Considering A Career in Care
Wouldn’t it be nice to know what to expect during the recruitment process for a dream job in care? We can’t give you all the answers but Jess Lombard, Recruitment Advisor for Bupa Care Services is here to give you the inside scoop on the process and will even throw in a few useful hints and tips on what we’re looking for when it comes to hiring candidates.
The CV stage
Before I dive into the recruitment process we need to get back to basics…your CV.
90% of the time it is the first thing a recruiter will open in your application so it needs to highlight your skills straight off the bat.
Here’s my top tips for writing a CV that we’ll love:
1. Make your personal statement stand out
This is the first thing we see on your CV so forgetting to amend outdated career objectives that are no longer relevant isn’t going to cut it. If you’re really serious about working in care then demonstrating this in the first few sentences by telling us why will really grab our attention.
We’re not asking you to write war and peace, but summarising your key skills and career aspirations will do the trick.
2. Ditch the paragraphs
Recruiters spend their days sifting through applications. If we have to pick apart lengthy paragraphs to understand what your actual duties were then key skills can get lost in a sea of words. By providing key concise bullet points under each previous job title shows us exactly what you’ve done and makes it impossible to miss those all-important transferable skills.
3. Be relevant
Not ensuring your CV is up to date is very poor practise. Recruiters may be well versed in reviewing CV’s but with the greatest will in the world we’re not mind readers. To get the best chance of securing the job you should have all your cards on the table. Start with your most recent position first and work backwards in chronological order…read ‘em and weep.
4. Check it out
‘He’s making a list and checking it twice’…okay I know it’s only July but there’s something to be said for old St Nick’s due diligence. Spelling mistakes are the quickest way to ensure your application loses credibility. If you’re declaring that you care and you’re dedicated then your CV needs to reflect that and don’t forget to proof read.
The cover letter
If your CV is the ‘what’ then the cover letter should be the ‘how’ and the ‘why’. How have you previously demonstrated the skills we’re looking for? Why are you right for this job? Why do you want to work with Bupa Care Services?
Let’s play a game of myth busters…
I’ve not worked in care before so there’s no point writing a cover letter…
Wrong. We understand that you may not have the exact experience but we are looking for transferable skills that fit the job description. You can talk about volunteering, or personal experiences; it’s your time to show off! You obviously think you’d be good at the job otherwise you wouldn’t be applying so tell us why.