Most content strategist resumes I see are full of vague buzzwords and no evidence. Here’s how to fix yours with concrete examples.
The #1 Mistake: Skill Keyword Dumping Without Context
I see this on 80% of mid-level content strategist resumes: a skills section that reads like a buzzword bingo card. 'Content Auditing, Editorial Planning, SEO Writing, Copywriting, CMS.' Great, you can list tools. So what? Recruiters don't hire skills; they hire people who can solve problems with those skills.
BAD Example:
- Skills: Content Auditing, Editorial Planning, SEO Writing, Copywriting, CMS (WordPress, HubSpot).
Why it's bad: This tells me nothing about your proficiency or impact. Anyone can copy-paste these from a job description.
GOOD Example:
- Content Auditing: Analyzed 200+ blog posts for a B2B SaaS client, identifying 30 low-performing articles. Repurposed them into 5 pillar pages, increasing organic traffic by 40% in 6 months.
- SEO Writing: Wrote 50+ blog posts targeting high-intent keywords, resulting in a 25% increase in qualified leads from organic search.
Why it's good: Each skill is paired with a specific, measurable outcome. It shows you don't just know the tool—you know how to use it to drive results.
How to Write Bullets That Actually Get Read
Your bullet points should answer one question: 'What did you achieve, and how did it help the business?' If they don't, they're just filler. For mid-level roles, I expect at least 2-3 bullets per job that show ownership and impact.
BAD Example:
- Responsible for developing content strategy and managing editorial calendar.
Why it's bad: 'Responsible for' is passive and vague. What strategy? What was the result?
GOOD Example:
- Developed a content strategy for a B2B SaaS company that focused on high-intent educational topics. This strategy led to a 50% increase in organic leads and established the company as a thought leader in the industry, evidenced by a 2x increase in newsletter subscribers.
Why it's good: It starts with the action ('Developed'), specifies the focus ('high-intent educational topics'), and ties directly to business outcomes (50% more leads, 2x subscribers). This is the level of detail that makes me pause and read further.
The Achievement Formula: How to Structure Any Bullet
Use this template for every bullet point on your resume. It forces you to include evidence and context, which 90% of candidates miss.
Template: [Action Verb] + [Specific Task/Project] + [Metric/Result] + [Business Impact].
Example from the GOOD bullet above:
- Action Verb: Developed
- Specific Task/Project: a content strategy for a B2B SaaS company focused on high-intent educational topics
- Metric/Result: 50% increase in organic leads, 2x increase in newsletter subscribers
- Business Impact: established the company as a thought leader in the industry
Apply it to your own experience. Instead of 'Managed SEO writing,' try 'Wrote 20 SEO-optimized blog posts targeting commercial keywords, increasing organic sign-ups by 15% in Q3.'
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don't have access to exact metrics at my current job?
Estimate based on available data (e.g., 'roughly 30% growth' from analytics dashboards) or use proxy metrics like 'reduced content production time by 20% through CMS optimization.' Recruiters prefer an honest estimate over no numbers at all.
How do I handle a career gap or role without clear content strategy results?
Frame it around skills applied: 'Led a freelance project to audit a client's content, identifying 10 gaps that informed their new strategy.' Focus on transferable outcomes like process improvements or stakeholder feedback.