How to Write an Effective SEO Resume in 5 Easy Steps
A career in SEO requires a Professional SEO resume. Here’s listing a few key points that will help you land the job.
To write an effective SEO resume firstly you should know the important aspects of SEO and how it affects today’s rapidly growing ‘Digital’ world.
The Internet has reached, penetrated only 34% of people and out of which 72% are below 35 age bracket. This indicates the kind of activity the users will be partaking in. To be able to effectively reach any particular set of people, certain standards are maintained via a detailed study, which helps us to develop the best SEO practices. India ranks second only to China in terms of Internet usage, which is exponentially increasing day by day as the penetration of Digital India increases. India is bringing about a major change in Digital Marketing and helping businesses promote their growth rapidly with increasing online recognition. The experts who make this possible are called SEO specialists.
The Internet Marketing sector has had an exponential boost and companies are diverting their marketing budget from traditional methods to that of internet marketing strategies. This promotes the growth of jobs in the field of Digital Marketing — where SEO is of utmost importance. Being an SEO specialist, if you need to catch the eye of a recruiter there are some key points that need to be enlisted to sell yourself convincingly so that he can fix on you.
5 Tips to Write a Professional SEO Resume
1. What to Include in an SEO Resume
The structure of your resume depends on the job that is being applied for, the company being applied to, your past work (or) work experience, Level of education and your skills and certifications.
Customizing the resume is important as each company will have a different perspective when looking for a candidate for a particular position. You would have to analyze the working of the company and how their hiring process takes place and then and the necessary points in your resume.
Targeting certain SEO skills and keywords have proven effective time and again. Although there is no particular way that an SEO resume is built, there are a few elements that are present regardless of which style that is picked to create the resume which includes Contact information, Resume summary statement, your achievements, experience, skills, and education.
2. Know which Structure or Style of Resume Suits you
While there are several types of structures or styles to pick from, there are 2 very important and crucial styles :
(i) Chronological Style
It focuses on displaying the date based history of jobs, beginning with the latest first.
This will mainly focus on types of jobs held by that person and it is useful for those who have no gap in their employment history.
(ii) Functional Style
This style is suitable for those who are looking for a deviation from their earlier profession but it is hard for them to clarify why they are making the change of profession and the employment gaps.
Making use of the achievements section, they can list the essential skills and accomplishments that are useful when applying for the new job without mentioning the company or employer.
3. Know How to Write a Noteworthy SEO Resume Summary Statement
When providing your resume to a hiring manager, you need to keep in mind that the first thing that he would notice is the SEO Resume summary statement. It needs to stick to the criteria that are best suitable for the employer’s needs.
You need to make the employer believe that you are the best qualified for the job. A few key points that you need to pay attention to when writing your summary statement are:
- It should not be too long. It should be concise and crisp.
- First-person pronouns need not be used.
- Incomplete sentences refer to the objective fast and are preferred.
- State more using less, by utilizing the correct strategies like gapping strategy.
When applying for a particular job, if you have the necessary skills and aptitude for the job, make sure the recruiter knows about it. Keeping this in mind, make sure your summary statement makes an impact and the recruiter is able to keep you at the top of their priority list.
4. Write Work Experience, that Catches the Attention of the Recruiter
While writing Work Experience, there are two crucial styles to be used :
(i) Chronological Format
It is straightforward and needs to be used when there are no gaps in the history of employment.
- SEO Executive, Candor Online Solutions (Jul 2014 – Present)
- Graphic Designer, ARC | Start-up (Dec 2013 – Dec 2014)
- Social Media Team Leader, School of Technology (Jan 2012 – May 2014)
- Call Centre Trainee, Lexicon Services (Feb 2013 – Dec 2013)
- President of Student Council, School of Sport Sciences (Aug 2010 – Sep 2011)
(ii) Functional Format
The value is on your performance and not on when you have done it. The accomplishment section should portray the problem and the outcome that was designed by you to help bring an effective solution in the best possible way. Since it is not possible to give a detailed description, incorporate all key points of the problem and the solution in 6-8 lines such that it is matching your employer’s needs for that particular job that is being applied for.
5. Know how to List your Relevant Skills Effectively
Provided that you have a good history of employment, it is possible that you know which skills are most emphasized and valued in that industry. A few examples of categories that are listed in an SEO resume for fresher are :
(i) Technical Skills
- Keyword Research
- MS Excel, Google Analytics
- E-Commerce Marketing
- On Page SEO Optimization
- Off Page SEO Optimization
- Google Ads
- Use of SEO to Boost Traffic
- Social Media Strategy
- Word Press, HTML
(ii) Personal/Interpersonal Skills
- Self-Motivated
- Leadership Abilities
- Goal-Oriented
- Organizational Skills
- Linguistic Proficiency
To make the application more authentic and to make the recruiter feel that you understand the importance of the job, a cover letter must be included which captures the importance of how to list your achievements and skills in a manner that doesn’t waste the recruiter’s time.
How to Write Job-winning Cover Letter for an SEO Resume
1. Research on the Website of the Company/Agency
In the cover letter, it is important to be short and crisp, so in a few lines, you need to display what you have learned about the company’s working by researching on the company’s website. This shows that you have the right skills that are required for the job.
2. Show how Good you were in your Previous Place of Employment
Results and reports of how you increased website hits and increased traffics. Also, include how you improved the ranking of the page. This shows how your analytical skills are impressive and will catch the eye of the recruiter immediately.
3. Show your Potential on how to Convert Leads
It is essential to show how you convert leads into actual clients as that is the most important aspect of Digital Marketing and SEO strategies. If the numbers are good, the recruiter will be focused on your resume immediately.
4. Tell the Recruiter what you think about Future SEO Trends
It is important to enlist what you think the future of that industry will be, as there is the only scope of employment if there is potential for growth in the industry.
5. Speak in a Language the Company Understands
To be able to convey your words properly is a task in itself, it is important to be able to make your message reach the recruiter. This is only possible if the research on the company and it’s working is done in an efficient manner.
6. Speak about why SEO is Important to you and your Thoughts on SEO
Individuals who are passionate about their work and show interest in the growth of the field that they are working in are often preferred over other contenders. Companies choose those who are goal-oriented and establish themselves as having leadership qualities. While doing the work with a focus on the relevant topics, it is essential to make your thoughts reach the company with utmost precision.
SEO Expert Resume Samples
A person who has had previous experience in the field of SEO and has established a reputation for himself in the step by step planning and execution of campaigns that are related to SEM and SEO. There are two types of SEO resume samples that are present:
(i) SEO Resume format for Fresher (Traditional look)
(ii) SEO Resume Sample (Modern Visual look)
SEO Jobs Online
SEO Analyst resume has some basic requirements that need to be fulfilled. Once the SEO resume format is understood and the cover letter encompasses all the key points that are needed to make the recruiter feel like you are the top priority for the job, you are ready. A skill set that pertains to being an SEO expert, makes you eligible and ready to apply for jobs that are available online. There are only 2 things that need to be kept in mind in order to apply for jobs online which are knowing which organization you want to apply to and the best-suited role that fits your skillset.
Sources to SEO Jobs Online in India
Listed below are some of the sources for SEO jobs are:
(i) Job Portals
A few online portals are present like Glassdoor.co.in, Naukri.com, Monsterindia.com, indeed.co.in and Shine.com which have jobs listed for SEO experts. It is essential to complete your profile with all necessary details and certifications so that the companies that hire you or consider you for a position know that you are a verified individual. You will need to list your expected salary, types of jobs that you are available for and the time that you are available for that particular job.
(ii) Social Media Groups
Sometimes other than Job portals there is a collection of individuals that are present on Social Media that are looking for people who are best suited for jobs available in their companies. It is important to follow these groups and keep yourself updated with the daily requirements of these organizations as they sometimes have dedicated groups for finding SEO specialists.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your SEO resume plain, simple yet organized to make it look professional in the eyes of the recruiter. The font should be easily readable and consistency should be maintained throughout the resume. There should be no change in structure and style and it should be uniform throughout the resume. The key points of the resume should include your SEO skills and the experience which enables you to stand out as an SEO specialist.
All in all, it is my pleasure to help you with building an effective Resume and it is my sincere hope that by using the above-mentioned information you can build your Resume and bag a job as an SEO specialist. Cheers and All the Best for your future endeavors!