Breaking into the software engineering field can be daunting, especially for recent graduates or those new to the industry. A well-crafted entry-level software engineer resume is essential for landing your first role.

This guide will walk you through how to present your skills, highlight relevant projects, and tailor your application to attract recruiters—even if you have limited experience.

By following these tips, you can create a resume that stands out and effectively showcases your potential to employers.

Entry-level software engineer resume examples

Entry-level front-end software engineer resume sample

Entry-level software engineer resume template

Entry-level software engineer resume template
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Resume for entry-level software engineer | Plain text

Ethan Miller

Location: Austin, TX

Email: ethan.miller@gmail.com
LinkedIn: /in/ethanmiller
GitHub: /ethanmiller

Objective

Recent computer science graduate with a strong foundation in front-end development and a passion for creating interactive, responsive websites. Seeking a front-end engineer role to contribute coding and design skills and grow within a collaborative team environment.

Education

University of Texas at Austin

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Graduated: May 2024

  • GPA: 3.6/4.0

Technical Skills

  • Languages: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript
  • Frameworks/Libraries: React, Angular, Bootstrap, jQuery
  • Tools: Git, GitHub, Figma, Chrome Developer

Experience

Front-End Developer Intern

Dell Technologies, Round Rock, TX

June 2024 – August 2024

  • Developed front-end features for internal applications using React and TypeScript.
  • Collaborated with the design team to improve UX/UI and increase the site's responsiveness.
  • Optimized application performance by implementing lazy loading and improving asset management, reducing page load times by 25%.
  • Gained exposure to agile development methodologies and attended daily stand-up meetings.

Projects

Portfolio Website

  • Created a personal portfolio website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to showcase coding projects.
  • Implemented a contact form with JavaScript validation and designed responsive layouts with CSS Flexbox and Grid.

To-Do List App

  • Built a to-do list app using React and Bootstrap, allowing users to add, edit, and delete tasks.
  • Implemented local storage functionality to save user tasks between sessions.

Soft Skills

  • Attention to Detail
  • Team Collaboration
  • Problem Solving
  • Time Management

Strong sides of this resume:

  • It begins with a succinct and targeted opening statement, tailored for front-end roles. This demonstrates a clear understanding of what the candidate aims to achieve in the area.
  • The technical skills section is well-organized and specific to front-end development, showing proficiency in essential languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and relevant frameworks (React, Angular).
  • Projects are directly related to front-end development and showcase practical applications (e.g., a portfolio website and a to-do list app).
How to properly format my resume?
  • Choose a clean, readable font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
  • Aim for font sizes between 10-12 points for the body text, and slightly larger (14-16) for headings.
  • Avoid decorative fonts, as these can look unprofessional and distract from the content.
  • Keep your resume to one page if possible. Since you’re an entry-level candidate, a concise document shows that you can communicate the essentials without overloading the reader.
  • Use standard 1-inch margins and keep plenty of white space. Line spacing between 1.0 and 1.15 is ideal, as it improves readability.
  • Add bullet points to break up information, making it easy for recruiters to scan through.
  • Include sections like "Summary" (or "Objective”), "Skills,” "Education," and "Experience" for a clear structure.
  • Save your document as a PDF to ensure the layout stays consistent across devices.

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Back-end entry-level software engineer resume example

Sample entry-level software engineer resume

Kevin Henderson

Location: Chicago, IL

Email: kevin.henderson@gmail.com
LinkedIn: /in/kevinhenderson
GitHub: /kevinhenderson

Objective

Entry-level back-end software engineer with a solid understanding of server-side development, databases, and RESTful API design. Seeking to leverage hands-on experience in Java and SQL to contribute to a dynamic development team at a fast-growing tech company.

Education

University of Illinois at Chicago

Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering

Expected Graduation: May 2025

  • GPA: 3.8/4.0

Technical Skills

  • Languages: Java, Python, SQL
  • Databases: MySQL, MongoDB
  • Frameworks: Spring Boot, Node.js
  • Tools: Git, GitHub, Docker, Postman

Experience

Back-End Developer Intern

Grubhub, Chicago, IL

May 2024 – August 2024

  • Developed RESTful APIs using Spring Boot for an internal food ordering system, handling data storage and retrieval processes.
  • Wrote SQL queries and optimized database schema, improving query performance by 15%.
  • Worked closely with front-end teams to integrate APIs, ensuring seamless data flow and system consistency.
  • Collaborated in code reviews, offering suggestions that improved code quality and maintainability.

Projects

Book Management System

  • Built a Java-based application that allows users to manage a collection of books, including adding, updating, and deleting records.
  • Connected to a MySQL database and implemented CRUD operations, using JDBC for database connectivity.

RESTful API for Movie Database

  • Created a RESTful API in Python using Flask for a simple movie database, allowing users to add, update, and retrieve movie information.
  • Integrated Swagger for API documentation and Postman for testing endpoints.

Soft Skills

  • Analytical Thinking
  • Communication
  • Adaptability
  • Teamwork

Here are a few reasons why this example of a resume will impress recruiters:

  • It effectively categorizes technical skills, listing languages, databases, frameworks, and tools separately. This makes it easy for recruiters to quickly assess the back-end capabilities.
  • The listed projects, such as a book management system and a RESTful API for a movie database, are highly relevant and demonstrate skills in database management, server-side programming, and API development.
  • The experience at Grubhub provides credibility, and the resume goes into detail about specific tasks like creating RESTful APIs and optimizing SQL queries.
Should I choose a entry-level software engineer resume objective or summary?

A summary is ideal if you have some experience—perhaps internships, volunteer work, or relevant projects.

Entry-level software engineer resume summary sample:

Detail-oriented entry-level software engineer with experience in Java, Python, and web development through internships and open-source projects. Passionate about solving complex problems and learning new technologies to deliver effective solutions.

An objective is a better choice if you’re new to the field.

  • It emphasizes your career goals and commitment to learning.

Entry-level software engineer resume objective example:

Recent computer science graduate seeking an entry-level software engineering position to utilize coding, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Eager to apply knowledge in Java and C++ to real-world challenges and contribute to a dynamic engineering team.

How to showcase your software engineer resume skills?

For an entry-level role, the skills section is critical as it highlights both your technical expertise and your potential to grow within a company. Recruiters often scan this part to ensure you have the foundation needed for the job.

  • Hard skills are measurable technical abilities and knowledge (e.g., programming languages, software, tools).
  • Soft skills are interpersonal or cognitive traits that impact your work style and collaboration (e.g., communication, problem-solving).

Software engineer hard skills:

  • Java
  • Python
  • HTML/CSS
  • SQL
  • Git/GitHub
  • C++
  • JavaScript
  • Debugging
  • Data Structures
  • Basic Algorithms

Soft skills for a software engineer:

  • Problem-Solving
  • Team Collaboration
  • Adaptability
  • Communication
  • Time Management
  • Attention to Detail
  • Creativity -Self-Motivation
  • Critical Thinking
  • Openness to Feedback

Full-stack software engineer resume template

Software engineer resume with no experience

Software engineer resume with no experience
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Resume for entry-level software engineer | Text version

Emily Crawford

Location: San Francisco, CA

Email: emilycrawford@gmail.com
LinkedIn: /in/emilycrawford
GitHub: /emilycrawford

Objective

Enthusiastic full-stack developer with experience in front-end and back-end technologies. Skilled in JavaScript, Python, and database management, with a strong understanding of agile development. Seeking a full-stack position to apply diverse technical skills and contribute to impactful projects.

Education

San Francisco State University

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Graduated: May 2024

  • GPA: 3.7/4.0

Technical Skills

  • Languages: JavaScript, Python, SQL, HTML, CSS
  • Front-End: React, Vue, Bootstrap
  • Back-End: Node.js, Express, Flask
  • Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB
  • Tools: Git, Docker, Jenkins, AWS

Experience

Full-Stack Developer Intern

Slack Technologies, San Francisco, CA

June 2024 – September 2024

  • Developed and maintained features for Slack's web application using React on the front end and Node.js on the back end.
  • Built RESTful APIs to enhance functionality, enabling new features for the messaging platform.
  • Assisted in migrating the database from MySQL to PostgreSQL, improving data processing speeds by 20%.
  • Collaborated with designers and front-end developers to refine and enhance user interfaces, ensuring cross-browser compatibility.

Projects

E-commerce Platform

  • Created a mock e-commerce platform using the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js).
  • Designed a user-friendly interface with React and implemented secure authentication using JWT.

Blog Platform

  • Developed a blog application with Flask for the back-end and Vue for the front-end, supporting CRUD operations for posts.
  • Implemented a MongoDB database to store post and user information.

Soft Skills

  • Collaboration
  • Problem Solving
  • Creative Thinking
  • Time Management

This sample entry-level software engineer resume is effective for several reasons:

  • It shows a balanced skill set, listing languages and frameworks. This structure demonstrates versatility, an essential trait for a full-stack developer.
  • The objective here highlights experience and qualifications in both front-end and back-end technologies, clearly communicating her fit for a full-stack role.
  • The selected soft skills, like creative thinking and collaboration, reinforce the idea of a flexible, collaborative candidate capable of working across multiple areas of development.
What educational credentials should I add to my resume?
  • Include your degree(s) with the full title (e.g., "Bachelor of Science in Computer Science") and the name of the institution.
  • If you’ve taken any specialized courses related to software engineering, you may want to list them, especially if they’re relevant to the job.
  • Mention specific courses like “Algorithms,” “Data Structures,” “Web Development,” or “Machine Learning” if they align with the job requirements.
  • If you graduated with honors or were involved in student organizations (such as a coding club or hackathons), add these as they can set you apart from other candidates.
  • Writing your GPA is optional, but if it’s above 3.5, it can demonstrate your academic commitment.
How to organize the experience section in a resume?

For entry-level positions, you may not have extensive professional experience, but you can still make this section impactful by including relevant assignments.

  • List internships with the company name, dates, and your role. Highlight key achievements or specific tasks you accomplished.
  • If you’ve developed websites, mobile apps, or contributed to open-source projects, this is the place to showcase them. Include a brief description of the project, the tools you used, and any notable results.
  • Any volunteer experience where you used your skills, such as building a website for a non-profit, can be a valuable addition.

For each position or project, emphasize technical abilities gained, such as coding, debugging, or testing, as well as any problem-solving or teamwork abilities applied.

Conclusion

An entry-level resume should showcase your technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and enthusiasm for continuous learning.

By focusing on relevant projects, highlighting any internships or volunteer experience, and tailoring your document to each job, you’ll increase your chances of landing that crucial first role.

With a little time and strategic thinking, your application can open the door to opportunities that help launch a successful career in software engineering.

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