Creating a standout content manager resume is your ticket to that dream job. But how do you showcase your unique blend of creativity, organizational skills, and digital savvy?
Don't sweat, our guide has you covered. Follow our handy tips, get inspired by our examples and — with our ready-to-use templates — craft a resume that's as compelling as the content you manage.
Read on and learn how to:
- Formatting your content manager resume
- Crafting an enticing resume summary or objective
- Highlighting the most desirable content manager skills
- Detailing significant work experience and key design projects
- Linking your social media or content marketing portfolio
- Adding a custom resume section as a content manager
- Steering clear of common resume mistakes
- Understanding the crucial difference between a resume and a cover letter
- Unveiling the average salary and job outlook for content managers
- Discovering top resources for job-seeking content managers
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.
1. How to properly format your content manager resume
Formatting plays a pivotal role in making your resume easy-to-read and professional. Here are the three popular formatting styles you can choose from:
- Chronological format: This is the most common style and ideal if you have a steady career progression in content management. It details your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job at the top. This format allows recruiters to see your career progression and most recent achievements first.
- Functional format: If you're changing careers or have gaps in your employment, the functional format could work best for you. It emphasizes your skills and achievements, rather than your work history. While it's great for highlighting your abilities, some hiring managers may not prefer this format as it doesn't present a clear career trajectory.
- Combination format: As the name suggests, this format blends the chronological and functional styles. You can highlight your skills and accomplishments first, followed by your employment history. It's effective for experienced professionals with a diverse set of skills, or those applying for senior content management roles.
Regardless of the formatting style you choose, consistency is key. Maintain the same font size, style, and section spacing throughout your resume to make it visually appealing and easy to read.
2. How to craft a strong resume summary or objective
Putting your best foot forward starts by nailing the top of your content manager resume with a strong summary or objective. Here's your game plan based on your experience level:
- Resume objective: Opt for a resume objective if you're a content management novice or transitioning careers. This should pinpoint your career aspirations and show how they align with the organization's goals. Steer clear of bland, commonplace statements — instead, showcase the skills you bring and your eagerness to expand in the field.
Bad example of a content manager resume objective
Looking for a content manager position to further my career.
Why does it fall flat? This example appears impersonal and doesn't provide any distinctive skills or aspirations. It lacks specificity and provides no value to the reader.
Good example of a content manager resume objective
Ambitious marketing graduate seeking a content manager role, bringing stellar research and writing skills, proficiency in SEO strategies, and a passion for building engaging digital narratives.
Why does it work? The revised version clearly outlines the candidate’s skills, passion for content creation, and desire to grow in the role.
- Resume summary: More experienced? A resume summary should be your pick. This should encapsulate your career victories, key skills, and experience. Token, generic phrases are out — specifics are in, so pack it with metrics or tangible projects wherever feasible.
Bad example of a content manager resume summary
Experienced content manager seeking a challenging role.
Why is it ineffective? This version lacks detail and doesn't illustrate the candidate's abilities or achievements. It doesn't give the reader a clear idea of what the candidate brings to the table.
Good example of a content manager resume summary
Detail-oriented Content Manager with over 5 years of experience in developing and implementing SEO-driven content strategies. Increased web traffic by 50% and doubled engagement rates at previous company through strategic content creation an d distribution.
Why is it a good example? This version does a good job of showing how long you've worked in your career, special skills, performance metrics, and the ability to generate tangible business results.
Whether it's an objective or summary you're crafting, make it catchy, relevant, and compelling in your content manager resume. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression!
3. How to showcase your content manager skills
As content managers, you're the ultimate multi-taskers. Your resume should highlight qualifications like writing abilities, communication, organizational skills, or hands-on experience with relevant tools and software.
You should also showcase your project management skills and leadership experience as you’ll lead the content writing team.
Here are some skills and keywords that appear most frequently on recent content manager job postings:
Best hard skills to include on a content manager resume
- Content marketing
- Content strategy
- CMS (e.g. Wordpress, Hubspot)
- SEO
- Editing
- Writing
- Web copywriting
- UX writing
- Proofreading
- Research
- Blogging
- HTML
- Google Analytics
- Ahrefs
- Adobe Suite
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Social media (e.g. Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter)
Besides your technical expertise, your soft skills can play a pivotal role in setting you apart.
Best soft skills for your content manager resume
- Communication: Critical in explaining strategies and conveying ideas.
- Leadership: Highlights your ability to guide and motivate a team.
- Problem-solving: Demonstrates your readiness to tackle challenges head-on.
- Teamwork: Showcases your collaborative spirit, essential in a multi-department environment.
- Creativity: Establishes your capability to think out of the box and devise engaging content strategies.
However, content manager is a role that covers a broad range of bases. Whether it’s content writing, acquiring backlinks, writing PR releases, or doing some graphic work — make sure to include all relevant skills you have.
Just don’t go overboard. Instead of including every single skill on your resume, identify the most relevant skills for the job you’re applying to.
4. How to highlight your work experience and key projects
The work experience section is the heart of your content manager resume, offering an avenue to relay your track record. Following below tips can bring it to life:
- Use strong action verbs: Start your sentences with interesting action verbs. For instance, instead of using "led", try "spearheaded", "oversaw", "championed", etc.
- Include powerful adjectives: Using diverse, intriguing adjectives can lend your accomplishments more weight and appeal. Shift from 'good' to 'exceptional', 'big' to 'substantial' or 'huge' to 'colossal'.
- Pack your work experience section with numbers: Measurable achievements are irresistible. They offer concrete evidence of your performance.
- Bask in relevance: Keep it concise by listing experiences that align with your target role. This enhances your credibility as a perfect fit.
- Mention your key projects: The spotlight should shine on any major projects you were part of. These are your trophies.
Bad example of a work experience section
Content Manager, XYZ Company
- Managed team
- Created innovative content
Why is it ineffective? The above example is nondescript and lacks any real impact. It begs for specifics, action verbs, and tangible achievements. The hiring managers are left guessing what the applicant truly achieved.
Good example of a work experience section
Content Manager, XYZ Company
- Directed a dynamic team of 5, bolstering the team's efficiency by 30%.
- Orchestrated a strategic content marketing campaign that amplified web traffic by 40%.
- Devised an innovative, data-driven content calendar that boosted engagement rates by 20%.
Key Project
- Championed a content overhaul project for the company blog, resulting in improved organic search visibility by 50%.
Why does it work? This example is robust and effective, with a focus on specific, quantifiable achievements and dynamic action verbs. It highlights the applicant's skills and the successes they have facilitated. Moreover, the inclusion of a key project offers an insight into the candidate's capabilities to handle significant tasks, adding value to their profile.
All in all, captivating action verbs, vivid adjectives, quantifiable achievements, and bracing relevance — when woven together — make for a power-packed work experience section.
5. How to link your social media or content marketing portfolio
Most content manager job ads will ask for a portfolio of your work. And even if they don’t, it’s always a plus to provide a link to your online portfolio of content samples.
However, not all content managers maintain a separate portfolio. In such cases, social media platforms can serve as an excellent showcase of your work.
Whether you have a traditional portfolio or use your social media profiles as one, don't forget to provide a link to them in your resume.
Either include the links in your contact information section or create a separate section called 'Portfolio' or 'Social Media'.
Then you can include a short description of your work — what types of content did you produce? Did you write for any notable names or media outlets? Give recruiters a little sneak peek of what they’ll find there!
Disclaimer: Carefully select the social media platforms to include. In general, leave out private profile that don't contribute to your professional image.
Example of social media on resume
Social Media
YouTube
- Conduct regular live Q&A sessions and create informative content strategy tutorials, acquiring 10,000 subscribers within a year.
- Link: [Your YouTube channel]
- Curate a mix of engaging behind-the-scenes content and educational posts that demystify content marketing, building a community of 8,000 followers.
- Link: [Your IG profile]
TikTok
- Deliver bite-sized, highly engaging content strategy tips, accumulating over 50,000 views in total.
- Link: [Your TikTok profile]
Alternatively, you can create a personal website where you can simply link a few sample articles or other online work you’ve done.
6. Add a custom resume section as a content manager
Lastly, try to set your resume apart from the competition. One way to do that is to create a custom section dedicated to any relevant projects you undertook.
These can include sections like:
- Notable publications. You can name it “Notable publications and sites”
- Media outlets you wrote for. “Media I wrote for" and simply list there the names of the publications.
- Influential projects you led. Mention any significant content or marketing projects that you spearheaded.
- Professional certifications. List any relevant certifications, such as Google Analytics Certificate or SEO certifications.
- Conferences or events. Participated in any big industry conferences or events? Perhaps you even had a chance to speak at some.
- Influencer & brand collaborations. Led any brand marketing campaigns or collaborated with influencers? Detail those partnerships in this section.
Just bear in mind that it's beneficial to create a custom section only if you have three or more distinct items to list within it.
If you don't, it would be more effective to incorporate that information into relevant existing sections throughout your resume.
Example of a content manager custom resume section
Media outlets I wrote for:
Wired Magazine
- Featured articles on effective content management strategies published in the July and December 2021 editions.
SEO Weekly
- Regular contributor with monthly articles focusing on SEO best practices and social media marketing trends.
CNBC
- Authored widely shared articles on evolving content marketing trends and influencer collaborations.
If you're looking for more marketing resumes, check out our article about 20 marketing resume examples that got people hired at Nike, Google, or Yamaha.
7. How to avoid common mistakes in a content manager resume
Even seemingly minor mistakes can mar your chances of landing the desired content manager role. Heed the following tips to prevent these from creeping into your resume:
- Avoid generic phrasing: Employers echo with resumes that are truly personalized. Steer clear of hackneyed phrases like "hard worker" or "team player" and instead, give specific examples of your skills in action.
- Check for typos and errors: Though it may sound outlandish, even minor typos have been known to cause major career roadblocks. Proofread your resume multiple times and consider having a second pair of eyes go through it.
- Strike a balance: Don't stuff your resume with keywords. While it's essential to include relevant keywords, it's equally important that your resume retains a natural flow and is meaningful to human readers, not just applicant tracking systems.
- Quantify achievements: A vague statement like "Increased social media engagement" lacks punch. Make it more impressive by adding numbers or percentages such as "Boosted social media engagement by 50%".
- Stay focused: A content manager resume should not be an entire life history. Stick to including only relevant informations like pertinent work experiences, sought-after skills in the industry, and your key achievements.
Remember, your resume is a reflection of your professional journey. Accurate, concise, and catered to the role, it can be the gateway to your dream career.
8. When to include a content manager cover letter
While both a resume and a cover letter are essential components of any job application, they serve different purposes and should be approached differently.
A cover letter is your chance to tell your unique story in a more personal, narrative form. While your resume lists your qualifications, your cover letter explains why these qualifications make you an excellent fit for the specific role. As a content manager, your cover letter should highlight relevant accomplishments, explain why you're interested in the role, and perhaps even shed light on what makes you a great content strategist.
So when should you include a cover letter with your content manager resume? Unless the job advertisement explicitly instructs you not to, it's always a good idea to include it. Not all recruiters may read cover letters, but you don't want to skip yours for those who do. It's an added opportunity to sell yourself, and you should take every chance to stand out from the crowd.
9. The average salary and job outlook for content managers
The landscape for content managers in the United States continues to be promising, with notable developments on salary scales and job opportunities:
The content manager field is expected to grow by 10% from 2018 to 2028, reflecting the continuing demand for skilled individuals who can manage and strategize a company's content flow.
The United States currently hosts over 5,572 employed content managers, a figure indicative of a healthy demand for the role. And over the next decade, it's predicted that approximately 33,700 new jobs for content managers will be created. This is likely due to businesses increasingly recognizing the importance of content marketing in reaching and engaging their target audience.
In terms of earnings, the role of a content manager proves to be financially rewarding. On average, a content manager in the U.S. earns a respectable $75,124 annually.
All in all, the numbers paint a promising picture — with a healthy job market and lucrative salary trajectories, there's never been a better time to be a content manager.
10. Top resources for job-seeking content managers
As a content manager navigating the job market, knowing where to look can make all the difference. Here are some essential resources to make your job search smoother:
- Job boards: Platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor are replete with postings for content management roles. Also, check out industry-specific sites like Mediabistro.
- Professional networks: Use LinkedIn to not only search for jobs but also to network with industry professionals, join relevant groups, and stay updated on industry news.
- Digital marketing events: Events, webinars, or conferences by organizations like Content Marketing Institute or Social Media Week are great for learning, networking, and job hunting.
- Online portfolios: Websites like Behance, GitHub or even your personal blog can act as your portfolio, showcasing your previous work and skills to potential employers.
- Recruitment agencies: Companies like Creative Circle, Kforce, and Robert Half often have connections to jobs that you might not find on general job boards.
Remember, a well-rounded job search uses multiple sources, so embrace them all in your quest for that ideal job. Good luck!
Content Manager Resume FAQ
What should be highlighted in my content manager resume?
Your resume should prominently feature your work experience, key projects, and skills. Be sure to emphasize your abilities in content creation, strategy formulation, SEO, and team collaboration. Don't forget to quantify achievements wherever possible to add credibility.
How should my experience be presented in the resume?
Each job experience should detail your role, responsibilities, and significant achievements. Use action verbs to start each point and try incorporating numbers to highlight achievements. Always list your experiences starting with the most recent one.
How should I format my content manager resume?
Your resume should be clean and easily readable. Break down your information into sections like Contact Information, Summary, Work Experience, Education, and Skills. Use bullet points to detail your roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments in the Experience section.
Should I include references in my content manager resume?
Not necessarily. If the job posting doesn't mention references, keep them off your resume and have them ready separately.
Can I use the same resume for different content manager job applications?
It's not advisable. It's always better to tailor your resume to each job application. Make sure to include relevant keywords from the job description and to align your experience with the job requirements.