You’re a marketer. You’re smart. You’re creative.
You develop sales strategies that meet the needs of your target customer.
But when it comes to creating a winning resume, you’re out of ideas.
How do you make a marketing executive resume, anyway?
Surely it’s no different than a resume for any other profession, right?
Do you attach your marketing portfolio with your resume? Or do you include direct links to your best pieces of work inside?
As you can see, there are many questions that need to be answered before creating a successful marketing executive resume, and that was just the tip of the iceberg!
Fortunately, this guide will take you through a simple step-by-step process of creating a marketing executive resume.
Specifically, we will cover:
- An example of a finished marketing executive resume that works
- How to write a marketing executive resume that’ll fill up your interview diary
- How to make your marketing executive resume stand out [with top tips & tricks]
Before we get into the details, here’s a marketing executive resume example, created with our very own resume builder:
Looks good, right?! Follow the steps below to create a marketing executive resume that get results, just like the above example.
Or, if you're applying for a different position in marketing, check out our related resume examples:
How to Format a Marketing Executive Resume
Before you start talking about your skills and experiences, you need pick the best format.
Doing so will make the life of the hiring manager easier, which will get you started on the correct foot.
The most common resume format is “reverse-chronological”, and it’s for good reason. Essentially, it allows the hiring managers to immediately see your value proposition, rather than hoping they read to the bottom of the page. We recommend starting with this format.
The following resume formats also get our approval:
- Functional Resume – If your skills are stronger than your work history, this resume format is recommended. It’s ideal for skilled marketers that don’t have a lot of executive experience or have gaps in their employment history.
- Combination Resume – Combining both “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological.” This format focuses both on skills AND work experience. In opposition to the functional resume, you can use a combination resume if you have a wealth of work experience.
Once you’ve chosen your format, you need to organize your resume layout.
To keep it professional, we recommend:
- Margins - One-inch margins on all sides
- Font - Pick a font that stands out, but not too much.
- Font Size - Use a font size of 11-12pt for normal text and 14-16pt for headers
- Line Spacing - Use 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing
- Resume Length - Don’t go over the 1-page limit. For guidance, view these one-page resume templates.
Pro Tip:
- Unlike an accountant or lawyer, marketing specialists have more freedom on choosing an innovative resume design. Feel free to pick a more creative template to show that you can think outside of the box!
Use a Marketing Executive Resume Template
Writing an essay with Word is a pleasant experience. Creating a resume with Word is a different story all together!
Why? Well, formatting issues.
Formatting your resume should be a simple experience. But with Word, your entire resume layout can fall apart with just a small alteration.
Want to skip formatting issues? Use a marketing executive resume template.
What to Include in a Marketing Executive Resume
The main sections in a marketing executive resume are:
- Work Experience
- Contact Information
- Portfolio
- Skills
- Education
Want to go a step further? You can also add these optional sections:
- Awards & Certification
- Projects
- Languages
- Interests & Hobbies
That sounds great, but what do we write for each of these sections? Read on to learn how.
Want to know more about resume sections? View our guide on What to Put on a Resume.
How to Correctly Display your Contact Information
Now, this section doesn’t require flair, but it must be factually correct. Messing up the contact section can mean the hiring manager may not be able to reach you – disaster!
The contact information section must include:
- Full Name
- Title - In this case, “Marketing Executive”. Align this to the role you’re applying for.
- Phone Number – Check, double-check, and then check again.
- Email Address – Use a professional email address (firstname.lastname@gmail.com), not your childhood email (timloveshamsters@gmail.com).
- Portfolio Link - Behance, Dribble, or your personal website
- (Optional) Location - Applying for a job abroad? Mention your location.
Correct Example:
- Josh Fakester - Marketing Executive. 101-358-6095. jfakester@gmail.com
Incorrect Example:
- Josh Fakester - Marketing Whizz Kid. 101-358-6095. joshisthebestmarketer@gmail.com
How to Write a Marketing Executive Resume Summary or Objective
Did you know that recruiters spend less than 6 seconds glancing over each resume?
This interesting, yet scary fact highlights the importance of correct resume structure.
You need to immediately hook the recruiter.
You need to convince them to put your resume on top of the “yes” pile.
To do this, use a resume summary or objective.
As a marketer, you may know about “above the fold” call to actions. Similarly, both resume summaries and objectives are short and snappy paragraphs that go on top of your resume, just under your contact information.
But what is the difference between the 2 sections?
A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.
Marketing Executive Resume Summary Example
- Experienced Marketing Executive with a strong background in developing award-winning strategies for a diverse clientele. 5+ years of industry experience includes PPC campaigns, SMM, web design, brand development, and more. Strong history of developing and overseeing marketing campaigns that maximise profit.
A resume objective is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of what you want to achieve professionally.
Marketing Executive Resume Objective Example
- Motivated marketing specialist looking for an executive role at Marketing Company X. Passionate about maximising profit with effective marketing campaigns. Experience includes creating campaigns for my own personal projects while at University X. Skilled in WordPress, Facebook Ads Manager, Photoshop, ClickFunnels, and more.
So, which one is best, summary or objective?
Generally, we recommend going with a summary if you have any relevant work experience. An objective is suited to those who have the skills, but lack the industry experience (graduates, career changers, or those still studying).
Pro Tip:
- As a marketer, you may know that benefits sell. As such, make it clear how your experiences and skills will HELP the company.
How to Make Your Marketing Executive Work Experience Stand Out
Recruiters like to feel confident that you can do the job. There is no easier way to do this than to list your work experience.
Here’s the best way to structure your work experience section:
- Position name
- Company Name
- Dates
- Responsibilities & Achievements
Here’s an example:
Marketing ExecutiveDiscoverGrowthDigital11/2016 - 03/2020- Managed 8 ad campaigns that had an average ROI of 45% in the last 2 years.
- Proofread creative copy that improved conversions by 56%.
- Distributed statistical information to 127 staff members.
- Lead four successful promotional events of 1000+ people.
To separate yourself from the competition, you should focus on your achievements instead of daily tasks. This will allow the recruiter to see the obvious benefits in hiring you.
Instead of saying:
“Promotion manager”
Say:
“Lead four successful promotional events of 1000+ people”
Simply, the first statement is way too generic. It shows you were in charge of promotion, but it doesn’t show if were successful or the quantity of events you managed.
The second statement shows that you managed more than one event, and you were successful in doing so. Hard numbers that prove your skills – can’t argue with that!
Pro Tip:
- Remember, you are going for an executive role. Be sure to show that not only are you skilled at marketing, but you also posses the skills to lead.
What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?
Maybe you’re a graduate looking for your first marketing job?
Or maybe, you have experience in marketing, but never in an executive role?
A recruiter will want marketing executives that they can rely on. Whether you have job experience or not, your portfolio of marketing work is the most important factor.
If you already have proof of your marketing skills (ad campaign statistics, copy you’ve written, or results you’ve got for clients) feel free to link to them in your resume (we’re going to explain how very shortly).
With that said, there is no time like the present. It is not too late to create a portfolio.
Here are several ways you can create a rich portfolio (and even get paid for it):
- Start freelancing (e.g.: UpWork, Fiverr, etc.)
- Ask your social circle if they need any help with their business
- If the above doesn’t work, become your own client! Show your skills by building your own website, create flyers, product packaging, and run Facebook Ad campaigns.
Are you recent marketing graduate? Make sure to check out our student resume guide!
Use Action Words to Make Your Marketing Executive Resume POP!
“Made”
“Worked”
“Managed”
…are all common words that the recruiter sees time and time again.
However, you want to separate your resume from the competition, which means using power words to make your achievements stand out:
- Conceptualized
- Determined
- Formulated
- Initiated
- Spearheaded
How to Add a Portfolio to Your Resume
A portfolio section is added in the same way that work experience is added.
Under a header named “Portfolio,” link to your portfolio (website or Behance / Dribble), and briefly talk about the projects.
It should look like this:
Portfoliowww.timmarketing.com- Promotional Events - Lead four successful promotional events of 1000+ people (see pictures in the online portfolio)
- Email Campaigns - Created email campaigns for clients on UpWork
- SMM - Ran Facebook advertisement campaigns for Company X’s clients (see more in the online portfolio
If you want to keep your resume short, you can simply put a link to your portfolio or website in your contact information section.
How to Correctly List your Education
Next, it’s time to talk about your education.
There’s nothing too complicated with this section, just simply enter your education history in the follow format:
- Degree Type & Major
- University Name
- Years Studied
- GPA, Honours, Courses, and anything else you might want to add
Here’s what it should look like:
B.A. in MarketingBoston State University2012-2016- Relevant Courses: Principles of Marketing, Managerial Communications, Quantitative Methods, and Macroeconomics
- GPA: 3.8
Top 12 Skills for a Marketing Executive Resume
As the hiring manager is flicking through your resume, they want to see that you have the correct skills for the job.
Remember, the hiring manager has never seen your work. Even if you’re the world’s best marketer, you can still get rejected if you don���t make your skills clear to see.
Here are some of the most common marketing executive skills:
Hard Skills for a Marketing Executiv:
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
- Campaign Management
- Google Analytics
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Product Packaging
Soft Skills:
- Creative Thinking
- Communication
- Research
- Time-Management
- Team Player
- Leadership
Pro Tip:
- Generally, try not to list too many soft skills. You see, these are skills that everyone puts on their resume as they are hard to back-up. Any graduate can say they have creative skills, but not many can correctly use every CMS.
Here’s a more comprehensive list of 150+ must-have skills this year.
What Else Can You Include?
We’ve now covered every essential resume section.
But don’t call it a day just yet. You need your resume to stand out!
Doing a good job at the above sections should be enough to get you shortlisted, but adding extra sections can be the major factor in whether you’re hired for the executive role or not.
Awards & Certifications
Have you won a marketing award?
Have you completed any third-party marketing courses?
If you said yes to any of the above, make sure to mention them in your resume!
Here’s an example:
Awards & Certificates
- “Most Innovative Campaign” - MAFTA
- “The Art of Sales” - Coursera Certificate
- Google Ads Certified Expert
- “Critical Thinking Masterclass” - MadeUpUniversity
Projects
Companies will want to see that you’re passionate about all things marketing, not just in it for the money.
Showing off your own personal project is one of best ways to show you that you live and breathe marketing.
For marketing, this is usually in the form of side hustles. Showing a website that you built via a range of marketing tactics will be impressive for all hiring managers.
Here are a few projects that you could mention:
- Managing a Facebook ad campaign for your e-commerce shop
- Using SEO skills to drive organic traffic to your blog
- Writing sales copy for local businesses
Languages
Even though it might not be specific to your job, being able to speak a second language is always an impressive skill to a hiring manager. As such, feel free to add a language section if you have space.
Rank the languages by proficiency:
- Native
- Fluent
- Proficient
- Intermediate
- Basic
Interests & Hobbies
Now, you may be wondering, “why would a recruiter want to know about my fishing hobby?”
Well, your hobbies reveal what kind of person you are.
Most companies are looking for someone that will be pleasant to work with.
Hobbies show that you’ll be a good part of the team, especially if you enjoy social activities.
Include a Cover Letter with Your Resume
Cover letters are still an important part of the hiring process.
You see, a cover letter is a specific and personal piece of content.
Unlike an applicant that sends a generic resume to every company, a cover letter shows the hiring manager that you care about working for their company.
To create a winning cover letter, we must ensure that it is structured correctly. Here’s how to do that:
You should complete the following sections:
Personal Contact Information
Your full name, profession, email, phone number, location, and website (or Behance / Dribble).
Hiring Manager’s Contact Information
Full name, position, location, email
Opening Paragraph
It’s no secret that hiring managers skim through resumes and cover letters. As such, you need to hook the reader within the first few sentences. Use concise language to mention:
- The position you’re applying for
- Your experience summary and best achievement to date
The Body
Once you’ve sparked the reader’s interest, you can get deeper into the following specifics...
- Why you chose this specific company
- What you know about the company
- How are your top skills relevant for the job
- Which similar industries or positions have you worked in before
Closing Paragraph
Don’t just end the conversation abruptly, you should:
- Conclude the points made in the body paragraph
- Thank the hiring manager for the opportunity
- Finish with a call to action. This is a good way to start a conversation. A simple “At your earliest opportunity, I’d love to discuss more about how I can help company X” will work.
Formal Salutations
End the letter in a professional manner. Something like, “Kind regards” or “Sincerely.”
For more inspiration, read our step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter.
Key Takeaways
Congrats!
If you followed all of the above advice, you’ve given yourself the best possible chance of landing that marketing executive role.
Let’s quickly summarize what we’ve learnt:
- Format your marketing executive resume correctly. Prioritize the reverse-chronological format, and then follow the best practices on content layout
- Use a resume summary or objective to catch hook the recruiter
- In your work experience section, highlight your achievements, rather than your responsibilities
- Make sure your portfolio is the best it can be. If you don’t have one, think about getting one
- Include a convincing cover letter to separate you from the competition
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