Crafting a CV that stands out to recruiters can be a daunting challenge for a software engineer amidst fierce competition. Our guide provides targeted tips and industry-specific examples to help you hone your resume and showcase your skills effectively, ensuring you make a memorable impression.
- Create an attention-grabbing header that integrates keywords and includes all vital information;
- Add strong action verbs and skills in your experience section, and get inspired by real-world professionals;
- List your education and relevant certification to fill in the gaps in your career history;
- Integrate both hard and soft skills all through your CV.
Discover more industry-specific guides to help you apply for any role in the links below:
Structuring your software engineer 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 software engineer 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
Use font size and style strategically to create a visual hierarchy, drawing the reader's eye to the most important information first (like your name and most recent job title).
The top sections on a software engineer CV
- Technical Skills showcase essential programming languages and tools.
- Work Experience highlights previous software projects and roles.
- Education and Certifications demonstrate formal qualifications and relevant courses.
- Software Projects section includes personal or open source contributions.
- Relevant Achievements underscore awards or recognitions in tech forums.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your technical skills by listing programming languages, frameworks, and tools you're proficient with at the beginning of your CV, as they are fundamental for a software engineer role.
- Include specific projects you've worked on, along with the technologies used and the impact of your work, as tangible examples demonstrate your real-world experience.
- Emphasise any experience with software development methodologies like Agile, Scrum, or TDD to showcase your ability to adapt to various project management styles.
- Quantify your achievements when possible, using metrics such as efficiency improvements, lines of code written, or the numbers of users affected, to provide context to your contributions.
- Document continuous learning or contributions to open-source projects to show a commitment to staying current and engaged in the software engineering community.
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Tips and tricks on writing a job-winning software engineer CV header
The CV header is the space which most recruiters would be referring most often to, in the beginning and end of your application. That is as the CV header includes your contact details, but also a headline and a professional photo. When writing your CV header:
- Double-check your contact details for spelling errors or if you've missed any digits. Also, ensure you've provided your personal details, and not your current work email or telephone number;
- Include your location in the form of the city and country you live in. If you want to be more detailed, you can list your full address to show proximity to your potential work place;
- Don't include your CV photo, if you're applying for roles in the UK or US, as this may bias initial recruiters' assessments;
- Write a professional headline that either integrates the job title, some relevant industry keywords, or your most noteworthy achievement.
In the next part of our guide, we'll provide you with professional CVs that showcase some of the best practices when it comes to writing your headline.
Examples of good CV headlines for software engineer:
- Lead Software Engineer | Full Stack Development | Agile Methodologies | AWS Certified | 10+ Years Experience
- Senior Java Developer | Microservices Architecture | TDD Advocate | SCJP Certified | 8 Years in Tech
- Junior Software Developer | Front-End Enthusiast | React & Redux | Graduated with First-Class Honours
- Software Architect | System Design Expert | DevOps & Cloud Solutions | TOGAF Certified | 15 Years Industry Leader
- Mid-Level Python Programmer | Data Analytics & AI | Django Framework | 5 Years of Progressive Growth
- Principal Software Engineer | High-Performance Computing | Security & Cryptography | Ph.D. in Computer Science | 12+ Years Expertise
What's the difference between a software engineer CV summary and objective
Why should it matter to you?
- Your software engineer CV summary is a showcasing your career ambitions and your unique value. Use the objective to answer why your potential employers should hire you based on goals and ambitions. The objective is the ideal choice for candidates who happen to have less professional experience, but still meet some of the job requirements.
Before you select which one will be more relevant to your experience, have a look at some industry-leading CV summaries and objectives.
CV summaries for a software engineer job:
- Seasoned software engineer with over 12 years of experience specialising in full-stack development, including proficiency in Java and AngularJS. Instrumental in leading the design and deployment of scalable e-commerce platforms at TechSolutions Ltd, resulting in a 60% increase in online sales.
- Proven track record in embedded systems and real-time software engineering, boasting 15 years of experience. Pioneered an award-winning traffic management system at CitySafe Inc, enhancing urban mobility and reducing CO2 emissions by 20%.
- Formerly a data analyst, adept in Python and machine learning, transitioning into software engineering after completing an intensive coding bootcamp. Demonstrated exceptional problem-solving abilities by delivering an innovative data visualisation tool that transformed client reporting procedures at DataWise Analytics.
- Experienced mechanical engineer pursuing a career switch to software engineering, equipped with recent certifications in Python and JavaScript. Developed and patented an AI-powered predictive maintenance tool, resulting in a 30% decrease in machinery downtime for HeavyMach Industries.
- Aspiring software engineer with a deep passion for technology and enthusiasm for coding, seeking to leverage strong conceptual understanding acquired through a Bachelor’s in Computer Science. Committed to contributing to development projects and eager to learn from experienced peers in a collaborative team setting.
- Eager fresh graduate with a BSc in Software Engineering, aiming to utilise a solid foundation in algorithm design, C++, and database management. Dedicated to continuous professional development and excited about participating in peer-programming sessions to build robust, user-centred applications.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your software engineer CV experience section
The CV experience is a space not just to merely list your past roles and responsibilities. It is the CV real estate within which you could detail your greatest accomplishments and skills, while matching the job requirements. Here's what to have in your experience section:
- Prove you have what the job wants with your unique skill set and past successes;
- Start each bullet with a strong, action verb, and continue with the outcome of your responsibility;
- Use any awards, nominations, and recognitions you've received as solid proof of your skill set and expertise;
- align your experience with the role responsibilities and duties.
For more help on how to write your CV experience section, check out the next section of our guide:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Successfully developed and launched a scalable web application using Ruby on Rails, resulting in a 20% increase in user engagement.
- Designed and implemented a multithreaded Java service that processed high-volume data streams, improving throughput by 35%.
- Collaborated effectively with cross-functional teams to deliver a highly available RESTful API in a microservices architecture.
- Completed a comprehensive code refactoring project for a legacy system, which reduced technical debt and increased maintainability.
- Led the transition to a Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipeline, resulting in a 75% reduction in deployment times.
- Contributed to open-source projects on GitHub, demonstrating strong coding standards and a commitment to community-driven software development.
- Implemented robust unit and integration tests to achieve 90% code coverage, ensuring high reliability and fewer production incidents.
- Applied agile methodologies and participated in bi-weekly sprints, daily stand-ups, and retrospective meetings to remain aligned with team goals.
- Optimised SQL queries and database schemas in PostgreSQL, enhancing system performance for thousands of concurrent users.
- Led a team of 5 software engineers to develop a scalable microservices architecture for a cloud-based SaaS product, increasing system reliability by 30%.
- Architected and implemented a continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline using Jenkins and Docker, reducing deployment time by 40% and facilitating daily releases.
- Designed and developed a real-time analytics feature using Python and React, which enabled the product to offer actionable insights to users, boosting customer satisfaction by 25%.
- Contributed code to major features in the company’s flagship e-commerce platform, impacting over 100 million users worldwide.
- Optimized existing back-end systems in Java, resulting in a 15% increase in efficiency and supporting a 20% growth in user traffic without additional hardware costs.
- Mentored 3 junior engineers, improving the overall code quality and team performance in development practices and agile methodologies.
- Developed and maintained the full stack for a B2B web application using Node.js and React, contributing to a 50% growth in the client base over two years.
- Integrated third-party services through API development, which expanded the app’s functionality and enhanced user engagement.
- Spearheaded the migration of the platform to a serverless architecture using AWS Lambda and API Gateway, reducing operational costs by 35%.
- Designed and implemented a new feature set for a mobile application in Kotlin, leading to an increase in the app’s rating from 3.5 to 4.5 stars on the Google Play Store.
- Collaborated cross-functionally to establish a user feedback loop that directly influenced the product roadmap and prioritization of features based on customer needs.
- Automated routine database maintenance tasks using Python scripts, which saved approximately 10 hours of manual work per week for the engineering team.
- Implemented a multi-threaded server application in C#, increasing the processing capability for client requests by 70%.
- Launched an internal tool to streamline debugging of production issues, improving the mean time to resolution by 20%.
- Collaborated with product managers to refine user stories and acceptance criteria, leading to a better alignment of development work with customer expectations.
- Assisted in the development of a web-based inventory management system, leading to the reduction of stock discrepancies by 60%.
- Engaged in thorough unit and integration testing, which upheld software quality and contributed to a 10% reduction in post-deployment bugs.
- Participated in code reviews and applied best practices, which improved team coding standards and enhanced the maintainability of the codebase.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your software engineer CV. Even if you don't happen to have much or any standard (full-time contract) professional experience, this doesn't mean you shouldn't apply for the role. Instead of a bespoke CV experience section:
- Showcase more prominently any internships, part-time roles, and volunteer experience that are applicable to the role and have taught you job-crucial skills;
- Feature a strengths or achievements section with your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your work or life experience;
- Write an objective statement that clearly outlines your values as a candidate and defines your career ambitions;
- List your education or certificates that match the job profile closer to the top of your CV.
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PRO TIP
Talk about any positive changes you helped bring about in your previous jobs, like improving a process or helping increase efficiency.
Key software engineer CV skills: what are hard skills and soft skills
Let's kick off with the basics. You know that you have to include key job requirements or skills across your CV. For starters, take individual skills from the job description and copy-paste them into your CV, when relevant. Doing so, you'll ensure you have the correct skill spelling and also pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. There are two types of skills you'll need to include on your CV:
- Hard skills - technical abilities that are best defined by your certificates, education, and experience. You could also use the dedicated skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies you're apt at using that match the job requirements.
- Soft skills - your personal traits and interpersonal communication skills that are a bit harder to quantify. Use various CV sections, e.g. summary, strengths, experience, to shine a spotlight on your workspace achievements, thanks to using particular soft skills.
Remember that your job-winning CV should balance both your hard and soft skills to prove your technical background, while spotlighting your personality.
Top skills for your software engineer CV:
Programming Languages (e.g. Java, C#, Python)
Web Development (e.g. HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
Mobile App Development (e.g. Swift, Kotlin)
Database Management (e.g. SQL, NoSQL)
Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
Version Control (e.g. Git, SVN)
Cloud Computing (e.g. AWS, Azure, GCP)
Containerization (e.g. Docker, Kubernetes)
DevOps Practices
Testing and Debugging (e.g. unit testing, integration testing)
Problem-Solving
Critical Thinking
Teamwork
Communication
Adaptability
Time Management
Attention to Detail
Continuous Learning
Project Management
Creativity
PRO TIP
If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
Your university degree and certificates: an integral part of your software engineer CV
Let's take you back to your uni days and decide what information will be relevant for your software engineer 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
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your software engineer CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.
