Ensure your CV format is structured to best highlight your unique experience and life situation.

Software Developer CV Template (Text Format)

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Results-driven software developer with 7+ years’ experience building applications at all life cycle stages, including design, coding, testing, and debugging. Possess strong expertise in embedded systems and data processing.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Sr. Software Developer
Lorien, London — June 2020–Present

  • Perform monthly maintenance of web-based applications by introducing new functionalities, improving data migration, and enhancing the system’s performance through better testing coverage
  • Mentor 25 junior developers on how to detect and correct design errors and improve software performance
  • Increased database effectiveness by 21% by experimenting with multiple design iterations, resolving technical issues during the development process, and upgrading user interfaces as needed
  • Supervised product teams during the upgrade of 5 high-profile design projects, which resulted in improved user experience, optimised performance, and increased system reliability

Software Developer
Scott-Merrick LLP, London — July 2018–May 2020

  • Monitored the design and implementation of 15 select projects, including XML content distribution server and financial trading applications for clients in a variety of industries
  • Implemented in-cloud technologies to address complex bugs, code alterations, and update designs
  • Designed a brand-new request resolution interface to quickly answer customer enquiries and resolve concerns
  • Tested the functionality of payment processing software and on-demand cloud platforms, verifying adherence to the company’s quality standards and the client’s project requirements

Software Test Analyst
iO Associates, London — May 2016–June 2018

  • Planned, wrote, and troubleshot 5 web applications by focusing on content changes and time-sensitive updates
  • Cooperated with senior engineers to analyse and render data to develop full-stack web applications
  • Performed monthly tests for 3 in-progress apps, including feature verification and debugging
  • Assisted back-end developers and quality assurance testers with developing and upgrading various financial applications and maintaining advanced industry software

EDUCATION

Kingston University, London — 2013–2016
BSc (Hons) Computer Science — First Class Honours (I)

South Hampstead High School, London
A-Levels: English (B), Physics (C), Maths (B)
GCSEs: 10 A*–B, including English, Maths, and Information Technology

SKILLS

  • Agile, scrum, CSS, HTML, SQL, PHP
  • Encryption, data structures
  • Systems evaluation, automated testing
  • Problem-solving, critical thinking

HOBBIES & INTERESTS

  • Playing chess
  • Hiking
  • Volunteering

How to write your software developer CV

Before you begin writing, make sure you know how to write a CV in a way that best emphasises your strengths.

Software developers are in demand and can make high wages in the UK. But you can’t just walk into an office and get hired. To make an impression and get interviews for the best positions, you need a software developer CV that stands out.

Here are three tips to help you make a CV tailored for a software developer that positions you as the top choice for employers:

1. Choose the right CV format for your experience level

How you should format your CV depends on your experience level. So if you’re a:

  • fresh graduate or have limited experience in software development, use a skills-based CV format that places your skills and education above your work history to showcase specific technologies you’re familiar with, projects you’ve contributed to, or coding languages you’ve mastered.
  • seasoned developer, use a chronological CV layout that places your work history right below your personal statement and details your experiences from the most recent to the oldest to demonstrate a progression in roles and responsibilities.

Regardless of the format you choose, use a professional and readable CV font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Also, keep your software developer CV on two pages so it’s not overwhelming for employers to read.

2. Write a compelling personal statement

Your personal statement is a 2–4 sentence introduction at the top of your software developer CV that offers a snapshot of who you are as a professional.

When you write your CV’s personal statement, it’s crucial to use CV buzzwords from the job advert you’re targeting. Tailoring your personal statement to the position you’re applying for increases your chances of landing an interview because you’re immediately showing how your software developer skills and experience align with the employer’s needs.

Here’s an example of a well-written personal statement for a software developer CV to give you ideas for writing yours:

Results-driven software developer with 7+ years’ experience building applications at all life cycle stages, including design, coding, testing, and debugging. Possess strong expertise in embedded systems and data processing.

3. Describe your software development skills with examples and data

The best way to showcase your software development skills is by providing context with hard numbers and specific examples.

For instance, instead of giving employers a list of technologies you’re familiar with, dive into how you’ve applied those in real-world scenarios. An illustration would be detailing your use of a tool like this:

  • Employed React and Redux to craft a dynamic user dashboard, resulting in a 50% decline in customer queries

Also, note how the applicant included a percentage. Quantifying your milestones and achievements with data adds credibility to your application, so add numbers wherever you can.

These are impressive bullet points with examples and numbers from a software developer’s CV work experience section:

A software developer CV work experience section example with three bullet points. It's written in black text on a white background.
See how numbers draw your eye to the software developer’s achievements.

Software developer job outlook in 2024 — things to know

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), software developers in the UK earn an average annual salary of £51,714.

You can find information about the gender pay gap for software developers on the ONS’ website.

Data source: The Office for National Statistics, an agency of His Majesty’s Government. The information contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 and reflects the ONS’s most recent salary (1/11/2023), gender pay gap (4/2023), and skills shortage data (6/2022).

After you submit your CV: getting hired as a software developer

A career in software development can be lucrative, but to get ahead with the best employers you’ll need to be able to showcase your grit and unique perspective.

You’ll also need to be ready for the tasks and assignments that hiring managers will send your way when they decide to move your application forward.

This video takes a look at the challenges software developers have had to tackle in order to land a job at LinkedIn — as well as some of the skills aspiring software developers should pay attention to if they want to progress in the field.

Need more ideas?

Our library of CV examples has hundreds of tailored CVs you can use to fine-tune your job application and stand out from other applicants.


Samuel Johns
Written by

Samuel Johns

Samuel Johns is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and senior career counsellor on the CV Genius team, with almost 5 years of experience in the career space. He has helped countless job hunters craft high-quality CVs and cover letters, exceed expectations at interviews, and obtain their dream jobs. Born and raised in County Durham in the beautiful North East of England, he graduated with a BA (Hons) in French Language and Literature from the University of Bristol in 2013 and has worked in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, London, Paris, and Taipei as a French–English translator. He’s determined to use his native English and fluent French skills to help UK and French candidates get the jobs they deserve. In addition to the British and French versions of CV Genius, Samuel’s job-hunt advice has been published on numerous websites, including Careers.org, the University of Warwick, the Enterprisers Project, and HR.com. If you’d like to collaborate, please reach out to Samuel through LinkedIn. Please note, we don’t accept guest posts and won’t reply to such requests.