Embarking on a tech career starts with a good resume. This guide provides key examples and vital tips for new software engineers crafting their first resumes. Learn how to highlight your coding skills, relevant projects, and education to catch an employer's eye. Stay ahead in a competitive field; show your potential from your very first job application.
Next update scheduled for
Here's what we see in top-notch entry-level software engineering resumes at a glance.
Quantifying Your Impact: The best resumes show impact with numbers. They might include
Match Skills With Job Description: Include skills on your resume that you have and are also in the job description. Some key ones are
Emphasizing Relevant Projects: Highlight projects that show your skills. Use phrases like
Want to know if your resume stands out for entry-level software engineering roles? Our AI-powered tool simulates how hiring managers evaluate resumes. It checks for key skills, readability, and alignment with industry standards.
Upload your resume now for a free, unbiased assessment. You'll get a clear score and practical tips to improve your chances of landing interviews. This feedback can help you create a stronger application that catches the eye of tech recruiters.
As an entry level software engineer, your academic credentials should remain on top of your resume. This is especially important since you've likely recently graduated or completed a relevant educational program such as a coding boot camp. Let hiring managers see your powerful learning credentials first.
Please make sure to highlight relevant coursework, projects or extracurricular activities connected to programming, software development or other related fields. These experiences would display the breadth of your proficiency and knowledge in software engineering, making you more appealing to potential employers.
Include projects that show your skills in action. For an entry-level software engineer, this means detailing coding projects or collaborations you've participated in. Focus on those that required critical thinking and where you applied coding standards. Describe how these projects relate to real-world applications, which demonstrates your ability to contribute from day one.
Use specific examples where you solved a problem or improved an existing process using your technical skills. A strong example could be a class project where you developed a small software program or contributed to an open-source project. Briefly explain your role and the value you added to the project.
To capture a prospective employer's attention, aim to keep your resume to one page. As an entry-level job seeker, understand this is not only the industry standard, but it allows for ease in reviewing your resume among a pile of others.
If you're having difficulty fitting everything into a single page, consider using a different template that allows better use of space. It's also advisable to remove non-essential information or older experiences that are not directly related to the role you're applying for, such as unrelated extracurricular activities or ancient education history.
When applying for an entry-level software engineering position, it's important to let your code speak for you. Include direct links to your GitHub repository or any other online portfolio you have. This allows hiring managers to see your work firsthand and evaluate your coding style and productivity. Make sure the repositories you link to are well-documented, so your work is easy to understand.
Additionally, share links to any live software applications or systems you've helped develop, even if they were for educational purposes. Seeing live, functioning software that you contributed to can be very compelling evidence of your skills. Just remember to keep the links short and readable, and ensure they lead directly to projects that showcase your best work.
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by many companies to filter resumes. You need to know how these work to make sure your resume gets seen by human eyes. Here are two key ways to improve your resume for these systems.
Even if you don’t have a lot of work experience, your coursework can showcase your knowledge and potential. Highlight classes that are directly related to software development, such as 'Data Structures,' 'Algorithms,' or 'Operating Systems.' This shows you have a strong foundation in key areas.
You can also describe significant class projects or case studies where you've applied these concepts. Mention any software or tools you used, such as 'GitHub' for version control or 'Eclipse' for integrated development environment (IDE). This will show you’re not just familiar with the theory but also with the practical application of your education.
Avoid including too much technical jargon or listing every programming language you've encountered. This can overwhelm the reader and bury the important details about your ability to do the job. Focus on the languages and tools that you are most skilled in and that are most relevant to the job you are applying for.
Remember to also show how you have used these skills. Instead of just listing 'Java' or 'Python,' you can say, for example, 'developed a Java application that...' or 'used Python to solve...' This shows you know how to apply your knowledge in real situations. Be concise and let the results of your work stand out.
Even though technical prowess is important for an entry level software engineer, don't neglect your soft skills. Employers highly regard professionals who show strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. These are essential for working effectively within a team and making sure projects are carried out successfully.
In your resume, give examples where you collaborated with others, led a project, or innovated a solution to a problem. These will provide concrete examples of your soft skills in action.
When crafting your resume, it's crucial to focus on your achievements rather than just listing your job duties. You want to impress hiring managers with what you've accomplished, not just what you were supposed to do.
Instead of telling us what your role was, show us how well you performed. For example:
These examples not only describe what you did but also provide evidence of your impact. This approach helps you stand out as an effective problem-solver and contributor, which is exactly what employers are looking for in an entry-level software engineer.
In the software engineering field, employers give substantial weightage to technical skills. Do not just mention programming languages or software you've worked with, but also explain how you've used them to create, debug or enhance software. If you've worked on any projects during your studies or personal time, make sure to include them as well.
Employers value real-world experience and problem-solving abilities. Even if you acquired your skills outside of a professional setting, it's worth including if it's relevant to the role. This could make you stand out among other entry-level applicants.
When you are looking to land a job as an entry level software engineer, showing any leadership experience is key. This can set you apart from other candidates. Think about times you may have led a team, even if it was for a class project, or when you took the initiative to solve problems or improve processes.
Consider the following examples to showcase your leadership abilities:
Even if you have not had a formal promotion, you can still demonstrate growth. Reflect on situations where you took on more responsibilities or learned new skills. This could be during internships, volunteer work, or personal projects. Use clear, simple terms to describe these experiences on your resume.
When detailing your experiences, it's not just the technologies that count, but also the context and complexity of the projects you've worked on. This helps hiring managers gauge your readiness for real-world software development.
Make your resume fit the job you want. Show how your skills and experiences make you a good fit for an entry-level software engineer role. Tell us how you solve problems, learn fast, and work with others.
When you're trying to land a job as an entry level software engineer, it's essential to show potential employers that you are active and effective. To do this, use strong action verbs at the beginning of your bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements.
These verbs help you make a strong impression by demonstrating your skills and experiences in a clear and concise way. They also help your resume stand out in a sea of applicants who will often use common and less impactful verbs.
Want inspiration for other action verbs you can use? Check out synonyms to commonly used action verbs like Ran, Supported, Complete, Managed, Produced.
When crafting your resume, you'll want to show off your technical skills. These are the tools and languages that you'll use on the job every day. Here is a list of skills highly relevant to entry-level software engineering:
You don't need to know every skill listed. Choose those that match the job you want. For example, if you aim to work in web development, focus on
Remember, show how you've used these skills in projects or during your education. This can be under work experience, projects, or in your education section. If you've contributed to open-source projects or have a strong portfolio, make sure to include these as they can be great practical evidence of your skills.
When you write your resume, showing the impact of your work with numbers can make a strong impression. Numbers help hiring managers see the real value you bring. Here are ways to think about your impact:
Remember, even if you're not sure of the exact number, an educated estimate is better than no number at all. Just be ready to explain how you came up with your figures during an interview.