Software Engineer CV: Examples, Tips, and More

According to Government Digital and Data, software developers, including software engineers, are the most in-demand of all tech and digital jobs in the Civil Service, accounting for 13 percent of all job postings [1].  

Although software engineers are in high demand, you should still prepare well before applying to job openings to help ensure you get the desired position. Many software engineer positions can be competitive, so it’s important to put your best foot forward when applying for a new job. A great CV is one of the best ways to do it. 

Explore three different examples of CVs for software engineer positions of varying levels. Also, discover tips to improve your CV and explore cost-effective online courses that can even help you expand your skill set today. 

Software engineer CV examples

Your CV lets you showcase your experience, achievements, and expertise to potential employers. What you choose to show employers will differ based on the precise software engineer job you’re applying to.  

Here, we analyse three different CVs for software engineers: one for interns, one for entry-level job seekers, and one for senior-level positions.  

Software engineer intern CV

Internships can be a great way for students and recent graduates to explore what it’s like to be a software engineer in the real world. Typically lasting only a few months, you can explore internship opportunities at large, established tech companies like Google or Microsoft or at smaller start-ups that may only have a handful of employees. 

Usually, companies want internship applicants to highlight their interest in the position or company, their knowledge of the field through relevant coursework, and any achievements or skills relevant to the position.

As an intern, your CV doesn’t need to be filled with years of experience but should instead clearly demonstrate your interest in developing into a future software engineer and what you’ve done so far to develop toward your goal.

Example:

Software engineer intern CV

Why it works

This CV is simple and professional and demonstrates the applicant's preparedness for an internship as a software engineer. 

The statement of purpose at the top outlines their objectives, while their related coursework indicates they’ve taken classes that can prepare them for the role. Ana also had some related experience as a university research assistant and a secondary school tutor. Best of all, they demonstrated their impact as tutors by noting that their students raised their grades by one letter. 

They’re also smart about what to include. Ana highlighted their education at the top, emphasised their technical and people skills at the bottom, and even described activities they’ve done that are relevant to the position. Ultimately, while they don’t have extensive professional experience, it’s clear that Ana demonstrated interest in the field and has done a lot to one day become a professional. 

Entry-level software engineer CV 

Entry-level software engineer positions provide a great opportunity for early career professionals or job switchers to gain experience in the field. Typically, employers don’t expect applicants to entry-level software engineer jobs to possess extensive previous work experience. Still, they usually expect applicants to be familiar with coding and programming languages and have a degree in computer science or a related field. A portfolio is also helpful in showing your experience and personal projects. 

If you’re creating a CV for an entry-level software engineer position, read the job description to identify your experience and skills that overlap with the position. Highlight these on your CV. Sometimes, you may not have direct experience in the field, but you may have a related experience that allows you to highlight your transferable skills. 

Example:

Entry-level software engineer CV

Why it works

This entry-level CV clearly guides the employer through the job applicant’s purpose for applying, related work experience, and qualifications for the role. Unlike the internship CV, this one lowers the education section because Adam has the experience that is directly related to the position that they want to highlight. 

Although the applicant doesn’t have extensive work experience, they have worked on personal projects and even participated in activities related to the role. Finally, they emphasise their skills at the bottom so that hiring managers can quickly identify what they have to offer the company. These factors ensure that the CV explains Adam’s overall preparedness for an entry-level software engineer job. 

Senior software engineer CV 

Once you’ve gained real-world experience as a software engineer, you’ll be ready to apply to senior software engineering positions. Typically, these positions involve more responsibility and may require you to oversee the work of other engineers. 

Typically, employers like to see job applicants who possess previous work experience that aligns with the role, have a comprehensive understanding of programming languages and best practices, and are comfortable taking on leadership roles. When reading your CV, they’ll look for evidence that you have the skills and experience required to take on a position requiring additional responsibility, such as leading projects and mentoring more junior engineers. 

Example:

Senior software engineer CV

Why it works

This CV for a senior software engineer position works because it clearly explains the applicant’s previous work experience, qualifications, and skills they bring to the job. Unlike the past two CVs, this one has an expanded work experience section, which Charly uses to explain the most relevant duties and responsibilities they performed at their previous positions. 

Furthermore, the applicant demonstrates their impact at their previous positions by specifically stating the number of software they developed in their former role (three), how many junior developers they’ve mentored (five), and the impact they had when optimising existing code (a 65-per cent increase). This information further reinforces Charly’s preparedness for the position and gives the employer a sense of how the applicant could help them, too.

Software engineer CV tips 

Hiring managers often only look at CVs for seconds. You must effectively highlight your experience, qualifications, and skill set in that period. That’s a lot to do quickly, but it's possible with some careful planning and intention-setting. 

Consider these tips to help you craft a software engineer CV that stands out. 

1. Format it properly. 

Your CV should be one to two pages long and include a header with your contact information, such as your name, job title, phone number, and email address. You should also include sections to describe your work experience, educational background, and relevant skills.

Sometimes, you may also include a section highlighting any notable accomplishments, certifications, or certificates, such as IBM’s Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate or Meta’s Back-End Developer Professional Certificate. 

In your work section, list your jobs in reverse chronological order and note your job title, employer, and the length of time you worked at each position. Describe key responsibilities using three to five bullet points below each title.

Finally, use an easy-to-read font like Helvetica or Times New Roman throughout your CV and cover letter. Use size 11 to 12 font throughout the body of your CV and slightly larger 14 to 16 size font for each section heading. 

2. Tailor it to the job. 

Although many of the positions you will be applying for will undoubtedly have many similarities, they’ll also have important differences that truly matter to employers. Rather than sending out one generic CV, it’s best to tailor your CV to each job. 

To do it, read through the job description and identify the duties that overlap with your previous work experience. Next, emphasise this experience on your CV so hiring managers understand your preparedness for the role. Finally, use your skill section to highlight any skills you possess that are also described in the job listing, such as your programming or leadership abilities. 

You should also consider peppering specific keywords in the job description throughout your cover letter, CV summary, work experience, and skills section. This can be a good way to get your CV noticed by the applicant tracking systems (ATS) used by many recruiters. 

3. Use action words. 

Action words for a CV are verbs that describe your previous work experience in impactful terms. Rather than using verbs like led or oversaw, consider using more descriptive verbs like designed, managed, or initiated. These verbs can help hiring managers better understand your impact elsewhere so they can start to imagine the value you’ll add to your new position. 

4. Highlight your transferable skills. 

Whether we realise it or not, we use many different skills every day of our lives. When applying for a job in a new field, you might consider highlighting the skills you honed elsewhere that could transfer to the new role. These transferable skills include everything from collaboration and teamwork to project management and statistical analysis.

5. Emphasise your credentials. 

It’s always a good idea to highlight any relevant educational training you may have undergone that has prepared you for a job as a software engineer. This can include any degrees you hold, continuing education courses you may have completed, or relevant certifications you have earned. 

Recent graduates with unrelated work experience may also highlight their educational training by moving their education section to the top of their CV, below their CV summary. 

Get job-ready with Coursera. 

A software engineer's CV should showcase experience, achievements, and skills. It should be tailored to the specific job you're applying for, and action verbs should be used to highlight your impact. Include relevant coursework, certifications, and transferable skills.

Software engineers are integral to creating the software and applications that power much of the world. If you’re looking to start a career as a software engineer, consider taking a cost-effective online course on Coursera to build job-relevant skills and prepare for your next job search. 

In IBM’s Applied Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialisation, you'll have the opportunity to build the foundation of your career by gaining hands-on experience with Git, GitHub, Linux, and Python, as well as the fundamentals of software engineering.

In the State University of New York’s How to Write a Resume (Project-Centred Course), you’ll review CV best practices, explore current trends with guidance from a professional career counsellor and recruiter, and exchange structured feedback with your peers as you polish your CV.