Digital marketing is a rapidly growing field, and the competition for jobs can be fierce. So when you’re applying for a role, your CV is one of the most essential tools you have to showcase your skills and experience. But how do you ensure it stands out from the crowd?
We’ve created a step-by-step guide to writing a digital marketing CV that will help you get noticed by potential employers. From adding a short profile at the beginning to grab the recruiter’s attention to tailoring the CV for the job you’re applying for, we’ll share tips from industry experts on creating a winning CV.
What is a CV?
A curriculum vitae — also known as a CV — is a document used to showcase your education, work experience, skills, and achievements to prospective employers. It’s typically used in the job application process and is the first opportunity to make a good impression. A well-crafted CV should highlight your strengths and qualifications and clarify why you’re the best fit for the position you’re applying for.
How long should my CV be?
When it comes to the length of your CV, it’s best to keep it short and sweet. Ideally, you should aim to keep it to one side of A4. Recruiters and HR professionals are often inundated with dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes for a single position, so they may only have a few seconds to skim through each one. If your CV is too long, they may miss important details or lose interest before reading the most relevant information.
To ensure that your CV stands out and is easy to read, try to keep it concise and focused. Highlight your most meaningful achievements and experiences, and ensure they are easy to find. By keeping your CV short and to the point, you’ll be more likely to increase your chances of catching the attention of recruiters and getting the role.
A step-by-step guide to writing a CV
When it comes to creating a successful CV, layout is key. You want to ensure your CV is easy to read, visually appealing, and clearly presents your qualifications and experience.
We’d recommend following this format:
Personal Interests
Remember: the focal point of any CV is typically the upper middle section of the first page, where the reader’s attention is naturally drawn. Therefore it’s crucial that this section contains information that you want your potential employer to read first.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for each section to get you started!
Include your personal information
The first step to crafting a great CV is to add your personal and contact information as a header at the top of the page. This makes it easy for the employer to immediately know how and where to contact you. You should include your first and last name, address, email, phone number, and any relevant professional websites or portfolios.
Here’s a template idea:
Add a brief profile
After you’ve added your contact details, it’s time to get into the content. Write a short, punchy paragraph that gives an overview of your CV in just a few sentences, focusing on your skills, experiences, and achievements. This should be tailored to the job you’re applying to, with a summary of why you’re interested and feel you’re a good fit for the role.
, and employers want to see you have the relevant experience for their role, so be sure to get to the point!
Amy Shaw, Senior Digital PR Executive at , reinforces this idea: “While it’s great to have something a bit out of the ordinary, it can be off-putting if you can’t find the information you need quickly.”
Here’s a template to follow for your professional profile:
Two to five sentences on your relevant job experience, skills, and achievements that make you the ideal candidate for this specific role.
A couple of sentences that explain how you plan to apply these skills and qualities in the position you’re applying for.
List out your employment history
When listing out your professional history, it’s best practice to write it with dates in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role and, therefore, most relevant experience. For each job, you can include the title, company name, duration of employment, and a few responsibilities or skills.
Don’t forget to list key achievements in this section. Did you improve processes? Were you involved in developing and executing a successful marketing campaign? Did you positively impact revenues? Show them why you’ll be the best choice, but be sure you can back these up if you’re questioned on them later down the line. And remember, leave the storytelling for the interview; this is just a brief overview!
It could look something like this:
Digital Marketing Executive
Creating organic and paid advertising campaigns
Supporting with organic social
Building monthly reports
When applying for a job in digital marketing, make sure your experience is related to the field so you’re not taking up valuable space with unrelated skills that may not showcase your fit for the role. Your waitressing skills, for example, probably won’t help you get a job as an email marketing specialist.
List your education
Whether it was only a few years ago or a distant memory, your education section is there to demonstrate you’ve got the qualifications required for the role. Again, place them in reverse chronological order, with your most recent qualifications first, to keep it simple and easy to understand. And if you’re currently pursuing a course, remember to include that as well.
, Business Manager in Analytics and Insights at , says: “If you’re entry-level and still need to gain work experience, then you’re going to want to place more emphasis on the learning and development you’ve done. Therefore, education, like degrees or a Google Analytics course certificate, will be higher up on the list.”
Here’s an example of an education section:
The University of Manchester
A Levels: English Literature (A), Psychology (B), Maths (B)
2013-2015
Add any other skills
If you have any other relevant skills, put them in this section. Maybe you’re fluent in French or have exceptional Adobe Illustrator skills? Be sure to emphasise it, especially if it is relevant to the role you’re applying for!
If you’re drafting a CV for a role in content marketing, your skills section may look similar to this:
Video editing
Experience using SEO tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, and Semrush
Include personal interests if relevant
Personal interests are just that: interesting. Including hobbies that align with the company culture can actually be an opportunity to show off your skills. For example, if you enjoy blogging or creating content, this could demonstrate your ability to craft engaging copy for websites, social media, and other digital platforms.
, B2C Marketing Specialist at Forward Role, says: “Personality and culture fit are a huge deal for many businesses, so a CV that tells them nothing about who you are as a person generally won’t work in your favour. For marketing roles in particular, personality is incredibly important; it influences how you come up with innovative strategies, connect with a target audience, and build meaningful relationships with clients. So don’t be afraid to try and raise a smile with your CV copy!”
Nobody wants to work with a robot, so discussing hobbies is a good opportunity to bond with your potential employer.
However, interests aren’t the main focus when writing a CV, so keep it brief and light-hearted, and only add them if you’ve got room left after you’ve added all the essential sections.
Tailor your CV for the job you’re applying for
Every job is unique and has its own set of skills and experience that the employer is looking for.
It may seem like a lot of work, and it’s tempting to fire out your CV to many roles without any alterations, but customising it to match each vacancy can demonstrate your suitability for the position. You’ll increase your chances of standing out to potential employers and landing the job!
You can also edit your profile section, summarising why you’re interested in that specific role and why you feel you’re a good fit.
CV writing tips
Use white space
Your CV should be an ‘at a glance’ summary. It should use formatting, bullet points and white space for readability and to direct the scanning eye. It also makes the document feel less cluttered and overwhelming, allowing the reader to quickly identify important details about your skills and experience.
, co-founder and director at , has this advice: “Remember these three words – clear, concise, simple.”
So if you’re creating thin margins or using a tiny font size to fit everything on one page, familiarise yourself with the backspace button and make some space.
Add links to relevant socials
If you have a LinkedIn profile or blog that is directly relevant to the role you’re applying for, shout about it! These platforms can give your potential employer a better understanding of your professional background and a bit of your personality. It also shows you’re tech-savvy — something which is particularly important in the digital marketing industry — and can network with others in the field. Not only can this make you stand out initially, but once you’re in the ‘yes’ pile, it may help you to stay there.
And , so you could be missing out on job opportunities if you don’t have a profile or need to update it.
However, according to , Marketing Executive at Forward Role, you should be careful: “What do your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts say about you? If they are a continuous stream of unflattering pictures from after-dark socialising, it might set off a few alarm bells!”
, so this is definitely something to consider!
Select your best experiences and skills
When crafting your CV, only select your most impressive experiences and transferable skills that align with the job description.
If only highly relevant information is on your CV, it should get read. If you ask the recruiter to sift through unrelated details to find the key points, they’ll probably lose interest and get lost.
Laura Hampton, Marketing Lead at , echoes this point: “It’s important your CV best reflects your skills in the most appropriate way for the job you want. That doesn’t mean doctoring your experience — simply ensure your relevant skills are most prominent.”
Remember, the goal is to highlight to the employer that you have the necessary abilities to succeed in the digital marketing field, from SEO to social media skills.
Check your spelling and grammar
A polished CV shows that you take pride in your work and are committed to presenting yourself in the best possible light. That’s why it’s so important to proofread thoroughly after completing it, looking for any grammar or style errors.
You can also identify areas to enhance your writing a little and ensure you’re keeping a professional tone throughout. It’s best to use a standard size 12 font and avoid bright colours to ensure your CV is clear and easy to read.
, Group Recruitment Director in Marketing and Digital at Forward Role, says: “Ensure your CV is free of any spelling or grammar errors; even a single typo can leave a negative impression on the recruiter and create doubts about your attention to detail and communication skills. You could ask a friend or family member to review your CV and provide feedback, as a second pair of eyes can often spot mistakes you’ve missed.”
Remember, a well-written CV can increase your chances of landing an interview, so always double-check and take the time to proofread carefully!
Use an appropriate email address
When adding your email to your CV, make sure you use an appropriate one and not the Hotmail address you created for MSN Messenger when you were 12 years old!
“It’s always best to simply use your name or a combination of your name and industry when creating a new email,” says , Business Manager in Performance Marketing at Forward Role. This shows that you take your career seriously and are committed to presenting yourself in a professional manner.
Immerse yourself in the digital marketing industry
Immersing yourself in the digital marketing industry is vital for crafting a strong CV.
, Senior Business Manager in B2B Marketing, tells us why: “If you’re looking for a job in digital marketing, my main tip is to attend related events and talks. You’ll better understand the latest trends and best practices, and this is particularly important as digital marketing is fast-paced and constantly changing!
Hands-on experience is also essential — especially if you’re new to the field — as it will provide you with more opportunities to showcase your skills and accomplishments on your CV. I recommend looking for internships with agencies or in-house marketing teams, as you’ll learn from experienced professionals while demonstrating your passion and dedication to potential employers.”
Demonstrating lots of experience in the digital marketing sector on your CV will help you stand out to recruiters, increasing your chances of landing your dream job.
Learn more about Forward Role
If you’ve written an excellent CV and managed to secure the , well done! Or maybe you’ve already bagged the job but are worried about your first day? Beat those nerves by reading our guide on
For more expert tips for succeeding in your career, read our Or ; we can help you progress in your career.
At Forward Role, we have the expertise to match top-quality candidates with market-leading digital and tech businesses throughout the UK.
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