Professional Resume Template for
SEM Specialist
Liam S. O'Connor
Chicago, IL
(312) 555-0184
liam.oconnor@email.com
linkedin.com/in/liam-s-oconnor | github.com/liamsoconnor | liamoconnor.marketing
Professional Summary
Methodical SEM Specialist with 5 years of experience executing paid search strategy and optimizing multi-channel campaigns for mid-market e-commerce and B2B SaaS companies. Managed quarterly advertising budgets up to $350K, consistently achieving a 24% year-over-year increase in return on ad spend (ROAS). Skilled in search engine marketing strategy, landing page A/B testing, and SQL-based performance reporting using Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, Google Analytics 4, and Supermetrics.
Work Experience
SEM Specialist — Vanguard Digital Agency
Chicago, IL | March 2023 – Present
- Directed paid search campaigns across Google and Microsoft Ads with a combined quarterly budget of $350K, increasing overall ROAS by 28%.
- Conducted structured search keyword research and negative keyword scrubs, reducing wasted ad spend by 18% and decreasing cost-per-click (CPC) by 14%.
- A/B tested 45+ unique landing page designs and ad copy variants using Optimizely, improving average landing page conversion rate from 2.4% to 3.8%.
- Designed automated custom reporting dashboards with Google Analytics 4, Looker Studio, and SQL, saving 12 hours of manual compilation time each month.
PPC Coordinator — BlueSky Commerce
Chicago, IL | June 2021 – February 2023
- Managed search, display, and shopping campaign daily operations for 15 mid-market clients, boosting total lead generation by 22%.
- Monitored and optimized daily bidding strategies across 200+ ad groups, lowering cost-per-acquisition (CPA) by 16% over a 12-month period.
- Analyzed weekly search term reports to identify high-intent long-tail keywords, expanding campaign reach by 30% and CTR by 1.5%.
- Collaborated with copywriters and designers to produce 80+ unique ad creatives, achieving a 95% on-time campaign launch rate.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Marketing
DePaul University · Chicago, IL · 2021
Skills
Google Ads, Microsoft Ads (Bing), Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising, Keyword research, Landing page optimization, A/B testing, Looker Studio, Supermetrics, SQL, Microsoft Excel, Search ads, Display ads, Shopping campaigns, Cost-per-click (CPC) optimization, Return on ad spend (ROAS) optimization
Projects
E-commerce Search Campaign Restructure
Role: Lead SEM Specialist
Tools: Google Ads Editor, Looker Studio, Supermetrics, Google Sheets
Overhauled account architecture for a major retail client, consolidating 120 ad groups into 35 thematic ad groups, which increased CTR by 32% and revenue by 24% within 90 days.
Local Service Ads Rollout
Role: PPC Specialist
Tools: Google Ads, Google Business Profile, Zapier, Salesforce
Configured and launched Local Services campaigns across 12 target regions, generating 1,400+ qualified leads and decreasing average cost-per-lead by 19%.
Certifications
- Google Ads Search Certification (2025)
- Google Ads Measurement Certification (2025)
- Google Analytics Individual Qualification (GAIQ) (2024)
Additional information
- Languages: English (Native), Polish (Conversational)
- Volunteer Work: Pro-bono digital marketing campaigns for Chicago local non-profit organizations (2023-present)
- Availability: 2 weeks notice
Job Market Insights
Market data and opportunities for
SEM Specialist
Job Market Insights
$65,000
-
$115,000
Avg:
$88,000
Growth Outlook:
The demand for SEM Specialists is fueled by the continuous shift toward digital-first business strategies and data-driven marketing decisions. Organizations heavily invest in search engine marketing to maximize online visibility and acquisition. Growth is supported by the broader BLS category for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists, with job opportunities expected to increase by 7% from 2024 to 2034.
7% growth over 10 years
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