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Software developer resume template: example & tips

Engineering managers and technical recruiters scan for your stack first, then for impact: which languages and tools you use, on what kind of systems, at what scale. A strong software developer resume describes projects with results instead of task lists – and links to where people can see your work.

Our pick

Mono Tech

PremiumATS-safe ✅

Why this template

Sober and technical: portfolio and GitHub sit right below your name, projects follow your experience, and skills and dates are set in monospace. Single-column, so applicant tracking systems read it cleanly.

Example summary

Your summary sits right below your name. Replace everything in square brackets with your own details.

Software developer with [number] years of experience in [main language] and [framework], focused on [backend/frontend/full-stack] development. Most recently owned [system] serving [scale, e.g. number of users]; experienced with automated testing, CI/CD and cloud operations. Works closely with product and design and takes features from idea to production.

What a strong Software developer resume looks like

Sample bullet points for your experience. Where it says [number], put your own figure – made-up numbers fall apart in the interview.

Hard skills

  • Languages such as TypeScript, Java, Python or Go – only the ones you really use
  • Frameworks such as React, Spring or Django
  • Databases: SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL
  • Git and code reviews
  • Automated testing (unit, integration, end-to-end)
  • CI/CD and containers (Docker, Kubernetes)
  • Cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure or GCP
  • Software architecture and API design (REST, GraphQL)

Soft skills – with proof

  • Explaining technical decisions clearly to product and business teams
  • Constructive code reviews
  • Ownership of features from idea to production
  • Mentoring junior developers

ATS keywords for Software developer resumes

Terms that come up often in job ads for this role. Only use what is true for you – ideally in the wording of the ad you are applying to.

Check your resume against these terms for free

Tips for your Software developer resume

  1. List only technologies you could discuss for twenty minutes in an interview. A long tool cloud looks arbitrary; ten honest entries look confident.
  2. Describe impact instead of tasks: performance, reliability, users, time saved. Where you don’t know an exact number, describe the scale of the system.
  3. Link GitHub or a portfolio only if there is something current there. An empty or stale profile hurts more than it helps.
  4. State your level and role on the team – tech lead, feature owner, on-call. It helps recruiters match you to the right opening.
  5. Mirror the order of skills in the job ad where it is true for you. Recruiters and applicant tracking systems both look for those terms first.

Salary

Pay depends on location, employer, experience and certification – a single number says little. For current figures by occupation, see the Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Software developer resume: frequently asked questions

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