Content Writer resume examples & templates

Let’s face it: nobody is perfect, but that’s essentially how you need to come across when submitting a content writer resume. If your resume stands any chance of being a shortlist standout, perfection in the sense of flawless language use and typo-free text is still not good enough. 

As a virtual audition that simultaneously shows and tells your best writing attributes, your content writer resume can open or close hiring doors faster than it might for candidates in other occupations. With the wow-factor bar set higher earlier on, it’s not unusual to feel pangs of performance anxiety when you are the topic of this content writing task. 

Let us help you confidently seize the opportunity to express yourself and impress employers with a resume you wear well. Being an experienced or aspiring content writer gives you an edge in showcasing your knowledge, talents, and accomplishments to your best advantage.

Resume guide for a content writer resume

Everything else you need to launch your job quest can be found at Resume.io, from comprehensive advice to 500+ resume examples and writing guides. This guide will take you step-by-step through the process of putting it all together. 

Here is what we’ll cover:

• How to write a content writer resume
• Choosing the right resume format for content writing
• How to add your contact information
• Creating great summaries
• Adding your content writing experience
• Listing education and relevant experience
• Eye-catching resume format and design hints to put your best foot forward
• What the content writing market looks like and what salary you can expect

How to write a content writer resume

It all begins with a solid structure. To get started with your content writer resume, make sure you have the following elements: 

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

A resume is a pitch for employment. To make it to the interview round, use this formula:

• Showcase your achievements, not your tasks. Employers want to know what impact you had on the organization, so tell them.
• Custom-tailor your resume to the employer. You are trained to always write for your audience in delivering content that is engaging, relevant, compelling and above all, purposeful. Use that training now. Answers to these questions inform your strategy: who am I writing this for, and why?
• Create a professional visual first impression with a resume template designed to be clean and memorable.
• Optimize your online application to help you leap the ATS hurdle.

Choosing the best resume format for a content writer

Most of the time, a reverse chronological format will suit this type of resume. This structure allows you to kick things off with your most recent experience and qualifications. As you move down the page, work your way back in time. Recruiters favor this approach as it means that they can quickly see whether you fit the bill. 

If you are new to the field of content writing, however, you may want to look at other options. For example, the functional resume format highlights your skills rather than your experience.

The resume templates in our resume builder include versions of the three formats available as resume examples. Choose the style that best suits your needs.

A content writer resume template should focus attention on your words. Go with a simple design that does not detract from your key skill: your writing.

Include your contact information

Much of your content is written to entice a reader to interact with the company. Your resume serves the same purpose in your job search. The header of your resume provides the hiring manager with the means to act.

Present your contact information in an easy-to-read, professional format:

• Full name and title. List your first and last name. Follow it, or place just below it, the title of the role you are pursuing.
• Professional email address. Use a clean format like firstname.lastname@gmail.com.
• Phone number. List a number where you can be readily contacted, with a professional voicemail greeting.
• Location. List only your city and state. Don’t list street address or zip code. It’s not relevant and never a good idea to reveal more than you have to for safety reasons.
• LinkedIn. If your LinkedIn profile is active, relevant, and shows your network of sources, include it here.
• Portfolio. If you have a portfolio of your content writing work, list that as well.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth: Not necessary and could potentially lead to age discrimination.
• Personal details: Marital status, social security number, passport number, etc.

Write a summary that sings your praises 

Adopting the face, voice, and personality of an employer or client is routine for many content writers. The resume summary—sometimes called profile—is where your own professional and personal essence shines through. 

Its usual placement right below the header lends off-the-top importance and directness to your connection with hiring managers.

Limited resume page space dictates a sparing word count in the summary without selling yourself short. Judgment calls determine how much to say here and exactly how to say it concisely but convincingly. You have just two or three almost-complete sentences to hit the high notes. The good news: omitting “I” in each one is proper form. Clear, descriptive, and dynamic language is your friend. Use active, results-oriented verbs: “persuaded” instead of “presented,” or “spearheaded” instead of “led.”

As a synopsis of information found elsewhere on your resume, the summary neither duplicates nor downplays the highlights from a “what I’ve done” perspective. “Who I am” must also come across in your compelling pitch for being the right hire, beyond abilities and accomplishments. Prospective employers care about the human traits that make you good at what you do. Here’s how you might convey it in a simple sentence: “Consistently met tight deadlines while delivering top-quality content.”

A pitch-perfect resume summary strikes a balance between overstating and understating your value proposition. Don’t be too modest but don’t cross any boastful lines. Share due credit for your successes in the context of team collaboration and cooperation. You can’t go wrong with assertive, confident, and energetic. Arrogant and pretentious are show-stoppers. Above all, be earnest and authentic.

Here are examples of adaptable content writer resume summary sections: 

Highlight your content writer experience: drive interest

Organizing the work history section of your resume should be simple if you have consistent content writing experience, perhaps including your current job. The generally recommended chronological structure will work fine. 

Each job entry starts with the employer's name, location, and when you worked there. Below that is a bullet point list of your contributions. Be specific and use dynamic action verbs in the simple past or present tense: for example, “created” instead of “responsible for creating” (or worse, “responsible for the creation of.”) Your language should showcase accomplishment rather than state responsibilities. 

These items merely tell the employer what your tasks were:

• “Write 500-word blog entries.”
• “Generate ideas for email blasts.”
• “Proofread all content for website.”
• “Research topics to ensure accuracy.”

Instead of these dry bullet points, write with the following in mind: Focus on results and outcomes whenever possible. Was there an impact on web traffic or revenues? Were readers persuaded or influenced by a call to action? Any time you can substantiate your work achievements, your resume is richer for it.

Here are rewritten examples that quantify your successes:

• “Created engaging blog entries for educational website, boosting time on page by average of 10 minutes.”
• “Pitched and wrote email newsletters focused on online learning that generated 10% click rate to website.”
• “Ensured all copy in multiple platforms adhered to all spelling, grammar, style and tone guidelines before publication.”
• “Vetted sources and conducted research to ensure accuracy of all information.”

Here’s an example of a content writer employment history section:

How to write a content writer resume with no experience

No experience does not mean no writing samples. As a budding content writer, you need either expertise in the field you want to write about or samples of your writing. Preferably both. If you haven’t taken a content writing class, consider writing sample copy on your own that you can show to employers.

Generally, only relevant jobs—content writing—belong on your resume, however, that doesn’t apply if you have no direct experience. If you have experience from a non-writing job in your niche, include that. Also include any jobs that show you are detail-oriented, understand research methodology or other transferable skills.

Go ahead and list volunteer and part-time jobs if they demonstrate your skill set.

Focus on the skills that make you a great content writer 

In sync with the summary and employment history section of your resume, the resume skills list shines an extra bright spotlight on what matters. The relative simplicity of formatting gives you flexibility in changing up your resume for each targeted job. 

Be sure to include a blend of hard and soft skills that help define you as a great fit for the job and the employer, including corporate culture.

Hard skills such as research expertise, fine-tuning of language and tone plus familiarity with software, web data analytics, word processing, social media monitoring, and content management will help you stand out. 

Soft skills tend to be interpersonal skills that make you an excellent communicator, working effectively with others in team or management roles. Especially if you work from home or independently, it’s important to note your ability to collaborate, coordinate and stay connected with everyone else involved in the workflow. 

Here’s a sample of a content writer skills section:

Every great content writer knows the message must flow throughout the text. Imbue your resume with skills in context. In your work history and summary, showcase your:

• Product knowledge by getting specific about the content you wrote
• Social media savvy with data about a campaign you wrote and how it benefited your employer
• Audience targeting by detailing how you adjusted your writing for different demographics and the results you achieved

The job description is the best place to discover which of your skills best match what the employer wants.

Highlight your education & content writing certifications

The education section of a content writer’s resume is usually straightforward. It’s where you list degrees earned from college programs you were enrolled in. Be sure to mention scholastic awards or other special achievements and honors. 

But this section can also include:

• Training and certifications. Any relevant instruction, courses, workshops, webinars or certifications, such as content marketing certification, related to writing or your niche industry.
• Internships. Any college or post-college positions that increased your portfolio add to your desirability, especially at the beginning of your career.
• Professional development. Organizations and trade groups help develop your network and broaden your impact.

Consider reversing the order of your employment history and education sections in these instances: you have little or no employment experience as a content writer, your educational background is particularly impressive or relevant to the job, or you are a freelance content writer starting out or branching out in a sideline career. Remember, you can also use a functional format in these cases.

Here’s an example of a content writer education section:

Choosing the best resume layout and design for a content writer

As a content writer you don’t need reminding that resume formatting and visual always count on a professional-caliber document. You are used to ensuring your work will look as good as it reads, even if someone else takes care of the design and formatting.

What you have in common with all workforce hopefuls is the goal of a clean, reader-friendly resume layout. The same basic rules apply to margins, spacing, proportion and balance between text and white space in the formatting of a content writer resume. 

Chances are you have the know-how and flair to design a stylish resume that does justice to its content quality: eye-catching but gimmick-free, impeccably neat, balanced and polished. But unless you are keen to spend that much time and energy building your resume from scratch, there are easier ways. 

Consider using one of our field-tested resume templates, where the most tedious aspects of design and formatting are done for you. You are sure to be equally satisfied with the end product, especially after adding your own stamp of originality.

Content writing text-only resume example

Content writer job market and outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 4% increase overall from 2022 to 2032 for the occupations lumped together in its catch-all “writers and authors” category. 

What do content writers earn?

The salary range for content writers is quite wide. That may be because some work freelance or part-time jobs, while others work in traditional, full-time jobs. At the low end, writers earn less than $29,000 a year while the maximum salary rises to $109,867. Median salary is $56,296.

Key takeaways for building a content writer resume

By virtue of your expertise as a content writer, the bar is set high to create a top-flight resume.

Research and strategic skills will help when creating an adaptable resume tailored to the specific job qualifications and requirements of each prospective employer. Target your resume accordingly by incorporating keywords matched to the listed job description in the summary, work history and skills sections while identifying your strengths.

Using the online resume maker and one of the resume examples at Resume.io lets you focus on writing worthy resume content, with room for your own creative stamp.