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john.cassidy@calibresearch.co.uk
The art of CV writing is a tricky one, and many online CV guides are not relevant to industries like the HVAC & refrigeration industry. So our industry experts put their heads together to create an insider tips for you CV to make the best first impression
Tailor your CV to suit the job description
A lot of us are guilty of having a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to our CVs. While following these CV tips can give you a great head start when applying to refrigeration jobs, remember you do need to slightly alter your CV according to the job description. For example, if the job description says they want someone with a driving licence, or someone with ‘extensive experience maintaining a range of commercial refrigerators,’ then add these details to your CV if they are relevant to you. If the job description says that for the refrigeration technician they want, an engineering degree is desirable but not essential, and you went straight to the refrigeration industry without higher education, you could perhaps talk about the benefits of this. Think of the experience that you have, that a graduate might not. Have a look at our refrigeration job listings for some inspiration. These tips are the ultimate basis for creating a great CV – but try to remember to give your CV a little update for each and every job description. Employers want to know that you want to work for them. If they sense that you have tailored your CV to their job description, it will make you stand out as the ideal engineer they are looking for.
Be descriptive
Try and be as descriptive and technical as you can when writing about your duties at previous companies. Employers like to see that you are qualified for the job. Remember – your CV is your first and possibly only chance to make a good impression. You could be the best engineer in your world but how will anybody be able to tell if the only detail you give about your experience is ‘servicing splits and VRVs.’ Some good details to include on your CV are:
- Basic duties such as: fault finding and repairs; replacing compressors; changing PCB inverters; recharging systems with refrigerant; changing fan motors; replacing evaporators; changing pressure sensors and so on.
- The equipment you worked on - was it pack systems, cold rooms, ice machines, bottle coolers, display chillers, integrals etc?
- The sites you have worked in.
- The type of work: servicing, maintenance, installation, fault-finding, or commissioning.
- Any refrigeration engineer training or refrigeration engineer course you undertook:Any experience with different refrigerants like C02 or ammonia. Have you worked with refrigerants such as R410A, R407C, R407A, R404 or R134A?
Focus on what matters
While having a fancy CV with lots colourful borders and impressive fonts might look pretty, (and might give some of us a good excuse for procrastinating) it will distract employers from what makes you a good refrigeration technician. The most important thing you want your CV to say about you is how well you can fix an AC or refrigeration unit, or how much industry experience you have – not your Microsoft Office skills.
Leave out irrelevant information
While the employer is interested in finding out a little bit about your interests, quirks and hobbies – their main goal is to find out if you have the relevant skills you need for the job. Remember this when you write your CV. Justifiably, you might be really proud of your City & Guilds qualification in food hygiene but ultimately, it won’t help the employer do their job. The same goes for work experience. Leave out anything that is totally irrelevant to the refrigeration industry and focus instead on qualifications such as FGas.
Be careful not to oversimplify
Bearing the last point in mind, it’s still important to go into lots of detail about the relevant information on your profile. Make sure to list all relevant employment history. The amount of times we have seen engineers with twenty or more years experience only list their last five years is overwhelming. They say ‘I didn’t think it would be worth writing it all down,’ or ‘there is too much to list.’ This is one of the biggest CV mistakes you can make in the HVAC and refrigeration industry. By deciding not to list all your relevant industry experience, you will seem far less experienced than you are and directly decrease your chance of receiving an interview offer.
Don't be afraid to ask for CV help
Writing a CV can be daunting. Quite a lot of engineers we speak to haven’t updated their CV in years. A lot of jobs in the HVAC and refrigeration industry are acquired from knowing the right people – not submitting a CV to someone you’ve never met. We understand that writing a list of your skills and attributes for a stranger to assess you without ever meeting you is a terrifying concept. You want to make the best possible impression. Fear not! We are experts when it comes to how to write a good CV. Our recruitment consultants check every CV before sending it to employers and give you free and personal advice on how to improve it. Even if you just want to drop us a quick email we are happy to answer any questions.
Last but not least, remember the basics
Remember to include your name, contact details, experience and qualifications. It might seem obvious but we have even seen some engineers’ CVs without contact details.
If you follow all of these tips and don’t get the results you wanted, don’t be disheartened. You might not have received an offer for an interview, but the time you spent creating a great CV will pay off in the future. Why not check out our list of refrigeration jobs and vacancies and upload your new and improved CV. Good luck!
If you’d like any help with your job search or want to speak to our consultants here at Calibre Search, please don’t hesitate to call us on 0113 234 6047.
