How to write a resume for a Junior programmer?

Why is it important to have a quality CV?

     In today's world, the competition in the IT labour market is huge. Your CV is what you need to make an employer interested in you. If you are new and have no previous experience, a well-designed CV can make you stand out from those who do.

How to make a Junior Programmer CV as attractive as possible

Key recommendations

• Try to fit all the information about your projects and education into one page. Your resume should not be longer. You have only 3-5 seconds to interest the recruiter and influence their decision to call you.
• An important point about language. Since in Moldova the main number of companies cooperate with foreign clients, the CV should, as a rule, be written in English.
• Layout style - most companies will favour a CV that is in a list rather than solid text. Education, Professional Skills, and Job Experience should be listed, as it will be easier and more pleasant to read.   
• Abstraction and inaccuracies - everyone values their time, and especially a recruiter who has several dozens of candidates in addition to you. He or she will definitely not want to ask you to rephrase or clarify this or that point, and will simply skip your candidature. Also, don't just add words like "Responsibility, Communicability, etc." because they don't have any specifics. Instead, it is better to describe your actions in terms of results: "Led brainstorming session with backend and frontend developers" or "Realised tasks within given time limits".
• "Water" - a CV is a brief, yet maximally useful document that lists all of your strengths. The ideal size for "Juna" - 1.5-2 pages. Agree, if you will describe each point in detail-no HR will not read your "essay". For example, you should not write "In the period from 2019 to 2023, I studied at Moldova Polytechnic Institute at a specialisation "Information technology" where I have got Bachelor level of education". Instead, it is better to briefly write "Bachelor of Information technology, Moldova Polytechnic Institute, 2019-2023".
• Inaccurate information is a seemingly trivial but very common mistake made by most young professionals. In no case do not indicate inappropriate level of foreign languages, unlearned programming languages or courses not taken. It is better to write less about yourself (everyone already understands that you are a junior in IT), but truthfully, and then the employer will understand what you know and what you don't, rather than lie and then fail to meet expectations, spoiling your reputation. 

Contact information

     Let's start with some basic contact information:

• Your first and last name. You do not need to give your middle name.
• Include a phone number with a country code, especially if you are sending your CVs to foreign companies.
• Email address.
• Links to your LinkedIn profile and developer platforms. Specify this with links to the platforms so that it's convenient for the employer to go straight to the resources.
• Your location. This can be a country and a city, or just a country.

Please note that you should not give your residential address, date of birth, marital status, number of children. These data will not help the employer to understand how good a specialist you are.

Profile 

     In this section, provide a brief description of yourself. Include your career goals, IT interests and key skills. Try to keep it concise but informative. For example: "Aspiring beginner programmer, ready to contribute to your company. Seeking an opportunity to grow as a Junior Developer and apply my knowledge in creating innovative software solutions".

Also, list your hard skills in an unnumbered list in the first part of your CV so that the employer can get an impression of your abilities. It is advised not to overdo it so that it does not look comical, as if it is a CV of a professional with a lot of experience.

Job experience

If you have projects outside of school, describe them before the Education section. Include the technology used, the objectives of the project and your contribution to it. If there are several, list them in reverse chronological order.

Education

List your education in reverse chronological order. List the institutions, years of study and degrees obtained. If you have projects completed as part of your studies, please list them in the Work Experience section.

If you are retraining in IT from another field, it is advised to indicate in Education only the core education dedicated to the profession in the CV. 

Additional education and certificates

     List the courses and certifications you have received since your formal education. This may include online courses, participation in webinars, hackathons, certificates of completion.

Personal qualities

     It used to be customary to write your personal qualities. Now it is no longer necessary, as the recruiter finds out during the interview process. 

Non-IT related work experience

If you have worked in another field for several years (this does not apply to university students), it will be useful to indicate your non-IT education and places of work in a separate section at the end of your CV. You can see an example in our test resume.

Junior Programmer resume sample with no experience

Also, this resume example is available at this link with supplementary comments.

Conclusion

     A good start in IT depends on how you present yourself through your CV. After all, it is not just a set of information about you, but how you want to be a part of this boundless and beautiful world. Many people write that no one will read your CV and that everything depends on your skills - but this is not true. The first thing they will look at before they hire you is HOW you put together your CV and only if they like it will they call you in for an interview. 

   Finally, don't forget that a CV is not just a list of skills, but also a story of your commitment to professional development. Your enthusiasm and willingness to develop yourself are key elements that make you an attractive candidate. Apply our tips and you will have a great starting key to a successful career in the IT industry. Good luck in your development in the world of programming!