How To Write A Programmer Resume: Example, Template And Tips

By Indeed Editorial Team

Published 5 July 2022

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

Computer programmers often work in teams to create software applications. A well-planned and formatted resume can demonstrate your software development experience and technical skills to hiring managers effectively. If you are looking to work as a computer programmer, it may be helpful to learn how to design a resume that highlights your computer science and technology background and relevant experiences.

In this article, we define a programmer's resume, explore how to create an effective one, look at a template and an example and provide a few resume writing tips to help you get the attention of hiring managers.

What Is A Programmer Resume?

A programmer resume is a document that software professionals usually use to convey their technical skills, professional expertise and certifications when applying for jobs. The resume highlights their qualifications and suitability for the role for which they applied. A programming resume is part of a job application document that may also include a cover letter and letters of recommendation, along with a portfolio of your programming samples.

How To Write A Programmer Resume

To write a programmer's resume that shows your qualifications for a position, you require including various sections. Following is a step-by-step procedure for organising and writing an effective resume for a programmer:

1. Review the job description and find keywords

Examine the qualifications, talents and traits provided in the job description to characterise the ideal candidate. Determine the ones you may utilise in your skills section and professional experience descriptions. This can help your resume look attractive and targeted, especially if the employer uses an automated system to filter candidates whose application documents lack the required information.

2. Add contact information

Include your full name, phone number, email address and location in the first section of your resume. Make this information concise and easy to locate. You may also include alternative contact numbers and your relevant online profile's uniform resource locator (URL). This can present employers with several options for scheduling an interview with you.

3. Include a customised objective statement

Write your professional objective in the third person. Address the organisation to which you are applying. You can also explain how you can assist them. Objective statements are normally between one and three sentences that best describe you as a professional and your accomplishments.

4. Add a work experience section to emphasise industry experience

Adding a work experience component to your resume might benefit both entry-level and experienced candidates. Along with professional experience as a programmer, you can use this part to mention internships, IT jobs and duties, training and courses you may have completed. Consider reviewing the job description for a list of desirable skills that you can add to your professional experience section.

5. Mention education information

A detailed education section is an excellent method to strengthen your resume for a programmer's position. Include the institution name and years attended, degree earned and the aggregate score, if applicable. You can list any relevant courses or training you have completed or pursuing and any awards or special projects you have worked on that may be relevant to the position for which you applied.

6. Create a section to highlight skills

The skills section becomes crucial when writing a resume for a programmer's role. This position requires certain coding, database and soft skills. Include your hard and soft abilities that apply to the job description. You can also use subheadings to distinguish between your hard and soft skills or use bullets to categorise the skills.

7. Create a section for certifications and awards

Certifications are another excellent approach to strengthening a resume with less job experience for an entry-level position. These can be useful for increasing your credentials because they reflect your ambition to continue studying programming languages and remain updated. Use a bulleted list to include the awards related to the job for which you are applying. With each award or achievement, include the name, year of receiving, name of the organisation that presented the award and any other relevant details.

8. Proofread the resume

After completing your resume, check it for accuracy and relevance. Proofreading your resume helps you ensure that the details you mentioned are correct and up to date. Before submitting your application, review if there are any spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. Double-check the details, like dates, names and location. Consider asking a friend or family member to read your resume and provide constructive feedback and implement them as required to better craft your resume.

Resume Template For A Programmer

Here is a sample resume template for programming roles you may use as a guide while writing your resume:

[Full name]
[Contact number]
[Email address]
[City, State]
[Link to portfolio or professional profile]

Professional objective

[One or two-line description of your programming skills, experience and career goals]

Work experience

[Job title] [Start date-end date]
[Company name] [City, State]

[Primary duties and accomplishments]
[Primary duties and accomplishments]
[Primary duties and accomplishments]

[Job title] [Start date-end date]
[Company name] [City, State]

[Primary duties and accomplishments]
[Primary duties and accomplishments]
[Primary duties and accomplishments]

Education

[Course name] [Course duration] [Grades]
[Institution name] [City, State]

[Description of major project or achievement]
[Description of major project or achievement]

[Course name] [Course duration] [Grades]
[Institution name] [City, State]

[Description of major project or achievement]
[Description of major project or achievement]
[Description of major project or achievement]

Skills

[Category 1]: [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]
[Category 2]: [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]
[Category 3]: [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]

Certifications

[Certificate title], [Name of certifying institution] [Month–Year]
[Certificate title], [Name of certifying institution] [Month–Year]

Sample Resume For A Programmer

Here is an example resume for a programmer you can refer to while writing your resume:

Rohan Seth
999 888 777
rohan.seth@email.com
Dwarka, New Delhi

Professional summary

A computer programmer with three years of experience in Java and Python looking to work as a software developer at Yellow Sun Limited.

Work experience

Computer programmer, Aug 2020-present
GrowthSync Computer Solutions, Nagpur, Maharashtra

Front end software developer
Initiate software testing processes
Resolve common client issues to increase application usage
Identify the scope of enhancement for existing software systems
Collaborate with the UI and UX team to create user-friendly web applications
Increase app engagement by 15% for existing web applications according to client surveys

Programming Associate, Jun 2019-Jul 2020
Alpine Leaf Technology, Indore, Madhya Pradesh

Collaborated on computer programming projects
Ensured software usability using diagnostic testing
Created debugging scripts for individual computer applications
Performed troubleshooting techniques to identify software issues
Communicated with clients to understand their programming preferences

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, August 2015-May 2019, CGPA: 7.9
Delhi Regional University, Dwarka, New Delhi

Skills

Soft skills: Team-oriented | Multi-tasking | Analytical-thinking | Problem-solving | Written and verbal communication | Customer service | Adaptability
Technical skills: Website development | Database management | Proficiency in multiple coding languages

Certifications

Certified Associate Programmer at TechLearn, May 2021
Certified Associate Programmer at TechnoScience Geek, Jan 2020

Resume Writing Tips For A Programmer

There are many strategies to strengthen your resume, even if you are relatively new to the field. Following are some tips you can apply to your resume to increase its effectiveness:

Highlight skills and experiences

If you have little professional work experience as a programmer, you can still highlight the areas you have achieved expertise. You can also include key projects, internships and volunteering experiences which you completed. Focus on your current qualifications and include detailed descriptions of the duties you have undertaken and the abilities you have learned.

Include figures to quantify success

By quantifying the success of your education or job experience, you may illustrate the impact that your effort and skills had on a certain field, whether during your academic career or in the workplace. For example, instead of simply mentioning that an enhancement improved user experience, you can say the action increased user engagement by 30% in a month. You can also use numbers to emphasise your abilities while mentioning your college score or performance in a coding challenge.

Highlight specific work experience

When you apply for a job, look at its job description to identify the specific technical requirements to perform those duties effectively. For instance, a job may require you to have proficiency in specific cloud technologies, programming languages and database management systems. If you have knowledge or experience working with them, you can specify their exact names to make you look more suitable for the job.

Demonstrate the desire to learn

If you think you may not possess the requisite skills to mention in your skills section, as you are currently developing them, you can prioritise skills that demonstrate your adaptability and ability to learn new skills quickly. This can show the hiring manager you are coachable and a fast learner. As the information technology industry continues to advance, it is important for you to show that you update yourself on the latest developments regularly, which reflects your desire to learn and can be beneficial for your application.