Software Developer CV example
🇿🇦 Written for South Africa · Fictional candidate · Free to use as a starting point
Tech recruiters in South Africa skim for your stack, years of experience and proof that you ship. This example leads with the languages and frameworks, then backs them up with results: faster pages, fewer bugs and users served.
Sample CV · Modern design · ATS-friendly
Read this sample CV as text
Thabo Nkosi
Full-Stack Software Developer
Johannesburg, South Africa · thabo.nkosi@email.com · +27 82 123 4567
Professional Summary
Full-stack developer with 4 years building fintech web apps in TypeScript, React and Node.js. Cut page load times by 45%, built APIs that handle 2M requests a day, and ships features used by 200,000+ customers.
Work Experience
Software Developer, Jozi Pay (Pty) Ltd (Apr 2022 – Present)
- Rebuilt the customer dashboard in Next.js, cutting load time by 45% and support tickets by 20%
- Designed Node.js payment APIs on AWS Lambda handling about 2 million requests a day at 99.95% uptime
- Introduced Playwright end-to-end tests, catching regressions before release
- Mentor 2 junior developers through code reviews and pair programming
Junior Developer, Cape Digital Studio (Jan 2021 – Mar 2022)
- Built React websites and dashboards for 12 retail and NGO clients
- Integrated PayFast and Yoco payment gateways
Education
- BSc Computer Science, University of the Witwatersrand (2017 – 2020)
- National Senior Certificate (Matric), Bachelor's pass, King Edward VII School (2012 – 2016)
Skills
TypeScript · React · Next.js · Node.js · PostgreSQL · AWS · Docker · CI/CD · Jest · Playwright
Certifications
- AWS Certified Developer – Associate, Amazon Web Services, 2024
Why this software developer CV works
- The tech stack is listed as separate keywords, so it passes ATS filters for “React”, “Node.js” and “AWS”.
- Each bullet links a technology to a result.
- The GitHub/portfolio link is in the header.
- There's no skill-level bars or charts that ATS systems can't read.
Skills to put on a software developer CV
Software Developer CV summary examples
Full-stack developer with 4 years building fintech web apps in TypeScript, React and Node.js. Cut page load times by 45% and shipped features used by 200,000+ customers.
Junior developer and bootcamp graduate with 3 production projects in React and Python. Fast learner who writes tested, readable code.
Tips for writing your software developer CV
- Match the exact names in the advert (e.g. “Next.js”, not “Next”).
- Link GitHub or a portfolio, and pin your best repositories.
- Quantify impact: performance, uptime, users, revenue, time saved.
- In South Africa, list your driver's licence code and work authorisation if relevant. Don't add your ID number.
Frequently asked questions
Should a developer CV be one page?
One to two pages. Graduates should aim for one page, and seniors can use two.
Do I need a degree on a developer CV?
No. List bootcamps, certifications and projects in their own section if you don't have a degree.
Start your software developer CV
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