How to Write a CV for a PPC or Paid Media Job in the UK

Paid media is one of the most results-driven disciplines in digital marketing — and your CV needs to reflect that. Hiring managers and agency directors reviewing PPC applications are not looking for vague descriptions of 'managing campaigns'. They want numbers, platforms, and proof that you know how to turn ad spend into measurable return. Whether you are going for a PPC Executive role at an agency or a Senior Paid Media Manager position in-house, this guide will show you exactly how to structure your CV, what to include, and how to make your application stand out in a competitive field.

Lead With a Punchy Personal Statement

Your personal statement sits at the top of your CV and acts as your elevator pitch. For a PPC or paid media role, it should be laser-focused on the platforms you specialise in, the scale of budgets you have managed, and the results you have delivered. Aim for three to five sentences. Start with your job title and years of experience, name the core platforms you work across (Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Microsoft Advertising), and close with a line about the value you bring — whether that is reducing cost-per-acquisition, scaling ROAS, or launching new paid channels from scratch. Avoid generic phrases like 'passionate about digital marketing' or 'results-oriented professional'. These mean nothing to a hiring manager who reads dozens of CVs a day. Be specific. For example: 'PPC Manager with four years of experience managing £500k+ monthly budgets across Google Search, Shopping, and Meta Ads, consistently delivering 30% above target ROAS for e-commerce clients.'

Structure Your Work Experience Around Metrics

In paid media, data is everything — and your experience section should mirror that. For each role, go beyond listing responsibilities and instead write achievement-led bullet points that demonstrate tangible impact. Use the formula: action + method + result. For example, rather than writing 'Managed Google Ads campaigns for retail clients', write 'Restructured Google Shopping campaigns for five retail clients, reducing average CPA by 22% within three months while maintaining spend levels.' Key metrics to include wherever possible are ROAS, CPA, CPL, CTR, conversion rate, budget managed per month, and revenue generated. If you have worked across multiple verticals — e-commerce, lead generation, SaaS, finance — call that out explicitly, as it shows versatility. List roles in reverse chronological order and include the company name, your job title, and the dates you were employed. If you worked agency-side, a brief note about the types of clients or sectors you handled adds helpful context.

Build a Skills Section That Reflects the Job Description

A dedicated skills section helps your CV pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) and signals at a glance that you have the technical toolkit the employer needs. For PPC and paid media roles, this section should include platform certifications and proficiencies, analytics tools, and bid management skills. Relevant skills to list include: Google Ads (Search, Shopping, Display, Video, Performance Max), Meta Ads Manager, Microsoft Advertising, LinkedIn Campaign Manager, TikTok Ads, Google Analytics 4, Google Tag Manager, Looker Studio, SA360, and any DSP experience such as DV360 or The Trade Desk. Also include softer but important skills like audience segmentation, A/B testing, budget forecasting, and cross-channel attribution. Tailor this section to each application — if the job description repeatedly mentions a specific platform or tool, make sure it appears prominently in your CV. Tools like StackedCV.com can help you align your skills section with the exact language used in job postings, making your application more likely to get noticed.

Certifications and Continuous Learning Matter More Here Than Most Fields

Paid media platforms update constantly, and employers want to know you keep up. A certifications section on your CV demonstrates that you invest in your professional development and that your knowledge is current. Include any active Google Ads certifications (Search, Shopping, Display, Video, Measurement), the Meta Blueprint certification, Microsoft Advertising certification, and any relevant courses from platforms like CXL Institute, LinkedIn Learning, or Coursera. If you have completed a formal marketing qualification such as a CIM award or a Digital Marketing Institute diploma, include that too. Do not list expired certifications — check your Google Skillshop and Meta Blueprint dashboards before applying and renew anything that has lapsed. If you are earlier in your career and have fewer roles to list, a strong certifications section can compensate significantly. It shows initiative and signals to employers that you are serious about the discipline rather than treating paid media as just another line on a generalist marketing CV.

Tailor Your CV for Agency vs In-House Roles

The paid media job market broadly splits into agency roles and in-house positions, and the CVs that perform best are those tailored accordingly. For agency roles, hiring managers want to see that you can manage multiple client accounts simultaneously, adapt to different industries and budgets, and deliver results under the pressure of client-facing deadlines. Highlight the volume and variety of accounts you have managed, your client communication experience, and any new business or upsell contributions you have made. For in-house roles, the focus shifts to your ability to go deep on a single brand, work cross-functionally with creative, CRM, and commercial teams, and take ownership of strategy rather than just execution. Emphasise your experience in budget planning, reporting to senior stakeholders, and collaborating with non-marketing colleagues. Adjust the language in your personal statement and bullet points to reflect these different priorities. A CV written for an agency application will not automatically translate well to an in-house role — small tweaks make a significant difference to how relevant you appear.

Formatting and Length: Keep It Clean and Scannable

Even the strongest paid media experience can be undermined by a poorly formatted CV. Recruiters typically spend fewer than ten seconds on an initial scan, so your document needs to communicate value instantly. Keep your CV to two pages maximum — one page if you have fewer than three years of experience. Use a clean, professional font such as Calibri, Arial, or Garamond at 10 to 12 points. Break up dense text with concise bullet points rather than long paragraphs. Use bold text sparingly to highlight key metrics or platform names. Avoid graphics, tables, or columns that can confuse ATS software and render poorly in some email clients. Save and send your CV as a PDF unless the application specifically requests a Word document. A clear, logical structure — personal statement, work experience, skills, certifications, education — makes it easy for both humans and automated systems to extract the information they need. If you are unsure whether your formatting is working against you, StackedCV.com can review and restructure your CV to ensure it reads clearly across all systems.

A strong PPC CV is not just a list of platforms you have used — it is a portfolio of proof that you can drive measurable results with paid budgets. Focus on hard numbers, tailor your language to each role, keep your certifications current, and format everything cleanly. The competition for paid media roles in the UK is fierce, but a well-crafted CV that speaks the language of performance marketing will get you noticed. If you want to give your application the best possible chance, head to StackedCV.com and let our AI rewrite your CV to match the exact role you are targeting.