How To Write a Media Planner Resume
Your media planner resume should communicate an ability to speak to target audiences through the development and execution of marketing strategies. Potential employers need to know you can optimize their media channels for maximum return on investment (ROI). In this guide, we’ll provide examples and expert tips to help you create your best resume. You’ll learn how to write each section and highlight the most impressive aspects of your media career.
- Entry-level
- Mid Career
- Senior-level
1. Create a profile by summarizing your media planner qualifications
Just as your advertising campaigns give you the opportunity to speak directly to the needs of consumers, your resume profile is a chance to craft a captivating “hook” that draws readers in. Introduce yourself by listing your job title, years of experience, and three to four qualifications that meet the requirements of the job. Give hiring managers a snapshot of your media planner career.
Do you have experience working with large or small organizations? Indicate the scope of your experience in your profile. Do you excel in collaborative environments? If so, add in a few soft skills to highlight your interpersonal abilities. Marketing is a group effort, so communicate to managers that you can collaborate effectively with diverse teams.
Profile Example #1
Media planning professional with more than three years of experience serving startups and small businesses. Naturally curious and committed to gaining and applying new work skills. Thrives in collaborative, customer-focused work settings.
Profile Example #2
Inventive and collaborative media planner with more than five years of experience. Skilled at building productive relationships with other team members and across functional lines. Experienced and confident public speaker. Bilingual: fluent in English and Spanish.
2. Add your media planner experience with compelling examples
Instead of listing all of your job responsibilities, highlight your career achievements using bullet points. Show potential employers the kinds of results they can look forward to if they bring you on to their marketing team. Use performance metrics, monetary figures, and percentages for the biggest impact.
If you’re a seasoned professional applying for leadership roles, describe the times you led a team during a campaign or trained a group of new hires. For media planners with less experience, focus on what you’ve accomplished in performing daily duties in previous positions. Did you improve processes? Have you earned any recognition? Demonstrate the value you can bring to a team.
Professional Experience Example #1
Assistant Media Planner, HVM Corporation, Minneapolis, MN | November 2019–Present
- Develop and recommend multichannel media plans based on close review of each client’s business needs and priorities
- Advise on timely, effective product advertising and promotions in competitive markets
- Conceptualize and create high-quality digital marketing collateral
Highlights:
- Won a key corporate award for building lucrative, long-term relationships with clients
- Devised a new, faster system for managing and documenting media buys
Professional Experience Example #2
Media Planner, UBL Media Services, New York, NY | November 2017–Present
- Cultivate and maintain media partnerships
- Monitor various print and digital media outlets to generate insights on consumer behavior
- Help write, edit, and proofread formal media plans and various marketing materials
- Analyze market trends and competitor activity to pinpoint new business opportunities
3. Include media planner-related education and certifications
Featuring your formal education is the best way to prove to hiring managers that you meet the minimum academic requirements. Start with your highest degree or diploma first, and only include additional degrees if they’re pertinent to the job. Then, list any relevant certifications you’ve earned during your career as a media planner.
While your hands-on experience is often the most valuable, extra credentials show your commitment to continual learning. For example, an Adobe Suite certification demonstrates a willingness to stay up-to-date with current industry software. Although a certificate may not guarantee an interview, it’s another way to differentiate yourself from the competition.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Month and Year]
Example
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English & Communications
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN | May 2019
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Adobe Creative Suite (advanced Illustrator), Nielsen Ad Intel | 2021
4. Include a list of skills and proficiencies related to media planners
Companies looking to fill a position often use an applicant tracking system (ATS), which scans each submitted resume for keywords relevant to the job at hand. When the ATS scans a resume with many relevant keywords, it’s more likely to flag the document for the hiring manager.
To boost your chances of getting noticed, incorporate words and phrases like the ones below into the “Key Skills” section of your media planner resume:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Advertising and promotions | Brand awareness and engagement |
| Business needs assessment | Campaign data analysis |
| Client service and relations | Competitor trend analysis |
| Complex problem-solving | Cross-functional collaboration |
| Digital and social media marketing | Marketing collateral development |
| Media buy management | Media monitoring |
| Media plan recommendations | Media strategy development |
| Partnership development | Request for proposal (RFP) |
| Stakeholder relations management | Writing, editing, and proofreading |
How To Pick the Best Media Planner Resume Template
Be strategic about the template you choose, keeping your target audience (hiring managers) in mind. Look for a template that’s clean and simple, highlighting your accomplishments and key qualifications. Your goal is to make it as easy as possible for the reader to identify the best of your skills and experience. If your resume is too busy with colors and graphics, you run the risk of distracting from your content, so keep it simple.
Media Planner Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Mina Sayed
123 Bedford Ave, New York, NY 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected]
Profile
Inventive and collaborative media planner with more than five years of experience. Skilled at building productive relationships with other team members and across functional lines. Experienced and confident public speaker. Bilingual: fluent in English and Spanish.
Key Skills
- Advertising & promotions
- Brand awareness & engagement
- Business needs assessment
- Campaign data analysis
- Client service & relations
- Competitor trend analysis
- Complex problem-solving
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Digital & social media marketing
- Marketing collateral development
- Media buy management
- Media plan recommendations
- Media strategy development
- Partnership development
- Process redesign & improvement
- Public speaking & presentations
- Request for proposal (RFP)
- Stakeholder relations management
- Writing, editing, & proofreading
Professional Experience
Media Planner, UBL Media Services, New York, NY | November 2017–Present
- Cultivate and maintain media partnerships
- Monitor various print and digital media outlets to generate insights on consumer behavior
- Help write, edit, and proofread formal media plans and various marketing materials
- Analyze market trends and competitor activity to pinpoint new business opportunities
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, University of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY
Language
Fluency in Spanish
Technical Skills
Adobe Creative Suite (advanced Illustrator) | Microsoft Excel | Nielsen Ad Intel
Frequently Asked Questions: Media Planner Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for media planner resumes?-
One of the most common yet avoidable resume mistakes is relying on too few verbs. When you repeat the same generic verb (say, “manage”) several times, it distracts the hiring manager and fails to show the dynamic nature of your work. You can prevent this issue by using a healthy variety of action verbs. Below are 20 verbs to help you spice up the language on your media planner resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Collaborated |
| Connected | Coordinated |
| Developed | Enhanced |
| Forecasted | Formed |
| Generated | Honed |
| Improved | Launched |
| Negotiated | Optimized |
| Organized | Partnered |
| Recommended | Related |
| Reported | Strategized |
How do you align your resume with a media planner job description?-
The job outlook for marketing professionals (including media planners) is expected to increase faster than average over the next 10 years. From market research to advertising management, the industry is projected to see impressive growth. This growth is attributed to the continual need for organizations to seek the guidance of marketing professionals.
Even though there’s a growing demand in the field, your resume must be customized for each position you apply for if you want to stand out from similar candidates. By studying the job description, you’ll get a good sense of what the company needs and how you can match up your document accordingly.
For instance, if an agency needs a media planner with a strong background in digital advertising, lean into those aspects of your professional history. Underscore your ability to reach an audience with strategic media selection and programmatic advertising backed up by data analysis.
What is the best media planner resume format?-
A combination format is best for media planner resumes. This layout brings your key skills front and center, pulling focus to abilities instead of work history. No matter your experience level, this resume style will serve you well. However, if you’d rather lead with your professional experience section, a reverse chronological format is another great option. Your career progression becomes the focal point instead.
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If you want a higher chance of landing a job interview, send a strong cover letter. The best strategy for writing your cover letter is to tailor it to the company you’re applying to. Discover how to do this with our comprehensive cover letter guide. For more related examples, see our brand ambassador and social media cover letter guides.
