IT industry has different profiles in both, hardware and software. If you are in the software domain, you are bound to have a high-paying job in the future just a few years after you start. A fat salary might not be the case in an entry-level position, but the software industry does offer some lucrative packages as you climb up the ladder and go on adding new skills. There are thousands of applications on the desk of a hiring manager, and he has very less time to skim through all of them. Hence, an individual aspiring to make a career in the software industry must write a resume which is a perfect mix of skills and experience. This not only grabs the attention of the recruiter, but also makes the person stand out of the pack.
A software engineer is expected to be an acute listener to pay attention to details, highly motivated to work under critical deadlines, and able to resolve issues. If you have all these skills, you need to communicate the same to an employer. The best way to do this is by writing a resume which is probably 1 - 2 page long, and includes all your skills as well as work history. Does it look like a tough task to do? You need not to worry as we have a few software resume samples you can refer and use
Fix your format:
It is important to decide on a format before you start writing your resume. Unless you have a two-decade long experience, it is advised to limit your document to a single page or at the max two pages. It should be written in such a way that interesting things get automatically highlighted and get prominently displayed. For this to happen, you need to fix on which format you are comfortable with – chronological, functional or a hybrid of both. Although the sections in all are almost similar, the way they get placed is slightly different and this could be the deciding factor for an employer.
Mention contact details:
The beginning of your resume must start with basic contact information. This comprises full name, current residential address, mobile number and an email address. Make sure you provide an email ID that sounds professional and also the contact number which is your own and in working mode. Email address like those made just for fun doesn't make any sense, and looks completely unprofessional.
Add a career summary:
While writing your career summary, don't go over 3 - 4 sentences. You need a job, and that is the reason you have written a resume. Hence, pack this short section with the educational qualification, relevant skills and experience that make you the most apt candidate for the position. It should be mentioned in such a compelling manner that it forces the hiring manager to glance at your application for a few more seconds.
Showcase your technical expertise:
Apart from the normal skills in which you have gained expertise over the years, the software resumes are going to have an extra section that focuses on technical skills. Listing technical prowess in 20+ languages is quite a remarkable feat but the employers are interested to know your area of expertise. The small subset shows your comfort level with specific languages, and it is better to be honest with every word in your resume. Showing off unnecessarily can be quite dangerous when you are not able to give satisfactory answers to the questions.
Employment history:
First thing to understand is, this section must be written in reverse chronological order. It means your current workplace must come at the top-most position followed by others. Write the company name, time you were employed there and designation. The highlight of this section must be the spectacular accomplishments you have got in the past. The biggest quantitative achievement must be the first bullet of the section. Fill this section with common buzzwords relevant to the software industry like launched, redesigned, modernized, created, managed, led a team and others. It helps probable employers understand your work style, potential, and how much you are willing to push yourself to achieve the target. Companies are looking for motivated employees who are complex problem solvers.
Education:
This should be mostly in the last section in a resume. If you are a fresher, you can include your GPA score along with the degree. However, if you are a professional and are at a mid-level or higher position, then only write the name of the degree, university and year you obtained it. This much information is sufficient to know about an individual's educational qualification. In case there are many applicants, a recruiter might even have a look at the professional certifications or other extra sections that make you different from others.
Along with these common sections, you can also include other sections that talk about the technical training you have received, professional affiliations, additional skills or responsibilities handled. However, one must not make the resume into a 10-page long document which is filled with jargon and extra stuff. Write a legible resume to the point with the help of resume samples available on our website. Customize them as per your need and get an interview scheduled at the earliest.
Checkout our sample software resumes below :
You can also use Resume software to create your resume.