Crafting a CV that succinctly showcases your strategic communication skills and campaign success stories can be a daunting challenge for a communication manager. Our guide provides targeted advice and practical examples to help you articulate your achievements and professional narrative with clarity and impact.
- Answer job requirements with your communication manager CV and experience;
- Curate your academic background and certificates, following industry-leading CV examples;
- Select from +10 niche skills to match the ideal candidate profile
- Write a more succinct experience section that consists of all the right details.
Do you need more specific insights into writing your communication manager CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:
Structuring your communication manager CV layout: four factors to keep in mind
There are plenty of best practices out there for your CV layout and design. At the end of the day, a clear format and concise CV message should be your top priority. Use your CV design to enhance separate sections, bringing them to the forefront of recruiters' attention. At the same time, you can write content that:- Follows the reverse chronological order in the experience section by first listing your most recent jobs;
- Incorporates your contact information in the header, but do skip out on the CV photo for roles in the UK;
- Is spotlighted in the most important sections of your CV, e.g. the summary or objective, experience, education, etc. to show just how you meet the job requirements;
- Is no longer than two-pages. Often, the one-page format can be optimal for your communication manager CV.
Before submitting your CV, you may wonder whether to export it in Doc or PDF. With the PDF format, your information and layout stay intact. This is quite useful when your CV is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS) . The ATS is a software that scans your profile for all relevant information and can easily understand latest study on the ATS , which looks at your CV columns, design, and so much more.
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For certain fields, consider including infographics or visual elements to represent skills or achievements, but ensure they are simple, professional, and enhance rather than clutter the information.
The top sections on a communication manager CV
- Professional Summary: Highlights your strategic communication skills and experience.
- Core Competencies: Showcases specialized skills like crisis management and digital marketing.
- Professional Experience: Details relevant roles with emphasis on communication achievements.
- Education and Qualifications: Lists degrees/certifications relevant to communication management.
- Selected Projects and Campaigns: Demonstrate success in managing key communication projects.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Include key metrics to showcase your previous successes in communication strategies, such as increased engagement rates, growth in audience size, or improved brand sentiment.
- Highlight expertise in various communication channels and platforms, from traditional media to digital marketing and social media, to demonstrate your versatility.
- Emphasise your experience in crisis management and your ability to maintain a calm and effective communication flow during high-pressure situations.
- Detail your experience with content creation and curation, including any notable campaigns or pieces you have produced or overseen, to exhibit your creative skills.
- Present examples of internal communication initiatives you’ve led, demonstrating your ability to foster a cohesive corporate culture and keep teams well-informed.
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Tips and tricks on writing a job-winning communication manager CV header
The CV header is the space which most recruiters would be referring most often to, in the beginning and end of your application. That is as the CV header includes your contact details, but also a headline and a professional photo. When writing your CV header:
- Double-check your contact details for spelling errors or if you've missed any digits. Also, ensure you've provided your personal details, and not your current work email or telephone number;
- Include your location in the form of the city and country you live in. If you want to be more detailed, you can list your full address to show proximity to your potential work place;
- Don't include your CV photo, if you're applying for roles in the UK or US, as this may bias initial recruiters' assessments;
- Write a professional headline that either integrates the job title, some relevant industry keywords, or your most noteworthy achievement.
In the next part of our guide, we'll provide you with professional CVs that showcase some of the best practices when it comes to writing your headline.
Examples of good CV headlines for communication manager:
- Senior Communications Manager | Strategic Brand Messaging | Crisis Communication Expert | CIPR Accredited | 12+ Years' Experience
- Communications Lead | Corporate PR Specialist | Digital Content Creation | CIM Qualified | 8 Years in Industry
- Media Relations Coordinator | Press Release Virtuoso | Event Management | BA in Journalism | 4+ Years' Experience
- Internal Communications Officer | Employee Engagement Strategies | Change Management | MA in Communications | 5 Years' Insight
- PR & Communications Executive | SEO & Analytics Skilled | B2B Marketing | Diploma in PR | 6 Years' Practice
- Head of Corporate Communication | Stakeholder Relationship Management | Brand Advocacy | Chartered Marketer | 10+ Years' Expertise
Catching recruiters' attention with your communication manager CV summary or objective
Located closer to the top of your CV, both the summary and objective are no more than five sentences long and serve as an introduction to your experience. What is more, you could use either to entice recruiters to read on. Select the:
- Summary, if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience. Feature your most impressive accomplishments and up to three skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for;
- Objective, if you're just starting your career off. Provide your career goals and answer how you see the role you are applying for will match your professional growth.
Judging which one you need to add to your communication manager CV may at times seem difficult. That’s why you need to check out how professionals, with similar to your experience, have written their summary or objective, in the examples below:
CV summaries for a communication manager job:
- With over 10 years of experience spearheading comprehensive internal and external communication strategies for multinational corporations, this seasoned Communication Manager excels in leading diverse teams, navigating media relations, and bolstering brand identity through innovative campaigns, proven by a 30% increase in media coverage for previous employers.
- Award-winning Communication Specialist with 8 years of success in enhancing corporate communication frameworks, skilled in digital content creation, social media management and building press relationships, recognised for executing a groundbreaking branding initiative that amplified customer engagement by 25% within the first year.
- Former Marketing Director seeking to leverage a 12-year tenure of strategic brand development, market analysis, and cross-functional team leadership into a dynamic Communications Manager role, bringing a track record of launching successful multi-channel campaigns that have expanded customer bases across Europe and increased revenue by 20%.
- Accomplished Journalist transitioning into corporate communications, employing a 15-year career of crafting compelling stories, managing editorial teams, and establishing influential network connections, now eager to apply razor-sharp communication expertise and storytelling skills to elevate an organisation's brand presence and stakeholder engagement.
- Eager to embark on a Communications Management career, bringing a fresh perspective to brand messaging and a dedication to learning the nuances of strategic communication planning, enthusiastic about developing innovative content that resonates with diverse audiences and supports the company's vision and growth objectives.
- As a recent graduate with a Masters in Corporate Communications and thriving internship experiences, I am passionate about beginning a career in Communications Management, keen to utilise my knowledge of modern digital marketing tools and strategies to contribute to impactful communication campaigns that align with business goals.
The best formula for your communication manager CV experience section
The CV experience section is the space where many candidates go wrong by merely listing their work history and duties. Don't do that. Instead, use the job description to better understand what matters most for the role and integrate these keywords across your CV. Thus, you should focus on:
- showcasing your accomplishments to hint that you're results-oriented;
- highlighting your skill set by integrating job keywords, technologies, and transferrable skills in your experience bullets;
- listing your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the latest and most senior, to hint at how you have grown your career;
- featuring metrics, in the form of percentage, numbers, etc. to make your success more tangible.
When writing each experience bullet, start with a strong, actionable verb, then follow it up with a skill, accomplishment, or metric. Use these professional examples to perfect your CV experience section:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Developed and executed a comprehensive communication strategy, increasing brand awareness by 40% and engaging with a wider audience through targeted campaigns on social media and traditional media outlets.
- Managed a team of communication specialists, fostering a collaborative environment and prioritising professional development, resulting in a 25% increase in team productivity.
- Oversaw crisis communication plans, effectively mitigating potential negative publicity and maintaining the organisation's reputation during sensitive incidents.
- Authored compelling press releases, speeches, and internal communications that articulated the company's vision, mission, and key messages in an impactful manner.
- Built strong relationships with media contacts, influencers, and stakeholders, securing prime coverage and partnerships that aligned with strategic communication objectives.
- Led the digital communication revamp, introducing innovative content strategies that boosted web traffic by 50% and enhanced user engagement across digital platforms.
- Analysed communication metrics and KPIs to continuously refine tactics, demonstrating a data-driven approach that resulted in a better ROI on communication efforts.
- Coordinated successful product launches and events, orchestrating all communication aspects to ensure coherent messaging and maximum media exposure.
- Implemented an internal communications programme that improved employee morale and fostered a culture of transparency, contributing to a 30% decrease in staff turnover.
- Orchestrated the development and implementation of a new brand strategy, enhancing company visibility among key demographics by 40% over two years.
- Amplified the company's digital presence through targeted social media campaigns, resulting in a 25% increase in engagement across all platforms.
- Oversaw crisis communication protocols during sensitive incidents, limiting negative press and maintaining positive company reputation.
- Led a team of 10 communication professionals in strategizing content creation that boosted website traffic by 30% within one fiscal year.
- Spearheaded a successful rebranding initiative that elevated the company’s profile in the telecommunications industry.
- Directed the internal communications revamp, which increased employee engagement scores by 25%.
- Managed strategic partnerships and media relations that led to a threefold increase in media coverage.
- Crafted key messaging and positioning statements for product launches that achieved a 15% market share increment within the first quarter of release.
- Supervised the merge of customer feedback into the communication strategy, improving customer satisfaction by 20%.
- Administered an annual communications budget of $500k, reducing costs by 10% while increasing output efficiency.
- Coordinated with various departments to ensure coherent brand messaging across all channels, lifting brand recognition by 17%.
- Initiated a robust analytics program to gauge campaign effectiveness, which enhanced decision-making for future marketing spend.
- Pioneered an influencer marketing campaign that resulted in a 150% ROI and substantially expanded the customer base within the younger demographic.
- Cultivated productive relationships with industry journalists, yielding a 50% increase in featured articles about company offerings.
- Implemented an employee advocacy program that grew the company's reach on social media by 100,000 impressions in the first year.
- Coordinated with senior leadership to articulate the company’s strategic direction, facilitating clearer investor communications and a 20% uptick in stock price.
- Engineered an employee communication portal that improved interdepartmental transparency and resulted in a 10% decrease in operational redundancies.
- Implemented cutting-edge communication technology tools that increased team productivity by 35%.
- Piloted a cross-cultural communication initiative for an international project launch, increasing market penetration in Asia by 20%.
- Led a comprehensive media training program for C-level executives, enhancing their public speaking and media interaction skills.
- Negotiated with vendors to improve the cost-effectiveness of the communication department's software and tools by 18%.
- Revamped the company's email marketing strategy, leading to a 22% increase in open rates and a 15% boost in click-through rates.
- Developed and executed a comprehensive communication plan for a multi-million dollar merger, ensuring seamless internal and external messaging.
- Introduced a new monitoring system for media mentions, providing real-time insights and improving response time to public relations issues by 50%.
- Launched a corporate social responsibility program that elevated the company’s community profile and won the acclaimed 'Green Initiative' award.
- Guided the internal communications strategy during a corporate downsizing, maintaining morale and productivity throughout the transition period.
- Streamlined the press release distribution process, effectively doubling the reach to relevant news outlets.
- Implemented an internal podcast series addressing company developments, resulting in a weekly listenership of over 500 employees.
- Redesigned the customer newsletter to include interactive elements, which reduced subscription cancellations by 30%.
- Partnered with marketing to co-develop a content marketing strategy that improved lead quality by 40%, as measured by sales conversions.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your communication manager CV. Even if you don't happen to have much or any standard (full-time contract) professional experience, this doesn't mean you shouldn't apply for the role. Instead of a bespoke CV experience section:
- Showcase more prominently any internships, part-time roles, and volunteer experience that are applicable to the role and have taught you job-crucial skills;
- Feature a strengths or achievements section with your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your work or life experience;
- Write an objective statement that clearly outlines your values as a candidate and defines your career ambitions;
- List your education or certificates that match the job profile closer to the top of your CV.
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Talk about any positive changes you helped bring about in your previous jobs, like improving a process or helping increase efficiency.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your communication manager CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your communication manager CV:
Strategic Planning
Media Relations
Content Creation
Social Media Management
Corporate Communications
Branding and Marketing
Crisis Management
Event Planning
Project Management
SEO and Analytics
Leadership
Communication
Teamwork
Adaptability
Problem-Solving
Creativity
Attention to Detail
Time Management
Persuasion
Emotional Intelligence
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Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your communication manager CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your communication manager CV:
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Order your skills based on the relevance to the role you're applying for, ensuring the most pertinent skills catch the employer's attention first.
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Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your communication manager CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.
