In simple terms, a content creator formulates, creates, and publishes material intended for entertainment, instruction, or marketing. When we say content creation these days, we are almost always referring to digital content. Some forms of digital content creation include social media posts (the most recognized), blogs, newsletters, articles, digital marketing material, etc.
Content creators may work alone and may create their own brand and following and then collaborate with brands at a fee; this is the case for most social media influencer content creators. Alternatively, content creators can also be hired by a company to work solely on their brand as in-house content creators. Content creators can also work on a freelance basis, and work with a handful of companies/clients at a go.
Unlike most professions, there is no traditional way to begin as a content creator. The only prerequisite is that you be highly creative, disciplined, business savvy, and that you produce engaging content. However, an educational background in a creative field such as graphic design, production, or art would be highly beneficial in building up your skillset and proving your capabilities to potential employers.
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A content creator will create engaging content to be delivered via various mediums and for a variety of purposes. Sometimes they want to increase sales of a product, while other times they may want to gain followers for an organization or cause. Whatever, the purpose, a content creator needs to be highly creative and multi-skilled in the production process.
For a general content creator resume, it is necessary the highlight the breadth of your content creation experience. Including all the different forms of content you have created will, therefore, work to your benefit. Furthermore, like this sample resume, you will want to list all the tools you are familiar with for creating content. This will give potential employers, a strong understanding of your capabilities and what standard of content they can expect from you.
As a general content creator, being able to highlight your skills in planning, admin, editing, production, marketing, etc, will give you a leg up over other content creators who only specialize in writing content. So be sure to list any additional skills used in the stages of production.
There are always new technologies and programs that can be used for content creation. Maintaining an updated tools section with the latest content creation technology is a good indication to potential employers that you are current and knowledgeable about the industry. If you do not know how to use the latest technology, take a crash course online before adding it to your resume.
A digital content creator specializes in creating content for digital platforms. These platforms may include social media, blogs, websites, etc. Because of the digital aspect, this position calls for someone with expertise in the internet, SEO, social media trends, online advertising trends, etc. So ensure that you list any educational background that indicates knowledge in any of the above, or experience that will indicate the same. You will also want your experience to show that you are skilled in more than one digital platform. So don’t fall into the trap of only listing social-media-related tasks that you have completed. It may be very popular currently, but employers might be looking for a content creator for other digital platforms as well.
Companies do not just hire content creators for cool content. A company’s end goal is almost always to make money or increase brand awareness. So they need content that will connect with their client base and convince them to make purchases. If you have figures of how much money a previous client made thanks to your content, be sure to include that in your resume.
If you are creating a digital content creator resume, ensure that your skills section is equally specific to digital-related skills. Include skills like SEO expertise, social media analytic expertise, WordPress expertise, etc.
As the name suggests, video content creators specialize in producing video material for their clients. The video content may range from advertising material to instructional videos to just pure entertainment. You may be able to create this content on your own, with your team, or with the client’s team. Because of the time and money it takes to produce videos, communication skills are incredibly important to ensure that all involved parties are on the same page before and during production.
Your resume should highlight your video-producing experience and any success your previous content has had. Even more importantly, you will want to clearly list all video editing software or other video production software & hardware that you are experienced with. This sample resume does both very effectively.
Creating video content is a multi-step process from concept development, to video production, to editing and publishing. To have your resume stand out from the crowd, highlight any experience in as many of the stages of production as possible. A client is more likely to hire someone who can create a script for a video and edit the video, as opposed to someone who can only create the script.
Technology is always advancing, and content creation programs are always improving. Ensure that you stay up-to-date with the latest software programs. And if you want to bolster your resume, get yourself certified as an expert in those programs. You can get certified by taking a short course offered by the software company or by an e-learning platform. It’s just one way to put you above the rest.
A marketing content creator specializes in conceptualizing and creating engaging content that will result in higher sales or visibility for their client. Beyond creating the content, you will be expected to create marketing strategies, and monitor how well a marketing campaign is doing using analytical tools. Having an educational background in digital marketing would be highly beneficial, as would any digital marketing experience you have had in the content creation field or outside of it. In addition, having strong communication skills is essential, as you will most likely find yourself collaborating with others in the course of the marketing campaign.
At its core, the goal of marketing is sales. So showing potential employers how effective your content is at creating sales is paramount. Include figures of how many sales your marketing content brought in, to impress your potential employers and stand out from the crowd.
Potential employers need to feel confident that you actually have expertise in marketing and are not just a general content creator. An easy way to prove this is to list any marketing-related certification you may have. This may be from your educational background, or a marketing-specific course you did online. For bonus points, take a marketing course that is content-creation-specific.
As the name suggests, social media content creators create content meant for release on social media platforms. Many social media content creators are also ‘influencers’ and will be paid to attract the attention of their sizeable followers to a specific brand or product. Other social media content creators will work within a company or as freelancers, creating content for the company’s social media channels.
Being a social media content creator requires you to have an acute understanding of each social media channel, the algorithms behind it, and what kind of content attracts engagement. Show your understanding of social media on your resume by showing the success of your previous campaigns, or by listing any certifications you have taken that are social media related.
A content strategist is a savvy marketing professional who uses an array of content creation skills to create inbound interest in a company or product. Content strategists typically develop and execute a brand’s content strategy by using several marketing channels. They oversee content planning, social media content, production and distribution, search engine optimization, and more.
To get a job as a content strategist, you’ll need a bachelor's degree in marketing, English, or communications. Hiring managers will like to see previous related experience, particularly with social media or digital marketing. Prior roles as a social media analyst, digital marketing associate, or content creator will help you land this role. In addition, hiring managers may be looking for a candidate with experience in video editing, webpage creation, blogging, and more.
An easy and effective way to show content you’ve created in the past is to create a portfolio of your past work. You can create a webpage portfolio that can easily be emailed to potential employers alongside your resume. As long as you have permission to share your previous work, this is a great way to allow hiring managers to get a real feel for your talent.
We spoke with hiring managers and content leads at companies like BuzzFeed, Vox Media, and HubSpot to gather their top tips for creating a winning content creator resume. They shared insider advice on what they look for when hiring for these roles, and how you can make your resume stand out. Here are their top tips:
Hiring managers want to see concrete examples of the content you've created. Instead of just listing your responsibilities, highlight specific pieces of content you're proud of.
Avoid vague or generic descriptions of your work, like:
A resume summary for a Content Creator is optional, but it can be a great way to provide additional context about your experience and skills that may not be immediately apparent from the rest of your resume. It's especially useful if you're changing careers or have a diverse background that doesn't directly align with the Content Creator role you're targeting.
When writing your summary, focus on highlighting your most relevant qualifications and achievements. Avoid repeating information that's already covered in other sections of your resume. Instead, use this space to emphasize your unique value proposition and the key skills that make you an ideal candidate for the position.
The work experience section is where you'll spend the most time tailoring and tweaking your resume for each job application as a content creator. Hiring managers and recruiters want to see that you have the right experience and skills to excel in the role.
In this section, we'll cover what to focus on and include (and what to leave out) to make your work experience section stand out.
Strong action verbs tell a client your role in the content creation process. Content creation resumes should use action verbs like "Created", "Monitored" or “Edited”. These are strong action verbs that effectively showcase a content creator’s capabilities.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
When writing your resume as a content creator, you need to include all skills relevant to the production of content. Here are some hard skills suggestions from content creation postings.
Add these skills to the skills section on your resume.
You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Content Creator job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
Template 5 of 7: Social Media Content Creator Resume Example
As a Social Media Content Creator, you're the beating heart of a brand's online presence. It's all about understanding the brand's voice and showcasing it creatively and consistently across different platforms. On one hand, you have to stay on top of ever-evolving algorithms, new features, and the latest trends like short video content and interactive stories. On the other, you can't lose sight of the brand's identity and audience. When crafting your resume, remember that you're telling a story - your story. It's not a dry list of skills, but a vivid illustration of how you've used those skills to engage audiences and boost brands.
Tips to help you write your Social Media Content Creator resume in 2024
Highlight your platform-specific expertise
Don't just say you're experienced in social media - that's too broad and vague. Specify the platforms you've used, whether it's Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, or others. For each one, give examples of how you've created unique content, grown follower counts, or improved engagement rates.
Showcase your creative abilities
A Social Media Content Creator needs to be a master of creativity. Demonstrate this on your resume by citing campaigns you've designed, posts you've crafted, or graphics you've created. If you've ever redefined a brand's social media strategy or pioneered a new content format, make sure you shout about it.
Skills you can include on your Social Media Content Creator resume