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 but an employer will need this information for pre-employment checks. You could have gained skills or experience through study that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

Hobbies and Interests: These are not a requirement on a CV unless they are relevant to the job you are applying for. Only add hobbies and interests if they are relevant and help you to stand out from other jobseekers.

Keep it short and concise: Your CV should not exceed 2 pages and if you have a short work or volunteer history, should not 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, date of birth or full address.

Don’t use generic language and sentences: Your CV is your opportunity to stand out. There are phrases that employers see in every CV and are not needed such as ‘I work well in a team or on my own‘.

Proofread your CV: Before using your CV to apply for a job, make sure you have checked for spelling and grammar errors thoroughly. You could ask someone else to proofread for you to make sure no errors are missed.

Write in first person: Do not write in third person as it looks like someone else has written your CV for you. The first person is used when you’re talking about yourself. If you’re writing in the first person, you’ll be using words such as “I,” “me,” “my,” and so on.

Title each section: As in the CV template we have provided, ensure you clearly separate each section and use titles. If there have been a lot of applicants for one job an employer may skim read initially for key experience and skills, so make it easier for them to pinpoint them in your CV.

11. Adapt your CV: If you are applying for different types of jobs then adapt what is included on your CV. For example, some skills required for a Chef 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, as well as your name. This tells the employer that you are dedicated to their job. E.g., ‘John Smith Care Assistant CV’.  Most recruiters prefer your CV as a Word document (.doc or .docx) due to the format being easily opened, editable and readable by ATS software, or an Applicant Tracking System.