Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Standout Resume for FAANG Software Engineers

The current software engineering job market is extremely competitive. A good resume will help you stand out among all those other engineers applying to positions at FAANG or other companies. A resume should highlight not only your technical skills but also your problem-solving abilities, relevant experience, and a splash of personality to show recruiters and hiring managers who you are. In this guide, we’ll show you all the ins and outs of a good software engineering resume that will help you land interviews.

Table of Contents

• ATS-Friendliness
  • Correct Formatting
  • Standardization
  • Resume Template
• A Strong Format
  • Introduction
  • Experience
  • Education
  • Technical Skills
  • Projects
• Additional Tips
  • Industry Keywords
  • Soft Skills
  • Portfolio
  • Proofread
• Frequently Asked Questions

Even the most qualified engineers fail to write good resumes. So don’t just assume your qualities aren’t there. Resume structure, content, and keywords are important to get noticed.

1. Make sure your resume is ATS-friendly.
2. Fill your resume with good content in a meaningful order.
3. Optimise your resume by using keywords and prioritisation.

ATS-Friendliness

Most top tech companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen the resumes they receive before they finally reach human eyes. ATS can reject candidates automatically if they don’t follow certain rules in their resume.

Not many companies use the same ATS, but you can optimise your software engineering resume to be in favour of most ATS. Here, we’ll give you tips to increase your chances of passing ATS screenings.

Correct Formatting

We recommend using LaTeX, Microsoft Word or Google Docs to make and edit your resume. Submit your resume as a PDF to keep the right formatting. Your text has to be easily highlightable. ATS tools are always improving their readability of standard resume formats; the more common your format, the better.

Don’t use headers and footers, and reduce the margins of the page to 0.5 on each side. Also, don’t use Photoshop, Canva, PhotoPea, or other graphic design tools or online resume builders to create your resume.

Standardized Fonts in Readable Sizes

ATS is not able to read special letters. Fonts you should use are:

1. Arial
2. Calibri
3. Garamond

Make sure the font you choose is readable for humans for when you progress in the hiring process. Use 10px as a minimum size to ensure readability, and don’t forget to add sections with headings and ordering. ATS readers have to identify certain information from your resume and standard header titles, and ordering can help them with this.

This is the order that recruiters recommend:

• Contact information Start with your contact information, make sure to use a professional email address.
• Introduction: Introduce yourself in a few short sentences to capture the recruiters attention.
• Experience: Your professional experience.
• Education: Include extracurricular activities relevant to the position you're applying for.
• Skills: Programming languages, frameworks, etc.
• Projects: If you have any relevant side projects, make sure to include them in this section.
• Extra: Optional sections, such as certifications, awards.

Caution: don’t add symbols to your headers to avoid ATS readability issues.

Resume Template

Click here to download our ATS-friendly optimized LaTeX resume template.

A strong format

A clean resume is the most important thing. Resumes should be formatted in a way that prioritises readability and consistency. Use a simple layout and try to keep it to one page. Unless you have more than 10 years of relevant experience, a second page really isn’t necessary. Choose your contents wisely.

Introduction (Professional Summary)

Once your resume has passed the ATS screening, a recruiter will read it. The first thing they’ll see is the summary you’ve written about yourself. For software engineers, a professional summary is the most effective. In two or three sentences, highlight your selling points, such as technical expertise, years of experience, and notable achievements. Keep the following in mind:

• Why are you fit for the job?
• Use action words.
• Use an active voice.
• Use the noun that describes your role, such as 'software engineer’.

Examples

Senior at University X

‘Senior Year student at University X with a focus on Machine Learning (ML) and AI. Interned at company X and worked on full stack development and ML engineering roles.’

Senior Front End Engineer

‘Front End Engineer with X years of experience and strong fundamentals in Front End technologies. Likes web infrastructure and making websites fast. Passionate about programming languages and dev tools.’

Experience: focus on impact and results

In your experience section, the goal is to show how you have applied your skills to achieve specific results. Use action verbs such as ‘developed,’ ‘engineered,’ ‘optimised,’ ‘led,’ and ‘implemented’ and mention achievements such as time reductions or cost savings. Mention relevant technologies, such as specific tools, languages, or frameworks. These are important keywords that ATS will recognise.

Example

• Software Engineer
• XYZ Company, January 2020 – Present
• Developed a real-time data processing application using Python, reducing latency by 40%.
• Improved system reliability by refactoring legacy code, which reduced customer-reported bugs by 25%.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to design and implement API integrations, enhancing data flow efficiency.

Each bullet should convey the scope of the project, the specific action you took, and the impact it had. For software engineers, focusing on efficiency improvements, bug reduction, and successful project completions makes your contributions tangible.

Education Section

List your education, starting with your highest degree, and work backward. For software engineering, relevant degrees might include Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or similar fields. If your education is directly related to the field, list it closer to the top of your resume, but otherwise, place it after your experience.

Include relevant coursework, especially if you’re new to the industry. Including a few relevant courses can help show your theoretical background.

Highlight Certifications: If you’ve completed certifications relevant to the role, such as AWS Certified Developer or Google Associate Android Developer, include these under education or in a separate ‘Certifications’ section.

Example

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
• University of XYZ, Graduated May 2020
• Relevant Coursework: Data Structures and Algorithms, Cloud Computing, Database Management Systems

Technical skills

Your technical skills are an important part of your resume. Organise them by categories such as languages, frameworks, and databases, making it easy for hiring managers to identify your strengths quickly. Unless you’re a specialist or have a limited amount of skills to list. In that case, it’s best to keep it simple. Proficient in Java, C++, and React? Don’t overcomplicate it and just mention that. Try to mention only skills you are proficient in or that you have actively used in a project or professional setting

Don’t forget to tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for. Carefully read a description and identify which skills are needed. Adjust your skills accordingly, and don’t mention, for example, Java at a job that specifically asks for PHP.

Example:

• Languages: Java, Python, JavaScript
• Frameworks: React, Django, Node.js
• Tools: Git, Docker, Jenkins
• Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB

Projects Section

A projects section can be of big importance to your resume, especially if you’re a recent graduate or switching fields. Personal or collaborative projects can showcase skills and technologies relevant to the job you’re applying for.

When mentioning a project, name and describe the project with a short description to give context. List the programming languages, frameworks, and tools you used for the project and highlight challenges and solutions.

Example (Weather Forecasting App)

Built a full-stack weather forecasting application using React, Node.js, and the OpenWeather API. Integrated user location services for customised forecasts.

• Improved user interface accessibility, resulting in a 20% increase in user engagement and retention.
• Deployed the app to AWS, gaining hands-on experience with cloud infrastructure and server management.

Projects can provide a great way to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and your ability to apply technical knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Additional tips for your resume

Use industry keywords

Job descriptions contain keywords that are essential for passing ATS screening. To identify relevant keywords, look at the ‘Requirements’ section in the job posting and incorporate similar terms where applicable in your resume.

Highlight a few of your best achievements, and don’t list all your achievements just for the sake of a higher quantity.

Focus on soft skills through experience

Software engineers who demonstrate teamwork, adaptability, and communication skills stand out. Instead of listing these skills, demonstrate them in your experience descriptions. For example:

‘Collaborated with a team of developers to redesign legacy code, improving system performance by 30%.’

Add a GitHub or portfolio link

If you have a GitHub profile or personal website with projects and code samples, include a link at the top of your resume. Many hiring managers appreciate seeing examples of your work.

Proofread Carefully

Even a minor typo can leave a poor impression. Carefully proofread your resume, checking for grammar, spelling, and formatting consistency. It can help to read through it multiple times or ask a friend for feedback.

You can also test ATS readability on websites like AI Resume Judge and tools like Targeted Resume or Resume Shortlister will check how good your resume is for the job you are applying for.

With these strategies, your resume will not only demonstrate your technical know-how but also position you as a results-oriented professional who can contribute meaningfully to your next company.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top skills for a software engineering resume?

The top skills entirely depend on the job you’re applying to. Tailor your resume and only add information that’s of importance to the job.

Should I include a portfolio link in my resume?

If you have a GitHub profile or personal website, make sure to add it.

How do I make my resume ATS-compliant?

In short: Add industry keywords, use a readable font, and headings. Submit your resume as a PDF. You can use our LaTeX template as a starting point.

How long should a software engineering resume be?

A resume should be one page long. Unless you have 10+ years of valuable experience.

Can I include freelance projects?

Including freelance projects is recommended if they add valuable information that aligns with the job you’re applying to.