What skills should a Computer Programmer put on a resume?

O*NET rates Programming, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, and Quality Control Analysis among the most important skills for this occupation. Name the ones that are genuinely yours and show where you used them. A resume that lists skills you do not have is weaker than one that lists fewer.

What software should a Computer Programmer list?

Software recorded for this occupation includes A programming language APL, ABC Compiler, ABC: the AspectBench Compiler for AspectJ, Ada, and Adobe Acrobat. Applicant tracking systems match on the exact product name, so write the tool as the posting writes it rather than describing it in general terms.

What other job titles cover Computer Programmer work?

O*NET records 40 titles for this occupation, including Analyst Programmer, Programmer, Programmer Analyst, and Application Programmer Analyst. Searching only your own job title hides most of the openings you could apply to.

What qualifications does a Computer Programmer need?

In O*NET's survey of people doing this job, 88% reported their level of education as "Bachelor's Degree". That is what current postholders reported, not a requirement any single employer sets.

Will this resume pass an ATS for a Computer Programmer role?

No tool outside an employer can tell you how that employer's system is configured, including ours. What you can control is that the resume parses cleanly, names the work in the words the posting uses, and does not claim anything you cannot back up.

Computer Programmer resume example

A resume for a Computer Programmer needs to show the work itself: create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Day to day that means work like this: write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic; correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced. Recruiters and applicant tracking systems both read for the tasks and tools this role actually involves, so the strongest resume names them in your own experience rather than describing the job in the abstract. Below are the tasks O*NET records for this occupation, the software and tools it uses, the titles it is advertised under, and the skills worth naming if they are genuinely yours.

Also advertised as

The same job is posted under many titles. Searching only your own job title hides most of the openings you could apply to.

Analyst Programmer
Programmer
Programmer Analyst
Application Programmer Analyst
Computer Programmer Analyst
Internet Programmer
Java Developer
Web Applications Programmer
Web Programmer
COBOL Programmer
E-Commerce Programmer
IT Programmer
.NET Programmer
Application Programmer
Beta Tester
Bug Bounty Hunter
Business Programmer
Certified Ethical Hacker

O*NET records 40 titles for this occupation in total.

What this work actually involves

Tasks recorded for this occupation, in O*NET's words. If your experience covers one of these, it belongs on your resume in your own words.

Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic.
Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced.
Perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements.
Write, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retrieving data, or controlling other equipment.
Consult with managerial, engineering, and technical personnel to clarify program intent, identify problems, and suggest changes.
Conduct trial runs of programs and software applications to be sure they will produce the desired information and that the instructions are correct.
Prepare detailed workflow charts and diagrams that describe input, output, and logical operation, and convert them into a series of instructions coded in a computer language.
Compile and write documentation of program development and subsequent revisions, inserting comments in the coded instructions so others can understand the program.
Consult with and assist computer operators or system analysts to define and resolve problems in running computer programs.
Perform systems analysis and programming tasks to maintain and control the use of computer systems software as a systems programmer.
Write or contribute to instructions or manuals to guide end users.
Investigate whether networks, workstations, the central processing unit of the system, or peripheral equipment are responding to a program's instructions.

17 tasks are recorded in total; these are the most central.

Example bullets for this role

Built from this occupation's own tasks. The brackets stay empty on purpose: we will not invent a number for you, and a fabricated metric is the fastest way to lose an interview you had already won.

Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].
Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].
Perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].
Write, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retrieving data, or controlling other equipment, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].

Software used in this role

Recorded for this occupation by O*NET. An applicant tracking system matches the exact product name, so write the tool the way the posting writes it.

A programming language APL
ABC Compiler
ABC: the AspectBench Compiler for AspectJ
Ada
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe ActionScript
Adobe ColdFusion
Adobe Dreamweaver
Adobe Flex
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe PostScript
Advanced business application programming ABAP
AJAX

294 software entries are recorded in total.

Tools and equipment

The physical equipment this occupation is recorded as using. Worth naming when a posting asks for it by name.

Computer servers
Desktop computers
Mainframe computers
Mainframe operating systems
Serial port cards

Skills an ATS reads for

Worth naming only if they are genuinely yours. Keyword overlap is one input to a resume's score, not a verdict.

JavaScript
Python
SQL
Git
debugging
REST APIs
HTML
CSS
C#
C++

What this job rates as most important

O*NET rates every skill for importance to this occupation. These are the highest rated, in order.

01Programming
02Active Listening
03Complex Problem Solving
04Critical Thinking
05Quality Control Analysis
06Reading Comprehension
07Systems Analysis
08Judgment and Decision Making
09Writing
10Active Learning

Knowledge areas

The subject knowledge this occupation draws on, rated by importance.

Computers and Electronics
Mathematics
Engineering and Technology
English Language
Customer and Personal Service
Administration and Management

What qualifications people in this job have

From O*NET's survey of people doing this work. This is what postholders reported, not a requirement any single employer sets.

88%Bachelor's Degree
9%Associate's Degree
3%Some College Courses

What level this role is pitched at

O*NET places this occupation in “Considerable Preparation Needed”. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Common questions

What does a Computer Programmer do?: Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Day to day that includes work like write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic and Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced.
What skills should a Computer Programmer put on a resume?: O*NET rates Programming, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, and Quality Control Analysis among the most important skills for this occupation. Name the ones that are genuinely yours and show where you used them. A resume that lists skills you do not have is weaker than one that lists fewer.
What software should a Computer Programmer list?: Software recorded for this occupation includes A programming language APL, ABC Compiler, ABC: the AspectBench Compiler for AspectJ, Ada, and Adobe Acrobat. Applicant tracking systems match on the exact product name, so write the tool as the posting writes it rather than describing it in general terms.
What other job titles cover Computer Programmer work?: O*NET records 40 titles for this occupation, including Analyst Programmer, Programmer, Programmer Analyst, and Application Programmer Analyst. Searching only your own job title hides most of the openings you could apply to.
What qualifications does a Computer Programmer need?: In O*NET's survey of people doing this job, 88% reported their level of education as "Bachelor's Degree". That is what current postholders reported, not a requirement any single employer sets.
Will this resume pass an ATS for a Computer Programmer role?: No tool outside an employer can tell you how that employer's system is configured, including ours. What you can control is that the resume parses cleanly, names the work in the words the posting uses, and does not claim anything you cannot back up.

Related roles

Occupations O*NET records as closest to this one, and worth looking at if this search is not moving.

What this page cannot tell you

No tool outside an employer can tell you how that employer’s ATS is configured, including ours.
This page makes no claim about pay, demand or how many people hold this job. O*NET does not publish that here and we will not estimate it.
Keyword overlap is one input to a resume’s score, not a verdict on you. A resume that names skills you do not have is worse than one that names fewer.

If this is the job you are aiming at, the guide to tailoring a resume covers how to aim one posting properly, and building and exporting a resume here is free.

Occupation data from the O*NET 29.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. SpartanResume is not endorsed by USDOL/ETA.