Best resume tips for entry level software developers focusing on ATS friendly formatting for remote job applications
You will learn how to format your resume so parsers can read it. Use a simple layout, single column, plain headings and standard fonts. Skip images, headers, and fancy tables. Show technical skills and projects with clear bullets. Add your portfolio and GitHub links as plain URLs. Tailor your resume for remote roles and match job keywords for each application.
How you format your resume for ATS to pass filters
Think of the ATS as a strict bouncer scanning your resume. Use clear section labels like Experience, Education, Skills, and Projects so the parser knows where to look. Match words from the job posting—phrases like “React,” “REST API,” or “unit testing”—but place them where they make sense, not stuffed in a list. Use remote-role keywords where relevant (e.g., “distributed team,” “remote collaboration”).
Keep the file simple. Use DOCX or plain PDF only if the posting accepts it. Avoid headers and footers that hide contact info from parsers; put your name and contact details at the top in plain text so the ATS can read them. Use short bullet points with one achievement or tech per line and quantify results—”reduced build time by 30%”—so both machines and humans get a clear picture fast.
Test before you submit. Copy and paste your resume into a plain text editor to check structure. Run it through a free ATS checker or upload it to job sites to see which keywords are picked up. Treat this like a dress rehearsal to avoid being filtered out before the interview stage.
Use a simple layout ATS compatible so parsers read your file
Use a single-column layout and left-align everything. Columns, sidebars, and complex grids confuse parsers. Place dates consistently (e.g., “Jun 2022 – Aug 2023”), keep job titles bold, and use plain section headings. Limit styling to basics: standard bullets, short paragraphs, and clear white space. Avoid text boxes or embedded objects that can vanish when the ATS parses your file.
Choose standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, Verdana, or Times New Roman at 10–12 pt. Use bold sparingly for titles and employers; italics are optional. The goal is a readable file for both machines and hiring managers.
Follow ATS friendly resume tips and avoid images, headers, and fancy tables
No logos, headshots, or decorative icons—images often render as blank space or gibberish to ATS. Skip tables and multi-column tricks; they can scramble text order. If you need a grid for skills, use a simple list or comma-separated items. Put critical contact info in the main body at the top where both ATS and recruiters expect it.
I once saw a promising candidate get filtered because a logo ate the contact line—don’t let that be you. Keep everything text-based so the machine reads your content end to end.
How you show technical skills and projects to match resume keywords for software developers
Recruiters and ATS should see the same strengths. Read the job posting and copy the exact nouns and tool names into your resume where they actually apply. Put those words in your skills list and repeat them in project bullets to create meaningful echoes that both human readers and parsers spot quickly.
Think of your resume like a map: the skills section is the legend, the project entries are the route. In each project line, name the tech, your role, and the impact in plain terms. Short, clear phrases like “Built REST API with Node.js and Express; cut response time from 400ms to 120ms” give the parser keywords and the reader a story.
Keep formatting simple so ATS can read it without hiccups. Use common headings like “Technical Skills” and “Projects.” If you follow these steps, you’ll be using the Best resume tips for entry level software developers focusing on ATS friendly formatting for remote job applications and actually get that first screen pass.
Put a clear Technical Skills section for ATS optimization you update
Label the section “Technical Skills” and list items in short, comma-separated groups or simple lines. Group by category if you like — Languages, Frameworks, Tools — but keep each item plain: JavaScript, Python, React, Docker. Use the exact spellings from the job description. Update this section every time you apply and move the most relevant skills toward the top.
Write project-focused resume entries with bullets that show what you built and learned
For each project add a one-line summary: what it is, the stack, and a measured outcome. Then add a line about what you learned or the problem you solved. Use active verbs: built, reduced, automated, integrated. Tie project bullets to job keywords: if the job asks for “API design” and you built endpoints, say “Designed and documented REST APIs.”
Add portfolio and GitHub links as plain URLs so recruiters and ATS can follow
Place plain links like https://github.com/your-username and https://your-portfolio.example.com on your resume, usually under Contact or Projects, so ATS and recruiters can click or parse them without extra formatting.
How you tailor your entry level software developer resume for remote jobs and internships
Make your resume read like a clear roadmap for remote work. Start with a short profile line that says you are open to remote roles and list your timezone or flexibility. Best resume tips for entry level software developers focusing on ATS friendly formatting for remote job applications include plain headings, a single-column layout, and standard fonts so machines and humans can scan your info fast. Put links to your GitHub, portfolio, and LinkedIn near the top so a hiring manager can click through right away.
Show remote-ready skills in context: mention tools and habits you used with teammates online—Git, Slack, Zoom, issue trackers—and how you managed async work. Use short bullets in experience that state the problem, your action, and the result. Example: Built a feature with React that cut page load time by 30% while coordinating with a remote designer via Figma and pull requests.
Include class projects, open-source contributions, or freelance work that show code samples and outcomes. Keep sentences tight and facts specific: numbers, timelines, and the tech you used.
Use remote job resume formatting and remote work phrasing like “Remote,” “Distributed,” or “Work-from-home”
Put Remote where a city would normally go, or write Remote — UTC-5. Pick one style (Remote, Distributed team, Work-from-home) and use it consistently across your resume, LinkedIn, and cover letter. Add a line in your summary: Available for remote internships and full-time remote roles, and list remote tools in your skills to demonstrate you can work online.
Highlight education, internship highlights, and entry-level achievements
Treat school projects like mini-jobs: write what you built, the tech used, and the result. Example: Capstone: Built a Flask API to serve student portfolios; handled 1,000 requests/day in tests. For internships, lead with impact: Implemented form validation in Vue, reducing bug reports by 40%. Include remote aspects when relevant—cross-timezone teamwork, PR reviews, or async planning—and link to demos or code.
Match job description keywords and customize your resume for each remote role you apply to
Read the job description and mirror the exact tech and verbs it uses, but only if you actually have that experience. If a posting asks for React, Redux, REST APIs, async communication, mention those words in your skills and in a project bullet where you used them. Small edits per application increase your chances with ATS and hiring managers.
Quick ATS & remote checklist
- Use a single-column layout, standard fonts (Arial/Calibri), and plain headings.
- Put name and contact info at the top in the main body (no headers/footers).
- Include a “Technical Skills” section with exact spellings from the job posting.
- Use short bullets with one tech or achievement per line; quantify impact when possible.
- Avoid images, logos, tables, text boxes, and unusual fonts.
- Add plain URLs for GitHub and portfolio (e.g., https://github.com/your-username).
- State remote availability and timezone in your profile; list remote tools and async experience.
- Test by pasting into a text editor and using an ATS checker before submitting.
Following these steps will help you implement the Best resume tips for entry level software developers focusing on ATS friendly formatting for remote job applications and increase your chance of getting that first screen pass.