A perfectly crafted CV for a marketing executive job can end up going to waste if the cover letter is treated as an afterthought. The cover letter is as important as the CV because it is the first opportunity applicants have to show recruiters or potential employers the reasons why they are the ideal choice for marketing executive roles which are described here. It should take the average person about an hour to write a properly crafted cover letter. Jotting down a few thoughts in an email with an attached CV is the wrong approach. It is very important to make the first impression as one that markets the applicant in the best light possible, presenting a sense of personality as well as career goals. There are a few different approaches to writing the cover letter depending upon the circumstances of the applicant (unemployed, graduate with no experience, non-graduate first job, or career change).
Cover letter
Unemployed - If there are gaps in the marketing executive CV when it comes to employment history, the cover letter is the perfect opportunity to characterise why this is so. Applicants should explain the situation without shame and describe how they have been making themselves the ideal candidate for the job during this time.
Graduate with No Experience - Standing out from the crowd is necessary when the graduate job market is tough. A CV of a graduate may look quite similar to that of other graduates. This is why the cover letter is important; giving graduates the opportunity to explain why they are unique and special.
Non-Graduate First Job - Candidates that have been completely untested in the world of work may find it challenging to convince an employer to give them a chance. A perfectly drafted cover letter can show off the passion and motivation of a candidate with not history, catching the attention of a recruiter or employer.
Career Changer – While the marketing executive CV will convey the necessary experience and skills, it is the cover letter that can explain why the candidate is changing jobs. Even if the candidate is coming from a different industry, the point is there is a history and that experience should be highlighted.
Writing the marketing executive CV
The ugly truth about a CV is that employers spend only an average of eight seconds looking at any singular CV before making a snap judgment of whether to file it in the yes or no stack. One of the easiest ways to end up in the no stack is by providing too much information to look at. A CV is not meant to be a life story, rather it should be to the point and punchy. The extra details should be reserved for an interview. Furthermore, a CV should be tailored to the particular role for which the candidate is applying. It is important to highlight the exact skills that relate to the role in the job advert.
In this case it is that of marketing executive. Developing marketing campaigns to promote and idea, service, or a product is the role of most marketing executives, including planning, public relations, advertising, product development, event organisation, sponsorship, distribution, and research. The work is often fast-paced and very challenging with openings in both the private and public sectors. The actual responsibilities of the role may vary greatly depending upon the size of the sector and the organisation. Employers for this type of job will be looking for candidates with an awareness of digital media techniques as well as good analytical skills. It would be beneficial to highlight these subjects to demonstrate having those skills. Furthermore, gaining pre-entry work experience relevant to the role is quite helpful. The CV should highlight evidence of the following skills: communication and interpersonal skills; analytical skills; the ability to work under pressure, the ability to use initiative, creativity, drive, flexibility, numeracy, influencing and negotiation skills, written and oral skills, business awareness, and IT literacy.
Our marketing recruiters outline their top CV writing tip in the below:
In addition to highlighting the relevant skills, try to avoid leaving any gaps (or explain them in the cover letter) and keep the CV current. Be sure there are no spelling or grammar errors in the CV; this is another fast track to the no stack. Tell the truth and be specific about achievements with numbers. Instead of saying increased sales, say increased sales by 80%. This makes it much easier to sell the candidate in the mind of the employer. Make the CV look good, well organised, and easy to read. Use short sentences and even bullet points. Finally, make the CV keyword friendly if it is uploaded to a job site. This will make it much easier for recruiters to find.