With the pandemic accelerating the pace of digital transformation, software developers are in greater demand than ever. In fact, two-thirds of HR professionals said finding software developers was their biggest recruiting challenge in 2021, according to research by CodinGame.
It’s no wonder recruiters treat experienced software developers like “labour market royalty.” Despite high demand, your resume still needs to pass the automated screening process and reach out to hiring managers if you want to land an interview.
In this guide, we’ll cover the main steps to creating an effective software developer resume, as well as some things hiring managers look for in a software developer who can thrive in the increasingly complex technical environment. of today.
Characteristics of an Effective Software Developer Resume
Forget about subjective terms and clichés like “results-oriented performer” or “good communicator,” advised Karen Kowal, certified resume writer, executive coach and former engineer and vice president of technology for American Express.
When hiring managers review resumes for a purely technical role, they’re looking for proficiency in a specific tech stack or specialized skill set that matches the job requirements. With approximately 99% of Fortune 500 companies using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen and screen applicants, your resume must be personalized and demonstrate a match between your skills and the job description to pass the automated screening process. as well as the human. examiners.
The first step is to thoroughly analyze the job posting to identify the unavoidable requirements. Then, apply search engine optimization (SEO) techniques by incorporating the specific keywords (technical skills) from the job description into your resume each time you apply for a position.
Is it absolutely necessary to personalize your CV for each application? Kowal put it this way: “The only exception to the rule is when you really don’t want the job.” I get it.
However, it is not enough to sprinkle your CV with keywords, it must be done effectively. Since ATS ranking resumes based on relevance, the quantity and frequency of keywords in your document matters, as does the order of the keywords. The bottom line: Listing the same words in the same order as what’s in the job description increases the likelihood that your resume will be read.
To optimize for keywords, Kowal uses a “bookend” technique. She lists new skill areas that match the job description in the top third of a resume, immediately below the developer’s keyword-rich branding statement. Here is an example :
.NET Full Stack Developer | Senior IT Developer
Senior full stack developer with over 10 years of experience developing .NET, web and cloud applications. Specialize in interpreting/clarifying business requirements to build software, in Scrum and Agile environments, that exceeds customer needs. Recognized for his ability to lead the development of complex projects, improve code quality and introduce innovation into the process producing better results. Won 3rd place in FDR’s 2018 Innovation Awards program. Skill areas include:
· UI / UX · Front End & Back End Development · SaaS Development
Digital Platforms Responsive Web Design AWS Cloud and Migration
· RESTful API · Object-oriented design and programming · Agile, Scrum, Waterfall
It also includes a toolbox or list of technical skills at the very end of a resume:
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Operating systems: Windows, Unix, Linux, iOS
Languages: HTML5, CSS, C#, JavaScript, Angular 8, PHP, SQL, PL/SQL
Methods: Agile, Waterfall, Scrum
Tools: .NET Framework, Oracle, SQL Server, PL/SQL, Visual Studio, Intelli J, NetBeans, Selenium, Web Tests, NUnit, JMeter, Telerik, NuGet, oAuth, jQuery, Jira, GIT, VSTS
Technology: .NET Core, Drupal, ASP.NET, .NET, AWS Cloud, Restful APIs
Design: Object Oriented (OOD, OOP), Microservices, Database
How to Write a Profile Summary
Your brand statement is how you market yourself and communicate the value you offer to a potential employer. It should focus on what you are good at and what you are recognized for. To ensure it resonates with the hiring manager, a brand statement should link your experiences to the job using keywords and job description requirements.
It’s also a good idea to list one or more generic job titles under your name and contact information. A well-constructed title can help you convey what you are looking for and exceed an ATS. Here is an example :
Full Stack .NET Developer * Senior IT Developer * Project Manager
How to write a summary of work experience
Placing keywords strategically throughout your work experience summary is another way to increase optimization and grab the attention of hiring managers. However, hiring managers also want to see how you applied your skills and how the applications, services or “things” you developed or the people you trained impacted the company and its bottom line.
“Hiring managers interpret the things you’ve done at your previous companies as what you can do for them,” Kowal explained.
For maximum impact, below a brief description of each position, use bullet points and the PAR diagram to illustrate your technical prowess and most recent accomplishments:
- What was the problem?
- What action did you take and what skills did you use?
- What was the results?
Kowal offered these examples:
First data resources – Omaha, NE Jan 2016—July 2020
Senior IT Developer – Product Engineering
Full stack developer and Scrum team member developing loyalty products and new loyalty features used by Fortune 500 companies including retail, travel, financial services and entertainment.
- Advanced skills in MVC, C#, ASP.NET, .NET Core, Restful APIs, VB.NET, Angular 8, PL/SQL, Selenium, WebTests, HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, Drupal and PHP used for complex development .
- Lead the design, documentation and alignment of processes, test plans and user acceptance in an Agile environment. Met the 10 week schedule.
- Development of the “Refer-A-Cardholder” function to increase the value and reach of loyalty programs, including websites accessible to the blind and visually impaired by introducing a screen reader.
- Improved performance by developing load automation tests using Visual Studio 2019 and JMeter.
- Enhanced security of Angular-based applications ensuring specific authorization and privileges for user eligibility (customer audience) based on promotional offers.
- Eliminate disk space resource issues by directing the successful migration of internal service CRM batch files to the AWS Cloud.
- Improved ability for customers to manage all product functionality using Restful web APIs to enhance backend functionality.
Final Tips and Features of an Effective Software Developer Resume
To encourage reviewers to read your software developer resume, limit the length to no more than two pages. If necessary, list additional positions at the end of the document, but keep in mind that it’s best to focus on your most recent jobs and in-demand skills. Also…
Your CV must be machine readable and humans: A .docx file or a PDF file is generally compatible with ATS and human reviewers.
Improve your ranking: Use a free tool like Jobscan or Resume Worded to compare your resume to a specific job description, make changes, add the right keywords, and land more interviews.
Be sure to include hot certifications, recent courses, and links to working/coding samples: Demonstrate a passion and commitment to lifelong learning by including best certifications and recent courses. Be sure to include links to side projects, open source projects, or GitHub coding samples that used the skills needed for the job. (Also, more specialization and skills will allow you to potentially negotiate a higher salary.)
