We have all of the resources you need to create your Probation officer CV today, from top tips and templates to our proven builder tool. It’s quick and easy to perfect your application!

We also have an extensive library of CV examples to guide the way. Often, the best idea for a probation officer is to take a look at what has worked in the past – so CV examples can be a great way to kickstart the writing process.

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    Sample probation officer CV

    Probation officer CV Sample

    Edith Wallis

    3 Kingly Court
    Sheffield S1 Y7U
    (555)555-5555
    edith.wallis@example.com

    Professional summary

    Experienced Probation Officer offering expertise in the development of public outreach initiatives and strong advocacy networks targeted at diverse and underserved communities. High level of performance in relationship-building, decision-making and communicating.

    Work history

    February 2022 – Current
    National Probation Service – Peterborough
    Probation Officer

    • Managed service users who have been sentenced and supported them as well as provided practical advice to promote desistance. Ensured service users were managing their licence and orders effectively in order to encourage rehabilitation and treatment.
    • Assisted the court with reports and interviewed service users to ensure the court had the relevant information to inform sentences.
    • Held a caseload which was updated regularly and reports were completed within a targeted time frame. Ensured that compliance with court-ordered services and sentence plans could be tracked and implemented effectively.
    • Complied with legal and departmental requirements and guidelines as well as contributed to departmental efforts by accomplishing related tasks as needed.

    January 2020 – January 2022
    Women’s Aid – High Wycombe
    Youth Worker

    • Built and maintained positive relationships with young people who have either experienced domestic violence themselves or witnessed domestic violence. Delivered and facilitated programmes to support survivors and ensured that relevant safety plans were in place.
    • Contributed to risk assessments, and attended Child Protection meetings and provided feedback. Effectively recorded, stored and processed reports and case notes whilst ensuring confidentiality was maintained.
    • Collaborated with group of volunteers to run young person-centred youth clubs.

    Skills

    Exceptional communicator
    Verbal and written communication
    Compliance
    Risk and needs assessments
    Documentation development
    Report writing
    Strong work ethic
    Highly organised
    Culturally-sensitive
    Supervising residents

    Education

    2015
    University of Portsmouth Portsmouth, POR
    Bachelor of Arts Community Justice

    2013
    Edge Hill University Ormskirk, LAN
    Bachelor of Arts Criminology and Criminal Justice

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    Probation officer CV template

    Writing a CV for a probation officer can feel like an uphill struggle. You’ll need to show your potential employers that you’re professional and organised. That starts with how your CV looks, which is why we recommend beginning with a CV template. Our premade documents will show you how it’s done in terms of structure and design.

    Choosing the right format for your probation officer CV

    The way your CV is laid out is important, so your first step should be to find a good structure. This is where our extensive list of CV formats comes in. You’ll need to pack your CV with all of your relevant information. As such, it’s best to pick a structure that includes your educational achievements, unique skills, and work history.

    Although there are many different formats for you to choose from, there are two that stand out above all others. The first is the reverse-chronological CV. This will cover your work history, starting with your current or most recent position, and then working backwards through time to give a comprehensive picture of you to the employer. This should be your first choice if you have an extensive history of work to fall back on.

    Another format you can choose is the skills-based CV. This is a good choice if you are newly graduated or transitioning from a different field. It works by focusing on any key skills you have, explaining how they can be transferred from your previous work or education to the role of a probation officer. This format will work better if you have hands-on experience in a similar role.

    What else should you keep in mind when it comes to CV structure? Always consider the following:

    • Send your document as a PDF or Word file.
    • Break up any long sections of text with bullet points, section breaks, or headings.
    • Use a clear font such as Calibri, Times New Roman, or Arial.
    • Write your CV as one or two pages long.
    • Take a look at the job advert before picking your format.

    Choose your format now

    How to write a CV for a probation officer

    Now we’re going to take a look at the content of your document. You’ll want to know how to write a CV for a probation officer in detail, so we are going to explain each section you should include, why it’s important, and how you can write it in the most effective way.

    Keep reading for winning formulas and tips as we cover:

    How to add contact details to your probation officer CV

    Start with adding a clear set of contact details. This is often forgotten by applicants and can be a roadblock on the way to potential interviews and employment. After all, how can an employer arrange an interview if they can’t reach you? To remedy this, we will create a clear set of contact details that will be unmissable.

    To get this section right, you should add a set of details somewhere near the top of your document. They should be highlighted in either a bold font, or a larger case. Here is a short list of things to include when writing your contact section:

    • Your full name – no need to include your middle name.
    • Your location – so the employer knows where you are based.
    • Phone number – choose a mobile number as this is easier to reach.
    • Your email – make sure you choose a professional email address.

    Example of contact section for a probation officer CV

    Matthew Goulding
    4 Covington Close, London WC24TF
    07912345678
    matthew-goulding@example.co.uk

    Start your probation officer CV with a personal statement

    Your personal statement (also known as a CV objective or personal summary) sits at the top of your document. This is probably the first section your recruiter will read. In just 2-3 sentences, it needs to outline your current employment, professional background, and key probation officer skills.

    You can also use this section to show off your personality. Give your recruiter an insight into your work ethic but sharing your top character attributes, making sure to choose adjectives that reflect your professionalism.

    To get this section right, you should use the following simple formula. Begin with a first sentence that introduces you to the reader. You can think of this as a firm handshake at a job interview. Briefly outline who you are and what your career objective is. Make sure to leave out any wider goals, as these can be kept for later. Instead, make sure that this first sentence is snappy and that it will hook the reader.

    Your second sentence should give an example of something you have achieved in a previous position. You should use a real-world stat or figure to back this up, as it will lend a sense of authority to your writing. You want the reader to be impressed with you right away and using a real past achievement can be a great way to do this.

    Your third and fourth sentences are all about explaining any special skills you might have. There are lots of angles you can go for as a probation officer – perhaps you have exceptional emotional support skills, or maybe you have extensive knowledge of criminal law. Either way, you will want to include what makes you unique in these final sections.

    Here are some extra tips for you to consider when writing your personal statement:

    • Always use engaging language throughout your statement, including action verbs and positive adjectives.
    • Always double-check your statement for errors before finishing.
    • You should write your personal statement in the third person as this is a more professional tone.

    Example of personal statement for probation officer CV

    Experienced Probation Officer effective at managing difficulty cases and making sound, educated decisions. Creative and practical problem solver. Brings 15 years of experience in the prison sector.

    OR

    Organised probation officer with over 10 years of experience helping to rehabilitate first-time offenders. Exceptional administrative skills with 100% accuracy in parole administration documents. Offers IT knowledge, case management, and emotional support.

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    Probation officer CV work experience

    The next important section of your CV is your work experience. The truth is that many hiring managers will skim right to this section, to get an understanding of if you have succeeded in previous roles. Because of this, we are going to try and make this the largest section of your document. It is the place to outline each of your previous roles in detail. But what is the best way to do this?

    As mentioned, before we will follow the reverse-chronological CV format. This starts with your current or most recent role, and then works backwards through time. You will need to only use work experience that is relevant to the role of a parole officer, for example anything in the field, or that has similar responsibilities.

    You should include up to 5 responsibilities for each role, making sure that each one is unique. On a broader level, you should use engaging language throughout this section. Make sure to use positive adjectives (words that describe you in a constructive way), and action verbs (words that replace boring phrases like “responsible for”) to engage the reader.

    Example of work experience for a probation officer CV

    PROBATION OFFICER
    Sanctuary Personnel | London
    02/2023 – CURRENT

    • Evaluated client progress toward completing terms of probation and addressed difficulties.
    • Produced parole administration documents with 200% accuracy.
    • Arranged and implemented offender prison release programs.

    CASE MANAGER
    Service Care Solutions | London
    02/2020 – 02/2023

    • Performed initial client assessment and analysis to begin the research process.
    • Organised client documentation by checking files and verifying completeness of notes.
    • Analysed departmental documents for appropriate distribution and filing.

    Great skills to add on your probation officer CV

    Probation officer roles require a particular combination of CV skills. This is another section of the document that is often read first, as an employer will want to see if you have the key skills to be effective as a probation officer. Because of this, you will need to add a series of skills that help to show who you are as a candidate.

    We advise that you include around 12 skills in total. They should be split between hard and soft skills. What’s the difference between these? In short, hard skills are anything you have learned through employment or through education. For example, you might have key skills in criminal law, or case management experience.

    Soft skills, in contrast, can be thought of as positive character traits. Perhaps you have impeccable time management skills or are used to providing emotional support to offenders. These are just as important as hard skills and should be noted so that your employer knows you are a well-rounded candidate.

    Let’s take a look at the strengths and attributes your employer wants to see on your CV…

    Key skills for your probation officer CV

    • Communication (written and verbal)
    • Knowledge of the law
    • Psychology
    • Public safety & security
    • Ability to remain calm under pressure
    • Case management

    Bonus skills

    • Time management
    • Documentation
    • Computer skills
    • Emotional support
    • Risk assessment

    Outlining education on a probation officer CV

    The final section of your CV should be dedicated to your educational history. While it might not be as important as your work experience or key skills, it is a vital part of your document that you should consider carefully. You can think of the education section of your CV as the foundation for all of the experience that comes after.

    Use this section to note any relevant qualifications you have. These might include university courses, college courses, or secondary education qualifications that you have picked up over the years. You can also include any professional training courses or important online qualifications if they add to your application as a probation officer. For example, if the position you will enter into uses Excel, an online Excel qualification could be a great supplemental qualification to add in.

    What are some of the most important qualifications for a probation officer? Desirable qualifications include anything in criminal justice, social work, or fields that are similar. You should also have completed a PQiP training course – Professional Qualification in Probation.

    Here is what you should focus on when adding education to your probation officer CV:

    • Name of the educational institution
    • Start and end dates of your academic course
    • Official title of your field of study
    • Qualification level you attained
    • Qualification outcome or result

    Example of education for a probation officer CV

    Bachelor of Science | Criminology & Criminal Justice
    2020 – 2023
    University of London, London
    Graduated with Honors

    A Levels | Maths, Physics, Psychology
    2018– 2020
    London College
    A, B, A

    Top dos and don’ts for probation officer CV writing

    For a probation officer CV that passes the test, follow our top recruiter tips for writing your CV below.

    Do

    • DO quantify your impact

      It’s easy to fall into the trap of listing your probation officer responsibilities when writing your work experience section, but your CV shouldn’t read like a job advert. Instead, help your recruiter to quantify your impact by including facts, figures, and metrics from your previous positions. Perhaps you completed paperwork with 100% accuracy or reduced repeat crime rates by 15%?

    • DO use keywords from the probation officer job description

      Don’t let your probation officer CV slip through the net. By including keywords and phrases from the probation officer job description, you can make sure your application is more likely to pass an ATS (applicant tracking software).

    Don't

    • DON’T forget to highlight your specialism

      Probation officers can work with a wide variety of clients, from violent criminals to victims of crime. If you have a particular area of expertise, make sure to highlight this on your CV to show off where your specialism lies.

    • DON’T forget to show your personality

      To succeed in a probation officer job role, you’ll need to have impressive interpersonal skills. In your personal statement, include some thoughtful adjectives to describe your character and work ethic – whether you’re ‘patient’, ‘resilient’, or ‘compassionate’.

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    Your probation officer CV questions answered

    What skills do probation officers need?

    Probation officers need to have the right combination of hard and soft skills. These include impeccable organisation to sort documentation and arrange meetings, strong interpersonal skills to communicate with clients and listen to their experiences, and excellent analytical skills. This is because probation officers need to be able to carry out effective risk assessments and evaluate their clients’ mental health.

    What is the job description of a probation officer?

    The job description of a probation officer will include day-to-day duties such as meeting with clients (both prisoners and victims of crime), evaluating their mental state and progress, maintaining databases and documentation, and arranging meetings with parole boards. Additional probation officer duties include carrying out security screenings and preparing clients for release.

    How do I write a cover letter for a probation officer?

    Writing your probation officer cover letter is similar to writing your CV. Both need to demonstrate your suitability for the role, so make sure to address the key requirements on the job advert and explain how you’re equipped to meet them. This could be because of your experience, skills, or probation officer qualifications.

    What is a good objective to put on a resume for a probation officer?

    Your objective is another word for your personal statement or summary. This section should briefly outline your short-term career goals, so make sure to tailor this to each new position. Remember to explain what you’re hoping to bring to a new probation officer role instead of explaining why you want the job.

    What is the average probation officer salary in the UK?

    The National Careers Service gives the probation officer pay range as £22,250 to £40,000 a year. Your probation officer wage will depend on factors such as your experience level and location.

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