Backend Developer Resume Example
A career as a backend developer typically involves designing database schemas and implementing RESTful APIs. A strong resume for backend developer applications showcases your skills, experience and achievements and helps you stand out from other candidates. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your backend developer applications.
This comprehensive guide will give you all the tools you need to craft a backend developer resume that positions you strongly against other candidates. The guide will show you practical examples of how to structure your resume to show off your best and most relevant skills and career achievements. It will also show you how to tailor your resume according to the job description and your unique skill set. Read on to access expert insights from Jobseeker that will help you create a winning backend developer resume.
Main sections of a backend developer resume
The key sections to include in a backend developer resume are similar to those for any role or profession.
If you have no work experience as a backend developer or have just started in the industry, you could consider using a functional or skills-based format, which emphasizes your skills and education. Soft and transferable skills are often more highly valued by employers for junior roles, so highlight these. Also add any internships, volunteer work or training courses you've undertaken.
If you have some experience as a backend developer, use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format and focus on showing how you've used the skills required for the job in your career to date. Your resume should focus on your career achievements, and the role you've played in successful projects and activities for your employers. Consult the job description for guidance on what to showcase, and provide evidence to support your claims.
For senior backend developer roles, you're likely to be competing against highly experienced candidates. Use a reverse-chronological resume format and focus on adding additional information that shows your credentials beyond your work experience. Your senior resume will likely be more comprehensive than resumes for more junior roles. You can add extra details about your career, such as awards, publications presentations, professional memberships or certifications.
The order you present these sections can vary according to your career stage, but it's still essential to include each of the following:
Resume Header
Your backend developer resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Be aware of the amount of space your resume header takes up. You don't want your contact details to take space away from the main content of your resume, so keep this section as brief as possible.
Use an email address that's professional and appropriate for professional communication. Typically this would be an email address based on your first and last name, or your initials. If necessary, you could include your profession or another unique identifier. Avoid using old email addresses that could be considered unprofessional or inappropriate. Additionally, always check your contact details before sending your resume to ensure they're up-to-date.
Julia Gutierrez
julia.gutierrez@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
1313 Mockingbird Lane, Mockingbird Heights, CA
linkedin․com/in/julia–gutierrez123
Resume Summary
The next section is the resume summary. The section might also be called 'resume objective' or 'personal profile'. This is a brief introduction to you, your key skills and your career achievements and ambitions. While a resume summary focuses on your career achievements and experience, a resume objective typically focuses on your ambitions for the future. However, make sure you keep your resume summary short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description.
Alternatively, focus on introducing your career ambitions, and why this role is a good fit, both for you and the organization.
A strong resume summary focuses on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for backend developer roles in a clear, quantifiable way. It also gives an insight into your personal qualities, to help the reader understand why you're a suitable candidate. The graphic below showcases some good examples of what to include in your backend developer resume summary.
Backend Developer with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and extensive experience as a Backend Software Engineer. Proficient in designing, developing, and maintaining scalable server-side applications. Skilled in leveraging programming languages such as Python, Java, and Node.js, as well as frameworks like Django and Spring Boot. Strong expertise in database management, API development, and cloud services. Adept at collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software solutions and improve system performance
Backend developer with some experience in computer science and working on server-side stuff. Familiar with using programming languages like Python, Java, and Node.js, and frameworks like Django and Spring Boot. Have done some work with databases, APIs, and cloud services. Worked with different teams to make software and try to make systems run better
On the other hand, an unsuccessful resume summary is one that mentions irrelevant skills, qualities and achievements and fails to differentiate you from other candidates. In the graphic above you can find some negative examples of how to write a resume summary.
Work Experience
Under your work experience section, add any jobs you've had in the past that are relevant to the position of a backend developer. Mention only the most appropriate and relevant jobs you've had in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent and working backwards. Add your job title, the name of the employer, the location of the role and your dates of employment.
In addition, include a few bullet points under each job, highlighting your key achievements so the hiring manager can see how they led to successful outcomes. Back up each point with evidence to show how you meet the job description.
A successful resume work experience section will always showcase skills and experience relevant to the job description, and how you put each to good use in your previous roles. Offering quantifiable evidence in a backend developer resume proves you're a strong candidate for the job, such as client feedback, project outcomes, KPIs or financial results. There are some examples of strong resume work experience sections below.
Backend Software Engineer, January 2022 - Present
ByteForge Solutions, Tampa
- Designed and implemented scalable microservices architecture, reducing server costs by 30% and improving response times by 50%
- Led a team to migrate a monolithic application to cloud-based infrastructure, enhancing system reliability and uptime to 99.9%
- Developed a real-time data processing pipeline, handling over 1 million transactions per second with zero data loss
Backend Software Engineer, January 2022 - Present
ByteForge Solutions, Tampa
- Worked on various backend projects to improve system performance and efficiency
- Led a team to enhance application infrastructure and reliability
- Developed solutions for processing large volumes of data efficiently
In the graphic above, you'll see some examples of less effective resume work experience sections. A poor resume work experience section would typically use vague descriptions of activities in previous jobs, while focusing too much on responsibilities rather than achievements. Failing to focus on the skills and experience that match the job description is likely to harm your chances of success.
Education and Qualifications
In your education section, include details of your most relevant backend developer qualifications and educational achievements.
A backend developer role tends to require candidates to have a university or college degree, so make sure you list yours in your resume. A Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree or similar is the most suitable for this job, but you could also include any other relevant qualifications that show your server-side scripting or version control systems.
Enter the name and level of the qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study or graduation. Include bullet points to show any specialist modules you studied, awards or exceptional grades and achievements that can set you apart from other candidates. These will all contribute to creating a positive impression on employers.
Additionally, mentioning any leadership roles or any societies and clubs you participated in while studying shows proactivity and initiative.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, 2017 - 2020
Boston University, Boston, MA
Hard and Soft Skills
Listing your key skills can help to prove your suitability for backend developer jobs. These could be version control systems, time management skills or various other relevant skills. Again, include any skills that match those listed in the job description. Focus particularly on technical skills required for backend developer jobs and transferable skills that show your qualities as a backend developer.
Highlighting your hard skills
Hard skills are the key technical skills required for backend developer positions. They include specific industry knowledge and abilities that you could learn on the job, or through a specialist qualification. Furthermore, your hard skills list helps to show employers how competent and experienced you are at key backend developer duties and responsibilities. Add up to five key hard skills that show you're an ideal candidate for the role. It can also be beneficial to add context to each skill, showing how you've used it to positive effect in your career to date.
Your resume hard skills list should reflect your unique and specific industry expertise and experience, while also fulfilling the requirements listed in the job description. See the examples below for an idea of what an effective backend developer resume hard skills list looks like.
- Database management systems
- RESTful API development
- Server-side scripting
Listing soft skills on your backend developer resume
Your soft skills are the core qualities and personal characteristics that make you a good employee. They tend to apply to multiple professions and jobs, though the soft skills you'll require may change as you move from junior to senior positions. Indeed, transferable skills are growing in importance in the modern world of work, so make sure you include several of these in your resume. It's best to aim for four or five soft skills that match the job description and reflect your strongest personal qualities.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for a backend developer resume.
- Problem-solving abilities
- Team collaboration skills
- Attention to detail
Relevant Certifications and Licenses
Under certifications and licenses, add any further qualifications that show you're a good fit for the job. These might be licenses that show you're qualified to operate certain equipment, or certifications that give you the edge over candidates with otherwise similar career history. Therefore, add any necessary licenses and certifications in this section, along with valid dates so employers can see you're still qualified for the job.
Take a look at some example certifications for a backend developer resume below:
- AWS Certified Developer, 2022
- Microsoft Azure Developer, 2022
- Google Professional Cloud, 2022
Optional Sections
If you need to provide further evidence of your suitability for the job, optional sections can be useful for a backend developer resume. Pick from the optional sections below to help show the employer you have the skills and experience for the job.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
Listing your hobbies and interests can reveal key qualities that some employers may value. Hobbies can help you show different sides of your personality and make your resume more memorable to hiring managers. They're ideal to include if you're a junior candidate who might lack real world backend developer experience. Only include hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and personal qualities, and add something different to your application.
Volunteering
This section can be valuable for a backend developer resume, if you've done any voluntary work that showcases your relevant skills. Add any voluntary roles, including your position, the name of the organization, the dates of your voluntary work and a brief explanation of your responsibilities and achievements.
References
It's not typical to include references in a backend developer resume, but some employers might ask for them. Don't add references unless requested by the employer. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
References are available upon request.
Best words to use in a backend developer resume
Start each bullet point in your work experience section with a strong verb to show actions you took. Choose verbs from the suggestions below that highlight your key skills or those mentioned in the job description.
- Develop
- Implement
- Optimize
- Integrate
- Automate
- Troubleshoot
- Maintain
- Deploy
- Secure
- Monitor
Jobseeker's resume templates were created by careers experts to help you produce a professional resume in minutes. You can also find cover letter templates to complete an eye-catching job application that gets you noticed.
Example resume for backend developer applications
Using each of the sections above, we've created this example backend developer resume, to help guide you when creating your own:
1313 Mockingbird Lane, Mockingbird Heights, CA
•
julia.gutierrez@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/julia–gutierrez123
Experienced Backend Software Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Proficient in designing, developing, and maintaining server-side applications, APIs, and databases. Adept at optimizing performance, ensuring security, and integrating third-party services. Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively in agile environments. Passionate about leveraging technology to deliver scalable and efficient backend solutions.
Backend Software Engineer
2020
-2022
CodeStream Solutions (Greensboro)
- Engineered scalable microservices architecture, reducing server response time by 40% and improving system reliability for a high-traffic e-commerce platform
- Led database optimization project, cutting query execution times by 60% and reducing server costs by 30% for a fintech application
- Developed and implemented a robust API gateway, enhancing security and enabling seamless integration with third-party services, increasing user engagement by 25%
Database management systems
RESTful API development
Server-side scripting
Problem-solving abilities
Team collaboration skills
Attention to detail
AWS Certified Developer
Microsoft Azure Developer
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Key tips for a backend developer resume
- Quantify the impact you've made in different roles by offering evidence of your key abilities and your contribution.
- Make a strong first impression with a concise, impactful backend developer resume summary that showcases your key qualities.
- Mention your key educational achievements, such as degrees and professional qualifications, along with grades such as your GPA, if they're high.
- Tailor your resume to make it as relevant as possible to the role you're applying for. Consult the job description and adapt your resume to reflect the required skills and experience.
- Add each relevant job in reverse-chronological order, beginning with your current or most recent position and working back from there.
- Don't include personal details beyond your name, location and contact details. Adding your age, gender, nationality or a photo can create unwanted hiring bias.
- Don't use out-of-date contact information. Always make sure your email address and phone number are correct before sending your resume.
- Don't use complex formatting that makes your backend developer resume harder to read or less scannable by software such as applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Don't use unnecessary jargon to try and impress the reader. It may have the opposite effect.
- Don't add hobbies and outside interests unless they help you prove a skill required for the role.
How to make an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to streamline their hiring process. They can store and process data, including applications and applicant data, quickly and efficiently. One of the jobs ATS applications are increasingly responsible for is initial candidate screening. The systems can quickly scan and rank resumes based on how closely they match the job description. When writing your backend developer resume, a few simple tips can help you pass the ATS stage with a higher-ranking resume, giving you a better chance of success with your applications.
Follow these guidelines to create the best ATS-friendly resume:
- Adopt a traditional structure for your resume, such as a reverse-chronological format or a functional format. These are likely to be the easiest layouts for ATS software to scan.
- Use of job description keywords throughout your resume will help it rank higher in the ATS scanning stage, as it will more closely match the requirements laid out in the job description.
- Include clear headings that make it easy to identify each section of your resume. This will help any ATS software navigate your resume during the scanning process.
- Adopt a clean, unfussy design that gives your content enough white space to breathe. Use professional, readable fonts and subtle use of color and other design elements.
- Use simple, concise language to keep your resume to a maximum of one to two pages in length. This will make it easier for ATS software to read.
If you need help creating a professional resume, take a look at our expert career articles and variety of resume examples created by careers experts.
FAQs for a backend developer resume
Alongside your backend developer resume, it's important to produce a professional cover letter that creates a similar positive impact on the reader.
Before you write your cover letter, think about whether you need a formal, professional letter or if a brief, less formal email might be more suitable.
If you decide you want to write a traditional cover letter, follow the standard letter-writing conventions around layout and structure. In the main body of the letter, write an opening paragraph to introduce yourself and explain why you're applying for the backend developer role. Your second paragraph is typically where you highlight your key relevant skills and achievements. Finally, close by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and leave a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to make contact with you.
Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates were created by experts to help you make a strong impression with your applications. Follow the simple steps to create a winning cover letter today.
Writing a backend developer resume with no experience needn't be a daunting task. There are still plenty of ways to impress hiring managers with your resume. Use a functional resume format instead of the standard reverse-chronological structure. This emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience. Utilize additional sections at the end of your resume to show you've got what it takes to do the job. These include hobbies and interests, voluntary roles, certifications and internships.
If you want to create a strong first impression in your backend developer application, a resume headline can help. Resume headlines are also helpful for the ATS stage of the recruitment process, as they can help you reference the job title and one or two keywords for the role. Write a few words to set the tone for your resume, including the job title, your experience or track record and one or two key skills that make you stand out.
See below for an example of a well-constructed resume headline:
- Aspiring Junior Backend Developer
- Expert Backend Developer and Architect
- Experienced Senior Backend Developer Specialist
The most suitable resume format for you depends on two crucial factors. Firstly, whether you have a body of relevant work experience. Secondly, the type of job and its seniority level. If you're applying for a junior position or changing careers, you might want to consider a functional resume. This highlights your skills and education over your work experience. Once you have some relevant work experience, and for senior positions, a reverse chronological resume format is typically best. This emphasizes your work experience, which will probably be the key thing employers want to know about.
Takeaways for a winning backend developer resume
An effective resume is a concise, professional summary of your relevant skills and career achievements, showcased through a chronology of your career history. Choose the most suitable resume format for your experience levels, and focus on tailoring your resume based on the requirements listed in the job description.
Using the professional resume templates and resources of Jobseeker can help you create a great-looking resume that stands out from other applicants. Sign up today and follow the simple steps to get started. Whatever job you're applying for, a professional cover letter can make all the difference to your chances. Use Jobseeker's HR-approved tools and cover letter examples to inspire your applications.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
