iOS Developer Resume Example
Pursuing a career as an iOS developer provides opportunities for career progression and responsibilities involving debugging iOS applications and designing user interfaces. A strong resume for iOS developer applications showcases your skills, experience and achievements and helps you stand out from other candidates. In this article, we'll explain how to write a winning resume for iOS developer applications that best showcases your skills and experience.
This complete guide to an iOS developer resume will equip you with the tools you need to compete in your applications. The article will take you through the key steps of creating a resume that presents your key skills, qualities and career achievements in a format that employers favor. It will also help you tailor your resume according to your unique skills and experience level. Read on to access expert insights from Jobseeker that will help you create a winning iOS developer resume.
What to include in an iOS developer resume
A successful iOS developer resume will typically include each of the sections listed below, with some optional sections.
If you have no work experience as an iOS developer or have just started in the industry, you could consider using a functional or skills-based format, which emphasizes your skills and education. Furthermore, a junior resume is more likely to focus on soft and transferable skills, as well as relevant training, internships and volunteer roles.
For those with some prior experience as an iOS developer work experience is the most important element of a resume. Use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format to emphasize your career timeline and achievements. By using this resume format you can focus on showing how your experience has helped you develop the required skills for the job. Review the job description to understand which key skills and experience to focus on.
If you're applying for senior iOS developer positions, you'll want to list career achievements and successes that emphasize your senior status. Use a reverse-chronological format and add extra sections to show key career highlights. Your senior resume will likely be more comprehensive than resumes for more junior roles. You can add extra details about your career, such as awards, publications presentations, professional memberships or certifications.
While the content and format of your resume may vary depending on your experience levels, it's important to always include the following sections:
Resume Header
In your iOS developer resume header, list your name, email address, phone number and address or location. You can also add your LinkedIn, if you have one, to help employers better understand your work history and skills. While in some countries, you might include additional personal information or a photo, these aren't necessary. Be aware of the amount of space your resume header takes up. You don't want your contact details to take space away from the main content of your resume, so keep this section as brief as possible.
Only include professional, name-based email addresses in your resume header. If you have an old email address that uses nicknames, puns, references to your personal interests or anything else that could appear unprofessional, set up a new email just for your job applications. Finally, always double-check your contact details are correct and up-to-date before sending your resume.
Joseph Stewart
joseph.stewart@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
5150 Maple Drive, Twin Peaks, WA
linkedin․com/in/joseph–stewart123
Resume Summary
The next section is the resume summary. The section might also be called 'resume objective' or 'personal profile'. This is a brief introduction to you, your key skills and your career achievements and ambitions. While a resume summary focuses on your career achievements and experience, a resume objective typically focuses on your ambitions for the future. However, make sure you keep your resume summary short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description.
Alternatively, use this summary to introduce your personal career ambitions and explain why iOS developer roles are a good fit for you at this stage of your career.
A strong resume summary focuses on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for iOS developer roles in a clear, quantifiable way. It also gives an insight into your personal qualities, to help the reader understand why you're a suitable candidate. Take a look at some strong examples of how to approach a iOS developer resume summary in the graphic below.
Good example:
Innovative iOS Developer with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and extensive experience as an iOS Software Engineer. Proficient in Swift, Objective-C, and Xcode, with a strong background in developing, testing, and deploying iOS applications. Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, implement user-friendly interfaces, and optimize app performance. Passionate about staying current with industry trends and continuously improving technical skills
Bad example:
iOS developer with a background in computer science and experience in making apps for iPhones. Familiar with some programming languages and tools used for app development. Have worked with teams to create apps that are easy to use and run well. Interested in keeping up with new things in the tech world and learning more about coding
Conversely, an ineffective resume summary would include generic, unspecific information on your skills and experience, while failing to provide any useful information on what makes you a unique and interesting candidate. In the graphic above you can find some negative examples of how to write a resume summary.
Work Experience
In your work experience section, list any previous relevant roles you've worked in, as well as your key achievements as an iOS developer. Add each previous employment in reverse-chronological order. This means starting from your current or most recent role and working back in time from there. Include your job title, the company name, the location of the job and your dates of employment.
Add some bullet points under each job entry, explaining your achievements in the role, so the reader can see how you contributed towards success for the company. Provide evidence of your impact and make sure each point addresses a requirement listed in the job description.
A successful resume work experience section will always showcase skills and experience relevant to the job description, and how you put each to good use in your previous roles. Offering quantifiable evidence in an iOS developer resume proves you're a strong candidate for the job, such as client feedback, project outcomes, KPIs or financial results. There are some examples of strong resume work experience sections below.
Good example:
iOS Software Engineer, January 2022 - Present
PixelCrafters Inc, Corpus Christi
- Led the development of a top-grossing iOS app, achieving over 2 million downloads and a 4.8-star rating
- Optimized app performance, reducing load times by 50% and improving user retention by 30% through advanced coding techniques
- Implemented robust security measures, resulting in zero data breaches and compliance with GDPR and CCPA standards
Bad example:
iOS Software Engineer, January 2022 - Present
PixelCrafters Inc, Corpus Christi
- Worked on app development projects, enhancing user experience and contributing to team goals
- Improved app functionality, ensuring better performance and user satisfaction
- Developed security features, maintaining data integrity and compliance with industry standards
See above for some of the pitfalls to avoid with your resume work experience section. Less effective resume work experience sections might take a more vague, descriptive approach to previous jobs. They focus on responsibilities and everyday duties rather than referencing career achievements and the value you've added for previous employers.
Education and Qualifications
Your resume's education section provides space for you to list your highest and most relevant qualifications for iOS developer roles.
Typically, working as an iOS developer requires a university or college degree, which you'll need to list on your resume. If you're working in this sector, it's usually a good idea to highlight your Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree or other relevant qualifications. Focus on qualifications that showcase your swift programming language or xcode development environment.
Include any qualifications relevant to the role. For each, add the name and level of the award, the institution name, its location and your dates of study. You could also add one or two bullet points to draw attention to your grades if they were particularly good, as well as any specialist subjects you studied. This will help the hiring manager understand your knowledge and special skills better.
Membership or leadership of any societies, clubs or causes while studying can also make a positive impression on hiring managers. Consider adding these to your education section for more insight into how you used your time as a student.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, 2017 - 2020
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Hard and Soft Skills
In your skills section, list any skills you've acquired or developed that are relevant to iOS developer positions. Consider adding UI/UX design principles, problem-solving ability or any other necessary skills for the job. Once more, review the job description and pick out any key iOS developer skills listed that match yours. Focus on these skills and any other key transferable skills that make you a strong candidate for the job.
How to list hard skills on your iOS developer resume
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, it's important to show these skills in an iOS developer resume as they provide a strong indication of your experience in the sector. If possible, add four or five hard skills that reflect the requirements of the job description. These will boost your chances of success in your applications.
The best resume hard skills sections focus on specific technical skills necessary for the job, showcasing skills that you have particular expertise in. There are some examples of valuable hard skills for an iOS developer resume below.
- Swift programming language
- Xcode development environment
- UI/UX design principles
Soft skills on your iOS developer resume
Soft skills are your transferable skills and personal qualities that make you a good match for an iOS developer position and the organization. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, and can often apply to multiple jobs and industries. In fact, as technology develops, soft skills are growing in importance for recruiters and employers, so be sure to add several of these to your resume. Think of your best soft skills and add up to five that match the requirements of the job description.
An effective iOS developer resume soft skills section should be targeted to include skills that reflect your personality and unique characteristics, while also matching the job description. The graphic below includes some examples of good resume soft skills.
- Problem-solving ability
- Team collaboration skills
- UI/UX design understanding
Certifications and Training
In your certifications section, list any professional certifications or licenses that are relevant to working as an iOS developer. Add any official certifications or accreditations that increase your level of qualification and suitability for working as an iOS developer. Therefore, include the details of any licenses and professional certifications required for iOS developer roles, along with completion dates so employers can see you're up-to-date.
Review the list below for some suitable certifications for an iOS developer resume:
- Apple Certified Associate, 2022
- Swift Developer Certification, 2022
- IOS App Development, 2022
Expert Tip:
Optional Resume Sections
There are several additional sections you could add to an iOS developer resume, to improve your chances of success. Pick from the optional sections below to help show the employer you have the skills and experience for the job.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
Add any hobbies and interests that reinforce your credentials for the position. These are particularly useful for your resume if you're short of work experience and need to showcase a particular skill or experience. Just make sure any hobbies and interests you include in your resume add genuine insight into your personality, in ways other sections of the resume can't.
Volunteering
This section can be valuable for an iOS developer resume, if you've done any voluntary work that showcases your relevant skills. Write your volunteer section in a similar format to your work experience, including your role, the organization name, relevant dates and the details of your contribution.
References
References aren't a standard iOS developer resume section, but employers do sometimes ask for them. Check the job advert and only include them if requested. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
Please contact me for a list of references.
Best action words for your iOS developer resume
Action words can help illustrate to the hiring manager the difference you made in each of your previous jobs. The suggested action verbs below will help the reader to understand your key qualities and the impact you made on the organization.
- Design
- Develop
- Implement
- Optimize
- Debug
- Test
- Integrate
- Maintain
- Collaborate
- Innovate
Jobseeker's resume templates were created by careers experts to help you produce a professional resume in minutes. You can also find cover letter templates to complete an eye-catching job application that gets you noticed.
Example of an iOS developer resume
The iOS developer resume example below includes all the sections above, so you can see how a completed resume looks:
5150 Maple Drive, Twin Peaks, WA
•
joseph.stewart@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/joseph–stewart123
Dynamic iOS Developer with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and extensive experience as an iOS Software Engineer. Proficient in Swift and Objective-C, with a strong background in developing, testing, and deploying robust iOS applications. Adept at collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality, user-centric mobile solutions. Proven track record of optimizing app performance and implementing innovative features to enhance user experience
iOS Software Engineer
2020
-2022
AppVanguard Technologies (Jacksonville)
- Developed a highly-rated app with over 1 million downloads and a 4.8-star rating on the App Store
- Implemented a complex machine learning algorithm, improving user engagement by 35%
- Spearheaded a project reducing app crash rates by 60% through optimized code and rigorous testing
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
2017
-2020
Indiana University Bloomington (Bloomington, IN, USA)
Swift programming language
Xcode development environment
UI/UX design principles
Problem-solving ability
Team collaboration skills
UI/UX design understanding
Apple Certified Associate
Swift Developer Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Tips for iOS developer resumes
Simple tips for creating a winning resume
- Quantify the impact you've made in different roles by offering evidence of your key abilities and your contribution.
- Aim for a brief, concise iOS developer resume. One page is ideal for junior roles, while two pages are more suitable for senior positions.
- Mention key skills that show you're suited to the job throughout your resume, as well as in the dedicated skills section.
- Adapt your resume for every job application for maximum impact. Review the job description to understand the specific requirements for the role.
- Choose a resume format that's clear, professional and makes your resume as readable as possible. Pay particular attention to the font, line spacing, heading and margins to make your document as easy-to-read as possible for employers.
Keep away from these common resume mistakes
- Don't use an email address with offensive, funny or casual connotations. Instead, create a professional email address based on your name.
- Don't write any unnecessary personal details on your resume. Details such as age, gender or nationality can lead to unintentional recruitment bias.
- Don't include hobbies unless they help you prove a skill or experience that's necessary for the job.
- Don't use overly complex formatting and layouts that can make your iOS developer resume harder to read, and less scannable for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
- Don't lie or exaggerate on your iOS developer resume, as this can create false expectations in employers and harm you in the future.
How to make an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to manage their hiring process. They can handle some of the more time-consuming and resource-intensive jobs, such as initial screening of resumes. Employers often receive hundreds of applications per vacancy, and ATS software can quickly and accurately scan and rank resumes based on their likely suitability for any role. If you follow a few simple tips when writing your iOS developer resume, you'll give yourself a better chance of ranking highly in the ATS screening and progressing to the next stage.
Follow these simple rules when writing your resume, to make sure it's ATS compliant:
- Opt for an established, traditional resume format such as a reverse-chronological or functional structure. These will ensure your resume includes all the necessary details ATS systems scan for.
- Use keywords throughout your resume that reflect the job description, so ATS resume scanners can recognize a strong connection between your skills, and those in the job description.
- Include clear headings in each section that match the traditional resume structure and format. This will make it easier for the ATS software to scan your resume.
- Utilize a clean, clear resume design that helps make your content more readable. Use simple fonts and subtle color accents and design elements that don't detract from the written content.
- Adopt simple, professional language to keep your resume as concise as possible. This tends to make your document more readable, and easier for ATS software to scan.
If you're looking for inspiration for your resume, discover our comprehensive resume examples and in-depth, expert career blog.
Frequently Asked Questions about an iOS developer resume
Accompanying your resume for iOS developer applications, you'll want to produce a cover letter that similarly leaves a positive impression on hiring managers.
Before you write your cover letter, think about whether you need a formal, professional letter or if a brief, less formal email might be more suitable.
For a full, traditional cover letter, follow formal letter-writing conventions with your header, address line and greetings. The main text of the letter tends to be split into three short paragraphs. Firstly, introduce yourself, confirm the role you're applying for and explain why you're applying for the iOS developer role. In the second paragraph, highlight your skills and experience that are most relevant to the job description. The third paragraph gives you the opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and your gratitude to the employer, while leaving a call to action which encourages them to make contact with you.
If you want to impress employers with a professional cover letter, use Jobseeker's simple and beautiful cover letter templates.
Writing an iOS developer resume with no experience needn't be a daunting task. There are still plenty of ways to impress hiring managers with your resume. Use a skills-based resume format to highlight your relevant skills and education. This is more suitable for junior or entry-level roles where you might not have much work experience to showcase. Utilize additional sections at the end of your resume to show you've got what it takes to do the job. These include hobbies and interests, voluntary roles, certifications and internships.
A resume headline can catch the attention of the reader and give them a strong first impression about your suitability for iOS developer jobs. Resume headlines are also a powerful way of increasing your resume's chances of passing the ATS stage. They reference the job title and some of the keywords that match the job description. Write a short, concise resume headline incorporating the job title, one or two key skills that match the job description and a reference to your reputation or track record.
You can use this example resume headline as a template for creating your own:
- Aspiring Junior iOS Developer
- Innovative iOS Developer with Expertise
- Expert Senior iOS Developer Specialist
The best resume format for you depends on two things. Firstly, it depends on your experience level. Secondly, it depends on the type and level of position you're applying for. For entry-level roles, or situations where you're changing to a new career, a functional resume is often the best option. This places your skills and education above your work experience. Once you have some relevant work experience, and for senior positions, a reverse chronological resume format is typically best. This emphasizes your work experience, which will probably be the key thing employers want to know about.
Takeaways for your iOS developer resume
Writing a strong, impactful resume is about using your experience to demonstrate your relevant skills and achievements. You can do this through your work history or other resume sections. Pick a resume format that matches your experience levels, and tailor the content of your resume to reflect the details of the job description.
Remember, Jobseeker resume templates and other tools make it easy to create a resume and cover letter that leaves a positive impression on hiring managers. Sign up now to start building your perfect resume. A stylish, professional cover letter can make all the difference to your job prospects. See Jobseeker's cover letter examples, written by careers experts, to help you craft an eye-catching application.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
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