How to Write a Strong Resume as a Junior Software Engineer

Breaking into your first software engineering role means convincing a hiring team that your core skills are real, even if your experience lives inside coursework or side projects. Here is a playbook you can follow to turn academic wins into recruiter friendly bullet points.

Lead with a focused summary

A short intro helps busy reviewers connect the dots. Mention the languages or frameworks you are most comfortable with, the environments you have practiced in, and the type of problems you want to solve next.

Highlight the most technical experience first

Put internships, co ops, apprenticeships, or contract work ahead of retail or campus jobs. Use bullet points that follow the pattern “Action verb + technology + measurable outcome.”

• Example: “Built a React dashboard that helped 200 support agents triage bug reports 30 percent faster.”
• Example: “Automated nightly ETL jobs in Python and reduced CSV transfer time by 45 minutes.”

Turn projects into credibility

Hiring managers love seeing proof that you finish what you start. For each project list the stack, your role, and the impact. Link to GitHub if the repo is public.

1. Name the problem: “Campus carpool app to match 120 weekly riders by location.”
2. Cite the stack: “Next.js, Supabase, Tailwind, and Vercel.”
3. Share the result: “Reached 500 signups in the first semester.”

Quantify your toolbox

Group skills by category so applicant tracking systems understand your profile. For example: Languages (TypeScript, Python, Go), Frameworks (React, Next.js, FastAPI), Tools (GitHub Actions, Docker, Supabase).

Keep education results specific

Mention GPA if it is a brag. Otherwise focus on advanced coursework, research, or competitions that show depth: “Built an interpreter in Compilers,” “Placed second in HackMIT,” or “Published a prompt injection defense paper.”

Tailor every version

Re order bullets so the most relevant experience is always on page one. Mirror keywords from the job posting, and trim anything that does not support the role you want next.

Once you have a solid base resume, store it inside RunnieResume. You can swap sections, highlight the right metrics, and generate tailored versions for each job without recreating the format.