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Table of contents

Software engineer resume examples
More engineering resume examples
Choose a resume format for your software engineer resume
How to write a software engineer resume in 5 simple steps
Add a cover letter
Key takeaways for your software engineer resume
Frequently asked questions from job seekers

As a software engineer, you’re a computer whiz. From learning programming languages to building software to writing documentation, you’ve got the programming skills to own the engineering process.

Writing code is up your alley, but writing a resume might not be. But don’t worry, resume writing is easier than you think. If you can write a program, learning how to write a resume will be a total cinch!

Follow the steps in this guide to write a software engineer resume that stands out from the competition.

This guide will show you:

Example software engineer resumes for different levels of experience.
What makes a great software engineer resume example.
Proven strategies for writing a job-winning resume.
What to include in each section of your software engineer resume.
How to select the ideal resume format and design for the position.

To make a software engineer resume in a matter of minutes, check out our Resume Maker. In the builder, you can select a professional resume design, get proven job-winning guidance for each step of the resume-writing process and even use auto-generated text to fill out your first draft.

In the next section, we’ll review a couple of resume samples for applicants at different stages in their careers.

Software engineer resume examples

Entry-level software engineer resume example

Resume entry level example software engineer

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What makes this a great sample resume for a software engineer?

It has a resume objective
This sample software engineer resume showcases a candidate who focuses on her career goals and professional development in her resume objective, showing her desire and willingness to grow as she gains experience.
It uses a functional format
Because this is a resume for an entry-level software engineer, the candidate has chosen a functional resume format which focuses more on skills than experience.
It uses a simple and well organized resume template
Software engineer resumes should look appropriately modern, without distracting from the candidate’s professionalism. This example software engineer resume has the right balance of substance and style.

Experienced software engineer resume example

Resume experienced example software engineering manager

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What makes this a great software engineer resume sample?

The candidate has chosen a chronological format
Because this is a senior software engineer resume, the candidate wants to give his experience the most attention, allowing his strongest selling points to shine. A chronological resume allows for just that.
The work history section uses data
Numbers are a fantastic way of giving your accomplishments a sense of concrete impact. The numerical data in this candidate’s work history section shows the effect he’s had in previous roles.
This resume features hard and soft skills
Hard skills demonstrate this candidate’s expertise, but his soft skills show his aptitude. Both skills have their place as essential software engineer resume skills.

More engineering resume examples

Looking for more engineering resume examples? Check out our library of resume samples to help you get started.

Browse other popular samples

Choose a resume format for your software engineer resume

Resume formats refer to the way in which you organize your resume sections. Each format focuses on a different section to emphasize the applicant’s strengths. At different stages in your career, your ideal resume format will change.

There are three different resume formats successful job seekers use:

Chronological: Highlights experience by focusing on the work history section. This is ideal for senior-level roles.
Functional: Gives greater weight to the skills section, allowing applications to focus less on experience. This is the best format for applicants with little to no experience.
Combination: Gives equal treatment to experience and skills, making it perfect for midcareer applicants.

Once you’ve picked the best resume format for you, take a look at our resume-formatting guide for tips on font size, spacing, margins and more.

Now that the basic layout of your resume is decided, let’s get to work on styling your resume.

Select an appropriate software engineer resume template

Create your resume

Your software engineer resume template will decide the visual design of your resume.

While resume templates come in many designs, a software engineer would benefit from choosing one that focuses on function over style. To organize your information and convey your programming skills a modern template is a great choice. The modern template is what we recommend for styling a senior software engineer resume. A simple template might be the way to go if you want a resume that sticks to the basics. This is a good starting place for styling an entry-level software engineer resume.

Once you’ve picked a software engineer resume template that feels like a good fit, it’s time to start writing!

How to write a software engineer resume in 5 simple steps

Writing a software engineer resume is as simple as following five steps. Let’s walk you through each one!

Step 1

Study the software engineer job description

The best place to find out what to include on your resume is the job listing. Study the position to understand what your potential employer wants and needs from their ideal candidate. These are the traits that your resume should emphasize.

Keep an eye out for keywords from the listing that match your skills and background. Using keywords helps give your resume a leg up when the organization uses applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes for critical keywords. As long as you really have the skills that you list, picking keywords from the job listing helps your resume to stand up to ATS scrutiny.

Step 2

Write a professional summary or resume objective

Now that you’ve studied the job listing, it’s time to write your professional summary or resume objective. Both of these are opening sections for your resume where you introduce your qualifications and career goals. The differences between the two are subtle, but it’s still important to choose the right one for your experience level.

A professional summary offers a brief summary of your qualifications and accomplishments. Because it focuses on your career, it is the best resume profile choice for more experienced job seekers.

A resume objective summarizes your skills and career goals. A resume objective is great for applicants at the early stages of their careers because it doesn’t rely on previous experience. Instead, you can describe your eagerness to learn and contribute in future roles.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make a strong first impression with a concise professional summary or a software engineer resume objective, like in these examples.

Software engineer professional summary example:

Results-driven software engineer with seven years of experience in the design, development and implementation of high-quality software solutions. Adept at leveraging strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and troubleshoot complex technical issues, optimize performance and ensure the successful delivery of projects on time and within budget. Highly skilled in multiple programming languages and frameworks, including Java, Python, JavaScript and C++. Committed to staying current with the latest industry trends and technologies to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of clients.

Software engineer resume objective example:

Eager and motivated recent computer science graduate with a solid foundation in software development principles and one year of internship experience. Seeking to apply my programming skills and passion for learning in a software engineer role that offers opportunities for growth and professional development. Proficient in Python and C++, with hands-on experience in full-stack web development and Agile methodologies. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in team environments and adapt quickly to new technologies. Committed to developing as an engineer and a professional while contributing to a dynamic organization.

Step 3

Highlight your most relevant software engineer skills

Now that you’ve introduced yourself, it’s time to work on the skills section of your software engineer resume.

Skills are one of the most important things to communicate on your resume. A software engineer needs advanced technical knowledge and exceptional hard skills, like programming and software architecture, as well as soft skills, like teamwork and time management.

Here’s a handy list of hard and soft skills for software engineer resumes.

Hard and soft skills for a software engineer resume

Hard Skills

Full-stack development
Knowledge of programming languages
Project management
Networking
Technical writing
Data analytics

Soft Skills

Written and verbal communication
Collaboration
Focus
Creativity
Resourcefulness
Problem-solving

Here is an example of a strong software engineer skills section:

Passionate programmer with a firm grasp on several programming languages including Python, JavaScript and Ruby.
Collaborative team player with extensive experience in leadership roles.
Dedicated to owning the software engineering process from project initiation to completion.

Step 4

Write a strong software engineer work experience section

Unless your career is just getting started, the work history section of your resume is critical. Your resume’s most important job is to convey your experience and competencies in a format that is persuasive and easy to understand.

Here’s a sample software engineer resume experience section:

Software Engineer, Victory Web Consulting
McKinney, TX
November 2018 – December 2022

Designed, developed and maintained high-quality software solutions for a diverse client base across various industries, resulting in a 95% client satisfaction rate.
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather requirements, analyze user needs and translate them into technical specifications, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems.
Utilized expertise in JavaScript and Python to create efficient and scalable applications, achieving a 20% reduction in development time and a 15% increase in overall system performance.
Implemented Agile methodologies to streamline project workflows, improve collaboration and deliver projects on-time and within budget, contributing to a 10% increase in team productivity.
Conducted thorough code reviews and unit testing to identify and resolve bugs, enhance code quality and maintain consistency with industry best practices.

Pro tip

Replace passive resume filler with action words to give your work experience section more impact. Active verbs give your resume a sense of confidence and forward motion.

Step 5

Showcase your education and training on your software engineer resume

Your education and training are a crucial part of your career journey. That’s why you can’t skip writing an education section on your resume.

Most software engineers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. Different types of training may also be a part of your career history. Whether you’ve got a high school diploma and a certification from a coding bootcamp, or a master’s degree in computer science, use the education section of your resume to list your degrees and demonstrate your technical knowledge and willingness to learn.

How to list your software engineer education:

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
Graduated: May 2017

Certifications:

AWS Certified Professional Solutions Architect

Pro tip

Certifications lend credibility to your resume. As long as they are relevant to the job listing, include any certifications that you’ve earned.

Optional sections for your software engineer resume

Awards and certifications

Your achievements show employers what you’re capable of. An optional section for awards and certifications is a great way to showcase them.

How to list certifications on your software engineer resume:

AWS Certified Professional Solutions Architect: Earned for completing comprehensive training in Amazon Web Services Cloud.

Projects

Projects are a huge part of your software engineering career. While you might list some projects under work experience, it’s a good idea to give some of your most important projects their own space to shine.

How to list projects on your software engineer resume:

Projects

Developed a comprehensive inventory management system for a retail client, streamlining the tracking and management of products across multiple store locations. The system featured a user-friendly interface, real-time inventory updates and automated reordering capabilities, resulting in a 25% reduction in stock discrepancies and a 20% increase in warehouse efficiency.
Led a small team of developers to create an AI-powered customer support chatbot for an e-commerce website client, improving customer satisfaction and reducing response times. Utilized natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to understand user queries and provide accurate, context-specific responses, handling 60% of customer inquiries without human intervention.
Collaborated with a group of developers to design and build a mobile fitness application that allowed users to track their workouts, set personal goals and monitor their progress over time. The app integrated with wearable devices and provided personalized exercise recommendations based on users’ fitness levels and preferences, attracting over 10,000 downloads within the first three months of launch.

Languages

As a software engineer, programming languages are your bread and butter, but you might be surprised by how helpful human languages can be for your resume. If you speak more than one language, this demonstrates learning abilities and superior communication skills. Use a languages section to list the languages you speak and your proficiency level.

How to list languages on your software engineer resume:

Fluent in English and Japanese
Proficient in Spanish and Italian

Interests and hobbies

Hobbies add character and individuality to your resume. It’s never a good idea to fill your resume with irrelevant information, but you might be surprised by how many hobbies and interests showcase skills that overlap with important career skills. Use the hobbies and interests section of your resume to provide some extra character while also drawing attention to your skills.

How to list interests and hobbies on your software engineer resume:

Avid amateur game designer.
Volunteer mentor for Kids That Code.
Music and music theory enthusiast.

Add a cover letter

Create your cover letter

Now that your resume is finished, you may wonder how to give it the best chance of being read by recruiters. That’s where writing a cover letter comes in. After all that writing, adding a cover letter may seem like a pain, but it’s absolutely worth the effort and it’s much easier than you think!

Cover letters give you the chance to tie together everything that you’ve written in your resume. It also allows you to explain why your qualifications make you the perfect fit for the job at hand. It’s an opportunity that you don’t want to pass up.

Start by reviewing cover letter examples and our formatting guide to learn the basics about spacing, fonts and more.

If you’re still dreading the idea of doing more writing, use our Cover Letter Builder which simplifies the process with auto-generated text suggestions based on your work experience. These suggestions are completely customizable, so you can do as much or as little writing as you want to. Once you’re done, you can simply download your completed cover letter and you’re good to go!

Let’s touch on top takeaways before we wrap up.

Key takeaways for your software engineer resume

Make your resume ATS-friendly

Applicant tracking systems can’t read a resume that is poorly formatted. Keep it simple and make use of resume keywords from the job listing to build a resume that is ATS-proof.
Organize your sections effectively

The format that you choose should be based on your career history. Pick a resume format that emphasizes your strengths and keeps your information organized and easy to digest.
Select a suitable design

Make sure that your resume is visually appealing without being too distracting. Choose an appropriate resume design for your desired software engineering role. A stylish but simple design is ideal to show professionalism and polish. Check out our software engineer sample resumes for help visualizing the perfect look for your resume.
Show off a range of skills

Technical skills and more subtle soft skills both have an important role to play on your software engineer resume. Showcase a mix of both.
Personalize your application

Resume filler does nothing but take up valuable space. Be intentional about everything you include on your resume. Pay attention to the job listing and only include information that is relevant to your desired position.
Highlight your impact

Action verbs and numerical data take your achievements from abstract to concrete. Use plenty of both to show the impact that your work has had on previous roles.
Go above and beyond

A cover letter is a big opportunity to demonstrate why you should get the job. Don’t waste this chance to explain your incredible software skills!

Frequently asked questions from job seekers

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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.