Unveiling Top Talent: What you should look for in a good Marketing CV.

In the dynamic world of UK marketing, attracting the best talent is crucial for agencies and businesses alike. But with overflowing inboxes and a sea of seemingly identical CVs, how do you identify the candidates who will truly excel?

This guide delves into the key elements you, as a recruiter, should look for in a UK marketing CV to help you identify the talent that will propel your brand forward.

Skills & Experience: Beyond Just Marketing Background

A marketing background is ideal, but exceptional marketing professionals often possess transferable skills honed in diverse roles. Look for candidates who demonstrate:

• Transferable Skills:
  • Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Clear written and verbal communication is vital. Look for evidence of strong communication used to present ideas, negotiate partnerships, or lead client interactions. This could be seen in CVs from sales, customer service, or even event management roles.
  • Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Marketing thrives on data. Seek candidates who showcase an ability to analyse data, identify trends, and develop solutions. This might be demonstrated by analysing sales figures to improve product placement in a retail CV, or optimising customer service processes in a call centre position.
  • Project Management Skills: Juggling multiple tasks and deadlines is a reality in marketing. Look for candidates who showcase project management skills by highlighting instances where they planned, executed, and monitored projects to completion. This could be anything from organising a successful fundraiser to managing a team of volunteers in a non-profit role.
• Creativity & Innovation: Fresh thinking is key in marketing. Look for candidates who've developed creative concepts, tackled challenges with an innovative approach, or implemented new marketing initiatives in previous roles (even if it wasn't a marketing role specifically).

Career Progression & Stability: A Balanced Approach

A history of stable employment generally indicates commitment and a strong work ethic. However, career breaks and transitions are increasingly common. The key is to assess them fairly.

• Evaluating Gaps:
  • Transparency is Key: Be upfront about gaps in employment. Did they travel? Take care of family? Pursue further education? Briefly explain the gap and how it has enhanced their skillset or prepared them for this opportunity.
  • Focus on Skills Gained During the Gap: Did they take courses, volunteer, or run freelance projects during their time away from full-time work? Highlight these experiences and the skills they developed.

Signs of Ambition & Growth: A Hunger for Success

Marketing thrives on individuals who are eager to learn and adapt. Look for indicators of rapid professional growth:

• Promotions and Increased Responsibilities: Did they quickly move into leadership roles within previous jobs? Highlight promotions and the additional responsibilities they took on.
• New Skills Learned and Implemented: Did they take initiative to learn new skills that benefitted their previous employer? Mention these skills and how they put them to use.
• Quantifiable Achievements: Did they consistently exceed targets or outperform expectations? Quantifiable achievements with data are impressive.

Beyond the Basics: Other Considerations for a Standout Marketing CV

Now that we've covered core skills and experience, let's explore some additional elements that can elevate a marketing CV in your eyes:

• Tailored for the Role: A one-size-fits-all approach won't cut it. Scrutinize the job description and ensure the CV highlights the specific skills and experience you're seeking.
• Keywords & SEO Optimization: Research relevant keywords for UK marketing roles and encourage candidates to incorporate them naturally throughout their CV. But be wary of keyword stuffing.
• Formatting & Presentation: A well-formatted CV is easy to navigate. Look for clear headings, bullet points, consistent fonts, and appropriate spacing.
• Action Verbs & Quantifiable Achievements: Strong action verbs showcase their accomplishments. Encourage candidates to quantify their achievements with data and metrics whenever possible.
• Social Proof & Awards: Recognition for past achievements speaks volumes. Look for CVs that mention industry awards or recognition for marketing efforts.
• Proofreading & Editing: Typos and grammatical errors scream carelessness.  Encourage candidates to thoroughly proofread their CVs and consider having someone else review them before submitting.

Bonus Tip: Go beyond the CV! Utilize skills-based assessments or portfolio reviews to get a deeper understanding of a candidate's capabilities.