Resume Tips for New Grads Seeking Software Engineering Jobs

Happy graduation season! If you or someone you know is graduating with a computer science degree and is looking for an engineering or tech job, we’ve got the best resume tips just for you!

We spoke with John MacIlwaine, who has spent decades in finance and technology companies including Morgan Stanley and Visa, and he offered some dynamite tips for new grads looking to bag their first engineering job after graduation.

As you prep to make your first imprint in the real world, remember that engineering employers want to see the following:

1. Show Passion

Knowledge and skills are important, but the young developers who really stand out are the ones who have an innate curiosity and a passion for tech – they are the ones building an iPhone app or contributing to an open source repository in their spare time.

2. Security is Paramount

Information security is more essential than ever, so it’s an important skill to have at the ready. If you know how to keep your company safe, you’ll be a valuable asset.

3. Think Big

Big data is, well, huge and if you know how to handle it you’ll be a step ahead. Familiarize yourself with Hadoop and impress your interviewers with specific examples about how you’ve used big data.

4. Scale It

Scalability is a huge issue for fast-growing companies. If you can point to ways you’ve addressed scalability challenges in the past, you’ll be a great find for a start-up that’s trying to manage rapid growth.

5. Be Agile

Agile/scrum methodology is essential in today’s fast-moving workplaces. You’ll be a step ahead if you’re familiar with the process and culture and know how to work smoothly in it.

6. Mobilize

It’s no secret that smartphones and tablets have taken over the world. Virtually every company needs skilled mobile developers these days, so you can set yourself apart by having some great mobile know-how in your portfolio.

7. Get Specific

When you’re writing your resume, focus on specific accomplishments rather than the latest buzzwords. Tell us exactly how you contributed on a given project, what you specifically did that made a difference, and what the outcome was.

8. Know Thyself

Think about what you want to accomplish in the next year, and what will get you there. Is it a company where you can do lots of different things, or one where you can specialize in something like mobile or big data? A small organization, where you can have a major impact right away, or a big one where you’ll have more room to grow?