CV Tips and advice – Members Area

10 REALLY USEFUL CV TIPS

The ski instructor market place is competitive, so what can you do to make your CV stand out from the crowd?

We have a lot experience in job applications – because we also run a ski school we have received hundreds of applications, so we know what works and what doesn’t… One vital thing is to never underestimate how many CVs ski schools receive. The more you can stand out, the clearer and simpler your presentation, the more likely the person is to read it, remember it and then offer you the job.

Here are ten things that could help keep your application on the top of the pile and make a great first impression.

1
Keep it short and simple

Be creative and make sure you get standout, but keep it as simple and clear as you can and don’t write any more than two pages.

Remember your potential ski school manager will have a huge number of emails and applications, so they probably don’t have the time to read your life story…

And always send it as a PDF not an editable word document.

2
Make it easy to read

It need to be well formatted as well as clearly and concisely written.

This makes things easier for the employer to digest the information, but it also demonstrates an ability to communicate clearly. Crucially if they’re juggling phone calls and lessons and meetings, the clearer it is the easier it will be to remember you.

3
Make it personal

Personalise your CV so it brings your personality to life.

These days using pictures, links to a video of you skiing and anything else that makes you standout are perfectly acceptable.

And if it helps you land your dream job, then it’s worth it!

4
Focus on your skills and their relevance

You should be proud of what you can do and have achieved, particularly if those skills are relevant to the industry.

Previous teaching experience, qualifications, languages, sales experience, second disciplines and coaching in another sport are exactly the qualities that will make your application memorable and should appear early in your CV.

5
Education and qualifications

Stick to the certifications that are relevant for your ski instructing job. Focus on your skiing education in the first part of the CV.

You can add other qualifications later on, so definitely mention them if they (or your hobbies) are relevant for your job – especially if they are sports, health or tourism related.

6
Include a section on your career aims and goals

This doesn’t need to be long, but it gives the impression of a motivated and ambitious instructor.

Be honest and sound keen, but avoid repeating the standard lines everyone has on their CV – one of the biggest clichés is to say you are “passionate about ski teaching”…

So be creative and think differently.

7
Tailor everything to the school

It can be time consuming, especially if you are applying to a lot of schools, but doing your research can make a world of difference.

A lot of ski schools look for instructors who share their values and ethos and this is often the first opportunity to show that. Show you understand this in your email and your CV.

And definitely don’t write a generic email and just CC (or BCC) all the ski schools in town. The truth is that usually ends up straight in the trash.

8
References

It is a bit tricky to get a reference when you are looking for your first job – and skiing is no different.

If you have worked before, ask your former boss to be your reference. You can also ask your coach or mentor to be named as a referee. But ideally the person needs to know you pretty well to write the reference.

It’s normal just to say that “references are available upon request”.

9
Cover letter

Some schools require a covering letter (or email) along with your CV. It’s certainly good practice to use your email as your covering letter.

The basic rules for covering letters are the same as those for writing a resumé: be short, simple, and make sure you check the spelling. And remember your audience is probably busy and stressed – so use short sentences, short paragraphs and make it easy to scan.

Writing a covering letter gives you some extra space to explain your motives for that particular job in that particular winter resort – let your creativity out and try to be unique.

10
A SUMMARY AND OTHER TIPS

A CV should be no more than 2 pages, ideally 1 page well laid out
Make your email the cover letter – there is no need to attach it as a separate file to the email
A cover letter should be between half to a full page of typed A4
Save as a PDF (this not only looks more professional, but means people can’t make changes and formatting won’t change when they open it)
You don’t need to put your gender or home address on your CV
Are you travelling or applying from a different time zone? Let the employer know, they will understand and schedule an interview that work for you
Always, always spellcheck and proof read. If possible get a friend or family member to check it too
Daft email addresses are a no-no. If you are still using mrloverlover93@hotmail.com it’s time for a change. A simple name@____.com is always best
If you do include a photo, a standard passport style one is perfect. Don’t pull a funny face, pose or have anything inappropriate in the background