Software Engineer Resume: Examples, Tips, and More

Software developers are in high demand, and an increasingly technical job market needs candidates with these skills. 

Yet, even though India’s job market is favorable for software engineers, it’s still important to prepare for any job openings to ensure you stand the highest chance of success. Many software engineer positions can be competitive, so putting your best foot forward when applying for a new job is essential. A well-crafted resume is one of the best ways to do it. 

Discover tips to improve your software engineer resume and explore three examples of resumes for software engineer positions of varying levels. 

Software engineer resume examples

Think of your resume as an opportunity to 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.  

Explore three different resumes for software engineers, including one for interns, one for entry-level job seekers, and one for senior-level positions that you can use and adapt. 

Software engineer intern resume

Internships can be an excellent 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 might find internships at large, established tech companies like Google or Microsoft. Alternatively, you could pursue one 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. Additional helpful details include your knowledge of the field through relevant coursework and any achievements or skills pertinent to the position.

As an intern, your resume doesn’t need to contain years of experience. Still, it should instead clearly demonstrate your interest in developing into a future software engineer and what you’ve done so far to grow toward your goal.

Example:

Software engineer intern resume

Why it works

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

The summary at the top outlines personal objectives, whilst related coursework indicates preparedness for the role. Amir also has some relevant experience as a research assistant and tutor. Best of all, the resume demonstrates the impact made as a tutor by noting learners’ enhanced grades. 

The resume is thoughtfully organised, with education prominently featured, technical and interpersonal skills well-highlighted, and relevant activities described. Despite limited professional experience, Amir’s resume effectively conveys a strong interest in the field and proactive steps taken towards a future career.

Entry-level software engineer resume 

Entry-level software engineer positions provide wonderful opportunities 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. However, they usually expect applicants to have a familiarity with programming languages, experience working with teams, and hold at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. 

If you’re creating a resume 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 resume. In some cases, you may not have direct experience in the field, but you may have relevant experience that allows you to highlight your transferable skills. 

Finally, go ahead and apply for entry-level jobs with extensive “job requirements,” as these usually just describe the ideal applicant rather than the most realistic one. In fact, many employers are still happy to hire those without the “perfect” background. 

Example:

Entry-level software engineer resume

Why it works

This entry-level resume clearly outlines the applicant’s purpose for applying, relevant work experience, and qualifications for the role. Unlike the internship resume, this one puts the education section lower because Naya has experience that is directly related to the desired position. 

Although extensive work experience is lacking, the resume showcases personal projects and participation in relevant activities. Finally, skills are prominently emphasised at the bottom so hiring managers can quickly make calls. All of these factors ensure that the resume plainly explains Naya’s overall preparedness for an entry-level software engineer job. 

Senior software engineer resume 

Once you’ve gained some 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 even 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 looking at your resume, they’ll be looking to see that you have the skills and experience they require to take on a position that includes additional responsibility, such as leading projects and mentoring more junior engineers. 

Example:

Senior software engineer resume

Why it works

This resume for a senior software engineer position very clearly explains the applicant’s previous work experience, qualifications for the position, and the skills pertinent to the job. Unlike the previous two resumes, this one has an in-depth work experience section, which Arnav uses to explain the most relevant duties and responsibilities performed in prior positions. 

Furthermore, the applicant illustrates the impact achieved in previous roles by noting the development of three software applications, the mentoring of five junior developers, and a 65 per cent increase in software performance through code optimisation. All this information further reinforces Arnav’s preparedness for the position and gives the employer a sense of how the applicant could help them too.

Software engineer resume tips 

Hiring managers often only look at resumes for seconds. In that span of time, you must effectively highlight your experience, qualifications, and skill set. That’s a lot to do in a short amount of time, but with some careful planning and intention-setting, it’s possible. 

Discover some tips to help you craft a software engineer resume that stands out from the crowd. 

1. Format it properly. 

Your resume should only span one to two pages if you’re early in your career, with three pages maximum if you are very senior. Always include a header with your contact information, such as your name, job title, phone number, and email address, with your city if you wish. You should also include sections to describe your work experience, educational background, and relevant skills.

In some cases, you may also include a section highlighting any notable accomplishments or certifications, 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 that 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 resume and cover letter. Use size 11 to 12 font throughout the body of your resume and a slightly larger 14-size font for each section heading. 

2. Tailor it to the job. 

Although many of the positions you apply for will undoubtedly have many similarities, they’ll also have significant differences that genuinely matter to employers. Rather than sending out one generic resume, consequently, it’s best to tailor your resume to each job. 

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

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

3. Use action words. 

Action words are verbs that describe your previous work experience in impactful terms. Rather than use run-of-the-mill verbs like lead or oversee, consider using descriptive verbs like design, manage, or initiate. These kinds of 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. 

You use many different skills every day of your life. 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 are called your transferable skills and can 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, or relevant certifications. 

If you are a recent graduate lacking relevant work experience, you may also choose to highlight your educational training by moving your education section to the top of your resume, below your resume summary. 

Boost your software engineer resume and get job-ready on Coursera 

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

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

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