How to Write a Resume for a Marketing Manager

Landing a job as a Marketing Manager is tough. Your resume is your first chance to impress. It needs to show off your skills, experience, and wins in a way that grabs attention. This guide will help you create a killer resume that will stand out from the crowd.

1. Pick the Right Format

The way you organize your resume matters. Here are some popular choices:

• Chronological Resume: This is the classic style, listing your jobs in reverse order. It’s great if you have a strong, steady career path and want to show off your experience.
• Functional Resume: This focuses on your skills and what you can do, not just your work history. It’s good if you’re changing careers or have gaps in your work. But, it might not be the best for marketing jobs that focus on experience.
• Combination Resume: This one combines the best of both. It starts with a summary of your skills and then lists your jobs. It’s pretty versatile for many marketing pros.

For most marketing manager jobs, a chronological or combination resume is the way to go. Make sure the format you choose fits what the job is looking for.

2. Write a Powerful Resume Summary or Objective

This is your first chance to make a strong impression. It should be a short and sweet overview of your skills and what you’re aiming for, all tailored to the specific job.

• Resume Summary: This is best for experienced marketing pros. It should highlight your most important wins and skills. Aim for 3-5 sentences that clearly show your value.
• Resume Objective: This is better for people just starting out or changing careers. It should explain your career goals and how your skills fit the job description. Keep it focused and action-oriented.

Here’s an example of a resume summary:

Example Resume Summary

"Results-driven marketing manager with over 5 years of experience creating and running successful marketing campaigns across digital, social media, and traditional channels. Proven ability to boost brand awareness, drive lead generation, and get measurable results."

Here’s an example of a resume objective:

Example Resume Objective

"Highly motivated marketing graduate looking for a challenging entry-level marketing manager position where I can use my analytical skills, creative thinking, and passion for digital marketing to help the company succeed."

3. Show Off Your Relevant Skills and Experience

The "Experience" section is the heart of your resume. It should detail your past marketing roles and give specific examples of your accomplishments and results. Make those results measurable!

• Start with your most recent job.
• Use action verbs to describe what you did and what you achieved. (Instead of “Managed social media accounts,” say “Developed and implemented social media strategies that increased engagement by 20%”).
• Use numbers, percentages, and specific metrics to show your impact.
• Highlight relevant skills and technologies. (Use keywords from the job description and show that you’re good at key marketing areas, like SEO, SEM, content marketing, social media, email marketing, analytics, etc.)

Example: Marketing Manager Experience

Marketing Manager | ABC Company | January 2020 – Present

• Led the development and execution of multi-channel marketing campaigns that increased brand awareness by 30% and generated a 15% increase in website traffic.
• Managed a team of 5 marketing professionals, providing strategic direction and performance feedback.
• Developed and implemented a successful SEO strategy that resulted in a 20% increase in organic search traffic.
• Proficient in Google Analytics, HubSpot, and other marketing automation tools.

4. Emphasize Your Marketing Skills

Marketing is a big field, and employers want to see that you’re good at a lot of different things. Use these sections to showcase your expertise:

Marketing Skills

• Digital Marketing: SEO, SEM, social media marketing, email marketing, content marketing, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, web analytics, etc.
• Traditional Marketing: Public relations, advertising, event planning, direct marketing, print media, etc.
• Marketing Strategy and Planning: Market research, competitor analysis, target audience segmentation, campaign development, budget management, etc.
• Analytics and Reporting: Data analysis, performance tracking, reporting, ROI analysis, etc.
• Project Management: Timeline management, resource allocation, task delegation, team collaboration, etc.
• Communication Skills: Written and verbal communication, presentation skills, stakeholder management, etc.
• Creativity and Innovation: Problem-solving, ideation, content creation, branding, etc.
• Leadership and Teamwork: Team management, motivation, collaboration, conflict resolution, etc.

Don’t just list your skills. Give examples that show you’re good at each one. For instance, if you list "SEO," mention a specific SEO campaign you ran that got more traffic.

5. Tailor Your Resume for Each Job

It’s super important to tailor your resume for each job you apply for. Don’t send the same resume to every opportunity. Read the job description carefully and figure out what skills, experience, and qualifications the employer is looking for. Then, highlight the parts of your resume that match those requirements.

For example, if the job description mentions experience with social media marketing, make sure to show off your social media expertise in your resume summary and experience sections.

6. Include Relevant Education and Certifications

Your education and certifications can add weight to your resume. Include your degrees, relevant coursework, and any professional certifications that prove your knowledge and expertise in marketing.

Example: Education Section

Master of Business Administration (MBA) | Marketing Concentration | University of California, Los Angeles | 2018

Bachelor of Arts (BA) | Marketing | California State University, Northridge | 2016

Example: Certifications Section

Google Analytics Individual Qualification

HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification

7. Proofread Carefully

Before you send your resume, proofread it carefully for any grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistakes. Ask a friend or colleague to look it over too. A polished resume shows that you pay attention to detail and are professional.

8. Optimize Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Lots of companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. These systems look for keywords and match them against job descriptions. To make sure your resume gets through the ATS filter, use keywords from the job description throughout your resume, especially in your summary, experience, and skills sections.

For example, if the job description mentions "digital marketing campaign management," include these keywords in your resume to show that you have that experience.

9. Use a Professional Resume Template

The content of your resume is super important, but how it looks matters too. Use a professional resume template that’s easy to read and looks good. There are tons of free and paid resume templates online that can help your resume stand out and make a good first impression.

10. Get Feedback

Before you finish your resume, consider getting feedback from a career counselor, recruiter, or an experienced marketing professional. They can offer valuable advice on what’s good and bad about your resume and suggest ways to make it even better.

Key Marketing Resume Keywords

Here are some additional keywords you can use in your resume to make it more relevant for marketing manager roles:

• Brand Management
• Content Strategy
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Digital Strategy
• E-commerce
• Lead Generation
• Marketing Automation
• Market Research
• Product Marketing
• Social Media Analytics
• Website Optimization
• Marketing ROI

Marketing Manager Resume Tips

• Keep your resume short and focused. Aim for 1-2 pages.
• Use the same font and font size throughout your resume.
• Include your contact information at the top of your resume.
• Proofread carefully for any grammar or spelling mistakes.
• Save your resume as a PDF to make sure the formatting stays the same when viewed on different devices.

Conclusion

A great resume is super important for any marketing manager who wants to get their dream job. By following the steps in this guide, you can create a compelling resume that showcases your skills, experience, and wins effectively. Remember to tailor your resume for each job, use relevant keywords, and get feedback from people you trust. With a strong resume in hand, you’ll be well on your way to landing your next marketing manager role.