Programmers need to have a thorough understanding of computer applications and writing programs. Here’s how you can show these elements off while creating your programmer resume.

Stunning Programmer Resume Examples for You to Use This Year
Programmer Resume Samples
Whether it’s taking a picture, ordering food or even driving your car, most of what you do nowadays goes through software at some point. Programmers are responsible for all of that code, with the profession only becoming more prominent. Here’s how you can write a computer programmer resume that looks amazing and does its job.
What to Highlight in a Programmer Resume
Your skills are by far the most important aspect of a programmer resume. Be sure to emphasize knowledge in specific systems, coding languages and other specialized areas that match what the employer is looking for. Although professional experience can certainly go a long way, your skills should be featured first and foremost.
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Programmer Resume Example

Structure of a Programmer Resume
The first thing to decide when writing a programmer resume is what resume format you’re going to use. The chronological format is typically best if you have a lot of experience, while the functional format may be best if you don’t. From there, you can move on to all the sections in the resume.
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Header
The resume header is where you put your contact information. Include your phone number, email, address and your professional job networking links, especially your LinkedIn. The LinkedIn link is important in such a heavily computer-based job as a programmer.
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Summary or objective
Next is your resume summary or resume objective. This is a 2-3 sentence explanation of your resume, all encompassed in a single short paragraph. A resume summary is best for those with a lot of professional experience. If you lack relevant work experience, you can write a resume objective. This will include a sentence stating your career goals.
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Skills
You need programming skills to succeed in this industry and skills make up a huge part of the perfect resume. Here are some bullet points that you might want to include in your skills section:
- Programming languages (Python, HTML, JavaScript, SQL, ASP.NET, PHP, Visual Basic, Perl)
- Troubleshooting
- Web development and understanding of web applications
- Project management
- Operating systems (Windows, Mac OS, Linux)
- Debugging existing programs
- General software development and software engineering
- Understanding of data structures
- Information Technology (IT) knowledge
- Problem-solving skills
- Ability to work with algorithms
- General understanding of MySQL and Oracle
- Ability to optimize programs
- Working with team members
Hard skills and technical skills will likely dominate your programing resume due to the nature of the industry, but it’s equally important to include soft skills. You’ll often work in a team in a programmer job, and your ability to work together is critical.
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Work history
Your work history section should go over all the previous experience you have in this field. If you’re applying for an entry-level job, you may need to include internship experience, volunteer work and even hobbyist work that shows that you’ve used these skills in the past.
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Education
Last is your education section. Many people in this field have at least a bachelor’s degree in a field like computer science. Although a few jobs may be open to you without formal study, it’s best to have a bachelor’s degree on your resume before you start looking for anything above an entry-level job.
Do's and Don'ts
- Use a programmer resume sample to create your resume. You can find resume templates at ResumeNerd.
- Concentrate on your skills as much as possible. Even though your work history can prove that you know how to do the job, job types vary tremendously for programmer resumes, so your skills can show what you actually do.
- Include a “Key Projects” section if you’ve done a lot of work on large projects. This can give a better picture of what you do in your job.
- Feature any ultra-obscure programming languages. Although it might be a fun tidbit of information, space is at a premium on a programmer resume and it’s not helpful in the resume.
- Take solo credit for group projects you’ve done. Remember, it’s important that you’re willing to give credit where credit is due, and that means talking about when your team members helped you.
- Don't list your work history chronologically (that is, starting from your first job). You want to list your work history in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent jobs first.