Whether you’re looking for a job or an internship, a great resume will help you to land a computer science position. Computer science requires highly specific technical skills and often doesn’t involve that much face-to-face contact with people. But to get your dream job, you need to impress the hiring manager. The key to getting your foot in the door is writing the perfect computer science resume.
This guide will show you:
There are many different branches of computer science you can work in. When beginning your job search, think about what area suits your skill set the best. Tailor your resume for each job posting you apply to. When searching for positions, you may see the following job titles rather than “computer scientist” – these roles can all use a computer science resume:
Whether you’re writing a student resume for a computer science internship or applying to a high-level position at a company, a resume summary or objective will enhance your resume.
The resume summary is a statement that provides an overview on your career so far. It highlights your best skills and work experiences. In contrast, a resume objective will include your goals for the position you are applying for if you get hired, and is an option for those with less experience. Both statements will introduce yourself and describe the position you are seeking. Use the job description to find keywords and specific skills to include, such as programming languages or required software.
Example of a computer science resume summary:
Computer science specialist with eight years of experience in a Fortune 500 company. Decreased operating systems issues by 38% by debugging and integrating data. Well-versed in software engineering and open source projects.
Computer science skills can be highly technical and range from entry-level to advanced. Make sure to include the 8 to 12 most relevant skills in the job posting. Use bullet points to list skills and make them stand out on the page. Include both hard skills and soft skills in this section. Soft skills are interpersonal skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. Hard skills for computer science may include:
List your work experience in reverse chronological order, from most recent to least recent. For each job, feature a few bullet points that highlight your top responsibilities and accomplishments on the job. If you don’t have a lot of professional experience, then there are other resume formats you can use that will focus more on your skills, such as the functional resume format. You can use a resume builder to view your resume in several different formats and decide which one suits you the best.
If you have an impressive degree, academic awards, or have taken specific coursework relevant to the job you are applying for, then list it in your education section. Even if you are in high school and don’t have professional experience, you can include relevant organizations or clubs you are a part of. The education section of your resume should include:
Example:
Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
Computer University, Anytown, CA
Magna Cum Laude
No, a degree is not required to get a job in computer science, although it can help. Most computer science jobs are based on specific technical skills and experience. You may learn computer science skills through school or by practice. A good way to get familiar with the background you need for certain types of positions is to research people who currently hold those jobs on LinkedIn. You can see what jobs, education, and skills they had prior to taking on that role.
Yes. A computer science resume objective is a short statement that is not intended to take the place of a cover letter. Including a cover letter along with your computer science resume will improve your chances of getting an interview. Using the job description and your resume as a reference, you can quickly create a cover letter for each job you apply to.
If you do not have a lot of professional experience in the field you are applying to, then you can include academic coursework, certifications and awards, as well as unpaid and volunteer work. Make sure the information you provide on these experiences (e.g., specific skills you used) is relevant to the job description. Use a computer science resume sample to guide the structure of your resume.
