How To Write a Content Writer Resume
To pursue opportunities as a content writer, you’ll need to craft an accomplishment-driven resume to supplement your professional portfolio. While your writing abilities will always determine whether or not you receive an interview, the resume serves as an overview of your experience to draw the interest of prospective employers. Throughout this guide, we’ll provide valuable insights to help you leverage your resume as an effective marketing tool during the job search.
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
1. Summarize your content writer qualifications in a dynamic profile
Your professional profile should strongly introduce your writing style and industry experience. If you fail to draw the hiring manager’s interest with a poorly written summary, it’s unlikely they’ll spend much time reviewing your portfolio. Focus on including specializations that align with the job posting in your opening sentence and showcase the strongest aspects of your writing capabilities.
Professional Profile - Example #1
Profile
A Technical Content Writer with five years of experience specializing in content development, brand messaging, UX writing, and product marketing. A proven track record of delivering high-impact content to clients to enhance web traffic and drive customer acquisitions.
Professional Profile - Example #2
Profile
A Content Writer with eight years of experience specializing in public relations, content development, journalism, and blog writing. A strong history of delivering impactful articles and blog posts to expand awareness of non-profit initiatives and social inequities.
2. Add a compelling section featuring your content writer experience
Use the bolded headers below. Your professional experience section should highlight key accomplishments and writing projects that highlight the most compelling aspects of your writing expertise. Although the language of a resume is different from a blog post, web copy, or product marketing content, you’ll still need to craft your content strategically to generate interest from prospective employers. As you create your bullet points, remember to emphasize the value your writing has provided to your teams and organizations.
Professional Experience - Example #1
Technical Content Writer, Energize Technology Inc., San Francisco, CA
May 2020 – Present
- Led the development of marketing content for a suite of technology products generating over $30M in annual revenue, which included creating blogs, web copy, and digital marketing content to drive customer acquisition and increase market penetration
- Utilized knowledge of the technology industry to develop high-impact content for application development, UI design, and B2B technology solutions
- Increased website traffic by 250% by using SEO marketing strategies, link building campaigns to enhance web copy and blog posts
Professional Experience - Example #2
Content Writer, Better Health Advocates, Philadelphia, PA
October 2018 – Present
- Developed compelling content, blog posts, web copy, and articles for a non-profit advocacy group focused on inequities within the healthcare space, which resulted in a 200% increase in web traffic and a 300% increase in newsletter subscribers
- Conducted research on a wide range of healthcare topics and created informative articles covering the disparity in healthcare access and delivery in diverse communities
- Published three major case studies on healthcare inequity, which included interviewing over 200+ patients and medical professionals
3. Include education and certifications relevant to content writer
In addition to your education, you should also feature relevant certifications on your resume. This information is more important if you’re pursuing a specialized role as a content writer. For example, obtaining a certification that exemplifies your technology expertise would be beneficial if you were targeting jobs that are centered around technical writing.
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Professional Technical Writing Certification, Technical Writer HQ, 2020
- UX Writing Certification, Udemy, 2020
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
Example
- Bachelor of Arts (B.S.) English
- TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, Philadelphia, PA September 2012 – June 2016
4. Include a list of skills and proficiencies related to content writer
Most organizations rely on some form of applicant tracking system (ATS) to identify qualified candidates for job openings. To ensure ATS compliance, you’ll need to incorporate keywords and skills that match the organization’s needs. If your document lacks a certain number of key terms, your application may be rejected before it reaches the hiring manager. Be sure to feature these skills in your professional experience section, as you want to show specific examples of you using these skill sets throughout your career:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Blog Writing | Brand Awareness |
| Brand Marketing | Brand Messaging |
| Case Studies | Content Development |
| Content Marketing | Content Strategy |
| Content Writing | Copyediting |
| Copywriting | Digital Advertising |
| Editing | Email Marketing |
| Google Analytics | Product Marketing |
| Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | Social Media Marketing |
| Technical Writing | WordPress |
5. Create a professional writing portfolio
Including a link to a professional portfolio can be beneficial for content writer resumes. Although the resume is important, your actual writing capabilities and past projects will always decide whether a company decides to hire you. This approach provides hiring managers with direct access to your best writing samples, which can increase your chances of landing the interview.
How to Pick the Best Content Writer Resume Template
Aspiring content writers should select a template that is straightforward and well-organized.
Although modern templates may seem appealing at first glance, the overuse of color and bulky graphics often distracts the hiring manager from your professional accomplishments. In most instances, it’s best to use a less flashy template that keeps the reader’s eye focused on your qualifications and career achievements.
Content Writer Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Aliya Jackson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Philadelphia, PA 12345
Profile
A Content Writer with eight years of experience specializing in public relations, content development, journalism, and blog writing. A strong history of delivering impactful articles and blog posts to expand awareness of non-profit initiatives and social inequities.
Professional Experience
Content Writer, Better Health Advocates, Philadelphia, PA
October 2018 – Present
- Developed compelling content, blog posts, web copy, and articles for a non-profit advocacy group focused on inequities within the healthcare space, which resulted in a 300% increase in web traffic and a 250% increase in newsletter subscribers
- Conducted research on a wide range of healthcare topics and created informative articles covering the disparity in healthcare access and delivery in diverse communities
- Published three major case studies on healthcare inequity, which included interviewing over 200+ patients and medical professionals
Content Writer, Ascend Non-Profit, Philadelphia, PA
June 2016 – October 2018
- Developed content for social media marketing, articles, blog posts, and web pages for a non-profit organization centered around career services for female professionals
- Collaborated with subject matter experts to craft high-quality content to raise awareness of various initiatives to drive the professional development of women
Certifications
- Creative Writing Certification, Coursera, 2017
- Content Strategy for Professionals Specialization, Northwestern University, 2016
Key Skills
- Content Writing
- Blog Writing
- Brand Messaging
- Public Relations
- Journalism
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Journalism
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, Philadelphia, PA September 2012 – June 2016
Frequently Asked Questions: Content Writer Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for content writer resumes?-
Even as a writer, it’s easy to find yourself running short on action verbs during the resume-building process. Resumes have a unique language structure that differs from a blog, article, or web page, as every bullet point always leads with a strong, third-person verb. As a content specialist, your writing will be more heavily scrutinized than other candidates, so you’ll want to differentiate your verbiage when possible. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of action verbs you can use to build your resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Collaborated |
| Communicated | Conducted |
| Created | Built |
| Delivered | Designed |
| Developed | Enhanced |
| Executed | Generated |
| Identified | Implemented |
| Improved | Increased |
| Led | Managed |
| Partnered | Wrote |
How do you align your resume with a job description?-
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, media and communication occupations are expected to grow 6% between 2021 and 2031. Although these projections are encouraging, content writing is a highly competitive field, and you’ll need to carefully align your resume with the job description to generate interviews on the open market.
For example, suppose you’re pursuing a career as a technical writer. In that case, you’d want to emphasize your knowledge of the technology industry and showcase the strongest examples of your technical writing capabilities. If a company is searching for a content writer with a strong marketing background, you may want to center your resume around your digital advertising projects or product marketing experience. By tailoring your resume towards individual companies, you’ll significantly increase your success rate during the job search.
What is the best content writer resume format?-
Reverse chronological is the ideal resume format for content writers. This format is optimal for most job seekers because hiring managers are more interested in your recent employment history. Functional resume formats are generally not recommended for content writers, as skill-based resumes don’t allow you to showcase your unique writing style.
Once you finish your resume, consider crafting a matching cover letter to bolster your job application. If you choose to write one, you should carefully tailor your cover letter to individual companies. In the middle paragraph, you’ll want to mention something specific about the organization’s reputation or work culture to show hiring managers that you’ve researched the company before applying. For more guidance, visit our editor cover letter writing guide.
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