🇺🇸 Resume guide · USA and Canada · General guide: US resume
Software developer resume for the USA and Canada
Tech recruiters spend seconds on a resume. Lead with your stack, then impact with numbers. One page, simple layout, links to GitHub and LinkedIn.
Licensing and work permits
- No licence is needed for software jobs.
- USA: most international hires need employer sponsorship (for example H-1B, which has an annual lottery) or other visa routes.
- Canada: Express Entry (with an ECA for your degree) and employer-driven streams are common routes for tech workers.
- State your work authorization in one line: “Authorized to work in Canada” or “Requires sponsorship”.
Words recruiters and ATS look for
Software EngineerFull-stackReact / Node.jsPython / JavaAWS / GCP / AzureCI/CDMicroservicesSystem designAgile
Example resume lines
As they would appear on a US or Canadian resume.
Built a shipment tracking app (React, Node.js) used by 40 drivers daily
Reduced API latency 45% by adding caching and query optimization
Shipped CI/CD pipelines cutting release time from days to hours
Common mistakes
- Fancy two-column templates that break ATS parsing
- No work authorization line
- Tool lists with no results
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Start free →Questions
One or two pages?
One page unless you have 10+ years of experience.
Should I include a summary?
Yes, 2–3 lines with your role, years and core stack.
Other professions
Licensing differs between US states and Canadian provinces and changes. Check the state board or provincial regulator before you apply.