Digital Marketing Resume: Samples, Formats, Writing Guide

Digital marketing is one of the largest growing and in-demand professions across many sectors in the modern corporate world. Digital marketing jobs are wide-ranging, yet they mainly focus on the following responsibilities:

• Manage and deploy digital advertising campaigns
• Manage social media and online channels
• Analyze online marketing and advertising data

Having a professional digital marketing resume can increase the chances of getting an interview and being hired. In this article, we will walk you through all the essential steps in crafting a winning digital marketing resume that catches any hiring manager's attention.

How to Write a Winning Digital Marketing Resume

Resume Header

Everyone should have their full details at the beginning of their resume — resume header. Make sure that this information is accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible:

1. Full name: If you have a hard-to-pronounce name, consider including your English name or a phonetic spelling in brackets.
2. Professional title: Make sure to align this title with the one you're applying for.
3. Email address: While using an email address you have since college is okay, make sure that it looks (or sounds) professional.
4. Phone number: If you cannot be reached via phone number, remember to mention your preferred contact method in your cover letter.
5. Location information: This information can opt-out if you're applying for remote work, or you can mention the country instead of the city you're in.
6. Social media profiles: Depending on the digital marketing position, consider adding relevant social media profiles (LinkedIn, Twitter) to highlight your professional online presence.

Resume Summary

A resume summary or profile summary is a brief overview of your top qualifications for your entire resume. Ideally 2-3 lines at the top of your resume, the profile summary helps concisely describe yourself and guides the recruiter's attention towards the subsequent information in the resume. 

When writing a profile summary, paragraph or bullet-point formatting are both acceptable.  It is recommended to tailor your summary according to the job to which you are applying.  Here are 3 digital marketing profile summary examples:

Looking for other roles in marketing? Check out our guideline on how to write a resume for different marketing roles

Digital Marketing Skills for Resume

The skills section plays a critical role in showing hiring managers whether you're a good fit for the job.  It is important to make sure both types of skills are included in your resume’s skills section: hard skills refers to trained knowledge like trades and technologies (eg- software, driving license, 2nd language), while soft skills refer to qualities or traits that are more intrinsic (eg- being organized, problem-solving, multi-tasking).  

Here are five important tips when writing your digital marketing skills section:

• Place the most relevant and important skills at the beginning of each category. 
• Use keywords from the job description to improve your chances of passing through the applicant tracking system (ATS).
• Be specific about applications, such as Excel, and Word, instead of just listing Microsoft Office.
• Keep your skills section up-to-date as you acquire new skills or gain more experience.

Here are some common digital marketing skills for your resume:

Work Experience

The work experience section is undoubtedly the most important section of your resume. It shows your professional experience and provides insight into your previous jobs. A good resume should provide a chronological list of one’s work history, starting with the most recent position. However, if you lack experience, consider using a functional resume format in order to highlight your skills.

When writing the work experience section, take note of the following:

• Use Action Verbs & Bullet Points: Write your work experience using bullet points, with each bullet point starting with a strong action verb to convey a sense of accomplishment and initiative. 
• Mention Achievements: Whenever possible, quantify your achievements with numbers or percentages. For example, "increased revenue by 15%" or "reduced expenses by 20%."
• Tailor to the Job You’re Applying: Focus on the skills and experiences most relevant to the specific job you're applying for.
• Highlight Relevant Skills: Showcase skills that are particularly relevant to the job you are seeking by including them in your descriptions.
• Show Career Progression: Demonstrate any promotions, increased responsibilities, or advancements in your career.

Here are some examples of a well-written work experience section:

Education

It is important to highlight your academic qualifications on your resume, particularly if you are a recent graduate or if you have less than 3 years of work experience. However, there is no need to mention your GPA unless it is above 3.0 or if you have graduated with distinction. 

If you have more than 10 years of work experience, consider opting out of listing your education, unless you have a Masters or PhD, or if your industry favors academic accomplishments.

Here’s an example of how to write an education section on your resume:

If you haven't graduated yet but are still pursuing a degree, you can adapt the education section on your resume to reflect your current academic status:

Other Digital Marketing Resume Sections

Here’s a list of other sections on your resume and how to include: 

• Awards: Prioritize awards that directly relate to the job you're applying for, showcasing those that align with the desired skills or qualities sought by the employer. Integrate awards strategically, either in a dedicated "Awards and Honors" section near the end of the document, or within relevant work experiences if the award is associated with a specific job or project.
• Certifications: If you have more than two certifications, then place in a dedicated "Certifications" or "Professional Development" section. Alternatively, you can incorporate relevant certifications under the education or specific work experience sections if they are closely tied to those experiences. Highlight certifications that are directly relevant to the job you're applying for.
• Projects: Usually included in the Work Experience section, projects can be placed in a separate section if you are a freelancer or if you want to differentiate projects from your regular slate of work duties. When describing projects, use action-oriented language to convey your contributions and achievements. Focus on what you did, the skills you utilized, and the impact of the project.
• Hobbies & Interests: Use your hobbies and interests to showcase transferable skills, like team sports or community involvement. Include hobbies that demonstrate unique qualities and avoid listing ones that may be polarizing or controversial. Remember, the primary focus of your resume should be on your professional qualifications, so keep this section brief and to the point.

Tips for Writing the Best Digital Marketing Resume

1) Understand the Difference Between a CV and a Resume

While the terms CV and resume are used interchangeably, they actually mean two different things. In simplified terms, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) tends to be more comprehensive, covering a broader spectrum of professional experiences, while a resume is typically tailored for a specific job application. Beyond design and layout disparities, the choice between a CV and a resume aligns with the nature of the industry.

2) Choose the Appropriate Resume Format

Be aware of the three different resume formats and choose the one that suits your needs:

• Chronological Resumes: The chronological resume is the most commonly used resume type where you list your work experience in reverse chronological order, from the most recent to the least recent. If your past several work experiences align with the position for which you are applying, then go with this format. 
• Functional Resume: A functional resume highlights your skills rather than your chronological experience in your resume. This resume format is highly suitable for recent graduates with limited work experience or people changing careers. It's important in a functional resume to provide examples of how you have applied these skills in your previous experiences.
• Combination Resume: A combination resume also focuses on skills but uses work experience as a supplement to support skills. This is great for people who are switching careers, and much of their work experience might not be relevant.

3) Learn from Those Who Succeed

It's important to reference and read several digital marketing resume samples from a variety of sources to get a feel of how and what you should write. You should also take a look at digital marketing resume templates that will help consolidate your understanding even more.

4) Tailor the Resume for a Digital Marketing Job

Nothing will kill your chances faster than an all-purpose resume. Tailoring your resume to the job requirements can help you stand out from the other candidates.

Make sure to read the job description carefully and maybe dig a little bit deeper into the company you want to work for to get an idea of what their values are and what they look for in applicants. You can also observe the specific terms used in the job listing and include that same vocabulary in your resume. 

Remember that different marketing jobs require different skill sets. Here are some important skills for different marketing functions: technical marketing skills, product marketing skills, social media marketing skills, marketing manager skills.

5) Proofread

Always proofread your resume to avoid any typos or grammar mistakes. You can always use spell checker and grammar checking tools like Grammarly for better and more impactful writing.

Digital Marketing Resume Examples

Digital Marketing Resume Example #1

Digital Marketing Resume Example #2

Conclusion

Crafting a digital marketing resume for your next job doesn’t need to be daunting. Follow the tips for each section of your resume and go over some of the examples provided. With a clear, conceive and creative approach, your resume will help you land that coveted marketing position you always wanted. 

If you're looking for more career advice, follow Cake Blog for more insightful tips.

— Originally written by Michael Reid —