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Communications Manager

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LAURA MARTINEZ

Senior Communications Manager

+1 (555) 456-7890

[email protected]

San Francisco, CA

linkedin.com/in/laura-martinez

lauramartinezcommunications.com

Skills

Strategic Communication Planning, Crisis Communication, Stakeholder Engagement, Brand Reputation Management, Social Media Strategy, Analytics for Data-Driven Decisions, Hootsuite, CRM Systems

Certifications

Certified Digital Marketing Professional

Completed training in digital marketing strategy, social media planning, analytics, and content creation.

Public Relations Strategy Certificate

Completed professional development focused on media relations, messaging, and communications planning.

Professional Summary

Senior Communications Manager with 7+ years of experience leading corporate communications, media relations, internal messaging, and crisis response for technology and media organizations. Builds clear narratives for employees, executives, journalists, and customers while using engagement data to refine messaging. Known for turning sensitive issues into coordinated communication plans that protect trust and keep teams aligned.

Work Experience

Senior Communications Manager

01/2022

Tech Company Inc

San Francisco, CA

Built an internal communications calendar across HR, product, and executive teams, improving message consistency and lifting employee survey participation within six months.

Coordinated crisis response with legal, PR, and customer support teams, creating holding statements, FAQs, and executive talking points that reduced response time during high-risk issues.

Planned quarterly town halls for a distributed workforce, increasing live attendance by pairing executive updates with employee-submitted questions and follow-up summaries.

Launched a company newsletter with segmented updates for product, people, and customer stories, raising feedback submissions by 67% in its first year.

Communications Manager

06/2019 - 12/2021

Media Corporation

San Francisco, CA

Managed press releases, media pitches, and briefing materials that secured 50+ positive articles across trade, local, and business publications in the first year.

Maintained a tagged media database and response workflow, improving journalist inquiry turnaround by 40% and helping spokespeople prepare faster.

Communications Coordinator

12/2016 - 05/2019

Startup Company LLC

San Francisco, CA

Partnered with marketing to plan social and editorial calendars, increasing social engagement by 75% over two years through clearer audience targeting and campaign recaps.

Analyzed competitor messaging and industry coverage to brief product and leadership teams on emerging themes before launches and announcements.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Communications

09/2010 - 05/2014

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Los Angeles, CA

Projects

Volunteer Communications Initiative

Led communications for a local volunteer organization, planning email, social, and partner outreach campaigns that tripled engagement in six months while keeping calls to action clear and community-focused.

Public Relations Insights Blog

Maintained a professional blog with practical guidance on media relations, crisis communication, digital engagement, and internal communications. Used posts as a portfolio to show writing judgment and campaign thinking.

lauramartinezcommunications.com/personal-branding-blog

Why This Template Works

This Communications Manager resume format works exceptionally well with ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) because it follows a structured layout that prioritizes key information such as professional summary, relevant experience, and accomplishments. The inclusion of quantifiable achievements, like 'successfully managed crisis communication for over 20 events' or 'increased brand awareness by 50%', makes the resume stand out among others.

The format also emphasizes the use of keywords that are commonly found in job descriptions within the communications field, such as strategic planning and team leadership. This not only helps the ATS recognize the candidate's qualifications but also ensures human readers see a clear demonstration of expertise and readiness to tackle complex communication challenges.

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How to Write This Resume

How to Write This Resume

Expert guidelines and best practices for each section of your resume.

01

Contact

Contact

First Name Last Name City, State, Zip Code Phone Number | Email Address LinkedIn Profile URL | Portfolio URL (Optional)

General Guidelines

Your contact information is the first section recruiters see. Keep it concise and professional. Ensure your email address is appropriate (e.g., [email protected]). Include your LinkedIn profile for a comprehensive view of your professional journey. A portfolio or personal website is recommended for creative, technical, or design roles.

Avoid This

Do not include your full physical address (street number/name) for privacy reasons. Avoid including personal details like marital status, age, photo, or social security number unless specifically required in your country. Don't use unprofessional email addresses.

Real Examples

See clear examples of how to format contact details effectively.

Don't

John Doe 1234 Random St, Apt 56 New York, NY 10001 [email protected] github.com/aliciacode Single, 28 years old

Do

John Doe New York, NY (555) 123-4567 | [email protected] linkedin.com/in/johndoe | johndoe.com

Quick Tips

  • Use a professional email address (firstname.lastname format)
  • Ensure your voicemail is set up and professional
  • Double-check your phone number and email for typos
  • Make your LinkedIn URL custom (linkedin.com/in/yourname)

02

Summary

Summary

Professional Title Result-oriented [Role Name] with [Number] years of experience in [Key Skills/Industries]. Proven track record of [Major Achievement]. Skilled in [Key Technologies/Skills]. Committed to delivering [Specific Value] for [Target Industry/Company type].

General Guidelines

A professional summary is your elevator pitch. It should be 3-5 sentences long, summarizing your experience, key skills, and major achievements. Tailor it to the job description by using relevant keywords. Focus on what makes you unique and the value you bring to potential employers.

Avoid This

Avoid generic objectives like 'Looking for a challenging role to grow my skills.' Recruiters want to know what value you bring to them, not what you want from them. Don't use first-person pronouns (I, me, my). Keep it concise and impactful.

Real Examples

Compare a weak objective with a strong professional summary.

Don't

Objective: I am a hard-working individual looking for a Communications Manager position where I can learn new things and advance my career.

Do

Senior Communications Manager with 7+ years of experience leading corporate communications, media relations, internal messaging, and crisis response. Builds clear narratives for employees, executives, journalists, and customers while using engagement data to refine messaging.

Quick Tips

  • Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., 'Increased revenue by 20%')
  • Keep it under 5 lines for readability
  • Use strong action verbs to start sentences
  • Tailor the summary to match the job description

03

Skills

Skills

Technical Skills - Languages: [List] - Frameworks: [List] - Tools: [List] Soft Skills - [Skill 1], [Skill 2], [Skill 3]

General Guidelines

Group your skills logically (e.g., Languages, Frameworks, Tools). Focus on hard skills relevant to the job. List skills in order of proficiency or relevance. Soft skills are better demonstrated through bullet points in your experience section rather than a bare list.

Avoid This

Do not list skills you are not comfortable using in an interview. Avoid using progress bars or percentages to rate your skills (e.g., "Java: 80%"). Do not include outdated technologies unless specifically required by the job description.

Real Examples

Practical example showing do's and don'ts for skills

Don't

Java, Python, C++ - Microsoft Office Suite - Adobe Photoshop (Basic) - Project Management: Beginner level

Do
  • Social Media Strategy - Hootsuite - Google Analytics - Content Creation - Stakeholder Engagement

Quick Tips

  • List technical skills that are directly relevant to the Communications Manager role, such as social media tools and CRM systems.
  • Use action verbs for soft skills like 'facilitated', 'organized', or 'collaborated'.
  • Prioritize your skill sets by their relevance to recent job experiences.
  • Highlight certifications related to digital marketing or public relations in a separate section.

04

Experience

Experience

Job Title | Company Name | Location Month Year – Month Year - Action Verb + Context + Result (Quantified) - Led [Project] resulting in [Outcome]... - Collaborated with [Team] to implement [Feature]...

General Guidelines

This is the core of your resume. Use reverse-chronological order (most recent first). Start each bullet with a strong action verb. Focus on achievements and impact, not just duties. Use numbers to quantify your impact (dollars, percentages, time saved, users affected). Show progression and increasing responsibility.

Avoid This

Avoid passive language like "Responsible for..." or "Tasked with...". Don't list every single daily task; focus on significant contributions and measurable outcomes. Avoid jargon that recruiters outside your field won't understand.

Real Examples

Practical example showing do's and don'ts for experiences

Don't

Managed social media accounts, posted regular updates, and responded to comments.

Do

Built an internal communications calendar across HR, product, and executive teams, improving message consistency and lifting employee survey participation within six months.

Quick Tips

  • Use strong action verbs like 'led', 'managed', 'implemented', and 'optimized' to start each bullet point. These words clearly demonstrate your role in achieving results.
  • Quantify achievements whenever possible. For example, instead of saying you increased engagement on social media, specify the percentage increase or total number of followers gained.
  • Describe the context briefly but effectively. Highlight any unique challenges you faced and how you overcame them to achieve positive outcomes.
  • Show progression in your roles by highlighting increasing responsibilities and complex projects handled in more recent positions.

05

Education

Education

Degree Name | University Name | Location Month Year – Month Year - Relevant Coursework: [Course 1], [Course 2] - Honors/Awards: [Award Name] - GPA: X.X (if above 3.5)

General Guidelines

List your highest degree first. If you have significant work experience, keep the education section brief. Include your GPA only if it is above 3.5 or if you are a recent graduate. Highlight relevant coursework, academic projects, honors, or leadership roles.

Avoid This

Do not include high school details if you have a college degree. Avoid listing every single course you took; select only the most relevant ones. Don't include graduation dates from decades ago if age discrimination is a concern in your field.

Real Examples

Practical example showing do's and don'ts for educations

Don't

Bachelor of Arts, Communications | University XYZ September 2015 - May 2019 - Courses: Introduction to Public Relations, Mass Communication Theory, Media Law & Ethics - Leadership Roles: PR Club President, Orientation Leader for Freshmen

Do

Bachelor of Arts in Communications | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) September 2010 – May 2014 - Relevant Coursework: Public Relations, Media Management, Strategic Communication - Honors/Awards: Dean’s List (2013), UCLA Leadership Award

Quick Tips

  • List your degree first followed by the name of the institution and location.
  • Include only relevant coursework that aligns with communications roles or industry-specific knowledge.
  • Highlight any honors, awards, or leadership positions you held to demonstrate academic excellence and involvement.
  • Omit high school details unless it is directly relevant (e.g., if there's a specific achievement related to your field)

06

Projects

Projects

Project Name | Tools/Technologies Used - Briefly describe what you created and its purpose - Highlight specific challenges you solved - Link to portfolio or demo if available

General Guidelines

Projects are excellent for demonstrating practical skills, especially if you lack work experience or are changing careers. Include a link to your portfolio or demo if possible. Focus on projects that show problem-solving skills and relevant tools for the target role.

Avoid This

Don't include trivial tutorials unless you significantly expanded on them. Avoid projects that are outdated, incomplete, or irrelevant to the role you're applying for. Don't just list technologies—explain what you created and why it matters.

Real Examples

Practical example showing do's and don'ts for projects

Don't

Created a basic website using WordPress that includes several pages but lacks specific communication strategies or outcomes. No clear challenges addressed, no tools mentioned beyond the fact it was built with WordPress.

Do

Led communications for a volunteer organization, planning email, social, and partner outreach that tripled engagement in six months while keeping calls to action clear.

Quick Tips

  • Highlight projects that showcase your ability to bridge gaps between internal departments or external stakeholders.
  • Detail the tools and technologies you used, such as CRM systems or analytics software, and explain how they contributed to project success.
  • Include a brief description of any challenges faced during the project and how you overcame them. This demonstrates problem-solving skills.
  • Whenever possible, include links to live demos or your portfolio where hiring managers can see your work in action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this role and how to best present it on your resume.

Highlight strategic communications, media relations, crisis response, executive messaging, internal communications, social media analytics, stakeholder management, and clear writing.

Focus each bullet on the scope of the target role, the problems you solve, and the outcomes you can repeat instead of listing every responsibility from past roles.

Many roles value a communications, journalism, marketing, or public relations background, plus experience with media outreach, internal messaging, campaign planning, and analytics tools.

Use reverse-chronological roles and make the newest bullets show larger audiences, more sensitive messaging, stronger cross-functional work, or broader leadership responsibility.

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