How To Write the Ultimate Software Engineer Resume

Software Engineer Resume Writing Tips

Hiring managers use resumes to learn more about applicants and decide if they are a good fit. A resume should not only summarize your skills and work experience but also be easy to read. Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing your resume:

1. Showcase your work experience

   Hiring managers look for applicants that have the right skills and the right kind of work experience. In the work experience section of your resume, highlight your previous work experience. This will show your potential fit for the job. Include any relevant internships you completed, as well as volunteer work, work shadowing, and freelance jobs. Also, list any relevant skills or previous projects you worked on.

2. Your resume should fit on one page

   Hiring managers are busy when scanning resumes. A one-page developer resume ensures they see the essentials and it shows your best qualities. You are more likely to be called in for an interview if your resume is one page long. To reduce the length of your resume, use bullet points and concise phrases, and only include information that relates to the job description.

3. List relevant skills

   Read over the job posting before you write your perfect resume. Include the skills the employer wants most. If you list every skill you have, your resume will be too long and the recruiter may skip over it. Normally you only want to include 5-10 skills.

4. Consider the resume layout

   Along with keeping your resume to one page, it is important to keep the layout, style, and font straightforward and easily readable. Use some of our professional templates as a foundation for your own resume.

   If you do not have much work experience, use the functional resume format and focus on skills and knowledge over employment history. Otherwise, you will want to use the chronological resume format or combination format, which places more emphasis on your work history.

   Regardless of the resume format you choose, present your name and contact information, including any professional links such as your LinkedIn profile, in the resume header. In your work experience section, list up to the last 10 years of your professional experience. Present your work history in reverse-chronological order, with your most recent job listed first. And finally, add your degrees and certifications to the education section.

   You can use the ResumeNerd resume builder to select a resume template and help you place all your information in the correct order.

5. Ensure you adapt your resume for each job application

   Recruiters know when you use a “generic” resume, or even copy a resume directly from another job application. It is considered lazy and could cost you an interview. It is essential to tailor every resume and cover letter to fit the job posting. Use keywords from the job description in your skills section and your work experience section. For example, a job may require certain programming languages or particular technical skills. Your resume should address these keywords.