​Due to large growth across the UK digital sector (which contributes £149 billion to our economy each year), job opportunities continue to rise - but the hardest part of the search will be choosing both where to apply, and how to apply. 

If you’re looking to land a competitive job role in an innovative company, then optimising your CV will help you catch the attention of hiring managers and recruiters alike, enabling your chances at a successful and long-lasting career. 

But where do you start? What should you consider before submitting an application?

We’ve pulled together a complete CV guide for digital candidates across all roles - from entry-level Digital Marketing positions right through to Chief Digital Officers. 

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How to Write a Digital CV

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Step 1: Building Your Digital CV

If you’re starting from scratch, building a digital CV can feel like an insurmountable challenge - but it doesn’t have to be. Many candidates try to fit too much information into one short page, and that can actually harm your chances of landing a job.

In our technology-driven age, the majority of digital companies will be using software (called Applicant Tracking Systems) that reads and analyses resumes - meaning a well-formatted and clear CV is the way to go.

Ask yourself:

• Where am I and where do I want to be?

• What can I offer to a company?

• What are my skills and qualifications?

• What skills does the industry desperately need?

• Is my contact information obvious and up to date?
  

This will help you design a CV that covers all the bases, whilst providing potential talking points for interested recruiters. 

Remember: nobody expects you to fit your life story onto your CV, and we’re well aware that it’s hard to fit everything you’ve ever done into a single application. That’s what an interview is for.

Choose the most relevant details for the company you are applying to (and the job position), and feel free to rewrite individual resumes according to the scope of work.

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Step 2: Customising Your CV

We highly recommend that all digital candidates take the time to customise their CVs to the jobs they are applying for. Look in the job description to see which skills and qualifications (such as SMM certifications) are most important to the employer.

More often than not, candidates make the mistake of using a generic CV, and, no matter how strong it is, this will put you at a disadvantage. Applicant Tracking Systems scan applications for keywords that appear in both the job description and your resume, such as “problem-solver”.

If you want your application to stand out, write a custom cover letter and edit your CV for each submission.

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Step 3: Writing a Cover Letter

Preparing a cover letter can be a lengthy process for anyone not comfortable with writing, but to grab the attention of the recruiter, they are well worth the extra effort.

Include:

1. Case study examples that are relevant to the skills and qualifications required, like project management.

2. A short exploration of why you would be well suited for the job - Are you forward-thinking and a quick learner? Do you have experience with analysing data?

3. A briefing of what you are looking for from the employer, such as full-time work or casual hours.

Applying for Digital Jobs

On LinkedIn right now, there are 101,000+ active digital jobs who will soon be joining the 3 million people who work in the UK’s digital tech industry (Source: Tech Nation). Positions that were posted today already have an average of 20-30 applicants, which is expected to rise significantly over the course of the week. 

In order to find a job you are passionate about, it can take a lot of time and research, which results in gut-wrenching disappointment if you don’t receive an offer. Next time you apply for a digital job, follow these steps.

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1. Research Your Employer

Researching an employer will help you narrow down your options and only apply for jobs that match your goals and ideals. Whilst this will help you in the long run for career success, it will also help you stand out to recruiters as they will always be looking to see how you’ll fit into current team structures. If you share similar beliefs to the employer’s corporate culture, you’ll likely thrive in the position.

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2. Customise Your Job Application

Customising your job application for positions that speak to you will help land you on top of the pile - demonstrating a commitment to the employer and an interest in what they do. 

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3. Prepare Interview Questions and Answers

Digital applicants often research interview answers - but very few prepare questions. Create a list of questions for your interviewee, and make sure they are industry-specific, challenging, and thoughtful. 

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4. Collect Contact Details of Hiring Managers and/or Recruiters

Collecting the contact details of HRMs or recruiters that interview you is a great way to demonstrate your true interest in a job role. It’ll show initiative, but also that you’d be willing to consider other positions within the workplace (and they might have the perfect job in mind).

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5. Follow Up 

Don’t be afraid to follow up after a digital job interview - whether this is a simple thank you email on the day after, or a nudge after a week for more information. This’ll ensure you are at the front of the hiring manager’s mind - perfectly positioning you to receive a job offer.

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Working with Forward Role

For help expanding your horizons and driving change in your industry through intelligent recruitment, contact us! At Forward Role, you’ll find genuine Marketing, Digital, and Tech experts who care passionately about delivering for their clients and candidates.

If you're a candidate, we'll treat you the way we'd like to be treated when making an important life decision like moving jobs. If you're a client you can expect exceptional delivery and communication as a matter of course.

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