As an SEO expert, you already know how to skyrocket a website to the top positions of Google.
But will this be enough to land you a high-paying SEO job?
Does your resume have what it takes to rank you number one in front of the recruiters?
Remember, this time you only have a few seconds to convert visitors into leads so your design and content have to be impeccable.
Let us be your Rand Fishkin for today and explain to you how to achieve a number one SEO resume.
A good SEO should be someone you can work with, learn from, experiment with, and who genuinely cares about you and your business.
Here’s what this SEO resume will teach you today:
- 10 SEO resume example sections to give you a competitive advantage;
- Which resume layout suits your work experience and skills the most;
- How to customize the header and summary to grab the attention of recruiters;
- How to include facts and figures in the experience section to prove you’re a true SEO expert;
- What type of skills, higher education, and certificates do SEOs obtain;
Looking for related SEO & marketing resumes?
- Marketing resume examples;
- SEO Specialist resume examples;
- SEO Manager resume examples;
- Content Marketing resume examples.
How to write an SEO resume
An SEO expert is an analyst, a marketer, a writer, a bit of a developer, a bit of a designer. Represent this unique set of various skills in your SEO resume.
As an analyst, show how you’ve transformed the online presence of brands. Manifest your achievements and back them up with quantitative data.
As a marketer, promote yourself by tailoring your summary, experience, and education to match the job you’re applying for.
As a writer, tell your story in a capturing way. Ensure that your grammar and spelling are perfect. Include relevant keywords for ATS (applicant tracking software). And watch out for keyword stuffing.
As a developer, make sure to mention how good you are at fixing problems with Wordpress websites. Or how much you know about DNS servers, crawlers, caching and indexing.
As a designer, choose a layout with an elegant color theme, enough white space, and professional font.
Which are the most important SEO resume sections?
- A header with your contact details and personal website/profile;
- A capturing resume summary with on-point information about your SEO career;
- An experience section where you explain how you’ve grown traffic and audiences;
- A section of soft and hard skills any experienced SEO specialist should have;
- A section for your education and SEO certificates;
- A section for passion projects you run on your free time (if applicable).
This is what you should include in your resume, according to recruiters.
- Results from a successful client case study;
- SEO tools and plugins you use daily;
- Relevant SEO education or qualification;
- Proof of constant learning and utilizing new SEO techniques.
What are the top layouts when it comes to SEO resumes
If you’re already an experienced Search Engine Optimization Specialist, use the reverse-chronological layout.
It’s perfect for presenting your responsibilities and achievements from numerous projects or digital agencies. Are you just entering the world of SEO? Then we recommend choosing between a hybrid or functional layout. Do you want to show more confidence and your artistic side?
Opt for our creative template. It’s modern, minimalistic and attention-grabbing.
Let’s make sure recruiters notice your SEO resume header
Your resume header is similar to the title of a web page that appears in the search engine results page. Make it catchy and informative enough so the user clicks on it.
But don’t use flashy buzz words to click-bait the hiring managers.
Everything you state in the header and summary sections of your SEO resume should be backed up by your experience and accomplishments later on.
2 SEO Resume Header Examples
Unleash the potential of the resume header. Show proof that you’re actually an expert by mentioning an SEO certificate you’ve acquired.
Or tailor your header to the specific job - e-commerce, online gaming, fin-tech, SaaS, etc.
Another thing you can add is whether you’re in-house or freelance SEO expert. Or if you’re specializing in link building, technical SEO, analysis, PPC, CRO.
Do you have a portfolio website with successful projects and case studies? Make sure to include a link to it in the header section.
If not, then your LinkedIn profile might be a good substitute.
This is what you should feature in your SEO resume summary
Okay, so far you’ve written a killer header and you’ve captured the attention of the headhunters.
Ensure they will click on your result and won’t bounce back by giving them an inspiring summary. One that will make them schedule an interview with you right away.
2 SEO resume summary examples
The person in the first example could be anyone, nothing really sets him apart. The average time spent on that resume will be no longer than 10 seconds.
On the other hand, the second example shows a person who is a data-driven and results-oriented Search Marketer. One that fascinates the reader with quantifiable achievements.
Pro tip
Avoid personal pronouns in your SEO resume summary.
How to frame your SEO experience section
Don’t make the most common mistake by only listing your responsibilities like a boring job description. Instead, highlight how you can create outstanding content with carefully selected keywords that bring organic traffic. Explain that you are a data junkie who makes website improvements based on thorough analysis. Include numbers and facts to show why you are a really good fit for that SEO position.
SEO resume experience examples
02/2015 - 11/2019
- Responsible for onsite and offsite SEO strategies
- Used Google Analytics to monitor website performance
- Improved keyword rankings
- Prepared client reports
02/2015 - 11/2019
- Positioned website in a competitive niche at top 5 for 20+ high volume keywords
- Increased organic traffic with 43% and reduced bounce rate with 22%
- Created helpful content which gained 17 natural backlinks without any outreach campaigns
- Implemented JSON-LD structured data which led to a 51% increase in rich snippets results
You can also include links to the websites you’ve optimized or case studies about them. But this can be a double-edged sword.
Hiring managers will do a brand search to see how well you’ve done your SEO job. And if the website is ranking on page 2, this may be the end of your application.
Stuck on your Entry-level SEO resume? We’ll help you out
Do you want to start your career in SEO and digital marketing?
Prove that you are Internet savvy by showing you have an active online presence. Do you maintain a personal blog? Are you helping a friend or relative develop their Facebook page?
All those hours spent on your computer may actually be in your favor.
Analytical thinking is also an important part of being a good SEO. It will be an advantage if you’re good at Microsoft Excel. Or if you are interested in HTML or CSS.
Here’s how you can tailor your SEO resume for an entry-level position:
12/2018 - Now
- Created a Wordpress blog
- Maintained social media profiles
12/2018 - Now
- Created and maintained a Wordpress blog about popular TV series
- Increased traffic from 0 to 2500 unique visits per month
- Gained 8000 followers on Instagram in 7 months
How to make sure your SEO resume skills stand out
Skills are fundamental for your SEO resume. The hiring managers will be eager to learn what you can bring to the table and why you’re the right fit for their position. It’s important to list all SEO tools and software you can work with, together with the soft skills you behold. Recruiters often use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to search for specific terms in the candidate’s resume. But what will make you truly seem like a unicorn among horses is the detailed explanation of your tech, research, analytical, writing, design and soft skills.
How to list tech skills on your resume
SEO specialists are usually masters of numerous software, tools and Chrome plugins. List all these that apply to you but don’t overdo it. Keyword stuffing will be frowned upon.
Top 24 technical skills for SEO resume:
- On-page / Off-page SEO;
- Keyword research;
- Competitors research;
- Link building;
- PPC (Google Adwords);
- Google Analytics;
- Google Search Console;
- Google Tag Manager;
- Google My Business;
- Google Drive;
- Hubspot;
- SEO Tools (e.g. Screaming Frog, Moz, SEMRush, Ahrefs, Keyword planner, Majestic SEO);
- CMS a.k.a Content Management Systems (e.g. Wordpress, Magento, Shopify, Joomla);
- SMM a.k.a Social media marketing (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Youtube);
- CRO a.k.a Conversion Rate Optimization;
- HTML;
- CSS;
- Javascript;
- Structured data (RDFa, Microdata, JSON-LD);
- Content writing;
- UX skills;
- A/B testing;
- Microsoft Office;
- Adobe Photoshop.
How to describe soft skills on your resume
Successful SEOs spend a ton of time on continued learning—reading blogs, attending conferences and webinars, discussing and testing new techniques.
Don’t miss the opportunity to elaborate further on your soft skills. After all, your personal strengths might be the reason why you get an interview.
Carefully read the job offer and tailor your skills accordingly. Here’s an example of how to do that:
These are the most wanted SEO soft skills on resumes.
- Ability to work within a team and independently;
- Detail-oriented;
- Creativity;
- Communication;
- Critical and analytical thinking;
- Problem-solving;
- Prioritization;
- Time management;
- Ability to meet deadlines;
- Ability to train colleagues;
- Adaptiveness;
- Enthusiasm;
- Self-motivation;
- Self-learning;
- Empathy.
Should you have an education section on your SEO resume?
SEO specialists come from various backgrounds. There’s not a single diploma that will ensure you an SEO position.
However, you can still mention what is your higher education. Recruiters will be able to make an assumption of your skills based on the minor or major you have.
These are the most common degrees SEO experts have:
- Marketing;
- Advertising;
- Business Administration;
- Information Technologies;
- Broadcast Media Technologies;
- Telecommunications;
- Public Relations;
- Computer Information Systems;
- English.
Do I need certificates to make my SEO resume stand out?
The hiring managers want their SEO specialists to be passionate about learning. Having an SEO-related certificate will show your motivation to expand your knowledge.
SEO is constantly changing so you have to stay up-to-date with the latest Google updates, marketing trends and social media tweaks.
Top 7 SEO certificates for your resume:
Key takeaways
- Put your analytical skills to use and examine the job description to outline the resume sections you’ll need;
- Choose the resume layout that best represents your work experience;
- Create a compelling header and summary to prove you’re good with content writing too;
- Include quantifiable achievements to highlight the best moments of your SEO career;
- Mention your education and industry-recognized SEO certificates you have;
- List SEO tools, plugins, and software you often work with to pass the ATS system.
