People with the right highly-demanded skills always land in the jobs of their choice. However, having the proper knowledge might not be sufficient enough for you to get loads of interview callbacks. A great resume will help you get your foot in the door for the interview and eventually land the job.

What you could bring to the table as an employee should be extremely clear in your resume. Your skills should be listed clearly, like what languages you’ve coded in or what industries you’ve worked in. Next, we’ll dive into how you can create the best resume for landing a software engineering job.

Customize Your Resume to the Reader

Most of the organizations have applicant tracking systems better known as ATS nowadays that process the application before they land in the hands of HR. Each resume is scanned by these programs and a search for specific keywords is carried out. Your application is expected to be rejected if it does not contain those keywords. Therefore, it is advised you use many industry-specific keywords in your resume to pass through these programs.

Also, your resume must be tailored in accordance with the specific job listing, so one resume would not fit all job openings. Take a note of the skills, languages, and responsibilities required in the job listing and customize your resume accordingly. Also, remove the additional skills in your resume that do not fit the job requirements. Unnecessary mention of other skills can sometimes hamper your chances of getting selected. Every industry has its own set of keywords. For instance, some of the keywords for a front-end development profile are:

• Coding
• Current Web Trends
• Back-End Data Display
• Creating Web Pages
• HTML
• JavaScript
• User Interface
• Search Engine Optimization(SEO)

Similarly, some of the keywords for a back-end development profile are:

• Back-End Framework
• Security Compliance
• Application Scaling
• JavaScript
• Load Changes

Web development keywords include:

• Agile Software Development
• Front-End Systems
• Object-Oriented Design
• Application Code
• Server-Side Scripting
• Version Control Systems

Show Off Your Technical Skills

A resume for a technical job must have a separate section showcasing your technical skills.  The recruitment of software engineers is usually dependent on their knowledge of languages and specific programs and systems. Therefore, it is always good to put in that extra effort in =listing these technical skills. Furthermore, a company might be interested in your resume only if your technical know-how is in sync with the company’s technical capacity. Therefore, it is essential to jot down the list of platforms you are comfortable working on or have the relevant experience. This includes different software, methodologies, and systems.  Certifications may be a bonus here.

Achievements to Highlight

Another important section in your resume is the one highlighting your professional achievements. This section builds well as you earn the experience of working on different platforms as you move along in your career. For example, the resume of a software engineer might include the design and delivery of cloud solutions or experience of working on agile technologies. It is always advised to mention the client you have worked for or the type of the project, and the technologies used in executing the project. Therefore, specify the same platform, such as working on SQL server, rather than just a mention of databases. 

Resume Layout

Use a flow that accurately shows your abilities and allows the reader to absorb your best qualities. Too much formatting is usually not advised as it reduces the searchability of the resume. Instead, the resume should be divided into appropriate sections that are clear and adequately placed such as education, technical skills, skills, etc.

Basic Framework of a Resume

Some basic rules can help you prepare the proper framework for your resume.

Number of Pages – The resume, as far as possible should be kept to a maximum length of one page. It should be a to-the-point resume, keeping in mind the job you are applying for.

Highlighting Your key achievements – You might have ample experience and have worked on different projects. Still, it is essential to emphasize the one or two accomplishments that make you the best-suited candidate for the job you are applying for.

Proofreading – This is an important step you must not forget before you submit your resume. You may even take the help of your friends or family to read it for you to ensure that the resume is free from grammatical errors. Spelling errors or punctuation mistakes should be the last thing you would like the company to see on your resume.

New to the Industry

It might be the case that this is the first job you are looking for, and you have no relevant experience to showcase your skills in the resume. There is nothing to worry about this. However, being careful in drafting your resume and keeping the following points in mind can help you shine out from others.

Out of Box Thinking

Think about any of your qualities or academic background that can help show why you are the right choice for the given job profile. Highlight what is relevant. A cover letter can help you highlight your skills.

Consistency

Stay consistent with the information you provide in the resume and your details on other platforms such as LinkedIn.

Academic Excellence

When there is nothing to show in terms of experience, your academic qualification counts the most. Therefore, highlight academic and technical skills separately.

Finally, choose the layout you see fit for the given job profile. It may be a functional or a combination of some readily available formats. Traditional layouts are usually the ones that are preferred by the HR of most companies.