Front-end Developer Resume Example & Writing Guide

A front-end developer resume is like the home page of a well-designed website–it entices users into looking deeper at what you have to offer. An excellent front-end developer resume boosts recruiter engagement and gets you to your new job faster. 

What are the key components of that excellent resume? A clear message, eye-catching design and confident presentation.

Your job as a front-end developer requires deep knowledge of first impressions. How long it takes a user to click away makes all the difference. Your resume presents a first impression of you to the IT manager. The tricky part can be finding the right balance between an exciting design and one that overwhelms your message. Hit the sweet spot and you’ll be closer to earning your dream IT job.

Resume guide for a front-end developer resume

As a front-end developer, you’re accustomed to presenting your work to the world. You have a head start in your job hunt because you know how to create excellent user experiences. Combine that with Resume.io’s expertise. Our guides and resume examples cover over 500 professions, and our resume builder makes developing a dynamic resume easier than ever.

Within this resume guide and the corresponding front-end developer resume example, you will find information on the following topics:

• How to write  a front-end developer resume
• Choosing the right resume format for a front-end developer resume 
• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Adding your front-end developer experience 
• Listing your education and certifications
• Picking the right resume design/layout
• What the front-end developer market looks like and what salary you can expect 

How to write a front-end developer resume

The words you choose in your front-end developer resume carry weight especially because they are limited to one page. But, before you focus on what to say, you need to know the framework in which to say it and what sections to include.

Your resume should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Your resume is your one-minute sales pitch for the job. You have to hit the highlights so your prospective employer gets the message of your value loud and clear. Understanding what they’re looking for will get you to the heart of the matter. Research the company so you understand and can address their needs.

Then, frame your case using this formula for success:

• Showcase career accomplishments. Sure you’re an expert in JavaScript and Python, but what did you do with those programs that made a difference?
• Target each employer with successes and skills that will serve them best.
• Find the balance between a professional presentation and a boring one with a sleek, polished resume design.

Play to the ATS algorithm to avoid getting filtered out before you get started.

Algorithms rule the online world, and job applications are no different. The Applicant Tracking System will scan and sort resumes based partly on keywords and phrases attached to the job listing. Increase your chances by using the exact phrasing and skills you know your prospective employer seeks. This has the added benefit of telling software recruiters that you understand the job requirements.

For example, the job ad lists:

• “Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering or related field”
• “Expertise in JavaScript including ES6+ syntax”
• “Optimization of web applications
• “Ability to collaborate with designers and backend developers”

To include important keywords, your summary may read:

“Engineering graduate with four years’ experience and expertise in Javascript with ES6+ syntax. In collaboration with designers and back-end developers, optimized and refreshed web applications to realize 15% in end-user engagement.”

Choosing the right resume format for a front-end developer

What’s the difference between your front-end developer resume framework and the resume format? The framework is the components and the structure is the way you present them. Most resumes follow reverse chronological order. That’s because recruiters are most interested in what you have done lately.

We recommend this method in most cases, but you may be an exception. You should decide whether you can accommodate all your technical skills within this resume style. If not, you may consider developing a functional resume, which expands the skills section at the expense of the space for your employment history. If you’re a newly certified developer, you may consider a hybrid format.

Choose from among the many resume templates in our resume builder, including options that cover all three formats you can view as resume examples.

Front-end developers should show off their creativity with a creative or modern layout that is easy for a hiring manager to read.

Include your contact information

Every well-designed website tells the end-user how to contact the company or its customer service department. The resume header for a front-end developer is the “about us” page. 

List all the data a recruiter needs to contact you, including.

• Full name & title. Your first and last name. Use your middle name if you have a very common name such as John Smith. Use the title of the role you are pursuing.
• Professional email address. Use a clean format like [email protected]. Don’t use the one with the cute nickname your friends gave you in high school.
• Phone number. List a number where you can be readily contacted, and listen to your voicemail greeting to ensure it sounds professional.
• Location. List only your city and state. Note 'Willing to Relocate' here if applicable.
• LinkedIn. If your LinkedIn profile is active and relevant, include it here.
• Portfolio. If you have a GitHub or other portfolio, link to it in your header.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth: Not necessary and could potentially lead to age discrimination.
• Personal details: Marital status, social security number, passport number, etc.

Make the best use of a summary

Although it contains the word “summary,” this section of your front-end developer resume is more akin to a professional profile. In about 2-4 sentences, highlight your experience, your biggest career success, and perhaps, your design philosophy. 

This is the only section of your resume written in full sentences, but be careful not to waste words. To show that you really want this job, consider adding a sentence about why you’re applying to the company and what value you will bring. Use strong action words to enliven your profile.

You can find adaptable front-end developer resume examples summaries below:

Outline your front-end developer work experience: create a compelling user session

Just as your summary is more than an outline of your career, the employment history section of your front-end developer resume is more than a listing of your responsibilities. Instead, illustrate that you’ve learned and grown on the job and have some significant successes to show for it.

Elegant code gets the job down with few wasted lines; in elegant resumes, each word counts. Start each item with a strong action verb followed by the results of your action. This section comprises bulleted items, each one highlighting a career success that shows off the skills you will use to further your new employer’s goals.

Filling your work history with a list of generic tasks won’t earn you that interview. These examples sound as though the came out of the HR job description:

• “Optimized websites.”
• “Used HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.”
• “Excellent at collaboration.”
• “Advanced design skill.”

Beef them up with details and data that show off your value:

• “Optimized retail website using PageSpeed Insights leading to improved brand visibility and 20% increase in traffic within first quarter.”
• “Revamped user data input system with JavaScript, reducing time to complete forms by 10%.”
• “Collaborated with design and back-end teams to ensure all goals of website refresh were met on time.”
• “Designed and developed interactive single-page applications.”

Take a look at the employment history from a front-end developer resume sample below.

How to write a front-end developer resume with no experience 

Everyone has a first job—or the first job in a new career. In either case, focus on transferable skills you can demonstrate through volunteer work, academic projects, or work in a previous career.

Elevate your skills and education sections and downplay your work history. Explain your position in your summary. For more guidance, check out this career change resume example or our detailed guide on writing a resume with no experience.

Include the relevant key skills that make you a great front-end developer

A great front-end developer resume will use the skills section to focus a recruiter’s eyes on the high-level attributes necessary for the job. A typical skills section contains your top attributes carefully correlated to target the position you are applying for.

If you choose the functional format, you can expand this section to include all the technical knowledge you have that matches the job requirements. Because your job is skills-focused, you may consider listing not only the ability but your expertise level. Here’s an ATS hint: Spell out the full name and then put the acronym in parentheses after it to ensure you get algorithmic credit for your talents.

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our front-end developer resume template. 

Remember that your entire resume should be a testament to your skills. The skills box is perfect for an at-a-glance view, but a great resume details these skills throughout. 

For example:

• Business acumen. In your employment history section, include an accomplishment that takes into account industry competition.
• Leadership skills. Showcase a project you led and describe the results you achieved.
• Problem-solving. What apps or programs have you built to solve a specific business problem and how did they work?

The job listing will help you decide which skills to focus on.

Detail your education & relevant front-end developer certifications

In your profession, you may need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, unless you have a stellar portfolio. The education section of your front-end developer resume is the place to list all your academic achievements. You should also include any IT certifications you have earned. 

If you have a master’s degree or higher, there’s no need to include your high school diploma here. We recommend against including your GPA unless you are a recent graduate who has earned at least a 3.0.

Also consider including:

• Certifications and training. Technical certifications are important in your field, so list your most advanced in each skill here.
• Professional development. Any conferences, industry groups or projects you’ve completed outside work belong here.

Pick  the right resume layout and design for a front-end developer resume

This is where your expertise in user-friendliness will help you stand out. The main goal of your front-end developer resume design is to grab the attention of recruiters and create a smooth visual path through your document.

Keep in mind that you want your resume to offer a professional impression, so steer clear of overly ornate or colorful designs that will detract from the content.

As you design, keep your section names simple so recruiters can easily find what they need. If you choose to embellish your header, make sure your name, email address, best phone number, and title pop. Remember that the best fonts for the web may be different from the best print fonts. Use a resume-builder tool such as ours to link from your resume directly to your portfolio. And try one of our resume templates to save your design skills for your next job.

Front-end developer text-only resume example

Front-end developer job market and outlook

A search on LinkedIn revealed more than 650 jobs for front-end developers listed in one day. While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not have a separate category for front-end developers, it predicts that the demand for web developers and designers will grow 16 percent by 2032, with the creation of 34,700 new jobs.

What type of salary can you expect in front-end development

With demand for developers expected to continue to grow, you can expect salaries to reach a level that encourages people to join the field. The minimum salary as a front-end developer with a bachelor’s degree in a related field is $67,810. That ranges up to $186,103.

Key takeaways for building a front-end developer resume

Front-end developers with experience and up-to-date skills are prized in the IT world. Your knowledge in creating great user experiences will also help you develop a superior resume that will move you along in the job search process. A functional resume format may suit you best if you have expertise in multiple software languages and other highly technical knowledge.

If you don’t want to code more after a hard day’s work, take advantage of our resume builder to give your job hunt a jumpstart.