As a Communications Manager, your role is absolutely pivotal in shaping how a brand, organisation or business communicates with its audience, both internally and externally. Employers rely on you to craft compelling narratives, strengthen reputation, and build trust across multiple platforms. Typically, a Communications Manager oversees public relations, manages media enquiries, creates strategic campaigns, supervises social media content, and ensures consistent messaging aligned with business goals. In the UK, salaries for Communications Managers generally range between £40,000 to £70,000 depending on location, sector, and seniority—making this role a highly rewarding career for ambitious professionals.
Yet, to land such a position, your CV needs to do much more than list responsibilities. It must highlight achievements, quantify impact, and show a strong command of both leadership and communications skills. This is why crafting a tailored, high-quality CV is so important. In this article, I’ll guide you through exactly how to build an interview-winning Communications Manager CV template
example that sets you apart.
Why Your Communications Manager CV Needs to Stand Out
Recruiters for communications roles typically receive hundreds of applications. To secure a shortlisting, your CV must be sharply written, optimised for both human readers and applicant tracking systems (ATS), and show that you’re a strong storyteller in your own right. Employers want to see evidence of strategy, campaign success, media coverage wins, and team leadership. Whether you’re moving from a PR Executive role into management or transitioning from Marketing, the way you frame your achievements on your cv example
makes all the difference.
Key Skills to Highlight on Your Communications Manager CV
When writing your CV, always prioritise achievements over duties. Recruiters want to know what difference you’ve made. Here are skills to emphasise:
Strategic communications planning
Media relations and crisis management
Internal communications and employee engagement
Social media campaign management
Stakeholder management and influencing
Copywriting and content creation
Measurement and analytics of communications impact
Leadership and team development
Framing these with real-world examples is critical. For instance, rather than simply writing “Managed social media accounts,” you could say “Led a content strategy that increased LinkedIn engagement by 150% within 12 months.”
How to Structure a Communications Manager CV Template
Your CV should always follow a clear and professional structure. Recruiters spend on average 6–8 seconds scanning before deciding if they want to read further, so make every word count.
Contact Details – Place at the top: full name, phone, email, LinkedIn profile, and location.
Professional Profile – A punchy 4–5 line summary that showcases who you are, your career highlights, and what you bring to the table.
Key Skills Section – A bullet-pointed list of your core communications skills.
Career History – Reverse chronological order, with achievements backed by metrics.
Education and Qualifications – Degrees, professional certifications, PR/communications accreditations.
Additional Information – Languages, volunteering, memberships (e.g. CIPR, PRCA).
Remember, less is more. Keep it two pages maximum, concise, and achievement-driven.
Advice for Graduates Aspiring to Become Communications Managers
For graduates, you may not yet have direct management experience, but you can still create a compelling cv example. Highlight transferable skills from internships, university projects, volunteering, or part-time roles. For example:
Campaigns you ran for student societies
Content you created for social media pages
PR or marketing internships with tangible results
Writing experience in journalism or blogging
Recruiters understand graduates won’t have years of leadership experience, but they’ll look for initiative, creativity, and evidence of communication impact. Show enthusiasm and a track record of learning quickly.
Advice for Mid-Level Communications Professionals
If you’re at mid-level (e.g. Communications Officer, PR Executive, Marketing Manager), you should position yourself as ready for the step up. Employers want to see evidence of strategy, not just execution. Therefore:
Highlight projects where you took ownership of communications planning.
Demonstrate measurable results (e.g. “Delivered press coverage worth £250k in AVE within three months”).
Show progression in responsibilities across your career.
Mention leadership of interns, juniors, or external agencies.
This elevates your cv template
and demonstrates you’re capable of operating at Communications Manager level.
Advice for Senior Communications Managers
At senior level, expectations shift to leadership and high-level influence. Your CV must convey gravitas, strategic vision, and alignment with business objectives. Focus on:
Advising executives and C-Suite on communications strategy.
Managing budgets and multi-disciplinary teams.
Leading crisis communications with positive outcomes.
Achieving national or international media coverage.
Driving change management and employee engagement programmes.
Your cv example should read like a blueprint of business transformation through communications—not just tactical delivery.
The Do’s and Don’ts of a Communications Manager CV
Do’s
Do tailor your CV to each job description.
Do use action verbs (led, delivered, created, influenced).
Do back up claims with figures, stats, or awards.
Do keep the layout clean, professional, and easy to scan.
Do include a hyperlink to your LinkedIn profile.
Don’ts
Don’t copy and paste generic job duties.
Don’t overuse jargon or buzzwords.
Don’t exceed two pages.
Don’t use graphics or photos (ATS software may reject these).
Don’t leave unexplained career gaps.
General Tips for Writing an Interview-Winning CV
Tailor each application—mirror the language of the job advert.
Keep your professional profile short, sharp, and unique.
Use bullet points for clarity.
Quantify your results—percentages, savings, engagement boosts.
Prioritise recent and relevant experience.
Always proofread—communications professionals must be flawless in spelling and grammar.
Optimising Your CV for ATS and Recruiters
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are now widely used by recruiters to filter candidates. Ensure your Communications Manager cv template includes keywords directly from the job description (e.g. “stakeholder engagement,” “crisis communications,” “digital strategy”). Avoid unnecessary formatting that could confuse the software. A clear Word or PDF document with standard fonts works best.
Why Professional CV Help Can Make All the Difference
As someone who has spent over 25 years helping professionals win interviews and secure dream roles, I cannot emphasise enough how valuable it is to have a CV crafted by experts. Many communications professionals undersell themselves, focusing on tasks rather than tangible results. With a professionally written cv template, you will not only highlight achievements but also align your messaging to what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for.
Final Persuasive Call-to-Action
Your career deserves a CV that works as hard as you do. If you’re serious about securing a Communications Manager role, don’t leave your future to chance. At CV London
, we specialise in creating powerful, interview-winning CVs and LinkedIn profiles that set you apart in today’s competitive market.
Book an appointment today and let’s transform your CV into a career-defining document that opens doors and wins interviews. Click here to book an appointment
and take the first step towards your next big communications role.
