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Resume · Computer Programmer

Computer Programmer resume: the keywords, bullets and skills to prove.

Built from what the job actually involves: the core duties, the skills and tools rated most important, and bullet formulas you fill with your own numbers. No made-up example person.

Updated Nov 2, 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0

[Your name]

Computer Programmer · [city] · [email] · [phone]
Experience
[Employer] · Computer Programmer · [dates]
  • Corrected errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced for [scale: how many, how often]; [result you can prove].
  • Performed or directed revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements for [scale: how many, how often]; [result you can prove].
  • Wrote, updated, and maintained computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retrieving data, or controlling other equipment for [scale: how many, how often]; [result you can prove].
Skills
[the tools and skills you have actually used]
Quick answer

A strong Computer Programmer resume proves the core duties of the job with results: write or contribute to instructions or manuals to guide end users; correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced; and perform or direct revision. If you have used them, name the tools O*NET lists for this occupation, such as Extensible markup language XML, Git, SAS, inside the bullets where you used them. The skills rated most important for the role are programming, complex problem solving and active listening (O*NET).

Annotated

Why these lines work

Data Each line maps to a core task rated important by workers in the role. Hover or tap a note.

  1. 1
    Core duty, provenCorrect errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the…Rated one of the most important tasks for the role (O*NET). The bracketed parts are where your own numbers go.
  2. 2
    Core duty, provenPerform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs…Rated one of the most important tasks for the role (O*NET). The bracketed parts are where your own numbers go.
  3. 3
    Core duty, provenWrite, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to…Rated one of the most important tasks for the role (O*NET). The bracketed parts are where your own numbers go.
Advice Section order for this role
  1. Summary
  2. Experience
  3. Skills
  4. Education
  5. Licenses and certifications

Experience leads because the role is Job Zone 4: employers expect proof of prior work.

Weak vs strong

Computer Programmer bullets, rewritten

  • CorrectResponsible for correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to…Corrected errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced, [how many / how often], which [result: time saved, errors cut, revenue, people served].
  • PerformResponsible for perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to…Performed or directed revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements, [how many / how often], which [result: time saved, errors cut, revenue, people served].
  • Write,Responsible for write, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to handle…Wrote, updated, and maintained computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retrieving data, or controlling other equipment, [how many / how often], which [result: time saved, errors cut, revenue, people served].
  • ConsultResponsible for consult with managerial, engineering, and technical personnel to clarify…Consulted with managerial, engineering, and technical personnel to clarify program intent, identify problems, [how many / how often], which [result: time saved, errors cut, revenue, people served].

Advice Fill every highlighted bracket with something true and checkable. If you can't, choose a different duty.

Keyword map

Words that belong on a Computer Programmer resume

Data Tools reported for the role (with O*NET demand flags), the most important skills and knowledge areas. Use the ones that are true for you.

  • Extensible markup language XMLTool · In demand
  • GitTool · In demand
  • SASTool · In demand
  • Adobe IllustratorTool · Hot technology
  • Adobe PhotoshopTool · Hot technology
  • Amazon DynamoDBTool · Hot technology
  • Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormationTool · Hot technology
  • Ansible softwareTool · Hot technology
  • Apache CassandraTool · Hot technology
  • Apache HadoopTool · Hot technology
  • ProgrammingSkill · importance 4.8/5
  • Complex Problem SolvingSkill · importance 3.8/5
  • Active ListeningSkill · importance 3.8/5
  • Critical ThinkingSkill · importance 3.8/5
  • Quality Control AnalysisSkill · importance 3.5/5
  • Systems AnalysisSkill · importance 3.4/5
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge
  • MathematicsKnowledge
  • Engineering and TechnologyKnowledge
  • English LanguageKnowledge
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge
Skills to prove

How central each skill is to the job

Data O*NET importance, 1 to 5.

Programming
4.8
Complex Problem Solving
3.8
Active Listening
3.8
Critical Thinking
3.8
Quality Control Analysis
3.5
Systems Analysis
3.4
Reading Comprehension
3.4

How this compares: the resume skills page shows how all 910 occupations rate the 35 O*NET skills, and which software O*NET most often flags as in demand in job postings.

Before you send it

Computer Programmer resume checklist

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FAQ

Common questions

What skills should I put on a Computer Programmer resume?
Lead with the skills O*NET rates most important for the role: Programming, Complex Problem Solving, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Quality Control Analysis. Show each one inside a bullet, not only in the skills list.
What keywords should a Computer Programmer resume include?
Tools and terms from the job description first. For this occupation the commonly reported tools include Extensible markup language XML, Git, SAS, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Amazon DynamoDB.
Should I use a resume template?
A simple single-column layout with standard headings is safest for applicant tracking systems. Design matters less than what each bullet proves.
Method

How this page is built

Duties, skills, knowledge and tools come from O*NET 31.0 for the occupation. Bullet scaffolds rewrite O*NET task statements in the past tense and leave every number for you to fill in. Section order follows the role's O*NET Job Zone.

What this page can't tell you
  • What a specific employer screens for: always mirror the job description.
  • Your results: we never invent numbers.
Sources
  1. O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.

How TryHired builds this data: sources, methods and downloads. Spotted an error? Report a correction.

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