Are you ready to score your dream back-end developer role? The first step is creating a CV that stands out to recruiters and hiring managers. Writing a clear, compelling CV can be challenging, even for experienced developers. You need to highlight your technical expertise while demonstrating your problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate with teams—all within a concise, easy-to-read format.
This post will take you through crafting an amazing back-end developer CV. By the end, you’ll understand exactly what to include, how to structure your CV, and how to showcase your skills effectively. Plus, we’ve included a free, downloadable Back-End Developer CV Sample to help you get started.
Also See: Back-end Developer Cover Letter Samples (+ PDF & Word Downloads)
What Is a Back-End Developer CV?
A back-end developer CV is your personal marketing document. It should show potential employers your technical skills, relevant experience, and a glimpse of your personality. Back-end developers work behind the scenes of websites and applications, dealing with servers, databases, and APIs, so your CV should emphasize your ability to manage these critical tasks.
A well-written CV can help recruiters quickly identify why you’re the ideal candidate for their back-end development roles. You may have to think of your CV as more than just the jobs you have done in the past—it’s your opportunity to show how you create value for teams and companies.
Why Your CV Needs to Stand Out
Back-end developers continue to be in high demand across various industries. Web developer jobs are projected to grow by 23% between 2021 and 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Nigerians employed in the ICT sector have been steadily increasing in number. The nation’s software development workforce increased by 45.62 percent to 872,162 in 2023.
This is in accordance with GitHub data. The developer platform made it clear that users who are bots or whom internal systems have identified as “spammy” are not included in their count of developer accounts.
Most recruiters skim through a CV in about 6-7 seconds before they decide if they need to check it out more closely. To catch their eye, your CV needs to be well-organized, tailored to the role and easy to skim while also being with enough depth to demonstrate expertise.
How to Structure a Back-End Developer CV
A CV that is effective has a structure that makes sense and puts the most important information first. You will find the structured format in our Back-End Developer CV Sample.
Here’s how to format your back-end developer CV for impact:
Contact Information
Go through your basic personal information at the top of your CV:
- Full name
- e-mail (or one that is professional)
- Phone number
- Location (optional, but helpful if evaluating remote vs. in-office)
- Links to your LinkedIn profile or personal portfolio/GitHub repository
Personal Statement or Summary
Example: Write a brief summary (2-3 sentences) that captures who you are, where you have been, and why you would be an excellent fit.
This is your time to put your best foot forward.
Example:
“Proficient back-end developer with 5+ years of experience in creation of highly productive and scalable web applications. Proficient in Python, Django, and REST APIs; improved database systems and reduced application response times by 25%. “Eager to contribute technical expertise to innovative teams.
Key Skills
List Your Skills in a “Key Skills” Section (and consider hard vs. soft skills) This section is a snapshot of what you have to offer.
Example Key Skills:
- Programming Languages: Java, Python, PHP, Node.js
- Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB
- Tools & Platforms: Docker, Kubernetes, Git, AWS
- Soft Skills: Problem-solving, team collaboration, communication
Professional Experience
This is the heart of your CV. Present each previous position in reverse chronological order, and focus on what you achieved, not just what your responsibilities were. Recruiters want to see the measurable impact your work has had.
Example Format:
Company Name
| Job Title
Month/Year – Month/Year
Developed optimized RESTful APIs, which led to a 30% reduction in server response time.
Handled back-end service integrations with 3rd party providers to maintain system stability and percent scalability
Phyton, Django, MySQL, TDD, Git, Heroku Collaborated closely with front-end developers for smooth integration of UI and server-side functionalities.
Education
Add relevant educational credentials, for instance:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent fields
- Certifications in specialized tools, frameworks, or languages (e.g., AWS Developer Associate, Oracle SQL Certification)
Projects
Highlighting your personal or freelance projects can show your skills in action. Explain the project, what tools you used, and what difference it made.
Example:
E-Commerce Platform API
For example, I created a RESTful API to enhance the functionality of an e-commerce site.
- Developed secure user authentication and payment systems.
- Improved database queries and significantly reduced data retrieval time.
Additional Sections (Optional)
Other sections vary based upon how much experience you have.
- Volunteer Work
- Languages
- Hobbies/Interests (this is professional but engaging)
References
You don’t have to provide references unless you were asked to. Instead, say “Available upon request.”
Best Practices for Writing a Back-End Developer CV
Keep It Tailored
Every position is unique. Use the job description to customize your CV by emphasizing supporting skills and experiences.
Focus on Impact
Instead of listing tasks, put a number on your accomplishments. Numbers and metrics are very useful to prove what you brought to the table.
Example:
Instead of saying, “Improved server performance.” Say, “optimized server queries, decreasing load time by 40%.”
Use Keywords
An ATS-friendly CV (Applicant Tracking System) can be made by sprinkling in keywords from the job posting. Notice any specific tools, language or other soft skills mentioned.
Keep It Clean & Readable
Use a clean layout with consistent fonts and spacing to add professionalism. Keep it short and skip the big paragraphs — use bullets instead.
Free Back-End Developer CV Samples Download
To make your life easier, we’ve created a free downloadable CV template. This template is ATS-friendly, professionally formatted, and easy to customize.
John Doe
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Phone Number] | [Email Address]
[LinkedIn Profile] | [GitHub Profile]
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Gender: Male/Female
Marital Status: [Single/Married]
Nationality: Nigerian
State of Origin: [State]
Languages: [English, Yoruba, etc.]
CAREER OBJECTIVE
A passionate and result-oriented Back-End Developer with over 4 years of experience in building scalable, secure, and high-performance server-side applications. Seeking an opportunity to apply my expertise in [specific technology] and contribute to the success of a dynamic team in a challenging development environment.
KEY SKILLS
- Programming Languages: Java, Python, Node.js, Ruby, PHP
- Frameworks: Express, Spring Boot, Django, Flask
- Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis
- Version Control: Git, GitHub, GitLab
- API Development: RESTful, GraphQL, SOAP
- Cloud Platforms: AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud
- DevOps Tools: Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins
- Other Tools: Elasticsearch, RabbitMQ, Redis
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Back-End Developer
XYZ Technologies Ltd., Lagos, Nigeria | Jan 2021 – Present
- Designed, developed, and maintained scalable RESTful APIs for e-commerce and fintech platforms.
- Optimized and refactored PostgreSQL queries, improving database performance by 30%.
- Implemented secure authentication and authorization using JWT and OAuth2.
- Collaborated with front-end developers to integrate server-side logic seamlessly into user-facing applications.
- Led database migrations and improvements, resulting in a 40% reduction in server-side resource consumption.
Back-End Developer Intern
ABC Solutions, Abuja, Nigeria | Jun 2019 – Dec 2020
- Contributed to building and maintaining back-end services and databases for a mobile banking app.
- Participated in developing an in-house service using Node.js, Express, and MongoDB.
- Assisted in integrating external APIs and ensured optimal system security.
- Wrote unit tests and participated in code reviews to maintain code quality and functionality
EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Computer Science
- University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | Graduated: November 2019
Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Database Management Systems, Web Development, Cloud Computing, Algorithms.
CERTIFICATIONS
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate | Amazon Web Services | Jun 2022
- Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) | Cloud Native Computing Foundation | Jan 2021
- Java SE 8 Programmer Certification | Oracle | Mar 2020
PROJECTS
E-commerce Back-End System
- Developed a back-end system for an e-commerce website using Spring Boot and MySQL.
- Implemented secure payment gateway integration and automated inventory management.
- Enhanced the system’s performance using Redis for caching, improving data retrieval time by 35%.
Social Media API
- Created a RESTful API for a social media platform using Node.js, Express, and MongoDB.
- Implemented user registration, authentication, and data handling for posts and comments.
- Optimized the database to handle high traffic, achieving 100,000 concurrent users.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Hobbies & Interests: Coding, Tech Blogging, Reading Technology News
- Availability: Immediate
REFERENCES
Available upon request.
[Download CV sample Now in MS Word]
Wrapping It Up: Back-End Developer CV Sample (+ Free Download Example)
CV is your pass into the competitive world of back-end development. With these tips from this guide, you will be able to showcase your skills and stand out to your potential employer. Customize your CV to the position at hand, highlight what you have achieved, and certainly use your portfolio to showcase your practical experience.
So if you’re ready to get serious about submitting your back-end developer job application, you can download our free Back-End Developer CV Sample here.
Armed with the right tools and structure, you’ll be one step closer to securing that dream role.