Software Developer CV: Complete Guide [+ Examples]

Your software developer CV is your ultimate weapon in your dream job-hunting arsenal. How to craft it as effortlessly as a master swordsmith?

Let us guide you through the entire process! Grab your keyboard and dive into the art of CV writing for software developers. And remember, no "null" values here: only endless opportunities for "exceptional" careers!

Let's begin, one line of code (and CV section) at a time.

This guide will show you: 

• A software developer CV example better than 9 out of 10 other CVs.
• How to write a software developer CV that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a software developer CV.
• How to describe your experience on a CV for a software developer to get any job you want.

Want to save time and have your CV ready in 5 minutes? Try our CV builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ CV templates and create your CV here.

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Sample CV made with our builder—See more templates and create your CV here.

Looking for CV examples for different types of professions? Check out the guides below:

• Engineering CV Example
• Web Developer CV Example
• Computer Science CV Example
• Graduate CV Example
• Internship CV Example
• Consultant CV Example
• IT CV Example
• Software Engineer CV Example
• Best CV Examples for All Jobs

Software Developer CV Example

1. Structure Your Software Developer CV Properly

Would you like to be forced to work with messy code? I bet not. The same goes for the recruiters and the CVs that they stumble upon. If yours will be pure chaos, then it won’t matter how qualified you are. They will go “Thank u, next” on you, just like Ariana Grande in her song.

On the other hand, a solid CV structure will make the recruiters' work easier, and they will be one step closer to realising that you’re THE ONE. So, how to structure your CV so it goes straight to the hiring manager’s heart?

• Choose the reverse-chronological format.
• Add a concise CV header that contains all the necessary contact information.
• Opt for classic and readable CV fonts.
• Set your CV margins to an inch on all four sides and your line spacing to 1.15.
• Divide it into clear CV sections. Highlight each with a CV header set at a font size larger than your body text.

Don’t forget to save your software developer CV as PDF unless stated otherwise. A PDF will open on most devices and won’t mess with how your CV looks.

Pro Tip: Fancy a CV writing hack? Don’t write your CV from top to bottom unless you feel like staring at a blinking cursor for hours. Start with creating a work experience section, arguably the most important part of any good CV.

2. Present Your Software Developer Work Experience

Time travel may not be possible yet, but your work experience can transport hiring managers to the future of software development. So buckle up, and let's showcase your coding adventures, leaving recruiters in awe of your technological prowess.

What should you keep in mind when writing this section?

• Use the reverse-chronological order by placing your most recent job on top.
• Make sure to list all the necessary details in each entry: job title, company name, and dates of employment.
• Go for up to 6 bullet points when describing each entry. These will make your work experience section more readable. Read the job ad that you’re targeting and keep your work experience relevant to its requirements.
• When presenting your work experience, use action words that exude efficiency and expertise. Think verbs like “implemented”, “ensured”, “created”, and so on.
• Don’t just list a generic list of your work responsibilities. Present your achievements and add tangible results. Use the power of numbers and quantify whenever possible.
• Use the PAR formula. This simply means that you present a Problem, then the Action you took and the Result you achieved. Such statements are super efficient at capturing your potential employer’s attention.

Software Developer CV: Work Experience

As you’ve probably noticed, this example lacks bullet points and fails to mention any achievements, sticking to just listing the candidate’s responsibilities. That’s not how you catch a busy HR manager’s attention.

Junior Software Developer CV: Work Experience

Even though this candidate has only eight months of work experience, they managed to compile a set of achievements reflecting their qualifications and effectiveness. It's a combo that no IT recruiter can resist.

This work and experience section is too vague and generic to catch the attention of a hiring manager whose desk is swamped with software developer CVs. 

Read more: Writing a CV for Work Experience Opportunities

When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional CV template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s CV builder will score your CV and tell you exactly how to make it better.

3. Educate Them on Your Education

You may be tempted to think that the education section on your CV is just like a Tinder bio – no one reads it. Well, you’d be wrong! Most IT hiring managers look at this as one of the essential CV sections.

The CV education section is even more critical if you’re writing a CV with no work experience. If that’s the case, present all your relevant academic accomplishments and extracurricular activities. Mentioning your favourite fields of study and listing relevant coursework is also a good idea, especially if you are still studying.

Have some work experience? Good news: you don’t have to expand on your education. Listing your highest degree of education in a very compact manner will be 100% enough.

Software Developer CV Template: Education

Read more: Student CV: Template + 20 Examples

4. Show Off Relevant Skills in Your Software Developer CV

Don’t just turn to Google to 'Ctrl+C' and 'Ctrl+V' some random software developer skills to your CV. You can do better and tailor your skills list to your potential employer’s wish list. Prove that their dreams can come true if they hire you. Carefully reading the job posting will give you valuable information about which skills they’re looking for.

Now, create a list with all your soft and hard skills examples. Think of it as a database of all your relevant skills, from which you can quickly select skills for your CV that any given job ad mentions. Analyse your work experience and stuff you’ve learned at school.

Software Developer CV Skills

• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Data analysis
• Software testing
• Machine learning
• Clean code
• Troubleshooting
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Critical thinking
• Adaptability
• Multitasking
• Attention to detail
• Cloud computing
• Change management
• Creativity and innovation

Ok, it’s time to create the skills section. Include a bullet point list of 5 to 10 most relevant hard and soft skills. If you know plenty of different programming languages, you might want to create a separate section just for your IT skills. This way, you’ll make your CV more reader-friendly.

Check out the example below to see how a software developer's CV skills section should look like.

Skills in Software Developer CV Example

Pro Tip: To ensure your CV looks even more convincing, check if the bullet points in your work experience section illustrate your skills. If that’s not the case, tweak the work experience section so that it illustrates your qualifications in a more tangible way. The devil really is in the details!

5. Consider Adding Some Extra CV Sections

Additional CV sections are what makes your CV stand out. Think of them as Easter eggs in an app. They’re not essential to a software developer’s CV, but they can be a pleasant surprise for IT recruiters.

What should you include in this section? Apart from listing programming languages and software, you can include relevant certifications, professional affiliations, and any conferences that you’ve participated in as a speaker.

Have you received any awards? Don’t forget to let your potential employer know how awesome you are.

If you don’t have much experience, you can mention your academic accomplishments, volunteer work, hobbies, interests or language skills. And this time, we don’t mean Python or C# but the ones used by all those mere mortals who think these two refer to a deadly snake and music theory definitions.

Software Developer CV Example: Additional Sections

Read more: Enhance Your CV with Relevant Hobbies and Interests: Top Examples for 2024

6. Craft an Impressive Software Developer CV Objective or Summary

Now it’s time to return to where we started. Go through your CV and compile the best bits into a CV introduction. Write a CV summary if you have more than one year of work experience. If you’re less experienced, create a CV objective.

How to write either of those? Just stick to this simple formula:

Creating a perfect CV personal statement is like writing a clean, robust code snippet. It should be succinct, impactful and make the HR managers want more.

Start by picking a powerful adjective that perfectly highlights your awesomeness. Next, select 2 or 3 of your top accomplishments and skills. Finish by telling your potential employer how you will add value to their company.

Take a look at the samples below to get a better grasp of how to write a CV summary or objective:

Software Developer CV Examples: CV Summary

Software Developer CV Samples: CV Objective

The first example showcases both the candidate’s competencies and enthusiasm to benefit the company. It also mentions the name of the company he’s applying to, making it more attention-grabbing. The second example lacks character, is too short, and delivers no valuable info about the candidate. They’ll be out of this world lucky if they get invited for an interview.

Pro Tip: If you’re a recent graduate, pick some of your most important academic achievements instead of work achievements. You can also mention your internships or volunteer work if they’re are relevant. Can’t construct a CV objective based on these elements alone? Simply let your skills play the first fiddle.

7. Don’t Forget to Write a Software Developer Cover Letter

You may think adding a short cover letter is not worth the extra effort because employers couldn’t care less. While it’s true that some recruiters don’t pay much attention to it, there’s still a lot of them who do.

Even if your potential employer doesn’t require a cover letter, they’ll still give you extra points for your effort. Plus, a cover letter is all the more vital if you’re not an experienced candidate.

Once you’re done with your CV, writing a cover letter would feel like a walk in the park. Just make sure it’s concise and showcases what you can do for the company you’re applying to.

Pro Tip: To be on the safe side, always attach a cover letter unless the job posting states otherwise.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your CV will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key takeaways

Still wondering how to write your software developer CV? Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Highlight your work experience by emphasising your accomplishments.
• Don’t forget to include your education section and expand on it if you have barely any work experience.
• Tailor your skills to the job requirements.
• Set yourself apart from other applicants by creating additional CV sections.
• Write a CV summary or objective to make a great first impression.
• Include a cover letter to polish your job application to perfection.

That's all there is to it! Now, it's your turn to share your thoughts:

• Which aspect of writing a software developer CV was the most challenging for you?

• What advice would you give fellow software developers crafting their first CV?

We're eager to hear from you! Share your insights and experiences with us.

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Sources

• https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/file/Resume%20Impact%20Statements_0.pdf