Python Developer Resume Guide & Tips

As a future Python Developer, you should understand the essential role that a solid resume plays in helping secure a job in the field. Your resume and, in some cases, a cover letter make your initial impression on recruiters and human resources personnel.

A strong Python Developer resume will also include several elements particular to Python development. Read on for tips on creating a resume that will stand out from the competition.

What to Put on a Python Developer Resume

While resume formats have changed with the times, many elements remain timeless. Always place your name, title, contact information, and a link to your LinkedIn profile toward the top of the resume. Other sections like Summary, Education, and Skills should follow.

Summary

As a new Python Developer, your Summary section may be brief. However, you can use this space to highlight other relevant work experiences.

For example, if your previous experience includes work as a Computer Programmer, Software Tester, or Network Administrator, you can mention it here. While the Summary section is hardly unique to Python Developers, even a Python-adjacent role can help land a Junior Developer role. 

If you have no on-the-job experience, you can include any relevant internships in your Summary.

Experience

Junior Python Developer candidates often make a crucial resume mistake: they don't highlight enough of their previous work experience to demonstrate their value.

A Junior Python development role will almost always go to someone with relevant work experience and education. That means you will likely compete with candidates whose work experience is similar to your own.

Your Experience section should include bullet points that begin with action verbs. For example:

• Automated test cases
• Implemented analysis techniques
• Created SQL queries

Of course, your resume will have examples unique to your experience. If you do not have any previous paid experience in relevant positions, accomplishments from internships can help you build out this section. Writing clean code, developing scripting, and collaborating with teams are a few things recruiters look for when reviewing Developer resumes.

The Experience section should always highlight specifics rather than generalities. For example, if you automated test cases that improved efficiency by 85%, use that figure here. Avoid generic language like "by a wide margin" or "to a great extent."

Keywords for the Skills Section

The Skills section of a successful Python Developer resume highlights three key elements: Programming, Databases and Servers, and Development.

As a Junior Python Developer candidate, you may not have extensive on-the-job experience. However, recent training in bootcamps or certificate programs can help you expand this section if you learned your skills there. 

• Programming - Python should be the first language you list in any Python Developer resume. You should then include other relevant languages, frameworks, and libraries. Examples may include:
• Django
• Flask
• NumPy
• Matplotlib
• SQL

• Databases & Servers - While your Databases & Servers experience might not be as expansive as a Senior Developer, you should still include them. If you're new to development, chances are good that you have worked with MySQL or MongoDB. Again, relevant training in a bootcamp setting may be all you have to list here, but that's okay. Any Python Developer resume should highlight this experience. Typical examples include:
• MySQL
• MongoDB
• AWS
• Oracle
• Cassandra

• Development - Your Development section may be the briefest of all. Avoid re-listing any items you included under Programming or Databases & Servers. Examples of relevant tools include:
• Agile
• PyCharm
• Git
• Spyder
• SVN

Remember that recruiters have to search for keywords in resumes. You can accommodate them by including Python where relevant but don't "stuff" your resume by mentioning it too many times. Other essential keywords for development roles include HTML, CSS, and PostgreSQL. 

Sometimes new Python Developers list strengths like Time Management or Accountability under Skills. Avoid making this common mistake. Most recruiters look for hard skills like Programming in this section, not soft skills. If you want to list soft skills, save them for the end and put them under the heading Strengths. The single exception: if you speak more than one language, highlight it under Skills, not Strengths.

Strengths

When writing your resume for a Python Developer role, the Strengths section offers another opportunity to distinguish yourself from other candidates.

Depending on your previous experience and training, you might not have room for a Strengths section on a one-page resume. However, if you're short on the job experience side, an honest, impressive Strengths section can still help you stand out.

Common examples of Strengths for resumes include:

• Accountability
• Adaptability
• Analytical Skills
• Communication Skills
• Problem-Solving
• Time Management
• Interpersonal Skills

When putting together a Strengths list, your best bet is a conservative approach. Choose a minimum of three but a maximum of five Strengths.

Err on the side of caution by not including choices everyone should have. In other words, your manager should be able to take it for granted that you are honest, hard-working, and a team player. Previous sections of the resume can emphasize your ability to collaborate with success. Again depending on the role, you might not want to emphasize potential virtues like creativity or mental toughness.

Remember that a Strengths list also implies a Weakness list—something you will not add to your resume. However, have an answer ready for recruiters or hiring managers. Weaknesses in this context include attributes unrelated to the position or potential strengths. Examples include:

• Taking on too much responsibility
• Inexperience with specific software (one not crucial to the position)
• Difficulty letting go of completed projects

Again, no perceived weakness should appear on a resume, but you can turn the examples above into strengths in a sincere discussion with a manager or recruiter.

Certifications

As a new Python Developer, you most likely will not have sat for any certifications. It's much more likely that you have graduated from a college or certificate program where you learned Python skills.

Python development pros with years of experience often sit for the Certified Professional in Python Programming 1 or PCPP1 exam. A Python Developer with this level of certification would likely highlight this on a resume or CV.

Still, if you have any entry-level certification, you should list it. Typical examples for Python Developers with limited on-the-job experience might include the Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer (PCEP), Certified Associate in Testing With Python (PCAT), or Certified Associate in Python Programming (PCAP).

If you hold certifications relevant to previous computer science positions, do not hesitate to list these, too. Top examples might include Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST), Certified Software Tester (CSTE), or ISTQB Foundation Level Agile Tester (CTFL-AT).

5 Python Developer Resume Tips

One of the best ways to get your resume noticed is to put yourself in the shoes of a recruiter or hiring manager. In simple terms, would you hire yourself?

Fortunately, it's not as difficult as you might think. Use your Google search skills to find articles on topics like "Python Developer resume shortlisting tips" or "how to hire the best Python Developers." You'll find examples of recruiters' primary concerns and a wealth of eye-opening tips that help you see the view from the other side of the desk.

Always List the Essentials

Your resume must be professional. Use easy-to-read fonts, clickable links for email addresses and LinkedIn or GitHub profiles, and well-written content with no typos. Essentials for any resume include: 

• Contact info
• Summary
• Education
• Experience
• Skills

Depending on your skill set and the position, you might also list soft skills or strengths after hard skills like programming, databases, and servers. If you have additional skills like machine learning or automation related to the position, highlight those. Hiring managers and recruiters look for keywords like these when scanning resumes.

Spiff Up the Summary

You can think of your summary statement or statements like the opening of a novel: you need a hook.

Writers often spend intense time and energy polishing the first lines of a story. If a reader gets hooked, they will keep reading.

Hiring managers and recruiters are no different. Wading through emails and opening attachments can be numbing day after day. Ideally, your summary will pique their interest and put your resume top of mind.

Start by putting your best foot forward. Your relevant experience and primary duties come first, then briefly mention your most impressive achievements and essential skills. Finally, you can list certifications or related skills.

Don’t Overdo It

Maybe only a small percentage of job candidates exaggerate their experience or skill set, but that percentage is meaningful. Recruiters and hiring managers must perform due diligence if the candidate reaches the top of the pile. At the very least, they may check resumes against LinkedIn profiles.

Your job candidacy may depend on a particular skill set beyond Python. Never say you have strong skills in an area you do not.

Demonstrate Proficiency

When you interview for a Python development position, chances are good that you will have to take a Python coding test. Recruiters cannot always screen out candidates unable to pass such a test, but it gives them an extra boost if your resume demonstrates proficiency.

One way to show your readiness for pre-employment screening assessments is to note your familiarity with entry-level algorithms. Many Python coding tests involve straightforward coding tasks, so your resume will assure the recruiter that you are battle-ready.

Link To Your Project Portfolio

Along with your resume, consider adding a link to your portfolio when you contact recruiters or hiring managers.

While a strong resume is essential, your professional-level portfolio can take your candidacy to the next level. Especially for Junior Python Developers, who may not have considerable on-the-job experience, an impressive portfolio shows you have the skills to deliver the goods.

Again, consider the recruiter or hiring manager's viewpoint. They will filter out lesser candidates and select those who look the best. Their process may include multiple steps like:

• Looking for skills in addition to Python, like ML or deep learning
• Reviewing past work experiences
• Assessing the diversity of those experiences
• Testing technical skills proficiency

Not every hiring manager or recruiter will expect a portfolio link on resumes. Similarly, not every candidate will have a strong portfolio, and even those who do may not think to provide a link to it. That advantage can make a world of difference when contrasted with your competition.

If you do not have a website, some of the best options for where to host your portfolio include:

• GitHub
• Tableau Public
• Power BI Desktop
• Medium

Get Feedback

After you have completed the best possible draft of your resume, it's time to get feedback from trusted instructors or development professionals.

One of the most valued resources for new Python Developers is the bootcamp or certificate. Many development pros begin their careers after graduating from one of these immersive programs. The following are some of the most popular options from Noble Desktop, which offers in-person and live online courses:

• Python Developer Certificate - This comprehensive certificate program provides training in Python, Django/Django REST, and SQL, among other topics. While open to Python novices, applicants should be comfortable with HTML/CSS before enrolling. The program includes four 1-on-1 mentoring sessions from your expert instructor, including a portfolio review.

• Software Engineering Certificate - If you already know you want to work on both front end and back-end elements, consider this certificate. After attending modules on front end tools and languages, participants receive in-depth web development training. This program features the same Python Programming Bootcamp as the Python Developer Certificate but pairs it with a Web Development with Django module. The Software Engineering Certificate curriculum also includes additional 1-on-1 mentoring.

Each certificate program graduate receives a digital certificate of completion and can retake the course for one year at no additional charge. 

Learn the Skills to Become a Python Developer at Noble Desktop

To become a Python Developer, everyone needs a range of skills and knowledge. Most people start with basics, like functions, variables, and the principles of object-oriented programming (OOP). Progressing to a development role also can include additional server-side languages like React (JSX), machine learning algorithms, and object-relational mapping (ORM).

Noble Desktop offers a range of online and in-person Python classes and bootcamps for development, data science and analytics, FinTech, and cybersecurity. Instructors with practical expertise teach these programs, which feature small class sizes to ensure individual attention. Each graduate receives a certificate of completion and can even retake the course for up to one year at no additional charge.

Many Python novices review some free online resources to prepare for one of these courses. Noble Desktop’s Learn Hub includes a comprehensive guide to learning Python for development or data-centered roles. Here you can check out free on-demand courses and tutorials on topics like exchanging Excel for Python and making a Twitter bot with Python. 

If you’re new to Python training, you might want to start with an immersive course like Noble’s Python Programming Bootcamp. However, you can also save by taking this bootcamp as part of their immersive Python Developer Certificate. This program provides Python fundamentals before taking participants through in-demand tools like Django REST, Git, and SQL. Check course listings for more details, including prerequisite information.