Communications officer CV example

What contact details should I include in my communications officer CV

Employers can’t take your application further, even if they want to, without up-to-date contact details. Outline the following information at the top of your communications officer CV:

• Name – first name and surname
• Address – include the postcode too
• Email – keep it professional
• Phone number – the best one to reach you on

Example of contact section for a communications officer CV

Start your communications officer CV with a personal statement

We all want to make an excellent impression, and that’s where a personal statement can help. This punchy, powerful paragraph is the first thing an employer reads when opening your CV, and they’ll often use it to choose between closely matched contenders. As such, every word counts! We recommend the following format:

• First sentence – explain who you are, including years of experience
• Second sentence – outline what you can achieve
• Third and fourth sentences – describe your unique skills

As well as keeping the information concise, the best personal statements are a pleasure to read. Remember, you’re trying to grab the employer’s attention and prove why you’re the best person for the job. Our top tips include:

• Use the third person – it sounds more professional 
• Focus on positive adjectives – like “passionate” and “disciplined”
• Lead with action verbs – such as “executed” and “spearheaded”
• Sound confident – don’t be afraid to shout about your qualities

Lastly, scatter your personal statement with figures to substantiate your expertise. For example, you might mention how you oversaw a national media campaign that boosted press coverage by 30%.

Example of personal statement for a communications officer CV

OR

How to present your work history on a communications officer CV

Employers love nothing more than seeing a well-fleshed-out career history section that showcases your aptitude for the role. It’s an opportunity to dazzle the hiring manager with your skills and verify expertise with statistics and testimonies.

If you haven’t got much experience, there’s no need to worry. You can mention:

• Full-time and part-time positions
• Temporary contracts
• Summer jobs 
• Apprenticeships
• Internships
• Voluntary work

Starting from your current or most recent position, list:

• Job title – this helps employers gauge salary expectations
• Company name and location – avoid acronyms
• Start and finish dates – this shows employers how likely you are to stay with a company
• Summary of responsibilities – three to six for each role

Most importantly, avoid sounding robotic – regurgitating the same old information won’t spark the reader’s interest. Instead, think about what makes you truly valuable. Perhaps, you have a specialism in competitor analysis? Maybe, your marketing background makes you a wizard wordsmith?

Highlight achievements in the summary of responsibilities to strengthen your application. The more factual and specific you can be, the better – showing employers how brilliant you are is always more effective than telling them. For instance, which sounds better:

“Created news articles for notable media outlets.”

OR

“Headed a week-long media campaign for the Independent that boosted website clicks by 61%.”

Example of work experience for a communications officer CV

Great skills to add on your communications officer CV

A comprehensive CV skills section that reflects the job advertisement is critical to your success. You can catapult your communications officer CV miles ahead of the competition by combining hard and soft skills – the former are technical, while the latter are personality-based.

Hard skills are especially important for this role because there are so many niche responsibilities, including writing engaging articles, navigating content management systems, and analysing campaign data.

Although you shouldn’t copy the job description, it’s helpful to reread the information, identify the key attributes employers are looking for, and then include them in your writing.

In contrast, soft skills are usually transferable – think “charismatic”, “goal-oriented”, and “inspirational”. While they aren’t job-specific, they’re equally crucial because they speak to your personality. Employers may choose a less experienced candidate because they’re a better fit for the company or demonstrate qualities that complement their existing team.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Outlining education on a communications officer CV

Becoming a communications officer requires a certain level of education. Most employers prefer candidates to have a Bachelor’s degree in communications or a relevant field, like journalism, marketing, or public relations. Companies will usually prioritise applicants who have continued their studies and gained a Master’s degree in their chosen subject.

These degrees provide essential knowledge that’s hard to pick up outside a classroom environment, including media strategy and ethics. Plus, university courses offer students a chance to study niche areas of communications, improving their career prospects in a highly competitive market.

With that said, some employers offer apprenticeships to non-graduates. While you don’t need a degree, you must demonstrate excellent English and IT skills via academic qualifications. Employers typically look for four to five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and two to three A Levels.

Alternatively, you can complete additional training courses through the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

We recommend including the following information in the education section:

• School, college, university, or other awarding body
• Study and graduation dates
• Qualification level and grade
• Subject title

Example of education for a communications officer CV