Resume guide · Job Zone 4
Software Developersresume guide.
Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. A strong Software Developers resume shows critical thinking, judgment and decision making and active learning, and names the tools you have worked with, such as C, Microsoft Azure software and Microsoft Visual Studio.
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- 1Summary leads with the titles and tools postings ask for.Software engineer, Java, Python, Docker and Kubernetes: a job title and hot technologies straight from this guide.
- 2Show how you keep AI-written code reliable."Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures" from the guide, applied to AI-generated code and shown as the defect drop it caused.
- 3Cost is part of the design.The guide's top task weighs designs against "time and cost constraints". A cloud bill cut 34% at the same latency is that task as a result.
- 4One judgment bullet per role.Advising against a rewrite shows Judgment and Decision Making and Systems Evaluation, two of this guide's high-importance skills.
- 5User needs, then the build."Analyze user needs and software requirements" becomes meetings with dispatchers that led to a measured drop in empty miles.
- 6Keep education to one line.Most software developers (84.8%) have a bachelor's degree, so listing it is enough. Your experience is what sets you apart.
Sample resume. The candidate is fictional; the layout and templates are real.
01Also called
O*NETApplication DeveloperApplication Integration EngineerDeveloperDevOps Engineer (Development Operations Engineer)Infrastructure EngineerSoftware ArchitectSoftware DeveloperSoftware Development EngineerSoftware EngineerSystems Engineer
02Skills employers expect
O*NETImportance is how much the skill matters to the job; level is how much of it the job demands. Both are worth naming on the resume, in this order.
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | High | Advanced |
| Judgment and Decision Making | High | Intermediate |
| Active Learning | High | Intermediate |
| Reading Comprehension | High | Advanced |
| Systems Analysis | High | Intermediate |
| Active Listening | High | Intermediate |
| Complex Problem Solving | High | Intermediate |
| Systems Evaluation | High | Advanced |
| Technology Design | High | Intermediate |
| Writing | High | Intermediate |
03Knowledge areas
O*NET- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Telecommunications
- Public Safety and Security
- Production and Processing
04Common responsibilities
O*NETOrdered by importance. Each one is a bullet waiting for a result and a number.
- Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
- Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
- Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
- Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
- Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
- Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.
- Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
- Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.
- Determine system performance standards.
- Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance.
05Software and tools
O*NET430 tools across 67 categories. The six largest categories are below; Hot marks a hot technology, In demand a tool employers ask for most often.
Development environment software66
- CHotIn demand
- Microsoft Azure softwareHotIn demand
- Microsoft Visual StudioHotIn demand
- Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBAHotIn demand
- Eclipse IDEHotIn demand
- Microsoft .NET FrameworkHotIn demand
- Microsoft PowerShellHotIn demand
- GoHotIn demand
- Apache KafkaHotIn demand
- Microsoft Visual BasicHot
- RubyHot
- Apache MavenHot
- Oracle Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition J2EEHot
- Oracle SQL DeveloperHot
- National Instruments LabVIEWIn demand
- Software development toolsIn demand
- VerilogIn demand
- Web application softwareIn demand
- Embedded systems development softwareIn demand
- Microsoft Azure DevOps ServicesIn demand
- Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript
- Adobe ActionScript
- Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
- Integrated development environment IDE software
- Apache Ant
- Common business oriented language COBOL
- Ada
- Prolog
- Software libraries
- Canu
- IBM Rational ClearQuest
- Interface definition language IDL
- IBM Rational Rose XDE
- List processing language LISP
- OpenAI ChatGPT
- MUMPS M
- Pascal
- Restructured extended executor REXX
- A programming language APL
- Beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code BASIC
- Embarcadero JBuilder
- Haskell
- J
- Scheme
- Symantec Visual Cafe
- ABC Compiler
- Algorithmic language ALGOL
- American National Standards Institute ANSI C
- AWK
- Bigloo Scheme
- B-Method
- Call-processing language CPL
- Computer On-line Real-time Applications Language CORAL 66
- Event-driven State-machines Programming
- Forth
- Gambit Scheme
- ICON programming language
- Interstate connection ICON
- Microsoft ESP SDK
- Programming language one PL/I
- String oriented symbolic language SNOBOL
- Web service definition language WDSL
- Xcode
- Kotlin
- XML Path Language XPATH
- JFrog Artifactory
+ 61 more
Object or component oriented development software38
- PythonHotIn demand
- C++HotIn demand
- RHotIn demand
- Oracle JavaHotIn demand
- PerlHotIn demand
- C#HotIn demand
- jQueryHotIn demand
- ScalaHotIn demand
- TypeScriptHotIn demand
- Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRSHot
- SwiftHot
- Apache Groovy
- Advanced business application programming ABAP
- Microsoft ActiveX
- Objective C
- Microsoft Visual Basic.NET
- Jupyter Notebook
- Microsoft Visual C# .NET
- SAP PowerBuilder
- Embarcadero Delphi
- Eiffel
- Smalltalk
- ABC: the AspectBench Compiler for AspectJ
- Collaborative Application Markup Language CAML
- Common Lisp Object System CLOS
- Component object model COM software
- Distributed component object model DCOM software
- Document Object Model DOM Scripting
- E++ pattern language
- Modula
- Oberon
- Objective Caml
- Component-based Scalable Logical Architecture CSLA
- Oracle Java Message Service JMS
- RabbitMQ
- Simple API for XML SAX
- Gradle
- Sun Microsystems Java Persistence API
+ 33 more
Web platform development software35
- JavaScriptHotIn demand
- Hypertext markup language HTMLHotIn demand
- PHPHotIn demand
- Cascading style sheets CSSHotIn demand
- JavaScript Object Notation JSONHotIn demand
- Node.jsHotIn demand
- Google AngularHotIn demand
- ReactHotIn demand
- Spring FrameworkHotIn demand
- Vue.jsHotIn demand
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASPHot
- AJAXHot
- Apache TomcatHot
- DjangoHot
- Microsoft ASP.NETHot
- BootstrapHot
- DrupalIn demand
- RESTful APIIn demand
- JavaScript framework softwareIn demand
- Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML
- Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
- Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP
- Apache Struts
- Ruby on Rails
- Enterprise JavaBeans
- LAMP Stack
- Ext JS
- Backbone.js
- Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVC
- Adobe Flex
- Extensible stylesheet language transformations XSLT
- Allaire ColdFusion
- React Redux
- Eclipse Jersey
- React Native
+ 30 more
Data base management system software26
- Apache HadoopHotIn demand
- NoSQLHotIn demand
- MongoDBHotIn demand
- Oracle PL/SQLHotIn demand
- Teradata DatabaseHot
- Apache HiveHot
- Apache CassandraHot
- ElasticsearchHot
- Amazon DynamoDBHot
- RedisHot
- Apache Pig
- Relational database management software
- Apache Solr
- SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise
- Amazon Kinesis
- ADO.NET
- Apache Flume
- Apache HBase
- Data definition language DDL
- Data manipulation language DML
- Apache Oozie
- Talend Big Data Integration
- Computer Associates integrated data management system CA-IDMS
- Structured Query Report SQR
- Distributed database management software
- Microsoft transact-structural query language T-SQL
+ 21 more
Program testing software25
- SeleniumHotIn demand
- JUnitHot
- Hewlett Packard LoadRunner
- System testing software
- Defect tracking software
- Load testing software
- Regression testing software
- Source code editor software
- Usability testing software
- Dynamic analysis software
- Functional testing software
- IBM Rational PurifyPlus
- Integration testing software
- Interoperability testing software
- Migration testing software
- Mutation testing software
- Recovery testing software
- Security testing software
- Static analysis software
- Stress testing software
- Test design software
- Test implementation software
- Unit testing software
- Fault testing software
- SonarQube
+ 20 more
Operating system software24
- Microsoft WindowsHotIn demand
- LinuxHotIn demand
- UNIXHotIn demand
- Apple macOSHotIn demand
- Shell scriptHotIn demand
- BashHotIn demand
- Red Hat Enterprise LinuxHotIn demand
- Apple iOSHotIn demand
- Google AndroidHotIn demand
- UNIX ShellHot
- Magellan FirmwareIn demand
- Oracle Solaris
- Hewlett Packard HP-UX
- Job control language JCL
- Ubuntu
- KornShell
- Cisco IOS
- Real time operating system RTOS software
- IBM AIX
- Disk operating system DOS
- Operating system shells
- QNX
- Win CE
- Wind River VxWorks
+ 19 more
Data base user interface and query software19
- Microsoft AccessHotIn demand
- Structured query language SQLHotIn demand
- Microsoft SQL ServerHotIn demand
- Oracle DatabaseHotIn demand
- Amazon Web Services AWS softwareHotIn demand
- MySQLHotIn demand
- Amazon RedshiftHotIn demand
- Transact-SQLHotIn demand
- ServiceNowHotIn demand
- PrometheusHotIn demand
- PyTorchHotIn demand
- GraphQLHotIn demand
- Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2Hot
- IBM DB2Hot
- FileMaker Pro
- Blackboard software
- Airtable
- Oracle JDBC
- IEA Software Emerald
+ 14 more
Enterprise resource planning ERP software13
- SAP softwareHotIn demand
- Workday softwareHotIn demand
- Oracle PeopleSoftHot
- SAP ERPHot
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
- Oracle Hyperion
- SAP Business Objects
- Microsoft Dynamics GP
- NetSuite ERP
- Oracle PeopleSoft Financials
- Oracle Fusion Applications
- Management information systems MIS
+ 8 more
Application server software12
- GitHubHotIn demand
- DockerHotIn demand
- Microsoft Windows ServerHotIn demand
- KubernetesHotIn demand
- Spring BootHotIn demand
- Red Hat OpenShiftHot
- Atlassian BitbucketHot
- GitLabHot
- Oracle WebLogic Server
- Red Hat WildFly
- Microservices Architecture
- Oracle Application Server
+ 7 more
Enterprise application integration software11
- Extensible markup language XMLHotIn demand
- Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services SSISHotIn demand
- Jenkins CIHotIn demand
- Microsoft Power Platform softwareHotIn demand
- Microsoft Power AutomateHot
- Enterprise application integration EAI softwareIn demand
- IBM InfoSphere DataStage
- Atlassian Bamboo
- Oracle Fusion Middleware
- SAP NetWeaver
- MuleSoft software
+ 6 more
Analytical or scientific software10
- SASHotIn demand
- The MathWorks MATLABHotIn demand
- IBM SPSS StatisticsHotIn demand
- TensorFlowHotIn demand
- StataCorp StataIn demand
- MathWorks SimulinkIn demand
- Simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis SPICEIn demand
- Minitab
- Data analysis software
- Dynamic modeling software
+ 5 more
Configuration management software10
- IBM TerraformHotIn demand
- PuppetHot
- ChefHot
- Perforce Helix software
- Automated installation software
- IBM Rational ClearCase
- Deployment software
- Red Hat Ansible Engine
- Patch management software
- Visible Razor
+ 5 more
Business intelligence and data analysis software9
- TableauHotIn demand
- Microsoft Power BIHotIn demand
- Apache SparkHotIn demand
- Alteryx softwareHotIn demand
- Google Looker AnalyticsHotIn demand
- IBM Cognos Impromptu
- Qlik Tech QlikView
- MicroStrategy
- Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition
+ 4 more
Graphics or photo imaging software8
- Adobe PhotoshopHotIn demand
- Adobe IllustratorHotIn demand
- Adobe Creative Cloud softwareHotIn demand
- Trimble SketchUp ProHotIn demand
- SmugMug Flickr
- JamBoard
- GNU Image Manipulation Program GIMP
- Open Graphics Library OpenGL
+ 3 more
Cloud-based management software6
- Splunk EnterpriseHotIn demand
- Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormationHotIn demand
- IBM WebSphere MQHotIn demand
- Oracle Cloud softwareHot
- IBM WebSphere
- Google Cloud software
+ 1 more
Data base reporting software6
- SAP Crystal Reports
- Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer
- Oracle Reports
- DataVision
- Oracle Business Intelligence Suite
- SAP Business Intelligence
+ 1 more
Graphical user interface development software5
- FigmaHotIn demand
- Grafana Labs Grafana CloudHotIn demand
- Salesforce Visualforce
- Graphical user interface GUI design software
- Graphical user interface GUI builder software
Project management software5
- Microsoft ProjectHotIn demand
- Atlassian ConfluenceHotIn demand
- Microsoft TeamsHotIn demand
- Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementHot
- Microsoft Team Foundation ServerHot
Transaction server software5
- Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS)In demand
- Web server softwareIn demand
- Customer information control system CICS
- IBM Middleware
- Object Management Group Object Request Broker
Video conferencing software5
- ZoomHotIn demand
- Cisco WebexHot
- Google MeetIn demand
- LogMeIn GoToMeeting
- FaceTime
Video creation and editing software5
- Adobe After EffectsHotIn demand
- YouTube
- Flipgrid
- Screencastify
- Loom
Web page creation and editing software5
- WordPressHotIn demand
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Social media sites
- Google Sites
Word processing software5
- Microsoft WordHotIn demand
- Google DocsHot
- Microsoft OneNote
- 3M Post-it App
- Evernote
Cloud-based data access and sharing software4
- SlackHot
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
- Platform as a service PaaS
Electronic mail software4
- Microsoft OutlookHotIn demand
- IBM Notes
- Microsoft Exchange
- Google Gmail
Customer relationship management CRM software3
- Salesforce softwareHotIn demand
- Blackbaud The Raiser's EdgeIn demand
- Oracle Eloqua
Document management software3
- Microsoft SharePointHotIn demand
- Adobe AcrobatHotIn demand
- Document management system software
File versioning software3
- GitHotIn demand
- Apache Subversion SVNHot
- Version control softwareIn demand
Metadata management software3
- Informatica softwareHotIn demand
- Quest Erwin Data Modeler
- Talend Data Fabric
Requirements analysis and system architecture software3
- Unified modeling language UML
- Requirements management software
- IBM Rational RequisitePro
Transaction security and virus protection software3
- NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software
- McAfee
- Encryption software
Access software2
- Citrix cloud computing software
- PuTTY
Backup or archival software2
- Veritas NetBackup
- Backup and archival software
Content workflow software2
- Atlassian JIRAHotIn demand
- Emerald Software Group Emerald Green Office
Data mining software2
- Google AnalyticsHotIn demand
- SnowflakeHotIn demand
Desktop publishing software2
- Adobe InDesignHotIn demand
- Microsoft Publisher
Financial analysis software2
- Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
- Delphi Technology
Information retrieval or search software2
- LexisNexis
- Apache Avro
Instant messaging software2
- GroupMe
- Blink
Network monitoring software2
- Wireshark
- Nagios
Network security and virtual private network VPN equipment software2
- Firewall softwareIn demand
- Virtual private networking VPN software
Object oriented data base management software2
- PostgreSQLHotIn demand
- Hibernate ORMHot
Office suite software2
- Microsoft Office softwareHotIn demand
- LibreOffice
Presentation software2
- Microsoft PowerPointHotIn demand
- Google Slides
Spreadsheet software2
- Microsoft ExcelHotIn demand
- Google SheetsHot
Storage networking software2
- Amazon Simple Storage Service S3
- Storage area network SAN software
Administration software1
- Software distribution management software
Authentication server software1
- Single sign-on SSOIn demand
Clustering software1
- VMware
Communications server software1
- IBM Domino
Computer based training software1
- Moodle
Desktop communications software1
- Skype
Device drivers or system software1
- Microsoft DirectX
Enterprise system management software1
- IBM Power Systems software
Expert system software1
- Ansible softwareHotIn demand
Filesystem software1
- File server software
Geographic information system1
- ESRI ArcGIS softwareHotIn demand
Internet directory services software1
- Microsoft Active DirectoryHotIn demand
Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software1
- Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software
Network conferencing software1
- LogMeIn GoToWebinar
Network operation system software1
- IBM z/OS operating systems
Platform interconnectivity software1
- Migration software
Portal server software1
- Apache HTTP Server
Procedure management software1
- Apache AirflowHotIn demand
Process mapping and design software1
- Microsoft VisioHotIn demand
Sales and marketing software1
- Marketo Marketing AutomationHot
Switch or router software1
- Border Gateway Protocol BGPHotIn demand
06Education and preparation
O*NETTypical education
Bachelor's Degree
85% of surveyed workers. Others report Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree (5%) and Master's Degree (5%).
Preparation level
Job Zone 4 · Considerable preparation
Usually a four-year degree and several years of related experience.
07Putting it on your resume
ResumeXRays guidanceBEE · How to show it
Lead with what you built. For a Job Zone 4 role, hiring managers and parsers both look for outcomes before credentials. Put two or three results at the top of each job entry, with the scale or effect stated plainly.
Name the tools exactly. This occupation is heavy on named software. A skills section that says "C, Microsoft Azure software, Microsoft Visual Studio, Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA" matches more job descriptions than a general phrase. Use the spelling employers use.
Show judgment and decision making and active learning, not just critical thinking. Judgment and decision making and active learning rank close to critical thinking for this occupation. One bullet per role that shows a decision, a tradeoff or a result covers them.
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