How to write a pet care associate cv (with a template)

If you have a passion for animals, a career in pet care may be an ideal job for you. Working in pet care can be rewarding at any stage in your career, and it's an area of work that can provide opportunities to candidates with diverse educational backgrounds. Understanding what a career in pet care involves and how to write a CV for a pet care associate position can help you find a job in this field. In this article, we outline the responsibilities of this role and provide a step-by-step guide to writing a pet care associate CV.

What is a pet care associate?

A pet care associate is a professional who cares for pets and small animals. They can work in various settings, including veterinary clinics, animal shelters, pet shops and grooming services. Their responsibilities can vary depending on their employer, but they're usually responsible for providing general care to animals and maintaining their enclosures. Some pet care associates may also administer medication and provide services such as grooming and nail cutting.

How to write a pet care associate CV

Here are nine steps that you can follow to write your pet care associate CV:

1. Enter your personal information

Write your name at the top of the page in a large font. You can write 'CV' after your name, but it's not compulsory. On the line below, write your phone number and email address in a single line across the page. If you're under 18, it's a good idea to add your age and date of birth. If you're over 18, it's unnecessary to include your age or date of birth.

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2. Write your professional profile

In a few sentences, write a personal statement that summarises your skills and experience in pet care. This is the first thing your potential employer learns about you after your name and contact details, so make sure it's clear and attracts their attention. If you're responding to a job posting, mention things that address the key requirements of the role. Important qualities for a pet care associate may include a desire to work with animals, knowledge of animal care and a caring and compassionate nature.

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3. Add your education

In this section, start with your most recent education and work backwards. For each qualification, write the name and then the classification or grade you achieved. Beneath this, write the name of the educational institution and the year you obtained the qualification. It's not necessary to list each GCSE subject. Instead, write an overview of the number of GCSEs you achieved and the grade range. If you're still studying, you can write 'In progress' or 'Awaiting results' in place of your grades and the year you expect to achieve the qualification.

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4. Detail your work history

As with your education, begin with your current or most recent position and continue in reverse chronological order. For each job, write the job title and then your start and finish dates. On the line below, write the employer's name and location. If you're still working, you can replace the finish date with the word 'Present'. If you've never had a job, you can list any work experience you did while at school and any voluntary or unofficial work such as babysitting for friends and family.

For your current or most recent role, list around five key responsibilities. You can also include any relevant achievements. For each previous role, aim to list three responsibilities and accomplishments.

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5. List your relevant skills

This section provides the opportunity to highlight any skills you have that are relevant to the specific job for which you're applying. Use the job posting as a guide and try to match your skills to the position's responsibilities. If you don't have direct experience of those duties, focus on the transferable skills that you can apply to the role. For example, taking care of children, even if only younger siblings, can demonstrate your ability to be patient and caring. Other skills, such as customer service and working in a team, are also valuable.

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6. Add any certifications

If you have any qualifications that are relevant to the role, you can include these under the heading, 'Certifications'. Relevant certifications for pet care include pet grooming and animal training but certifications that don't relate directly to the job, for example, riding horses, can also be worth including. For each certification, write the name of the awarding organisation and the date you achieved it. If necessary, you can include a brief explanation of what it entailed.

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7. Include any relevant hobbies and interests

If you don't have much or any employment experience, this section may help you demonstrate some of the key qualities the employer is looking for. An interest in animals is a major advantage for pet care roles, so including this can help your application. If you're knowledgeable about or have experience with any specific animal breeds, you can also mention that in this section.

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8. Proofread your CV

When you've finished writing your CV, it's important to review it. Use a grammar and spell checker to ensure there are no errors. Read over your CV to check for common mistakes such as incorrect dates and missing information. It's a good idea to ask a friend or family member to read over your CV to get another perspective.

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9. Make final formatting adjustments and save

Once you're satisfied with the content of your CV, review it to ensure it's well formatted and easy to read. Writing section headings in capital letters can make it easier for readers to find the information they're looking for. You can also use bold text to highlight key information, such as your qualifications and job titles. When you're happy with the presentation of your CV, save it as a PDF, so it retains its formatting on different devices and is easy to email or upload for online applications.

Pet care associate CV template

Here's a template to help you write your CV:

[First name] [Last name]

[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City]

Professional Summary

[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as an entry-level professional].

Education

[Degree], [Classification] | [Date awarded]

[Name of university]

[Other Qualifications], [Grades attained] | [Date awarded]

[Name of school or college]

Optional

[Certification name], [Institution or organisation] - [Date awarded]

Experience

(For the most recent role, list 5 experience items. For previous roles, list 3.)

[Job title] | [Dates employed]

[Name of employer] | [Location]

• (Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

[Job title] | [Dates employed]

[Name of employer] | [Location]

• (Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

[Job title] | [Dates employed]

[Name of employer] | [Location]

• [Job duty].

• [Job duty].

• [Job duty].

Skills

Option 1

[Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]

Option 2

[Category]: [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]

[Category]: [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]

Pet care associate CV example

Here's an example CV for a pet care associate:

Jane Doe

0123-456-789 | jane.doe@email.com| Manchester

Professional Summary

A passionate team player with a proven ability to care for animals in a safe and gentle manner. Experienced in small animal grooming and dog walking. Excellent customer service skills with a drive to learn and develop professionally.

Education

A-Levels, Biology, English, IT, grades B-C | 2022

St. Mary's Comprehensive

10 GCSEs, grades 4-6 including maths and English | 2020

St. Mary's Comprehensive

Certificate in Stable Management | 2018

Horse Riding Academy

Employment History

Pet Shop Assistant | August 2021–Current

Perfect Pets | Manchester

• grooming small animals

• cleaning animal cages

• advising customers

• restocking shelves

• operating the checkout

Dog walker | July 2020–September 2020

Self-employed | Manchester

• walked small to large dogs

• washed dogs when needed

• safely disposed of dog waste

Skills

Basic dog training | Cutting dogs' nails | Clipping fur | Horse riding | Customer service

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.