GitHub on Resume: How and When to Put It?

Getting a job is a task full of uncertainty. Before you impress the potential employers and hiring managers on the job interview, your task is to convince them to invite you to such a meeting. The only way to do that is to write an impressive resume that will split you from the mass of other candidates.

One of the options that you have is to put GitHub on resume. However, doing that is easier to say than do. There are millions of things you need to define before submitting the resume such as where to put GitHub on resume and how to put GitHub on resume.

Bo Bennett, a magnificent programmer, said in one of his interviews that “resume is a written exaggeration of the good things that a person has done in the past.”

Because of that, there is no reason not to mention a GitHub project in your resume and highlight the reason why you deserve a job. If you continue reading the article, you certainly learn how to add GitHub to resume properly. Let’s go!

How to Add GitHub to Resume? – Best Ways

Highlighting all the ways to put a GitHub link on resume would make this article a lot longer. Because of that, we have focused only on those methods that will guarantee success. Let’s find them out together!

Provide a LInk to a GitHub Project

A common mistake that candidates often make usually reduces their chances of getting an interview invitation. Instead of providing a link that will lead the hiring manager directly to a project, they give a link to their GitHub profile. There is no reason to do that if there is nothing useful that a potential employer could see there.

If you want to write a resume with GitHub link, then you have to possess at least one project that confirms your expertise. Adding dozens of links there will be unnecessary. Allow the hiring manager to check out the landing page of the project where they can see all the relevant details. Besides, that is a pretty good way to leave a good first impression.

ReadME Section Must Exist!

Putting GitHub on resume without a Read Me section is going to be a huge mistake. Generally speaking, the same piece of advice counts for all forms of resumes in general. Whether you want to add security clearance on resume or you want to learn how to put coding bootcamp on resume, there will be a common piece of advice – make the structure eye-pleasing!

The ReadMe section needs to describe the purpose of the GitHub project that you worked on. Of course, highlight the main parts of the project, and do not make the content too long. Despite a link to a webpage, you should also add screenshots and potentially videos that demonstrate your creativity and skills.

Talk about the Tools that You Used

Adding GitHub in resume without mentioning the tools that you were using will make the skills you possess less valuable. As you know, there are a bunch of tools that relate to packaging, building, and testing that people can use. If you are a professional developer, then you need to prove that you are familiar with all the tools. Besides, tools that you worked with will make you look more professional which will automatically make you more attractive for hiring managers.

Should I Put GitHub on the Resume?

The way you will put GitHub on resume is probably clear now. However, some people still have the same question – “should I put my GitHub on my resume”. The answer to that question is “In most cases, yes”.

As you could guess, there are certain exceptions when this type of knowledge is irrelevant. It is mandatory to add it when something like that is relevant to the job description. Let’s use one example that we already described. When you apply for a military job, then you would certainly add a hackathon on resume, wouldn’t you? Well, then why is GitHub different than that? The project that you share will only confirm that you truly are a good software engineer.

If you are still unsure if you should put GitHub on your resume, you can ask for help from experts at IT resume writing services.

However, there are two scenarios when doing that can be wrong or useless. Don’t put GitHub on resume if something like that would be irrelevant for the hiring manager. Despite that, it would be useless to put GitHub on resume if you do not have at least one project you can highlight.

Does GitHub Look Good on a Resume?

Does hackathon look good on resume? Well, that depends on a wide range of factors described in one of our previous articles. However, the point is the same – the answer to the question from the subtitle depends only on you. If you respect the structure and standards that we described, then it will certainly look nice.

Don’t forget that adding only an URL to your profile won’t be effective as you would want to. Instead of that, make a good structure, provide all the project details, and talk about the tools you worked on. In that way, the resume with GitHub link will be more eye-pleasing and effective.

As a developer, GitHub projects can significantly bolster your resume.

Where to Add GitHub Link?

Now when you know how to include GitHub on resume and why you should include GitHub in resume in the first place, the next thing you have to learn is – where to put GitHub on resume. Fortunately for you, there are a few available options that you can choose from. We will you decide which one suits you the most!

Put GitHub  in Contact Details

One of the options that you have when putting a GitHub link in resume is to place that information in the contact details. Basically, in that section, you should write your phone number, e-mail address, the link to your profile on LinkedIn as well as the link to your GitHub project.

There is a good reason why putting a GitHub link on resume is better than sharing a link to your profile. Some hiring managers may consider that form navigation a bit confusing. Because of that, they would want to see the project you work on immediately after they visit the link. Believe it or not, some hiring managers scan the entire document you deliver for less than 7 seconds. If he or she needs to spend more time than that, then your chances of getting a job interview will be minimal. Check out the example below!

Put GitHub in the Projects Section

If the previous tip on how to list GitHub on resume didn’t meet your expectation, then there is another option that you have. The “Projects” section is also a perfect place to put GitHub. However, the way you will structure that section plays a key role.

For starters, you need to highlight the name of the project that you worked on. However, that will not be enough to confirm your expertise. Because of that, it would be good to use a bullet list and analyze the details of a project that would be relevant for the hiring manager.

Some companies will ask you to send a cover letter as well. If that sort of opportunity exists, then writing the details of a project there would be a better choice. You will not use a lot of empty space and make your document eye-pleasing. When you highlight the name of a project as well as project details, add the link to the project code.

Add GitHub to Technical Skills Section

Last, but not least tip on how to show GitHub on resume is to put it into the technical skills section. You can write down something similar to the example below. However, if you decide on that move, then be aware there won’t be enough space to talk about project details. Because of that, you may need to describe them in the summary of the document.

GitHub on Your LinkedIn

Now when you know how to develop a resume with a GitHub link, there is one additional piece of advice we would like to provide. You should also put GitHub on your LinkedIn profile. Doing that is pretty simple. Go to the Featured section, then click “+” where you will see all the items that you can add. On the menu, click on “Links” and add the URL to your project. That way, your significant skill will become more noticeable and attract a bigger number of employers.

Conclusion

You know very well know how to include GitHub in resume and where to put GitHub on resume. If there are no projects you can highlight, we recommend you improve your skills even more and raise your chances of getting a job. Are you ready to start your journey?