How To Write an SEO Specialist Resume
Creating a search engine optimization (SEO) specialist resume is just like writing any other piece of content. Start by researching what the audience needs — you can find that information in the employer’s job listing. Next, write keyword-rich content that informs the audience and helps drive potential conversions. In this case, a conversion means getting invited to interview for the position. This guide provides expert tips and insights to help you translate your career into a winning resume.
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
1. Create a profile by summarizing your seo specialist qualifications
Think of the profile summary as you would a page’s meta description or H1 heading. It’s a relatively short bit of content with a big job — to pull the audience in and entice them to keep reading.
Your profile summary should make a few promises your resume delivers on. Consider listing some of your most impressive accomplishments or unique SEO skills. You can also mention how long you’ve worked in marketing or SEO or your desire to move into a certain industry or niche.
Senior-Level Profile Example
A results-driven SEO Specialist with 10+ years of experience, specializing in content strategy, search engine marketing (SEM), and meta elements. A strong history of building and leading diverse digital marketing teams to execute complex SEO initiatives. Adept at identifying opportunities to enhance keyword optimization based on market indicators and Google Analytics.
Entry-Level Profile Example
An SEO Specialist with entry-level experience specializing in Google Analytics, digital marketing, on-page optimization, and link-building campaigns. Adept at improving SEO performance for websites by leveraging data analytics and market research.
2. Create a powerful list of your SEO specialist experience
Think about how you might present an SEO campaign’s performance to marketing directors as you create your professional experience section. All the same best practices apply here. Put things into context, quantify results, and keep it short and sweet.
Whenever possible, include active descriptions of your past achievements with actual metrics to demonstrate the value you can bring to an organization. For example, you might write that you “identified keyword optimization strategies to increase page rank in search engine results pages (SERPs) by an average of 15 spots.”
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Senior SEO Specialist, PNC Bank, Philadelphia, PA August 2016 – Present
- Develop and execute SEO strategy for the website of a leading national bank, redesigned sitemaps, integrated backlinks, and enhanced keyword optimization to improve unique, organic traffic by 140% YOY across product pages for banking services
- Manage a team of 15+ digital marketing professionals to conduct in-depth research on industry keywords, perform SEO audits, and refine sitemaps
- Reduce bounce rates from 45% to 34% by optimizing content relevance for audiences and identifying opportunities to improve page load times
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
SEO Specialist, Web Marketing Pros., San Jose, CA May 2021 – Present
- Perform SEO audits for client websites, conduct research on competitors, identify keyword optimization opportunities, and provide recommendations to enhance web page sitemaps, resulting in a 60%-120% increase in organic traffic for customers
- Coordinate with marketing teams and clients to develop SEO strategy based on Google Analytics, keyword rankings, and competitive analysis
- Grow online presence for an online retailer client by driving on-page optimizations and conducting A/B testing to analyze web page performance
3. Outline your education and SEO specialist-related certifications
Your education creates context for the other information you provide on your resume. It can also add credibility to the claims you make about skills and knowledge. For example, if you list skills such as landing pages, on-page SEO, and conversions on your resume, a Content Marketing Certification from HubSpot can help employers understand where that knowledge came from.
Some employers want SEO specialists with marketing or other relevant degrees. However, that’s not always the case. Ensure you read the employer’s job posting to understand the requirements so you can best position yourself as a qualified candidate.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Bachelor of Science in Marketing
- San Jose State University, San Jose, CA | 2021
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Content Management Certification, HubSpot Academy, 2021
4. List your key SEO specialist skills and proficiencies
Including key skills on your resume helps you more completely highlight your experience and ensure hiring managers understand your qualifications. For example, you might note that you “implemented alt tags for on-page SEO and saw a 10% increase in traffic.” Or that you “implemented a new content management system (CMS) to drive content creation efficiencies, resulting in a savings of 10 labor hours per week.”
Start with some of the skills below if they’re relevant to your experience. Don’t forget to include skills the employer specifically mentions to improve your resume’s performance in applicant tracking systems.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Advertising | Alt tags |
| Analytics | Backlinks |
| Bounce rates | Campaign development |
| CMS | Content strategy |
| Copywriting | Data-driven decision-making |
| Digital marketing strategy | Email marketing |
| Google Ads | Google Analytics |
| Go-to-market strategy | HubSpot |
| Key performance indicators (KPIs) | Link building campaigns |
| Marketing | Meta tag descriptions |
| On-page optimization | Organic traffic |
| Product marketing | Project management |
| Search engine marketing (SEM) | SEO |
| Social media marketing | Title tags |
| WordPress | |
How To Pick the Best SEO Specialist Resume Template
Look for a template that combines a modern, visually appealing design with a format that lets you showcase your strongest achievements. Select an option that includes plenty of room for past jobs or projects, along with opportunities for listing technical skills. Avoid flashy colors, overly decorative fonts, and graphics that may distract the reader from your content.
Consider what programs you’re most comfortable working in before you select a template. If you love Google Docs but aren’t a fan of Microsoft Word, for example, choose a template from the program you like.
SEO Specialist Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Meghan Grayson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, New York, NY 12345
Profile
An SEO Specialist with five years of experience, specializing in digital marketing, HTML, keyword optimization, meta descriptions, and Google Analytics. A proven track record of executing high-impact campaigns to enhance the online presence of emerging brands. Adept at collaborating with cross-functional teams and clients to refine content strategy.
Professional Experience
SEO Specialist, Organic Growth Partners Inc., New York, NY
December 2018 – Present
- Lead SEO marketing initiatives for 20+ client accounts valued at $100K-$150K, optimize content and on-page elements, identify keywords and title tags with high SEO potential, and drive improvements in organic traffic by up to 200%
- Oversee a website redesign project for a real estate business following a name change, identify optimal header tags, integrate meta descriptions, and reduce load times on top pages, resulting in a first page Google ranking
- Increase organic traffic by 110% for a beauty and health blog website by updating web page copy, improving keyword optimization, and selecting high-performance URLs
SEO Specialist, Carter & Johnson Legal Associates, New York, NY
May 2016 – December 2018
- Defined SEO strategy to revamp the website of a prestigious legal firm, performed SEO audits on web pages, conducted competitor research, and provided recommendations for on-page optimization, which reduced bounce rates from 55% to 30%
- Identified appropriate titles and keywords for blog posts on personal injury, vehicle laws, worker’s comp, and diversified backlinks, resulting in a top ten Google ranking
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Marketing
Columbia University, New York, NY September 2011 – May 2016
Key Skills
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Link-Building Campaigns
- Keyword Optimization
- On-Page Optimization
- A/B Testing
Certifications
- Inbound Certification, HubSpot Academy, 2018
- Content Marketing Certification, HubSpot Academy, 2016
Frequently Asked Questions: SEO Specialist Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for SEO specialist resumes?-
Action verbs serve a number of purposes on your resume. They create more dynamic, scannable content and help you quantify achievements from past positions. For example, use words such as improved and increased to quickly position yourself as someone who can enhance SEO and marketing performance for organizations.
Adjust your verb choice to tailor your resume to certain industries. SEO work in the health care field might require that you review, audit, and verify content for accuracy and compliance, for example. While SEO work for a large retailer might involve gathering customer feedback and increasing conversion rates.
Start with some of the common action verbs for SEO specialist resumes below:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Audited |
| Conducted | Created |
| Enhanced | Evaluated |
| Executed | Gathered |
| Improved | Increased |
| Integrated | Launched |
| Led | Managed |
| Monitored | Optimized |
| Planned | Researched |
| Spearheaded | Tested |
How do you align your resume with a job description?-
While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t provide detailed information for SEO specialist jobs, it does have figures for market research analysts. Job opportunities for this similar position are expected to grow at a rate of 13% through 2032, a pace that’s much faster than average. When you align your resume with employer job listings, you increase your chances of being part of that growth.
For example, if a company is seeking an SEO specialist who excels in content creation, provide examples of you writing engaging, user-centered copy to drive web traffic. If an organization is seeking a candidate with a strong background in link building, demonstrate successful campaigns you’ve led in the past.
What is the best SEO specialist resume format?-
Most marketing professionals, including SEO specialists, do well with a reverse chronological format resume. This type of resume provides ample room for detailing your work history and accomplishments, and you order those positions from most to least recent.
The reverse chronology is important in that it allows your most recent work to shine brightest. That’s critical in an industry where trends and best practices can change almost overnight — employers are most interested in what you are doing now and whether it’s relevant to their needs.
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A cover letter helps you personalize your application package and further demonstrate your fit as a candidate. Start with our marketing resume cover letter examples to understand what these letters look like overall, but remember to tailor each letter to the job you are seeking. Think about what you can add or point to on your resume to demonstrate your marketing skills.
