With an ageing population and a high demand for health services, there is a continued need for the care and attention that healthcare assistants provide. However, are you bringing the same level of care to your healthcare assistant CV? This is your first and only chance to engage with the hiring manager. Needless to say, you need to work hard to get it right.
CV guide for a healthcare assistant CV
Boost your CV’s vital signs with Resume.io. We have a wide range of guides and CV examples covering over 170 professions. You can also use our CV builder to make it easier than ever to create a compelling CV for healthcare assistant jobs or any others you may pursue.
This CV guide and corresponding healthcare assistant CV example will cover the following:
- How to write a healthcare assistant CV
- Choosing the right CV format for a healthcare assistant
- How to add your contact information
- Using summaries
- Adding your healthcare assistant experience
- Listing education and relevant experience
- Picking the right CV design/layout
- What the healthcare assistant work job market looks like, and what salary you can expect
How to write a healthcare assistant CV
Before you can start writing your healthcare assistant CV, you need to know what to include. Here are the elements that every good CV has:
- The CV header
- The CV summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The CV skills section
- The education section
When you’re applying for healthcare assistant jobs, you need to convince the hiring manager that you have what it takes to excel. However, that’s not always as easy as it sounds. The truth of the matter is that you only have one chance to make the right first impression. Let’s take a look at some of the simple ways you can grab the hiring manager’s attention from the offset:
- Highlight your accomplishments, not just your responsibilities. It’s not simply about listing all of the duties you carry out during your work. The hiring manager already knows what they are. Instead, you need to focus on the results of your hard work.
- Adapt your CV to meet the needs of the hospital or facility. Doing so will help you get the competitive edge. Do some research and use what you find there.
- Keep the design simple from start to finish. You don’t want to confuse the hiring manager by using a complicated look. Use one of our tried and tested CV templates.
- Optimise your CV for relevant keywords. This approach gives you the best chance of getting past the CV scanning software, which many hiring managers now use.
Optimise for the ATS
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are software that many employers now use to filter incoming CVs. Only the highest ranking CVs get past the bots and make it into the hiring manager’s inbox. So, how can you make sure that you make the cut? One option is to optimise your CV using specific keywords. You can find these in the body of the original job advert.
For example, a healthcare assistant job posting may include the following requirements:
- “Healthcare assistant”
- “NCFE CACHE level 2 Certificate in Healthcare Support Services”
- “Communication skills, including listening”
- “Hands-on approach with patients”
Your CV profile summary, when integrating the keywords, could read:
“Healthcare assistant with NCFE CACHE level 2 Certificate in Healthcare Support Services. Boasts excellent communication skills, including listening, and takes a hands-on approach with patients.”
Choosing the right CV format for a healthcare worker
The best CV format for a healthcare assistant CV is almost always reverse chronological order. This means your previous employment section takes centre stage.
Some roles might work better with a functional CV format (or a skills-based CV format) as it mostly emphasises important niche or complex skills and competencies rather than your work history. This type of CV will focus on your skills section.
While your CV format is important, it needs to be populated with impressive content. We will talk about how to write each of the associated sections of your CV in the dedicated guide chapters and CV example content below.
Regardless of the format you choose, take a look at the many CV templates in our CV builder and select one that suits you. We also have plenty of CV examples using each format as well.
When it comes to the look of your healthcare assistant CV, go for a simple layout that’s easy to read. That way, the hiring manager will have no problem gaining information from your CV.
Include your contact information
If your healthcare assistant CV impresses the hiring manager, they will want to reach out to you. That’s where your CV header comes into play. This is basically your business card, featuring your main contact details.
Make sure that the information is 100% clear and straightforward. Here’s what to include:
- Full name & title. List your first and last name, plus the words ‘healthcare assistant’.
- Professional email address. Choose a professional email address, such as [email protected]. Don’t add anything quirky or casual here.
- Phone number. Next, add a phone number where you can be reached quickly and easily. Check the answer phone message and make sure it’s suitable for work.
- Location. You don’t need to list your entire address as this is old fashioned. Instead, you can simply include your city or town and country or county.
- LinkedIn. Although LinkedIn isn’t massively common for healthcare assistants, if you have a profile, you can include it here. Don’t add any other social media profiles.
Don’t include:
- Date of birth: Adding your date of birth can lead to age discrimination.
- Personal details: Leave out your marital status, passport number, etc.
Make use of a summary
Your CV summary is the place to summarise your most impressive accomplishments and key strengths as a healthcare assistant. You have just three to four sentences to wow the hiring manager into reading on. After all, this is the section that will be used to determine the relevance of your CV example.
Our CV example summary below will give you some ideas on how you could position yourself as a healthcare assistant. However, your summary should always be informed by the job description of the role that you are applying for.
Include a selection of action verbs in the simple past or present tense. Examples include achieved, managed, and excelled. You should also add some results-based points, i.e. statements that are backed up with cold, hard facts.
Don’t simply repeat what you’ve written elsewhere on your healthcare CV. Instead, give the hiring manager something new to think about. For example, you might write “Healthcare assistant with ability to assist with personal care for 20+ patients daily, monitor vital signs with 99.9% accuracy, and support healthcare professionals in managing patient care plans.”
Need inspiration for your summary? Check out our related health CVs:
You can find adaptable healthcare assistant example summaries below:
Motivated and empathetic healthcare assistant. Recently completed a Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care with hands-on experience gained through NHS clinical placements and volunteer work supporting patient care. Eager to begin a career in healthcare and contribute to providing compassionate care within the NHS.
Compassionate Healthcare Assistant with 5+ years of experience in providing patient-centred care across NHS and residential care settings. Proven ability to manage a caseload of up to 15 patients daily, ensuring their comfort, safety, and well-being. Holds a Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care and is eager to continue growing within a healthcare environment, contributing to excellent patient outcomes.
Senior Healthcare Assistant with 15+ years of experience in providing exceptional patient care within NHS hospitals, residential care homes, and community health settings. Skilled in advanced patient care, including administering medication, conducting health assessments, and supporting nursing staff in complex procedures. Proven track record of managing care for up to 25 patients daily, mentoring junior staff, and ensuring strict adherence to care plans and safety protocols. Holds a Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care and has extensive knowledge of safeguarding, infection control, and patient advocacy.
Outline your healthcare assistant work experience
Once the hiring manager has decided your CV is worth reading, they will focus on your previous employment history in the healthcare field. Make it easy for them and present your relevant achievements from past positions in reverse chronological order. That means your most recent experience should be at the top.
Ensure your previous employment history showcases your potential as a skilled and accomplished healthcare assistant. Create a subheading for each previous role that includes the job title, employer, location, and dates of employment. Under this subheading, list several bullet points detailing your responsibilities and the skills for each role that are relevant to a position as a healthcare assistant.
Remember, this section is a valuable opportunity to demonstrate your expertise, dedication, and accomplishments as a healthcare assistant. Always show tangible results, rather than just stating what you did.
- "Helping patients with daily activities”
- "Medication administration”
- “Supporting nurses and doctors during medical procedures”
While these statements may be true, they don’t tell the hiring manager what you bring to the table. Instead, add some results-based points to add some colour to your CV, as follows:
- "Assisting an average of 10-15 patients daily”
- "Administration of medication for up to 10 patients daily”
- "Assisting nurses with 5-7 complex procedures per shift”
Take a look at the healthcare assistant employment history CV sample below:
Healthcare Assistant at Brighton General Hospital, Brighton, UK
May 2018 - March 2023
- Engaged with patients to answer or direct questions, providing empathetic and efficient support for a wide range of customers.
- Maintained comprehensive, confidential patient records, inputting patient data and visit records to facilitate physician and medical staff activities.
- Oversaw facility maintenance activities, preparing treatment rooms and managing public areas for positive experiences.
Healthcare Assistant at PeaceHealth Medical, Brighton, UK
April 2015 - January 2018
- Partnered with medical staff to provide support for all administrative and healthcare activities, maintaining alignment with high-level standards.
- Delivered exceptional customer service for patients, providing support for phone and in-person communications.
- Seamlessly maintained detailed patient records, ensuring optimal security and confidentiality across protected data.
How to write a healthcare assistant CV with no experience
If you’re new to the world of healthcare — but have the appropriate education — you can still apply for the job. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Focus on your transferable skills, i.e. the competencies you’ve honed during other roles. These may include communication skills, teamwork, and time management.
- Detail your previous placements. You will have undertaken these during your education, giving you some hands-on experience of the role.
- Show some enthusiasm. In your summary section, you can outline why you’ve decided to pursue this career. Explain why helping people matters to you.
When you lack direct experience in the field, you may worry that you will be unable to gain an interview. However, by being strategic in what you include, you can find the right balance here.
Include the relevant key skills that make you a great healthcare assistant
Your hard and soft skills are what makes your experience as a healthcare assistant invaluable. Make sure you include a mix of both in your skills section on your CV.
Hard skills are the technical CV skills such as measuring vital signs. Soft skills are about problem solving and communication. A top healthcare assistant showcases a skills toolkit consisting of both.
Looking for some help along the way? Our CV builder provides a myriad of pre-selected skills to choose from, as well as the option to upload your own.
Prioritise your skills
Re-read the job description to remind yourself of the most important skills to the employer. Make sure to list the relevant skills only and in the order of importance. Use the same language as the job description to appease the ATS and the hiring manager.
Here’s what the skills box looks like in our CV template for healthcare assistants.
Key Skills and Proficiencies
Remember to show not tell when it comes to your skills. Rather than simply listing them, weave them throughout the body of your CV. for example:
- Show off your communication skills by writing eloquently.
- Highlight your teamwork skills by talking about your general output.
- Include your results to show that you have excellent organisation skills.
Detail your education & relevant healthcare certifications
Organising your education section shouldn’t be overlooked. Arrange the section reverse chronological order, placing your most recent qualification at the top. For each qualification, provide the essential details. Each qualification subheading should include the qualification title, institution name, location, and dates attended.
Let’s take a look at what you might include in this section of your CV:
- Degree. Should you have a degree in healthcare or a related field, you should, of course, mention this at the top of your application.
- GCSEs. If you don’t have a degree, you might want to include your GCSEs. Be clear that you have a maths and English GCSE qualification.
- College courses. You may have completed a college course, such as a Level 2 Diploma In Preparing for Further Study in Health, Social Care and Social Work or a Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care.
- Apprenticeships. Of course, some applicants may go down the apprenticeship route. In that case, you should clearly outline the course that you took.
- Associations. If you have joined the Royal College of Nursing, for example, you should include that on your healthcare assistant CV.
Certified Medical Assistant, Brighton Medical Centre, Brighton, UK
June 2013 - June 2014
Bachelor of Science in Healthcare, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK
January 2009 - May 2013
Pick the right CV layout and design for a healthcare assistant CV
There’s no overlooking the way that your healthcare assistant CV looks. The design should be an integral part of how you approach the writing of your healthcare CV. You should use a simple colour scheme with headings that properly draw your attention to the correct sections.
Unfortunately, a lot of tools are fiddly when it comes to creating the clear design needed from a professional-looking CV. If you prefer to skip this step altogether, you can consider using one of our field-tested CV templates. These save on stress and create a CV that you can be confident visually represents your professional skills in a matter of minutes.
If you want to make the process easy, we have a wealth of CV templates that may be of interest. Simply pick the one that suits your needs.
Healthcare assistant text-only CV example
Profile
Exceptional Healthcare Assistant passionate about supporting positive health outcomes by providing stellar support for medical professionals. Demonstrated experience in effective administrative management, operational support, and records maintenance, empowering healthcare personnel to deliver exceptional service to patients. Strong insight into medical industry and processes, with a keen talent for fostering positive relationships with customers and patients.
Employment history
Healthcare Assistant at Brighton General Hospital, Brighton, UK
May 2018 - March 2023
- Engaged with patients to answer or direct questions, providing empathetic and efficient support for a wide range of customers.
- Maintained comprehensive, confidential patient records, inputting patient data and visit records to facilitate physician and medical staff activities.
- Oversaw facility maintenance activities, preparing treatment rooms and managing public areas for positive experiences.
Healthcare Assistant at PeaceHealth Medical, Brighton, UK
April 2015 - January 2018
- Partnered with medical staff to provide support for all administrative and healthcare activities, maintaining alignment with high-level standards.
- Delivered exceptional customer service for patients, providing support for phone and in-person communications.
- Seamlessly maintained detailed patient records, ensuring optimal security and confidentiality across protected data.
Skills
- Medical Knowledge
- Patient Records
- Confidential Data Management
- Customer Service
- Patient Communication
- Administrative Skills
- Cross-Team Collaboration
- Medical Staff Partnership
Healthcare assistant job market and outlook
Since there is currently a shortage of healthcare assistants, now is the perfect time to land a job. Of course, before you can secure the role, you need to make sure that you have the right qualifications. Make sure that your CV is up to date and that you’re ready to apply.
What type of salary you can expect as a healthcare assistant
If you secure a job as a healthcare assistant on the NHS, you will be paid according to the Agenda for Change (AFC) pay system. This role tends to start on band 2, which equates to £23,615 per year.
Key takeaways for building a healthcare assistant CV
Give your healthcare assistant CV the care it deserves and tweak it for each new job application. Highlight your relevant skills and achievements using the STAR method. The reverse chronological order is almost always the best way to go for a healthcare assistant.
The first step is to check out our online CV builder, which can help you create a perfect CV.
