To list a web development project on a resume, place it under Experience or Projects with stack, scope, actions, and measurable results.
Recruiters skim fast. Clear placement, crisp bullets, and proof of impact help a personal build, bootcamp capstone, freelance site, or client app pull weight right away. This guide shows where the project fits, what to write, and how to show value without fluff. You’ll see wording that works, layouts that scan, and a few small tweaks that raise response rates now.
Best Places To Feature A Web Project
Your goal: make the work easy to find and easy to trust. The right location depends on stage, space, and how much the build matches the role. Use one main spot so the eye lands there fast, then echo the project once more in skills or a portfolio link if needed.
| Career Stage | Resume Placement | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Student Or Switcher | Projects (above Education) | Leads with proof when paid history is light. |
| Junior With Some Roles | Experience (with “Project” tag) | Keeps one timeline; treats builds as real work. |
| Freelancer | Experience (per client) | Shows scope, budget, and outcomes per engagement. |
| Mid Career | Experience + Select Projects | Blends shipped features with one standout build. |
| Portfolio Heavy | Projects + Link To Site | Gives a quick scan path and a live demo route. |
Web Project Entry Format That Gets Read
Think of each entry as a tiny case. One line sets the context, then two to four bullets prove value. Keep verbs strong, name the stack, and add numbers where you can. Two lines beat ten vague ones.
Header Line Formula
Project Name — role (solo, pair, team of 4), dates, live link or repo, stack (React, Node, PostgreSQL, Tailwind). Keep the link short. If the project is private, write “private repo available on request.”
Bullet Formula
Use a simple pattern: action + tech + outcome. Aim for one hard number in at least half the bullets. If no analytics exist, point to scope, volume, or speed. Short and punchy wins.
Good Bullet Patterns
- Shipped feature using tool that drove result.
- Built component with stack, cutting time/cost.
- Redesigned flow after user tests, lifting metric.
- Wrote tests that raised coverage to percent and reduced bugs.
Close Variation: Adding A Web Project To Your Resume The Smart Way
This phrasing matches search intent without sounding clunky. The steps below work for a capstone, hackathon demo, plugin, or full SaaS launch.
Step 1: Pick The Right Project
Choose work that matches the posting. A simple CRUD app can outshine a fancy toy when the role lists API work, auth, and tests. Toss in one stretch item that shows range, like a charting module or CI pipeline.
Step 2: Write A Clean Header
Lead with the name, role, and stack. Add the link only if it loads fast and is stable. If the demo needs a server spin-up, use a short Loom walkthrough link as a backup. Keep dates tight; month and year are enough.
Step 3: Craft Impact Bullets
Scan the job ad and mirror the skills in your bullets. Pick verbs that show ownership: shipped, led, refactored, migrated, automated, tested, monitored. Mention tools in context so keyword filters still catch them.
Step 4: Add Proof
Proof can be metrics, users, speed, money, or process. Even a side project can show reach: sessions, sign-ups, GitHub stars, uptime, Lighthouse scores, Core Web Vitals, or accessibility checks.
Step 5: Cross-Link With Care
Use one link in the header and one in a “Selected Work” line near the top. Keep anchors short. Make links look consistent across entries so the eye knows where to click.
Project Entry Examples You Can Adapt
Example A: Solo Build For Learning
MealPlanr — solo developer, Jan–Mar 2025 — demo & repo — React, Next.js, Prisma, PostgreSQL
- Shipped weekly planning with drag-and-drop and saved state with Prisma, cutting setup time from 10 to 2 minutes.
- Wrote rate-limited recipe search against a public API; cached results with Redis to keep median response under 180 ms.
- Added sign-in with NextAuth and magic links; 0 auth bugs in 50 test accounts.
- Set up GitHub Actions for CI, running type checks and 120 tests on each push.
Example B: Client Site Under Deadline
Skylark Rentals — contractor, May–June 2025 — live site — Vue, Nuxt, Supabase, Stripe
- Built booking flow with calendar sync and Stripe; cut drop-off on checkout from 38% to 21% in two weeks.
- Moved image delivery to a CDN and added lazy load; LCP dropped from 4.7 s to 2.1 s on 4G.
- Added admin panel with role-based access; reduced manual updates to zero.
What Recruiters Scan In Seconds
Readers look at the top third, then job titles, then links, then numbers. If a page runs dense, they bounce. Keep the top crisp, put the best build high, and put a clean link near the edge of the line so it’s easy to click on mobile.
Make It Skimmable
- Use 10–12 pt body fonts and clean margins; keep bold use rare so links and numbers stand out.
- Two to four bullets per entry. Stop at four unless the project is the star of your candidacy.
- One page for early career, two for long histories with clear wins.
Evidence Employers Respect
Career centers teach simple proof models. One common pattern is STAR or PAR: set the situation or project, describe your action, and show the result. That frame keeps bullets tight and makes results pop in scans.
Good Signals For A Web Build
- Performance: LCP, CLS, or Lighthouse rises.
- Quality: test counts, coverage, bug rates.
- Reach: users, sessions, sign-ups, revenue.
- Craft: a11y checks, security basics, CI/CD.
- Teamwork: reviews, pair work, handoffs.
Word Bank: Action Verbs And Tech Terms
Pick verbs that show change and finish. Pick nouns that show the stack and the domain. Mix both so humans and parsers learn the same story.
| Action Verbs | Tech Mentions | Outcome Words |
|---|---|---|
| Shipped, Launched, Built | React, Vue, Svelte | Faster, Stable, Secure |
| Refactored, Migrated | Node, Django, Rails | Lower Load, Fewer Bugs |
| Automated, Tested | Playwright, Jest, Cypress | Higher Coverage, Fewer Incidents |
| Scaled, Deployed | Docker, Kubernetes | More Users, Lower Cost |
| Instrumented, Monitored | Grafana, Sentry | Faster Fix, Better Uptime |
Tailor Each Entry To The Posting
Read the ad like a spec. If the role calls for REST, auth, and tests, move bullets on those topics to the top. If the role leans on charts and dashboards, lead with data work and a sample screen link. Small swaps raise match rates without a full rewrite.
Mirror The Language
Use the same nouns the ad uses. If it says “React” don’t write only “front end.” If it says “SQL,” name the system you used. If it says “testing,” show what you tested and what broke before and after.
Beat The Filter
ATS screens look for terms and clear dates. Put the project under a standard section, add month and year, and keep the header line tidy so the parser finds the link and the stack. Avoid text boxes or graphics that hide words.
Portfolio Links That Pay Off
A fast, simple site beats a massive showcase. One page with three builds, a short bio, and contact info works well. Put the best project first and keep the screenshots light so the page loads on a phone with weak data.
What To Link
- Live demo with seed data and a guest login.
- Repo with a clean README and run steps.
- Short clip that shows the core flow.
Quality And Format Tips That Keep You Safe
Keep fonts plain and sizes readable. Use steady spacing and clean headings. Avoid tiny links or long anchors. Keep one date visible on the page if your theme shows it, and store a last-updated tag in your CMS so feeds stay fresh.
Common Mistakes To Fix
- Bullets full of tool lists with no outcome.
- Five links per entry. Pick one or two.
- Massive blocks of text with no scan path.
- Vague claims with no scope or metric.
- Using graphics that break parsers.
Project Checklist You Can Copy
Before you send the resume, run this quick pass on your best build. The checks map to how readers scan and how filters parse text.
- Header line has name, role, link, dates, and stack.
- Two to four bullets with at least one number.
- Action verbs show ownership and finish.
- Tech terms match the posting.
- Link opens on mobile and loads fast.
- Proof touches performance, quality, or reach.
- Spelling and spacing are clean.
When To Move A Project Higher
If the job ad matches the project more than past roles, move it near the top. You can place it above Education or right under a short summary. Give it room to breathe: one header line and three strong bullets tend to work best.
When To Trim Details
If space runs tight, drop setup stories and long lists of small fixes. Keep the outcome, the stack, and one decision that shows craft. Save the deep dive for the interview and your repo.
Final Checks Before You Send
Read the page on a phone. Tap each link. Check that dates line up and that each section has clear labels. Skim the top third and ask: can a stranger tell what you ship and how you measure it in five seconds? If yes, you’re set.
Helpful resources: MIT’s resume guide on placing class and personal builds and project-based bullets MIT resume guidance, and current field trends from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for web developers BLS outlook.