Craft the perfect software engineer resume with our comprehensive guide. ATS-optimized tips and company-specific advice for FAANG, Big Tech, and startup applications.
Name, email, phone, LinkedIn, GitHub, portfolio URL
Keep it clean. No photo needed for US applications.
2-3 sentence overview for senior engineers
Skip for entry-level. Include years of experience and key expertise for senior roles.
Company, role, dates, 3-5 bullet points per role
Use STAR format. Quantify results. Most recent first.
Degree, university, graduation date, GPA (if > 3.5)
Include relevant coursework or thesis for entry-level.
Languages, frameworks, databases, tools, cloud
Match keywords from the job description. Group by category.
Personal or open-source projects with tech stack
Great for entry-level or career changers. Include GitHub links.
Start each bullet point with strong verbs: Designed, Implemented, Optimized, Architected, Led, Reduced, Increased.
Include metrics wherever possible: 'Reduced API latency by 40%' or 'Processed 2M+ daily transactions'.
For entry to mid-level roles, one page is standard. Senior/Staff engineers can use two pages if needed.
Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills). Avoid tables, graphics, and unusual formatting that ATS systems cannot parse.
Include a Skills section with languages, frameworks, tools, and cloud platforms relevant to the target role.
Instead of 'Wrote unit tests', say 'Increased test coverage from 45% to 92%, reducing production incidents by 60%'.
A great resume gets you the interview — but you still need to perform. Phantom Code provides real-time AI assistance during technical coding interviews so you can confidently solve DSA problems, system design questions, and more.
At top tech companies, recruiters spend an average of 6-10 seconds on initial resume screening. Your resume needs to immediately communicate your value, technical skills, and impact. Most FAANG companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that automatically filter resumes before a human ever sees them.
The key to getting past ATS is using standard formatting, including relevant keywords from the job description, and quantifying your achievements. Once your resume lands you the interview, tools like Phantom Code can help you perform your best during the technical rounds.
Check our Software Engineer Salary Guide to understand what compensation to target based on your experience level and target companies.