When applying for copywriter jobs, your resume doesn't only display your experience. It also instantly reveals your writing skills and showcases your talent in writing compelling and engaging content.
In other words -- your resume serves as a part of your portfolio.
Since the purpose of copywriting is to sell an idea or product through words alone, a copywriter needs to be a skilled communicator who understands audience and business objectives and has a knack for persuasive writing. In addition to top-notch writing, copywriters should have excellent knowledge of grammar.
If you're looking for copywriting jobs, all of these are the exact skills you need to put into practice when writing your own resume.
However, the stakes are higher because the product you're trying to sell is you.
And there is a different set of rules for writing a resume than any other piece of content.
To make sure you're putting your best foot forward, read on to learn:
how to write a copywriter resume that gets you in the top 1% of applicants
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Do This Before Writing a Copywriter Resume.
Considering their top-notch writing skills, copywriter resumes are the best of the best.
The field of copywriting is extremely competitive, and you need to prepare for battle.
Before you jump into writing your resume, the best way to prepare is to research the information shared by employers in a job posting.
In the job posting, employers specify the things they are looking for in a candidate. If you understand these, you will be more likely to include the most important information in your resume and stand out from other copywriters.
So, read the job ad carefully.
Identify the key job requirements, repeated keywords and the terminology used in it. While writing your resume, refer to this information to create a tailored document.
By addressing the main requirements, you'll show the readers that you have met their needs or have transferable skills you can bring to the table. Also, by using the keywords from the job ad throughout your resume, you'll make it possible for employers to find you with a keyword search in their databases and applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Choose the right resume format.
When starting to write a resume, it is important to decide what format you will use.
Resume format determines the general layout, length, and most importantly - order of the information.
There are three standard resume formats you can choose from:
Chronological resume format
The chronological resume is a traditional format that presents work history in reverse order, starting with the current or most recent job.
The advantage of this format is it enables an employer to see where a candidate's skills and experience lie and what they were doing during a particular period. The chronological resume may also be used by experienced professionals who have gaps in their work history.
It's best not to use this format if you change jobs often, as it can make it appear as though you're not focused enough on one profession.
Functional resume format
A functional resume is a document with your skills listed in a bulleted form with short descriptions, without job titles or employments dates.
This format is ideal for career changers, new graduates and people making a fresh start in their careers. The downside of this type of resume is it may not give an employer enough information and it may be hard to tell if the candidate has the necessary experience for the position.
Hybrid resume format
A hybrid resume is a combination of chronological and functional formats.
The job seeker uses the chronological format when discussing work experience. At the same time, they use a functional format to list their skills and qualifications for prospective employers to see.
This type of resume is ideal for professionals who have gaps in their work history or who are changing careers.
However, just like with the functional format, this type of resume can be difficult to understand if it's not outlined in a way that makes it easy to follow and read -- especially considering that it's not a typical resume format and hiring managers aren't used to it.
So, which format to use?
It's up to you to decide which resume format works best for you.
However, if you want to play it safe, go with the chronological format. It's easier for an employer to follow and makes it more likely that your resume will be read and considered for a job opening. Chronological resume works well in 99% of the cases.
If you want to learn more, read the complete guide on resume formats.
Add contact information.
Up-to-date contact details are imperative to include on a resume.
They are necessary for job applications because potential employers need your contact info to communicate with you after reading your resume.
The contact details on a resume should be placed at the top of the page and include:
your full name
city and state
email address
phone number
Here are a few practical tips to share your contact info correctly:
Use your official name and surname. While this might seem like a no-brainer, it is important to use the same name that you have on your official documents. If you use any nicknames or unofficial names, this can cause confusion later in the hiring process.
Skip the mailing address. Employers don't use snail-mail anymore to communicate with candidates, so omit your full address. City and state (country) are enough.
Be professional. Make sure that the email address you are using is professional, meaning no work email addresses, and no funny, cute, informal or inappropriate addresses.
Keep it simple and short. The more complicated you make your contact information, the less likely an employer is to use it.
Make sure your contact details are correct. Another no-brainer, but it's important to double-check that your contact details are updated and accurate.
Write an attention-grabbing resume headline.
The headline is your opportunity to help employers understand your expertise before they even start reading your resume.
Your headline should convey your best qualities and show why you are a perfect fit for the job - all in one resume line.
Your headline should convey your best qualities and show why you are a perfect fit for the job - all in one resume line.
Best resume headlines are always tailored to the job you are applying for.
The goal here is to snag an employer's interest with a resume headline that matches what's requested in the job ad.
Refer to your research from the beginning of the resume writing process and utilize keywords from the company's job listing to write a compelling resume headline.
Although it's an optional part of your resume, a tailored headline at the top of a resume contributes to your personal brand and positions you as an expert in the field right from the start.
Copywriter Resume Headline Examples
Here are a few examples for copywriter resume headlines:
Award-Winning Copywriter | Social Media and Email Marketing Campaigns
Experienced Copywriter | B2B SEO Content Writing
Creative Copywriter | Social Media Copy and Advertising
Senior Copywriter with 10+ Years of Experience
Write a tailored career summary.
A career summary is a short resume summary following your headline that focuses on your strongest skills and gets the reader interested in your application.
Being just three to four lines long, a career summary (i.e. personal statement, professional profile, resume elevator pitch) is one of the shortest parts of a resume but also one of the most demanding ones to write.
Here are a few practical tips for writing a career summary:
Don't copy and paste from other resumes. Careers summaries should be unique to you as the job seeker and tailored to the job posting.
Keep it short and simple -- usually 3-4 sentences at most that describe your skills, achievements and what makes you stand out from the crowd of candidates (think 'elevator pitch').
Keep it consistent with your resume content and avoid awkwardly repeating information from the headline.
Be specific. The more relevant you can make your career summary to the job requirements, the better. Use keywords from a job posting that will show you have researched and are familiar with the company's needs.
Copywriter resume summary examples:
Here is an example of a strong career summary for a copywriter:
Award-winning, skilled B2B copywriter with over 10 years of experience creating SEO content for complex business and sales pages. Wrote Google ads and product listing with a 15 to 25% conversion rate. Adept at writing sales copy, blog posts and corporate communications.
And another one:
Creative and detail-oriented B2C copywriter with 5+ years of experience in writing engaging content for blogs, sales pages and social media. Excellent record of social media campaigns for over 10 brands resulting in 10 to 37% sales increase. Expert at writing compelling and engaging content with high engagement and conversion rates.
Use them as inspiration. Just replace the keywords according to your experience, and you'll have a perfect summary!
Add copywriting skills.
When filling an open position, hiring managers are looking for specific skill sets and qualifications.
Technical knowledge, language proficiency or knowing a specific software can be the deciding factor in getting you an interview or not being considered altogether.
Knowing and showcasing what's important to your potential employer will drastically increase your chances of landing that job.
Knowing and showcasing what's important to your potential employer will drastically increase your chances of landing that job.
Listing relevant skills in a resume is an efficient way to show the hiring managers that you have the technical skills needed.
So, think about including a separate skills section and list a handful of relevant skills.
Here are some common copywriting skills:
copy editing/proofreading
adapting language to a variety of audiences and situations (different styles, contexts, cultures)
creating B2C or B2B content
A/B testing
keyword research
SEO optimization
email marketing
social media marketing
product launches
press releases
industry-specific marketing (e.g. pharma marketing)
persuasive copywriting
client management
Additional soft skills they may look for are:
creativity
communication skills
analytical skills
time management
collaboration or teamwork
If, in the job description, employers ask for some hard skills, such as foreign language or software knowledge, make sure to specify your proficiency.
Here are some examples for describing the level of proficiency for hard skills:
BAD EXAMPLE: MS Office, HootSuite, WordPress, English, Spanish
GOOD EXAMPLE: MS Office (advanced working proficiency), HootSuite (advanced working proficiency), WordPress (advanced working proficiency), English (native), Spanish (working proficiency)
The position of the skills section on a resume is flexible. Feel free to put it either below your career summary or at the very end of your resume.
List your work experience.
Now, we get to the centerpiece of your resume -- your work experience.
Any recruiter or hiring manager will focus mainly on this section, looking for the most important information about your professional background.
This section is where you get the chance to show potential employers what you have done and how it could translate to success in your new position at their company.
The work experience section is essentially a chronological list of jobs you've held, listed in reverse-chronological order (most recent job first).
For each employment, add the following information:
Company name
Your job title
Start and end date
City and state where you worked (for remote jobs, this is optional)
Keep this section relevant by listing jobs that closely relate to the target position.
Any internships, unpaid engagements or projects that aren't connected with the open copywriting role should be taken off a resume or listed in a separate resume section.
Describe your work experience.
After listing your employment history, it's time to put your writing skills into practice and describe what you did in previous roles in a compelling way.
Employers want to see results, and your job descriptions are a perfect place to show them.
To help them process your resume quickly, use bulleted lists to provide details in this section in a concise, concrete and engaging way.
Avoid filling your resume with vague descriptions of your day-to-day duties or fluffy buzzwords.
Instead, make your experience pop by focusing on your actions and achievements using action words.
To write strong resume bullet points, follow this formula:
action verb + quantified outcome + 'by/through/using' + your actions
For example, instead of saying this:
responsible for writing social media content
Write something like this:
increased social media following by 37% in 6 months through a revised social media campaign and compelling copy
Action verbs for a copywriter resume
Here are some effective action verbs you can use for a copywriter resume:
wrote
created
boosted
implemented
developed
partnered
edited
delivered
produced
built
increased
coordinated
organized
Add relevant education and qualifications.
The education section is the place where you'll want to put all of your degrees, certifications, academic distinctions and relevant coursework.
The position of this resume section depends on the level of your experience.
If you are a fresh graduate or have less than three years of experience, your educational background should be put close to the top of your resume - above the work experience.
On the other hand, if you have over three years of experience, the readers will focus on your work history. In this case, it's best to place your educational background at the end of your resume - below the work experience section.
For each level of education, include the following information:
name of degree/certificate
the university or institution
your major and minor fields of study
official ending date (month and year)
For more tips, read the complete guide on listing education on a resume.
Polish resume design.
While a well-written resume with top-notch content is foundational, the way you format your resume can make a difference in getting noticed and landing an interview.
Resume design is a powerful tool that can help you present your qualifications in style.
In order to make a perfect resume, a professional layout is key.
You can create it by balancing white space, maintaining consistent fonts throughout your document and including professional colors that don't draw attention away from what's most important. You should also avoid any flashy graphics or images as they will distract employers and prevent them from taking you seriously.
Or, save time with a professionally designed resume template, and start crafting your winning job application now!
Proofread.
Before you submit your next -- or any future job application, take the extra time for proofreading and editing your documents.
Pay attention to every word. Make sure each sentence is error-free, with no spelling or grammar mistakes.
As a copywriter job applicant whose writing, proofreading and editing skills should be their strong suit, a typo in a resume can cost you the job opportunity.
Save your resume in the right format.
Employers sometimes request a specific file format in which candidates should submit their resumes.
This information is typically included in the job posting, so read it carefully to know what you should use for resume submission.
If there is no information about the file format, don't worry!
The most popular formats for resumes are Word (.doc, .docx) and PDF. They work well with 99,9% of applicant tracking systems (ATS) most companies use these days, so save your resume in one of these two file types.
Copywriter Resume Sample
After following the steps above, we've created a perfect copywriter resume that can put any job seeker in the top 1% of applicants, even if all applications come from the best copywriters:
CAREER SUMMARY
Results-oriented and creative copywriter with 6+ years of experience in advertising agencies and in-house. Developed marketing campaigns with a 15-35% engagement rate. Skilled at creating high-quality online content, including digital ads, social media posts and email communication.
WORK EXPERIENCE
ABC Company / Senior Copywriter
developed and launched engaging email marketing campaign for one of the company's clients resulting in 35% higher revenue and 10% increase in customer acquisition rate
implemented customized social media strategy for client's brand with 15-20% engagement rate
developed a comprehensive corporate communications strategy to promote client's products in Latin America
collaborated with a team of copywriters to produce 500+ blog articles per year
ABC Agency / Junior Copywriter
created content for the company blog, social media and email marketing programs that increased engagement rates by an average of 20% across all platforms
developed and implemented frameworks for online copywriting to meet the needs of a growing number of clients
collaborated with in-house digital marketers and graphic designers to increase engagement rate for Facebook and Instagram posts by 15-30%
ABC Agency / Intern
wrote 10+ articles for the company blog and over 20 email newsletters to promote products and services and improve brand awareness, generating a 15% engagement rate and generating an average of 100+ clicks
summarized client profiles, creative briefs and messaging guidelines for a portfolio of over 20 prospective clients
reviewed dozens of marketing materials to learn how to adapt writing style to client's industry and business goals
EDUCATION
Westford College / Bachelor's Degree in Advertising and Communications - GPA 3.7/4.0 *2012 – 2016
Distinction in Digital Marketing, awarded by Dean's List three semesters out of four
AWARDS
Team Lead Award for Campaign Development, 2014
Junior Copywriter Award for best copywriting campaign of the year, 2013
Summary
Copywriters make a living writing content for businesses and individuals. However, even though they are in the writing profession, writing their own resume may be a different kind of challenge.
Whether you're applying for a new job or a short-term copywriting gig, follow these steps to create a perfect copywriter resume:
Start from the job posting to identify key job requirements and keywords.
Choose the best resume format for your level of experience and situation.
Describe your experience using powerful, achievement-focused bullet points.
Save your resume in the format requested by employers.
By following these steps, you can create a professional and attractive resume that will stand out among other copywriting professionals and get you noticed by employers.
Pro tip: Level up your copywriter resume with a professional resume and cover letter design made by hiring experts! Download now ➝
Helpful resources
If you want to present your experience in a professional and polished resume design, explore our collection of over 40+ resume templates with matching cover letters.
But don't rely only on your resume to make an impression and land you the job. Follow these practical job search tips and methods to accelerate your job search and get that job term in no time.
Visit our blog for more resume writing and job searching tips.