Programmer Resume: Example & Tips

Within the computer science field, three key professions play a huge part in designing and developing computer software: programmers, software developers, and software engineers. Oftentimes, you will find a programmer, a developer, and an engineer referenced as one another due to their shared focus on building computer software. 

While there are many similarities, keep in mind that the programmer solely focuses on the codes, the developer hubs around the design and setup, and the engineer manages the overall results for software development. 

If you find yourself a stickler for flawless coding, you are compatible with a programmer role. As a programmer, you might be responsible for: 

• Searching for errors and help adjust and debug the coding.
• Creating and writing codes that are reliable and operational.
• Reviewing and optimizing code.

Before you can work on the coding for the software team, you will need to write a professional programmer resume (or programmer CV). Whether you are building a java developer resume, a game programmer resume, a web programmer resume, a statistical programmer resume, etc., the following steps will help you perfect your computer programmer resume.

Just like in the coding world, quality is more important than quantity for resume writing.

✏️ Note the following things:

• Keep your resume at a page’s length. 
• Keep the layout design as reader-friendly as possible for the recruiter by setting the font size between 10-12 pt. and choosing simple fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman, etc. 
• Ensure your programmer resume has one-inch margins on all four sides and the line spacing is between 1.2-1.5. 
• Save your computer programmer CV as either a Word document or PDF file (more recommended).

The format of your programmer resume determines how you will present your background to the recruiter, and it varies based on your experience level and the sections you want to emphasize. 

• Chronological resume format
  • Most common
  • Not suitable for a programmer with no experience writing the resume

• Functional resume format
  • Focuses on your knowledge and skills 
  • Not suitable for experienced job applicants (such as one creating a senior programmer resume)

• Combinational resume format
  • Focuses on both experience and skills
  • Your resume can be quite lengthy

To ensure that you have all the necessary personal information listed at the beginning of your programmer resume, review the following checklists: 

The headline will be one of the very first sections the recruiter reviews to decide if your programmer resume is worth reading. So make sure it is attention-grabbing. 

✅ 3 tips on writing an eye-catching resume headline/title:

• Use capitalization for the headline of your programmer resume so that the recruiter can easily spot it.   
• Avoid oversharing all your strengths by limiting the headline of your programmer resume to 10 words or less. 
• Write a tailored headline for the specific programmer resume, either a python developer resume or a PLC programmer resume, you are creating.

The summary of your programmer resume gives the recruiter an in-depth view of what experience, proficiencies, and attributes you possess that are compatible with the programming position. 

✅ 3 tips for writing a compelling summary statement: 

• Build your programmer resume summary by starting with a powerful adjective or your job title.  
  
• There is a certain pattern to follow for creating a successful programmer resume summary: begin your summary with an adjective, followed by impressive work experience, and finish with a short list of programming skills for your resume.
  
• Avoid any bugs or unexpected errors in your programming resume summary by proofreading a few times.  

It is recommended that if you are developing an experienced programmer resume, such as a senior programmer resume, you should incorporate a strong summary statement. 

Otherwise, if you are forming an entry-level programmer resume, such as a student programmer resume, you will want to consider writing a career objective for a programmer instead. 

Regardless of the programming skill levels you write for your resume, start the skill section by deciding on how you will present your knowledge.

• Bullet lists: a basic outline of programming skills for your resume.
• Expanded bullet lists: in-depth outline of programming skills for your resume.
  
• Skills integrated with work experience: shows the relationship between your skills and work experience. 
  
• A categorized skills section: showcases a wide range of computer program skills for your resume in an organized way.

Programming Resume Skills Examples:

From volunteer work to full-time positions to Hackathons, the experience you have as a programmer helps your resume stand out.

✅ 3 tips for writing the experience section of your programmer resume: 

• Tip 1: Choose the work experience that matches the programming position to write in your programmer resume. With various types of programming jobs requiring different qualifications, you will want to create a suitable resume for a specific software developer position.   
• Tip 2: Document measurable achievements in the experience section of your programmer resume (e.g., the size of the data you tested or the percentage of the performance increase).  
• Tip 3: Optimize the experience section of your programmer resume with action verbs, such as integrated, facilitated, and extrapolated.  

When you write a resume for a programmer with no experience, the education section will become most useful in showcasing your strengths.

List your education right after the career objective for a programmer in your entry-level programmer resume if you're just starting your career. On the other hand, an experienced job seeker should place the education background after the work experience section on the programmer resume.

• Hobbies and interests
  • Include under an “areas of interest” section
  • Example: Raspberry Pi 
• Volunteer work
  • Include in the work experience section 
  • Example: Volunteer at Code for Fun 
• Certification and awards
  • Example: C++ Certified Associate Programmer  
• Projects
  • Example: Linux C++ Project
• References
  • Example: Mrs. Demy Swan | Department of Computer Science, former dissertation supervisor

• Contact Details:
  At the start of your programmer cover letter, make sure to have the essential contact information (same as your programmer resume): full name, email address, phone number, and address. 

• Introduction:
  Greet the recruiter or employer with their name politely and create a nice, small introduction about your background. 

• Motivation:
  The recruiter will be curious as to what made you apply for the programmer job position at the company. Make sure to elaborate on how you found the programmer role and what captured your interest. 

• Qualification:
  Promote your programming skills mentioned in your resume by providing detailed examples of what you have previously achieved. 

• Closing:
  Leave a good impression on the recruiter by concluding your programmer cover letter with a sincere thank you note. 

With the ten steps for writing a programming resume, programmer resume examples and the programmer resume sample you won’t need to risk making mistakes when writing your next programmer resume.