How to Create a Family or Client-Friendly CV
At Snap Care, many candidates who apply to us bring valuable experience from schools, hospitals, and organisations. This background is often highly relevant; however, when applying for roles in private family homes or directly with individual clients, it’s important to present your experience in a way that feels accessible, personal, and “Client or family-friendly.”
Here are our top tips for creating a CV that resonates with families and clients:
1. Share Your Motivation
Families and clients want to know why you’ve chosen to work in this field. In your personal profile, briefly explain your motivation to support children or adults with disabilities or additional needs. This helps families see your commitment and passion, not just your skills.
✅ Example: “I am dedicated to supporting children with additional needs, inspired by growing up with a disabled sibling and seeing first-hand the positive impact the right support can make.”
2. Make Your CV Personal and Approachable
Families want to know who you are, not just where you’ve worked. Use a short personal profile at the start of your CV (3–5 sentences) to introduce yourself in a warm and approachable tone. Highlight your experience but also mention your qualities and interests that show you as a relatable person, not just a professional.
✅ Example: “I am an experienced SEN Teaching Assistant who has supported children on a 1:1 basis with autism and complex medical needs, in both school and home settings. I am calm, patient, and proactive, and enjoy bringing creativity into learning and play.”
3. What did you do – and how did that help the child/client?
We often see CVs with just lists of duties (probably copied and pasted from an original job description). This tells us nothing about how your support benefited the child or client. Explain what you did in each role, and how that benefited the child or client, what did it help them achieve?
✅ Example: “I worked with a man in his 50s who was non-verbal using an AAC device - Eye Gaze. He was soon able to make his own choices, which reduced his frustration and led to more positive behaviour”
4. Translate Professional Language into Everyday Terms
Roles in schools, hospitals, or organisations often use formal terminology. Instead, explain your experience in a way that makes sense to families.
🔄 Instead of: “Implemented sensory regulation strategies as part of an EHCP.”
✅ Say: “Helped a child manage their emotions by creating calm routines and sensory activities that reduced anxiety for them and their family.”
5. Highlight Home-Relevant Skills
Even if most of your work has been in larger organisations, show how your skills apply in a family home, such as:
- Supporting with daily routines (mealtimes, dressing, personal care)
- Working with therapists or following therapy programmes
- Managing challenging behaviour positively
- Using specialist equipment
- Respecting family life and maintaining confidentiality
6. Include Volunteer Work and Non-Professional Experience
Families value commitment as much as qualifications. If you’ve volunteered with disability charities, helped at a respite centre, or supported children at holiday clubs, include this.
Don’t overlook personal life experiences either – for example, growing up with a disabled sibling, supporting a relative, or helping in your community. This can demonstrate empathy, understanding, and long-term commitment.
7. Show Your Flexibility and Initiative
Family life is often unpredictable. Highlight times you’ve been adaptable, such as:
- Changing routines at short notice
- Thinking creatively to solve challenges
- Supporting siblings or wider family members alongside the client
8. Keep It Clear, Concise, and Approachable
Parents and clients often read CVs quickly, so:
- Use clear headings and bullet points
- Keep descriptions short and easy to follow
- Avoid jargon or unexplained acronyms
- Use a warm but professional tone
9. Add a Personal Touch
Families often want to know who you are beyond your professional background. Include hobbies or interests that could enrich daily life for their child or family, such as music, art, sports, or outdoor activities.
A “family or client-friendly” CV balances professionalism with personality. By sharing your motivation, including both professional and non-professional experience, and presenting your skills in a clear, approachable way, you’ll help families see not just what you can do, but who you are and why you care.
At Snap Care, we’re here to guide you through every step of the process — from tailoring your CV to preparing for interviews — so your experience and passion shine through.