Many new copywriters want to know what the best copywriter resumes look like. And I’ll certainly answer that question, but there’s actually and even bigger consideration that entirely outweighs the resume.
Must-Haves on Your Copywriter Resume
1. Benefit to Consumer
There’s one simple swap that will make your copywriting resume stand out above all others. In fact, this is a swap you should make for any industry, copywriting or otherwise (so, send this along to your friends).
You know that “Objective” section at the top of your resume? The one where you tell your prospective employer about what you want out of your next job? Scrap it. Delete it. Or at the very least, cut and paste it somewhere else.
Most people make the mistake of listing an “objective” as in, “My goal is to get a copywriting job that lets me exercise my skills while learning…” Yada yada yada.
Here’s the thing: Nobody cares what you want. What they care about is what you can bring to the company! So, turn this first part around and make it all about what you bring to the table that no one else can. Your resume is your ad for yourself! So, sell yourself effectively. What’s your benefit to consumer?
And, when you craft this section, be sure to include a little bit of personality. Stay on topic and stay concise, but show them a little bit of yourself. Use words you actually use in real life. (Have you actually ever spoken the sentence, “I’m passionate about facilitating and effective relationship between strategy and copy”??)
If you’re excited or passionate or driven wild by something, make sure it’s clear. People want to hire brilliant copywriters, but they also want to hire people who are fun to work with and who really care about the work they do.
Here’s some more information about how to write that well.
2. Relevant Experience
Second, if you’re newer to copywriting, your resume is probably full of work experience that has little do to with copywriting. Sure, it shows that you’re employable, but it says nothing at all about your copywriting skill. So, instead of using a standard resume, use a “selected credits resume” that lists just your copywriting credits.
You can find more details about putting together a selected credits resume here.
Your Portfolio is More Important Than Your Copywriter Resume
But here’s the thing about a copywriter’s resume: It’s significantly less important than your portfolio. Your portfolio is what proves that you know how to do what you say you do. It shows that you’ve got copywriting skills, that you know how to work with a designer, and that you know what constitutes a great piece of creative work.
Before anyone even meets you, your portfolio helps sell you as professional. Yes, you should polish your resume and make it professional and well-written. But you need to put much more energy into your portfolio and make sure that it absolutely shines with your copywriting brilliance.
Your turn! How have you polished up your resume? Let us know in the comments below!
Last Updated on September 11, 2023
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