Best Programmer CV Examples & Guide to Use in 2025

For many people, being a computer programmer is one of the most interesting jobs out there. To be a computer programmer, you need to have knowledge about software development, programming languages and other important technical skills. Here’s how to use our CV examples to craft your very own computer programmer CV.

Technical skills are the name of the match when it comes to getting a new job in the programming field. Software engineering is complex, and there’s not necessarily the “perfect way” to get the job done. You may be able to programme a specific function hundreds of different ways. As a programmer, it’s up to you to decide the best way to do something whilst also not breaking any of your preexisting code. Hiring managers want to see someone who’s able to craft these solutions as easily as possible. Using programmer CV examples and these tips, you can create a great CV.

Your CV structure will depend on the CV format that you choose. You can choose the chronological CV which emphasises work history or the functional CV (skills-based) format which emphasises skills when you don’t have extensive work history. Many CV templates start with a chronological CV. Regardless of the CV format you choose, you’re going to include these sections:

Header

Your programmer CV header is the top section of the CV. Typically, it includes your full name, phone number, email address and any job networking profile links such as LinkedIn. This placement at the top of your CV ensures that a hiring manager knows how to contact you for an interview if needed.

Personal statement summary

The personal statement (CV summary) gives hiring managers an overview of your specific skills and work history. It is typically a paragrah highlighting your best points. Since it’s positioned at the top of the CV, it’s a great place to begin showcasing why you are the right candidate for this programming job. Not sure about what to include? Check our CV Summary Examples page for inspiration!

Relevant skills

You’ll generally want to list at least 5-6 relevant skills on your programmer CV. Here are a few of the computer skills that you’re likely to use:

• Programming languages (Python, HTML, JavaScript, SQL, PHP, VisualBasic, Perl)
• Operating systems (iOS, Windows, Linux)
• Web development (MySQL, ASP.NET, Oracle)
• Methodologies for different languages
• Knowledge of data structures
• Problem solving skills
• Debugging
• Project management
• Troubleshooting

Of course, in programming, a significant number of the skills are hard skills, not soft skills. Although some soft skills are important, like problem solving skills, the general overwhelming number of skills on your list will revolve around your actual technical knowledge.

Work history

If you have previous programming experience, you’ve worked for information technology (IT) or you have other related experience, you will include it in the work history section of your CV. Work history is the best way to showcase that you are qualified, in addition to your certifications. You can optimise your CV by making sure that it includes all relevant previous work experience.

Education

Although not all programmers have an extensive education section, always include your top accreditation, such as a bachelor’s degree in computer science, along with any honours you graduated with. Remember, your education doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the job, but it can be a solid addition to your CV.

Do:

• Use a programmer CV sample to work from when creating your CV. Follow the examples’ lead in how the resume is structured, and which skills and experiences are featured.
• Concentrate on your skills section. Most of the time, a hiring manager is most interested in the specific skills you bring to the table.
• Include a “Key Projects” section if you have many projects to showcase. You can include multiple bullet points and keywords that match requirements in the job description, such as “proficiency in Unreal Engine”.

Don’t:

• Feature super obscure programming languages. These can be an interesting quirk, but they probably won’t help you get a job.
• Assert that you did everything for a job that you had team members help you with. Instead, explain how you’re good at collaborating on a team.
• List your work history in chronological order. Instead, use reverse chronological order, with the most recent job first.