How to Write a Front-End Developer Resume (Step by Step with Examples)

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Learn how to format and write your front-end developer resume with this guide.

[Featured image]: A job applicant hands their front-end developer resume to a manager seated behind a desk.

Front-end developers build the client-facing side of applications and websites using programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create a functional user experience. 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of web development jobs is projected to grow by 8 percent between 2023 and 2033 [1]. Learning to craft a strong front-end developer resume is one step toward this fulfilling career path. 

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What do employers look for in a front-end developer resume?

Consider tailoring your resume to each desired role. Some examples of in-demand skills for front-end developers are:

  • Programming languages: Proficiency in front-end coding languages (HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and PHP), as well as popular frameworks like React or Angular. 

  • UI/UX design: Familiarity with user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) best practices to maximize a software’s accessibility, ease of use, and enjoyability.

  • Debugging and testing: Knowledge about cross-browser compatibility and testing tools, such as Modernizr or Browser Stack.

  • Responsive design: The ability to optimize applications across various screen sizes, resolutions, and platforms (including mobile and desktop). 

  • Collaboration: Experience working alongside designers and back-end developers. 

Step 1: Create a front-end developer resume template.

Start by formatting your front-end developer resume. Use a simple, easy-to-read font like Times New Roman or Arial. Keep your font size at 11 or 12 and include two to five bullet points briefly summarizing your achievements and skills acquired in past roles. If your resume focuses on skills rather than work history, include four to five bullet points beneath each category.

If you’d prefer a pre-made template, refer to Google Docs, Canva, or another resume builder. Check out this simple Canva resume if you want somewhere to start. Alternatively, open Google Docs and browse the template library at the top of the webpage. Three ways you can format your resume include:

  • Chronological: A chronological resume offers a linear snapshot of your career, starting with your most recent position and ending at your earliest. This resume style could be a good fit if your past roles were also in software development.

  • Functional: Functional (or skills-based) resumes emphasize skills instead of work history. Be sure to include valuable hard and soft skills relevant to your desired front-end development job. This can include transferable skills from positions in other industries. If you’re making a career switch, a functional resume could be a good choice. 

  • Combination: Combination resumes prioritize both skills and past employment. You can list skills at the top, followed by your chronological work history. These resumes are useful if you have a diverse professional background.

Step 2: Fill in your basic resume essentials.

Before compiling your work experience and skills, start by adding basic details such as your name, location, and contact information (email and phone number). You can also provide links to your development portfolio, GitHub, or LinkedIn profile.

Step 3: Add your resume summary.

After adding your name and contact information, consider writing a concise summary of your top skills and accomplishments. Your summary can be a short paragraph (two to five sentences) or bullet points near the top of your resume. As with your skills, you can adapt your summary to each role.

In a front-end developer summary, you might include statements such as:

  • Accomplished front-end developer with seven years of experience in web application design and development.

  • Experience in developing and optimizing responsive mobile applications.

  • Proven track record of designing and implementing mobile applications using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. 

Step 4: Showcase your front-end developer skills.

Depending on your experience level, you may choose to highlight different skills on your resume. If you’re a student seeking a front-end internship or an entry-level development role, you might emphasize fundamentals such as HTML or CSS proficiency. Mid-level and senior-level developers may include more advanced or leadership-related skills.

Remember to place your hard or technical skills (programming languages, etc.) above soft skills, such as written or verbal communication. Also, tailor your skills section to a specific role by referring to the job description—you may find various keywords and skills listed there.

Student or intern front-end developer skills example:

Skills

  • Proficiency with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

Entry-level front-end developer skills example: 

Skills

  • Understanding of responsive, mobile-first development 

  • JavaScript frameworks (React, Vu.js, AngularJS)

  • Basic UX/UI design principles

  • Problem-solving and debugging

Mid-level front-end developer skills example:

Skills

  • Application performance optimization

  • RESTful APIs

  • Web security

Senior-level front-end developer skills example:

Skills

  • Team leadership

  • High-performance architecture

  • Advanced optimization

Step 5: Include your professional experience.

If you’re writing a chronological or combination resume, you can use your professional experience section to showcase past or current responsibilities and on-the-job achievements. You’ll also want to clarify the years you were in a role, its location, and your job title. 

Some tips for writing the experience section of your resume include:

  • Emphasize your accomplishments, quantifying where possible.

  • Tailor your bullet points to each role using keywords from the job description.

  • Keep your formatting consistent.

  • Open each bullet point with an action-oriented verb. 

Keeping these tips in mind, you can create entries such as:

Front-End Developer, Company Name — San Diego, California

December 2023-Present

  • Strengthened website security, employing WordPress-specific extensions to detect and prevent 25 percent of unauthorized access attempts. 

  • Managed debugging and troubleshooting, repairing 500+ bugs and other performance issues. 

Junior Front-End Developer, Company Name — Los Angeles, California

June 2021-November 2023

  • Developed and maintained front-end code for 20+ e-commerce websites, creating re-designs and performing updates. 

  • Collaborated with a team of four other developers to produce and deploy digital marketing initiatives, improving conversation rates by 20%.

Step 6: Feature certifications, awards, and additional projects.

If you have any programming certifications, awards, or notable projects, you can dedicate a section to them on your resume. Highlighting these achievements can be especially valuable if you’re making a career pivot, or if you’re a recent graduate.

Examples include:

For certifications, remember to include the certificate title, its host organization, and the date you earned it (or your prospective earn date). When adding projects to your resume, include the name, dates of development, a brief description, and your role during development. If applicable, you can also provide a link to the project.

Step 7: Include your education.

According to Zippia, 72 percent of front-end developers have a bachelor’s degree, 15 percent have a master’s degree, and 10 percent have an associate’s degree [2]. Format your academic history in reverse chronological order, with each entry including where you went to school (institution name and location), what you studied, and when you graduated.

Key takeaways

  • Use a template so your resume is clear and organized. 

  • Use an 11-12 point, easy-to-read font (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman).

  • Chronological resumes highlight work history, while functional resumes highlight professional skills.

  • Include your work history and education in reverse chronological order. 

  • Tailor your skills and experiences to the role with keywords from the job description.

  • Emphasize hard (technical) skills and quantifiable achievements. 

Resources for general resume-building tips

Earn a certificate for your front-end developer resume with Coursera

Completing a certification program can help you strengthen your resume and stand out to potential employers. If you’re a front-end developer seeking to elevate your skills, consider the IBM Front-End Developer Professional Certificate or Meta Front-End Developer Professional Certificate on Coursera. 

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IBM Front-End Developer

Build job-ready front-end skills employers need. Master the development skills to plan, build, deploy, and test web designs and application interfaces in just 4 months! 

4.6

(884 ratings)

25,599 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 4 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

front-end development, Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, Mongodb, agile, Devops, Software Development, React (Web Framework), Front-end Development, Front-end design, Web Development, JavaScript, Web, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), User Interface, Wordpress, Front-End Web Development, UI/UX Designer, No-code, Website Wireframe, User Interface design (UI Design), Progressive Web Development, Figma, User Experience (UX), Responsive, Bootstrap, Grid system, Web Development Framework, Software Engineering, Software Architecture, Python Programming, Agile and Scrum, Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Webpack, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), javascript library, Debugging, Career, Software Engineer, Coding Challenge, interview Preparation, Full Stack Developer, Distributed Version Control Systems (DVCS), Git (Software), Github, open source, Cloning and forking

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Meta Front-End Developer

Launch your career as a front-end developer. Build job-ready skills for an in-demand career and earn a credential from Meta. No degree or prior experience required to get started.

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357,024 already enrolled

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Average time: 7 month(s)

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Skills you'll build:

HTML, UI/UX design, JavaScript, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), React, Version Control, Github, Bash (Unix Shell), Web Development, Linux, Web Development Tools, HTML and CSS, Responsive Web Design, Front-End Web Development, User Interface, React (Web Framework), Application development, Web Application, Web Design, Accessibility, User Experience (UX), Data Structure, Computer Science, Algorithms, Communication, Pseudocode, Test-Driven Development, Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), Unit Testing, Debugging

Article sources

1

US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Web Developers and Digital Designers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm.” Accessed January 24, 2025.

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