Free Downloadable Computer Software Resume Templates and Expert Writing Tips
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Every office needs a computer software specialist, whether a Java or SQL developer, to keep programs, apps and websites running. We’ll guide you through showcasing your abilities in Java programming, .NET framework and database handling with the help of our downloadable resume templates.
Best Free Downloadable Resume Templates for Computer Software Jobs
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Lists of Expertise
This two-column layout offers an organized and balanced design where you can showcase first your skills — like databse programming and API design knowledge — and your summary statement. -
Skills Highlight
This contemporary-style template has skills bars where you can specify your level of expertise in abilities such as data extracting, quality assurance testing and application design. Make sure you also add descriptions of accomplishments in your work history to have a balanced resume. -
Bright Blue
With an eye-catching colorful design, you can be sure this template will make your resume stand out from the applicant pool. Craft a strong summary statement and then focus on a detailed work history that zeroes in on achievements related to implementing back-end testing systems or troubleshooting. -
Aristocratic
A simple resume template with lots of white space that gives off a clean look, ideal for any computer software professional. Showcase your soft, hard and technical skills first with this template so employers know you're aware of the current computer software trends. -
Highly Proficient
A no-fuss design makes this template easy to customize with skills and accomplishments that showcase your computer software knowledge — for example, debugging, improving code and developing QA test cases. -
Texture
You can include plenty of text on this resume template without it looking crowded thanks to its light color scheme and simple design. The addition of skills bars to pinpoint your expertise level provides more insight into your abilities as a computer software professional.
9 Computer Software Resume Examples
Different levels of experience in the industry warrant different types of resumes. An entry-level software developer, for example, doesn’t have the same years of experience as a veteran in the industry, so their top qualifications are different. Most resumes are organized into three format types designed to highlight the applicant’s most qualifying credentials: chronological, combination and functional. Choosing the best format to display your unique qualifications can help you stand out at any career level.
Chronological Resume
A chronological resume is ideal for candidates with over 10 years of experience in their respective field. It may not be the best choice for entry-level job seekers as it is formatted to showcase a person’s work history.
A programmer with extensive professional experience working with Python and other programming languages would highly benefit from a chronological resume. That’s because this format allows you to delve into your accomplishments in the context of your previous roles.
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1. Java developer: Java is the most common language used in programming projects. So, a Java developer is of the utmost importance in the industry and can easily find ample opportunities. As an experienced developer, showcasing your years of experience upfront can help you garner the recruiter's attention.
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2. Software engineer - security: With the increase in concerns about the security of computer software and computer systems as a whole, the need for security software engineers has become essential. Detailing the previous job requirements and how you applied your skills to those rolesis an effective way to highlight your qualifications for the job.
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3. SQL developer: An SQL developer sifts through the silos of customer data stored by companies; an ever-growing business need. For this role, a reverse-chronological timeline of the candidate's jobs may just be what reveals the heaps of knowledge gathered over the years.
Combination Resume
A combination resume, in many ways, is similar to the chronological format, but with an equal emphasis on skills and work history. This format helps you balance your qualifications by giving equal weight to your work experience, achievements and skills you’ve gained.
A programmer with limited experience in a professional workplace but with a vast knowledge of different programming languages who’s pursuing more experience would benefit from a combination resume. Let’s look at how these candidates leveraged the combination format for the following roles:
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1. Programmer - mobile: A mobile programmer with vast knowledge of Android SDK development and experience with Swift could use a combination resume to showcase their grasp of multiple programming languages and how they’ve used them in previous roles. This candidate placed her skills above the work history, adding weight to her knowledge alongside her experience.
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2. Programmer – web development: A web developer's role consists of working on the back end to perfect the user experience (UX) or the front end to smoothen out the user interface (UI). While the candidate has relevant experience, it helps to give a quantifiable list of skills upfront to round up his profile and give him a competitive edge against more experienced applicants.
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3. QA software engineer: Marie’s balanced profile showcases her expertise in various programming languages and projects while simultaneously qualifying her for a role in QA software engineering. She accomplishes this by proportionally detailing her responsibilities in her latest role and stating her mastery of QA in the skills section.
Functional Resume
A functional resume is an excellent choice for candidates who don’t have the work experience required to qualify for specific roles. This resume is colloquially called the skills-based resume as it focuses on the applicant’s skills rather than their work history.
Candidates using a functional resume should know that these resumes are not applicant tracking system (ATS) friendly. Resumes are processed through online systems to flag repetitive and overused keywords, such as “honest” and “loyal.”
This drawback shouldn’t dissuade you from using a functional format, however, as it can benefit certain candidates. The job profiles shown below are examples of those who may benefit from having a detailed summary of the various skills they’ve acquired:
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1. Programmer – computer: A computer programmer is responsible for writing and developing computer programs, running tests and fixing bugs, creating virtual environments for testing and compiling programs, and collaborating with other programmers. Having the right skills is essential in programming and having a dedicated, detailed section outlining these skills is the right approach for programmers with limited experience.
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2. Software developer: This neatly organized resume outlines crucial skills in a brief bulleted list. The following dedicated professional skills section showcases more specific tasks like running QA tests, modifying and updating databases, and reviewing code. This format focuses on the candidate's ability rather than their work history.
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3. Software engineer - embedded systems: This software engineer codes programs for microcontrollers and chips not necessarily associated with a PC. This candidate doesn't have professional experience coding for embedded systems, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the skills for the job. A dedicated skills section outlining her other attributes, like testing and debugging, helps her stand out as a qualified candidate.
What Can You Earn as a Computer Software Professional?
The need for computer programmers and web developers is always on the rise, which sparks the question of the average industry rate earned by a computer software professional.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2020 calculated the median annual wage earned by a computer software specialist in different industries.
National based on industry
Average hourly wage
Average annual wage
Computer Programmer
Average hourly wage
$42.88
Average annual wage
$89,190
Software Developer
Average hourly wage
$52.95
Average annual wage
$110,140
Web Developer
Average hourly wage
$37.12
Average annual wage
$77,200
Database Administrator
Average hourly wage
$47.53
Average annual wage
$98,860
Computer Systems Analysts
Average hourly wage
$45.06
Average annual wage
$93,730
Top Computer Software Skills for Your Resume
Since work experience tends to be an applicant’s priority when writing their resume, skills are sometimes sidelined for seeming insignificant and repetitive. However, skills play a deciding factor in the recruitment process if you display them appropriately. You can list the hard, soft and technical skills in your resume in the following sections:
- Professional summary: It is important to list at least one or two skills in the professional summary. A computer programmer would mention their knowledge of debugging, deployment and QA testing and their coding language skills to accentuate their versatility in the field. Similarly, a web developer would also mention their proficiency in Python and Java to showcase their expertise.
- Skills section: The skills section could have six to eight skills in a bulleted list. A software developer proficient in using SQL to update and modify tables could mention database handling skills, among others.
- Work history: This section should contain the skills gained or used throughout each role. For example, an SQL developer who worked as a back end developer in a previous job could mention honing their PHP and JavaScript expertise through their employment.
To give you some ideas about the skills you could mention as a computer software professional, we curated a list of soft, hard and technical skills:
Soft skills
Soft skills are necessary for all facets of life and work because they allow you to efficiently work with others and behave professionally in any work environment. The following are a few soft skills for computer software professionals:
- 1. Attention to detail
- 2. Conflict management
- 3. Organizational skills
- 4. Time management
- 5. Leadership skills
- 6. Active listening
- 7. Active learning
- 8. Strong work ethic
- 9. Creativity
- 10. Communication skills
Hard skills
Hard skills are the product of training, education or on-the-job practice. These skills are particular to the job, meaning only professionals in computer software or similar industries will have them. Some common hard skills for computer software professionals are:
- 1. Programming languages
- 2. Modifying databases
- 3. Testing programs
- 4. Debugging
- 5. Using virtual environments
- 6. Building algorithms
- 7. Troubleshooting errors
- 8. Using different frameworks
- 9. Fast typing speed
Technical skills
Technical skills are essential for a computer software professional. This includes the foundation of this profession: knowledge of programming languages. As such, some of these technical skills are:
- 1. Python
- 2. Java
- 3. HTML
- 4. .Net Framework
- 5. PHP
- 6. JavaScript
- 7. Android SDK
Best 5 Certifications for Your Computer Software Resume
An average web developer learns the necessary methods and skills to design a webpage on the job. However, as competition rises, it’s better to hone skills even further and develop more diverse ones as well. Certification courses are a cost-effective way of immediately gaining the skills needed to stand out from your competitors. A few of these courses are:
- Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) for Developers
- Certified Secure Software Program Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP)
- Google Apps for Business Certified Deployment Specialist (CDS)
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
- Certified Data Professional (CDP)
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FAQ
Updated: April 11, 2022
What are the top three skills of a computer software professional?
The top three skills of a computer software professional vary with each specialization. However, the below-mentioned soft skills are common throughout the industry:
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving skills
- Organization skills
What do computer software professionals mention under a summary statement?
A good summary statement gives a concise summary of the candidate's skills and goals. It's necessary to highlight your skills in a summary since it’s the first section recruiters see. A desirable statement would include the following:
- Mention how you can fulfill the hiring company's needs by identifying their demands and providing examples of solutions.
- Mention the skills which are listed on the job description — if you truly have those skills, that is — to grab recruiters’ attention and demonstrate you're capable of doing the job.
- Mention a programming language required for the position.
What are examples of duties expected in a computer software role?
A computer software professional's duties include more than simply programming. There are multiple tasks that a professional in this field needs to do, some of which include:
- Modifying and updating databases
- Testing and debugging programs
- Building and using virtual environments
- Creating and using different frameworks
- Troubleshooting errors in compiling programs
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