Full Stack Developer Skills
These are the key hard and soft skills required for a job as a full stack developer in 2024 based on our database of over 10 million real job listings.
Optimize your resumeFull Stack Developer skills include expertise in frontend and backend technologies, such as JavaScript, NODE JS, HTML, and CSS, as well as API integration and design. On a resume, these skills highlight a developer’s ability to build and maintain complete web applications from end to end. Additional skills like computer science fundamentals and development practices are crucial for delivering efficient, scalable solutions. This page covers the essential Full Stack Developer skills and provides tips on how to feature them effectively on your resume.
How we got the data
The data in this report was pulled from Jobscan’s database of more than 10 million job descriptions and 17 million resumes.
We analyzed the job descriptions to find the skills that employers want the most. Then we analyzed the resumes to see which skills appeared most frequently.
Armed with this knowledge, job seekers can easily tailor their resumes and cover letters to highlight the most relevant skills for each job they apply to.
top 10 full stack developer Hard Skills
top 10 full stack developer Soft Skills
top 10 full stack developer Skills on Resumes with High Match Rate
- CSS
- HTML
- Javascript
- Development
- SQL
- Java
- Management
- Git
- MySQL
- Github
Top 10 full stack developer skills
How to write this skill on your resume:
- Built server-side applications in NODE JS, reducing response time by 25% and improving user experience.
- Utilized NODE JS to manage data processing, optimizing backend performance by 30%.
- Developed RESTful APIs in NODE JS, enabling seamless data integration across platforms.
- Implemented security features in NODE JS applications, increasing data protection and compliance.
- Used NODE JS to create scalable backend services, supporting a 200% increase in user traffic.
How to write this skill on your resume:
- Created dynamic and responsive web applications with JavaScript, enhancing interactivity and user engagement.
- Leveraged JavaScript to develop custom frontend features, increasing usability by 20%.
- Optimized JavaScript code for speed, reducing load times by 30%.
- Integrated JavaScript with NODE JS to enable full stack functionality, improving data handling efficiency.
- Enhanced user experience by implementing JavaScript animations and interactive elements.
How to write this skill on your resume:
- Managed end-to-end development of web applications, achieving a 95% project completion rate within deadlines.
- Applied full stack development skills to create cohesive applications, reducing handoff time between frontend and backend teams.
- Optimized development workflows, decreasing project turnaround by 20%.
- Led development of cross-functional features, improving feature delivery consistency by 15%.
- Enhanced code quality by implementing best practices, reducing bug rate by 30%.
How to write this skill on your resume:
- Designed user-friendly interfaces that increased engagement metrics by 25%.
- Applied design principles to improve user experience, resulting in a 15% increase in user satisfaction.
- Created wireframes and mockups, streamlining development by providing clear design specifications.
- Optimized design layouts for mobile responsiveness, improving mobile traffic by 20%.
- Enhanced visual appeal by implementing modern design trends, attracting 15% more user engagement.
How to write this skill on your resume:
- Used CSS to style web pages, achieving a 98% consistency rate across all browsers and devices.
- Improved visual design with CSS, enhancing user experience and reducing bounce rates by 15%.
- Designed responsive layouts using CSS, increasing mobile usability and boosting conversions by 20%.
- Applied CSS animations to improve visual appeal and user interactivity.
- Created custom CSS themes, enhancing the look and feel of client websites.
How to write this skill on your resume:
- Structured web pages with HTML, ensuring accessibility and a user-friendly experience.
- Implemented HTML best practices, reducing code errors by 30%.
- Utilized HTML to organize content effectively, increasing SEO performance by 15%.
- Enhanced site functionality by embedding HTML forms, enabling direct user interactions.
- Used HTML to create semantic structures, improving website accessibility and search rankings.
How to write this skill on your resume:
- Applied computer skills to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues, reducing downtime by 20%.
- Managed development environments, ensuring seamless collaboration and version control.
- Utilized computer skills to optimize software performance, decreasing load times by 30%.
- Enhanced workflow efficiency by integrating new development tools, saving 10 hours per week.
- Documented best practices for computer skills, enhancing team productivity and consistency.
How to write this skill on your resume:
- Applied computer science principles to optimize algorithms, increasing processing speed by 25%.
- Used knowledge of data structures to improve code efficiency and reduce memory usage by 20%.
- Designed scalable system architectures, supporting increased user demand.
- Utilized computer science fundamentals to debug complex issues, improving code quality by 30%.
- Implemented algorithmic solutions to optimize backend processing, enhancing application performance.
How to write this skill on your resume:
- Integrated APIs to enable third-party services, enhancing application functionality.
- Developed custom APIs for data exchange, improving data accessibility by 40%.
- Used APIs to implement authentication features, boosting security and user trust.
- Enhanced application capabilities with API integrations, supporting new functionalities and user needs.
- Reduced development time by 15% by leveraging existing APIs for faster feature rollouts.
How to write this skill on your resume:
- Developed backend modules in Java, increasing application stability by 30%.
- Used Java for server-side processing, reducing latency by 20%.
- Implemented Java-based solutions for data processing, improving performance by 25%.
- Optimized Java code to support large datasets, reducing memory usage by 15%.
- Enhanced backend reliability with Java, supporting 24/7 availability for user requests.
Tips for using full stack developer skills on a resume
Create a bulleted resume skills section
Use a simple, clean format that highlights your skills and experiences. Focus on readability by using bullet points and short phrases to present your skills. Properly organize your resume into education, experience, and skills sections.
“Adding a skills section to your resume is a great way to draw the recruiter’s attention to your most relevant strengths and competencies.”
– Ashley Watkins, NCRW, NCOPE, Job Search Coach
For example, a full stack developer’s bullet points might look like this:
- Developed backend modules in Java, increasing application stability by 30%.
- Developed custom APIs for data exchange, improving data accessibility by 40%.
- Utilized computer science fundamentals to debug complex issues, improving code quality by 30%.
- Enhanced site functionality by embedding HTML forms, enabling direct user interactions.
- Created dynamic and responsive web applications with JavaScript, enhancing interactivity and user engagement.
Hitting all the top job requirements with your skills list will help you rank highly for a keyword search within an applicant tracking system. But don’t stop there. Add context for every skill elsewhere in your work experience. If a recruiter is excited by “business analysis” in your skills section, the first thing they’ll do is skim your work experience to figure out when, how, and how much you used that skill.
Highlight skills and accomplishments in your work experience section
As you list your responsibilities, it’s also important to highlight your major accomplishments wherever you can.
“For soft skills, it’s often more effective to demonstrate them in the context of your past work experience. Instead of merely stating “excellent team player”, you are better off saying “collaborated with a cross-functional team of 6 on a new product launch that boosted sales by 30% in one year”. Examples of specific accomplishments or business outcomes speak louder than buzzwords.”
– Ana Lokotkova, Career Coach and Advisor
For example, if you significantly increased the team’s productivity, be sure to mention this accomplishment.
Instead of saying,
“Built server-side applications in NODE JS”
You could say,
“Built server-side applications in NODE JS, reducing response time by 25% and improving user experience.”
This demonstrates your level of expertise with the skills you listed. It gives the recruiter more reason to be interested in you as a result.
Break resume skills sections into categories
If you’re applying for a role requiring a broad skillset, categorize your skills.
“If you opt to include a designated skills section on your resume, include up to 10 of your core competencies. Excessive skills lists are overwhelming and sometimes confusing to the reader.”
– Kelli Hrivnak, Marketing and Tech Recruiter
For example, someone applying for a role as a full stack developer might benefit from segmenting their skill lists as follows:
Frontend Development Skills
- JavaScript
- CSS
- HTML
Backend Development Skills
- NODE JS
- Java
- APIs
Development and Design Skills
- Development
- Design
Technical Knowledge and Problem-Solving Skills
- Computer Skills
- Computer Science
Quantify your achievements
Use numbers to quantify your achievements wherever possible. This helps potential employers understand your abilities and the impact you can have on their organization.
“Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for relevancy of how and when you applied those skills, so provide examples of this in your experience section. Bonus tip: Don’t just insert the skill like a task–include results.”
– Kelli Hrivnak, Marketing and Tech Recruiter
Instead of saying,
“Designed responsive layouts using CSS”
You could say,
“Designed responsive layouts using CSS, increasing mobile usability and boosting conversions by 20%.”
By using numbers, you give hiring managers a better sense of your value.
Tailor your resume to the job description
Read the description carefully and emphasize the relevant skills and experiences. Highlight the skills that the employer seeks and provide examples of how you’ve used those skills in your previous roles. Doing so can demonstrate that you’re a strong fit for the position and increase your chances of being invited to an interview.
“The ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach doesn’t work when it comes to your resume. For every job application, tailor your skill set to match the job description. Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that filter candidates based on keywords and skills listed in the job description. So, research the role you’re applying for and distill the skills required.”
– Ana Lokotkova, Career Coach and Advisor
In order to do this, “you must first understand what skills are most important for the target role,” says Ashley Watkins.
Here’s an example of how to tailor a business analyst resume to a job description:
Job Description: Full Stack Developer at a Tech Startup
Requirements: Experience with frontend and backend technologies, specifically JavaScript, NODE JS, and APIs, along with design skills.
Tailored Resume Job Description:
- As an experienced full stack developer, I am skilled in creating efficient and seamless applications from the ground up.
- I am proficient in JavaScript and NODE JS, which I have used to develop both client and server-side functionalities, supporting scalability and improving application performance.
- I regularly integrate APIs to enhance application capabilities, streamlining data exchange and enabling new features that boost user engagement.
- In my previous roles, I utilized design skills to create intuitive, responsive interfaces, improving user satisfaction by 20%.
- I have a solid foundation in computer science principles, which I apply to optimize code and ensure fast, reliable performance.
- I am dedicated to delivering complete, functional solutions that meet both technical requirements and user needs.
- My experience with frontend and backend technologies, combined with a commitment to quality development and design, makes me a strong candidate for the Full Stack Developer position at your startup.
“Focus on the sought-after and in demand skills. A great way to figure out what is currently in demand is by researching current job openings from your preferred companies and reading through the posting. Pay close attention to the preferred requirements section and build your skills section based on this list.”
– Chelsea Jay, Career & Leadership Development Coach – Seasoned and Growing
Bonus Tip: Use action verbs
Start each bullet point with an action verb. An action verb expresses an action, such as “create,” “build,” “manage,” “lead,” or “implement.”
Action verbs grab the reader’s attention and paint a vivid picture of what you accomplished at work.
Action verbs make your resume more interesting to read. They also show the kind of can-do attitude that employers are looking for.
FAQs
A full stack developer should have proficiency in both frontend and backend development. Essential skills include JavaScript, NODE JS, CSS, HTML, APIs, and Java. They should also have a strong understanding of computer science principles and problem-solving skills to manage complex technical requirements.
The basics of full stack development include knowledge of frontend technologies (like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) to create user interfaces, and backend technologies (like NODE JS, Java, and databases) to handle server-side logic and data management. Full stack developers also understand APIs for integrating external services and apply development and design principles for cohesive, scalable applications.
Yes, coding is essential for full stack developers. They need to code for both frontend and backend operations, using languages like JavaScript for interactivity, NODE JS or Java for server-side functionality, and tools like HTML and CSS for webpage structuring and styling.
A full stack developer is responsible for building and maintaining both the client-side and server-side of applications. This includes creating user interfaces, managing databases, integrating APIs, and ensuring the application’s functionality, scalability, and performance.