Whether you’re taking your first steps into a different industry or simply seeking a new role, you’ll understand how competitive today’s job market is. Crafting a strong resume is therefore crucial for getting yourself noticed by employers, which is where copywriting comes in.

Copywriting involves creating inspiring written content that persuades readers to take action. As a highly useful tool when it comes to well-crafted resumes, we’ve therefore come up with some key copywriting strategies that can be used to help you stand out from the sea of applicants. 

What is a Resume and What Should it Include?

Often referred to as a CV (curriculum vitae), resumes are formal documents that detail your professional qualifications and work experience when applying for jobs. Resumes are usually the first thing hiring managers look at when recruiting new employees, so making a good first impression is key.

An effective resume should therefore include the following information:

• Personal details – Name, address, and contact information

• Education history – Schools, university, and qualifications achieved

• Work experience – Chronological job titles, responsibilities, and achievements

• Skills – Soft skills like problem-solving and hard skills like computer proficiency

• References – Past employers who can support your statements

If you have little or no experience, don’t panic – you can still write a great CV that shows why you’re a top candidate for the job. Create a “Strengths” section highlighting traits that are relevant to the job, discuss your marketable skills, and go into detail on your education history.

5 Copywriting Tips for a Top-Tier Resume

Want to take your resume to the next level? Here are our copywriting tips for creating an inspirational CV and winning over employers:

#1 Use Industry-Specific Terms

One of the best ways to help your resume stand out from the crowd is by using terms that are relevant to the role you’re applying for. This shows that you have top-quality industry experience and are interested in keeping your knowledge up to date. 

In a copywriting job, for instance, some key terms could include search engine optimisation (SEO) and search engine results page (SERP).

Another benefit of including keywords is that employers often use these when searching for their ideal candidate, especially when using automatic screening processes like Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). So, incorporating them into your CV can help you become much more visible.

#2 Be Clear and Concise

Showcasing your knowledge of the role that you’re applying for is crucial, but try to resist the urge to use too much jargon or complex language. Rather than highlighting your expertise, this could simply detract from the important information you’re trying to convey about yourself.

Stick to simple, yet professional wording, using strong and specific action verbs that speak for themselves in terms of your skillset. For example, if you’ve explained how you “Held meetings to share client updates,” create a clearer and more confident tone by instead writing “Delivered weekly meetings to communicate revenue growth.”

If you’re struggling to get the balance right with language choices, Hemingway Editor is an effective tool to keep in mind. This app provides suggestions for replacing hard-to-read phrases, along with unnecessary words that may be overcomplicating your point.

#3 Think About Formatting

Along with the language used, take a look at your formatting too. Choose a clear, easily readable font and refrain from using big blocks of text that could cause the reader to lose interest. Instead, limit your paragraphs to no more than 3 to 4 lines. 

You should also make use of bullet points to help employers find the most important information instantly when scanning your CV.

#4 Demonstrate the Value of Your Achievements

As copywriters, we’re often focused on ensuring that the content we produce demonstrates experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. This can help sites rank highly on search engines, so why not apply these same principles to your resume?

When completing the section on your past work experiences, try to highlight your achievements rather than simply listing tasks or jobs that you’ve completed. For instance, if conversion rates increased due to a block of content that you delivered, be sure to include the figures on your resume.

#5 Proofread and Edit Before Sending

Although this tip may seem obvious at first glance, you’d be surprised by how many people send copies of their resume to employers with spelling or grammatical errors. One study found that 87% of CVs had at least one mistake, whilst 37% contained 5 or more.

To ensure that your resume remains professional, be sure to proofread one last time before sending, or gain another perspective by asking a friend or colleague to take a look. Run it through a free editing tool like Grammarly too, which checks work for spelling, grammar, tone, conciseness, word choice, and much more.

Final Thoughts

Armed with our copywriting techniques and tools, you should now be ready to write an effective resume and get the job that you’ve been dreaming of. 

If you’re looking for more copywriting tips, visit The Author’s Pad, where we cover everything you need to get started and progress in the copywriting industry.

FAQs

Which Copywriting Skills Should I Include On My Resume?

The skills that you’ll include will vary based on your experience, industry, and area of expertise, but some ideas include:

• SEO best practices

• WordPress proficiency

• Written communication

• Digital marketing

• Social media management

• Marketing KPIs

• Concept development

How Can I Improve my Copywriting Skills?

As a copywriter, your skills will naturally get better over time as you complete more content and work with a variety of clients. One great way to improve your skills is by reading online resources, such as those offered on blogs like The Author’s Pad or LinkedIn. Take part in online courses, create content for friends or non-profit organisations, and ask for regular feedback too.

How Can I Make My Copywriting Work More Impressive?

Ultimately, the best way to improve your content is by taking on client feedback. However, using copywriting tools can help to elevate your writing, improve your editing techniques, and streamline processes. Tools such as Surfer SEO will ensure that you get more relevant keywords into your work, whilst Trello is great for planning and managing your workload.