Software Engineer CV Example, Writing Tips & Questions
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The curriculum vita you turn in to a recruiter can potentially get you a dream job by elevating your qualifications over your peers’. Accomplish this by taking enough time to articulate your content in an organized, concise and effective way to highlight the skills and traits that make you an undeniable choice.
This complete software engineer CV example is an excellent guide to reference as you create your own. Filled with detailed examples for each section, tips for writing your own and a brief job description, you can know exactly the type of information to include.
Use this CV of a software engineer template or explore the rest of our designs on our CV templates page.
Software engineer CV example (text version)
Chris Ware
San Jose, CA 95008
555 555 555
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Summary Statement
Experienced software engineer with a passion for developing innovative programs that expedite the efficiency and effectiveness of organizational success. Well-versed in technology and writing code to create systems that are reliable and user-friendly. Skilled leader who has the proven ability to motivate, educate and manage a team of professionals to build software programs and effectively track changes. Confident communicator, strategic thinker, and innovative creator to develop software that is customized to meet a company’s organizational needs, highlight its core competencies, and further its success.
Core Qualifications
- Code reviews
- Program testing software
- Web-based software engineering
- Software documentation control
- Programming languages
- Team collaboration
- Attention to detail
- Time management
Relevant Skills
- Well-versed in software tools including HTML, JavaScript, CSS, BackBone and JQuery, among others.
- Skilled at reading and writing code using viable inputs and outputs after an accurate assessment of pre- and post-conditions.
- Experienced at designing unit tests to measure the effectiveness of software programs, backend services and user interfaces.
- Confident problem-solving abilities to overcome glitches with creative solutions that are strategically designed to last long-term.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to listen carefully to user feedback to determine modifications for optimal user function.
Education
- June 2018
San Jose State University San Jose, CA
Master of Science Informatics - June 2012
San Jose State University San Jose, CA
Bachelor of Science Computer Engineering
Work Experince
November 2020 – Current
Intel – San Jose, CA
Software Engineer
- Develop and design three critical software programs for financial tracking and reporting.
- Revise, modular and update old code bases to modern development standards, reducing 40% of operating costs.
- Oversee a team of four software developers and lead weekly discussions to brainstorm ideas in software development and to track changes made in existing programs.
September 2015 – October 2020
CyberCoders – San Jose, CA
Software Developer
- Participated in creating scalable systems for three primary departments, including human resources, marketing, and supply chain.
- Optimized the system structure by distributing system deployment to reduce the response time by 30%.
- Gave quarterly reports to executive management regarding current developments, and tracked changes in existing software.
June 2012 – August 2015
Cisco Systems, Inc. – San Jose, CA
Associate Software Engineer
- Maintained 75% of a system for documenting code and keeping track of software developments.
- Researched primary technological developments to determine whether implementation into organizational processes was efficient and feasible.
- Debugged code and located root causes of problems by reviewing configuration files and logs, decreasing loss by 35%.
Hobbies and Interests
I enjoy volunteering weekly at the local Boys and Girls Club, where I teach youth how to write code. I am an animal lover and enjoy frequent horseback trips with my family. I also appreciate a good book or tennis match.
Languages
- English
Native or Bilingual - French
Professional Working
Top 4 characteristics of a best-in-class software engineer CV
Professional summary
The professional summary of your software engineer CV should mention your top skills and work accomplishments related to the job. Before writing, read the job description and look at the list of desired qualifications and job responsibilities. From here, pick out the most important ones and feature them in your professional summary if they apply.
Skills
Skills should be listed using bullet points. Like our software engineer CV example, include a mixture of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are abilities learned through training or on the job, while soft skills are personal characteristics and traits that speak about how you approach your job. If you need an idea of skills to feature, read our Top Skills article.
Work history
The experience section tends to be the longest and most detailed part of a CV. Start with your current or most recent position. For each job, include the title, the name of the company, and the years you held the position. See our software engineer CV sample for an example of how to format this information. Read our How to Write a Perfect Work Experience for more on the work history section.
Education
List out your credentials using bullet points. If you graduated more than 10 years ago, you don’t need to include the graduation date. You can also include any certifications or training you have completed.
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Action verbs for your software engineer CV
Follow the lead of the software engineer CV examples featured on this page and use action verbs to strengthen your work accomplishments. Here are some great options:
- Developed
- Drafted
- Formulated
- Redesigned
- Integrated
- Cataloged
- Monitored
- Supported
- Analyzed
- Mastered
- Planned
- Launched
- Prepared
- Calculated
Pack your CV for a software engineer with action verbs using our CV maker.
Skills for your software engineer CV
Highlight your most relevant skills on your software engineer CV. If you have a skill that isn’t mentioned in the job description but you know is an asset to the company, make sure to include it too.
- Web-Based Software Engineering
- Virtualization Technologies
- Solutions Deployment
- Scrum
- Great communication skills
- Program Testing Software
- Operational Analysis
- HTML And XML
- Time management
- Engineering Standards
- Adaptability
- Code Reviews
- Build Releases
- Ability to work under pressure
Certifications to include in your software engineer CV
Show employers that you have the skills and the knowledge to handle the work that comes with software engineering by getting certified in different areas. Certifications show that you’re a candidate whose knowledge goes beyond having a basic grasp, even if your portfolio and work experience are limited. It’s a great way to stand out from the crowd.
Some software engineer certifications you can get and list in your CV include:
- Certified Software Engineer
- Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional
- Certified Software Development Professional
- CIW Web Development Professional
- C programming language
- Oracle Certified Master
- Amazon Web Services (AWS Certified Developer – Associate Level)
- Salesforce Administrator
- Certified Agile Leadership
- Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect
- Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional
- Project Management Professional
Pair your CV with a matching cover letter
Software engineer CV FAQ
1. What does a software engineer do?
A software engineer plays an integral role in any organization. Your responsibility will be to utilize technology, innovation, creativity, and research to identify feasible developments for organizational programs. These programs include everything from backend services, to departmental interfaces, to current operational systems. Tasks such as running unit tests, participating in research and development, writing, editing, and reading code, educating staff and management about software use, creating scalable systems, and assessing user feedback are just some of the things you may do.
Your curriculum vitae is a primary opportunity to talk about which of these skills you excel at. Our software engineer CV example is a shining illustration of what yours may look like.
2. How should you structure your software engineer CV?
There are a few different ways to structure your document, but regardless of the order you choose, you’ll need to organize it logically. Use headers to separate sections, and be sure to include all the key ones: summary, skills, experience, and education.
Optional information, such as the hobbies and interests section you see on our software engineer CV sample, can go at the bottom.
3. How do you highlight soft skills on a software engineer CV?
There are ways to weave soft skills into multiple areas of your CV, since they’re likely a natural part of your professional summary, and also part of your work experience. You can see our software engineer CV sample has a summary that uses phrases such as “ability to motivate” and “confident communicator.”
However, perhaps the best place to explicitly mention these is in your skills section. Our sample candidate lists “confident problem-solving abilities” and “strong communication skills” in addition to more technical talents such as specific software proficiency.
4. What are some tips for creating a great software engineer CV?
- Use your CV to discuss software tools you are familiar with using. These may include tools related to unit testing, debugging, writing code, integration, compilation and linking, and scripting languages, among other things.
- Focus on your ability to solve problems, and discuss how you have overcome challenges. This is critical because software engineering is all about optimizing processes and fixing problems.
- Always double-check your work for spelling and grammatical errors. You only get one chance at sending in a perfect CV, so a few extra minutes is well worth your time.
- Avoid sharing too much personal information, even though some sections are open to interpretation.
- Hook readers with a strong intro statement in your Professional Summary. This is a great place to discuss your confidence and experience as a software developer.
For more details on creating a winning CV, visit our How to Make a CV guide.
5. What format should your software engineer CV be in?
It’s best to have your document saved in a variety of formats. If a recruiter asks you to copy and paste your CV into the body of an email, you’ll want to have a plain text version. A Word document works well when your CV goes through an Applicant Tracking System, which automatically scans for key terms. A PDF is useful because it will look the same on every computer or device.
In addition to helping you craft a personalized CV, our CV builder allows you to save your CV in a variety of formats.
Do’s and don’ts for your software engineer CV
- Use measurable achievements to describe your software engineering skills and experience.
- Use action words to make an impact on your software engineer CV.
- Tailor your CV to your target software engineer job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your software engineer CV.
- Format your software engineer CV so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your software engineering experience and skills.
- Boast about your “incomparable” software engineering abilities.
- Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience that do not pertain to software engineering.
- Forget to proofread. A software engineering CV with errors is unprofessional.
Top 4 tips for interviews for a software engineer job
Find out the interview format.
Research the company and find as much information as possible about their preferred interview format. Beyond a phone screening and an in-person interview, there’s a high chance that they will test your skills. Are they going to quiz you on-site? Will you have to complete an online coding assessment or take home an assignment?
Decide on a programming language you want to use and start practicing.
Prepare for questions and coding.
As a software engineer, your interview will go beyond behavioral questions, but you should prepare for both. Practice coding and do mock interviews with another software engineer that can give you feedback. The same goes for behavioral questions.
We highly recommend you read our article about the STAR method to prepare for these questions and go in ready to assure the employer that you know how to rise to the occasion and handle unforeseen situations. Some common questions include:
Ask the interviewer questions.
There’s a high possibility that the hiring manager will open the floor for you to ask questions at the end of the interview. Instead of shrugging your shoulders and saying that you don’t have any questions, prepare a list ahead of time. It’s good to look interested in the company and the job opportunity. Some questions you can ask include:
- What are the biggest challenges someone in this position will face?
- What metrics or goals will my performance be evaluated against?
- How could I impress you in the first three months?
Create a separate list of professional references.
References generally aren’t added to your CV unless a recruiter or hiring manager requests them. You’ll often see them sent as part of an email or in a separate document.
However, if you need to list them in your CV, you can do so at the bottom of your submission. Remember to check with your references for the best contact information and to ensure they’ll give you a good review.
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Software Engineer CV Example
Kellie is the content strategist for My Perfect Resume. She has more than 20 years of experience in digital media and is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She has a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.