Entry-Level Software Engineer Resume (Template, Sample, Tips)

As a software engineer, you will need to apply scientific and mathematical principles to create, maintain, audit, and improve systems to meet particular needs. Your work is commonly advised by a systems analyst or architect, testing both hard and software systems to diagnose and resolve system faults. Since IT-related job titles are not standardized, a software engineer may be called with different titles such as a systems/software/web programmer, engineer, or developer, depending on the system they're developing.

Landing the first software engineering job can be very tough, especially for entry-level individuals who have acquired some relevant skills but lack real-world experience compared to more senior professionals. That means if you want to get hired, you'll need a solid entry-level software developer resume - a simple but most effective way to showcase your skills, knowledge, and experience to potential employers.

✏️ Step 1: Distinguish between a CV and Resume

✏️ Step 2: Adopt a Well-Fitted Resume Format

Three major resume formats are chronological, functional, and combinational. Your choice of format for the entry-level software engineer resume can determine whether the information is transmitted effectively to the recruiter. 

As a newbie in the industry, you may lack practical experience and don’t have much to show. Thus, it's recommended that you adopt the functional or combination format type. The functional resume format helps highlight your skills instead of employment history, while for the combinational format, you can include both internship or work experience as well as developing skills on your entry-level software developer resume.

✏️ Step 3: Check Out Entry-Level Software Developer Resume Examples

For fresh graduates and entry-level professionals, writing a resume may seem overwhelming at first. No worries! Try looking up entry-level software engineer resume examples online. With how-to guides, templates, and well-designed resume samples, you will know how to create a great resume on your own!

✏️ Step 4: Tailor the Entry-Level Software Developer Resume for the Job

To show the employer that you're well-fitted, tailor your entry-level software engineer resume to meet the requirements of the opening position.

You just need to insert keywords from the job description and remove any unnecessary information. As an entry-level applicant, you may have experience which isn’t directly related to the job area, but try to connect these experiences to the positive qualifications of a software engineer.

✏️ Step 5: Craft a Sincere Entry-Level Software Engineer Cover Letter

A candidate who includes a cover letter for an entry-level software engineer position has a higher chance of landing an interview.

✏️ Step 6: Proofread

Many job seekers, especially recent grads, aren’t getting the message: Make sure to proofread your resume and supporting documents before sending them out.

Many recruiters and hiring managers have received poorly-written resumes with mistakes such as inconsistent use of verb tense, mis-spelling, grammar and formatting errors, etc. When it comes to sorting through applications, your resume for an entry-level software engineer position can be disqualified due to those errors.

As the name says, a resume profile provides your personal information, including: 

• Full name
• Job location
• Email address 
• Phone number
• Personal website/LinkedIn 

Make sure everything is precise so they can contact you for further process.

Find a list of what not to include in the resume profile, where many young job applicants tend to make a common mistake.

Think of it as a personal title that quickly tells the employer what skills you possess and/or your background as an entry-level candidate. With such a headline, you can effectively pique the hiring manager’s interest from the start.

The entry-level software engineer resume summary appears right after the resume profile, providing the hiring manager with a summary of your educational background, skills, and other qualifications for the job.

Including a resume objective is recommended for entry-level job applicants. A well-written objective for an entry-level software engineer resume should present you as someone coming with passion, motivation, and valuable impacts for the company. This also means that you need to customize the resume objective for each job you’re after to make your resume stand out.

For an entry-level software engineer resume with no experience, the skills section should be put placed in the front. The employer is likely to go over this part to determine whether you’re qualified for the position. Hence, effectively present them with your best qualities and technical expertise.

When reviewing an entry-level software developer resume, the hiring manager can see the education part as a key assessment criteria. Thus, make sure to write it properly and professionally.

For an entry-level software engineer resume, internships and volunteer work can be counted as work experience. List the title, name of the organization, dates, and use bullet points to explain what you did in each position.

What about an entry-level software engineer resume with no experience? Simply skip this section and move straight to the next part.

Feel free to ship your entry-level software engineer resume with added sections such as:

• Relevant coursework
• Achievements/Awards
• Personal projects
• Certifications

📍 Tip 1: Craft an ATS-compliant resume.

Little do you know, numerous resumes never even land in the hands of a human because they're automatically eliminated by ATS (Applicant Tracking System) - a software application used by lots of companies to scan job applications. Hence, optimize your entry-level software engineer resume for ATS by sticking to texts, inserting relevant keywords, and avoid any typos. Otherwise, the future employer won't have a chance to know you.

📍 Tip 2: Insert keywords from the job description.

ATS filters resumes by scanning keywords that match the job description. If you want your entry-level software engineer resume to rank highly for the position you’re targeting, contain the right keywords and tailor the content to the exact way the job description is written. It can take more time and effort but it's definitely worth it!

📍 Tip 3: Include relevant classes/courses/certifications.

To demonstrate what you've learned as a software developer, you need to list relevant courses that most fit what’s required for the work. Also, you can save some space to showcase certifications to beef up your entry-level software developer resume, such as AWS Certified Developer certification, Oracle Certified Associate (OCA), Certified Scrum Developer, and C Programming Language Certified Associate (CLA).

📍 Tip 4: Adopt a professional layout.

Stick to the following standards to make your entry-level software engineer resume professional: Length: One pageFonts: Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Times New Roman, Tahoma, HelveticaFont size: 12pt for the text and 14pt for section titles Line spacing: 1.0 or 1.15File type: PDF

📍 Tip 5: Use a simple template.

As you don't work in the creative industries, companies and recruiters prefer simplicity in your entry-level software engineer resume template. Keep it neat, well-organized, and easy to read. You can find plenty of examples on CakeResume.

Contact details

Similar to the resume summary, you need to provide accurate personal information so that the employer can contact you in the future. You should include at least an email address and a phone number.

Introduction

Start your entry-level software engineer cover letter with a strong “hook” by introducing who you are and what position you’re applying for. Make sure this paragraph is short but strong.

Motivation (Intention to apply)

Brush up this part to show the hiring manager your passion, enthusiasm, and sincerity. The motivation part demonstrates the reason you're applying for this job while expressing how eager you are to contribute to the company. Let them know you did your research on the company and the position!

Qualification

This is a key section where you describe your skills, competencies, or any relevant projects that make you a strong candidate.

Closing

Lastly, end your cover letter for an entry-level software engineer position with an appreciative attitude and a polite reminder to check out the attached documents.