Probation officer CV example

How to add contact details to your probation officer CV

Start with adding a clear set of contact details. This is often forgotten by applicants and can be a roadblock on the way to potential interviews and employment. After all, how can an employer arrange an interview if they can’t reach you? To remedy this, we will create a clear set of contact details that will be unmissable.

To get this section right, you should add a set of details somewhere near the top of your document. They should be highlighted in either a bold font, or a larger case. Here is a short list of things to include when writing your contact section:

• Your full name – no need to include your middle name.
• Your location – so the employer knows where you are based.
• Phone number – choose a mobile number as this is easier to reach.
• Your email – make sure you choose a professional email address.

Example of contact section for a probation officer CV

Start your probation officer CV with a personal statement

Your personal statement (also known as a CV objective or personal summary) sits at the top of your document. This is probably the first section your recruiter will read. In just 2-3 sentences, it needs to outline your current employment, professional background, and key probation officer skills.

You can also use this section to show off your personality. Give your recruiter an insight into your work ethic but sharing your top character attributes, making sure to choose adjectives that reflect your professionalism.

To get this section right, you should use the following simple formula. Begin with a first sentence that introduces you to the reader. You can think of this as a firm handshake at a job interview. Briefly outline who you are and what your career objective is. Make sure to leave out any wider goals, as these can be kept for later. Instead, make sure that this first sentence is snappy and that it will hook the reader.

Your second sentence should give an example of something you have achieved in a previous position. You should use a real-world stat or figure to back this up, as it will lend a sense of authority to your writing. You want the reader to be impressed with you right away and using a real past achievement can be a great way to do this.

Your third and fourth sentences are all about explaining any special skills you might have. There are lots of angles you can go for as a probation officer – perhaps you have exceptional emotional support skills, or maybe you have extensive knowledge of criminal law. Either way, you will want to include what makes you unique in these final sections.

Here are some extra tips for you to consider when writing your personal statement:

• Always use engaging language throughout your statement, including action verbs and positive adjectives.
• Always double-check your statement for errors before finishing.
• You should write your personal statement in the third person as this is a more professional tone.

Example of personal statement for probation officer CV

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Probation officer CV work experience

The next important section of your CV is your work experience. The truth is that many hiring managers will skim right to this section, to get an understanding of if you have succeeded in previous roles. Because of this, we are going to try and make this the largest section of your document. It is the place to outline each of your previous roles in detail. But what is the best way to do this?

As mentioned, before we will follow the reverse-chronological CV format. This starts with your current or most recent role, and then works backwards through time. You will need to only use work experience that is relevant to the role of a parole officer, for example anything in the field, or that has similar responsibilities.

You should include up to 5 responsibilities for each role, making sure that each one is unique. On a broader level, you should use engaging language throughout this section. Make sure to use positive adjectives (words that describe you in a constructive way), and action verbs (words that replace boring phrases like “responsible for”) to engage the reader.

Example of work experience for a probation officer CV

Great skills to add on your probation officer CV

Probation officer roles require a particular combination of CV skills. This is another section of the document that is often read first, as an employer will want to see if you have the key skills to be effective as a probation officer. Because of this, you will need to add a series of skills that help to show who you are as a candidate.

We advise that you include around 12 skills in total. They should be split between hard and soft skills. What’s the difference between these? In short, hard skills are anything you have learned through employment or through education. For example, you might have key skills in criminal law, or case management experience.

Soft skills, in contrast, can be thought of as positive character traits. Perhaps you have impeccable time management skills or are used to providing emotional support to offenders. These are just as important as hard skills and should be noted so that your employer knows you are a well-rounded candidate.

Let’s take a look at the strengths and attributes your employer wants to see on your CV…

Outlining education on a probation officer CV

The final section of your CV should be dedicated to your educational history. While it might not be as important as your work experience or key skills, it is a vital part of your document that you should consider carefully. You can think of the education section of your CV as the foundation for all of the experience that comes after.

Use this section to note any relevant qualifications you have. These might include university courses, college courses, or secondary education qualifications that you have picked up over the years. You can also include any professional training courses or important online qualifications if they add to your application as a probation officer. For example, if the position you will enter into uses Excel, an online Excel qualification could be a great supplemental qualification to add in.

What are some of the most important qualifications for a probation officer? Desirable qualifications include anything in criminal justice, social work, or fields that are similar. You should also have completed a PQiP training course – Professional Qualification in Probation.

Here is what you should focus on when adding education to your probation officer CV:

• Name of the educational institution
• Start and end dates of your academic course
• Official title of your field of study
• Qualification level you attained
• Qualification outcome or result

Example of education for a probation officer CV