How to Write a Marketing Resume That Will Help Land Your Dream Job

How to Write a Marketing Resume That Will Help Land Your Dream Job Writing a marketing resume isn’t easy. If you consider yourself a writer by trade, that sentiment might feel ironic. But, it’s true. Summarizing your history and skills in one page is tough, especially when your future career prospects hang in the balance. No pressure or anything, though. Fortunately, it’s a skill you can develop. This post is geared toward the following folks: College students and recent graduates looking for internships and entry-level jobs. Experienced marketers applying for their next opportunity. Marketing managers and HR professionals researching what to look for when hiring various marketing roles. Get ready to learn more about resuming writing than you might have thought you need to know. How to Write a Marketing Resume That Will Help Land Your Dream Job by @Ben_via Table of Contents: A Story Free Marketing Resume Template Are Resumes Still Important? What Makes Getting Yours Noticed So Difficult? What Does An Effective Resume Look Like? Planning Your Resume Formatting Your Resume Writing Your Resume Writing a Content Strategy Resume Writing a Social Media Marketing Resume Writing a Marketing Manager Resume Writing a Copywriting Resume Writing a Product Marketing Resume Writing a Public Relations Specialist Resume Writing an SEO Specialist Resume Writing a Marketing Project Manager Resume Writing a Paid Search/Social Resume Consider Creative Resume FormatsBut First, A Story †¦ When I was in college, I was worried I wouldn’t find an internship, nor a full-time job following that. The economy was down and prospects were slim, so getting a foot in the door didn’t look particularly easy. I had also never written a resume before, and given the circumstances, I knew mine needed to be good. Fortunately, I did have some relevant experience built up from working at the student newspaper, tutoring, and various freelance gigs. After doing extensive research online, I did my best to put one together would convince a hiring manager I deserved an opportunity. In order to make sure my efforts were up to par, I made an appointment at the university career center for a resume review. I thought they’d tear it apart, tell me everything that needed fixing, and send me on my way, ready to spend more time polishing it up. Instead, something else happened. After reading through my cover letter and resume, the student advisor looked up and said, â€Å"This looks really good. In fact, we’re going to use this as an example for other students to follow. Nice work!† That wasn’t the response I expected, but I was glad to take it. This is a 100% true story, and I’m not sharing it to boast, either. Instead, Im sharing this experience to show that  getting the job you want in this industry is an attainable goal. And it all starts with your resume. Steal My Marketing Resume Template Since then, I’ve used roughly the same template for every job I’ve applied for. It’s gotten me several internships, and all three of my full-time jobs in the industry (in ecommerce, at a mid-sized agency, and now at ). There’s nothing fancy about it, but it’s clean, clear, and it works. I’ve also adjusted it slightly to better fit different needs and experience levels. Here’s everything the bundle includes (each one is included in both Microsoft Word and iWork Pages formats): Marketing Internship Resume Template Entry-Level Marketing Resume Template (Less Than 2 Years Experience) General Marketing Resume Template (2+ Years Experience) Marketing Manager Resume Template (8+ Years Experience) Download the whole bundle now. Itll help you save time on formatting, so all you need to do is fill it in. Job hunting for your next marketing opportunity? Snag these free #marketing resume templates: Are Resumes Still Important? In a word, yes. While LinkedIn is a vital tool for demonstrating your skills and expertise, hiring managers still typically want to see a resume. It’s a big part of making a good first impression, so it’s important to get yours right. What Makes Getting Your Resume Noticed So Difficult? Hiring managers often have too many to look at. Most of the time, it really is that simple. According to Time, that’s why the average resume only gets looked at for six seconds. In order to stand out, you have to make yours look exceptional. Avoiding Resume Mistakes There is nothing worse than sinking hours into the perfect job application, only to have your efforts undone by unforced errors, like typos (this is especially important for marketers and writing-based roles). From not catching spelling errors to failing to tailor your resume to the role you’re applying for, Thomas Frank  does an excellent job of summarizing what not to do in this video: What Does an Effective Resume Look Like? It’s easier to replicate success when you have an example to follow. This template is closely based on one I created myself in college, and have used for the past decade. It’s clean and simple, but it has worked well in my experience: Here's how to write and format an effective #marketing resumeLater, toward the end of this post, you’ll also see examples from around the web, tailored toward specific marketing disciplines. Depending on the type of role you’re applying for, the format might need to change slightly, or highlight different types of skills. Planning Your Resume Before you start writing, it’s a good idea to prepare all the information you’ll need. You’ll need to round up previous work-related experience, contact references, summarize your strengths, and more. Know Who Will Be Reading Your Resume Every resume you send should be tailored toward the job you’re applying for. Generally, it’s a good idea to create one generic resume that you can adjust depending on the company or role you’re targeting. This doesn’t have to be rocket science. Start with these tips: Read the company’s website. This will give you an idea what they’re like. Research the company. What can you find out about them from news articles, blogs, or other third-party sources? Give their front desk a call or send an email. When it comes time to write a cover letter, it helps to address it to the right person. Find out who that is by making a quick inquiry (if that information isn’t easily available on a job listing). Recommended Reading: How to Find Your Target Audience and Create Content That Connects Assess Your Strengths Know what sets you apart as a candidate. Everyone is unique and possesses individual talents. Understanding them can help guide your career by emphasizing what you’re best at. If you haven’t before, it’s worth taking the StrengthsFinder self-assessment test. It’s a book that comes with a code you can use to login to a web-based survey that will help you better understand your strong points. This short video summarizes how it works: The marketing teams at recently took this test. Here’s what I learned: Having strengths in things like learning, ideation, and strategy are extremely useful for creating educational marketing content. Makes sense, right? I just wish I would have taken it sooner. Recommended Reading: How to Structure Modern Marketing Departments for Success Round Up References and Employment History If you’re new in your career, this may be a challenge if you don’t have much experience to lean on. When you submit a resume, include references on a separate sheet. Include the following information for each person: Name Company Job Title Phone Number Email Address Make sure you have permission to list each person on your application, so they aren’t surprised to get a phone call about you. Using people as references without permission is a major faux pas. Location. Location. Location. This step matters most if you’re applying for a job in another state or city, and will need to relocate. There are varying schools of thought on this, but this post will argue it’s best to be honest. Consider the following: If the job is within a commutable distance, use your own address. If you’d need to travel a longer distance for an interview, state that in your cover letter. If you can, consider using a friend or relative’s address in the city. Formatting Your Resume So, what should this thing look like? It’s an important question, and there are a handful of minor tweaks you can implement to improve formatting. Step 1. Pay Attention to Font Choices There are two types of fonts to pay attention to here: serif  and sans-serif. The graphic below illustrates the differences between the two: Source: Source: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-serif-and-sans-serif-typefaces There are key differences between serif and sans-serif fonts, and how they affect readability: According to Harshita Arora, sans-serif fonts offer a slight boost in readability. That’s why I used a sans-serif font on mine. Too many fonts is considered a negative for readability. Again, mine only uses one font (just in different formatting and sizing here and there). Using serif fonts isn’t going to ruin your resume if you’d really like to use them. You’ll probably still get hired. But, for ease of reading and skimming, limit yourself to two fonts, and lean toward sans-serif. Recommended Reading: How to Work With Designers With Authentic Advice From 's Designer Step 2: Consider Narrower Margins for Wider Sentence Length Resumes need to include a lot of information in very little space (ideally, within one page). One way to squeeze in more detail about yourself while retaining a clean look is to use narrow margins. This helps you fit more text per line. If you’re using Microsoft Word, you can easily set wider margins by clicking on the Layout tab: Next, click Margins. Then, select Narrow: This is how the template included in this post sets its margins. Step 4: Use Bold Text Selectively Bolded text can help important elements of your resume stand out. Consider bolding items such as: Your college and major/minor. Previous companies and job titles. That’s about it. Too much bolding can easily look obnoxious. Writing Your Resume You’re finally ready to start doing some actual writing. Here’s how to make sure you nail it. Step 1: Put Your Contact Information at the Top A hiring manager will need to know the best way to contact you, and where to find more information about yourself and qualifications. Make their job easier by including each of these items: Name: Include your full name. Street Address: See the previous tip on location. Email Address: Use something that sounds professional. yourname@gmail.com  looks better than party_guy_2000@yahoo.com  or something else embarrassing. Twitter Bio: This is considered essential for a good number of marketing jobs. Only share it here if you tweet about topics relevant to marketing, or the company’s industry where you’re applying. Portfolio: If you have an online portfolio, add a link here. You can also replace this with a blog or personal website URL, if it’s relevant to marketing. Some of this information is obvious. Other things like Twitter bios and portfolios, though, can be small enhancements that help you stick out as a candidate (as long as your social media presence is relevant and your portfolio is up to par). #Marketing #resume tip: include your contact information (along with your Twitter handle and...Step 2: Next, Include Your Education History In most cases, this will mean your college or university. Only list your high school if you didn’t attend college (no judgment hereI know people who have done well in digital marketing without attending or going into post-secondary education). Include the following: The type of degree you received: This means a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS, or an Associates (AA). Your major and minor: This may be formatted differently depending on the details of your degree programs. For example, my degree was in Mass Communications, with an Emphasis in Print Journalism and Public Relations. Next, list your college:  Also include the month and year you graduated (or plan to graduate). A word about grade-point averages: in my experience, most marketing hiring managers don’t prioritize them. While high academic achievement reflects well on your work ethic, it’s your skills that are going to get you hired. So, should you bother listing your GPA? If your GPA is particularly strong, or you earned academic honors, then include them. Plus, if you’re in college and applying for a highly competitive internship, an employer may set a GPA threshold for applicants. If your grades weren’t great, you’re not doomed, as long as your portfolio demonstrates talent. Recommended Reading: How to Create an Awesome Online Course By Repurposing Old Content Step 3: List Professional Awards If you’re active in your community, or have a little bit of work-related experience, you may have been recognized for your efforts. Some examples might include: Academic honors for high-performing marketing students. Awards from professional or student organizations. Business and civic associations. Even if its not directly related to marketing, any sort of educational, business, or professional development awards you’ve earned are great ways to help you stand out. Step 4: Include Previous Speaking Engagements If you get the opportunity to speak at an industry event, take advantage of it. It’s a great way to share your knowledge, and you often learn more about your topic by trying to explain it to others. They also show a willingness to volunteer your time to help others, and indicate a high level of competency in the field. Don’t have anything to put here? No worries. Just consider this tip something to think about. Have you spoken at an industry event? Include details on your resume.Step 5: Lay Out Your Most Relevant Technical Skills Once the general â€Å"about yourself† content is completed, it’s time to get down to your capabilities. If you’ve gone through college, have some work experience, or have a relevant side hustle, then you have some skills. However, it’s important to prioritize the ones that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for, and the ones where you’re most proficient. Here are some examples of skills you might need: Writing. Research. Proficiency with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. SEO. Data analysis. Branding. Campaign strategy. HTML/CSS. Adobe CC (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.) This is a general list, but you get the idea. The specific skills you might need to develop or highlight will depend on the specific type of role you’re applying for as well, which this post will cover later on. Now, what if you’re making a career change and don’t have what you think is relevant experience? In that case, it’s time to get creative, and determine how your existing skill set might transfer. Here are some examples: Are you a skilled researcher? Has your past work experience required a heavy amount of writing or design? Do you know how to analyze data and extract meaningful insights from it? Is project management and organized teams an area of strength for you? Recommended Reading: The 48 Most Essential Marketing Skills You Need to Be Successful in 2018 Step 6: List Your Professional Experience Here, start with your most recent relevant job position. Then, work your way backward chronologically. If you have too many to list, or if you’re applying for a senior role where you have lots of experience (say, maybe 10 years or more), then consider adding a second page to your resume. Otherwise, choose other areas to trim down, or include just your top three or four jobs. Be sure to include: Company. Job Title. Employment Dates. Once you have the basic information out of the way, add your responsibilities and accomplishments. While a hiring manager will want to know what you had on your plate at a past job, they’ll be more impressed with what you actually achieved. So, make your experience stand out by doing this: Make it clear how your work positively impacted the business. Use statistics. â€Å"Increased traffic by 75% and conversions by 8%† sounds better than â€Å"Increased traffic and conversions.† Illustrate times where you’ve shown initiative. Maybe there was a problem you solved, or a major win you scored for the company without being asked.