Constructing an organized resume can be difficult. Especially if you are a computer science professional. This may mean that you have a lot of qualifications and skills that you want to list. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. We’ve put together a guide on how to construct the perfect computer science resume. What you can expect from this guide is a step-by-step guide on how to write a resume and skills to add to your resume.
How to write a computer science resume
There are a few things that you need to have in your computer science resume to make it stand out. Here are some of the reasons why you should follow this perfected guide:
- This guide is constructed in reverse chronological order, which is one of the most popular ways to write a resume.
- Provide relevant and complete contact information. This is important because you want to make sure the employers that you are contacting have a sufficient way to contact you.
- Keep your resume summary short and sweet. A quick way to highlight your ambitions and goals
- Include an impressive list of relevant skills
- Add a short educational section. It’s important to list where your educational background stands.
Now that you know the basics of what your resume should consist of, we’re going to run through how to write it out.
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The right way to format your resume
When you are constructing your resume, the first thing that your potential employer is going to notice is the layout. We recommend you organize it in chronological order. This type of resume format is expected for how you display your work experience. This is also the most common format, so the recruiters are already expecting this type of format.
Here are some other tips on how to construct your resume once you have the work experience in the recommended order.
- Keep your resume short and sweet. An ideal resume length is one page. There are a few exceptions to this rule. Say you are a professional with 10+ years of experience or are applying for a job in academia. This is a more impressive resume length as opposed to listing every single accomplishment.
- Don’t forget to add headlines to your resume. This is important for the employer to easily examine your resume without missing important information.
- Save your resume in PDF format. Unless specifically directed to do otherwise. This is the easiest way for recruiters to open your resume from any device.
Include the right contact details
This is one of the easiest yet most important sections to accomplish in your resume. Double-check this section for no mistakes or typos. The purpose of this section of your resume is to ensure that the recruiters or potential employers can get ahold of you and bring you in for an interview.
Here is the information you’ll want to include in this specific order:
- Full Name
- Title
- Phone Number
- Social Profiles (LinkedIn)
- Location (City and State)
Write a resume summary
The cherry on top of your computer science resume is crafting a quick summary. This is a quick and insurable way to represent your professional history and goals and show your potential employer why you’re the perfect candidate for the job.
The purpose of a resume is to show your experience and is ideal for an entry-level position. The summary of your resume is better instructed for the recruiter to see how goal-oriented and ambitious you are.
Describe your computer science experience
Unless you have no professional experience whatsoever, work experience is a must on any resume. This can be especially true in highly technical fields like computer science where you never really stop learning or developing throughout your career.
Here is how to properly format your work experience:
- List the work entries in reverse chronological order (which means putting your most recent job first).
- Include your title, the company name, location, and the years attended.
- Add 3-5 achievements and responsibilities underneath each work entry (with fewer bullet points for older jobs).
List your education
Knowing your education status is very important and proves to your employer that you finished your computer science education. This section doesn’t need the same amount of space as your work experience section, but that doesn’t mean it is any less important.
Here is the important information you should list about your education:
- Your degree
- Name and location of the college
- Years you attended
Write relevant skills
Now for all the skills you’ve acclimated. This section is one of the most important parts of your computer science resume. Especially if you are being considered for an entry-level position. It’s been recommended to list 15-20 different skills you have to improve your chance of being hired.
Note that you shouldn’t list every single skill you can think of. You don’t want to crowd your resume with unnecessary information. Instead, consider listing the industry-relevant skills. A helpful tip is to list the skills that are in the job description that make your abilities.
We wanted to note that you shouldn’t list every single skill you can think of. You don’t want to crowd your resume with unnecessary information. Instead, consider listing the industry-relevant skills. A helpful tip is to list the skills that are in the job description that make your abilities.
- Mathematics
- Problem-solving
- Coding
- Experimentation
- Computer and technology knowledge
- Programming languages
- Technical writing
- Software development
- Computer hardware engineering
- Data analysis
- Information systems management
- Technical writing
- Linear algebra
- Statistics
- Calculus
- Discrete mathematics
Additional resume sections to use
These additional sections are just recommended and are not required for all computer science job listings. They can however bring a lot of value to your resume.
Consider adding these sections to improve your computer science resume:
Awards and certifications
If you are new to computer science programs, just know that the competition these days are rigorous. This is a sure way to get your foot in the door at a competitive company. Prove to the recruiters that you deserve to be there by showing them the awards and certifications you’ve earned through your hard work and dedication.
Projects
Listing all of the projects that you’ve worked on is just another way to show the recruiter that you like what you do and you are excellent at it. Note that projects don’t have to come from other jobs, but can be issued from school projects and/or personal projects that you’ve completed.
Hobbies and interests
This section is not needed but can give your potential employer some insight into what you are like as a person. For example, if you list designing your own games, they will know that you are passionate about programming and even spend your downtime honing your skills.
Include a cover letter
Most potential employers recommend submitting a cover letter along with your resume. It is an easy way to ensure that you are being taken seriously. Writing a detailed cover letter lets the recruiter know that you read the job description and you think you are the perfect candidate for the open position. Here is a guide to what you should have in your cover letter.
- Header: This section should list your contact information, along with the contact information of the hiring manager you are addressing.
- Greeting the hiring manager: Add a personal touch by researching the recruiter’s name (usually be the head of whichever department you are applying to). Showing you’ve gone the extra mile will set you apart from candidates who include a generic “Dear Sir/Madam” greeting.
- Opening paragraph: Here you really want to grab the hiring manager’s attention and impress them with your top 2-3 achievements.
- Body: You should convince the recruiter that you’re the perfect candidate for the job. Explain exactly what sets you apart from other applicants and what makes you a good fit for their company culture. You can also use this to say anything you couldn’t in your resume (e.g. explain a career gap).
- Closing: You want to leave a lasting impression with the closing paragraph. Make it memorable so the hiring manager won’t forget you by including a call to action (e.g. it’d be great to discuss this more in-depth in an interview).
Prepory’s cover letter maker
If you are looking for an easier way to create cover letters during your job search, then look no further. We have the perfect tool for you. Not only can we assist you with constructing your resume, but your cover letters too! We have over 250 templates to choose from. Ensuring that your cover letter is up-to-date and specific. Check out our templates here or clicking below.
Key takeaways
You now have all the tools to construct the perfect computer science resume. All you have to do is perfect the formatting, include all the important and necessary information, as well as make everything you do stand out. If you follow along with our guide you will be a shoo-in during your next interview. Happy job hunting!
