How to Write a Killer Digital Marketing Resume was originally published on Vault.
Digital marketing professionals are in high demand. From SEO specialists to social media marketers, there are endless opportunities for those pursuing digital marketing careers. So, how do you write a resume that can make your application stand out? What can you add to your CV that will instantly grab employers’ attention and get you the interview (and then the job) you’re looking for?
Below are several resume tips that will go a long way toward taking the next step in your digital marketing career.
1. Make your summary as detailed as possible
When writing your resume summary (also called your professional statement), which usually apears at the top of your resume, you need to be as detailed as possible. You want to get specific, painting a clear picture of your strengths and experiences. For example, here’s what not to do when writing your summary (the following is very generic):
I have been a professional digital marketing expert for the past five years. I recently worked in Cleve’s and Clever’s company as an SEO expert.
And here’s an example of what to do when writing your summary (what follows is highly detailed!):
Digital marketing expert/graduate looking for SEO specialist position in Claire Software Solutions. Internet Security Specialist with experience in the IT support system field. Completed bachelor’s and master’s programs in computer science.
2. Make your objective clear and exciting
While your summary highlights your experience, your objective tells hiring managers what you can bring to a role and what you’re looking for. And so, having a vague objective that shows how desperate you are for the job is not going to cut it. The competition in digital marketing field is fierce—employers are no doubt receiving dozens of applications daily (many with the same boring objective). So, if you want to make an impact on recruiters, here’s the format to follow.
Wrong (vague and boring):
I finished my studies recently and have worked for Tech Mahendra as an on-page SEO specialist. I worked for only four months. Now, I am looking to switch my job to learn more about marketing.
Correct (clear and interesting):
Bachelor’s and master’s in computer science with a degree in Google Analytics and Keyword Research. Self-taught marketing specialist and a passionate blogger with experience in driving organic and paid traffic, increasing conversions, and building user engagement. Looking for an opportunity in LeeWee Marketing Company to improve and expand digital my marketing skills.
3. Get very detailed with your work history and experience
Remember that your employer wants to know the names of the companies you’ve worked for, the date you joined the companies, their locations, and, most important, exactly what you did there. So, here’s an example of an effective format for the experience section of your resume.
Off-Page SEO Specialist
ABS International Company, California, USA
October 2007 to January 2021
- Promoted to senior SEO specialist two years from the hiring date
- Worked with 10+ junior and senior IT specialists
- Trained new digital marketing experts
- Sent the detailed instructions to customers for solving their hardware and software queries
- Completed SEO project for over 400 clients worldwide
Note: Don’t disclose too much specific or high-level information about clients or projects; your experience section should not include any confidential detail.
4. Include the right skills
Employers look for candidates with hard and soft skills for digital marketing positions. So, make sure you add the following skills (if you have them) when writing a resume.
- IT security
- Operating systems
- On-page SEO
- Off-page SEO
- Content writing
- Social media marketing
- Search engine marketing
- Keyword optimization
- Website auditing
- Technical SEO
Of course, you can add more skills based on your experience and qualifications.
5. List your IT Certifications
Certification is the best way to get your profile noticed by recruiters. Here are examples of certificates you can add to your resume to make it impactful.
- Certified Information Security Manager
- Google Digital Marketing Certification
- Harvard Digital Marketing Strategy Program
- Google Analytics IQ Certification
- HubSpot Content Marketing
- Google Ads Certification
Make sure to list all the certificates you’ve received from Google and other SEO marketing trainers.
6. Include relevant courses in your education section
For a job in digital marketing, you might need a bachelor’s degree (and maybe a master’s degree) in communications, marketing, advertising, or a related field of study. And no matter what your degree is in, it’s important to showcase the relevant coursework you completed. So, make sure your education entries include your major, minor, and any relevant courses—that were in marketing, advertising, or business.
7. Include extra sections to make your resume extra-ordinary
You’ve already added skills, qualifications, experience, and relevant courses, but what if these are insufficient? What if competition for the role you want is fierce? This is why you must add extra sections to complement your skills and make your resume better.
Have you done any volunteer work that’s relevant to the job in question, such as build a web page for a nonprofit or provide SEO services for a childcare program? If so, you should definitely mention those in your resume. Other things to mention in your digital marketing resume to set you apart from the competition include hobbies and interests, foreign languages, and non-marketing certifications.
Halya Thakur is a digital marketing expert. She helps people around the world improve their website rankings and SERPs by proving digital marketing services and tips.