Chances are you’ve picked up some CV-writing advice over the years. On the other hand, you might be making your first step into the working world and not know where to begin. Either way, you’re in luck. Our managers look over countless CVs each day, so we like to think that we’re experts when it comes to spotting a top-notch CV.
CV writing can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Follow these top 10 tips, and you’ll be one step closer between you and your next marketing role.
1. Tailor your CV to the job
If you take just one piece of advice, make sure it’s this.
Think of it this way. Marketers don’t market to everyone in the same way, so your CV shouldn’t be the same for everyone. You’re marketing yourself for the role, and the pitch needs to be tailored to the company. So read the job description carefully, pick out the core responsibilities and show that you’re the best fit for the role.
2. Shout about your achievements
Start strong with a section that highlights your achievements and demonstrates your impact. If you can use quantifiable metrics, even better.
Have you ever identified a problem and solved it? Perhaps you’ve implemented a new process that saved time for you and your team. These are your strengths and unique selling points.
3. Use active language
Active language emphasises results rather than responsibilities. This will make your CV more engaging and show that you take initiative.
● Swap “helped the team improve conversions” for “increased conversions by 15%”
● Use personal pronouns, such as "I" or "we," to emphasise your contributions
● Inject active verbs throughout your CV
4. Make your employment details clear
This section should give the hiring manager a clear picture of what companies you’ve worked for, what roles you’ve held, your tenure and whether there was any progression. Use the format:
Role, company, month started to month ended
If you’ve got employment gaps, make those obvious. This shows transparency and gives you the opportunity to explain how you upskilled or developed during that time.
5. Include relevant education, training and courses
If you’ve put time into honing new skills, show off about it. It demonstrates your qualifications and commitment to professional development. Plus, it can show potential employers you are serious about building a career.
Use the format:
Subject, Governing Body, Date, Overall Grade
6. Highlight transferable skills
Are you eyeing up a job that doesn’t match your past experience exactly? Not to fear. Highlight how your skills would transfer to this role by identifying those skills and emphasising specific examples of when you’ve put them into practice. This will illustrate your ability to adapt and thrive in a new role.
7. Use an easy-to-read format
Make sure that the first glance a recruiter or hiring manager makes at your CV leaves them wanting to read on. Make it easy to read by:
● Using bullet points just like these
● But keep them concise like this
● Choose between a traditional or functional format
● Avoid unnecessary graphs or unconventional fonts
● Use numbers for easy scanning
● Make sure there is enough white space
8. Aim for one page
We know there’s lots of information to pack in, but unless you have 10+ years of experience, this should be doable. Aiming for one page will force you to cut out any unnecessary information.
9. Proofread
So your CV is ready. But wait. First, you’ll want to run it through a spelling and grammar checker like Grammarly. And why not get a mentor or someone who works in a similar area to take a look for an unbiased opinion?
10. Save it as a PDF
You can put all the time you like into making your CV easy to read and correctly formatted, but if you don’t save and send it as a PDF, it’ll make no difference for the recruiter looking at it. A PDF is an uneditable file, so you can be sure that the recruiter is seeing the file just as you’ve sent it.
Are you ready to send over a top-notch CV?
Whether you’re looking for your next opportunity, some interview tips or simply after some more advice about your career, we're here to help. We've spent the last 28 years working with marketing and digital leaders and connecting them with talent. Our legacy as recruitment experts in the marketing industry is what sets us apart.
Our expertise is just a few clicks away. Simply reach out to let us know how we can help, or use our Quick Send CV option and we'll be in touch with roles that we think will suit you.