If you’re looking to advance your career as a community development worker, your CV must describe how and why you’re a valuable asset to prospective employers. Writing a truly compelling CV requires an understanding of the kind of skills and achievements that can make a positive impression on employers.

To help you succeed with CV writing, we’ve created a community development worker CV sample, where you’ll find clear and targeted information on how to turn your job search into a success story. We’ve cherry picked the best tips to help you get beyond the short-listing stage.

On top of implementing the following advice, kick-start your creative juices by browsing our expert CV examples. Each document offers bundles of content and design ideas to simplify the CV writing process. Drawing inspiration from successful applications is the secret to securing your next job!

Want to learn more? Keep reading as we run through:

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    Sample community development worker CV

    Community Development Worker

    Rhys French

    59 Overton Circle
    Liverpool L3 8HB
    07912345678
    Rhys.French@example-example.co.uk

    Professional summary

    Experienced counselling professional with history diversifying services to meet individual client needs. Works with care and compassion to deliver targeted care programmes for improved social and behavioural outcomes. Meticulous in assessments and monitoring to provide excellent care continuity.

    Work history

    February 2021 – Current
    Bridges Housing Association – Liverpool
    Community Development Worker

    • Supported integration of service users back into community life to maximise successful transition rate.
    • Responded proactively to changing circumstances for optimised service user care.
    • Maintained confidential case documentation in line with data protection regulations.

    July 2017 – January 2021
    Smithe Housing Association – Liverpool
    Community Development Worker

    • Used assessment findings to action necessary care plan adaptations.
    • Consulted with multidisciplinary team of professionals to optimise treatment plans for complex cases.
    • Liaised with families and caregivers to develop balanced rehabilitation programmes.

    Skills

    • Behaviour pattern recognition
    • Treatment plan development
    • Behavioural therapy techniques
    • Solution-focused techniques
    • Project manager supervision
    • Community engagement
    • Needs assessment
    • Interdisciplinary collaboration

    Education

    2016
    London University London
    Bachelor of Arts Social Work
    Upper Second-Class Honours

    Community development worker CV template

    Writing a community development worker CV doesn’t have to be complicated – with the right tools, it should be a slice of cake. Our website has countless resources that break the process down step by step, including a clever CV builder and pre-made CV templates. There’s no need to struggle when help is at hand.

    Choosing the right format for your community development worker CV

    Even the most experienced and qualified candidates don’t get very far without recruiter-approved CV formats. These structures organise your information so it’s easy to read and cohesive, with clear headings, sections, and bullet point lists. Paying attention to your presentation will score you some extra brownie points with busy hiring managers!

    There are two widely accepted formats to choose from: the reverse-chronological CV and the skills-based CV. The former outlines your work history, starting from your current or most recent role. The latter focuses on transferable skills, such as “communication”, “leadership”, and “creativity”.

    So, which is best for a community development worker? Ideally, a reverse-chronological CV because employers always prefer candidates who can hit the ground running. At the very least, you’ll need some volunteering experience to enter this career, which should be discussed like traditional full-time positions. Skills-based CVs are usually only suitable for people with a sparse employment background.

    Alongside choosing the right format, here are a few pointers to keep in mind:

    • Your CV should only be one to two pages long maximum
    • Use a legible font like Times New Roman, Calibri, or Helvetica
    • Keep the overall tone friendly, polite, and formal
    • Tailor all the information to the job advertisement
    • Save your CV as a Word or PDF files unless asked otherwise

    How to write a CV for a community development worker

    Stuck for ideas? Don’t worry – the following sections explain how to write a CV for a community development worker. We’ll run through what information to include and how to present it in the best possible light. Plus, we’ll answer some of your most common CV writing questions towards the end. What more could you want? It’s time to explore:

    Outlining education on a telesales representative CV

    Education is the foundation for experience and can set you apart from equally skilled candidates. You can discuss school, college, and university degrees, extracurricular training, and memberships to governing bodies. Ultimately, spotlight anything that proves you have the fundamental knowledge to exceed expectations.

    There are a few simple rules for making your education section pop. Firstly, only focus on your highest achievements, such as undergraduate and postgraduate courses. You don’t need to list your GCSEs out one by one, especially if you completed them decades ago. Next, don’t include bad grades. While you should never lie, it might be best to conveniently leave out this information!

    What does it take to become a telesales representative? There’s no set career path, and you don’t necessarily need qualifications. However, you might benefit from a relevant degree, such as Marketing, Statistics, or Economics. Alternatively, you could search for an apprenticeship. Generally, employers prioritise a proactive, can-do attitude over formal education.

    When summarising your qualifications, cover the following:

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

    Example of education for a telesales representative CV

    City & Guilds | September 2021 – June 2023
    Sales Level 3 (7711)
    Sales and Telesales Apprenticeship Level 3 (9866)
    Diploma in Sales Level 2 (6801)

    Bath College | September 2017 – June 2019
    3 A levels: Business Studies (A), English (C), Maths (C)

    Bath High School | September 2012 – June 2017
    10 GCSEs at grades B – C

    How to add contact details to your community development worker CV

    If you’ve sent out dozens of CVs but haven’t had any luck, you might have forgotten to add your most current contact details at the top of the page. It’s easily done in the excitement of applying to your dream position. Double-check you’ve noted the information somewhere near the header, preferably in a slightly larger or bolder font. Include:

    • Full name – first name and surname
    • Location – including county and postcode
    • Phone number – the best one to reach you on
    • Email address – keep it work appropriate

    Example of contact section for a community development worker CV

    Paula Edwards,
    15 Anyroad,
    Anytown,
    Anycounty, AN28 J3N,
    01233 55553444,
    paula.edwards@example.com

    Start your community development worker CV with a personal statement

    Community support work is rewarding and engaging, so highly competitive. How do you stand out against the other applicants? By putting together a persuasive personal statement summarising your most valuable achievements, skills, and qualifications. While it might sound easy, you only have three to four sentences to get your point across. We advise using the below formula to cover the core information.

    Sentence one introduces who you are, including years of experience and career focus. Sentence two is your showstopper – explain what you can achieve through a dazzling fact or figure. Finally, sentences three and four underline your unique skills and areas of expertise. Perhaps you have a Psychology or Social Sciences degree. Maybe you speak another language.

    What do we mean by fact or figure? This is a piece of concrete evidence that proves why you’re the best person for the job. You might have “raised over £5,000 through a social media fundraiser” or “won three awards”. Whatever the accomplishment, be as specific as possible to wow the employer.

    What else do you need to know?

    • Write in the third person to sound more polished
    • Stick to the word count – between 50 and 100 words is ideal
    • Use keywords – you can find these hard and soft skills in the job post
    • Avoid jokes and jargon – present yourself as a professional
    • Don’t tell the hiring manager what you want – save career ambitions for the cover letter or interview

    Example of personal statement for a community development worker CV

    A confident, approachable, and experienced community development worker with over five years of experience and a special interest in urban community issues. Won the “Community Star Award” for three consecutive years for outstanding leadership. Possess an in-depth understanding of the legal framework and policy issues surrounding community development projects. Trained as a psychologist, so well-placed to support vulnerable residents.

    OR

    A quick and creative community development worker with over eight years of experience. Launched a brand-new activity programme for at-risk youths, decreasing teenage crime rates in the area by 39%. Ample experience fundraising in both profit and not-for-profit sectors in paid and voluntary roles. Exceptional problem-solving skills and project management experience.

    Adding experience section to your community development worker CV

    The work history section provides a fascinating insight into your professional life, which is why employers spend the most time here. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase your strengths and achievements – plus anything else that cements your credentials, such as promotions or awards. Our top advice? Spotlight your highest accomplishments for maximum impact.

    When writing about work experience, start with your current or most recent role and note up to six responsibilities for each. Add more detail for relevant positions that reflect the job advertisement. Run through:

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

    Like the personal statement, it’s a good idea to substantiate your claims with statistics. Otherwise, the hiring manager doesn’t have any hard evidence to make a decision. Let’s say you “oversaw a pilot public transportation programme” – can you expand on this? Perhaps the initiative “decreased noise pollution by 43%” or “saved residents 20 minutes of commuting time”. Remember, specificity is the secret to success!

    Your ultimate goal is to encourage the employer to learn more, so your CV must be engaging. One way you can achieve this is by avoiding repetition. For example, if you’ve discussed “raising public awareness” underneath one role, talk about “preparing reports” in another. This will show the reader the scope of your capabilities. Additionally, don’t waste space on obvious tasks like “answering emails” – everyone can do this, so it doesn’t add anything to your application.

    Positive adjectives and action verbs can also uplift the tone. You might be “creative”, “innovative”, and “patient”. Action verbs are excellent alternatives to “responsible for”. Some of our favourites for community development workers include “delivered”, “shaped”, and “advocated”.

    Example of work experience for a community development worker CV

    Community Development Worker | Bridges Housing Association, Manchester | May 2022 – Present

    • Liaise with community leaders to identify critical needs.
    • Raise public awareness about community issues.
    • Hold regular resident support groups and community meetings.
    • Offer counselling services to at-risk teenagers.
    • Oversaw a pilot public transportation programme.
    • Developed seven successful funding applications over three years.

    Community Development Worker | Smithe Housing Association, Manchester | July 2020 – May 2022

    • Developed several awareness-raising campaigns that drew public attention to quality housing shortages.
    • Prepared reports and white papers using qualitative and quantitative data obtained during fieldwork.
    • Developed a fundraising appeal that raised £500,000.

    Top skills for your community development worker CV

    Having the right CV skills reassures key decision-makers you possess the fundamental qualities to succeed. On top of this, ATS scanning software relies on neatly packaged keywords and phrases to get your CV past the algorithm. We suggest noting around 12 skills in total, split equally between hard skills and soft skills.

    What’s the difference? Hard skills are technical and learnt on the job or via education. Examples include “counselling young people”, “setting up fundraisers”, and “creating financial budgets”. In contrast, soft skills are personality-based and transferable, therefore much harder to learn – think “creative”, “motivated”, and “organised”.

    You need both to impress the employer. It doesn’t matter how qualified you are if you have a negative attitude. Similarly, friendliness doesn’t compensate for a lack of practical knowledge. The best applicants support their arsenal of job-specific tools with the right character.

    Confused? Check out the following lists for inspiration:

    Essential skills for a community development worker

    • Current DBS check
    • Full and clean driving licence
    • Excellent oral and written communication skills
    • Able to empathise with individuals of different backgrounds
    • Leadership skills

    Desirable aptitudes to set you apart

    • Knowledge of psychology or counselling practices
    • Computer literacy and social media savvy
    • Experience in research and report-writing
    • Confident with fundraising
    • Speaks multiple languages

    Outlining education on a community development worker CV

    Education provides the foundation for experience, giving you a competitive edge when you’re up against equally talented candidates. You can discuss school, college, or university courses, professional qualifications, and memberships to governing bodies. Basically, anything that confirms you have the knowledge to get the job done!

    There are a few things to keep in mind when completing this section. Firstly, don’t draw attention to bad grades or incomplete courses – you won’t impress the hiring manager. While you should never lie, you’re not obligated to offer this information unless asked. Secondly, you only have limited space, so there’s no need to run through older qualifications in bucket loads of detail. For instance, you can skip over GCSEs if you’ve completed more relevant university degrees.

    How do you become a community development worker? Most people enter this career through a university or college course. Popular subjects include Community Development, Psychology, and Social Sciences. Alternatively, you can complete on-the-job training via volunteering or apprenticeship placements. Check out your local authority’s website for the latest opportunities.

    When listing your education, here’s what to include:

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

    Example of education for a community development worker CV

    Any Housing Association, London | July 2022 – July 2023

    • Introduction to Welfare Benefits Training Course
    • Introduction to Community Care Law
    • Level 3 Certificate in Independent Advocacy, specialised in Advocacy Management
    • Practical Leadership Skills Training Course

    Any University | September 2019 – July 2022
    BA (Hons) Social Work: Upper Second-Class Honours

    Any College | September 2017 – July 2019
    4 A levels: Maths (B), English (A), Sociology (B), and Psychology (B)

    Top dos and don’ts for community development worker CV writing

    Do

    • DO underscore your soft skills

      The best community development workers boast countless soft skills, such as “patience”, “empathy”, and “sensitivity”. In fact, having the right personality is so important, hiring managers will often prioritise a positive attitude over tonnes of experience. Re-read the job advertisement, identify what the organisation is looking for, and repeat a few of these character-based traits throughout your CV.

    • DO mention your specialisms

      Do you speak another language or have a desirable qualification, such as Counselling or Youth Work? Now’s the time to shout about it. Highlighting what makes you special will propel you miles ahead of the competition and give you an advantage when job hunting. If you don’t have an area of expertise, you might want to consider supplementary training courses.

    Don’t

    • DON’T forget your cover letter

      A cover letter is a concise one-page document that introduces who you are, explains why you’re the best person for the role, and outlines your proudest achievements. It’s also a great place to note additional information that doesn’t belong in a CV, like your notice period and interview availability.

    • DON’T send your CV without double-checking

      The best content in the world can be blighted by spelling mistakes and silly errors, so review your application before sending it across. As well as taking advantage of online spell-checkers, ask a friend or family member for feedback. The more input you get, the more confident you’ll be!

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    Your community development worker CV questions answered

    What is the job description of a community development worker?

    Community development workers help to improve their local area. Some work specifically with vulnerable youths, creating engaging activity programmes and educating parents about gang-related crime. Others focus on infrastructure, initiating better transport links and green policies. While every day looks different, some of the key duties include:

    • Liaising with local residents and councillors
    • Providing practical support to individuals and families
    • Fundraising and allocating funds
    • Developing workshops, activities, and residentials
    • Training voluntary staff

    What skills are required for community development work?

    As you can imagine, the best community development workers possess plenty of skills to help them be effective. Organisation is crucial, especially when juggling multiple campaigns and initiatives. Plus, it’s helpful to have a good understanding of social media and Microsoft programmes. Employers search for the following talents:

    • Computer literacy
    • Knowledge about local policies
    • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
    • Confident report writer and analytical thinker
    • Proactive and can-do approach

    What are the values of a community development worker?

    Above all else, community development work is about building meaningful, lasting relationships with local individuals and families. Alongside the above practical skills, successful applicants are naturally empathetic, sensitive, and understanding. It’s almost impossible to learn these characteristics, so hiring managers value them highly.

    How do I write a community development worker CV without experience?

    Most people have more experience than they think, even if they haven’t had a full-time role. You can talk about volunteering, apprenticeships, and university placements like traditional employment in a reverse-chronological structure. We recommend brushing up on your skills through extracurricular training if you’re struggling to get on the career ladder.

    Create a convincing community development worker CV today

    This community development worker CV sample is only one of the many tools we put at your disposal on our website. If you found it useful, browse more sample CVs and our online CV builder, expert CV examples, and pre-made CV templates.

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