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How to Build a Good SEO Resume

ikona-data-publikacji

Published

27/08/2020

ikona-data-publikacji

Published

27/08/2020

Contents

Search engine optimization (SEO) is what filters and rotates the abundance of information on platforms like Google, Bing, Baidu, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, and more. It’s what people trust and what brings money to companies, through clicks and leads. Each business, small or big, understands the importance of a great SEO specialist, so it is truly one of the most prosperous career options and SEO benefits in recent years. 

One of the things that makes this job an attractive choice for many people is that there is so much in it. You can deal with the more technical side of the optimization, build connections to improve the brand reputation or let your creativity flow by producing engaging SEO content. 

Whether you’re applying for the position of a manager, specialist, consultant, or analyst, you need an appealing and well-prepared SEO resume to grab the attention of recruiters. 

In this guide by Linkhouse, you will learn how to efficiently and effectively land that job you’ve always dreamed of! 

What format is best for SEO resume

Okay, so you start to write your resume, but what to put first? 

First, you need to understand that beating ATS robots is far from easy. The most impressive way to achieve it is by listing your work experience and education in chronological order. Start with the most recent things which are, in most cases, the ones you’re most proud of. 

However, it really depends on your professional background. If you apply as a manager or a specialist, then chronological should do the trick. 

In case you don’t have as much experience and you hope to land a job that would get you there, emphasize your skills and qualifications. Remember to specify how you did and still develop those skills – a past job, an internship, an online course, or your higher education. 

Always share examples and show that you have a real understanding of what it’s needed for your application. 

Sections of an SEO resume

Our advice is to build resume sections specifically for the job you apply for. 

Put only the relevant information that showcases your talent, experience, and abilities as an SEO expert. However, some sections are mandatory when writing the SEO specialist resume and you simply cannot exclude any. 

They are the following: 

If you want to really grab the attention of your potential employer, include any industry-recognized SEO certifications that you have; language levels for any foreign language that you know; a list of attended conferences, SEO events, workshops, etc. 

It will show that you are passionate and dedicated to this career, always looking to improve and learn more. Best case scenario – you have actual SEO projects you’ve completed and that perform great in Google rankings. Don’t include the unsuccessful ones such as websites for companies that are no longer in business. 

SEO resume summary or resume objective

Whether you choose one or the other, depends on where you are in your SEO career. 

If you are just starting and you need to find an entry-level job to help you grow in experience, then go for a resume objective. Tell people what you want to achieve, what drives you business-wise, and what you look to develop by working in this particular company. 

On the other hand, an SEO resume summary is useful for people who already have years of SEO experience and apply for a bigger position. In this case, it’s better to list all your achievements and emphasize why hiring you would be the best choice for the company in question. 

Here are some short examples of both sections: 

Example of an SEO resume objective 

Recently graduated marketing specialist with a passion for technical SEO and content marketing. Experience in managing several projects in university, looking to expand my already profound knowledge about SEO strategies, techniques, data analyzing, and research.

Example of an SEO resume summary

Skilled and creative SEO specialist with 7+ years of experience in various digital marketing companies. Improved organic search engine rankings by creating engaging and optimized content, targeting high-competition keywords, as well as implementing data analysis skills to continually enhance the websites’ performance. Looking to apply my Google analyst knowledge, project management skills, and SEO experience to a well-versed eCommerce brand that wants to improve their Digital Marketing and gain more traffic. 

How to write the SEO experience section

Always describe your working experience and responsibilities as if they were the most exciting thing in your life. And if you’re a real SEO junkie, that’s probably true. Don’t be afraid to let loose and show off your passion and achievements. 

Remember that numbers help a lot. Just as SEO is something that will always stay creative and imaginative, it also mostly goes down to numbers. How high does your work rank in Google, with how many percent have you increased the traffic of the website you worked on, etc? The ratio of passion for SEO and facts, numbers, and achievement should be 1:1. 

Example:

SEO Specialist at a Digital Marketing and Web Traffic Agency

07/2016 – 01/2020

  • Audit, set up and maintenance of Google Analytics Accounts;
  • GA Enhanced Ecommerce implementations;
  • Injected various scripts for Search Engine Optimization like JSON-LD structured data with dynamic values;
  • Ranked a newly created website in the top 6 for the right keywords; 
  • Increased leads with 15% and the website’s organic traffic with 38% in less than a month. 

Should you include education and certificates in an SEO resume

A university degree does not always equal real-life applicable knowledge, but it can still give you the upper hand when applying for an SEO position. The more it has to do with the job you want, the better. 

For example: 

  • Public Relations; 
  • Marketing;
  • Advertising; 
  • Computer Sciences; 
  • Applied Linguistics. 

Whatever works to your advantage – use it! 

This also includes mentioning seminars; different SEO, Marketing and Content Creation classes; workshops; training, and events. As we mentioned earlier, it’s imperative to show that you really appreciate your job, and working as an SEO specialist gives you as much joy as any other thing in your life. 

Employers want enthusiastic and passionate people, willing to learn and understand that you can never know enough. And what better way to prove yourself than to list all the actions you took to expand skills and knowledge? 

For example, if you are skilled in working with Google Analytics, take the time to earn the certificate to prove that you have that knowledge, instead of just talking about it. 

Remember to mention that you always keep up-to-date with the constant Google changes and updates, social media trends, and marketing know-how. It will show your future employers versatility and humility.

Top SEO certificates to include in your resume:

Here is a list of the most popular certifications that will surely boost your confidence and overall performance when applying for an SEO job: 

  1. Semrush Academy Certification
  2. Google Analytics Certification
  3. Google Ads Course Certification;
  4. Udemy – SEO: Complete SEO Training + SEO for WordPress Websites;
  5. Yoast free course for beginners or any of their other courses about SEO, WordPress, etc
  6. Moz SEO Training Course
  7. Hubspot Content Marketing or/and Inbound Certification
  8. Brannstation Search Engine Marketing Course.

What skills to include in an SEO resume

Listing your skills is essential to any job you’re applying to, even if it’s not related to SEO. The difference here is that your technical skills are just as important as the soft skills. You cannot prove to your future employer that you will be a good asset to the company if you don’t have the necessary technical knowledge or human interaction skills. 

As much as SEO is a nerdy, bury-your-face-in-the-monitor job, it’s also very social. You have to work with your team or manage it, collaborate on projects, communicate with clients, be patient about your work and the arrival of results, and much more. 

Keep in mind that recruiters and companies often rely on an Applicant Tracking System to scan the candidate resumes and thus find the right people.

No SEO resume is complete without mentioning your technical skills such as content creation, data analytics, coding, link building, tracking SERP positions, keyword research, on/off-page SEO, competitors research, PPC, WordPress, Social Media Marketing, UX skills, HTML/CSS, etc. 

List all important tools, even if you are not so proficient in them. The following include Google Search Console, Tag Manager, My business, Analytics, Drive; SEMrush; Ahrefs; Screaming Frog; Moz; Keyword Planner; Majestic SEO; WordPress; Joomla; etc. 

Let’s summarize what you need for a stunning SEO resume

  • No need to be modest – display your proudest achievements in the front;
  • Choose a layout that will work for the info you share; 
  • Make sure all the content is grammatically correct, with all the right punctuation and words; 
  • Put those amazing analytical skills to learn what the company you’re applying to is searching for, so you can give them exactly what they need; 
  • Check which are the tools and terms you need to include to pass the ATS system; 
  • Mention everything that is related to the position – education, certifications, training, etc.; 
  • Be human. People search for people, not a computer in a human disguise. Show that you are a passionate individual who wants to develop and do their best.
  • Use resume templates if you don’t feel confident with creating it all yourself.

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