How to Create an Eye-Catching Fullstack Developer Resume

We’re creating a series on developer resumes so you can be prepared for the job market and the interview process. See our resume recommendations for front-end developers and back-end developers here.

What sets Fullstack Academy apart is our dedication to teaching fullstack JavaScript—we make sure all our students gain expertise in both front- and back-end technologies and have the skills they need to get high-paying jobs as fullstack web developers.

The back-end of a website consists of a server and (usually) a database. A back-end developer builds and maintains the technology that powers those components, which enable the user-facing side of the website to function.

Front-end web developers, on the other hand, are tasked with building an application’s user experience to effectively and aesthetically deliver information to site visitors.

When you attend Fullstack Academy, you’ll learn how to work with both through a fast-paced, comprehensive, and project-based curriculum. Learn more about the differences between front-end and back-end work and how to become a fullstack developer.

In the United States, according to Glassdoor salary data, fullstack developers receive an average salary of $79,193 a year, depending on location, background, and skill set. Interested in seeing what Fullstack and Grace Hopper grads make post-grad? Check out the latest CIRR data.

If you’d like to focus on fullstack development, once you’ve received the proper training, the next step is to create an effective fullstack developer resume.

Whether you’re a seasoned programmer or just starting out, these tips will help you create a professional fullstack developer resume that will stand out to any hiring manager.

Ready to build a fullstack developer resume that will get you hired? Let’s do it.

The Components of a Web Developer Resume

Career Summary

Use a professional fullstack developer summary to briefly introduce your technical skills, interests, and work experience. Here’s a sample from a resume we like:

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Passionate fullstack web developer with 3 years of experience, building RESTful APIs for EdTech companies with an emphasis on maintainability and scale. Proficient in Node, SQL, and GraphQL.

If you’re just starting out, try incorporating your educational background in this section.

Remember to limit your fullstack web developer summary to three sentences or less. The details of your experience will come in the rest of the resume.

Technical Skills

We recommend leading with a technical skills section to draw the eyes of recruiters and rank well for keywords recruiters and their recruiting software are searching for.

Just like you might be searching for a certain job title in a certain location, hiring managers are searching for developers with a particular skill set of programming languages. This is the place to show search engine recruiters that you’re a match.

Keep this section to a simple list using spacing and possibly bullet points. It should look something like this:

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Back-end: Node, Express, Python, Ruby on Rails, GraphQL
Front-end: React, Redux, Phaser, D3, MaterialUI
Database Management: SQL, MongoDB, Redis, AWS
Other: Ajax, Git, GitHub, CMS

You may also list your skills based on competency:

Proficient: Node, Express, Python, Ruby on Rails
Experienced: GraphQL, Scala, MongoDB, Firebase
Familiar: Ajax, Git, GitHub, CMS

Work Experience

Now it’s time to list any experience relevant to computer science and fullstack development, even if it’s just a volunteer project you completed for a nonprofit.

Make sure to include your previous employers, the length of each position, tasks performed, and quantifiable accomplishments in a clear and concise way.

If you don’t have relevant paid or volunteer experience, replace this section with a “projects” section, which we’ll describe below.

Here’s a strong experience section from a fullstack developer resume.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Barnyard Software 6/2018–Present

• Assisted in designing and development of applications according to design specifications
• Assisted in preparation of web-based, production applications and prototypes through RoR web development
• Developed scalable strategies for collecting data and delivering timely and efficient solutions
• Created, maintained, and enforced front-end and back-end code and documentation standards

Projects

The projects section could include freelance projects, passion projects, open-source projects you have contributed to, or a combination of all three.

Here’s where having an online version of your resume pays off. This is a great opportunity to share links to demos and GitHub documentation of your projects instead of simply describing them. Remember: Make sure your documentation is good!

For open-source, good documentation means following GitHub READMEs and Wikis, and if you are presenting passion projects, write your own documentation. If you’re not able to share quality documentation, it’s better to leave a project out of your resume.

Here is an example of a fullstack project to share on your resume:

PROJECTS
________________________

Learning & Collaboration | Lead Fullstack Engineer | www.sampleapp.com | 03/20

Built a customizable online classroom enabling users to tailor the learning environment to subject matter needs

• Implemented intuitive user experience with React and Twilio
• Produced a robust, real-time updating back-end with Firebase, Node.js, Express
• Project built through Agile Development including daily meetings with 3 collaborators and daily action item tracking via Waffle
• Contributions include but not limited to video chat feature and main page image carousel using Twilio and jQuery
• Wrote unit tests using Jest with over 90% test coverage to ensure the application does not break in production

Keep in mind that your projects and work experiences should help you create a narrative and tell your story.

Use your descriptions to highlight how you identify needs, demonstrate creativity and character strengths, and solve problems—all essential abilities in developers.

Education

Think carefully about where you want to place the education section of your web developer resume.

If you’ve worked for multiple companies over a number years, your experience will be more relevant, but if your experience is thin and a degree in computer science is your primary qualification, it may be better to shift the education section to the top of your resume.

If you don’t have a degree but have completed a coding bootcamp or other certification, you can title this section “Skills and Certifications” instead.

In the education section, list your institution, degree or certification, dates of attendance, GPA, and awards, if applicable.

Besides computer science, many Fullstack students have backgrounds in education, communications, arts, math, and business.

Having a diverse educational background helps you stand out in the job market—use your background to your advantage.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts, Journalism and Communications | 2012–2016
University of Texas, Austin
GPA: 3.8, magna cum laude

Resume Ready

You now know the five core sections you need to include in your fullstack web developer resume to impress hiring managers. To recap, make sure your resume has:

1. Professional Summary
2. Technical Skills
3. Work Experience
4. Projects
5. Education

Remember: Projects can be substituted for work experience, and education can be moved to the top of your resume if you lack professional experience.

Of course, a professional resume is just a start. You’ll also need a tailored cover letter for each job application and an online web development portfolio showcasing your best work.

Want to give yourself a foot up in the web developer marketplace? Consider additional training at Fullstack Academy.