Counsellor CV example

Outlining education on an intern CV

The education section is the supporting foundation of your CV, reassuring employers that you can hit the ground running. Some internships have strict entry requirements, such as accountancy, whereas others simply ask for a positive attitude. You should research the industry and re-read the spec before applying, so you know exactly what hiring managers want. Whatever the field, outline:

• School, college, university, or other awarding body
• Study dates – include your expected graduation date as the end date if you’re still in full-time education
• Subject title – not applicable to GCSEs
• Qualification type – e.g. A level or GCSE
• Qualification result

If you’re a recent graduate with minimal work experience, you could list individual university modules relevant to the role. For example, if you’re applying for an accountancy internship within a charity, you might mention you studied “Issues in Not-for-Profit and Public Sector Accounting”.

School and university qualifications aren’t the be-all and end-all. You can also discuss achievements from other training institutions and awarding bodies, including vocational NVQs, BTECs, and City & Guilds certificates.

Example of education for an intern’s CV

How to add contact details to your counsellor CV

The most overlooked section within a counselling CV is arguably the contact details. Whilst this section is relatively simple, missing out details or writing incorrect information here can mean that employers can’t get in touch with you.

Here’s the key information you’ll need to include:

• Full name – Let recruiters know exactly who they’re reading about by including your full name.
• Address – This should be your full address, including the postcode.
• Email – Include an up-to-date, work-appropriate email address.
• Phone number – Make sure you add in a phone number that you use regularly, so recruiters can reach out.

Example of a contact section for a counselling CV

Counsellor CV personal statement

Recruitment managers see hundreds of CVs each day. To make yours stand out, you need a well-written personal statement. This is positioned near the top of your counselling CV and covers the main qualities that make you a great candidate for the role.

Some top tips to help you create a perfect counsellor CV include…

• Write in the third person to draw the employer’s attention away from you and on to your abilities.
• Emphasise your empathy and abilities at building relationships with patients, for example, “broad-minded counsellor with strong listening skills”.
• Don’t waste time on every detail – there’s always room to elaborate in the rest of your CV and cover letter.
• Specify any specialisms, such as “trained in Gestalt therapy”
• Let recruiters know the different groups you’ve worked with, e.g., “experienced at providing talking therapies to clients with anxiety and depression”.
• Give details of the settings in which you’ve provided counselling services, such as hospitals, community mental health, schools, and in the workplace.
• Draw attention to your relevant experience in other fields, such as nursing.

Example of personal statement for counsellor CV

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How to present your work history on a counsellor CV

Counsellors often have experience from other sectors that helps them to fulfill their role – whether that’s caring for patients through mental health nursing or supporting people with complex needs as a social worker. Experience gained from volunteering as a counsellor can also be very beneficial.

In a counselling CV, you’ll need to set out your work experience in reverse-chronological order. Start off with your most recent position, then work backwards through any other relevant jobs.

Here are the core details you’ll need to include:

• The starting and finishing date for the position – or write “present” for current positions.
• Your job title, the company name, and the location of the role.
• Include a list, using bullet points, to record 3-6 relevant responsibilities for the job.

Don’t pad your CV out with less relevant jobs from twenty years ago. Make sure you keep the responsibilities you record relevant and diverse too. If one job showcases your prowess with dialectical behavioural therapy, use another position to emphasise your ability to work under pressure.

Example of work experience for counsellor CV

Great skills to add on your counsellor CV

Counsellors require a broad range of technical and interpersonal capabilities to support clients with care and compassion, whilst also helping them to uncover strategies to improve their mental wellbeing. Requirements will vary, so it’s important to always read the job description carefully. However, many CV skills needed by counsellors will overlap.

Here are some must-haves and desirables to include:

How to add education to your counsellor CV

Though there are no set education requirements for counsellors, there are plenty of qualifications that can help you to stand out. A degree in psychology or counselling or a Master’s in counselling can be very beneficial, whilst Level 2 to Level 4 qualifications in counselling skills can also give your CV a boost. As well as these qualifications, becoming a member of a regulating body also showcases your abilities. These include BACP, UKCP and NCS.

You can also include details of your A-Level and GCSE results if they were in the past 10 years.

Here are the most important details you’ll need to include:

• The name of the institution you studied at
• The year of completion
• The level of the qualification – such as NVQ or MA
• Course title or subject

Example education section for a counsellor CV