Communications Specialist Resume Examples & Templates
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Communication specialists are critical to any organization and are crucial in ensuring an effective communication strategy to build a brand.
With our expertly crafted communications specialist resume samples and pro tips, we’ll help you write a resume that showcases your expert communication, analytical and relationship-building skills.
Start by editing this sample resume for a communications specialist job, or explore our library of customizable resume templates to find one that matches your unique style.
Communications specialist resume example (text version)
JAYNE ALVAREZ
Seattle, WA 98144
555-555-5555
example@example.com
Professional Summary
Multifaceted communications specialist helping clients effectively communicate both internally and externally. Committed to maintaining open communications with staff members and superiors in an ongoing effort to increase the effectiveness of communications and address weaknesses. Dedicated to utilizing knowledge of social media communications to manage online impressions and produce relevant content.
Summary of Qualifications
- Ability to effectively manage multiple social media platforms.
- Proven ability to analyze metrics to determine any weaknesses in communications efforts.
- Sound technical expertise pertaining to web content and setting up social media pages.
- Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
Skills
- Content production and management
- Project management
- Copywriting and editing
- Marketing and public relations strategy development
- Adobe Photoshop
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Time management
- Teamwork and collaboration
Work History
November 2021 – Current
Rakuten – Seattle, WA
Communications Specialist
- Monitor and manage social media strategies and provide social media training to five associates.
- Assist in preparing quarterly metrics reports to determine the effectiveness of communications efforts and pinpoint areas needing improvement.
- Coordinate efforts with the communications director, improving media coverage by 90%.
- Represent the company at 15 media shows and corporate presentations, often handling press issues.
September 2017 – October 2021
Spencer Technologies – Seattle, WA
Marketing Communications Specialist
- Coordinated with marketing and promotions staff to improve engagements with clients.
- Tracked KPIs and completed full analytics of digital campaigns.
- Prepared training materials for 12 new hires and conducted updated training classes for current employees about 21st century communications techniques.
- Developed and implemented targeted strategies, improving the reach of specific customers by 65%.
June 2014 – August 2017
Creative Circle – Seattle, WA
Communications Coordinator
- Updated website and social media pages with over 2 million followers with well-coordinated communications aimed at conveying information, generating interest and mitigating negative press by 85%.
- Created content for the company intranet and regularly posted documents, updates and clear communications pathways.
- Wrote and edited content for operations, marketing and public relations needs.
- Built communications toolkits for offices to leverage outside partnerships and available resources effectively.
Education
- Seattle University Seattle, WA
MBA Marketing - Seattle University Seattle, WA
Bachelor of Arts Communication & Media, Strategic Communication - Specialization: Strategic Communication
Important resume sections
Contact details
Start your communications specialist resume with a header including your contact information.
As our communications specialist resume sample shows, include your full name, city, state, ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. If you have a LinkedIn profile and a professional website, add them to this section.
Personal statement
A communication specialist resume summary is a three-to-five-sentence statement that tells the hiring manager how long you’ve been in the industry, your strongest job-relevant skills and one or two quantifiable accomplishments that speak to your positive impact in past roles. For example:
Results-driven communications specialist with over five years experience creating and executing innovative and engaging communication campaigns for organizations. Consistently crafts compelling narratives, builds strong stakeholder relationships and leverages data-driven insights to optimize communication strategies. A strong relationship builder who earns credibility and trust with both internal and external partners by building consensus for meeting goals and objectives.
See our expertly crafted examples for additional communication specialist resume summary examples. Writing a resume objective for a communication specialist is better if you are just starting your career.
Skills
Use bullet points to create a balanced skills section for your communication specialist resume. See our communication specialist sample resume for an example of how to format your skills section. Here are some essential skills for a communication specialist:
- Writing and editing: Communication specialists must be highly proficient and skilled at writing, editing and proofreading to ensure the accuracy of brand messaging.
- Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills are crucial for a communications specialist to engage with internal and external stakeholders effectively.
- Problem-solving: Communication specialists must be adept at identifying and resolving issues that arise when executing communication plans, whether logistical or conflict-related.
Match as many skills from the job description as you can. As our communication specialist resume shows, it’s best to include hard skills, like inventory management, management software and project oversight and soft skills, such as communication, cultural competence and collaboration.
Work history
Your resume must include a work history section, even if this is your first professional job. Start with your most recent position and provide company names, locations and the dates you worked for them.
Include three bullet points of measurable achievements for every job you list. Here are a few examples of communication specialist bullet points that effectively describe key duties and responsibilities:
- Implemented a social media campaign resulting in a 30% increase in followers across multiple social channels.
- Streamlined research and analysis process for evaluating communication campaigns, reducing time spent on administrative activities by 10%.
- Increased brand visibility by 15% using multiple marketing channels (print, digital, and video) through collaboration across teams, developing and executing engaging campaigns for new product releases.
Explore our resume examples for communication specialists to see additional work history section samples.
Education
A resume for a communications specialist job must also include an education section. Start with your highest degree and work your way backward.
Use bullet points to show the name of the schools and the graduation year. A bachelor’s degree is typically required to enter this field.
If you did not attend college, list your high school information and the classes or training you’ve taken since graduating. See how to list education on a resume for additional tips and examples.
See why MyPerfectResume is a 5-star resume builder
Action verbs for your resume
Use a combination of action verbs and numbers on your resume to make an impact.
Here’s a short list of powerful action words for a communications specialist resume:
- Craft
- Innovate
- Manage
- Produce
- Engage
- Discuss
- Analyze
- Monitor
- Develop
- Draft
- Organize
- Plan
- Liaise
- Foster
- Facilitate
- Perform
- Handle
- Write
- Create
- Represent
- Inform
- Spearhead
- Orchestrate
Want more inspiration? We have 800+ resume examples to help you write a professional communication specialist resume.
Best skills for your resume
Review the job description closely and match the required skills to the ones that fit you. Your communication specialist resume skills section should feature skills such as the following:
- Content production and management
- Copywriting
- Copy editing
- Project management
- Public speaking
- Internal communications
- Social media management
- Press releases
- Media relations
- Marketing strategy development
- Adobe Photoshop
- Event management
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Analytics
- WordPress
- Verbal and written communication
- Relationship management
- Organization
- Leadership
- Collaboration
- Dispute resolution
- Problem-solving
- Crisis communications
Our Resume Builder has all the tools you need to create a professional resume in minutes! We’ll help you fill in your template, make edits on the fly, and download and save your finished resume in multiple file formats.
Certifications for your resume
There are several certifications that a communications specialist can add to their resume to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in communications and related areas. Here are some examples of certifications that a communications specialist can consider:
- Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) certification
- Certified Business Communication Professional (CBCP)
- Integrated Communication Certificate Program
- Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) Marketing Management Certification
- Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
Adding relevant certifications to a resume can demonstrate the candidate’s commitment to their profession and expertise in specific areas of communications specialist and related fields.
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
FAQ
How do you make a standout resume for a communications specialist job?
The resume format you choose will depend on your experience and career goals; however, any standout communications specialist resume should incorporate the following design tips:
- Keep your resume short and to the point. If you have less than 10 years of experience, it should be one page long; if you have more than 10 years of experience, then it’s acceptable to have no more than two pages.
- Ensure your resume is formatted correctly. Margins should be one inch on all sides, and line space should be single or 1.5 inches.
- Only use appropriate fonts, like Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica, in 11-12 points on the body and 14-16 points on headers.
- Include keywords from the job description so your application aligns with the employer’s specific needs and is also applicant tracking system (ATS) friendly.
- Proofread your resume more than once before sending it to potential employers.
To impress employers, your resume should also include measurable accomplishments, for example:
- Created engaging social media content, growing followers by 50% in six months.
- Implemented process for writing and distributing press releases, resulting in increased efficiency.
- Executed redesign of internal communication newsletter, increasing employee engagement by 25%.
How do you write a professional summary for a communications specialist resume?
As the name suggests, a professional summary should summarize the value you can bring to a communications specialist role, and the unique qualifications that make you an ideal candidate.
Start by introducing yourself with a statement like “Dynamic, results-oriented communications specialist with seven years of experience.” Then, illuminate your most valuable skills, experience and accomplishments.
Try to keep this section short — it shouldn’t be more than three to five sentences long.
How do you write a communications specialist resume with no experience?
Suppose you aspire to be a communications specialist without prior experience. In that case, you can still create an impressive resume by focusing on your transferable skills, relevant coursework and any volunteer or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your writing, design, public relations and communication skills.
Here are some tips for writing a communications specialist resume with no experience:
- Emphasize your transferable skills, such as communication, problem-solving, organization and time management. These skills are valuable for communication professionals and can be gained through various experiences, such as part-time jobs, internships or volunteer work.
- Mention any relevant extracurricular activities or volunteer work demonstrating your writing or design abilities.
- Highlight any relevant coursework or training you have completed, such as graphic design, editing or proofreading. This demonstrates that you have a solid foundation of knowledge and are willing to continue learning.
See our guide on how to make a resume with no experience for additional tips and tricks.
Best practices
- Use measurable achievements to describe your abilities and experience as a communications specialist. For example, “Managed large scale public relations project introducing new company product driving sales of $1M in first three months of release.”
- Use action words to make an impact on your communications specialist resume.
- Tailor your resume to your target communications specialist job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your communications specialist resume.
- Format your communications specialist resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your experience and skills in the communications field.
- Boast that you’re the “most effective communications specialist ever.” Instead, provide concrete examples of communication projects and results you’ve led or contributed to.
- Include irrelevant personal information, such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience that are not relevant to a communications specialist role.
- Forget to proofread. A communications specialist resume with errors is unprofessional.
Interview tips
Research.
A critical first step in interview preparation is to learn about the employer’s history, goals, values and people before the interview. Showing in-depth knowledge about a potential employer conveys interest, passion and commitment — traits that make a desirable candidate. See our job interview guide for more tips from career advice experts.
Practice your answers.
Practicing your answers is important. Be sure to practice for your interview by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as:
- How do you prioritize when scheduling your time?
- What has been your experience with public speaking?
- When given an important assignment, how do you approach it?
- What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
Prepare for commonbehavioral interview questions, such as:
- Describe a time when you had to face a stressful scenario.
- How would your boss describe you?
- What are the qualities that contribute to professional success?
Also, prepare for job-specific questions, including:
- Can you walk us through your approach to reaching out to reporters and building relationships with them to pitch press releases effectively?
- How do you assess the effectiveness of communication activities, and what metrics do you use to measure success?
- How do you prioritize competing deadlines and priorities concerning PR and media relations?
Write down two or three possible answers for each question, then practice answering them with a friend.
Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
After the hiring manager and potential colleagues question you, they will likely allow you to ask them questions.
Always have at least three for each person you speak with; doing so shows that you’re interested and have been paying close attention.
Some questions you might ask for a communications specialist job are:
- What is a typical day at the office?
- Can you tell me about the challenges the last person in this role had to overcome?
- What is the work culture like?
- How does the communications specialist collaborate with other departments and organizational stakeholders?
- What are the key metrics that the communications specialist will be evaluated on?
- What are the biggest opportunities for growth and improvement within the office?
Gather references.
Have professional references ready before your interview — you never know if the hiring manager might want to contact them immediately. Ask a former manager and two former colleagues who can speak about your performance and who you know will give you a stellar review.
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Communications Specialist
Toni is a Certified Professional Resume Writer, member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches, and a career expert. She is committed to helping job seekers navigate the job market and succeed in their careers.
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