Software Developer CV Example
A software developer CV is built on proving technical ability with measurable results. Recruiters and engineering teams look for which technologies you used, at what scale and what impact you created. The example CV and tips below help you stand out in a crowded applicant pool — ATS-friendly, one page, no photo or personal details.
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Michael Turner
Backend Developer (Node.js / PostgreSQL)
London, UK
Summary
5+ years of backend development experience. Built scalable B2B SaaS products with Node.js and PostgreSQL; increased deployment frequency from once a week to four times a day during a migration to microservices. Focused on performance, reliability and clean architecture.
Experience
Backend Developer · Insider
Jan 2022 – Present- ›Migrated the subscription billing module from a monolith to microservices, increasing deployment frequency 4x.
- ›Resolved a race condition in Stripe and payment integrations that had caused a 12-hour outage using the saga pattern; zero outages over the next 6 months.
- ›Optimised CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions, cutting build time by 40%.
Junior Developer · Trendyol
Jul 2020 – Dec 2021- ›Reduced search response time by 30% through Elasticsearch query optimisation.
- ›Developed the backend services for an A/B testing platform.
Skills
Education
BSc Computer Engineering · University of Manchester (2016 – 2020)
What to Highlight in a Software Developer CV
- ✓State your years of experience and core tech stack in the first line of your summary (e.g. "5 years, Node.js/PostgreSQL").
- ✓End every experience bullet with a RESULT: "cut latency by 40%", "eliminated downtime" — quantify the impact.
- ✓Tailor to the job post — move the technologies mentioned in the ad (if you have them) to the top, push irrelevant ones down.
- ✓Put your GitHub / portfolio link at the very top, next to your contact details.
- ✓Aim for one page; do not spill onto a second page unless you have 8+ years of experience.
- ✓Do NOT add a photo, date of birth or marital status — English-language resumes/CVs omit these and many ATS reject them.
Technical Skills
- •Node.js / Python / Java
- •SQL & NoSQL
- •REST / GraphQL
- •Docker & CI/CD
- •Cloud (AWS/GCP/Azure)
- •Git & code review
Soft Skills
- •Problem solving
- •Team communication
- •Ownership
- •Fast learning
Common Mistakes
- ✕Only listing technologies without explaining what you did (no results).
- ✕Claiming to "know" a technology you have not used — it surfaces in the interview.
- ✕Generic "team player, hard-working" clichés; give a concrete example instead.
- ✕Sending the same CV to every job — an un-tailored CV gets filtered out.
- ✕Adding a photo or personal details — this is expected in some countries but hurts you in English-speaking markets and with ATS.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a software developer CV be?
One page is ideal. If you have fewer than 8 years of experience, fit everything on a single page and cut old or irrelevant roles.
Should I include a GitHub link?
Yes, absolutely. An active GitHub/portfolio is the strongest proof of your technical ability — add it next to your contact details.
What if I have no experience (recent graduate)?
University projects, internships, personal projects and open-source contributions all count as experience. Describe each with a concrete result.
Should I add a photo to my developer CV?
No. In English-speaking markets a photo is not expected and can trigger bias concerns or ATS parsing errors. Keep it text-only.
Build your own Software Developer CV in 5 minutes
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