engineer Resume Summary
Crafting a compelling resume summary is your chance to make a strong first impression on hiring managers. Follow these tips to create a concise yet impactful summary that showcases your skills and experiences effectively:
Highlight relevant experience
Focus on your software engineering career’s most relevant experiences and achievements. Tailor your summary to the job description, emphasizing skills and accomplishments that align with the role you’re applying for.
Quantify achievements
Quantify your achievements with numbers or percentages. This adds credibility to your accomplishments and provides concrete evidence of your capabilities.
Showcase technical skills
Mention specific programming languages, technologies, and tools you’re proficient in. Doing so will demonstrate your technical expertise and suitability for the position.
Add personality
While maintaining professionalism, infuse your summary with a touch of personality to differentiate yourself from other candidates. Briefly mention your passion for software development or any unique qualities that make you stand out.
Strong and weak Software Engineer summary
“Innovative software engineer with 5+ years of experience in full-stack web development. Proficient in Java, JavaScript and React, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality software solutions. Strong problem-solving skills and a passion for collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive project success.”
Why it works:
It briefly summarizes the candidate’s years of experience and expertise in full-stack development. The specific programming languages and technologies mentioned indicate the candidate’s proficiency. Also, mentioning delivering high-quality software solutions demonstrates tangible results. Finally, the reference to problem-solving skills and collaboration showcases the candidate’s personal attributes
“Software engineer with experience in coding and web development. Skilled in various programming languages and technologies. Looking for a challenging role to enhance my skills.”
Why it fails:
This summary lacks specific details about the candidate’s experience and technical skills. Phrases like “skilled in various programming languages” are too vague and do not provide concrete information. Finally, the summary does not differentiate the candidate from other applicants or highlight unique qualities or achievements.
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How to Write Your Software Engineer Work History
The work history section of your software engineer resume is where you demonstrate your practical experience and accomplishments in the field. Follow these guidelines to showcase your professional journey effectively:
Use reverse-chronological order
List your work experiences chronologically, starting with your most recent position. This allows employers to see your most relevant and recent accomplishments first.
Include relevant details
For each position, provide details such as job title, company name, location and dates of employment. Briefly describe your roles and responsibilities, emphasizing your contributions to projects and teams.
Highlight achievements
Focus on quantifiable achievements and results rather than just listing job duties. Use metrics, such as increased efficiency, reduced errors, or successful project completions, to demonstrate your impact.
Tailor to the job
Customize your work history section to align with the job requirements you’re applying for. Highlight experiences and skills most relevant to the position, emphasizing your ability to meet the employer’s needs.
Strong and weak Software Engineer work history
Software Engineer | Global Tech
San Francisco, CA | May 2018-Present
- Lead a team of five developers in designing and implementing a scalable e-commerce platform, resulting in a 30% increase in website traffic and a 20% boost in sales.
- Develop and maintain backend systems using Python and Django, implementing RESTful APIs and optimizing database queries for improved performance.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather requirements, define project scope and deliver high-quality software solutions on time and within budget.
Why it works:
The candidate’s resume presents a clear work history, emphasizing their leadership and technical skills. They effectively showcase their current position at Global Tech, highlighting specific achievements like leading a team to increase website traffic and sales. Their use of specific technologies and collaboration with cross-functional teams further demonstrate their capabilities.
Software Engineer | Global Tech
San Francisco, CA | May 2018-Present
- Developed software applications using various programming languages.
- Worked on multiple projects with different teams.
- Responsible for troubleshooting and debugging issues in software systems.
Why it fails:
In contrast, the candidate’s resume lacks detail and specificity in their work history, making it difficult to assess their contributions. Generic descriptions fail to highlight their achievements or technical proficiency, diminishing their appeal to potential employers. Without quantifiable achievements, their resume lacks impact and fails to stand out.
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How to Write a Software Engineer Education Section
The education section is a significant element in shaping your software engineering resume. It’s not just about listing your academic journey; it’s a chance to spotlight relevant training and certifications and show your proficiency in key technologies. This section is a crucial credential, reflecting your dedication to ongoing learning and growth, which are essential for thriving in the vibrant tech landscape.
1List relevant degrees
List any degrees you’ve earned, such as Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related fields. Include the name of the institution, degree earned and graduation year.
Education formatting example
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley
Graduated: May 2017
2Highlight specialized training
If you’ve completed any specialized training programs or boot camps relevant to software engineering, include them in this section. Mention the program name, institution and any certifications or credentials obtained.
Training formatting example
Full Stack Web Development Bootcamp
Codecademy
Certification: June 2018
3Showcase certifications
Certifications can add value to your resume by demonstrating your expertise in specific technologies or methodologies. Include relevant certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate, or Google Professional Cloud Developer, along with the issuing organization and the certification date.
Certification formatting example
Data Science Specialization
Coursera
Certification: August 2020
4Emphasize continuing education
If you’re pursuing additional education or training relevant to software engineering, mention it in this section. This shows employers you’re committed to staying updated on industry trends and technologies.
Continuing education formatting example
Master of Science in Computer Science
Stanford University
Expected Graduation: December 2023
PRO TIP:
Strengthen your software engineering resume with courses in Go or Kotlin, DevOps and cloud platforms like AWS or Azure.
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15 Skills for Your Software Engineer Resume
The resume skills section of your software engineer resume is where you demonstrate your expertise and qualifications for the role. It’s essential to include a mix of soft skills, hard skills and technical skills to showcase your proficiency and suitability for the position.
Here’s a recommended list of 15 soft, hard and technical skills to boost your software engineer resume.
Soft skills
- Adaptability
- Communication
- Creativity
- Teamwork
- Time management
Hard skills
- Algorithm design
- Data structures
- Problem-solving
- Project management
- Quality assurance
Technical skills
- Java
- JavaScript
- Python
- React.js
- SQL
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20 Software Engineer Action Verbs
With recruiters receiving an average of 250 resumes per job posting, standing out is vital. Creating a compelling software engineer resume involves utilizing power words to showcase achievements effectively, not just listing experiences. Action verbs and power words add impact, demonstrating a proactive approach. Here’s a list of 20 verbs to elevate your resume:
- Analyze
- Collaborate
- Debug
- Design
- Develop
- Document
- Implement
- Improve
- Innovate
- Integrate
- Optimize
- Plan
- Program
- Prototype
- Research
- Resolve
- Test
- Troubleshoot
- Validate
- Write
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Additional Resume Sections
Consider adding the following sections to your software engineer resume based on your specific circumstances and to enhance your qualifications:
Use a Cover Letter to Express Yourself
A resume is a concise overview of your skills and experience — a cover letter expands on this foundation. Add a cover letter to share one or two examples of how you excelled in similar roles or how your skills match a company’s needs. Use this sample as a guide, or visit our helpful resources to boost your application.
Cover Letter Examples for Software Engineers
Software Engineer Resume FAQ
What should I include in my software engineer resume?
Your software engineer resume should include a professional summary, technical skills, work experience, education and relevant projects. Highlight your proficiency in programming languages, development tools and any certifications or specialized training.
How can I tailor my resume for specific software engineering roles?
Tailor your resume for specific roles by emphasizing relevant skills and experiences that align with the job description. Customize your professional summary and bullet points to showcase your expertise in areas such as web development, mobile app development, or software architecture.
Should I include references on my software engineer resume?
It’s generally not necessary to include references on your resume. Instead, prepare a separate document with your references and provide it when requested during the hiring process. Focus on highlighting your skills, experiences and achievements in your resume to make the strongest impression.
How can I optimize my resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS)?
To optimize your resume for ATS, use relevant keywords and phrases from the job description throughout your resume. Format your resume using standard headings and avoid using images or graphics that ATS can’t read. Keep your resume simple, clear and easy to scan for ATS algorithms.
What should I include in my software engineer resume if I'm a recent graduate or have limited experience?
If you’re a recent graduate or have limited experience, highlight relevant coursework, internships, projects and any coding boot camps or certifications you’ve completed. Showcase your skills, passion for technology and willingness to learn and grow in your software engineering career.
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Last edited by: Gabriela Barcenas, CPRW, Content Writer II - November 12, 2024
Gabriela Barcenas
CPRW, Content Writer IIGabriela is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and career adviser. With 10 years of digital media experience and five years of resume writing expertise, her publication history includes fashion, education, travel, social justice, equitable design and career advice.