Software Engineer Resume Samples & Examples for 2024

Software Engineer Resume Overview

As a software engineer, you are well aware that this highly competitive field requires a standout resume: employers make a split-second decision about whether your resume deserves a second look or not, and you need to be prepared for that!

You may be fantastic when it comes down to code writing or designing softwares, but let’s be honest: writing the perfect software engineer resume is completely different!

Don’t worry though, we have helped many software engineers like you get the job they had been dreaming for, thanks to our professional resume samples that have been trusted by over 3 million people all over the globe.

Let us inspire you with the best resume tips you could ask for!

What is a Software Engineer?

A software engineer strips away all unnecessary clutter to create the smoothest-running, most intuitive digital solution possible. As a software engineer, you could work across many different realms of software development, from mobile engineering to front- or back-end development. As a software engineer, you’re responsible for everything from the initial scoping of a new digital product to the product’s launch and maintenance.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, software engineer jobs are projected to grow at 22% from 2019 until 2029, much faster than average. With a great job outlook and great pay, what’s not to love about being a software engineer?

Well, maybe the fierce competition in the industry for the best jobs. Thankfully, you have VisualCV on your side.

How to Write a Software Engineer Resume

Most software engineers like you possess an impressive arsenal of skills with an extensive knowledge in mathematics, physics, and other analytical disciplines.

Let’s get straight into it, then!

First of all, we strongly suggest the reverse-chronological layout: it is the perfect option to highlight your strengths and to show your top achievements.

Make sure you use clear and legible fonts, allowing plenty of white spaces to create an enjoyable reading experience for the recruiter.

What has also worked very well for other software engineers we have worked with in the past is the “Personal Projects” section: it is a unique and must-have brief paragraph that will definitely strengthen your application!

Generally speaking, don’t forget that attention to detail and accuracy are two fundamental skills that employers automatically expect from professionals like you: avoid typos or any other kind of mistakes in your resume.

Finally, it’s important to remind you to save your software engineering resume in a PDF format to keep your layout tidy and clean: we don’t hate Microsoft Word, but we want to give this your best shot!

The Best Format for a Software Engineer Resume

While writing your resume, you really need to think about your software engineering resume format. Your resume format helps the hiring manager easily scan your software engineer resume and find relevant information.

Having the right software engineering resume format also ensures that you don’t miss out on adding relevant information to your resume. That’s why selecting the right software engineer resume format depends on the level of your experience.

If you are a Senior Software Engineer, you should consider adding the following sections to your resume format.

Senior Software Engineer Resume Format - Sections to Include

1. Resume Header
2. Resume Summary
3. Resume Experience
4. Software Engineering Skills
5. Resume Certifications
6. Portfolio

If you are either an entry level software engineer or are just starting to look out for your first role, your software engineer resume format will differ a bit as: You don’t have a significant amount of work experience to show A lot of of your skills are displayed by either your portfolio or by portfolio projects you might have worked on Recruiters and hiring managers prefer entry level software engineer resumes that show proactiveness

A big mistake most entry level software engineers make is that they try to imitate an experienced software engineer's resume, but without having any real content. Doing so frustrates a hiring manager.

That’s why instead of a resume summary, you should consider adding a resume objective.

3 Software Engineer Resume Summary Examples

Your summary should be short and to the point. This is the very first thing a recruiter will see, so make sure you’re putting your absolute best foot forward. Highlight your level of experience if you aren’t applying for entry-level positions, or your recent academic accomplishment if you’re a new graduate. Make sure to read the job description carefully and adjust your resume to fit it -- as long as what you’re saying is true, of course!

Many recruiters and companies now use Applicant Tracking Systems to automate and streamline the recruitment process. While this is a great benefit for companies, some applicants have been met with the frustration of their resumes not ever being seen by a real person -- if the resume doesn’t get past the ATS software, it’s usually discarded. Thankfully, VisualCV’s resume templates have been specifically designed to beat applicant tracking systems, making your software engineer resume much more likely to make it in front of the right person.

The Wrong Way to Write a Software Engineer Resume Summary

Your summary shouldn’t be too wordy or personal – that’s what your cover letter is for! This first step in your software engineer resume exists to give hiring managers a brief glimpse into your personality and experience. Not all hiring managers agree that a resume summary is necessary, but if your resume summary is clear, to the point, and hones in on what the job description is asking for, include it!

Software Engineer Resume Summary Sample

More than 10 years of experience architecting, implementing, leading and launching software products. Skilled in agile processes, backend, frontend, and mobile-development, object-oriented programming. Well suited for the industry and bringing ideas to life.

Professional Summary for a Software Engineer

Software engineer with 5 years of frontend and mobile development. Recent experience includes leading a team of developers through the launch of a mobile app that saw 500k downloads in its first week.

Software Engineer Resume Summary Example

Results-driven, customer-focused, highly organized and analytical software engineer with experience in design, development, integration, and delivery of web applications and analysis. Experienced in project management from the initial idea and development phase (vision/analysis) performing all design/architecture work and delivering the completed product.

Related: Our guide on how to write a resume summary.

Do You Need a Software Engineer Resume Objective?

Many people think resume objectives are a requirement for each and every software engineer resume they write. However, software engineer resume objectives are only recommended for people looking to transition into a software engineer role from a different field.

Software Engineer Resume Objective Example

An enthusiastic full-stack software engineer that comes up with non-trivial solutions using the right tools. I strive for great user experience and optimal performance and am seeking to use my computer engineering MSc. to bring results to this position.

How to Describe Your Experience On Your Software Engineer Resume

First of all, congratulations! It is always a remarkable achievement when the recruiter makes it to this section of the resume - definitely much better than getting shot right into the bin by a Kobe Bryant recruiter!

Don’t celebrate too soon, though, because this section is as important as the others. You could easily lose the trust of the employers if you do not fill this section carefully. Our tips below have helped many software engineers get to the next level: you are next, my friend!

The experience section is where you can really start bragging. Alison Green, author of Ask a Manager, highlights the single biggest resume mistake she saw in her time as a hiring manager: “Writing a resume that reads like a series of job descriptions.”

“The bullet points they use to describe what they did for each job just list activities and read like a job description for the role might,” she says. “For example, ‘edit documents,’ ‘collect data,’ or ‘manage website.’”

2 Good Software Engineering Resume Experience Examples

Glideware Software Solutions 2014-Present

• Development of proprietary tools and data generation applications in C++, C#, Java, HTML
• Project migration to different chip architecture
• Create, initialize and personalize specifications for products
• Development of Java applets for telecom solutions
• Development of test assemblies for acceptance testing
• Support to production testing tools, libraries and validation to global platform configuration files
• Ensure proper documentation and quality of the project
• Travel overseas for business decision and technical support when required

F5 Networks | Software Engineer | 2019-Present

• Developed several web-based applications for financial and insurance systems
• Developed Web Portals and mobile apps for downloading media, tracking workforce, and billing
• Responsible for 13+ APIs and wrote Windows services for automation and scheduling of tasks
• Point of contact for communication for vendors and clients

While writing the experience section of your software engineer resume, focus on what you accomplished at each position.

For more tips on writing the best work experience section for a fantastic software engineer like you, check out our detailed resume guide.

A Bad Software Engineeer Job Description on a Resume

Consider the following entry.

A.T. Kearney | Sr. Software Engineer

• Communicate regularly with end-users via video, email, phone or in-person to specific requests
• Successfully cultivated positive relationships with clients and colleagues
• Cross collaboration with other members of the development team on a daily basis
• Brainstorm technical solutions
• Utilized strong analytical and conflict resolution skills

This entry focuses on responsibilities you had at a previous job, but doesn’t describe what you achieved there. Hiring managers will likely already understand the types of tasks you performed at previous jobs. Your goal is to show them how good you are at performing those tasks!

How to List Skills On Your Software Engineer Resume

A new era began years ago, when a new digitized version of candidate screening through a digital search for specific keywords will easily make your wonderful resume overlooked if it does not contain those keywords the employer is looking for.

Don’t worry, though, we know all the secrets and we are ready to share them with you. First, list the master list of every single skill you have, obviously related to your experience as a software engineer! Please take your time on this personal brainstorming and make sure you include soft skills, hard skills, any professional skill at all.

Don’t forget, hard skills are job-specific and include all the knowledge you need to perform a job. Soft skills, on the other hand, are interpersonal skills.

Ok, have you listed them all? All you have to do now is to match those with the skills list from the job description!

Soft Skills	Hard Skills	Languages
Collaboration	Security	Ruby/Rails
Leadership	Open Source	PHP
Communication	Artificial Intelligence	iOS
Team work	Machine Learning	C++
Positive Attitude	Data Structures	C#
Thrive under Pressure	Problem Solving	SQL
Critical Thinking	Debugging	Java

Related Resume Examples

Something about this job catch your eye, but you aren’t quite sure if it’s a match? Check out these related resumes and discover where your next career move could take you.

1. Software Development Manager Resume
2. Developer Resume Examples
3. Software Test Engineer Resume Examples
4. Software Architect Resume Examples
5. Computer Engineer Resume Examples
6. Director of Engineering Resume Examples

How to List Education On Your Software Engineer Resume

The right way to list education on your software engineer resume is to create a section based on:

1. Whether you are an experienced software engineer
2. Whether you are an entry level software engineer

If you are an experienced developer, your software engineering resume can very briefly mention your education. But, if you are writing an entry level software engineer resume consider this example below:

Software Engineer Resume Education Example

2021 Master of Science(MS) in Computer Science Stanford

2019 Bachelor of Science(BS) in Computer Science Stanford

Software Engineer

Because software engineers have knowledge of many different practices, coding languages, and departments within a company, they’re extremely in demand. And the best part of being in demand? Companies are willing to pay a premium for your talent. In the US, the average base salary for a software engineer is $117,000, according to Indeed. Often, software engineers are offered perks such as cash bonuses and stock options in addition to their base salary, so, when interviewing, make sure to ask about the complete compensation package the company is offering.

Keep in mind that, depending on the cost of living in your state or region, salaries may fluctuate. If you live in a city with a very high cost of living, for example, your salary may be much higher, but your day-to-day expenses will also be more expensive.

How to Become a Software Engineer

First and foremost, a deep knowledge of coding is crucial to become a software engineer. Many software engineers hold undergraduate or even graduate degrees in software engineering or computer science, while others are dedicated students who’ve completed a coding bootcamp. Regardless of your background, you’ll need to remain on top of new technology throughout your career as a software engineer. Often, applicants will have completed industry internships that have allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the industry and the required duties of a software engineer.

What Should You Study to Become a Software Engineer?

In general, people interested in becoming a software engineer study computer science or a more specialized software engineering degree. Because of the immense amount of knowledge you’ll need to have on hand as a software engineer, many prospective engineers continue their education into Master’s degree programs, but this isn’t usually a requirement for software engineer jobs.

To separate yourself from other applicants, you may want to obtain additional specializations or certifications. You may take a course from Microsoft, for example, that will certify you as a software engineer for the company’s platforms. These certifications will show employers that you take your job progression seriously, and that you have additional skills and knowledge that your competition may not necessarily have.

Should I Do A Computer Science Degree Or A Coding Bootcamp?

Depending on your career path and goals, there are many reasons why you might choose to complete a computer science degree over a bootcamp, and vice versa. Before you make your decision, carefully consider your life and the ways in which both programs fit within it. For example, coding bootcamps are popular choices for people during a career transition, since you have the opportunity to get into the job market much faster than with a four-year degree. However, degrees from prestigious universities can stand out on your full stack developer resume and make recruiters consider you more carefully. The tables below outline a few pros and cons for both options, but remember that each program is different and you should speak to admissions offices and current students to discover which is the best fit for you.

Computer Science Degree

Pros	Cons
Receiving a Bachelor's Degree	4-year time committment
University name recognition for employers	High cost
Internship placement opportunities	Limited to learning what the university deems most important only
#### Coding Bootcamp
Pros	Cons
----------	----------
Fast-tracked program	Less name recognition -- employers may be biased towards university degrees
Less expensive than a computer science degree	Material is usually less wide-reaching than a computer science degree
More opportunities for self-guided study	Fast-paced, competitive environment

How can I highlight my experience as a Software Engineer on my resume?

Focus on your expertise in software development, problem-solving, and working with various programming languages and frameworks. Highlight your role in designing, building, testing, and maintaining software systems, and mention any contributions to improving software performance or user experience.

What are the key skills to feature on a Software Engineer's resume?

Emphasize skills in programming (e.g., Java, Python, C++), software architecture, debugging, and system optimization. Highlight your proficiency in working with development methodologies like Agile, experience with databases, and knowledge of version control systems like Git.

How do I demonstrate my ability to develop software on my resume?

Provide examples of software projects you’ve worked on, detailing your role in the development lifecycle—from planning and coding to testing and deployment. Mention the technologies you used and the impact of your work on the project's success.

Should I include metrics on my Software Engineer resume? If so, what kind?

Yes, include metrics such as the number of features developed, reductions in system downtime, improvements in application performance, or efficiency gains through code optimization. These figures help quantify your contributions to the software development process.

How can I showcase my experience with debugging and troubleshooting on my resume?

Detail your experience in identifying and resolving software bugs, optimizing code for better performance, and improving system stability. Mention specific tools you’ve used for debugging and highlight your problem-solving skills in resolving complex technical issues.

What kind of achievements should I highlight as a Software Engineer?

Highlight achievements such as developing high-impact features, improving software performance, or leading successful software migrations. Mention any awards, recognition, or key projects you contributed to that demonstrate your technical expertise.

How do I address a lack of experience in a specific programming language on my resume?

Emphasize your ability to quickly learn new programming languages and technologies. Highlight any relevant coursework, personal projects, or certifications that demonstrate your flexibility and willingness to expand your skill set.

How important is collaboration for a Software Engineer role?

Collaboration is crucial, as software engineers often work in teams to solve complex problems. Highlight your experience working closely with cross-functional teams, product managers, and designers to deliver high-quality software solutions.

How do I demonstrate my ability to manage the software development lifecycle on my resume?

Mention specific examples where you played a key role in the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC), from requirements gathering to deployment and post-launch maintenance. Highlight your experience with Agile or DevOps methodologies and your role in continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD).

Should I include certifications on my Software Engineer resume?

Yes, include relevant certifications such as AWS Certified Developer, Google Professional Cloud Developer, or other language-specific certifications. These demonstrate your commitment to staying updated with the latest technologies and standards in software engineering.

Final Thoughts

It takes a lot of hard work and passion to become a truly successful software engineer. Beyond the fact that everyone seems to want your job for its high salary and respected title, you yourself need to constantly refresh your knowledge of what’s new and what’s working in the industry.

A professionally designed resume is one way to make your application stand out from the crowd. Whether you choose to use eye-catching color, a unique format, or simply a clean and polished template with your skills and achievements on display, a VisualCV Pro membership could be the thing that takes your career to the next level.