Grab an employer's attention
By Gemma Raw
Applying for a speech and language therapist job? A busy recruiter may spend just a few seconds deciding whether your CV merits a closer look. That's why starting with a good personal profile is so important.
As any good advertising copywriter knows, your opening paragraph is always the most important one. If you haven't engaged and interested your reader with those first few words, you haven't done your job properly.
It's much the same when you're selling yourself to a prospective employer. That initial 'elevator pitch' may just contain a few key messages. But that could be enough to position you as a potential candidate for the job, encouraging the recruiter to find out more.
Of course, it's not easy to sum up your skills, experience and personality in a short intro. But taking the time to craft those all-important few sentences could be the key to landing your dream speech and language therapist position. (After all, your job is all about communication, isn't it?) Here are a few tips to help you create a standout personal profile...
Keep it short
That means no waffle. So, avoid the usual clichés such as 'self-motivated' and 'team player'. Instead stick to relevant statements that show your suitability for a speech and language therapist role. For example, if the job is mainly working with children and young people, maybe include any safeguarding training or experience.
Some recruiters use keyword searches to find suitable candidates from CV databases. Therefore, it's worth including some key search terms in your personal profile, for example 'fully qualified speech and language therapist' or specialisations such as 'learning disabilities', 'hearing impairment' and 'stammering'.
Tailor your profile
You should adapt your profile to the type of position you're applying for. If it's a permanent speech and language therapist job, you could focus on your commitment to personal development and your strategic focus. If it's a locum position, maybe highlight your ability to adapt to new working environments and learn quickly.
Think about presentation
To make it easier to digest, you could split your profile into three sections: who you are, what you can offer the employer and your career goals. You could also break up your profile with bullets or include emboldenings, underlining or italics for emphasis.
Spell check
Attention to detail is important in all healthcare jobs, including the role of speech and language therapist. So, it's vital to proofread your personal statement carefully. Spelling or grammatical errors won't inspire confidence in a prospective employer. Maybe get a friend or family member to cast an objective eye over it?
For more tips on CV writing visit our Careers Hub, where you'll find lots of useful information and resources. Our consultants can also provide expert advice and guidance.
