How to formulate a “great” software developer and web developer resume

The goal of a resume

Most people are under the impression that a resume is designed to give potential employers a good but brief look at their professional history. However, the real goal behind it is to convince these individuals/entities that you are worth interviewing with. A resume is a tool used to highlight the experience you have had in the market.

It needs to contain a summary of your skills and qualifications in a format that’s easy to read. By doing this, you are likely to attain more interviews.

However, writing a resume can be a tedious task, regardless of what kind of job you are aiming for. A resume needs to be just right if it’s to capture a job recruiter’s or hiring manager’s attention and score you the interview you want. You can write the resume yourself or hire someone to do it for you, but you need to stand out no matter which route you go.

While having excellent resume writing skills is a necessity for any occupation, standing out in a crowded field like information technology demands only the best writing abilities. Bear in mind that information technology has grown significantly within the last 20 years, and as such, the field has become stiff with competition. More and more individuals are choosing a career in software developing or web developing. There are many jobs within these two fields of information technology, but without an “on-fire” resume, you won’t be noticed among the many others who decided IT was the way to go themselves. How can you stand out?

How to write a “great” software developer resume?

If your career is focused on project-based jobs, the resume format will look a little different from a regular employer-based resume. Of course, no matter what type of resume you need to write, there are common elements contained in them. As noted above in how to write a resume, they are:

When writing the work experience, there are two options at your disposal.

For those with a more traditional career journey – people who have had full-time jobs with different employers – you should stick with a chronological resume format that lists your current or previous job first and the very first job last. If you’ve worked more as a contractor with multiple jobs with various companies, you need to use the functional resume format. This format ensures the list is based on project or specialization work experience.

Of course, the decision of which format is based will depend a little on the job you’re trying to land. Customize your software developer resume for every application. Add an employment history section for one application and use a project section for the other.

As a software developer, you’ll have a lot of technical know-how, but you should also have other abilities. Since resumes have a skills section, use the area to highlight what your professional abilities are. Software developers are constantly advancing themselves in their field to stay on top of the latest technology and programs.

Technical (hard) skills to learn and include for recruiters’ attention are:

• Text editors
• Databases
• Encryption and cryptography
• Integrated development environments
• Data structures and algorithms
• Programming, scripting and markup languages
• Networking basics
• Operating systems
• Cross-platform software

Some soft skills to mention include teamwork, ability to take constructive criticism, adaptability, approachability, empathy and perseverance.

4 key skills companies want software developers to have

There are some critical skills job recruiters or hiring managers are looking for from software developers. These skills include problem-solving, teamwork, analytical/strategic and intrinsic motivation. What is the importance of all these?

Software developer job requirements

Make sure to read the company’s software developer job description. Most companies will ask that a promising software developer be able to do the following:

• Research, design, implement and manage software programs
• Test and evaluate new programs
• Identify areas where existing programs need to be modified and developed them
• Write and put into action effectively-written code
• Determine practicality of operations
• Come up with quality assurance methods
• Create software tools, metrics and procedures
• Train users
• Collaborate with other developers, system analysts, business analysts and UX designers

Therefore, you want to tailor your resume to fit these job requirements. By doing so, you make sure that the Application Tracking System recognizes your resume as a potential contender. And, you also ensure that hiring managers realize that you paid attention to what the job entails and that you are sure you meet their qualifications.

One of the things recruiters and hiring managers look for is your education. Many software developers have gone to school and earned degrees in computer science, software programming and development, computer software engineering, engineering, mathematics, electronics and physics. It’s also good to have some type of technical background to demonstrate to the potential employer.

Make sure you are detailed about your experience and education, eliminating any jargon while doing so.

Other requirements job recruiters and hiring managers may require include the ability to learn new programs and technologies rapidly, having an interest in learning new things, think analytically, pay great attention to details, good verbal and written communication skills, and effectively communicate with colleagues about the complex processes.

How to write a “great” web developer resume?

Like writing a software developer resume, your web developer resume should be written in either chronological or functional format. However, you can also use the combination resume format. What is the combination resume format? It’s a mix between both the “reverse-chronological” and “functional” formats and focuses on the work experience and skills. It’s ideal for developers who have a bit of work experience.

With a web developer resume, you can include optional sections to highlight, such as projects, courses, languages, and awards and certification.

When it comes to getting the hiring manager’s or job recruiter’s attention, you want to use certain keywords that jump off the page. The most common words used that turn off any recruiter’s attention to a resume include - worked, managed and made. Avoid using these like the plague. The key is to stand out, not blend in with the rest of the “Reject” pile. Use what’s known in web development as power words. These words include:

• Conceptualized
• Determined
• Devised
• Established
• Formulated
• Initiated

Add in any hard and soft skills that web developer recruiters are looking for. Hard skills for web developers can include programming, debugging, DNS management, wireframes and Git. When it comes to soft skills, you want to showcase you can:

• Critical think
• Communicate clearly
• Collaborate with others
• Adapt (to ever-changing situations)

When listing the different programming languages you know, be sure to include your skill level – basic, intermediate, proficient, fluent and native. Be honest with your skillset, and don’t take on more than you can handle.

4 skills a web developer should have to be successful

Even if you don’t have web developer “work” experience, you can craft a resume that will capture job recruiters'/hiring managers’ attention and help you land the job you want. The key is to highlight the skills you have. Ask friends or family if they need assistance with a web development project or start freelancing. You can also develop your own website/app as a sample to include in the resume.

There are four critical skills any web developer (regardless of the preferred career) needs to have to solidify their career. Some of these skills you may already have, while others are some you’ll need to develop and foster.

Web developer job requirements

There are certain job requirements a company will require of its applicants. If you want to apply for a job as a web developer or something pertaining to the field, be sure to read these requirements carefully.

• Proven web programming work experience
• Excellent knowledge in programming that includes HTML/CSS
• Fluency in one or more programming languages such as Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, .NET, ASP and PHP
• In-depth understanding of the way web applications work, including but not limited to: session management, security, best development practices
• Sufficient understanding of web application development, Object-Oriented Programming and other regional database systems
• Strong problem diagnosis and creative problem-solving skills
• Solid organizational skills to multitask on various projects within timeline constraints and budgets
• Can learn and work quickly in a fast-paced environment with various techniques and technologies

Your resume should be customized to fit those requirements to ensure the ATS recognizes your application and send it to the employer. If a company uses only a hiring manager, make sure that resume is dotted with keywords to capture their attention.

Writing your resume summary statement

Whether you are writing a resume summary for a software developer or web developer position, it’s vital to boost the achievements you have had. This is not the place to exaggerate what you have done and your skills. See it as the elevator pitch to getting noticed! It’s a place to highlight yourself and your accomplishments.

The key is to give potential employers some insight and feeling into who you are personally, the kind of personality you have and what you have ascertained in the field – be it as a software developer or a web developer.

Go ahead and brag a little here, which is what you want to do so employers know why you should be hired for their position. When writing, consider all your successes that you are proud of and mention them. Since you have four sentences or less to improve a hiring official, you need to focus on the critical ones. On top of those successes, consider the qualities that make you a great employee.

Above all else, think of yourself as a recruiter/hiring manager wading through hundreds of applications/resumes. How do you weed out the good from the not even? You have just mere seconds to capture their attention. This summary section is prudent to make yourself stand out. It should be added to the top of the resume, under the contact information section.

ATS can affect your ability to be seen

Although there are many software and web developer positions available, you need to consider long and hard about what you’ll say that will present yourself in a light that leans favorably in your position with job recruiters and hiring managers.

For those companies that use a hiring manager or job recruiter, action verbs are a necessity to spark interest. You may have an excellent background in the IT software development field, but if you can’t demonstrate your skills in a highly creative way, then your resume is going to be tossed into the reject pile. Some great ways to describe the hard skills include:

• Analyzed
• Applied
• Enhanced
• Modified
• Rebuilt
• Solved
• Verified

When it comes to action verbs for soft skills, words such as the following can generate interest

• Advocated
• Conceptualized
• Expedited
• Motivated
• Negotiated
• Persuaded

How you word something will make a vast difference between a good resume and a great resume.

Resume formatting

No matter what job you are applying for, your resume should be formatted correctly to be noticed. Therefore, keep these crucial tips in mind:

Never use images or graphics the ATS will have a hard time with. You also want to explain any gaps in unemployment. Stick to these guidelines and present yourself (resume) with a little ingenuity to land the job you really want.

Is A Cover Letter A Necessity?

More and more people are opting not to include a cover letter with their resumes. However, you may wonder if this is a mistake. The purpose of a cover letter is to sell yourself to the company. You do this by detailing the hiring manager which job you are applying for and why you’d be a fit for their company.

With software development, there is consensus on how creative you need to be. What can you do that will bring out the air of creativity without using graphics? Since your resume competes with many others, you want to ensure the ATS program sends your resume to the recruiter who you want to impress with your talents. Give them a design that they’ll remember.

Remember that recruiters skim through the first couple of lines to determine if you really paid attention to their requirements. Be as detailed as you can here, without a lot of jargon. Once you’ve gotten their attention, the body should include why you chose them, what they do, how your skills are pertinent to the job and what industries you have previously worked in.

When you finish it up, be sure to thank them for their time and let them know you look forward to speaking with them at their earliest convenience. The key is to end the cover letter professionally. Now you know how to write a resume for a developer and a resume for a junior developer. To increase efficiency, use the online constructor.