Whether you’re new to the job market or you’re transitioning to a new career, you want to showcase all the skills that make you the right candidate for the role. Let’s take a closer look at what technical skills are and how to showcase them on your resume and during your interviews.

What are technical skills?

Technical skills are a type of hard skill. Hard skills are relatively easy to quantify and describe. For example, you either know JavaScript, or you don’t. You may be a beginner or have fairly advanced skills, but it’s something you can easily describe and quantify.

The opposite of hard skills is soft skills, and these aren’t as easy to quantify. For example, problem-solving is a soft skill. And while you can use examples from your previous jobs and education to show you’re a good problem-solver, it’s not as easy to quantify this skill.

When it comes time to apply for a new role, you want to use examples to show both your soft and hard technical skills. Hiring managers want to see both skill sets on your resume, and they’re especially looking at your ability to apply your technical skills to solve real-world problems. Below we go over what technical skills to consider putting on your resume and how to highlight them, as well as how to bring attention to these skills during your interview.

Showcasing technical skills on your resume

One way to show off your technical skills on your resume is with a dedicated section specifically for those skills. When you create a technical skills section on your resume, you may want to break it into groups. For example, on a developer’s resume, skills might be grouped into sections for programming languages, libraries and frameworks, and APIs, just to name a few.

Depending on how extensive your skills are, you may find it’s best to include a partial list of your technical skills on your resume. Not only does this make it easier for the hiring manager to skim your resume, but you can also tailor your list to match the skills required for the specific position you’re applying for.

What technical skills should you include on your resume?

If you’re having a tough time picking out which skills to include on your resume, one shortcut is to pick ones from the job posting. It typically lists both required skills and desired skills for the position. And if you have a skill listed in either of these sections, you’ll want to put it on your resume.

And, you don’t just want to put in on there — you want to match the wording from the job description exactly with the wording on your resume, or as closely as possible. This shows the hiring manager that you 1) read the job description, 2) are a good match for the position, and 3) took the time to tailor your resume to the job instead of just submitting a nonspecific resume.

It’s also important to keep in mind that resumes are often scanned for keywords — keywords that are found directly on the job posting. This makes it even more important to include those keywords on your resume because if you don’t, it may not make it to the hiring manager in the first place.

Examples of technical skills

Here are some examples of technical skills to include on your resume:

• Programming languages: Python, JavaScript, Java, SQL, Bash/Shell, Ruby, C++, HTML
• Web development: Debugging, implementation, Git, Photoshop, Illustrator, WordPress
• Cloud-based services: AWS, Azure, virtualization, VMware
• Cybersecurity: Cryptography, SIEM tools, automation, malware analysis, data analytics

Showcasing technical skills during your interview

Your resume exists to get you to the next step in the hiring process — the interview. You’ll have multiple opportunities to show your technical skills throughout the interview process. Interviewing for a technical position is complex, and it might include phone screenings, take-home or in-person assignments, a traditional interview, and a technical interview.  Here are some ways to highlight your skills at each step of the way.

Technical interviews

As the name indicates, technical interviews are designed to assess your technical skills. This type of interview may start with questions that dig into those skills, such as:

• What’s the most difficult technical challenge you’ve encountered? How did you resolve it?
• What technology could you not live without?
• What’s a new technology you recently worked with, and how did you learn it?

The interviewer may also ask questions about your background to confirm the information on your resume. For example, they might ask what programming languages you know or what databases you’ve worked with. This is a great time to dive a little deeper into the specifics — don’t be afraid to show off your knowledge of a specific language or database.

But the primary part of the technical interview is to solve one or more technical problems. In some cases, you may need to code in real-time, which could involve a problem where you’re debugging or adding a feature to existing code, building a small project, or something else entirely.

In a case like this, it’s easy to show off your skills, since you’ll be coding or debugging right in front of the interviewer. But, remember you can always show off coding best practices, like including helpful comments.

While the technical interview is designed to show off your technical skills, your interviewer will also be interested in your approach to solving problems. Feel free to ask questions to clarify the problem and talk through various approaches out loud.

“Don’t worry about saying things that seem obvious or unimportant,” says Ian, one of our curriculum developers for Pass the Technical Interview with JavaScript. “It could be that you missed an edge case, and talking through the problem out loud will help you catch it!”

Speaking of technical interview prep, we also have these courses to help you ace your technical interviews:

Each of these courses walks you through interview questions and helps you develop the advanced skills you need to ace your technical interviews.

You’ll find these and other courses you can use to brush up on your skills or add to your toolbox in our course catalog. Also, check out our forums for helpful discussions on interview prep from our community, as well as tips and recommendations for your resume.

The demand for people who can create functional code is increasing as applications and automation play a larger role in business. There are currently over 200,000 Computer Programmer positions in the United States, illustrating a booming job market for programmers that’s reflected across the rest of the world.

Read on to learn what a Computer Programmer makes, what they do, and which courses you can use to get started. The salaries in this article are based on what programmers make in the United States, but their salary expectations are strong compared to other professions regardless of location.

How much does a Computer Programmer make?

Computer Programmers earn an average of $86,500 a year. The top 25% make $112,120 and the bottom 25% come in at $65,760. Salary expectations for Computer Programmers are nearly three times higher than the national average, which is $31,300, according to recent census data.

The relatively high pay for programmers makes sense, considering the importance of what they do. A company’s software is integral to its revenue, management of resources, and the comfort and productivity of its employees.

Many critical systems and procedures depend on programmers, which explains why the unemployment rate for Computer Programmers is a low 1.4%, meaning 98.6% of Computer Programmers have jobs.

Still, there are many different kinds of Computer Programmers, and their responsibilities — and salaries — vary significantly. Let’s take a look at some of the most common kinds of Computer Programmers and their salaries:

Systems Programmer

A Systems Programmer makes an average of $89,780 a year, ensuring an organization’s operating systems can handle its many applications and processes. Operating systems (like Windows, macOS, and Linux) support the applications and peripheral devices of a computer.

Operating system management often entails making sure that each computer has the most recent updates and performing upgrades as necessary. Note that some operating systems aren’t compatible with older versions of software, while others can be made compatible with a series of tweaks. Deciding when and how to do this falls on the shoulders of a Systems Programmer.

C++ is a common language within many Systems Programmers’ tech stacks. You can learn how to be a C++ ace with our Learn C++ course.

Web Programmer

Web Programmers are some of the highest-earning developers, bringing in about $128,792 each year for creating applications that run on the web. The apps they create vary based on the needs of their company. In many cases, a Web Programmer meets with executives and other stakeholders to ascertain their high-level needs, then creates software solutions to meet those objectives.

Web Programmers also address issues related to maintaining, supporting, and changing existing software the company depends on. Making adjustments to software can allow a company to earn more revenue or make day-to-day life easier for its employees.

Our courses and paths for Web Programmers can help you launch or advance your career as a Front-End, Back-End, or Full-Stack Web Programmer. You can get started with our Front-End Engineer, Back-End Engineer, and Full-Stack Engineer Career Paths.

Game Programmer

Game Programmers make an average of $83,479 a year designing video games for companies. Even though games are meant to be fun, a Game Programmer’s job is far from child’s play. The games they make often include revenue-generating tools such as advertisements, upgrades, and in-game purchases.

A Game Programmer is charged with creating games that’ll keep players engaged and entertaining. This may involve creating complicated worlds that provide immersive experiences for gamers — keeping them coming back again and again.

Our Create Video Games with Phaser.js Skill Path is a great place to start if you want to be a Game Programmer. You can also learn how to parlay your game development skills with iOS in our Build iOS Apps with SwiftUI Skill Path.

Application Programmer

Application Programmers make around $89,121 a year, and their job can include a combination of web-based and computer-hosted applications. When making web-based applications, programmers design solutions that employees, executives, and customers access by logging into a web-based portal. Designing computer-hosted apps involve making apps that run on a computer or device without being connected to the internet.

Much of an Application Programmer’s job involves addressing coding issues that cause existing apps to malfunction or underperform. This may require debugging much of the code, pinpointing a single issue, or rebuilding a set of functions.

Regardless of the kind of coding an Application Programmer writes, their main focus is the end-user. So, they need to hone in on what will improve their experience, including:

• Making processes run faster
• Enhancing the functions of payment portals, online shopping tools, and other e-commerce solutions
• Building solutions that make processes more efficient
• Automating repetitive, mundane tasks

Application Programmers often work with other developers or Software Engineers to do this. Collaboration with CIOs and other executives is also a common element of their jobs, as their projects need to contribute to the organization’s goals.

Who makes more, Computer Programmers or developers?

Although Computer Programmers and developers use many of the same tools, their jobs are different, as is their pay. Computer Programmers make a little less (on average) than developers, who make around $107,510.

While developers typically have to engineer solutions from the ground up, a Computer Programmer may only be charged with executing the plan. Still, this often involves working with several stakeholders to ensure their needs can be accomplished using code.

Our catalog of programming courses has everything you need to get started as a Computer Programmer or advance in your career. While gaining the knowledge you’ll need to work with the most up-to-date tools in the programming industry, you can also build a portfolio that’ll make you a more attractive candidate for jobs.

Let’s face it: if you’re putting in the time, money, and effort to make a career change, then chances are you want to be sure your decision pays off financially. And while we hear about Application Developers and Data Scientists easily making six figures, we don’t hear as much about cybersecurity experts.

So, if you’re thinking about a career in cybersecurity, how much can you expect to make? The great news is that, like their web development and data science cousins, cybersecurity experts can expect to make six figures, depending on experience, location, and their specific role. One reason for this is because cybersecurity experts are in extremely short supply. In fact, reports indicate that cybersecurity jobs pay 16% more than other IT jobs.

In this article, we’ll go through a few types of cybersecurity jobs and how much you can expect to make in those roles.

Types of high-paying cybersecurity expert jobs and their salaries

One factor that determines how much a cybersecurity expert makes is their specific job role. Here are six high-earning jobs in the cybersecurity industry and the salary you can expect to make in each position.

Information Security Manager

Topping many tech salary lists is the Information Security Manager, whose job is to protect companies’ information systems from data leaks. Information Security Managers must look at security from three angles: local laws on data privacy, current security measures, and possible future vulnerabilities to attack.

Information Security Managers are paid so well not only because of the high demand, but because the penalties of failing to protect consumer data can cost a company hundreds of millions of dollars.

Information Security Managers are paid an average of $125,000 to $215,000 per year.

Cybersecurity Engineer

Cybersecurity Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and implementing network security measures. Good Cybersecurity Engineers are equally able to prevent one-time hacking attempts as well as persistent threats to network security. Their multiple skill sets make them hard to find and deserving of high salaries.

The average Cybersecurity Engineer can make between $120,000 and $200,000 per year.

Application Security Engineer

Fewer and fewer companies use software hosted exclusively on company servers. Instead, more companies are developing and using applications designed to be hosted by third-party servers, such as AWS or Azure. Application Security Engineers specialize in securing business and software applications that connect to these third-party servers.

Besides protecting sensitive company data, Application Security Engineers ensure that business applications stay compliant with company and regulatory data privacy requirements. In companies that develop and maintain apps, Application Security Engineers also make sure that apps aren’t unexpectedly shut down by hackers or malicious software.

With an average salary between $120,000 and $180,000 per year, Application Security Engineers are among the highest-paid cybersecurity experts.

Penetration Tester

Also known as Ethical Hackers, Penetration Testers try to hack into a company’s network with the company’s consent. A system that’s secure today can easily become vulnerable in just a few months, so companies have Penetration Testers conduct security tests quarterly, monthly, weekly, or even daily.

Penetration Testers use a variety of tools and conduct tests across security networks before reporting back on vulnerabilities that could be exploited by less well-intentioned hackers.

If you decide to pursue a career as a Penetration Tester, you can expect to make between $80,000 and $130,000 per year on average.

Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity Analysts work closely with Information Security Managers as well as Penetration Testers to create and implement security measures to keep company infrastructure secure. Cybersecurity Analysts are experts in identifying vulnerabilities before hackers can exploit them.

Like the other types of cybersecurity experts, Cybersecurity Analysts are in high demand, and companies are willing to pay them between $90,000 and $160,000 per year on average.

Network Security Engineer

Network Security Engineers specialize in a variety of roles within a company, such as maintaining a company’s local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and server architecture. Network Security Engineers also monitor and protect virtual networks, firewalls, and email and software security.

As you can imagine, a Network Security Engineer is a critical part of any company’s security team, and they’re paid well for their work. The average salary of a Network Security Engineer ranges between $125,000 and $185,000 per year.

Other factors that influence a cybersecurity expert’s salary

Besides the actual job responsibilities, location has a big influence on the salary of a cybersecurity expert. Part of the reason is the cost of living — it’s more expensive to live in Seattle and Silicon Valley than in a small rural town — but it’s also because the highest need for cybersecurity experts is in locations where many companies are competing for the same relatively small group of talent.

When you factor in the cost of living, the U.S. cities with the ten highest average cybersecurity expert salaries are:

1. Minneapolis, MN — $127,750
2. Seattle, WA — $119,350
3. San Francisco, CA — $119,350
4. Dallas, TX — $117,900
5. Denver, CO — $117,300
6. Chicago, IL — $111,300
7. Austin, TX — $110,200
8. Salt Lake City, UT — $106,200
9. New York, NY — $102, 300
10. San Jose, CA — $99,100

Companies are willing to pay for cybersecurity experts

Companies understand that having a solid in-house cybersecurity team is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. At the same time, the relatively small number of cybersecurity experts means that anyone looking to pivot their career to cybersecurity can look forward to job security and a comfortable salary for years to come.

If you’re interested in learning more about the field of cybersecurity or even taking the first step toward your new career in cybersecurity, get started with our Introduction to Cybersecurity course.

Your resume is your chance to make a good first impression with potential employers. It needs to show your essential skills and what you’ll contribute. Learn how to create a computer science resume that gets attention (the positive kind).

Types of resumes

The first decision you need to make when creating a computer science resume is which type to use. Typically, you have three choices:

Chronological

A chronological resume lists your work history in reverse chronological order. This is the best choice if you’ve already had some work experience in computer science or if you have experience with a specific employer you want to highlight. It’s not as good for first-time job seekers or career switchers. It’s also not great if you have gaps in your work history.

Functional

A functional resume focuses on your skills and strengths and doesn’t include specific dates, names, and places. These resumes are great for career-changers, as they help show off your transferable skills (the skills you’ve picked up in other work that’s applicable to computer science jobs, like time management and teamwork). They’re also good for first-time job seekers, as you can include volunteer and classroom experience.

Combination

As the name implies, combination resumes are a blend of chronological and functional. You’d have a skills section followed by a shorter chronological work experience section. If you can keep it to one page, it could be a good option for first-time job seekers and career changers.

What to include on your computer science resume

Once you have your resume type selected, it’s time to decide what information to include.

Contact information

Your name, email, address, and phone number should all be included. Use a professional-sounding email address (typically some variation of your name).

Summary or objective

Below your contact information, add a brief statement that describes who you are and what type of position you want. You’ll want to customize this section for each position you apply to (this goes for the resume as a whole, actually).

As an example, take the summary below:

“Self-motivated Software Engineer seeking an entry-level position with a leading firm where I can utilize my skills in Python, JavaScript, and project management to reach company goals.”

Educations and certifications

List your education and certifications in the next section. Both should be in reverse chronological order. In other words, start with the most recent first and then go back through time. If you have a bachelor’s degree with no graduate school experience, you’d list your bachelor’s degree and then your high school education. Only include your GPA if it’s relatively high.

If you’ve taken our courses, you can include those here or in a separate section called “Professional development.” You should definitely include them, though.

Experience and/or skills section

Depending on the type of resume you choose, you’ll include an experience and/or skills section next. Your work experience is fairly straightforward, and you should list it in reverse chronological order.

Your skills section should highlight two types of skills: hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills are the skills that you can quantify. For a computer science resume, this includes your technical skills, such as:

• Programming languages: Highlight the programming languages you know and how well you know them. Consider including languages such as Python, JavaScript, SQL, HTML, CSS, Java, Ruby, and C++.
• Cybersecurity: Skills like cryptography and implementing firewalls and VPNs are in high demand as cybersecurity threats continue to evolve.
• Cloud computing: Include your skills and knowledge of cloud technologies and platforms.
• Artificial intelligence: This might include skills in data science, machine learning, and dynamic programming.
• UX design: This could include front-end programming, interaction design, UI design, and user-centered design.

If you’re using a chronological resume, be sure to highlight these skills in your work experience section.

But don’t just offer technical skills to employers. Soft skills are harder to quantify, but they’re just as important.

You need to show you can fit into their company culture, coordinate with team members, manage projects, and more. Here are some soft skills to consider including on your computer science resume:

• Teamwork
• Problem-solving
• Project management
• Critical thinking
• Adaptability
• Public speaking/presentation skills
• Written communication skills
• Creativity
• Conflict management and resolution
• Enthusiasm

As with hard skills, if you’re using a chronological resume, highlight these skills as you discuss your work experience.

Projects and awards

Include notable tech projects you’ve worked on, even if they were for school or volunteer projects. Also, note any relevant awards you’ve received (so not the first place in the 6th-grade art fair, though we admire your creativity).

Getting your computer science resume ready

Keep in mind that your resume is probably going to be scanned by an automated applicant tracking system. Why does this matter? Your resume needs to include relevant keywords to be flagged for review by a hiring manager. The job posting offers clues as to what keywords to use, so be sure to match your resume to the position you’re applying for.

Ready to get started in computer science? We offer a wealth of options. If you’re looking to brush up on specific programming languages, for example, we offer courses in Python, Java, C++, and many more.

For a more thorough foundation in computer science, consider our Computer Science Career Path. This is a beginner-friendly course that will teach you to think and code like a professional. It teaches you more than just skills — it teaches you how to apply those skills to computer science problems.

You’ll learn Python, one of the fastest-growing programming languages. You’ll also learn about data structures, algorithms, and databases and develop valuable problem-solving skills along the way. You’ll also be able to build a portfolio that’ll help you land an entry-level job in computer science.

If you’re ready for a career that’s fast-paced and fulfilling, we’re ready to help.