Crafting the Perfect Programmer Resume : Tips and Tricks to Stand Out from the Crowd!

Introduction:-

If you're a software developer or student looking to land your dream job or internship, crafting a killer resume is the first step. But where do you even begin? Staring at a blank page can be overwhelming, and it's hard to know what hiring managers are really looking for. Trust me, I've been there. In fact, it took me three whole days to create a resume that would get noticed by top tech companies. But fear not! With my experience and insider knowledge, I can help you create a standout resume that showcases your skills and lands you the job of your dreams. So sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and let's dive into the exciting world of resume building for software developers!

What is a resume ?

Think of your resume as your personal pitch to potential employers. It's your chance to show off your programming skills, experience, and achievements, and convince them that you're the best candidate for the job. Just like an artist's portfolio showcases their talent, your resume showcases your worth as a programmer. So, if you want to get hired, make sure your resume is eye-catching, engaging, and effectively communicates why you're the perfect fit for the role. A well-crafted resume can be the difference between getting your foot in the door or missing out on a great opportunity. Make it count!

Making Resume ATS proof Format:-

To Maximize your chances of landing that dream job is by crafting an ATS-friendly resume.

So what is ATS ?
ATS stands for Application Tracking System, and it's a software used by many companies to help them get through the massive amounts of resumes they receive for each job opening. Think of it as a robot that screens your resume before a human recruiter ever gets to see it. To get past the ATS and make it to the next stage of the hiring process, your resume needs to be optimized for the ATS.

So, to make sure your resume stands out and is not rejected by the ATS, you need to keep the following in mind:

• Use a word document format.
• Keep a simple, clean and uniform format.
• Use one of the recommended fonts styles (Arial, Georgia, Times New Roman, Calibri, Helvetica, Verdana, Tahoma).
• Avoid using images, logos, tables, italic text, and colors.
• Avoid using abbreviations.
• Make sure there are no extra spaces between words.
• Use relevant keywords and phrases that match the job description and requirements.

Resume Page Format:

• Make sure there's a minimum 1/2 inch border all the way around the page.
• For internships and recent graduates, use only one page.
• Use a standard 8.5 by 11 inch size.
• Include a footer on every page with your name and the page number, for example: [Your Name] | Page 1 of 2.
• Try to keep your resume between 475-600 words in length.

Fonts:

• Use dark ink: Dark ink is easier to read than light ink, so make sure to use it when writing your resume.
• Use bold for headings: Bolding the headings makes them stand out and makes it easier for recruiters to quickly scan your resume.
• Use a maximum of two fonts: Using too many fonts can make your resume look cluttered and unprofessional. Stick to a maximum of two fonts that are easy to read.
• Make your Name 16 to 18 in Font size: Your name should be one of the first things recruiters see, so make sure it stands out by using a larger font size.
• Make headings 13 to 16 point size: This size is readable and makes the headings stand out.
• Keep font size between 10 and 12.5 points: Use a font size that is easy to read, and don't go below 10 or above 12.5 points.
• Use bold to emphasize information instead of italic or underline: Bold is easier to read than italic or underline, and it helps to emphasize the most important information.
• Use grey color for non important text and black color for important stuff
• Underline the links or color them with blue for every Web-links

Before Starting to Create Resume There are Few key Points to Keep in mind :

• Your resume should justify yourself. Add task to your resume that will justify your view.
• Don't use same resume for different jobs
• Customize Your Resume According to Job Requirements
• Don't overdo it to appear overqualified: While you want to make sure your resume stands out, you don't want to come across as too overqualified for the job you're applying for.
• Create your own template: Don't use pre-made templates, create a unique template that showcases your skills and experience.
• Customize your resume: Make your resume in a format that highlights your strengths and makes you stand out from other candidates.
• Keep a Word document version: Having a Word document version of your resume means you can easily update it as needed depending on the job description.
• Use Docx format when sending your resume: Docx format is preferred when sending your resume to employers, as it helps to ensure that your formatting will be preserved.
• Name your Docx file correctly: When saving your resume as a Docx, make sure to name it with your name, surname, and date modified, e.g. [Name_Surname_Date modified].
• Leave out personal information: Don't include your photo, full address, age, religion, or marriage status on your resume.
• Organize your resume effectively: Make sure the most important information appears at the beginning of your resume and is prominently displayed. The top 1/3 of your resume should give a snapshot of the type of job you're targeting and why you're qualified for it.
• Bold your contact information: Make sure your phone number and email address are in bold, so they are easily noticeable by recruiters.
• Pay attention to the job requirements and tailor your profile accordingly. The job posting provides a clear indication of what the company is seeking, so don't play a guessing game when applying for jobs. That's why job ads exist in the first place - to make the process more transparent. By customizing your profile to match the company's needs, you'll increase your chances of landing that dream job.
• Don't add declaration Below your resume.
• Don’t Copy and Paste Job Description To resume.
• Refer to job requirement and highlight there requirement. and add those specific Relevant keywords in your Resume.
• Avoid grammatical and Punctuation mistake by putting the entire content on Grammarly.
• Always Send the Resume in DOCX format or else use PDF form if the job description had mentioned it.
• Share your CV with others and Take there feed back.
• Don't add too much Technical Garbage In resume ,add simple and sweet term that can be understand by non Technical Guy.

Resume Components: When it comes to the components of a resume, there are several key sections you should include:

Section 1 : This sections is also known as General Section.

• We start by Adding our Name in Appropriate font and Font size.
• Below the Name we Write Position we are eager to apply .
• On the left side, we showcase our complete contact information, including our address, phone number, email, and any links to our portfolio website or professional profiles like LinkedIn and GitHub.

Section 2 : In this Section we add Career Objective/ Summary as a fresher. It is a brief statement that highlights your career goals and what you hope to achieve in the role you're applying for.

• While it is not obligatory to have a resume Objective , it is necessary to include one if you really want the job. Not having a summary to the hiring manager means that they will have to go through your experiences one by one.This takes time which they do not have. Make the recruiter’s life easier by explaining who you are.
• Think of your introduction as an elevator pitch - short, simple and to the point. If you’ve got a great summary, your bullet points of experience will only solidify the recruiter’s good image of you.
• Keep it short, yet mention all of the important information. The golden number of sentences is about 3 as Fresher .

There are two ways to write your objective or Summary :-

1. Branding statements : This is 2-3 sentences highlighting your marketable skills and achievements. it reflects what you are (or want to be) known for professionally.
2. Objective statements: This is a slightly longer paragraph with bulleted top skills. In your Objective, showcase what makes you unique and your specialization, and focus on how you can benefit the company, not the other way around. Start with your title or degree earned.

Profile Summary for Freshers:-

• A profile summary for freshers is a professional statement added to the top of a cover letter or CV. The profile summary explains to the employer whether you have the required qualification and background. It grabs the attention of the employer and makes them read the CV further.

Benefits of profile summary for freshers:

• Helps you in getting noticed faster
• Lists all keywords relevant to the job
• Highlights your most relevant skills

How to write profile summary for freshers:

1. Record your important skills
2. Review the job description thoroughly / Scan the job post carefully
3. Write your summary
4. Maintain consistency

What to include in a profile summary for freshers:

• Career goals and what you hope to achieve in the role you're applying for.

• You may mention a quick detail about your hobbies and interests provided that it's relevant to the company mission and the job description. You may mention any noteworthy accomplishments as well.

• What if you’ve had job history gaps or are changing industries? Not to worry. You will benefit from crafting a resume objective.

[!example]+

Italian food lover, cheese whisperer, and pizza tossing champion. Dedicated, funny and perpetually hungry, James is seeking to leverage his 8+ years of cooking experience to bring you pasta so good, it will put Mario Batali to shame. Has an MA in wine tasting and has won the pesto-making contest for three years in a row.

In this case, the resume objective gives broader information and focuses heavily on what the candidate aims to accomplish. The resume objective is a good solution for those who:

• Are still in school
• Have work history gaps
• Are looking to change industries
• Have less than 2 years of work experience

[!important]

Section 1 & Section 2 are Known as snapshot Section It is very important to get Right Impression for Recruiter,Above Section Should able to show what type of job you are targeting and why are you qualified for that job.

Section 3: This Section Consist Skills

• Customize core skills according to Job Requirements
• Write Beginner /familiar Before the sentence if you just started to learn new things in core Skill section
• Enlist Hard Skills Languages, Technology,Concepts.
• Enlist Soft Skills that are Transferable and relevant to the job.

Section 4: This Section Consist Your Education History

• For Just Graduate / Student , Education is written first and Experience later.
• Your academic background, including the name of the institution you attended,School Attended, the degrees you earned, and your major and minor,Years attended.
• You can use all Capital letters for Labeling >[!Example] >>eg:- Education ——> EDUCATION
• Always use reverse chronological order for academic credential meaning your recent academic credential first.
• Name of the Institute
• Date Format : (DD / MM / YYYY) or (MM/ DD / YYYY)
• Please mention the year of finishing your High Schools and Senior High schools(10 and 12 board) with marks (in percentage/Grades) obtained.
• Also give your CGPA in all cases.
• You can mention your position in the class if it is 1st or 2nd or top 5% of the class. You can also write if you were in the state/ national merit list. The academic performance is one of the most used parameter for short-listing or selecting the candidate especially for freshers.
• High marks/ CGPA do not guarantee selection as some companies consciously look for candidates in middle range (CGPA between 7 and 8.5). In general high marks are associated with hard work and a focused approach
• Don’t use Abbreviation like [MBA/M.B.A] instead use MBA (Master of Business Administration)

Section 5: Projects Any relevant internships or projects you completed, including the name of the company, your role, and what you accomplished.

• The Project must be customize to Job Position and company working sector.
• Do not list projects that you have done as class assignments. A project has to be substantial (say 400-1000 lines of code or more) to be worthy of mention in your CV. Indicate the size, technology and tools used for each project. If the end result of the project is being used by a customer, mention it.
• The Project must be customize to Job Position and company working sector
• Always Place product project First
• Always put 3 best Project and which you Can talk in length
• Always make sure you know all the working components of the Project. Always make sure you can answer any question regarding the project and its code if asked.
• Don't add too much Technical Garbage In resume ,add simple and sweet term that can be understand by non Technical Guy
• Be clear what Specifically you had done in the Project and what was your role and contribution in the project.

• In Project don't give many single sentence Bullet Point, Don't give quantity bullet point instead add quality bullet point that are simple and short, Explain the technical Definition and challenge of each of those.

  [!Example]

  • eg:- Developed x + maintain y + implemented z

  
  

• If you are using Lot of technology explain how your skill can be expanded and broadened to be useful to other people.

  [!Example]

  • eg:- If you used Terraform using the language Terabyte.
  • ⇒ say you have able to learn the language in 2 months and you worked with a team of 4 to** implement terraform and as a result it got used by 200 People.

• Don't mention what your team did ,what your project was ,Mention what you did in that Project.

• Action Verb (word that show action) :-For every resume bullet point start with action verb, avoid repeating action verb . Don't just mention what have you done what you achieved you should write that in Bullet

• Demonstrate How and Why approach was utilized in given Projects etc.

• Value added by your Project : If a person uses this Tech his Time Saves ,Money and Profit Made by Percentage.

• Use Statistical Data Format for Project

• Use number where ever possible

• Use Action words like Created , Designed, Debugged ,Negotiated ,Developed ,managed, Don't use “I made” ,” I worked “ like words.

• Use Data and Comparison or Average to Provide content.

• Highlight the Programming language you used in projects in Bold ,Tools and technology used too.

• embed link of project GitHub or Behance link in the name of the project in colored and bold format.

• Start with result first and how You achieve that

• Always start with action verb and then mentioned what you achieved by doing that in analytical manner

• USE THE ACCOMPLISHED [X] AS MEASURED BY [Y] BY DOING[ Z ]FRAME WORK _.

[!Example]

• eg:- your challenge/problem +your accomplishment/action = your result
• Use every point in 3 bullet point under project section using PAR method
• In two months I learned this language  and implemented x and launch result z

Quantification:- Add a quality in your bullets (1,2,$,%) . Number up your resume number don't lie

[!Example]

• eg:- INCREASED SERVER QUERY TIME BY 15% BY RESTRUCTURING API

• Use Past Tense Work to Describe previous work with quantification and action verb

  [!Example]

  • eg:- Worked with a team of 10+ to ideate ,create, maintain  and update light weight materials.
  • Increase productivity efficiency by 15% through eliminating bottle-neck through strategic minimization
  • Trained myself for in xyz  to reduce cost by 10%

  
  

• But there are some sentences you cant quantify

  [!Example]

  • eg:- help implement a process to stream line communication between development team and operation

Section 6: Section Consist of Work Experience

• Always use reverse chronological order for work history
• Work Experience must include Company Name, Job Location, Job Title, Start and end Date .
• For work done as an intern, include the name of the customer, duration of internship and whether the software developed is being used by the customer. The size of the software should also be indicated. The size need not necessarily be measured in LOC. It can be number of screens/ fields in the user interface and/or number of database tables used, size of executable file. If you are using a non-trivial algorithm for solving your problem, it is a good idea to write a few lines about it.
• If the Company you were working is not so famous then add a one line Description sentence below the company. Don't tell what the company does instead tell how good ,big, great and unique the company is ,tell the scale and size of company was how much funding it too or where the founder educated from etc.
• Use Statistical Data Format for Experience.
• Use number where ever possible
• For Experience list in Metrics’ Form with Examples
• Use Data and Comparison or Average to Provide content.
• :Use 4 R’s Approach:- Reward, Result, Roles, Responsibility >[!Example] >>- eg:- Responsibility Roles with bullets >> >> Role A - Reward, Achievement

Section 7: Certification & Achievements

• FOR ACHIEVEMENT SECTION (Manipulate the sentence to look more Promising):-

  [!Example]

  • PARTICIPATED IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR HIGH ACHIVENG BLACK AND LATINX TALENT TECH.
  • SELECTED AS ONE OF 200 PARTICIPANTS FOR AN 18 MONTH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR HIGH ACHIVENG BLACK AND LATINX TALENT TECH.
  • SELECTED AS ONE OF 200 PARTICIPANTS FOR AN 18 MONTH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR HIGH ACHIVENG BLACK AND LATINX TALENT TECH

  
  

• Based on our leadership and Academic .Some of us are very optimistic about our achievements and add a long list in the CV. Please be very critical and truthful in this regard. It is a good idea to get your CV reviewed by a friend to weed out unnecessary items

• Don't highlight duties instead of achievements

Section 9: Interest & Hobbies:

• Use some Hobbies That adds your value to resume in Professional way

Section 10: Languages:

• Any foreign languages you speak, along with your proficiency level.

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