Programmer Resume Example & Template

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Programmers make around $80,000 a year. As a Programmer, you write and test codes for computer and phone applications. Or, you may fix and update code. You’re the backbone of technology!

As such, you need a strong resume to show off your talents. 

In this article, we’ll discuss

1. Which format is right for your resume
2. How to write a resume summary 
3. Describing your work experience
4. Listing your skills
5. Including your education 
6. Naming your certifications
7. Choosing the right template

Programmer Sample Resume 

Senior Programmer, Bayview Medical Research 

• Created data models and developed descriptive metadata schemas in order to meet functional and technical requirements of the company’s patient information database
• Improved metadata by making holdings 35% more findable, manageable, and scalable
• Developed and integrated tools using Python that transformed and augmented the company’s electronic library of medical literature 
• Translated application storyboards, prototypes and requirements documents into functional applications
• Evaluated open source solutions, commercial products, and home-grown plans for software development and support decisions
• Developed code using Java and React, and/or other OO programming languages, to support digital repository frameworks and integrated systems
• Increased the performance, quality and responsiveness of existing software by 20% through the identification of bottlenecks and bugs
• Documented project plans, tasks, and software deliverables in a timely manner
• Conducted and reported on feasibility investigations for projects, identifying ways to save the company a total of $300,000

IT Database Engineer, University of Maryland, Baltimore

• Assisted in the planning and engineering of the school's databases using comprehensive knowledge of SAS database technologies
• Monitored the performance, scalability and security of the databases, improving performance by 15%
• Evaluated existing database design to determine necessary updates and integration requirements of new design, making projections that fell under budget by 10% on average
• Monitored, analyzed, and verified SAS programs that created and managed data to ensure data integrity
• Developed and documented data models of using appropriate data flow diagrams, and documents all process flows
• Conducted file maintenance and maintain the data dictionary
• Adhered to policies and procedure for, and assisted in data transfers or sharing of files with remote resources
• Developed database structures to support specific applications for student survey results
• Served as an active team participant to provide analytic SAS programming support on research studies
• Produced study related outputs for use in 2 industry publications and 3 university presentations
• Collaborated with a team of 13 to design database systems and programs for non-research purposes such as file structures, validation, checks, statistical methods and security
• Supervised 5 junior programmers, and taught SAS programming skills to hundreds of graduate students, faculty, and post-docs

Senior Web Developer, PeonyPower LLC

• Updated landing pages, sales letters, and checkouts for launches and promotions
• Created new page designs for split tests and promotions
• Used VWO to create split tests for promotions to optimize leads and sales
• Worked with testing teams to end tests and make winning variations live
• Optimized page structures to ensure pages load under 5 seconds
• Updated upsells and cross-sells in upsell application, boosting sales by 14%
• Supported affiliate team and content with new asset creation, including the creation of FAQ and comments sections
• Optimized page structures to align with SEO strategy, including implementing hyperlinks and UTM codes
• Revamped security measures to minimize hacker attacks from 3% to 0.03%
• Trained 30 staff members in internal web functions, including how to implement minor fixes and changes without guidance

1. Choose the Right Format for a Programmer Resume

The first step to drafting your resume is deciding which resume format to use. This depends on your career experience and skillset. 

You have 3 main options for your resume:

1. Reverse-Chronological -- this is the most commonly used resume format. With this structure, place your most recent jobs first, followed by the next most recent job, and ending with your oldest position. 

Tip: only include jobs relevant to the position to which you’re applying, so leave out any former jobs that don’t fit. For example, include jobs like Web Developer, Full Stack Developer, or IT Specialist, since these relate to your field of work. 

2. Functional -- this format is best for people who have been out of the workforce for a while, perhaps because they had to care for children or an elderly parent. This format will have headers like “Projects” and “Administrative Support” with their respective skills listed in bullet points below. At the very end of the resume, include a brief timeline of your work experience.  

Tip: Read our advice on How to Explain Employment Gaps on a Resume. 

3. Hybrid / Combination -- this format is a mix of both Functional and Reverse-Chronological. It provides more detailed work experience descriptions that would typically be seen in the latter, while still offering a bulleted list of skills.  

Tip: When in doubt, choose the Reverse-Chronological resume format. For more details, check out our guide on How to Write Your Resume in Reverse-Chronological Order. 

For a Programmer, hiring managers want to glance at your resume and get a sense of the following:

• The projects you’ve worked on
• The languages you know
• Anything you’ve created, from an app to a website 

The best format for a Programmer is the Reverse-Chronological resume format. This is because it shows the trajectory of your career -- how you’ve grown professionally and expanded your work experience and knowledge base. Check out our advice on How to Show Your Job Promotions on a Resume for more details.  

2. Write a Strong Programmer Resume Summary

Employers spend less than 10 seconds on each resume, which means you need to capture their attention ASAP. 

While this is certainly an optional section, your resume summary is one of the best ways to succeed in that short glance.

But first --- what is a resume summary?

A resume summary is one or two sentences at the top of your paper that summarizes your entire resume. It’s the punch line that gets the resume reviewer wanting to know more.

For a Programmer career, include the following points in your summary

• The amount of time you’ve worked as a Programmer
• Some specialties you have (such as a language) or any big projects you’ve worked on that help you to really stand out
• An adjective or two conveying your personality, such as “driven,” “detail-oriented,” “creative” or “results-oriented” 

Here is an example of a bad resume summary: 

Experienced programmer with knowledge of multiple languages and proven ability to create new applications. 

This is a bad resume summary because it’s vague -- what does “experienced” mean, what languages do you know? More importantly, what have you created? 

Here is an example of a good resume summary: 

Detail-oriented programmer with 12+ years of experiencing developing, testing, and fixing computer and mobile applications. Designed software used by Fortune 500 companies that improved the collection of customer data.  

This is a good resume summary because it gives a sense of who you are -- detailed oriented -- that you then back up by saying you designed a program that improves data collection. Furthermore, by casually dropping in that your software users include Fortune 500 companies, you’re helping yourself to stand out. 

For more information, checkout our guide on How to Write a Killer Resume Summary. Or, browse our Resume Summary Examples. 

3. Describe Your Work Experience as a Programmer

The next step to drafting your resume is to list your work experience. This includes the name of your position (See: The Right Way to List Job Titles on a Resume), the name of the location at which you worked, and the length of time in which you worked. 

Your work experience should include the following:

• Company name
• Job title
• Years worked
• Location
• Job description

Be sure to use strong action verbs in each of your bullet points. Here are a few to get you started:

• Automated
• Created
• Designed
• Developed
• Expanded
• Implemented
• Investigated
• Launched
• Maintained 
• Oversaw 
• Solved
• Tested
• Updated
• Wrote 

Tip: Don’t start every bullet point with the same verb -- that will get old real quick! Instead, mix it up a bit. If you do use the same verb often (e.g., “tested”) don’t put those bullet points next to each other. 

Furthermore, write your resume experience in a way that anyone in your industry will understand. Don't use company-specific language, and avoid going into extreme detail. 

For example, let’s say you created a program that you named “SearchMonkey.” The reader likely isn’t going to know what this means. So, describe it instead. Say something like “created a program that assists 1,000+ daily users locate which tools they need for DIY home projects.”

You should also quantify your resume whenever possible. This means adding a number -- such as a dollar amount or percentage -- to your accomplishments. Quantifying your resume gives the hiring manager a more concrete idea of your workplace performance. For example, say that you “supervised 4 junior programmers,” “improved data collection by 20%,” or “saved a client $30,000 by improving their website performance.”   

Tip: One way to quantify your resume is by listing your accomplishments and awards. These can be from your workplace (e.g., “Employee of the Month”) or from your industry.

For more information on how to format your work experience, check out our guide on How to Describe Work Experience. 

Don’t have any work experience? We have a guide for Writing a Resume with No Work Experience!

4. List Your Skills

Skills show the hiring manager what you can do for the company -- without taking up too much space in the “work experience” part of your resume.

There are two types of skills -- soft and hard. “Soft” skills are those that are not quantifiable and are more indicative of your personality. Examples include leadership, problem-solving, and communication. In contrast, “hard” skills are those that are learned through formal education. Examples include computer technology, programming languages, and certifications.  

As a Programmer, you’re going to have a lot of hard skills. But it’s also important to include soft skills, as this shows the employer that you work with clients and peers. 

‍Relevant Soft Skills

• Concentration
• Detail-Oriented
• Communication skills
• Problem Solving
• Teamwork/collaboration
• Research
• Creativity

Relevant Hard Skills

• NodeJS
• React
• Javascript
• Golang
• CSS
• HTML
• ETL Data Pipelines
• Apache Spark
• Hadoop
• Postgres
• NoSql
• Kubernetes
• AWS
• Git
• Python
• Express
• REST
• Java
• .NET
• C

Tip: When completing this section on your resume, review the employers’ job requirements. Try to incorporate some of the language they use. For example, if the job description states they need someone who has “exceptional communication skills, good organizational skills, and the ability to work independently and within a team,” then be sure to include some of these keywords. List “Communication” and “Organization” under the skills section. 

If you want a more complete list of skills, read our guide on 100+ Key Skills for a Resume in 2021 with Examples for any Job.

5. Include an Education Section 

Programmers typically need a bachelor's degree in computer science, computer and information technology or a related field, such as mathematics. Internships, coding competitions, and extracurricular clubs will also help you to gain experience and network with professionals in the field. 

When writing your education section, be sure to include:

• The name of the school — e.g. “Carnegie Mellon”
• The location of the school
• Your degree (bachelor’s degree)
• Graduation year 
• Major 
• Minor (if applicable)
• GPA (If you're a student or graduates who held lower GPAs, this bit of information may be good to omit unless specifically requested by the employer)

Still uncertain on what to include in this section? Review our guide on How to List Education on Your Resume in 2021. 

6. Mention Certifications Relevant to the Job

Certifications show employers that you’re expanding on your skills and diversifying your experiences. Not only are you more knowledgeable, but you’re also more employable. The following certifications are geared more towards IT Specialists, but they may be worth looking into. 

Certification programs include:

• Microsoft Technology Associate Developer
• AWS Certified Developer-Associate
• Puppet Labs Puppet Developer
• Certifications in specific programming languages

For more information on certifications, check out our guide on How to Include Certifications on Your Resume the Right Way.

7. Pick the Right Template

Now it’s time for the fun part -- picking the aesthetics of your resume! 

Here at EasyResume, we offer several different templates. 

• Academic: these resumes are professionally structured with minimal aesthetics in order to provide a clear and concise glimpse of your experiences. This is best for current students or those looking to pursue a career in an academic field as a researcher or teacher. 
• Creative: these resumes are bold and colorful with eye-catching fonts to help you stand out from the crowd. This is best for those in creative fields like marketing and art. 
• Elegant: these resumes are contemporary and stylish in a way that highlights you and your experiences. This is best for those in fields that prefer austerity, such as the healthcare and finance industries. 
• Modern: these resumes have sleek designs that are fresh and bold with tasteful fonts and clean lines. This is best for individuals applying to startups or to companies with a young audience or product.
• Professional: these resumes have a clean, crisp look that incorporates only one or two accent colors. The focus is solely on the text, pulling the recruiter into your experiences and accomplishments. This is best for individuals applying to straight-laced companies that mandate a suit-and-tie dress code.  

Your resume template should reflect the job to which you’re applying. For a Programmer, try a Professional, Modern, or Elegant format to impress employers.

If you want to create your own template, read how with our Step-by-Step Guide on How to Create a Resume Template in Microsoft Word. 

8. Takeaways

We’ve done it! Almost. 

Now it’s time to get down to business -- actually creating the resume. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

• Research the job description to locate keywords
• Use a Reverse-Chronological resume layout
• Write your resume summary, including an adjective or two describing your personality, the length of your experience, and an outstanding accomplishment or two
• Include your education and relevant certifications
• Write your experience section in a way that any outsider could understand. Talk more about the how and why of your responsibilities. Quantify your results.
• Pick a resume template that fits the position to which you’re applying, such as Professional or Modern

Start from our resume example to save time.

Good luck on the interview that is sure to come your way!