The Ultimate Marketing Resume Example: 9 Things To Include To Get The Interview
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1. Upload a PDF, not an e-resume
2. Add a video
3. Include a schedule button
4. Include a website button
5. Use logos for quick credibility
6. Display content you have created
7. Show achievements and certifications
8. Include testimonials
9. Use the bullet point format
10. Download my FREE Canva template
When I decided to become a marketing professional full time I really struggled to get a call back for an interview. I was sure that if I could just get in front of someone or hop on a Zoom call I could land the job, but I had no takers.
I had built up some solid work experience, obtained a master’s degree, and STILL couldn’t get scheduled. Then, I decided to use all of the relevant skills I had learned in web design and UX to re-imagine the way a professional resume should look.
The result... my calendar blew up!
I suddenly had my pick of amazing opportunities and eventually landed my dream job helping teens and young adults find mental health and substance use treatment at Sandstone Care.
But here is the thing, none of the words on my resume actually changed.
I didn’t change job titles, or add KPIs. I didn’t make a special cover letter or use a new chronological resume summary.
It was only the design that changed.
Now, after talking with a lot of exceptional marketers who are struggling to find work, I am going to share my secrets and even give you my template for free.
1. Upload a PDF Of Your Resume.
First, many job hiring platforms like Indeed ask you to fill in your information via an online resume. This is the worst thing you can do because:
Applicant Tracking Systems for certain job posts will disqualify you without even showing your experience to employers.
You have less control over how your resume is displayed.
Your resume will look like everyone else’s
Instead, you need to create your resume in Canva using my template. If you do it right there will be quite a lot of content so you will also need to compress it using a free tool like Pdf2Go.com.
Then use the option to upload a PDF or your resume instead.
2. Create a video for your Resume
Every employer I met with mentioned how the hyperlinked video on my resume was something they had never seen before. It allowed them to build a personal connection with me and made them feel much more interested in scheduling an interview.
Here is an example of the type of video I included on my resume, although mine was more tailored to getting an interview.
I have a Brandscript format that I use for these types of videos. It’s a great skill to learn for yourself or for any of the businesses you support.
Here are the steps:
Film your video using the Brandscript template. (A webcam or phone is fine.)
Edit the video using a tool like Descript to make the process super fast.
Upload the video to YouTube or even better to your website.
Create a thumbnail cover for your video and put it on your resume.
In Canva, if you click drag and select all the content you can hyperlink it to Youtube or your website. In fact, you should do this process with the rest of the stuff I suggest to include in your resume too.
Then when your employer opens your resume, they can click it and it will take you directly to the video.
3. Include A Schedule Button
Digital marketing is all about making it as easy and simple as possible for someone to take action.
Put buttons on your resume under your video so that people can schedule an interview or check out your website.
Both actions separate you from other candidates and give you more control in the interview process.
You can make a free Calendly account, and connect it to your Zoom account and your personal calendar. This allows businesses to schedule a time that works for them right away.
No emails back and forth trying to find a time that works for both of you.
4. Include A Website Button
A marketer without a website is like a personal trainer who can’t do a push-up or a yogi who can’t touch their toes.
Having a website gives you absolute control over the experience of the browser, especially if is designed compellingly.
Also, the feeling you want to create for employers is “I want them to do THIS for MY business.”
By presenting a clean and engaging website you are not telling them you understand marketing, you are showing them. And, marketing is the ‘show me’ medium.
You can check out my video on how to build the ultimate landing page for your website.
5. Use logos For Quick Visual Credibility
Hiring someone is scary.
If you show logos of businesses you have worked with or worked for then it helps to position you as an expert, especially if these are well-known businesses in your industry.
People want to know other businesses have trusted you too.
This works for places where your content or work has been featured as well.
This uses the ETHOS form of persuasion. When a celebrity, doctor, or athlete endorses a product it makes us more likely to buy it.
The same goes for business logos.
It is a quick way to show that other profitable, healthy businesses have trusted you with their marketing.
It also just gives your resume a pop of color, and who doesn’t like that?
6. Display Content
Saying you have experience with lead generation is one thing.
Linking people to a blog post you have created is something else entirely.
It SHOWS that you have really thought through the topic.
In interviews, I noticed that many employers asked what my plan would be for the first 90 days of coming on board. So I created a blog post called, “The First 90 Days Marketing Plan: 16 Steps to Start Strong and Get Results.”
I displayed this content on my resume and website. I also had the link handy to drop in the chat of the Zoom call when they asked this question.
Imagine you ask a question and someone immediately gives you a 2500-word response with steps, pictures, examples, and videos. You would definitely think that this candidate is a prepared person.
Marketing is all about anticipating desires. When you create content that you know will be helpful for your job search before your job search, then you are giving employers an idea of what they are getting when they hire you.
7. Display Achievements & Certifications
It’s one thing to say you have helped increase SEO traffic for a company. It’s another thing to show a timestamped screenshot from Google Search Console proving you have done so.
If you have increased impressions, clicks, views, whatever on social media or in search engines screenshot these dashboards and put them on your resume.
This activates the Logos part of persuasion that deals with facts and figures. We want to believe that we are making a rational decision and numbers, facts, and figures help us do that with confidence.
8. Display Testimonials
Social proof in the form of testimonials is a universal need for most types of businesses. Why would it be any different for you?
Create a Google Business Profile (You don’t need to have an LLC or anything to set one up) to collect verified reviews.
Or, generate reviews on your LinkedIn profile in the recommendations feature of your profile.
Most employers don’t like the awkward process of calling references anyway. Again, this makes the hiring process way easier for the hiring manager.
Here is an example testimonial video I created with some people I helped.
Video testimonials work even better. Ask someone people to hop on a Zoom call with you and explain how you have helped them. Record the call, splice the best parts together, and you have a compelling case to get hired.
Don’t worry about making the videos look super professional, the more natural and authentic the better.
9. Use A Bullet Point Resume Format
Recruiters and almost all humans do not read every work on your resume.
They skim.
Make sure that no paragraph on your resume is over three lines long.
Yes, even for job descriptions.
Separate the key sections of your resume (experience section, skills section, hard skills, soft skills, education section etc) by increasing the size of these sections’ fonts and making them bold.
Then list the top marketing skills related to each of these sections in bullet points.
Another helpful tip is to start each bullet point with an action verb such as:
Implemented lead generation email marketing campaign.
Increased follower count and brand awareness through social media marketing.
Used Google Analytics data for landing page conversion rate optimization.
Employed strategic ad copywriting to increase the click-through rate on paid ads.
The best content marketing or advertisements aren’t filled with dry big blocky paragraphs. Therefore, your marketing experiences and know-how should be summarized in short punchy sentences too.
Remember WHO is viewing your resume
Many job seekers think other marketing CMO’s are looking at their resumes.
They are not.
Oftentimes, hiring managers who have zero marketing experience are the ones who sift through resumes for jobs.
Using tons of marketing jargon to hype up your skill set will only fall on deaf ears.
Instead, ensure that no matter who is looking at your resume will understand that you know how to get the job done.
10. Use My FREE Canva Marketing Resume Template
To make this process even easier you can use my FREE Canva template to build out your resume and customize it to you and your experience.
You can change the colors, words, and everything, but it will get you up and running much quicker than if you were starting from scratch.
FAQs
What types of marketing roles will this resume template work for?
I have seen this type of resume work for all sorts of marketing positions. I have helped people use this to land marketing jobs as a:
Marketing Intern
Digital Marketing Manager
Marketing Director
Public Relations Specialist
Graphic Designer
Market Researcher
Marketing Specialist
Marketing Coordinator
Do I need to have a bachelor’s in marketing for this resume template to work?
No. I have both a bachelor’s and a master’s BUT neither of them are in marketing. Ultimately, your target audience just wants to know if have the key skills needed to get them clients.
Period.
They don’t care about your GPA, past titles, or years of experience.
If you can SHOW them examples of results you have gotten with your marketing strategies then that is enough.
How would this work for an entry-level marketing resume?
Maybe you are just trying to get your foot in the door in marketing and build up some relevant experience. And, when you look at this marketing template you see that you don’t have any metrics or testimonials to show off.
I get it.
Here is the easiest way to build up this part of your digital marketing resume.
Do free work for businesses.
Find a business that you are interested in and that you have some personal connection to.
Help them make more money.
Document your results.
Create content that explains how you did it.
Usually, when you need a place to start for a marketing strategy YouTube is a great place to begin. It’s free and the knowledge is all there. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on courses to learn this stuff.
I have a completely free course on SEO and web design, and I hold no secrets back.
And, learning is only half of the battle. The more important thing is that you actually put what you are learning into practice.
Create a Google business profile and get Google Reviews.
Hop on a Zoom call with someone you have helped and give them a minute or two to sing your praises.
Write a blog post explaining your entire process.
Results is the ultimate resume builder. Sure some people really might care if you know Microsoft, Excel, Adobe, or some other specific software, but if you can explain to someone how you can get them more clients, that is all you really need in a job application.
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