Software Developer Resumes: Showcase Your Coding Abilities—And Impact
Your software developer resume needs to demonstrate that you've got solid coding chops—whether you're working on a relatively quick Python project to developing complex, full-stack solutions. But your software developer resumes also has to prove that you add real value to your organization—and that's both the development team and the larger business.
Why Your Software Developer Resume Needs to Stand Out
It's tough out there. That's not news to anyone these days. There's a lot of competition for every software developer role.
That's why your software developer resume needs to be better than the competition.
A lot better than the competition.
Why Your Software Developer Resume May Be Holding You Back
Obviously, in my many years working as an IT resume writer, I've seen a lot of software developer resumes—and most, unfortunately, have the same problems.
In general, software developer resumes (like IT resumes more generally) can be little more than lists of tools, technologies, and acronyms. Those are important, of course—you need to demonstrate that you have deep technical skills.
But since many of these skills are similar with your competition, just listing those skills doesn't make you stand out.
Additionally, software developer resumes frequently use an all-bulleted format (a mistake I discuss in this article).
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, software developer resumes generally only talk about actions—not about challenges or results. That can be problematic, because the hiring authority has to be able to see what you've delivered for your organization.
How I Craft The Best Software Developer Resume
I've been writing IT resumes exclusively for more than a decade and a half; I've worked with hundreds of developers, and understand the unique challenges around creating a software developer resume that shows what you can do—while balancing technical detail with business value.
My process—as in everything I create in my IT resume writing service—is completely personal. You'll work directly with me, from our initial conversation to final sign-off.
I won't ask you to fill out a 20-page questionnaire. Instead, we'll set up a time to talk for a couple of hours. I'll ask a lot of questions about who you are as a professional and what you've done—and with that information, I'll craft a clean first draft in 2-4 weeks.
LinkedIn Profiles for Developers
Most of my clients, though, don't stop with the resume. LinkedIn is, to put it mildly, a less than user friendly platform these days.
But it's still important. The LinkedIn profile, in my opinion, takes a lot of the place of the old cover letter—giving a more personal view of a career, and that's as important for a software developer as for a CIO. My keyword optimized Linkedin profiles for tech professionals reinforce your brand—and that's important whether a recruiter first finds you on LinkedIn, or views your LinkedIn profile after seeing your software developer resume.
Tech Career Coaching for Developers
Finally, in my gold and platinum packages, I provide tech career coaching (at no cost to my clients). My tech career coaching process in client driven, and based on what will best serve my client's short and long term goals. We can discuss job search strategies, interview strategies, or larger career issues to help you reach your objectives—whether that's finding an opportunity with more interesting challenges or moving up into leadership.
I’m always completely upfront about pricing; my software developer resume packages run from $997 to $1797. My complete pricing can be found here.
If you'd like to learn more, get in touch to schedule a 30-minute initial conversation. There is, of course, no charge for the conversation—it's a way for us to both determine if working together would be a good fit.