Standing Out in Software Development Job Application

Standing Out in Software Development Job Application

It should not come as a surprise that online job applications have the lowest success rate of any strategy when it comes to landing an interview given the sheer number of people who utilize the internet to hunt for employment. In any case, that is how I was able to get all of my interviews. You very definitely already are familiar with the location of the link to the online application that is provided by each business. It follows the tried-and-true model of other job boards, in which you are presented with a list of job names and lead yourself to believe that you are qualified for each position before really reading the criteria that are listed for the posting. Despite having reservations about your qualifications, you decide to apply for the position nonetheless since you are in desperate need of money.

So you fill out the application form, press submit — and wait and hope for a positive response.

Your results will be varied:

1. Phone Interview? (yay, a at employment!!!)
2. Immediate Rejection? (darn, back to the drawing board)
3. No reply ? (ugh, at least chance give me the courtesy of having some closure)

Repeat Until Success… Right?

Unfortunately, this is the standard procedure that many people go through when seeking for a job or internship. Apply to a few firms. Receive a few rejections or no responses. Apply to a few more businesses. Get a few more rejections or no responses. Again and over and over and over. Why do we subject ourselves to this? We spend all of this time doing the same monotonous work and getting the same, unsatisfactory outcomes. Because, after all, this is what everybody does to land an interview, right? Because, at the very least, we're moving in the right way and have a glimmer of optimism, right? How else are you going to land an interview? We can think of approaching the problem of not getting interviews in two ways:

1. Putting your application/ résumé under the microscope
2. Questioning the process in which you go about obtaining an interview

The Essentials from a Glance

a)????One-page résumé

Recruiters do not have all day to read your résumé. On average they view it for less than 6 seconds. Keep it?short?and?concise.

b)????Sections (Header, Education, Employment, Software Projects, Skills)

Place sections in?order of importance?from top to bottom. The ‘Personal Projects’ section is a unique, must-have for people looking for a software engineering position.

c)????Consistent layout + font per section

Make sure each section contains a uniform look. Consistent style is important as it enhances the readability.?Readability?is essential.

Note

While previous work experience is beneficial, not all work experience is evaluated equally while seeking for a position in software engineering. Include only employment experience that is relevant to the position that you are applying for. For example, if you've worked as a cashier in retail or a server in the food sector, don't mention it! Unfortunately, your ability to handle money or serve meals does not indicate that you would be successful as a software developer.

The purpose of a recruiter is to connect people with positions that match their skill sets. Part of accomplishing this means creating a collection of various résumés, each tailored specifically for the different job that you are interested in. This is analogous to the college application process, where you had to write separate essays for each university that you applied to. Each college has its own values, culture, and vision, making it nearly impossible to write a generic, one-size-fits-all college essay. Therefore, tailor your résumé to the job that you are applying for.

Lastly, a note on dates. Order your experiences in descending order starting with your most recent experiences. For undergraduates, this means being mindful of including experiences that are both recent and relevant. Sadly, no one cares about whatever accomplishments you had in middle school or high school. If the experience is outdated, leave it out.

Key Takeaways

• Make sure your name and contact information is correct and legible
• Be sure to include your education. If your GPA is low, leave it out or be creative!
• Utilize the “Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]” formula to effectively show the impact that you had in your past employment
• Do personal projects — especially if you do not have experience working in tech

Reference

How to write a killer Software Engineering résumé. (2022). Retrieved 4 October 2022, from https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/writing-a-killer-software-engineering-resume-b11c91ef699d/