Software Engineer CV Example & Writing tips, Questions, and Salaries

Participated in creating scalable systems for three primary departments, including human resources, marketing, and supply chain.


Ran monthly unit tests to determine software effectiveness and mend broken links or glitches in the system.


Gave quarterly reports to executive management regarding current developments, and tracked changes in existing software.

Maintained 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.
Participated in strengthening the company’s backend services to optimize usage and prepare for emergency blackouts.

Researched best practices to share with fellow software team members.
Helped write code for a website update using HTML tools.
Presented to management an end-of-term demonstration on valuable software developments that were in the works.

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.

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.

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.

You’ll want to feature key responsibilities and duties for each job you list. To do this, add 4-6 bullet points under every position. Start your bullet points with strong action verbs, and use metrics when possible. Stating that you built software solutions for 42 clients is more powerful than simply saying you built software.

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.

References generally aren’t added to your CV unless a recruiter or hiring manager requests them. Even then, you’ll often see them sent as part of an email or in a separate document. However, if you do need to list them in your CV, you can do so at the bottom of your submission. Remember to check with your references for best contact information and to make sure they’ll give you a good review.

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, for example, you’ll want to have a plain text version. A Word document does 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.