How to write a software engineer resume
Engineering recruiters look for the languages and frameworks a team uses and evidence that you have built working software with them. Make both easy to find.
Skills section
Group skills: Languages (Java, Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, C++), Frameworks (Spring Boot, React, Node.js, Django), Databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB), Cloud and tools (AWS, Docker, Git, CI/CD). List what you can discuss in an interview, using the names from the job post.
Experience and project bullets
Say what you built, with which stack, and the effect. Fictional examples: “Built REST APIs in Spring Boot for order tracking used by the support team.” “Added Redis caching to the product search endpoint and measured page load before and after.” Include numbers only if you measured them.
For freshers, two or three solid projects with a GitHub link outweigh a long list of online certificates.
- GitHub and portfolio links in the header
- Projects with stack and what the software does
- Data structures, system design or testing where relevant to the role
- Same skill names as the job description
Tailor to the tech stack in each job post
A backend Java role and a frontend React role need different projects at the top. Waywright is free: paste the job description and it tailors your resume to that stack from your real experience. Its job match treats related names sensibly (Spring Boot and SpringBoot match) but keeps different skills apart (Java is not JavaScript). An account is required.
Put the checklist into practice
Upload your resume and paste a job description. Review the generated draft and approve the changes before downloading. Waywright is free to use. An account is required.
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