The software engineer role is one of the most popular in the tech industry. One thing you can do to make yourself stand out to recruiters and hiring managers is to create a CV that sets you apart from the rest of the pack.
The software engineer role is one of the most popular in the tech industry. However, with such an appeal to candidates, the competition for these positions can be much fiercer than for other jobs. Understanding how to become a software engineer involves a number of steps to make yourself a suitable recruit.
One thing you can do to make yourself stand out to recruiters and hiring managers is to create a CV that sets you apart from the rest of the pack. It’s one of the most important documents a job seeker will ever create, so learning what to include for a great resumé is a perfect way to boost your chances of gaining employment.
As technology continues to advance, so does the need for talented software engineers. These professionals are responsible for the design, management and maintenance of software applications and apply engineering principles to build solutions for end users.
That could mean creating and maintaining operating systems, developing computer games, designing applications, or many other paths. In the modern world, these experts work across almost every industry and, as a result, software engineering can prove to be both a challenging and gratifying career option.
Just like any CV, the main thing recruiters and employers will be looking for is to ensure you would be a good match for the job. This means it’s vital to demonstrate your skills and experience in a way that pairs well with the specific position you are applying for.
So, if you are uploading your CV to a company that needs an engineer with strong Java skills, mould your resumé to list how you’ve used that specific programming language in previous projects.
In IT fields, you might expect hiring managers to focus much more on your technical expertise, but don’t overlook the fact that employers want candidates who can demonstrate key soft skills, such as communication, leadership and interpersonal capabilities.
A fantastic software engineer CV displays a clear narrative of who you are and how you would be a great fit for the job. So, beyond just stating your work experience, a resumé should be tailored to the role you are applying for.
User experience (UX) is an important aspect of writing a solid CV because a hiring manager will be able to recognise a resumé that’s been copied and pasted to multiple jobs. Additionally, some organisations use software to scan your credentials for relevant terms to determine if you should be considered for the vacancy.
The best way to implement positive UX within your CV is by taking the time to properly read and understand the job description. Note the skills and responsibilities the company is looking for and make sure to tailor your resumé to match them.
If a recruiter is looking at your CV, they are probably looking at many others, too. This means the key information about your skills and experience should be immediately visible and easy to follow.
Avoid choosing design elements that make it more difficult to scan your CV and divide the information into digestible, clear areas, such as skills, education and experience. If you do want to implement some design aspects, consider building an online portfolio to submit alongside your resumé.
An effective resumé should be made up of your personal profile; relevant software engineer skills; education and qualifications; industry certifications and training; and hands-on work experience. All of these sections should be written with reference to the software engineer job description to demonstrate you’re an ideal candidate for the software engineer role.
Any professional memberships and extracurricular activities that show you’ll be a well-rounded employee are also worth including. Your software engineer CV should be submitted with a list of your most recent references, a portfolio of your work and a cover letter to the hiring manager.
The rise of hybrid and remote working patterns has significantly increased the demand for cloud-native development skills and, as such, these skills are looked upon favourably by employers to facilitate agility.
DevOps skills are in high demand, as professionals working in this area boost the efficiency and productivity of their organisations, with increases in recovery times and faster security mitigation.
Research from Zippia revealed that automation is expected to create 58 million jobs in the US by 2030. This trend is prevalent across the globe and as more organisations adopt these processes, it’s vital to demonstrate that you can embrace the new technologies.
This is the end-to-end development of software and applications, including both the front end and back end. Engineers are adept at communicating, programming and management skills, whilst also being responsible for the technologies involved and boosting efficiency.
Use this resumé template when applying for your next software engineering job:
This first section of your software engineer CV must cover essential information like your name, address, phone number, email address and a link to your professional profile. If you’re prepared to move away from your locality, it’s worth adding a note to this effect near your address.
Use the professional summary as an opportunity to differentiate yourself from other software engineering candidates. Keep it to a digestible two or three sentences long, with an emphasis on your suitability for the job, making reference to areas such as your problem solving abilities, the programming languages you know and any machine learning experience you may have.
Present the hiring manager with an easy-to-scan bullet point list of the most important skills you possess to fulfil the role of software engineer. From understanding data structures to proficiency in software development, mark off your competencies against the job description.
As well as listing your professional experience, along with the relevant dates, outline your responsibilities and achievements while in each role. Demonstrate when you’ve worked successfully in a team and occasion when you met aims on your own, adding any metrics to quantify your wins.
On top of the name of each institution, the dates you attended and the course you took, add any leadership roles or academic awards you achieved during these periods. This will show that you didn’t just get a computer science degree, for example, but were able to manage the workload alongside additional responsibilities.
Without repeating anything you’ve included in the section above, highlight any certifications you’ve gained from industry bodies. Thes might include the Certified Software Engineer (CSE) accreditation from the Institute of Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP) or C++ Institute certifications.
A separate section for programming languages is essential on your software engineer resumé, because not spotting them straight away could lead to you going in the reject pile. Lay the languages out in bullet points with the ones you’re most proficient at topping the list.
The interests section of your CV is a chance to demonstrate your personality and show how you’ll fit into the culture of the company. Resist the urge to add long lists of activities that aren’t relevant to the role.
Ready to find the perfect next step in your career? Take a look at our current software engineers vacancies today to get started.
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