Software Engineer Resume Tips: What Hiring Managers Look For
Resume advice specific to Software Engineer roles — which metrics to include, which keywords pass ATS screening, and how to stand out in a competitive applicant pool.
5 Resume Tips for Software Engineers
1
Quantify impact: "Reduced API latency by 40%" beats "Improved performance"
2
List tech stack in a dedicated Skills section — ATS systems scan for keywords
3
Show the scope: "Led migration of 3 microservices" rather than just "Worked on microservices"
4
Include links to GitHub repos and live projects — hiring managers will click
5
Keep to one page for under 5 years of experience; two pages for senior roles
ATS Keywords to Include
Use these exact terms from your skills and experience — ATS systems scan for specific keyword matches, not paraphrases.
PythonJavaScriptTypeScriptReactNode.jsSQLGitAWSDockerSystem Design
Universal Resume Rules
- One page for under 5 years of experience; two pages for senior roles
- PDF format unless the posting specifically requests Word (.docx)
- Quantify every achievement possible — numbers create credibility
- Standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills) for ATS compatibility
- Tailor keywords from each specific job description before applying