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Software engineer job description: what you'll do and what to write on your resume

Applying for software engineer at a tech company or agency? Copy the duties below into your resume, then read what the interview asks.

Duties to write on your resume

Start each line with what you did. Keep the ones you've really done.

• Built and maintained web and mobile app features using JavaScript, Python or Java
• Wrote clean, readable code and followed the team's coding standards
• Fixed bugs reported by users and testers, and tracked each fix in Jira
• Reviewed teammates' code through pull requests on Git and gave clear feedback
• Wrote unit tests and ran them before every release
• Designed databases and wrote SQL queries to store and read app data
• Connected apps to other services through REST APIs
• Joined daily standups and sprint planning, and updated tasks as work moved

No work history yet? Use the same lines for school projects, a capstone, freelance sites or open source work, and link your GitHub.

A resume objective you can adapt

Computer science graduate looking for a software engineer job, ready to write clean code, learn your team's tools and ship features that work.

Skills employers ask for

• Programming in at least one language, such as Python or JavaScript
• Using Git to share and track code
• Finding and fixing bugs step by step
• Explaining technical ideas in plain English
• Working with a team and taking feedback on your code

What the interview asks

1. Tell me about a project you built. Pick one project, say what it did, your part in it and what you learned.
2. How do you find a bug you can't explain? Walk through your steps: reproduce it, read the logs, test one change at a time.
3. How do you handle feedback on your code? Say you see reviews as learning, and give one real example of a change you made.
4. Can you explain a technical idea to someone who isn't technical? Use a simple everyday example and avoid jargon.

The questions every interview asks, with sample answers

How to get hired

1. Most posts ask for a degree in computer science, IT or a related course, though some accept strong portfolios.
2. Build two or three projects and put them on GitHub before you apply.
3. Prepare a resume, a valid ID and your government numbers such as SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG and TIN.
4. Apply on company career pages and job sites, and expect a coding test or a take-home task.
5. Expect two or three interview rounds, one of them technical.

What the work is like

You spend most of the day at a computer, writing code, reading code and talking with your team. The hard part is chasing a bug that won't show itself, often against a deadline.

Use the software engineer resume template

Questions

Do I need a degree to work as a software engineer?

Many posts ask for one, but some hire on skills. A strong portfolio on GitHub helps a lot.

Can I work as a software engineer from home?

Yes, many teams hire remote engineers. Expect to show you can work well without someone beside you.

What should I study to become a software engineer?

Computer science, information technology or a related course. Self-taught learners can use free online courses and build projects.

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