Dipo Olowookere
Introduction
Software engineering has always been the fundamental pillar of the Information Technology industry. A software engineer job profile is also considered one of the most secured career domains in terms of employment rate.
According to a report by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1,847,900 Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers are currently working in the country.
These numbers are expected to grow up to 22% by 2030. So, if you are in the middle of your computer science degree program, you are on the right path for a lucrative career.
Meanwhile, we are backing you up with the resume-building process. To help you make the best junior software engineer resume, we are here with seven killer resume-building steps. You can follow these steps to craft an impeccable resume for your entry-level job search:
Step 1- Make an Outline
To build a professional & well-organized resume, create an outline of your resume before any other step. We recommend using reverse chronological resume format for entry-level job seekers.
Step 2- Mention Key Skills
Skills play a vital role in a technically strong resume. Highlighting profile-centric skills on your resume will not only help you in parsing through the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) but also in getting the recruiter’s undivided attention.
Moreover, we advise you to make separate sections for your technical skills and soft skills. It will make your resume look organized and professional.
Step 3- Add Your Educational Qualifications
Write your education details related to the software engineering profile. You can consider adding the below-given points while framing the educational qualifications section of your resume:
- Degree/Diploma Name
- Institution Name
- Acquired Grades
- Location of Institute
- Year of Enrollment & Graduation
Step 4- Showcase Your Project Details
You can make a separate section for elaboration on your previously built projects. It will help you in stealing the limelight during the recruitment process. Here are some points that you can add in the projects section of your resume:
- Name of Project
- Programming Languages Used
- Other Technical Elements Used
- Highlighting Tasks
Step 5- Shed Some Light on Your Training
Training section will cover the professional experience space in your resume. Just like professional experience, you need to showcase your training profile, company name, location, and serving year in this section.
We suggest you write all your training details in bullet points to improve readability. Take a look at some essential points to remember while framing your resume points:
- Use a power verb to start every point
- Quantify your bullets wherever possible
- Highlight important keywords and metrics
Step 6- Add Certifications
Additional certifications apart from your educational degree can add value to your initial level job search. You can list all your certifications obtained related to a software engineer profile. These certifications will make you stand out from the crowd of your competitors. The certifications section of your resume must include the following details:
- Name of Certification
- Name of Issuer
- Month and Year of Completion
Step 7- Write a Crisp Resume Summary
As its name defines, it possesses the highlights of your entire resume in an easy-to-read paragraph. Your resume summary needs to be appealing and expressive about your capabilities and achievements.
We recommend you to write your resume after summing up all other sections of your software engineer resume. Moreover, you can stuff it with profile-centric keywords to make it more impressive to steal the limelight during the resume screening round.
Key Takeaways
Take a look at the key takeaways of this article:
- Outline your resume in reverse chronological resume format
- List your technical skills and soft skills in separate sections
- Mention the details of your educational degree with enrolment & graduation dates
- Showcase the details of your previously built projects
- Add your training details to fill up the gap of professional experience
- Write about your certifications related to the software engineering profile
- Craft an appealing and impressing resume summary stuffed with industry-specific keywords
These guidelines will lead you towards a professional entry-level software engineer resume. For any other career assistance, you can use the comment section given below.
