How to succeed in your Health & Social Care job search with CV top tips

Are you a healthcare worker/graduate looking for a new opportunity? A well-crafted CV will increase your chances of landing your dream job. A CV is crucial for highlighting your qualities and job history, setting you aside from other candidates. Creating a CV can be daunting but, in this post, we will outline the main elements to make the process a little easier!

Creating a CV for a Care Worker:

It is worthwhile taking your time to create a strong CV that is easy to tailor when applying for different jobs. A well-presented CV reflects your professionalism and attention to detail, showing you take your career seriously. Therefore, it is important to keep your CV brief and to the point. Employers are busy people and often do not have time to read lengthy sections of writing. Additionally, the document should be no longer then one or two A4 pages. Use a clear font throughout, in black and font size 12. Follow the steps below, in the same order!

Contact information:

• Include your full name, phone number, email address and postal address.
• You can also include any professional social media profiles (e.g LinkedIn).
• Ensure this is clear so employees can easily contact you.

Write a personal statement:

• A short section outlining your skills and experience professionally and personally. This is your opportunity to create a first impression and introduce yourself.
• Consider using keywords from the job description and adjectives to give your statement credibility. Some good Heath & Social Care keywords include young adult, innovation, rehabilitation & proactive.

Outline your work history:

• List your previous roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.
• Clearly state your job title, the name of the organisation and the dates of employment.
• Outline details of relevant experience, describing key responsibilities and showing how you put your skills into action.
• Highlight any experience working with diverse populations or in specialised areas.
• If you are new to the sector, mention any voluntary work or roles showing expertise in caring for others.

Skills:

• Evaluate your skills and select the ones that best align with that position.
• Format skills by using bullet points or headings.
• Include a variety of hard skills (abilities specific to the job) and soft skills (abilities you can apply to the job, such as social/people skills)
• Some skills to include in a Health & Social Care CV include: Personal care, medical or first aid, end-of-line care, patience, approachability, empathy & friendliness.
• Mention any languages you speak.

Describe your education:

• List your most recent course of study, including academic qualifications.
• Any qualifications or certificates related to care work. These do not have to be directly related to the industry, anything that shows your transferable skills related to the job description.

A strong CV is your ticket to success in the job market. Prospero Health & Social Care can help you find the perfect role that matches your skills, interests and aspirations by connecting you to healthcare professionals with job opportunities. Browse our available roles here, or register to connect with a dedicated recruitment consultant.