Entry-Level Software Engineer Resume Examples & Template

Entry-level software engineer resume template

How to write an entry-level software engineer resume

Learning how to tailor your resume for the specific job(s) you want will help you stand out and land more interviews.

Entry-level jobs in software engineering can be challenging to land. If you’re a recent graduate or just starting your career, you’re faced with fierce competition from many candidates who likely have similar qualifications to you.

That means if you want to get hired, you’ll need a standout resume that shows you’re the right candidate for the position.

Follow these four simple tips for writing a strong entry-level software engineer resume and you’ll be on your way to an interview in no time.

Highlight your software engineer resume skills

Technical skills are essential for even the most basic software engineering role. As an entry-level applicant, your resume needs to put your coding and project management capabilities front and center.

Use the skills section of your resume to effectively present your best qualities and technical expertise to future employers.

If you want to showcase your proficiency in specific programming languages or software, consider using skill levels to give employers a solid understanding of your skill set.

Here are just a few of the relevant hard skills that you can list in your skills section:

• JavaScript, Angular
• Python, Django
• Git
• C++
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• CSS and HTML
• Mobile app development
• SQL
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Algorithms

Write a strong software engineer or computer science education section

If you’re a recent graduate and lack professional experience, your education is your greatest professional asset. Don’t be afraid to highlight it with a detailed resume’s education section.

Include basic information like your:

• Institution’s name
• Type of degree
• Years attended
• Relevant coursework
• Honors or awards

Create a projects section

Software engineers are usually expected to have a projects section on their resume, or a link to an external portfolio like Github. A projects section is a chance to show employers what skills you’ve applied to make a project come to life.

As an entry-level applicant, you may think you don’t have anything to put in this section. But think again!

Coding projects you carried out for school or for fun are great additions to your projects section.

In fact, any projects you list here will prove to the employer you have the engineering skills needed to complete technical projects from beginning to end, even if you don’t have formal work experience.

Here’s an example of how to include software engineering projects on your resume:

Tailor your entry-level software engineer resume to the job post

One of the easiest ways to quickly show an employer you have the skills necessary is to add information from the job listing to your resume.

When you can connect your own interests to the company’s vision, or your past experiences to the responsibilities of the role, it shows you’re interested in this particular job.

For example, if a job posting calls for experience with JavaScript, make sure your resume includes examples of JavaScript projects you’ve completed. If a company is seeking someone who has led projects, your resume should include evidence of project leadership.

For added impact, here’s what expert Krystin Morgan recommends:

When creating your bullets, show your value by starting with the impact as often as possible.

For example, a bullet like “Reduced loading time by 80% by refactoring student library website’s legacy JavaScript codebase” calls attention to what you accomplished right off the bat. The reader sees right away how your work impacted the organization.

Krystin Morgan, Career Coach at Amplify Career Services

Tailoring your resume also means removing any unnecessary information. As an entry-level applicant, you’re likely to have experience that isn’t directly related to the requirements of the position. However, feel free to include it if you can make a point of connecting these experiences to your qualifications as a software engineer.

For example, if you’re applying to a role where you would develop tools for sales professionals and you have a past sales job, it might be worth including to show you have relevant context.

Build your resume in minutes

Use an AI-powered resume builder and have your resume done in 10 minutes. Simply select your template, and our software will walk you through each step.

Build My Resume