Bike mechanic CV example

How to write a CV for a bike mechanic

Many candidates feel stressed and slightly out of their depth when writing a bike mechanic application. We totally understand – your dream job is at stake. Nevertheless, there’s no need to worry. The following sections explain how to write a CV step by step and provide plenty of helpful tips to overcome writer’s block. It’s time to explore:

Get your thinking cap ready as we run through the following sections:

• How to add contact details to your bike mechanic CV
• How to write a personal statement for your bike mechanic CV
• How to present your work history on a bike mechanic CV
• Top skills for your bike mechanic CV
• Outlining education on a bike mechanic CV

How to add contact details to your bike mechanic CV

The biggest oversight we see time and time again is candidates forgetting to include their most up-to-date contact details. While it might sound obvious, you’d be surprised how many people skip over this crucial step in a rush to tackle the meatier CV sections. We suggest highlighting your information at the top of the page in a slightly larger or bolder font. Note the following:

• Full name – first name and surname
• Location – including county and postcode
• Phone number – mobile is preferable
• Email address – keep it work-appropriate

Example of contact section for a bike mechanic CV

How to write a personal statement for your bike mechanic CV

Want to launch yourself miles ahead of the competition? Simply write a persuasive personal statement that ticks all the boxes. This punchy introduction explains why you’re the best person for the job by summarising your top achievements, skills, and qualifications. Sounds easy, right? Unfortunately, there’s a catch – you only have three to four sentences to squeeze in the most important details. Use the trusty formula below to get you started.

Sentence one reveals more about you as a professional, including years of experience and career focus. Sentence two is your bait – casually mention a jaw-dropping fact or figure to support your claims. By this point, you should have caught the hiring manager’s attention. If not, sentences three and four reiterate your unique skills and areas of expertise for maximum impact. For example, you might work exclusively with BMX race bikes.

What do we mean by fact or figure? Basically, include hard evidence to prove what you can achieve. For instance, you might have “managed ten bicycle repair shops” or “saved the company £25,000 on parts”. The number doesn’t matter as long as it emphasises your highest accomplishment.

Here’s some more advice for a powerful personal statement:

• Write in the third person to sound more professional
• Stick to the word count – around 50 to 100 words is ideal
• Sprinkle in some of the keywords from the job advertisement
• Be authentic – think about what makes you special
• Don’t tell the employer what you’re looking for – save additional information for the cover letter

Example of personal statement for a bike mechanic CV

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How to present your work history on a bike mechanic CV

The work history section is the flesh and bones of your bike mechanic CV. Here, you’ll run through your past employment to show the hiring manager exactly what you can achieve. On top of this, it’s a fantastic opportunity to drop in a few sensational statistics and outline how long you typically stay with a company (prepare to explain any career gaps in the interview stage).

Start from your current or most recent role and note up to six responsibilities for each. We recommend including more detail for relevant positions that reflect the job advertisement. List the following:

• Job title
• Employment start and end dates
• Company name
• Company location
• List of duties
• Workplace achievements

Above all else, you’re trying to convince the employer you’re a cut above the competition. Consequently, much like the personal statement, provide real-world examples of your success. Let’s say you “delegated work to the team” – can you expand on this? Perhaps you “supervised 150 employees” or “devised a new training handbook that won a national award”. The more specific you can be, the better your chances of landing your dream job!

Next, don’t bore the reader by repeating yourself – include as many different duties as possible to show them the scope of your capabilities. For example, if you’ve mentioned “test riding new bikes” underneath one position, talk about “liaising with customers” in another. Plus, avoid obvious details that don’t add anything to your CV, such as “answering telephone calls” and “sending emails”.

Finally, elevate the tone with plenty of positive adjectives and action verbs. You might be “enthusiastic”, “detail-oriented”, and “trustworthy”. Action verbs are far more powerful than “responsible for”. Some of our favourites for bike mechanics include “engineered”, “redesigned”, and “modernised”.

Example of work experience for a bike mechanic CV

Top skills for your bike mechanic CV

Employers receive hundreds of applications per job post, so how do you make yours stand out? One way is by listing your most valuable CV skills. These top qualities prove you can hit the ground running by illustrating your transferable and technical knowledge. We advise noting 12 skills in total, split equally between hard skills and soft skills.

So, what’s the difference? Hard skills are practical and learnt on the job – think “hydraulic brake bleeding”, “replacing electronic shifting systems”, and “wheel building and truing”. In contrast, soft skills are personality-based and much harder to learn. Examples include “time management”, “negotiation”, and “organisation”.

Our best advice? Don’t include one without the other – hiring managers prefer candidates who can offer the best of both worlds. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are if you’re not confident around customers. On the other hand, friendliness means nothing without tangible tools that help you get the job done.

Our best advice? Don’t include one without the other – hiring managers prefer candidates who can offer the best of both worlds. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are if you’re not confident around customers. On the other hand, friendliness means nothing without tangible tools that help you get the job done.

Still confused? Read through the following lists for some inspiration:

Outlining education on a bike mechanic CV

Education is the foundation for experience, reassuring the employer you have the fundamental knowledge to meet expectations. You can talk about school, college, and university degrees, extracurricular training, and memberships to governing bodies. Basically, shout about relevant qualifications that give you the edge over your competitors.

What shouldn’t you mention? You only need to add detail to your most recent qualifications. If you’ve completed a postgraduate or undergraduate degree, there’s no point in outlining every single GCSE grade. Plus, don’t highlight poor results – such as an F in Maths among other A-C grades.

What does it take to become a bike mechanic? You can enter this career via a college course, specialist private course, or apprenticeship. The most successful candidates have a “Level 2 Certificate in Cycle Maintenance” on top of Cytec qualifications. Cytec is the industry’s recognised training and accreditation scheme for bicycle mechanics.

When summarising your education, cover the following:

• Name of school, college, university, or other awarding body
• Study start and end dates
• Subject title
• Qualification level – e.g. Level 2 certificate or GCSE
• Qualification result

Example of education for a bike mechanic CV