Writing a well-crafted care assistant CV is the first step in landing your next role. Care assistants are often the unsung heroes who play a vital role in our communities. Working in their clients' homes, care homes, or in the community, care assistants tailor their services to suit their clients. Some of their duties include day-to-day tasks such as washing, dressing, and supporting vulnerable people with their mobility.
Care assistants are in high demand across the whole of the UK.
When you are applying for a role as a care assistant, it is paramount that you get your CV looking great. At Resume.io, we are here to help. Our wide range of CV examples will help you secure an interview for your next care assistant role.
In this care assistant CV example and writing guide, you will learn more about these topics:
- The role of a care assistant
- How to write a care assistant CV that will help take you to the interview stage.
- What to include in the various sections of your CV
- Layout and design ideas.
- The ideal format for a care assistant CV
More care assistants are employed in the UK than in many other healthcare professions, including nursing assistants, dental nurses, and ambulance staff. According to statistics, over 1.5 million people work as adult care assistants in the UK.
The high number of care assistants employed in the UK shows a huge demand, which seems to be constantly increasing. Care assistants can choose the setting they wish to work in, and with over 17,000 care homes operating in the UK, there is plenty of choice for people working in this sector.
Care assistant job market and outlook
With around 17,600 care homes in the UK and a notoriously high staff turnover within the care sector, there is a constant need for care assistants. In addition, people across the globe are living longer, with most people expecting to live beyond 60 years of age. It means that the elderly population is growing, and therefore, there is an increasing demand for care assistants.
There are over 50%(!) of care sector roles which remain unfilled. On an average day, you can expect there to be 165,000 vacancies to be advertised.
In the UK, the average hourly rate for care assistants is £11.15. Care assistants can often work flexibly, with shifts to cover a range of lifestyles. As there is a requirement for care assistants around the clock; there is often the potential to work part-time hours, such as evenings and weekends.
How to write a care assistant CV
You should include various standard sections on your care assistant CV. These are:
- CV header
- CV summary (or profile as it is also known as)
- Employment history
- Education
- Skills
You may also want to include other sections, such as achievements/interests, but the sections above should be definite.
Your CV should be no more than 2 pages long, so only include additional sections if you are lacking in the others. It should always be tailored to suit the job you are applying to, and more specifically, the hiring manager. The CV examples we have provided will show you the ideal length of a CV and how to tailor these to the role.
Do your research on the company, the role, department, and the hiring manager. In this way, you will be able to put yourself in the right mindset as you write your care assistant CV. In addition, you will be able to envisage them in front of you, asking the relevant questions.
You can use this strategy to create a winning CV:
- Tailor the CV for the role and adapt the style to suit the person who will potentially be reading your CV.
- Use a clear CV template that is easy to read and has a simple design.
- Make sure you use relevant keywords on your CV, as these will help you pass through ATS screening software.
Choosing the best CV format for a care assistant
The best and most popular CV format for a care assistant role is reverse chronological. The focus here is the employment section. If you have no previous experience as a care assistant or are entirely new to the workforce, you might want to consider functional or hybrid options.
The functional CV format is where the focus is on skills, and it is most prevalent in complex technical roles. The combination or hybrid format is a combination of both. We suggest that you stick to the reverse chronological CV format for a care assistant role.
CV header
The header of your care assistant CV is where you insert your name and contact details. This is always at the top of the CV and is usually in a larger font than the text and acts as a design element.
Recruiters will use the information in the CV header to contact you for an interview, so don’t forget to include this. Check out the header on our CV sample for more ideas of an appropriate design for a care assistant position.
CV summary example: a brief encounter
The summary (AKA the profile) of your care assistant CV is where you tell the employer a bit about you. Just as you would introduce yourself to a new client, you can use this section to help give the hiring manager an understanding of who you are.
You only need two or three statements on the summary and it should leave the reader with a strong insight into what has led you to apply for this role. It sounds more enticing if you use action verbs, rather than using “I” when you are describing what you have achieved.
The summary should not be a duplicate of other information on your CV, but rather the highlights. Focus on your level of experience, why you want to work as a care assistant, and what value you can provide. You can also mention what you are seeking in your next role. Your personality should shine through on your summary, as this is what will make you stand out.
You can find a care assistant CV example summary below. If you want to peruse other CV examples for more summary ideas, try these: nanny CV sample, medical CV example, nurse CV sample, part-time job CV example, and administrative assistant CV sample.
Care assistant with 3 years of experience working in home care, supporting elderly clients with day-to-day activities. Patient and reliable with a commitment to delivering the highest standard of care. Independent worker with the ability to work under pressure and manage time effectively. Specialising in care for dementia patients and their families.
Employment history sample: the right level of care
As mentioned earlier, reverse chronological is the most popular format. You need to create an employment history section in your care assistant CV with your current or most recent position listed first. State your job title, employer and the dates you were employed, with bulleted statements listed underneath.
Again, you should not use “I”, but instead, dynamic action verbs such as delivered, or managed.
Your goal should be to inform the employer of the experience you have that is relevant to the role. If you don’t have any experience as a care assistant, focus on the aspects of roles you have had that may be transferable. For example, providing a high level of customer service, working in a busy environment, or managing your own time effectively. You can find more inspiration on our CV examples.
You can find a care assistant employment history CV sample below.
Care Assistant at Homecare Belfast, Belfast
February 2020 - Present
- Provide individualised care to residents and helped them maintain their independence.
- Support residents with day-to-day activities, including washing, housekeeping, and shopping.
- Provide emotional support to residents as needed.
- Schedule and lead meetings with family members to update them on patient condition.
Care Assistant at 5 Star Care, Belfast
March 2021 - Present
- Aided residents with everyday activities including mealtime, bathing, and grooming.
- Assisted residents with organisation and cleaning of spaces and belongings.
- Built meaningful relationships with residents and offered emotional support through challenging situations.
- Drove residents to visit friends and family, collecting them and dropping them home.
Care assistant CV education example
Specific qualifications are often not required for a care assistant role. However, they can be helpful. Just as you would with the experience section of your care assistant CV, you can list your educational qualifications from the most recent to the earliest.
If you have previous experience as a care assistant, it would be helpful to list any training you have received or, indeed, any self-directed studying you have undertaken.
Suppose you have no experience relating to a care assistant role or anything that could be transferable, but you have a degree or other qualifications relating to social work. In that case, you may want to reverse the education and employment sections. See our education CV sample below.
BA Health and Social Care, University of Ulster, Belfast
April 2016 - July 2019
CV skills sample: focus on soft skills
The hiring manager should get a good grasp of what you can offer through the skills section of your care assistant CV. Then, you can highlight those skills you possess that are suited to the role, focusing on soft skills.
The qualities you can bring to a care assistant role are much more important than your experience. Skills such as building good relationships, communication, patience, and working on your own initiative are all highly sought after for a care assistant role. See our skills CV sample list below.
- Dedicated team player
- Ability to work under pressure
- Microsoft Office
- Relationship-building
- Independent thinking
- Clean driving record
If you don’t have any previous care experience, focus on the transferable skills. It is particularly beneficial for a care assistant role where soft skills are most prominent. Use the job spec as guidance for the most appropriate skills to include.
CV layout and design: making the right impression
This guide aims to help you create a care assistant CV that will give you a great chance for an interview invitation. The quality of the content is, of course, the main priority, but you don’t want to let yourself down with a poor layout and design.
Hiring managers expect to read CVs that are easy to follow, uncomplicated and error-free. Use our CV samples if you are unsure what design to use for yours.
Taking your time is key to creating the perfect care assistant CV. You can look at our CV templates, which offer guidance in getting the formatting just right.
Key takeaways for a care assistant CV
- Care assistants' jobs are in high demand and can be a challenging but rewarding career choice.
- Reverse chronological order is the best CV format for a care assistant role.
- Use appropriate keywords throughout your CV, which you can find on the job spec. Tailor these to every individual job.
- Check out our care assistant CV sample for more ideas on creating a great page layout.
