One resume challenge you may encounter as a freelance software developer is effectively showcasing your diverse project experience without cluttering your resume. Our guide will provide you with the strategies to concisely highlight your most impressive projects and skills, ensuring your resume remains clear and impactful.
- Apply best practices from professional resumes to spotlight your application;
- Quantify your professional experience with achievements, career highlights, projects, and more;
- Write an eye-catching freelance software developer resume top one-third with your header, summary/objective, and skills section;
- Fill in the gaps of your experience with extracurricular, education, and more vital resume sections.
We've selected, especially for you, some of our most relevant freelance software developer resume guides. Getting you from thinking about your next career move to landing your dream job.
- Software Engineering Manager Resume Example
- Ruby On Rails Developer Resume Example
- Embedded Software Engineer Resume Example
- Software Development Engineer Resume Example
- Associate Software Engineer Resume Example
- Software Programmer Resume Example
- Integration Developer Resume Example
- GCP Devops Engineer Resume Example
- EDI Developer Resume Example
- Software Project Manager Resume Example
The ultimate formula for your freelance software developer resume format
Our best advice on how to style your freelance software developer resume is this - first, take the time to study the job advert requirements.
The resume format you select should ultimately help you better align how your experience matches the specific role.
There are four crucial elements you need to thus take into consideration:
- How you present your experience. If you happen to have plenty of relevant expertise, select the reverse-chronological resume format to organize your experience by dates, starting with the latest.
- Don't go over the top with writing your resume. Instead, stick with a maximum of two-page format to feature what matters most about your profile.
- Headers aren't just for "decoration". The header of your resume helps recruiters allocate your contact details, portfolio, and so much more.
- The PDF format rules. It's the most common practice to submit your freelance software developer resume as a PDF so that your resume doesn't lose its layout. However, make sure the read the job well - in some instances, they might require a doc file.
Adjust your resume layout based on the market – Canadian resumes, for example, may follow a unique format.
Upload & Check Your Resume
Drop your resume here or choose a file. PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.
PRO TIP
If the certificate you've obtained is especially vital for the industry or company, include it as part of your name within the resume headline.
Ensure your freelance software developer resume stands out with these mandatory sections:
- Header - the section recruiters look to find your contact details, portfolio, and potentially, your current role
- Summary or objective - where your achievements could meet your career goals
- Experience - showcasing you have the technical (and personal) know-how for the role
- Skills - further highlighting capabilities that matter most to the freelance software developer advert and your application
- Certifications/Education - staying up-to-date with industry trends
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Proficiency in relevant programming languages (e.g., JavaScript, Python, Ruby) and technologies specific to the projects.
- Evidence of successful past freelance projects, including client feedback and project outcomes.
- Ability to manage projects independently, including time management, invoicing, and communications skills.
- Understanding of agile methodologies and version control systems such as Git.
- Portfolio of work or links to completed projects, showcasing real-world examples of their coding and problem-solving skills.
The freelance software developer resume experience section: a roadmap to your expertise
The resume experience section provides you with an opportunity to tell your professional narrative.
Recruiters, reading between the lines of your resume, use the experience section to better understand your unique skill set, accomplishments, and what unique value you bring about.
Discover five quick steps on how to write your experience section:
- Curate only relevant experience items to the role and include the company, description, and dates; all followed by up to six bullets per experience item;
- Each experience item should feature tangible results of your actions - if you can include a number or percent, this will further highlight your aptitude;
- If you've received any managerial or customer feedback, use short excerpts of it as further social proof of your technical or people skills;
- Make sure you're using the appropriate verb tense when listing your responsibilities;
- Within the description for each role, you could summarize your most noteworthy and relevant achievements.
Now, take note of how a real-world freelance software developer professional received opportunities at industry leaders with these resume experience sections:
- Led a cross-functional team to deliver a custom CRM solution for Acme Corp, which increased client retention by 25% and improved sales tracking efficiency by 40%.
- Redesigned the database architecture for Beta Inc., resulting in a 20% increase in performance and reducing downtime by 15%.
- Implemented robust security protocols for Gamma Tech's mobile application, successfully safeguarding sensitive user data and passing compliance audits with zero violations.
- Developed and deployed a microservices-based e-commerce platform for Delta Retail, streamlining the order management process and boosting transaction volume by 30%.
- Collaborated with Echo Solutions to integrate machine learning algorithms into their marketing analytics software, enhancing audience targeting and lifting conversion rates by 18%.
- Engineered a continuous integration/continuous deployment pipeline for Foxtrot Enterprises, cutting release cycle times in half and increasing team productivity by 35%.
- Delivered a scalable cloud-based inventory management system for Golf Goods Co., facilitating a 50% reduction in stock discrepancies and a 20% cut in excess inventory costs.
- Crafted a mobile-responsive website for Hotel Group, which improved online booking rates by 55% and significantly enhanced the user experience.
- Architected an enterprise-level backup solution for India Information Technologies, minimizing data loss risks and reducing recovery time from hours to minutes.
- Optimized and refactored the backend code for Juliett Corp's flagship product, leading to a 30% increase in system responsiveness and a 25% decrease in server costs.
- Automated data migration processes for Kilo Health's patient records, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations while enhancing data accuracy by 99%.
- Conceptualized and implemented an API strategy for Lima Media, expanding their app ecosystem and generating a 40% rise in third-party integrations.
- Revamped Mike's Bikes' e-commerce user interface using cutting-edge web technologies, which contributed to a user engagement increase of 45% and a sales uptick of 60%.
- Implemented an A/B testing framework for November Industries' marketing website, optimizing conversion funnels that led to a 22% lift in lead generation.
- Coordinated with Oscar Tech to create a cross-platform mobile app, setting a new company record for speed-to-market and receiving a 92% approval rating from initial users.
- Pioneered a blockchain-based supply chain verification system for Papa Products Inc., ensuring product authenticity and enhancing consumer trust by a measurable 70%.
- Engineered a high-frequency trading platform for Quebec Finance, achieving an execution speed improvement of 200% compared to previous solutions.
- Transformed the digital presence of Romeo Services by creating a comprehensive suite of web applications, doubling the online customer engagement within the first quarter of launch.
- Built a feature-rich project management tool for Sierra Enterprises that unified their workflow management to enhance cross-department collaboration resulting in a 35% increase in project delivery efficiency.
- Developed a multilingual content management system for Tango Media, enabling them to expand their digital reach and increase audience retention by 40%.
- Created an intuitive data visualization dashboard for Uniform Analytics, aiding decision-makers in interpreting complex datasets which led to a 50% reduction in strategic planning time.
- Formulated and executed a comprehensive rebuild of Victor Enterprises' legacy sales application, modernizing the platform and achieving a system uptime of 99.9%.
- Devised a custom content delivery network for Whiskey Web Services which slashed their content loading times by over 60% and decreased bounce rates substantially.
- Collaborated with X-ray Gaming to develop an interactive, multiplayer mobile game that broke the company's previous download records by hitting 1 million downloads within the first month.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Include the number of completed projects to demonstrate experience and productivity.
- List the size of the codebases (in lines of code) you have managed or contributed to, indicating your ability to handle complex tasks.
- Present the percentage increase in application performance or efficiency due to your optimizations, underscoring your ability to enhance system quality.
- Mention the amount of money saved through your code improvements or process automation to highlight your cost-effectiveness.
- Specify the number of users or transactions your projects support, illustrating your experience with scalable systems.
- Quantify the reduction in downtime or error rates achieved with your contributions, showing your focus on reliability.
- Report the growth in engagement or customer satisfaction metrics linked to your software solutions to show user-centric development.
- State the number of bugs or issues resolved in a given period to emphasize your problem-solving skills and attention to quality.
Action verbs for your freelance software developer resume
No relevant experience - what to feature instead
Suppose you're new to the job market or considering a switch in industry or niche. In such cases, it's common to have limited standard professional experience. However, this isn't a cause for concern. You can still craft an impressive freelance software developer resume by emphasizing other sections, showing why you're a great fit for the role:
- Emphasize your educational background and extracurricular activities to demonstrate your industry knowledge;
- Replace the typical experience section with internships or temporary jobs where you've gained relevant skills and expertise;
- Highlight your unique skill set, encompassing both technological and personal abilities;
- Showcase transferable skills acquired throughout your life and work experiences so far.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
List all your relevant higher education degrees within your resume in reverse chronological order (starting with the latest). There are cases when your PhD in a particular field could help you stand apart from other candidates.
Key hard skills and soft skills for your freelance software developer resume
At the top of any recruiter freelance software developer checklist, you'd discover a list of technical competencies, balanced with personal skills.
Hard or technical skills are your opportunity to show how you meet the essential responsibilities of the role. The ability to use a particular job-crucial technology or software would also hint to recruiters whether you'd need a prolonged period of on-the-job training - or you'd fit right in the job.
But to land your dream role, you'd also need to demonstrate a variety of soft or people resume skills . Employers care about soft skills as they show how each candidate would fit into the team and company culture.
Both types of skills are specific and to best curate them on your resume, you'd need to:
- Create a skill section within which you showcase your hard and soft skills and present how they help you succeed.
- List specific examples of projects, tasks, or competitions, within which your skill set has assisted your results.
- Soft skills are harder to measure, so think about situations in which they've helped you thrive. Describe those situations concisely, focusing on how the outcome has helped you grow as a professional.
- Metrics of success - like positive ROI or optimized workplace processes - are the best way to prove your technical and people skills.
Take a look at some of freelance software developer industry leaders' favorite hard skills and soft skills, as listed on their resumes.
Top skills for your freelance software developer resume:
JavaScript
Python
Ruby on Rails
React
Node.js
SQL
HTML/CSS
Git
Docker
RESTful APIs
Communication
Time Management
Problem Solving
Adaptability
Critical Thinking
Collaboration
Self-Motivation
Attention to Detail
Creativity
Client Management
PRO TIP
Mention specific courses or projects that are pertinent to the job you're applying for.
The basics of your freelance software developer resume certifications and education sections
Improve the education and certification sections of your freelance software developer resume by:
- Dedicating more prominent space to certificates that are more recent and have helped you update your skill set
- Keeping all the information you list to the basics: certificate/degree name, institution, and graduation dates
- Writing supplementary information in the details of your certification or education section, only if you lack experience or want to show further skill alignment
- Including your credential or license number, only if the information is valid to your application or certification
Within freelance software developer job adverts, relevant education, and certification are always listed within the key prerequisite for the role.
Ensure you meet all job requirements with some of the leading certificates in the industry:
The top 5 certifications for your freelance software developer resume:
- Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP) - IEEE Computer Society
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) - Microsoft
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Developer – Associate - Amazon Web Services
- Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE 8 Programmer (OCPJP 8) - Oracle
- Professional Scrum Developer (PSD) - Scrum.org
PRO TIP
If you're in the process of obtaining your certificate or degree, list the expected date you're supposed to graduate or be certified.
Recommended reads:
Professional summary or objective for your freelance software developer resume
freelance software developer candidates sometimes get confused between the difference of a resume summary and a resume objective.
Which one should you be using?
Remember that the:
- Resume objective has more to do with your dreams and goals for your career. Within it, you have the opportunity to showcase to recruiters why your application is an important one and, at the same time, help them imagine what your impact on the role, team, and company would be.
- Resume summary should recount key achievements, tailored for the role, through your career. Allowing recruiters to quickly scan and understand the breadth of your freelance software developer expertise.
The resume objectives are always an excellent choice for candidates starting off their career, while the resume summary is more fitting for experienced candidates.
No matter if you chose a summary or objective, get some extra inspiration from real-world professional freelance software developer resumes:
Resume summaries for a freelance software developer job
- Seasoned freelance software developer with over 10 years of diverse experience in crafting tailored software solutions for various industries including fintech and healthcare. Proficient in Java, Python, and JavaScript with a proven track record of leading successful project deliveries worth over $2 million.
- Dynamic professional transitioning from a career in architecture to software development within the past 2 years, harnessing skills in problem-solving and design to provide innovative software solutions. Adept at Python, Ruby, and front-end frameworks, aiming to leverage experience in project management to exceed client expectations.
- Energetic former marketing strategist now excelling as a freelance software developer after 3 years, blending creativity and technical prowess with a background in data analytics and machine learning. Skilled in PHP, Python, and SQL, eager to contribute to challenging projects that demand both strategic insight and coding excellence.
- Driven and meticulous professional with 6 years of experience as a freelance software developer, displaying expertise in mobile app development, particularly for Android and iOS platforms. Boasts extensive knowledge in Swift, Kotlin, and Flutter, with a portfolio showcasing over 20 robust and user-friendly mobile applications.
- As a beginning freelance software developer with a passion for technology and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, I am eager to engage in real-world projects. Keen on becoming proficient with modern development tools and languages including React, Node.js, and Python to contribute to impactful software solutions.
- Recent graduate eager to embark on a career as a freelance software developer, with a strong educational foundation from a top-tier university and hands-on experience in Java and C#. Highly motivated to collaborate on innovative projects and dedicated to continuous learning and growth in the field of software development.
Bonus sections for your freelance software developer resume
Looking to show more personality on your freelance software developer resume? Then consider including a couple of extra sections.
They'd benefit your application by highlighting your most prominent:
Key takeaways
- The logic of your resume presentation should follow your career highlights and alignment with the role;
- Curate information within different sections (e.g. summary, experience, etc.) that helps highlight your strengths;
- Exclude from your resume irrelevant experience items - that way you'd ensure it stays no longer than two pages and is easy to read;
- Dedicate space within the summary, experience, and/or achievements to highlight precisely why you're the best candidate for the role via your previous success;
- Both your technical and people capabilities should also play a crucial role in building up your freelance software developer application. Prove your skill set in various resume sections.
