SEO Resume: 2023 Guide with 10+ Examples & Samples

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SEO or search engine optimization is one of the highest in-demand jobs among companies who are looking to expand their footprint online.

According to BLS Civilian Labor Force, the SEO job market has grown by 6.9% in the year 2017-18 compared to average employment growth in the USA which was 1.1%

If you are looking for an SEO specialist role in this competitive field, you need to convince to the recruiter that you can bring results. You can do this by creating a stellar SEO expert resume that highlights your accomplishments and skills.

In this guide, we will explain how to write an search engine optimization resume that piques the interest of the recruiter and gets you an interview.

Here is the summary of SEO Resume Blog:

  • Always write your full name as the resume header to help recruiters to recognize your resume
  • If you are a fresher, focus more on relevant coursework, project, volunteer experience, and extracurricular activities
  • Create a separate Key Skills and Technical Skills section to highlight your core competencies and tool proficiencies
  • Ensure that the professional experience section have one-line bullet points explaining your skills and expertise
  • Start the bullet points with power verbs to maximize the impact of your resume.

While this blog will cover most of the points regarding writing an search engine optimization resume, it will also answer some frequently asked questions about a Search Engine Optimization profile:

Hiration has a massive resource of pre-made bullet points for various resumes, which you can easily copy and paste into your profile.

What Is an SEO resume?


An SEO resume is a professional document highlighting and representing your skills, experience to potential employers. SEO professionals work in online marketing, and they are responsible for improving an organization’s digital footprint by improving their website’s search ranking.

Here are some of the profiles that come under SEO resume:

  • SEO Specialist
  • SEO Expert
  • SEO Analyst
  • Junior SEO Associate
  • Senior SEO specialist
  • Search engine Optimizer
  • Digital marketer
  • Content marketer
  • SEO Manager

SEO Job Descriptions


Here is a sample SEO job description for your reference:

We are looking for an SEO expert to bolster our website ranking!

You will look after the entire SEO activities, including content strategy, link building, keyword research, and collaborating with the technical team to work on off-page SEO. You will also manage SEM campaigns in different search engines to maximize user engagement.

SEO Resume: Roles and Responsibilities:


  • Conduct A/B tests and collect user data to identify trends and implement those data to deploy paid search campaigns
  • Track and analyze website analytic performance and identify ranking improvement opportunities
  • Manage ad budgets and coordinated with Ad experts to ensure maximum ROI with a limited budget
  • Optimize website copy and landing pages for improving user sign ups
  • Conduct keyword research and keyword optimization on blogs and other content to improve organic traffic
  • Stay updated on the latest SEO trends and Google algorithm updates to modify SEO strategies
  • Research competitions and implement Link building strategies for improving DR
  • Work with content writers and editorial team to create SEO optimized content for bogs

SEO Resumes: Requirements


  • 2+ years of proven SEO experience with experience in PPC campaigns
  • Experience in using Google Analytics tool
  • Solid understanding of online marketing, keyword research using Ahref, Semrush, etc.
  • Experience in project management and bid management
  • Solid analytical skills with expertise in A/B Testing
  • Knowledge of HTML, CSS, Javascript

SEO Expert Salary


According to indeed.com, the salary of an SEO Expert in the USA is $52,583 per year.

Here is the breakdown of salary of SEO experts based on location:

Location Salary
San Francisco, CA $82,563/ year
New York, NY $66,360 per year
Las Vegas, NV $59,195 per year
Houston, TX $58,928 per year
Phoenix, AZ $51,933 per year
Boca Raton, FL $51,719 per year
Fort Lauderdale, FL $51,178 per year
Los Angeles, CA $50,564 per year

Here is an infographic to show the employment growth of SEO in the USA:

SOURCE

The Best Resume Format for an SEO Executive?


Six seconds!

A recruiter spends only 6 seconds reviewing a resume!

If they don’t find your resume effectively designed or well-formatted, they won’t take a second to skip over your resume.

But with proper formatting, you can prevent this from happening.

The first thing you need to select is the correct resume format based on your experience.

There are three formats to choose from:

We suggest you use reverse chronological resume format since it highlights your most recent experience, skills, and accomplishments to the recruiters.

If you have a career gap or you are switching industries, then you can use the functional resume format since it will hide the career gaps and focus on your skills.

If you are a seasoned professional with 10+ years of niche experience, then you can use the Hybrid resume format.

Here are a couple more seo resume format for experienced candidate:

  • Break down your resume into different sections
  • Have ½” to 1” margin on all sides of the resume
  • Wrap up the resume within 1 page. If you have 6+ years of experience, only then can you extend the resume into two pages.
  • Use a professional resume font such as Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman to create the resume.
  • Submit the resume in PDF format to the recruiters

SEO Resume Sections


Each resume section is essential and plays an essential role in maximizing the chances of getting an interview. Here are some of the critical sections that you need to add to the SEO resume:

  • Header
  • Personal Information
  • Profile Title
  • Summary
  • Key Skills
  • Professional Experience/Internship
  • Education
  • Certifications (if any)
  • Projects (if any)
  • Training/Workshops (if any)
  • Additional Information (if any)

Read further to know more about different resume sections:

SEO Resume: Header


A resume header is the first thing a recruiter will see in your resume. So you need to make it personalized so that recruitment will instantly recognize your resume.

  • Here are some tips for writing a resume header:
  • Do not write “Resume” or “CV" as the resume header; instead, write your full name,
  • If you have a middle name, only write the initial of the middle name. Example: Sheldon L. Cooper
  • Use a 16-20 point font to write the resume header and a professional resume font such as Ariel, Calibri, Times New Roman.

If you want to learn more about resume headers, read the Hiration Resume Header Blog.

Here is an SEO analyst resume sample illustrating the header section to help you understand:

SEO Specialist Resume Personal Information & Profile Title


The candidates often overlook the personal information section on the resume. You need to ensure that you include updated and correct contact information in your resume, else you will lose the chance of getting an interview.

Here are some tips for presenting personal information on a resume:

  • Add ISD code in front of your contact number along with a (+) plus sign
  • Include your active email address and make sure the email id looks professional.
Practice this:
john.doe@gmail.com
Avoid this:
tihiv35378@gmail.com
  • Write your residential location in City, Country format if you are applying for a job outside your country. Write your location in City, State format if you are applying for a job in your country,
  • Add your Linkedin/GitHub or personal website link in the personal information section

Here is an example for your reference:

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Contact Number +1 (376) 6223 111
Email ID: oliver@hiration.com
Location Los Angeles, CA
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/oliver
GitHub www.github.com/oliver

Read the Hiration's Guide on personal information if you want to get more information.

SEO Resume: Profile Title


Profile title is also an essential aspect of the SEO resume. It helps the recruiters understand some crucial information about the candidate, Such as:

  • Current Designation
  • Experience
  • Functional Industry
  • Seniority

SEO Resume: Summary


A resume summary is the first important content that recruiters read. And its goal is to hook the recruiters to read your entire resume. So you need to be very careful when you write the resume summary as it can make or break your chance of getting an interview.

If you are confused about whether to write a resume summary or an objective, here’s the solution:

Write a resume summary if you have 3+ years of SEO experience.
If you have less than three years of experience, write a resume objective.

Here are some tips to follow when writing the resume summary:

  • Do not use first person or second-person pronouns when writing the resume summary
  • Start the resume summary with years of experience and certifications (if any) followed by your designation
  • Highlight your most relevant skills and accomplishments in the resume summary.
  • Finish the resume summary within 3- 4 sentences

SEO Resume Summary Example


Practice this:
HubSpot Certified SEO specialist with 5+ years of experience possessing skills in conducting SEO audits and identifying opportunities to improve organic search from page 3 to top 5 for 10+ high-ranking keywords. Proficient in managing PPC budget and bidding to get favorable advertisement spots for maximizing user sign-ups. Adept at managing multiple SEM campaigns for increasing site traffic by 21% year on year.
Avoid this:
5+ years experienced SEO specialist with skills in google analytics, google adwards looking for a suitable position.

SEO Resume: Professional Experience


The professional experience section in the SEO resume can help you get your desired SEO job. But for that, you need to create the section in a certain way.

Follow the Reverse Chronological Order

Start writing your most recent SEO experience on the top, followed by your previous experience.

Use Single-line Bullet Points


Write your experience in single-line bullet points to improve the readability.

Include Statistics


Back up your statements by providing numbers in the professional experience section.
It helps your statement give more impact.

Start the Bullet Points with Power Verbs


Power verbs bring importance to each of your bullet points. So ditch the boring “Responsible for…” and start bullet points with verbs like “Oversaw” “Managed,” “Supervised,” “Created,” etc.

Include Keywords In the Professional Experience


Read the job description and identify keywords that you can include in your resume. It will help you get past the ATS systems and improve your chances of getting a job.

SEO Resume Example of professional experience:

Practice this:

Industry Research & Website Creation

  • Managed SEM marketing for 20+ small businesses in the USA and ensured increase in companies' page rank on all search engines
  • Researched industry and identified trends for publishing relevant content on 4+ social media channels for Improving engagement
  • Collaborated with web developers to create SEO friendly website with keyword reach content to ensure successful campaigns
    PPC Campaigning & Brainstorming
  • Brainstormed with stakeholders to develop innovative strategies for launching PPC campaigns to enhance conversion by 30%
  • Conducted competitor research to identify content gaps and coordinated with writers to fill gaps as part of capturing visitors
Avoid this:
  • Managed SEM marketing for 20+ small businesses in the USA and ensured increase in companies' page rank on all search engines
  • Researched industry and identified trends for publishing relevant content on 4+ social media channels for Improving engagement
  • Collaborated with web developers to create SEO friendly website with keyword reach content to ensure successful campaigns
  • Brainstormed with stakeholders to develop innovative strategies for launching PPC campaigns to enhance conversion by 30%
  • Conducted competitor research to identify content gaps and coordinated with writers to fill gaps as part of capturing visitors

Also Read: What to add to your resume professional experience section

Here is an example of how the professional experience looks in the resume:

SEO Resume Education Section


In general, SEO professionals need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree along with relevant certification. You need to showcase these experiences to the recruiters through your resume to get into a good job.

When you write the education section, make sure it has the following information:

  • Name of Degree along with majors and minors
  • Name of the University
  • Graduation date
  • Location of the University
  • Mention the course modules, academic achievements if you are a fresher

Here is an seo specialist resume sample of the Education section:

Also Read: What details of education on resume needs to be added?

SEO Resume Skills


Similar to any other job, relevant skills will always make you more qualified for SEO specialist jobs. And hiring managers deliberately look for the SEO skills in the candidate’s resume.

So, if you want to get an SEO job, you need to highlight SEO skills in resume

Here’s how you can do that:

  • Create a separate Key Skills and technical skills section
  • Find out the skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for
  • Add those in the SEO manager resume

Here Are Some Key Skills for an SEO Expert:


SEO Resume Key Skills
Content Strategy Keyword Research
Image Optimization Schema Markup
Link Building DNS Management
Audience Research Domain Management
A/B Testing Project Management
Team Collaboration Editing & Proofreading

Technical SEO Skills Resume:


SEO Resume Technical Skills
Ahrefs Screaming Frog
Deepcrawl Google Search Console
Google Analytics Microsoft Office Suite
HTML CSS
JavaScript Grammarly
Canva Ryte

Here is an image displaying the key skills section of the SEO Resume:

SEO Resume Certification


In this highly competitive job market, you need to have something extra to notice the recruiters. And getting an industry-relevant certificate can help you do that.

We are presenting you with a list of certifications that you can add to your resume:

Here is a format how you can include the certification:

Certificate Name | Certifying Authority | Location | Date

If you want to get in-depth information about certification on your resume, read the Hiration guide on Certification on resume for more details.

Here is an example of how the certification section looks on a resume:

Should You Write a Cover Letter for SEO Resume?


Many candidates believe that you don’t need a cover letter to get a job nowadays. But it’s a myth. 40% of hiring managers prefer to have a cover letter along with a resume.

Here are some tips for writing a cover letter for a resume:

  • Do not write a generic cover letter for every resume. Customize your cover letter for every job,
  • Highlight your most crucial SEO experience and accomplishments in the cover letter.
  • Describe why you are the best candidate for the job and why you want to be a part of the organization
  • End the cover letter with a CTA and ask for the recruiters for an interview.
  • Ensure that the resume and cover letter uses the same design elements
  • Wrap up the cover letter within 400- 500 words

If you want to know more about cover letters, read the Hiration Cover Letter Guide.

SEO Analyst Resume Sample

Emlie Chatney
SEO Manager
SUMMARY
5+ years experienced SEO professional armed with a demonstrated history of optimizing clients' websites for improving page ranks and bolstering user sign-ups. Proficient in creating and managing marketing budgets worth millions of dollars while executing marketing campaigns for improving ROI. Adept at analyzing competitors to identify marketing trends and link-building opportunities as part of improving website engagement and organic visits.
KEY SKILLS
• Search Engine Optimization • PPC Campaign Management • Project Management • Social Media Marketing
• Market Research • KPI Tracking • Budget Management • Trend Analysis • Competitor Analysis • Website Audit
• Stakeholder Management • Cross-functional Team Management • Link-Building

Tools: Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Ahrefs, Buffer, Hootshoot, Microsoft Office Suite
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
SEO Manager
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Renaud Inc.
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    Renaud Inc. is America's number 1 luxury clothing brand with presence in 80+ countries and 5bn. yearly sales
    Key Achievements
    • Achieved 1st position on the Google search ranking for 200+ high-volume keywords
    • Acquired backlinks from reputed websites such as G2, Shine, H&M, Hubspot, etc.

    Search Engine Optimization & Trend Analysis
    • Coordinated with tech team to perform on-page and off-page optimizations of company's website; led to 20% increase in unique users
    • Evaluated strategies by understanding market trends and conducted A/B testing as part of maximizing ROI in PPC campaigns
    KPI Tracking & Expense Management
    • Tracked website analytics via Google Analytics and Ahrefs for identifying content gaps to create a targeted content strategy
    • Managed 10+ organic and paid campaign expenses worth 5mn. and estimated monthly marketing costs for stakeholders
    Content Optimization & Competitor Analysis
    • Optimized landing page copy of the company website for improving site visits and user signups by 16%
    • Researched competitors and identified link-building opportunities as part of acquiring more backlinks
    SEO Specialist
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    202120212020202020192019201820182017201720162016201520152014201420132013201220122011201120102010
    Bluestacks Media House
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      Bluestacks Media is one of the leading media agencies in Minneapolis providing holistic SEO services to small businesses
      Key Achievement
      • Developed content strategy for ~3 high-value clients in the interior design industry and observed a 300% increase in sales

      Industry Research & Website Creation
      • Managed SEM marketing for 20+ small businesses in the USA and ensured increase in companies' page rank on all search engines
      • Researched industry and identified trends for publishing relevant content on 4+ social media channels for Improving engagement
      • Collaborated with web developers to create SEO friendly website with keyword reach content to ensure successful campaigns
      PPC Campaigning & Brainstorming
      • Brainstormed with stakeholders to develop innovative strategies for launching PPC campaigns to enhance conversion by 30%
      • Conducted competitor research to identify content gaps and coordinated with writers to fill gaps as part of capturing visitors
      Freelance Search Engineer Optimizer
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      Upwork Co.
      Start typing, then use the up and down arrows to select an option from the list
        Upwork is the world's biggest freelancer marketplace with 3 mn.+ active jobs
        Website Auditing & Social Media Management
        • Optimized company website of an Ice-cream business and increased the organic traffic from 0 to 10,000/month in six months
        • Implemented interactive SEO strategies for 15+ clients as part of improving search engine performance
        • Analyzed Google Analytics data and competitor's data to find trends and modified SEO campaigns for improving ROI by 13%
        • Conducted website audits and prepared marketing proposals as part of attracting new clients
        • Managed social media campaigns for 10+ clients and engaged with the audience to improve followers
        TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONS
        • Project Management Certified | Agile Framework and Methodology | Project Management Institute | Mar '20
        • Content Marketing & Inbound Marketing Certifications | Hubspot | Feb '20
        • Project and Risk Management Workshop | Ramm Soft | Nov '18
        • Certified SEO Expert | Google LLC. | Jun ' 17

        EDUCATION
        Bachelor of Science in Marketing
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        University of Texas
        Start typing, then use the up and down arrows to select an option from the list
          A leading public university with over 200+ business courses and 500+ qualified professors
          • CGPA: 3.8/4.0 | summa cum laude

          Hiration Services


          Hiration is the all-in-one solution for all your recruitment needs. We provide a range of services to job seekers spanning:

          Go to Hiration.com and let us help you create a professional resume for you!

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          • Option to save unlimited resumes
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          • Auto bold feature
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          • LIVE resume score
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          • 100+ pre-filled SEO resume templates
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          • LIVE resume editor

          Go ahead and try our Online Resume Builder to create a perfect resume for your job hunt!

          Key Takeaways


          Here are a few takeaways from the SEO Resume blog:

          • Write the resume in one-line bullet points except for the summary. Write the summary in a paragraph format
          • Add power verbs to put more impact on the bullet points
          • Bold statistics and relevant words in the professional experience section
          • Identify key skills from the job description and add them to the SEO resume for making it more ATS friendly
          • Proofread the resume before sending it to the recruiter to avoid getting your resume to get rejected.

          Go to Hiration resume builder that has 24x7 chat support and create a professional resume for yourself.

          Additionally, reach out to us at support@hiration.com and you can get professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries.