CV advice
Show the value of your experience
Create a clear, focused CV that helps charity employers understand your skills, achievements and suitability for the role.
Structure
What a strong charity CV includes
Charity recruiters read quickly and look for relevance. A clear, well-ordered CV of two pages is usually enough.
- Contact details and, where relevant, a link to a professional profile or portfolio.
- A short personal profile—three or four lines naming your discipline, experience and what you are looking for.
- Key skills mapped to the essential criteria for the role you are applying for.
- Employment history in reverse order, with achievements rather than duty lists.
- Volunteering, trustee roles and community involvement, which carry real weight in this sector.
- Qualifications, professional membership and relevant training, plus referee details or 'available on request'.
Tailoring
Tailor for every application
A generic CV rarely scores well against a person specification. Small, targeted edits make a significant difference.
Mirror the language
Use the same terms as the advert and person specification so panels can match your experience to their criteria quickly.
Lead with relevance
Move the most relevant roles, projects and skills to the top of each section rather than relying on chronology alone.
Trim what does not help
Summarise older or unrelated roles in a line each and give the space to the experience the employer is assessing.
Key takeaway
Charity recruiters read quickly. Two clear pages of relevant, evidenced achievements beat five pages of duties.
Wording
Write achievements, not duties
Each bullet should show what you did, how you did it and the difference it made.
Too vague
Managed a team of volunteers.
Stronger
Recruited, trained and supported a team of 18 volunteers, introducing a rota system that raised session coverage to 95%.
Too vague
Responsible for social media.
Stronger
Rebuilt our social media approach across three channels, growing engagement by 40% and doubling event sign-ups in a year.
Too vague
Handled budgets.
Stronger
Managed a £250,000 programme budget across four funders, reporting quarterly and delivering within 2% of forecast.
Too vague
Assisted with grant applications.
Stronger
Drafted and submitted six grant applications, securing £95,000 including two multi-year awards.
Presentation
CV checklist before you send
Formatting problems are easy to fix and often decide whether your CV is read properly.
- Two pages, consistent formatting and a plain, readable font throughout.
- Saved as a PDF named clearly, for example 'Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf', unless another format is requested.
- No tables, text boxes or graphics that recruitment systems may not read.
- Dates are complete and any gaps are explained briefly.
- Every claim is supported by an example you could talk about at interview.
- Proofread carefully, ideally by someone else as well as you.
Common questions
CV questions we are asked most
How long should my CV be?
Two pages is the norm. Executive and academic roles may justify more, but only where the additional content is directly relevant.
Should I include volunteering?
Yes. Volunteering, trustee roles and community involvement evidence sector understanding and commitment, and panels value them.
Do I need a personal profile?
A short, specific profile helps. Avoid generic phrasing—name your discipline, your experience and the kind of role you are seeking.
Should I include a photo or personal details?
No. Leave out photos, date of birth and marital status. Many charities shortlist anonymously and these details are not assessed.
Candidate support
More candidate advice
Working in the Charity Sector
Understand the organisations, professions and language of the sector before you apply.
Read the guideChanging Career
See how skills built in other industries translate into charity-sector roles.
Read the guideApplication Advice
Work through person specifications, evidence and motivation with practical guidance.
Read the guideInterview Advice
Research, evidence, values and questions to help you interview with confidence.
Read the guide
Next step
Prepare for the interview
Once your CV secures a shortlisting, preparation is what turns an interview into an offer.