“I chose a career in care because…”
Click here to find out why these individuals chose a career in care, read details about their job roles, and what they love about working in the adult care sector.
Skills
There are some words and phrases that work well in a CV and will help you to stand out. You may notice that these are all skills. Your skills are exactly what an employer is looking for on your CV initially, before deciding to take you to the next stage of application.
If you have the below skills, they are worth mentioning, but make sure you can back this up within your work history, volunteering, or education.
Do’s |
| Adaptable |
| Proactive |
| Conflict Resolution |
| Organisation |
| Interpersonal Skills |
| Confident |
| Reliable |
| Innovative |
| Responsible |
| Compassionate |
| Caring |
Top Tips
- Write a strong CV profile – Open your CV explaining what you are looking for and in what sector. Describe your values and what is important to you in your next job. Explain your main skills and what you want to achieve.
- Employment History – Ensure this section is written in reverse chronological order. This means starting with your most recent job first and highlights your most recent achievements
- Include your education and qualifications – If this is on your CV then employers will not need to ask for it later. A job in care does not require specific qualifications
- Hobbies and Interests – these are not a requirement on a CV unless they are relevant to the job you are applying for. Only add them if they will back up your skills and help you to stand out.
- Keep it short and concise – Your CV should not exceed 2 pages and if you have no work or volunteer experience yet, shouldn’t be more than 1 page.
- Limit personal details – Do not put details that could put you at risk of fraud. All you need is your name, town you are based, telephone number and email address. Do not include your national insurance number or full address
- Don’t use generic language, stand out! – Ask your friends, family or previous colleagues what they think your strengths and skills are if you are unsure what to put.
- Proofread your CV – before using your CV to apply for a job, make sure you have checked for spelling and grammar errors thoroughly.
- Write in 1st person – Don’t write in third person, it looks like someone else has written your CV for you.
- Title each section – as in the example above, clearly separate each section and use titles. If there have been a lot of applicants for one job an employer will be reading quickly for key experience and skills, so make it easier for them.
- Adapt your CV – If you are applying for different types of jobs then adapt what is included on your CV. For example, the skills required for an Activities Coordinator are different to those of a Care Assistant, so your CV profile would have a different focus.
- Saving the file – Save the CV for the job title you are applying for, rather than your name. This tells the employer that you are dedicated to their job. E.g. ‘Care Assistant CV’
Your CV
Now you are ready to write your own CV. Don’t forget to use the CV template above to help you stay on track!
Next Step
Visit www.hertsgoodcare.com to find out more about working in care, or to search and apply for jobs with your new CV.