Employers in computer science value problem-solving skills. Detail any projects where you solved complex problems or optimized processes.

Show your ability to work in a team by mentioning collaborative projects or hackathons you participated in.

Computer science roles often require strong coding abilities. List specific programming languages you know, like Python, Java, and C++.

Include any coding projects or repositories, such as GitHub links, to show your hands-on experience.

To stand out, ensure your resume speaks directly to the job you're applying for. Show how your experience and skills match the role's requirements. This means using keywords from the job description and focusing on relevant accomplishments. Remember, a resume that looks like it's been made just for the job will catch a hiring manager's attention.

• Match job listing keywords with your skills such as Python scripting or cloud computing expertise.
• If you have senior experience, include leadership-focused points such as managed a team of 10 developers.
• For career shifters, connect your past roles to computer science tasks, like used data analysis to inform business decisions.

When you create your resume for a computer science role, it's key to start each bullet point with a strong action verb. This shows what you have achieved and how you've made an impact. Think about what you did in each role and choose a verb that best matches your responsibilities and successes.

Action verbs help you stand out and tell the story of your career clearly. Remember, keep your language simple and direct to make it easy for employers to see your value. Now, let's look at some specific verbs that might work well for you.

• To show you can build and create, use developed, engineered, implemented, designed, constructed.
• For problem-solving skills, use troubleshooted, resolved, refined, optimized, repaired.
• If you've led projects or people, use managed, directed, coordinated, supervised, oversaw.
• To show you're good with data, use analyzed, computed, validated, modeled, assessed.
• And to demonstrate continuous improvement or learning, use enhanced, expanded, advanced, learned, upgraded.

Want inspiration for other action verbs you can use? Check out synonyms to commonly used action verbs like Gained, Completed, Maintained, Selected, In charge.

When you're applying for computer science roles, it’s important to show you have the right technical skills. You might wonder where to put these skills on your resume. A clear skills section can help your resume pass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) checks that many companies use.

Here are some of the top skills you should consider including if they match your experience and the job you want:

• Programming languages like Python, Java, or C++
• Web development skills with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• Understanding of database management with tools like SQL and NoSQL
• Software development practices such as Agile methodologies
• Knowledge of data structures and algorithms
• Experience with version control systems like Git
• Proficiency in operating systems like Linux or Windows
• Familiarity with cloud computing services such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform
• Skills in machine learning or artificial intelligence
• Understanding of network security principles

You don't need to list every skill you have. Just choose those that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. Remember to include examples of projects or work experience where you have used these skills. This helps employers see how you've applied your knowledge in real-world situations.

When detailing your work history, it's important to show evidence of your growth, particularly in leadership roles or through promotions. This can set you apart and signal to employers that you are capable of taking on more responsibility. Think about your experiences and how you can show this growth.

For example, you might have started as a junior developer and then became a team lead. Here are ways you can highlight that transition:

• Led a team of 5 developers to complete a major project three weeks ahead of schedule, showcasing project management and leadership skills.
• Promoted from junior to senior developer within two years, due to strong performance and excellent problem-solving abilities.

Even if you don't have formal promotions, consider times when you took the lead on a project or mentored new staff. These are also valuable leadership experiences:

• Guided new team members through the onboarding process and provided training on key software development practices.
• Acted as the main point of contact for cross-department communication on a successful app launch.

When crafting your resume, showing your impact with numbers can make a strong case for your skills. To do this, think of ways you have used your computer science expertise to benefit previous employers or projects.

• Consider improvements you've made to system efficiency. For example, if you optimized an algorithm, quantify the increase in processing speed, like a 25% faster runtime.
• Did you help reduce costs? Calculate the percentage saved, such as a 20% reduction in cloud storage expenses.

Even if you're not sure of the exact numbers, you can estimate them based on outcomes. For instance:

• If you developed a new feature or software, estimate the number of users it impacted or the increase in user engagement.
• For bug fixes or system enhancements, note the decrease in customer complaints or the number of support tickets resolved.

Use these metrics to demonstrate the value you bring as a computer science professional.