Every CV is a Marketing document, regardless of the industry you work in. As a Marketer, it is imperative that you have a CV that best represents you as someone who will add value to a business. I have met a lot of excellent Marketing candidates, and though their backgrounds and areas of expertise have varied hugely, a lot of the same advice can be applied when writing a good Marketing CV.
1. Have a clear CV
Marketers are a creative bunch. Which is great, but not if your skills and experience are lost in a convoluted and colourful CV with too much going on. Graphs, tables, pie charts. I once received a CV laid out like a Google search page.
It might sound counter intuitive but the vast majority of my clients prefer a black and white, standard Word document, clearly outlining your qualifications, skills and work experience in chronological order.
You may have spent hours creating an impressive work of art but if a hiring manager has to struggle to find simple information they are going to get frustrated. Also note that your recruiter may need to add in additional information before sending on your CV to a client, so a simple Word document is good news for us too.
2. Basic doesn’t have to mean boring
With a basic layout, some candidates are concerned that they won’t stand out. But the content should speak for itself. Use powerful, action words such as “implemented campaigns” rather than “responsible for implementing” and avoid repetition.
Once the basics are covered in your CV, you can absolutely ask your recruiter to submit supporting documents alongside it which highlight your creative ability. A power point presentation of your career highlights, an infographic, samples of written content; as long as it is relevant to the role you are applying for, you can be as creative as you want.
3. Be specific
Where-ever possible be sure to include the specific results that you achieved in each role, e.g. “Increased website traffic by X% in Y number of months.” Ensure that you are including keywords that appear in the job specs for the roles that you are applying for.
4. Include all your relevant qualifications
Google Analytics certified? Diploma in Digital Marketing? Put it all down.
I am always surprised at how many Marketing candidates are always upskilling but neglect to include it on their CV. Be sure to also include all relevant programmes you are proficient in using, be it Salesforce, WordPress, Adobe, Moz or Magento.
5. Tailor your CV to each role that you apply for
One size does not fit all, ensure you are highlighting your most relevant experience for each role. Don’t be afraid to ask your recruiter for advice!
6. Practice what you preach
If you are looking for a Social Media job or Content job and rave about your blog but have a very poor online presence, it will raise a red flag with employers and recruiters.
7. One last proof read…
The best bit of CV advice I ever got was in my first week in Cpl, and I still share it with candidates. Your CV is the one document that you have as much time as you want to prepare before you decide to send it to potential employers.
What kind of message does it send if it is rushed, messy and in 3 different fonts? Ensure at the very least that there are no spelling or grammar mistakes and that the formatting is correct. I once misspelt “impeccable attention to detail” in my own CV and it still haunts me!
Overall if you’re unsure, don’t be afraid to ask for your recruiter’s advice and trust us! When it comes to CVs, we have seen the good, the bad and the ugly and can quickly identify what our clients want to see. It is our job to represent you at your best to the companies you really want to work for, and a good CV is the first step.