7 Programming Projects for Your Resume

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IT and computer-related roles are in demand as employment for these fields are projected to increase 16% from 2020 to 2030. In the rapidly growing tech industry, it’s essential to capture an employer’s attention when writing your programming resume.

Whether you’re new to coding or a seasoned programmer, having web projects on your resume highlights your technical skills and experience to employers, helping you stand out from the competition. It also shows that you’re:

Self-motivated and able to finish a challenging task from start to finish
Actively using your programming skills
Continuing to learn new frameworks and languages

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We’ve listed seven technical projects from beginner level to advanced so you can choose appropriate projects for your experience and skill set.

1. An online portfolio

Creating an online portfolio is one of the most basic requirements for programmers because it allows you to show off your skills.

By including a link to your Github repository (or another online portfolio) on your resume, you can show hiring managers fundamental coding skills such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It’s also the perfect place to display your other coding projects in progress, a process known as “learning in public.”

HTML and CSS are considered basic web page building blocks, so if you’re an experienced programmer, don’t include them on your resume. Instead, use the extra space to mention more in-demand skills such as Python, Bootstrap, JavaScript, Erlang, or React, or include skills directly related to the job.

2. Websites

Websites are a simple way to highlight your HTML and CSS skills to employers. And, since there are so many possibilities when it comes to function and design, creating a website is a great way to let your personality shine through as well.

For instance, you can highlight your qualifications and introduce what you’re interested in by creating a:

Restaurant website that features an interactive menu, allowing visitors to filter items by dietary restriction and price range
Directory of local musicians complete with profiles, sample tracks, and upcoming show calendars
Product landing page that includes persuasive copy, high-quality images, and seamless navigation

Additionally, you can integrate features like WCAG-compliant accessibility, custom graphics or animations, and user authentication to show your versatility and understanding of current web practices.

Finally, optimizing your site for search engines to improve visibility and traffic will show hiring managers that you understand the basics of online marketing.

3. Utility mobile or web applications

Adding specific applications to your programming resume conveys you’ve mastered the basics of a framework or language.

For instance, a simple task manager can show your proficiency with CRUD operations, and a foundation in backend development.

By contrast, a weather app shows your creativity with CSS and your ability to integrate external APIs, while a calculator app proves you know the basics of JavaScript.

So, consider the job description of the role you’re targeting, and choose a project that uses the skills and technologies listed there.

If you’re an advanced programmer, it’s a good idea to raise the complexity of your projects to impress potential employers. For example, syncing a fitness app with Google Accounts can demonstrate your advanced understanding of data management and cross-platform compatibility.

4. Games

When you write a resume for a programming role, adding games you’ve created shows your understanding of logic, data structures, and algorithms.

Consider making a Tic Tac Toe, Hangman, or Rock Paper Scissors game if you’re a beginner.

If you’re a more experienced programmer, replicate a more complex game like Snake or Chess using Python or C++ to show you can create high-quality content.

In addition, you can modify or create an original game with unique 3D characters and storylines using game engine software like Unity, Visual Studio, or Unreal Engine.

5. An API

Using search inputs is a valuable skill to have as a web developer. To showcase this, try adding a project that involves integrating an Application Programming Interface (API) into your work. This demonstrates your ability to interact with external services and manage data dynamically.

For advanced programmers, creating your own API can be impressive, since it lets you show off your proficiency in the following areas:

Manipulating data and graphics
Understanding client-server architecture
Fetching and sending information to and from HTTP servers

Employers often look for proficiency in XML and JSON when evaluating API-related skills.

They also want to see that you’re familiar with programming languages including Python, JavaScript, Java, or Ruby on Rails, and creating an effective API successfully communicates these skills.

6. Web scraping

Web scraping is a powerful technique for extracting data from websites, and demonstrating your capability in this area can impress potential employers.

By using your automation skills to scrape specific information and organize it effectively, you can create practical applications like populating an Excel sheet or developing a website that uses the scraped data.

An example of a web scraping project is to create an E-commerce website that compares prices, reviews, and product descriptions from various competitors. This project shows your technical skills and ability to gather and apply data for competitive intelligence.

If you’re already skilled at data analysis, take your project a step further by forecasting industry trends based on your collected data, and tailor this analysis to the specific needs of the industry you’re applying to.

For example, if you’re applying for a position that focuses heavily on marketing, you could analyze potential profit margins and predict growth in social media followers, such as for an Instagram or TikTok account.

Remember: When engaging in web scraping activities, ensure that you comply with the legal and ethical guidelines. Always check the terms of service of the websites you are scraping and avoid scraping data that is protected by copyright or personal data laws. Unauthorized scraping can lead to legal consequences.

7. Machine learning

If you’re writing a machine learning resume, then you should include a project that specifically involves using machine learning algorithms to solve real-world problems.

Machine learning projects on your resume can also demonstrate proficiency in ML without a formal degree in the subject. Aim to include a mix of traditional machine learning and deep learning.

Examples of machine learning projects to list on your resume include:

An image classifier that can categorize photos into different groups based on their content
Customer sentiment analysis to determine the prevailing emotions in customer reviews or social media posts
Stock price prediction using historical data to forecast future market trends
Voice or face recognition systems that improve security or user interaction for apps

Remember to highlight the specific technologies you used, such as Python, TensorFlow, neural networks, or support vector machines in the project description.

How to add programming projects to your resume

Here are three tips for including technical projects on your resume:

1. Decide where to list your programming projects

Where you add your programming projects depends on your experience and how many projects you want to list.

If you’re a recent graduate, you should include any technical projects that you completed as part of your degree in the education section of your resume (or, if you lack work experience, you can list them in a “Relevant Experience” section)
If you completed the projects on your own, you can create a separate “Projects” section and list them there
Any projects you completed as part of your current or past job can be listed in the work experience section of your resume

Give the projects section of your resume a specific name like “Technical Projects” or “Programming Projects” so employers can easily understand what kind of experience it includes.

Include this information when adding coding projects to your resume:

What to include on a resume web development project

name of your project
description of your work
how long it took you to complete it
tools and technologies you used
1–4 bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements for the project
link to your GitHub repository or online portfolio

Have a look at this example of an applicant’s programming project on their resume:

2. Include your most relevant technical projects

If you’ve completed several computer science projects, try to only list fully completed projects that are specific to the job you’re applying for.

For example, if a company is looking to hire a front-end developer who knows how to use JavaScript, list projects that use it.

And if you’re a backend developer with front-end experience, display your backend knowledge first. By focusing on projects proving you can do what the job requires, you show employers you meet their exact qualifications.

Knowing extra frameworks and languages is a bonus for impressing employers on top of meeting the job requirements, so include other interesting projects or coding skills in your work experience or additional experience section if you have space on your resume.

You can also mention your other programming skills in your resume skills section. Make sure you include the relevant skills and keywords from the job ad in your resume.

3. Include a link to your website or portfolio in the contact information section

Sharing your LinkedIn and Github profiles with employers is a great way to include your additional coding projects because they show you’re a versatile professional and highlight your involvement in other tech communities.

You can list the URL in your contact information section along with your email address and location. Here’s what that looks like:

YOUR NAME

City, State, ZIP

your.name@email.com

github.com/your-repository

linkedin.com/your-profile

Programming resumes (Sample Gallery)

If you’re still looking for inspiration on writing a strong resume for a specific web development role, have a look at our gallery of programming-related resume templates for some ideas:

Frequently asked questions about adding programming projects to a resume

Still unsure? Check out answers to some commonly asked questions below:

1. What kind of programming projects should I put on my resume?

Include programming projects that showcase your skills and are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Projects should demonstrate your problem-solving abilities, technical proficiency, and creativity.

Focus on projects that align with the company’s tech stack or industry requirements, and aim to include a mix of personal projects, academic work (if applicable), and any professional experiences you have. This will show employers that you possess a range of skills that they’re looking for.

Another tip is to showcase projects that solve real world problems or address specific challenges in your field of interest. This could include web apps, mobile apps, data analysis tools, or contributions to open-source projects.

2. Are Python projects good for a resume?

Python projects are good for a resume, because Python is a versatile and widely-used programming language. Projects developed in Python can showcase a range of skills, such as:

Data analysis and visualization
Web development
Automation and scripting
Machine learning
Game development

Focus on listing the Python projects that are directly relevant to your target position. This way, you can prove to hiring managers that you have experience with the specific Python libraries used in that specific industry.

For example, if you’re applying for a data science role, highlight projects involving data analysis, machine learning, or data visualization using libraries like Pandas, NumPy, or Matplotlib.

For web development positions, include projects that show your experience using frameworks like Django or Flask.

Nathan Soto

Career Expert & PR Specialist

Nathan Soto is dedicated to providing practical guidance to job seekers, especially people with nonlinear career paths. Nathan’s articles and career advice have been featured on multiple platforms, including Forbes, MSN, NBC New York, Memphis Business Journal, Newsweek, and Fast Company, offering insights into resume writing, interview preparation, and personal branding. Nathan graduated from the University of Nevada with a double B.A. in French and Music. In addition to writing, he also excels as a Mandarin–English translator.

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