The current digital marketing industry is highly dynamic and has embraced the importance of content marketing, marketing automation, and the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT for automating time-intensive tasks. So composing a digital marketing resume with the needs of a modern digital marketing agency will definitely test your ability to balance your creativity with your mastery of technical skills. All this and more can be a painful headache if you don’t have the guidelines to help you succeed.
Additionally, the landscape for getting a job in digital marketing is constantly evolving. This means constantly updating certifications like Google AdWords or Hootsuite Social Marketing to demonstrate you’re credible. Plus, due to the unstoppable evolution of technology, you’ll need to pinpoint them and showcase your ability to adapt.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a 10% increase in digital marketing job demand by 2026, with digital marketing jobs expected to grow by 6% by 2032, a rate higher than the average job growth rate. This indicates a strong and growing demand for digital marketing skills, making it one of the fastest-growing job sectors.
We’ll examine not only one digital marketing resume example but several to properly illustrate the challenges that face you and, consequently, provide you with the weapons you’ll need to convince your potential employer that the answer to their problems is your employment.
We’ll go over:
- Insider tricks and tips for crafting the best resume you can.
- Have a look at a great resume example specifically for digital marketing and talk about what was good about it.
- Different formats and sections to include in your digital marketing resume.
- A couple of work experience listings - good and bad with a look at why. Plus we’ll talk about not having any professional history and what you could show instead.
- The best way to present your education, skills, and certifications to effectively wow your recruiter.
- Finally, the secret weapon to any resume - the summary or objective and thoroughly inspect the steps you need to follow.
Do you already have a resume and want to check to see how it stacks up with our resume checker?
PRO TIP
Digital marketing is a broad discipline. Your resume will be more effective if you specialize in several areas like social media, SEO, analytics, SEM, UX/web design, content writing, email marketing, etc. Also, consider whether you’ll be expected to create strategies or just execute them.
Looking for other related resumes?
- Social Media Specialist Resume
- Content Marketing Resume
- E-commerce Marketing Resume
- Brand Ambassador Resume
- Copywriter Resume
- Marketing Intern Resume
- Public Relations Specialist Resume
- Marketing Manager Resume
- SEO Resume
- Marketing Director Resume
- Marketing Resume
Need to first get more familiar with the basics of what a resume’s purpose is? We got you covered!
What’s the trick to the perfect digital marketing resume?
Here are a few tips that’ll help take the guesswork out of making an effective resume. Of course, we’ll get into more detail in the sections further down.
Be sure your numbers make an impact
Unlike other fields where success can be more easily measured in terms of dollars and cents or tangible results, in digital marketing, success can be difficult to measure and communicate. The impact of SEO strategies, content marketing, or social media campaigns isn’t always directly visible in immediate sales or profit.
Your resume needs to provide numbers that paint you as an unparalleled performer and can easily convey your results.
Target your resume to specific company goals
Although digital marketing is an abstract term and can mean anything from SMM to SEO, companies are looking to address specific needs.
The key word here is ‘tailor’. You need to tailor every aspect of your resume to each separate job you apply for - this is paramount. So, read about the company, study their most active marketing channels, check out other jobs they published, and find out what they currently want the most from digital marketing. In short, do your research!
The digital marketing industry's expansion is underscored by LinkedIn data revealing 860,000 job openings for "Digital Marketing Specialists," emphasizing the critical need for skills in social media, content strategy, SEO, and analytics. This surge in demand is part of a broader trend where digital marketing continues to be one of the most sought-after job categories, driven by the increasing digitalization of business practices and the need for companies to enhance their online presence.
Resume format and layout make it easy to read
Combine headings, bullet points, and custom sections to make your resume easy to scan. It’s a good idea to also highlight your results with bold text. For a digital marketing resume, you’ll need to choose between a couple of types.
- Hybrid or combination resume format - this resume combines the key elements from a traditional functional resume and the chronological resume format to demonstrate both your skills and employment history.
- Functional resume format - a functional or skills-based resume is orientated around your skills. Instead of prioritizing your work history and job titles like on traditional resume templates, the focus is mainly on your transferable abilities and expertise.
- Reverse chronological resume format - this is when you list the most recent experience first on your resume - also applicable to your education history. This type is best for those with a rich employment history.
Remember these other tips:
- Header: The resume header is the first thing anyone reads. You need to include contact information including professional social contacts such as LinkedIn, and possibly even a resume photo (although not required).
- Length of a resume: It’s best to stick to between a 1-2 page resume length since most recruiters lose interest after the second page.
- File format: Unless otherwise specified, a PDF resume file format beats out a simple Word document every time. PDFs are easy to share and don’t have the same issues with images moving around.
- Choose the right font: A standard 12p font should be used. The most used font types are Rubik, Lato, Montserrat, Raleway, Exo 2, Volkhov, serif and sans-serif fonts.
Optimize your resume for ATS
Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that automates the hiring process by identifying top candidates based on specific keywords such as certain skills and job titles, streamlining the recruitment process. As a job seeker, optimizing your resume for ATS is key to ensuring visibility.
Here are a couple of things you can do to make your ATS-friendly resume:
- Use relevant resume keywords: Keywords are crucial for your resume to pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) because they’re designed to scan resumes for specific terms related to the job posting. ATS often filters out resumes lacking these keywords, so strategically incorporating them can really impact whether your resume gets noticed or not.
- Apply standard formatting: Standard formatting is critical because ATSs may not correctly parse or may completely overlook important information in resumes with non-standard layouts, graphics, or unconventional section titles. Standard formatting ensures all parts of your resume are read accurately by the ATS, improving your chances of being selected.
Learn as much as you can about ATS and follow the tips you come across - you'll increase the chances of your resume passing through the system’s filters and landing in front of a recruiter.
Still feeling a bit out of your element? Have a more detailed look at some more tips on writing resumes.
Digital marketing resume example
Here’s what this applicant does well in their resume:
- Quantifiable achievements: The resume includes specific, quantifiable achievements, such as increasing user acquisition by 45% and improving ROAS by 30%, which directly aligns with the job's focus on growth and efficiency.
- Relevant experience and skills: Demonstrates expertise in a wide range of relevant software and platforms, including Meta, Google Analytics, and SQL, showcasing a strong foundation in the technical skills required for the role.
- Education and certifications: They list certifications in Advanced Google Analytics and Effective Creative Testing, emphasizing a commitment to continuous learning and mastery of critical skills for digital marketing success.
The right format for your digital marketing resume
In crafting a digital marketing resume, the first decision you’ll need to make is either to focus on skills or work experience. Obviously, this depends on your background and the job you're applying for. However, both elements are crucial in showcasing your capabilities and fit for the role.
Here's a nuanced approach to balancing both:
Early Career Professionals
- Focus on skills: At this stage, you might not have extensive work experience - instead, emphasize your digital marketing skills. Highlight specific competencies such as SEO, content marketing, social media management, PPC advertising, analytics, and any relevant certifications or courses you've successfully completed.
- Project and internship experience: Include internships, volunteer work, or projects (even class projects) that demonstrate your skills in action. This can help fill the experience gap with practical examples of your abilities.
Mid to Senior-Level Professionals
- Highlight work experience: For those with a significant amount of work experience, the focus should shift toward your professional history. Detail your roles, responsibilities, and the impact you've made at previous organizations. Quantify your achievements (e.g., increased website traffic by 30%, boosted conversion rates by 20%) to provide evidence of your effectiveness.
- Skills as supporting evidence: However, don't neglect to list your skills. This includes both hard skills (e.g., specific tools or platforms you're proficient in) and soft skills (e.g., leadership, teamwork, communication). Tailor this section to match the job description, emphasizing the skills most relevant to the position you're applying for.
General Tips
- Keywords: Use keywords relevant to digital marketing throughout your resume. This not only helps in getting past the ATS but also aligns your resume with the job you're applying for.
- Results-oriented: Ensure that you frame your contributions in terms of outcomes and results. Employers want to see the tangible value you can bring to their organization.
Targeting Canada? – Keep in mind their resume layout may differ from others.
Digital marketing sections to consider:
- Summary or objective statement: Gives a brief about the candidate's qualifications, expertise, and skill set relevant to a digital marketing job.
- Digital marketing work experience: Showcase experience and your expertise in the digital marketing field through past roles. Don’t overdo it though!
- Key skills: Highlights technical or hard skills like SEO, SEM, content marketing, and soft skills such as creativity and problem-solving, vital for a digital marketing role.
- Education, certifications, and training: Use this section to outline any relevant degrees, qualifications, or training you have received such as HubSpot Content Marketing Certification (HubSpot), Google Digital Garage: Fundamentals of digital marketing, etc.
- References on a resume: Here you can provide contact information of previous employers or clients who can vouch for your skills, work ethics, and achievements in digital marketing.
What recruiters look for on a digital marketing resume
- Practical SEO and SEM experience: Recruiters prioritize this because proficient use of SEO and SEM directly influences the visibility and reputation of the company online.
- Proficiency in content creation: Creating compelling and high-quality content is crucial for capturing audiences and successful marketing campaigns.
- Familiarity with social media platforms: A significant instrument in the skillset of any great digital marketer.
- Analytical skills: Being able to analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, understand audience behavior, and improve future efforts is imperative.
- Up-to-date with the latest marketing trends: digital marketing is ever-changing, and recruiters stress this to ensure potential candidates can adapt to new techniques and maintain the company's competitiveness.
- Usability skills: Digital marketers need to display a wide range of website usability skills on their resume, such as User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) knowledge.
Digital marketing resume experience
Let’s look at both a bad and a good example of listing your work experience on a resume in the digital marketing world:
- •Did digital marketing activities.
- •Handled social media.
- •Worked with team on projects.
- •Involved in website tasks.
Let’s look at the obvious:
- Vague job title: "digital marketing Position" is too vague and doesn't specify the role or level of responsibility.
- Lack of specifics: The duties are described in very broad terms without detailing what was actually done, making it impossible to gauge the scope of work or skills.
- No results shown: It fails to mention any results or achievements from the work performed. Recruiters look for measurable impacts.
- Missing context: There's no description of the company or the industry, which could help understand the scale and relevance of the experience.
- No skills or tools mentioned: Doesn't specify any digital marketing tools or techniques used, leaving an inability to understand the candidate's competencies.
- Generic language: Uses non-specific language that could apply to almost any job, failing to stand out or capture interest.
- •Led a digital campaign that increased online sales by 35% in 2021 through targeted social media advertising and email marketing.
- •Implemented an SEO strategy that elevated the company’s main product page to the top 3 search results on Google for key phrases, driving a 50% increase in organic traffic.
- •Designed and executed a content marketing plan that doubled blog traffic and increased subscriber count by 40%.
- •Managed a $15,000 monthly digital advertising budget, optimizing for a 20% increase in ad conversion rates.
Why this example is so much better:
- Company context: The brief description of the company provides context, helping the reader understand the industry and scale of the business.
- Specific achievements: Lists concrete results achieved, such as sales increase, SEO ranking improvements, and traffic growth, demonstrating their impact on the business.
- Strategy and execution: Shows the ability to develop and implement digital marketing strategies, showcasing strategic thinking and execution skills.
- Budget management: Highlights experience with budget responsibility, indicating trustworthiness and financial acumen.
- Relevance to digital marketing: Each point directly relates to core digital marketing functions, making their experience relevant and valuable to similar roles.
- Clear and concise: Uses straightforward language to clearly convey achievements and responsibilities, making it easy for hiring managers to quickly grasp the candidate's qualifications and successes.
How to quantify impact
Quantifying your achievements or impact on a resume is crucial because it provides measurable proof of your achievements, making your accomplishments more compelling and understandable to employers. It highlights your effectiveness and contribution to past organizations, helping you stand out among other candidates.
- Mention the percentage increase in organic traffic achieved through your SEO strategies, as it demonstrates efficiency in enhancing visibility.
- Include the number of leads generated through your social media campaigns, which shows an ability to create effective, lead-generating content.
- Disclose the conversion rate improvements you've contributed to, as this quantifies your ability to transform interest into purchases.
- State the dollar amount of the budget you've managed for pay-per-click campaigns, which can underscore fiscal responsibility and trustworthiness.
- Report on the reduction in the cost-per-acquisition under your strategies, exhibiting your capacity to optimize marketing spend.
- Outline the percentage of growth in website engagement or dwell time due to your content strategy, showcasing your ability to create relevant and captivating content.
- Document any significant increase in social media following or likes during your time, reflecting your talent for audience growth and engagement.
- Point to any quantifiable improvements in email marketing open or click-through rates, which illustrates your expertise in this critical area.
The shift towards freelance and remote work is reshaping the industry's employment landscape. A significant 54% of marketing leaders are now hiring freelancers, influenced by factors such as layoffs and the growing preference for work-from-home arrangements. This trend points to the flexibility and adaptability required by digital marketing professionals in the current job market.
How to get hired as a digital marketer without experience
So, you need to create a resume with no work experience in digital marketing - it’s not the end of the world. Instead focus on highlighting relevant skills, projects, and learning on your resume.
Here’s what you can focus on:
- Education and certifications: List your degree and any relevant certifications you’ve earned, such as Google Analytics, Google Ads, HubSpot Inbound Marketing, etc.
- Relevant skills: Focus mainly on the digital marketing skills you've learned through courses or personal studies, like SEO, content creation, social media management, data analysis, and PPC advertising.
- Personal projects: Showcase any personal projects where you've applied digital marketing skills. For example, managing a blog, running a social media campaign, or any website you’ve built and optimized.
- Internships and volunteer work: Any internships or volunteer work that involved digital marketing tasks, even if they were only one part of your responsibilities.
- Online courses and workshops: Mention online courses, webinars, or workshops you've completed that are relevant to digital marketing.
- Soft skills: Highlight soft skills important in digital marketing, such as creativity, adaptability, analytical thinking, and communication skills.
- Tools and platforms: List digital marketing tools you're familiar with, such as Google Analytics, SEMrush, Mailchimp, WordPress, Hootsuite, etc.
- Achievements and results: If you have any quantifiable achievements from personal projects or related areas, like increased website traffic or improved social media engagement, don’t forget them either.
No job history? Hone your skills on your own… A good signal that you have those skills is by showing that you’ve developed a website or a blog on your own with some specific focus (just using Facebook and “being online all the time” isn’t enough.)
Clay Cazier, VP of Search Strategy at PMX Agency
Focusing on these areas will show potential employers that you have a foundational knowledge of digital marketing and the eagerness to learn and grow in the role, even without direct job experience.
We've got plenty more examples in our Experience Resume Section guide.
Digital marketing skills that make all the difference
With digital marketing strategies encompassing such a wide range of areas, listing skills is crucial as it showcases your expertise and capabilities. It helps you stand out as a candidate and aligns your strengths with the job requirements.
Just to reiterate, hard skills on a resume refer to technical abilities like SEO, analytics, PPC, and content management—quantifiable and teachable skills. Soft skills, such as creativity, communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, are personal attributes that enhance interactions, job performance, and teamwork, which are crucial for navigating the dynamic digital marketing landscape.
Here are some of the most in-demand digital marketing skills:
Best hard skills for your digital marketing resume
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Pay Per Click (PPC)
- Google AdWords
- Social media marketing
- Email marketing
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Digital advertising
- Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
- Web analytics
- Data analysis
- Market research
- CRM software
- Marketing automation tools
- HTML/CSS/JS
- Graphic design
- Zapier
- Web development
- E-commerce
- Mobile marketing
- Adobe Creative Suite
Best soft skills for your digital marketing resume
- Creativity
- Adaptability
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Decision making
- Leadership
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Empathy
- Initiative
- Customer service
- Organizational skills
- Project management
- Relationship building
- Work under pressure
- Networking
- Resilience
- Negotiation
However, as mentioned, digital marketers will be expected to specialize in one or more areas. That’s why it’s more important that you identify what type of digital marketer the recruiter is looking for and emphasize the skills relevant to that position.
Are you still not sure what skills will win recruiters over? Check out our guide on How to Create A Resume Skills Section To Impress Recruiters as well as an exhaustive list of skills that recruiters look out for.
Does a digital marketing resume need an education section?
Yes, in general, you should. Not so much so if you’re a seasoned professional, although it can complement your certifications and demonstrate your foundational knowledge. On the other hand, for recent graduates, it's crucial to detail your degree, since it can point out your academic background and relevant skills in the field.
But even without a degree, you can still show that you’re qualified. As one digital marketer put it:
Certifications are the new degree.
Justin Emig of the digital marketing agency Web Talent Marketing
That’s because the purpose of a degree is to show you have certain relevant skills. If you can demonstrate that another way, all the better. Ultimately, digital marketing is such a fast-paced discipline that recent certifications and experience are going to be more valuable than a marketing degree from even 5 years ago.
Presenting your education on your resume
If you have degrees be sure to show them off and build an outstanding education resume section along with some excellent certificates. These will definitely make an impression on recruiters.
For a presentation that’s professional and straightforward, follow these basic guidelines:
- List in reverse chronological order: begin with your most recent qualification or academic accomplishment and work your way backward, just like you would with your work experience.
- Separate sections for certificates and education: to better showcase your credentials you may want to consider developing separate sections for each topic.
What to include:
- Degree name: Specify the degree you earned.
- Institution name: Where you earned your degree.
- Graduation date: When you graduated or are expected to graduate.
- Major/Concentration: List your major as well as any related minors.
- Relevant courses or projects: Especially if directly related to digital marketing.
- Certifications: Include any digital marketing-related certifications.
- GPA: If your grade point average is impressive and you're a recent graduate.
- Awards: If you have received any awards related to your field and they have relevance to the current position you’re applying for, include them!
Here’s one example:
- •Minor in Graphic Design.
- •Relevant Courses: Digital Marketing Analytics, Social Media Strategy, Content Marketing.
Three reasons why it's a good example:
- Clarity and structure: The section is well-organized, making it easy for recruiters to quickly identify the candidate's level of education, the institutions attended, and graduation dates.
- Relevance: including relevant courses directly related to digital marketing demonstrates the candidate's commitment to the field and possession of specific skills sought after in the industry.
- Achievements highlighted: Listing the GPA and specific courses showcases the candidate's academic achievements and ongoing professional development. This indicates a strong work ethic and a dedication to excelling in their field.
Do you need digital marketing certifications?
Reading advice from seasoned digital marketers, you’ll see certifications come up time and time again. They’re the easiest way to stand above the competition, show off skills, and become a better digital marketer without the need to have formal work experience.
One thing to note is that digital marketers are also project managers, in a way, so if you have project management certifications, feel free to put them on your digital project manager resume as well.
Any Google certifications you can get will be a huge differentiator — Google Analytics individual qualification, in particular.
Clay Cazier, VP of Search Strategy at PMX Agency
In conclusion, certifications on your resume are extremely important so even a separate section after education is suggested.
How to properly present a certificate:
- Certification name: Begin with the certification's complete name.
- Issuing organization: Provide the name of the organization that issued the certification.
- Date of completion: Please state the month and year you received it. If your certificate has an expiration date, it may be a good idea to add that as well.
- Location (optional): Provide the address where you obtained your certification, if applicable.
Below are the certifications that we have discovered through our research that seem to be the most sought-after by recruiters.
The top 5 digital marketing certifications to include on your resume
Check the link, if you’re interested in reading more about certificates vs. education on your resume in the world of digital marketing - they even offer you courses for some of the certifications above.
Choosing between a resume summary or an objective
A resume summary and a resume objective serve different purposes on a digital marketing resume, highlighting distinct aspects of a candidate's professional profile.
Resume summary
This is a brief statement (usually 2-4 sentences) at the top of your resume that summarizes your experience, skills, and achievements in digital marketing. It’s tailored for professionals with experience in the field, showcasing their expertise, the value they bring, and their career accomplishments.
Resume objective
Conversely, an objective is more about your career goals and how you aim to contribute to the potential employer. It's typically used by those with less experience in digital marketing or those changing careers. The objective focuses on your aspirations and how your skills, even from other areas, can be applied to digital marketing roles.
So, why are these important to be included and well-written?
- Tailoring your application: Both elements are crucial for tailoring your resume to the digital marketing field, making it clear at a glance what you offer or aim to achieve.
- First impression: They provide a quick summary or insight into your professional background or goals, creating a strong first impression.
- Screening tool: Many employers use these sections to quickly screen candidates, looking for specific keywords or objectives that align with the job opening.
it's about positioning yourself as the ideal candidate for the job. Make sure you study up on the employer and write your summary/objective directly to them and their digital marketing needs.
The example below is obviously something you want to avoid. Have a look:
This summary fails to impress because it:
- Lacks specific details about experiences, achievements, or skills.
- Uses vague language ("stuff," "things") without concrete examples.
- Fails to quantify accomplishments or specify the tools and strategies used.
- Doesn’t convey a clear value proposition to the employer.
Here’s an example of a well-done resume summary from a digital marketing specialist:
This summary provides a quick overview of the candidate’s background, areas of expertise, key achievements, and the value they can bring to a new role, making it an important tool for grabbing the attention of hiring managers.
Still have room on your resume and want to include something more? Have a look below.
Other sections for your digital marketing resume
Depending on the company, job seniority level, and your location, you may want to include more sections to your digital marketer resume:
- Language skills
- Hobbies and interests
- Projects
- Volunteer work
- Highlights
- References
- LinkedIn on resume
- GPA
- Resume awards
- Publications
Key takeaways
To sum up, these are the main tactics to craft the best digital market resume:
- Industry dynamics and skill requirements: You need to balance creativity with technical skills and continuously update your knowledge and certifications to remain relevant and competitive.
- Adaptability and specialization: Success in digital marketing requires staying ahead of technological advancements, and being adaptable to change.
- Effective resume strategies: Utilizing the right resume format and layout to highlight relevant skills and experiences, optimizing for ATS, and providing quantifiable results to demonstrate impact.
- Resume customization: Tailor your resume to emphasize either skills or work experience based on your career stage and the specific job requirements.
- Keyword optimization: Incorporate relevant digital marketing keywords to improve your resume's visibility through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and align it more closely with the job description.
- Use specific metrics to demonstrate success: Including specific metrics like percentage increases, dollar amounts, and numerical growth rates provides clear evidence of your success and capability.
- Relevance of education and certifications: While a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or business administration is valuable, it's not always the best idea to detail your entire education. The digital marketing field values practical skills and recent certifications over traditional education.
- Use of resume summaries or objectives: Both elements are essential for tailoring your application, making a strong first impression, and serving as a screening tool for employers.
Digital Marketing resume examples
Explore additional digital marketing resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
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Entry Level Digital Marketing
Senior Digital Marketing Manager
By Role