One specific CV challenge you might encounter as a PHP developer is effectively showcasing your backend expertise and contributions to projects that heavily feature frontend components. Our guide provides tailored strategies to highlight your skills and the value you bring to complex developments, allowing employers to see your seamless integration into multi-faceted teams.
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
Structuring your php developer CV layout: four factors to keep in mind
There are plenty of best practices out there for your CV layout and design. At the end of the day, a clear format and concise CV message should be your top priority. Use your CV design to enhance separate sections, bringing them to the forefront of recruiters' attention. At the same time, you can write content that:- Follows the reverse chronological order in the experience section by first listing your most recent jobs;
- Incorporates your contact information in the header, but do skip out on the CV photo for roles in the UK;
- Is spotlighted in the most important sections of your CV, e.g. the summary or objective, experience, education, etc. to show just how you meet the job requirements;
- Is no longer than two-pages. Often, the one-page format can be optimal for your php developer CV.
Before submitting your CV, you may wonder whether to export it in Doc or PDF. With the PDF format, your information and layout stay intact. This is quite useful when your CV is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS) . The ATS is a software that scans your profile for all relevant information and can easily understand latest study on the ATS , which looks at your CV columns, design, and so much more.
PRO TIP
Incorporate a touch of colour in headers or section breaks, but keep it professional and ensure it doesn’t detract from readability, especially in more conservative industries.
The top sections on a php developer CV
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What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your proficiency with PHP by mentioning specific frameworks you've worked with, such as Laravel or Symfony, and emphasise any contributions to open-source PHP projects or community involvement.
- Detail your understanding of various databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, etc.), demonstrating your ability to integrate and manipulate data within PHP applications effectively.
- Include experience with version control systems like Git, particularly any experience with collaborative projects, code review practices, or CI/CD implementations relevant to PHP development workflows.
- Focus on past projects that showcase your ability to write clean, maintainable code by following PHP-FIG standards such as PSR and using modern PHP features intelligently.
- Discuss your experience with front-end technologies that often complement PHP, like JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS, to illustrate your full-stack capabilities if applicable to the role.
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How to present your contact details and job keywords in your php developer CV header
Located at the top of your php developer CV, the header presents recruiters with your key personal information, headline, and professional photo. When creating your CV header, include your:
- Contact details - avoid listing your work email or telephone number and, also, email addresses that sound unprofessional (e.g. koolKittyCat$3@gmail.com is definitely a big no);
- Headline - it should be relevant, concise, and specific to the role you're applying for, integrating keywords and action verbs;
- Photo - instead of including a photograph from your family reunion, select one that shows you in a more professional light. It's also good to note that in some countries (e.g. the UK and US), it's best to avoid photos on your CV as they may serve as bias.
What do other industry professionals include in their CV header? Make sure to check out the next bit of your guide to see real-life examples:
Examples of good CV headlines for php developer:
- Senior PHP Developer | MVC Framework Expertise | Zend Certified Engineer | 8+ Years of Dev Experience
- Full-Stack PHP Developer | Web App Specialist | Agile Methodologies | 5 Years Progressive Experience
- Junior PHP Developer | LAMP Stack Enthusiast | BSc Computer Science Graduate | Eager to Innovate
- Lead PHP Developer | API Integration Pro | TDD Advocate | 10-Year Industry Veteran
- PHP Developer | Open Source Contributor | Expert in Laravel & Symfony | Certified PHP Engineer
- Mid-Level PHP Developer | MySQL & NoSQL Proficiency | Passionate about PHP7+ | 4 Years Hands-On Coding
Opting between a php developer CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your php developer CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a php developer job:
- With over 8 years of specialized PHP development experience, this seasoned developer has mastered Laravel and CodeIgniter, and successfully led the launch of a scalable e-commerce platform that boosted company sales by 150% in the first year.
- Adept at designing robust PHP solutions, this professional brings 10 years of development expertise, with a focus on Symfony and Zend Framework, to the table alongside a track record of reducing server load by 30% through efficient code improvements.
- Transitioning from a Java development background, this aspiring PHP developer has gained 2 years of hands-on experience with PHP and WordPress, fueled by a passion for web technologies and a committed self-teaching approach.
- Branching into PHP development after a career in .NET, this individual has spent the last 18 months diligently training in modern PHP practices, including MVC architectures and has contributed to open-source PHP projects, showcasing an eagerness to evolve with the web industry.
- Seeking to leverage acquired academic knowledge and a tireless work ethic to dive into the world of PHP development, aiming to apply theoretical concepts of object-oriented programming in a practical environment, and eager to learn from seasoned professionals in real-world scenarios.
- Ambitious and driven to become a proficient PHP developer, with no prior industry experience but a strong foundation in software development principles from university coursework and personal projects, looking to make meaningful contributions by applying fresh, innovative thinking to development challenges.
How to meet job requirements with your php developer CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Developed and maintained scalable, secure web applications using PHP frameworks such as Laravel, ensuring code follows SOLID principles and adheres to industry standards.
- Created efficient database schemas and wrote optimised SQL queries for MySQL, significantly improving application performance and reducing server load.
- Integrated RESTful APIs and SOAP services, allowing for seamless data exchange between the application and third-party services.
- Led a team of junior PHP developers, conducting code reviews and providing mentorship to enhance team capabilities and ensure project success.
- Utilised version control systems, such as Git, to manage codebase development and collaborated effectively within a team environment using platforms such as GitHub or Bitbucket.
- Implemented continuous integration and deployment pipelines using tools like Jenkins, which enhanced the software development lifecycle and reduced time-to-market.
- Developed custom WordPress themes and plugins tailored to client specifications, ensuring high performance and compliance with web standards.
- Actively involved in the full software development lifecycle, from requirement analysis to deployment, and provided post-launch support and maintenance.
- Utilised test-driven development practices and wrote comprehensive unit and integration tests with PHPUnit to ensure code reliability and maintainability.
- Spearheaded a mission-critical e-commerce website overhaul for a leading online retailer, boosting conversion rates by 25% within 3 months of deployment.
- Managed a cross-functional team of 5 junior developers and 2 UX designers to implement a PHP7-based modular system that improved site maintenance efficiency by 40%.
- Pioneered the integration of advanced data analytics tools with existing PHP systems, providing granular consumer insights that drove a 15% increase in targeted marketing success.
- Played a key role in a database optimization project that successfully reduced query response times by half for a high-traffic news portal.
- Supervised the adoption of Laravel framework for the company's primary customer service application, enhancing scalability and future-proofing the product roadmap.
- Conceived and executed automated testing procedures for existing PHP applications, resulting in a 30% reduction in bugs reported by users post-release.
- Developed and launched a PHP-based content management system, tailored for SMEs, that simplified site management and saw a user base growth to 5,000+ within 2 years.
- Initiated a code refactoring initiative that improved system performance by 20%, significantly enhancing customer satisfaction and reducing server costs.
- Collaborated with marketing to create dynamic, personalised user content strategies, which increased user engagement metrics by an average of 35%.
- Led the development of a bespoke PHP-based CRM system that improved client data retrieval times and supported a 20% increase in sales team productivity.
- Coordinated with systems engineers to migrate legacy applications to cloud-based infrastructure, achieving a more robust disaster recovery protocol.
- Integrated third-party APIs, such as payment gateways and social media platforms, enhancing the functionality and interconnectivity of client websites.
- Instrumental in the development of an internal tool using PHP and MySQL that streamlined project management processes, heightening team productivity by 15%.
- Mentored 4 junior PHP developers, fostering professional growth and helping them successfully lead their own projects within a year.
- Implemented machine learning algorithms in PHP to analyse user data for an AI-driven recommendation system, boosting upsells by 22%.
- Established a PHP-based multi-tenant SaaS platform from the ground up, attracting over 10,000 active users and generating a steady SaaS revenue stream.
- Facilitated a 35% reduction in server load by optimizing existing PHP codebases and incorporating more efficient caching strategies.
- Developed robust, secure PHP back-end systems for financial transactions adhering to stringent regulations, ensuring 99.9% uptime and reliability.
- Architected an innovative PHP-based stock management system that automated inventory tracking, reducing discrepancies by 90%.
- Crafted a modular API framework that enabled third-party vendor integration, expanding the service offerings and boosting customer retention rates by 25%.
- Championed the formation of a PHP best practices group within the company that improved overall code quality and streamlined onboarding for new hires.
- Lead the design of a PHP-based microservices architecture, enhancing the scalability of the platform to handle a threefold increase in user traffic.
- Strategized a PHP-oriented solution that automated client onboarding processes, reducing manual efforts by 60% and improving customer satisfaction scores.
- Cultivated a continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline for PHP projects, diminishing time-to-market for new features by 25%.
Lacking professional expertise: how to write your CV to highlight your best talents
Don't count on your lucky stars when you're applying for a role, where you happen to have less (or almost none) professional experience. Recruiters sometimes do hire inexperienced candidates if they're able to present their unique value from the get-go. So, instead of opting for the traditional, CV experience section:
- List any applicable expertise you happen to have - no matter if it's a part-time job, internship, or volunteer work. This would hint to recruiters that your profile is relevant;
- Focus your CV on your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your whole life and work experience. In effect, you'll be spotlighting your value as a candidate;
- Separate more space for your applicable academic background and certificates to show you have the technical know-how;
- Ensure that within your objective, you've defined why you'll like the job and how you'll be the perfect match for it. Always ensure you've tailored your CV to individual applications.
Looking for more good examples for your first job? We'll show you how other candidates, with less professional experience, have created their job-winning CVs.
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PRO TIP
If you have experience in diverse fields, highlight how this has broadened your perspective and skill set, making you a more versatile candidate.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your php developer CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your php developer CV:
PHP
Laravel
Symfony
Zend Framework
CodeIgniter
PHPUnit
MySQL
HTML5
CSS3
JavaScript
Problem-solving
Teamwork
Communication
Adaptability
Critical thinking
Time management
Attention to detail
Proactivity
Creativity
Continual learning
PRO TIP
Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
Your university degree and certificates: an integral part of your php developer CV
Let's take you back to your uni days and decide what information will be relevant for your php developer CV. Once more, when discussing your higher education, select only information that is pertinent to the job (e.g. degrees and projects in the same industry, etc.). Ultimately, you should:
- List only your higher education degrees, alongside start and graduation dates, and the university name;
- Include that you obtained a first degree for diplomas that are relevant to the role, and you believe will impress recruiters;
- Showcase relevant coursework, projects, or publications, if you happen to have less experience or will need to fill in gaps in your professional history.
PRO TIP
If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
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Key takeaways
What matters most in your php developer CV-writing process is for you to create a personalised application. One that matches the role and also showcases your unique qualities and talents.
- Use the format to supplement the actual content, to stand out, and to ensure your CV experience is easy to comprehend and follows a logic;
- Invest time in building a succinct CV top one third. One that includes a header (with your contact details and headline), a summary or an objective statement (select the one that best fits your experience), and - potentially - a dedicated skills section or achievements (to fit both hard skills and soft skills requirements);
- Prioritise your most relevant (and senior) experience closer to the top of your CV. Always ensure you're following the "power verb, skill, and achievement" format for your bullets;
- Integrate both your technical and communication background across different sections of your CV to meet the job requirements;
- List your relevant education and certificates to fill in gaps in your CV history and prove to recrutiers you have relevant technical know-how.
