Web Developer Resume Guideline and Example

Web developers design and develop web based applications, internet/intranet/extranet portal, and e-commerce systems. Web developer is a very flexible position, and IT professionals with fair programming experience have good chance to get a web development job.
Generally employers looks for web developer candidates with skills in one of the following technology areas:

1. ASP programming with IIS administration
2. JSP programming plus Java beans with middle tier server such as Tomcat
3. Web application developed by PHP with mySQL
4. Corporate portal development using portal tools from Microsoft (SharePoint), IBM (WebSphere Portal), BEA (WebLogic Portal), Oracle, Sybase, or open sources. 

As a winning candidate, your resume must demonstrate strong web development language skills - ASP, JSP, HTML, XML, Java, servlet, JavaScript, VBScript, Perl CGI, PHP, and mySQL.  Also, it's better if you can show some server experience, i.e., Apache web server, IIS, Tomcat, or even J2EE application server.

Software Architect Resume Guideline and Example

Software architect is the high end position in software engineering.  The main job function of software architect is to architecture and design complicated, large scale software systems in enterprise level.  Software architects use UML tools such as Rational Rose, Borland Together, etc. to document architecture design in UML diagrams.  Although programming is not a main job requirement, software architects are usually super level programmers since most of them come from senior software engineer and programmer positions.

Software architects usually work for big companies and consulting firms.  There is no need for dedicated software architect positions in small companies since software architecture is less important for small systems.  In many small to mid scope projects software engineers and senior programmers would fulfill the roles of software architect.

To make yourself a stand-out candidate for software architect positions, your resume should present strong skills in the following areas:

1. Software development life cycle (SDLC)
2. Mainstream software framework (.NET, J2EE)
3. Software design methodologies
4. Industry standard design patterns (GoF patterns, MVC, etc.)
5. Database systems (RDBMS)

Also, software architect should have in-depth knowledge in information technology, IT infrastructure, and industry trends. Industry experience in sectors such as insurance, banking, health care, etc. are helpful too.  In addition, communication and leadership skills are also highly expected.

Software Engineer Resume Guideline and Example

Unlike programmers whose main job function is to code business applications, software engineer's role is focused on systems.  Software engineers design and develop operation systems, network systems, enterprise business applications, and commercial off the shelf software (COTS) like ERP, CRM, PLM, etc.  Sometimes software engineers work on hardware related systems such as handheld mobile systems and automatic control systems.

In general, employers look for software engineer candidates with strong skills in software design, complicated systems analysis, software development life cycle experience, and expertise in low level computer languages such as C, C++, and CPU specific machine language code like assembler. 
In today's job market, a significant number of software engineer positions are lean to designing and developing enterprise business management systems.  In this case, your resume should present strong experience in the following areas:

1. RDBMS database
2. System architecture
3. Object oriented design
4. Software development methodology
5. Software project life-cycle
6. Design patterns.  

The following software engineer resume example presents skills and experience in enterprise software design and development in Java/J2EE technologies.

Programmer Resume Guideline and example

Programmer's main job function is to write, test, and maintain computer application codes. Programmer's resume must demonstrate the following qualifications:

1. Strong skills of coding with mainstream computer languages, i.e., Java, C++, SQL.
2. Mastering software development tools and IDE environments, i.e., Microsoft Visual Studio, JBuilder, Eclipse, etc.
3. Knowledge and experience in relational database, especially writing SQL queries.
4. Software application design experience, i.e., UML, design pattern, and software life cycle.

In response to specific job requirements, your resume should have a focus of the desired skills.  These skills may be emphasized in Microsoft technologies, Java/J2EE technologies, systems applications, business applications, client/server platform, or web-based applications.

programming is a practical skill.  Employers expect your ability to code applications based specs. It's important for your resume to demonstrate hands-on experience in coding.  Make sure you present as many coding experience as possible to prove you can actually program applications to fulfill the business needs.

The following programmer resume example presents strong programming skills in Microsoft technologies.

Cover Letters - Are you telling them what they want to know?

Let's face it. Recruiters (or employers) are smarter than we think. Bigger organizations pay a hefty salary to their HR department to filter out and sieve through hundreds and thousands of resumes. The idea is to build an organization with people of the right mental aptitude. Most of the top organizations believe strongly in a motto - "People are their greatest assets". Your cover letter goes a long way in capturing and retaining the attention of these people whose main job is to recruit people and coordinate with the workforce.

A well-written cover letter engages the recruiter and pushes him to spend more time reading your detailed resume. Before you start off writing your cover letter, write down what you want to convey on a paper. Read it once, twice, thrice and then set off for a good start. Pack in as much power as you can, because it is these 400 or 500 words that can make the difference.

Nuts and Bolts of Effective Cover Letters

As a job seeker, you shouldn't overlook the importance of a cover letter. If written strategically, a cover letter increases your chances for consideration, and provides an opportunity to highlight your individuality.


A cover letter is much more than just a letter stating, "I read the job announcement in Sunday's classified, please accept this letter as an application of interest". It is a statement that tells the reader what they can expect from you if hired.

The challenging part of writing a cover letter is determining what information to include. After all, all the juicy information was included in the resume. What could you possibly add to the cover letter that will add substance to your qualifications?

The Not-So-Effective Cover Letter

Here’s a newsflash: Cover letters work, plain and simple. This is why I’m intrigued by the fact that a) jobseekers rarely submit them and b) hiring managers seldom read them. As a result, I started asking questions. Specifically, “What’s your problem with cover letters?” Here’s what I found out.

Jobseekers claim all the pertinent information is included in the resume. Translation: “I don’t know how to write an effective cover letter so I just scrap it.” Hiring managers say cover letters serve no purpose. Translation: “Jobseekers don’t know how to write an effective cover letter so I’d just as soon not be bothered.”

Beat The Crowd With Winning Cover Letters

Far too many people underestimate the importance of resume cover letters. In a sense, a well written cover letter works like an agent on your behalf. It tosses a sales pitch for you to the employer, explaining why you should be at the top of the list for interview calls. Taking the time to write a cover letter tells the employer you are willing to go above and beyond; not just simply slap a resume in an envelope and mail it.

When Cover Letters Get Personal

“It is with great interest and enthusiasm that I submit my resume for your review.” Most cover letters are written in this humdrum tone. Cover letters do not need to be so dull, nor so uninteresting. This style of cover letter writing has been around for years; and it’s a trend that has overstayed its welcome.

It’s perfectly acceptable to add pizzazz to cover letters in an effort to engage the reader in your story. Taking a business approach while adding a personal touch to the cover letter will certainly make you stand out from other candidates. But many are skeptical about adding a personal story to the cover letter because rumor has it that cover letters should be completely business-oriented. That isn’t true. There are occasions when it is appropriate to deviate from what others expect to read, and of course, there are times when you should remain with the “tried and true” method.

How Beneficial is a Sample Cover Letter?

You can benefit from sample cover letters as they can help you learn about the constructs of a high quality cover letter. However, there are some dangers in doing this ...

If you have been sending out tons of resumes and cover letters and are not getting interviews you are probably wondering why. After all, you have the requisite education and work experience required in the job posting.

You are sending in both a resume and cover letter as requested, so why aren't you getting any calls for interviews? The answer to this probably lies in the type of cover letter you are sending.

A lot of job seekers believe it is quite acceptable to copy and paste a sample cover letter and insert their name. There are certainly innumerable sites on the internet that can provide you with a cover letter example; however there are a few things you should consider before you simply cut and paste a sample letter and make it your own.