Tender CV Example

Adding contact details to your tender CV

To increase the likelihood of a call back, you should note your most up-to-date contact details at the top of your CV. We know it sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many applicants forget. Highlight your information near the header, preferably in a slightly larger or bolder font for maximum readability. Remember to add the following:

• Full name – first name and surname
• Location – so the employer knows where you’re based
• Phone number – the best one to reach you on
• Email address – keep it work appropriate

Example of contact section for a tender CV

How to write a personal statement for your tender CV

There’s nothing more persuasive than a powerful personal statement. This short introductory paragraph summarises your highest accomplishments, skills, and qualifications to encourage the employer to read more. While it’s tempting to include bucket loads of information, you only have three to four sentences to get your main points across. Stuck? Use our formula below.

Sentence one breaks the ice with years of experience and career focus. Sentence two explains what you can achieve, backed up by real-world results and statistics. Finally, sentences three and four underline your unique skills and specialisms. For example, you might have a CIPS Level 4 Diploma or experience using online portals and council procurement tools.

As for real-world results and statistics, choose something tangible that cements your expertise. You might have supervised a large team, won several awards, or managed a hefty caseload of bids. Whatever the achievement, keep it specific so there’s no doubt of your talents!

What else do you need to know? Heed the below advice:

• Write in the third person to sound more professional
• Stick to the word count – 50 to 100 words is ideal
• Keep the tone friendly, polite, and professional
• Use keywords and phrases – you can find these hard and soft skills in the job advertisement
• Focus on what the employer wants – save your career ambitions for the cover letter

Example of personal statement for a tender CV

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Adding experience section to your tender CV

The work history section is usually the largest and most in-depth of any CV – and for good reason. It’s your chance to shout about why you’re the best person for the position. Our top advice? Use the job advertisement to inform your writing. Is the hiring manager looking for someone with excellent communication skills? Give plenty of examples of building and developing relationships. Do they require computer literacy? Discuss the types of software you use.

How should you present this section? Start from your current or most recent role and note up to six duties for each. Add more detail for relevant careers that reflect the company’s requirements.

Run through:

• Job title
• Employment start and end dates
• Company name
• Company location
• List of duties
• Workplace achievements

Like the personal statement, provide evidence of what you can achieve so the reader can’t doubt your capabilities. Let’s say you “developed and maintained a bid document directory” – can you expand on this? You might have “introduced a new filing system that boosted efficiency by 18%” or “revolutionised a directory of over 10,000 documents”. Remember, specificity is the key to standing out from the other applicants!

Next, don’t repeat yourself or waste space on obvious, irrelevant responsibilities. For instance, if you’ve mentioned “liaising with stakeholders” underneath one role, talk about “maximising long-term profitability” in another. Obvious duties might include “answering emails” and “photocopying” – every candidate should be able to do this, so it doesn’t add anything special to your application.

Lastly, reiterate how brilliant you are with positive adjectives and action verbs. You might be “analytical”, “results-oriented”, and “methodical”. Action verbs are excellent alternatives to “responsible for”. Some of our favourites for tender professionals include “formalised”, “negotiated”, and “quantified”.

Example of work experience for a tender CV

Skills worth having on your tender CV

Sometimes, hiring managers don’t have the time to scroll through chunky applications. Instead, they skip straight to the CV skills section to assess a candidate’s suitability. On top of this, ATS software finds it easier to pick out keywords and phrases when they’re neatly compiled in one place. We advise noting up to 12 skills in total, split equally between hard skills and soft skills.

So, what’s the difference? Hard skills are technical and learnt on the job or via formal education. Examples include “producing tender submissions”, “creating high-quality proposal documents”, and “maintaining a bid information library.” In contrast, soft skills are transferable and personality-based, such as “motivated”, “dependable”, and “organised”.

The most successful applications balance both. After all, having the right attitude is equally important as practical expertise. If you’re struggling to describe yourself – like many people do – ask your friends or colleagues for some feedback.

Need some more inspiration? Check out the following lists.

Outlining education on a tender CV

If you’re up against equally experienced candidates, having specialised qualifications can give you the upper hand. Discuss school, college, and university courses, professional training, and memberships to government bodies. Quite simply, emphasise anything that proves you have the brains to back up your practical skills.

Filling out this section is pretty straightforward, but there are a few things to remember. Firstly, don’t mention poor grades or incomplete courses – we doubt they’ll impress the employer. Plus, you don’t need to give bundles of detail for older qualifications, especially if you’ve completed higher education. GCSEs don’t matter as much when you have a university degree under your belt!

How do you become a tender professional? Most applicants have a degree in a related subject, such as Business Management, Civil Engineering, or Law. However, you could also pursue apprenticeships or professional qualifications via the Association of Bid and Proposal Management Professionals (APMP). Ultimately, choose the route that best reflects your learning style.

When outlining your education, run through:

• Name of school, college, university, or other awarding body
• Study start and end dates
• Subject title
• Qualification level – e.g. GCSE or undergraduate degree
• Qualification result

Example of education for a tender CV