How To Write an Entry-Level Software Engineer Resume
To break into the high-demand software engineering industry, you’ll need to craft a robust and accomplishment-driven resume highlighting your software engineering background, such as helping with tech issues and designing software solutions. You may find this especially challenging at the entry level, as you’ll only have limited work experience to showcase. We’ll provide expert tips to help you leverage your technical expertise and academic achievements to land your first software engineer job.
- Entry-Level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
1. Summarize your entry-level software engineer qualifications in a dynamic profile
Your profile section should show the hiring manager who you are and what kind of skills you have. Don’t sell yourself short, thinking you have nothing meaningful to put here because you’re at the entry level. You can list the skills you’ve learned through a degree or boot camp or focus on transferable skills from other jobs, such as troubleshooting tech issues with helpline customers or working as part of a team during an internship.
Professional Profile - Example #1
A results-oriented software engineer with entry-level experience specializing in designing custom software solutions and driving new feature development. A proven track record of coordinating with on-shore and off-shore teams throughout the application development cycle. Adept at defining user requirements and driving scalability for customers.
Professional Profile - Example #2
A software engineering professional with entry-level experience specializing in software development, computer science, Python, and JavaScript. A proven track record of executing complex technical projects to develop and implement customer relationship management (CRM) tools. Adept at developing custom software solutions for client businesses.
2. Outline your entry-level software engineer experience in a compelling list
If you’re applying for an entry-level position, you may not have much specific experience in the software engineering field to list, and that’s okay. For each job you’ve held, focus your description of your achievements and transferable skills. For example, maybe you identified potential cybersecurity risks or helped your team transition to a new project management software.
Even customer service experience can have value in some instances, especially if you’re applying for a job that involves interfacing with clients and non-technical users.
Also, make a point of quantifying your accomplishments whenever possible. Hiring managers don’t want to see generic qualifications. They want to learn more about the experience specific to your background. If your application streamlined manual operations for a company, provide a number for how many work hours this saved every year. If you were creating custom software solutions for large customer accounts, attempt to quantify how much the client was valued to create a sense of scope.
Professional Experience - Example #1
Software Engineer
Accelerated Software Solutions Inc., New York, NY | May 2020 – present
- Coordinate with the software engineering team to develop custom applications for enterprise customers valued at up to $700,000, including performing debugging activities and providing recommendations to improve user functionality
- Perform testing and support the development of features for mobile applications in React and Android environments
- Attend meetings with the project team to identify potential risks, resolve project roadblocks, and ensure compliance with user specifications and requirements
Professional Experience - Example #2
Software Engineer
StarTech CRM Inc., San Diego, CA | May 2020 – present
- Coordinate cross-functionally with the sales team and software engineering to deliver a CRM product for automotive dealerships, generating over $500,000 in annual revenue
- Drive new feature development to enhance product functionality, including the integration of a dashboard to streamline lead qualification processes
- Create scalable code, perform quality assurance testing, identify product defects, and deliver technical solutions for bugs
- Attend meetings with the software development team and senior leadership to discuss overarching product strategy and direction
3. Include entry-level software engineer-related education and certifications
If you’re looking for a job straight out of college, list your education on your resume. Many software engineers also gain experience and knowledge through coding boot camps and other nontraditional means, and this should also be listed here. Hiring managers may be looking for specific certifications, and if you have these — or are in the process of completing them — it’s a good idea to create a separate section for this so the reviewer can see at a glance you check that box.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Software Engineering
- Boston University, Boston, MA | 2020
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Completion Year]
Example
- Google Data Analytics Certification, 2021
4. Make a list of your entry-level software engineer-related skills and proficiencies
Even at the entry-level, hiring managers look for candidates with specific skills. You may see job descriptions with a long list of technical proficiencies or programming languages. But don’t be scared off from applying if you don’t have every qualification. Instead, list your skills and remember that soft skills count too. Coding and programming can be learned, but knowing how to work within a larger team and communicate with stakeholders who may not understand development language can be a huge plus. Here are some common skills you may see in job descriptions for software engineers.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Agile software development | AngularJS |
| Application development | C# |
| Cross-functional leadership | Data analytics |
| Data science | Feature development |
| GitHub | HTML |
| J2EE | JavaScript |
| Linux | .NET |
| Object-oriented design (OOD) | Oracle |
| Programming | Project management |
| Python | Scrum |
| Software development | Software development lifecycles (SDLC) |
| Software engineering | Software solutions |
| SQL | |
How To Pick the Best Entry-Level Software Engineer Resume Template
The main objective of your resume is to show the hiring manager what skills, qualifications, and experience you have — as quickly as possible. To do that, you need a template with a clean design that’s easy to skim. Look for one that is clearly organized, has headers for each section, and doesn’t look too crowded once all your information is added. Stick with a traditional font and size, and use bolding and italics to set apart text when needed.
Entry-Level Software Engineer Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Christine Lang
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Boston, MA 12345
Profile
A Software Engineer with entry-level experience specializing in application development, data analytics, cloud architecture, and Angular.js. A strong history of developing platforms to enhance data-driven decision making. Adept at identifying innovative solutions in collaboration with diverse teams and project stakeholders.
Professional Experience
Software Engineer, Enhanced Data Science Corp., Boston, MA
May 2020 – Present
- Conduct data modeling to analyze the performance of existing information systems for clients within the insurance industry valued at $100K-$250K
- Design user-facing analytics dashboards and build new features in coordination with the data science team to improve data collection processes for end users
- Support the build-out of data ingestion frameworks and develop monitoring solutions to improve data quality and integrity by 50%
Academic Experience
Software Engineering Projects, Boston University, Boston, MA
May 2019 – May 2020
- Designed and developed a mobile application to aid users in scheduling and monitoring appointments with real-time alerts, which included testing functionality, identifying bug fixes, and programming using Python
- Developed a fantasy football application using JavaScript to enable users to analyze and compare player statistics in real-time to determine scoring percentage and trade value
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Software Engineering
Boston University, Boston, MA September 2016 – May 2020
Key Skills
- Software Development
- Data Analytics
- Big Data
- Data Science
- Cloud Architecture
Certifications
- Certified Software Development Professional, Expected 2022
- Google Data Analytics Certification, 2021
Frequently Asked Questions: Entry-Level Software Engineer Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for entry-level software engineer resumes?-
The language you use on your resume matters, and every word should pack a punch when you must add a lot of emphasis in a small space. One way to do this is to start every line that describes a job duty or responsibility with an action verb. It's hard to develop a new word every time, so we’ve compiled a list of action verbs appropriate for an entry-level software engineer resume to help you get started.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Automated |
| Collaborated | Configured |
| Created | Debugged |
| Deployed | Designed |
| Developed | Integrated |
| Investigated | Maintained |
| Modified | Monitored |
| Optimized | Programmed |
| Prototyped | Resolved |
| Tested | Validated |
How do you align your resume with an entry-level software engineer job description?-
Software engineering job openings are expected to increase much faster than average, which is great news for those entering the field. But it’s still important to do everything you can to stand out as a candidate. Align your resume with the job description by including as many words and phrases as possible. Also, ensure any must-have qualifications are front and center to increase your chances of getting an interview.
What is the best entry-level software engineer resume format?-
Even at the entry-level, using a reverse chronological format for software engineering resumes is best. Although you may lack relevant work experience, you can still use this approach to showcase your academic projects with detailed bullet points. You can also reorder your skills, professional experience, and academic projects according to your needs. Avoid a functional resume approach; you can prioritize your technical skills without sacrificing detailed accomplishments and bullets.
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Entry-level positions often get hundreds of applicants, so you must do everything possible to stand out. One must-do is to include a cover letter. Cover letters are short and easy to create, but they can make a big difference in whether you advance to the next hiring round. Get tips on creating an exceptional cover letter by looking at these software engineer cover letter examples.
