As a hiring manager for software engineering manager roles, I know what catches an employer's eye. This article shares resume examples that work, paired with key advice. Learn to display your leadership in software development, project management skills, and how to showcase your tech expertise effectively. We'll guide you through crafting a resume that speaks to the specifics of the job, ensuring your application stands out in today's competitive tech industry.
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Here's what we see in the strongest resumes for software engineering managers.
Show Impact With Numbers: The best resumes show impact with
Match Skills With Job Description: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned in the job description. Popular ones are
Highlight Recent Tech Trends: Show you're up-to-date with phrases like
As a software engineering manager, your experience holds vast importance. As such, you should generally present it first on your resume unless you completed significant additional education recently. This can include an advanced degree or relevant boot camps.
If you've been out of work to pursue this education, it justifies placing this section first on your resume. For entry-level roles or recent grads, leading with education details is appropriate, as it showcases your recent hard work and preparation for the job.
In the ever-evolving software industry, adaptable skills are prized. Emphasize instances where you've learned and applied new technologies quickly. Did you attend a training course, gain a certification, or pick up a new programming language on the fly? Highlight these.
Always showcase your problem-solving skills. Outline a situation where you faced a challenging issue and how you solved it, especially if it benefited your team or company. This can give employers a vital glimpse into your capabilities.
Keep your resume length to one page, particularly if you're a mid-level hire or possess less than ten years of experience in the software industry. This allows you to present your information precisely and concisely.
For senior-level software engineering manager candidates, a two-page resume is acceptable. It gives you enough space to highlight your extensive experience and accomplishments. If you're struggling with space, you might consider a different template or eliminating older, less relevant schooling or experiences.
Breaking into the role of a software engineering manager needs more than just technical skills. Highlighting experience where you led a team or project effectively can make you stand out. Did you manage budgets, timelines, or coordinate across departments? Those are worth mentioning.
Also, consider highlighting fluency in specific programming languages important to the job you're applying to. If the job description mentions a particular language, make sure it prominently features on your resume.
Resume screeners, like Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), are tools used by many companies to help manage the large number of resumes they receive. You need to know how these systems work to make sure your resume gets seen by a hiring manager.
Here are things you can do:
Remember these tips to help your resume pass through the ATS and reach a hiring manager who can see your value as a software engineering manager.
When you want a job as a software engineering manager, show what you can do. Your resume should match what the job needs. Share your experience with leading teams and using tech to solve problems. This helps us see you're right for the job.
When you update your resume, focus on what you've achieved, not just the duties you've managed. As a hiring manager, I stress that you show how you made things better at your job. It's not enough to list tasks like overseeing software project timelines or managing a developer team.
For example, instead of writing 'Responsible for leading a team of software developers,' an accomplishment-focused statement would be 'Led a team of 12 developers to deliver a new mobile app that increased customer engagement by 20% within the first three months.' This shows what you did and the positive outcome that followed.
Here's another way to turn a responsibility into an accomplishment:
Remember, specifics matter. Use numbers to make your accomplishments stand out. Tell me exactly how you made a difference.
As a software engineering manager, you must show that you have a strong grip on the tools and languages which are key to the role. Below is a list of skills you should consider including on your resume if they align with your experience and the job you're applying for.
Remember, you don't need to include all these skills. Focus on the ones that best match your own expertise and the specific job you want. Place these skills in a dedicated section for easy scanning by hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS), which often search for specific technical terms to find suitable candidates.
Why these skills? They show you can not only manage a team but also understand the technical side deeply. This is crucial for making informed decisions and guiding your team effectively.
As a manager in software engineering, you must show your impact clearly. Use numbers to make this impact easy to see. Numbers help you prove how you improve the team and the projects you work on.
Think about how your work has helped. Here are some ideas:
Remember to think through your past work. Estimate these numbers if you are not sure. Your goal is to show your value clearly and simply. Numbers do this very well.