What Makes a Great Marketing CV?
- June 04, 2025
What Makes a Great Marketing CV?
The dos, don’ts, and avoid-at-all-costs according to people who read 100s every week
Summary:
Most marketing CVs are either too fluffy, too vague or trying too hard. If you want to stand out in 2025, keep it simple, commercial and credible. Here's exactly what a good marketing CV should look like—and what to leave out if you want to be taken seriously.
The Harsh Truth
We read thousands of CVs a year. Most of them are… fine. A few are brilliant. Quite a few are bizarre. But the biggest problem we see is this: marketing professionals forgetting to market themselves.
A great CV doesn’t try to say everything. It focuses on the right things, for the right audience. It’s honest, concise, and gives just enough commercial detail to spark a conversation.
So, What Makes a Great Marketing CV?
It’s clear what you do
Recruiters and hiring managers don’t have time to decode your career. If you’re a digital marketer with a paid social focus, say that. If you’re a generalist with CRM and content experience, say that too. Be specific.
Avoid:
“I’m a dynamic, results-driven team player passionate about storytelling and innovation.”
Use instead:
“Digital marketer with 3 years’ experience in paid social, email campaigns and landing page optimisation.”
It shows outcomes, not just activity
Listing your responsibilities is fine, but what did you actually achieve?
Better than:
“Managed Instagram channel for B2C brand”
Try:
“Grew Instagram following by 200% in 12 months and improved engagement rate by 35%”
It’s tailored to the job
If you’re applying for a role that leans heavily on CRM or SEO, make sure those skills are easy to find, ideally on page one. Generic CVs look lazy. You don’t need a rewrite for every job, but a quick tweak to the intro and top bullet points goes a long way.
It’s formatted like you’re not trying to be clever
Skip the icons, graphs, fancy fonts and photos. Hiring managers aren’t looking for creative flair unless you’re a designer (in which case you’ll have a folio). Stick to clear headings, black text on white background and consistent formatting. Substance beats style.
What to Leave Out (or Tidy Up)
- Waffle. “Excellent communication skills” means nothing without evidence.
- Buzzwords. Synergy, passion, ninja, rockstar etc.
- Irrelevant jobs. That pub job you had in 2012 doesn’t need half a page.
- Too much personal info. Your age, marital status, or full address are not needed.
- Typos. If you’re applying for a role that requires attention to detail, don’t submit a CV that hasn’t been proofread.
What Hiring Managers Actually Look For
- Can this person clearly explain what they’ve done and where they’ve added value?
- Have they worked in a similar type of organisation or sector before?
- Do they understand the channels or responsibilities this role requires?
- Are they progressing in their career, or just moving sideways?
- Do they care enough to have made this CV easy to read?
FAQ Section
Q: How long should a marketing CV be?
A: Ideally no more than two pages. Keep it relevant, recent and easy to scan.
Q: What should I put in the summary at the top of my CV?
A: One short paragraph explaining what you do, your top 2–3 strengths, and what kind of roles you’re looking for. Skip the clichés.
Q: Do I need to include every job I’ve ever had?
A: No. Keep older or unrelated jobs brief or remove them altogether. Focus on the last 5–8 years unless earlier experience is directly relevant.
Q: Should I include a portfolio?
A: If you’re in content, creative, or social—yes. A simple PDF or link to work is fine. Just make sure it’s curated, not a dumping ground.
Final Thought
Your CV’s job isn’t to get you hired, it’s to get you a conversation. Make it clear, commercial and relevant. That’s it. You don’t need to be the best marketer in the world. You just need to help the person reading it understand what you’re good at, and why you might be a fit.
If you want a second opinion or a bit of honest feedback, we’re always happy to take a look.
You might also like to check out our useful information page with additional pointers: HERE