Arb CVs Made Easy - A FREE template for you
If CV writing feels stressful we're here to help. It's probably easier than you think and one of the issues we find is that people often overcomplicate things. Think of it as neatly organised planting, less is more.
In the current market the most important thing to get across is your skills, qualifications, and experience in arboriculture. Putting all this in a few words as possible really helps your potential employer to see where you'll best fit into their team.
To help you we've put together a simple blank CV below which you can copy and paste into your chosen document.
It's important that you consider the role you are applying for when writing the CV. Whether it's a climbing role, tree Inspecting or groundwork there will be something in an advert which had appealed to you and that can come across in your CV. For example, if you're keen to get into a Tree Officer role and are studying for your Level 3 or PTI let the employer know. You may well be the best candidate for the role even if you haven't started your studies, it might be that you're a Level 2 but have loads of tree ID experience. It all counts and could get you the position you want with the promise of further training as an added bonus. It could even be that the location is ideal for you and would fit really well into family life; employers want a happy team so even the 'soft stuff' matters.
If a section of your career is self-employed it's important that you put in your start and end dates (month and year) and mention the employer you worked for in each instance. Potential employers will be very keen to see how you've spent your time being self-employed and the more detail you give the more credibility you'll have in their eyes.
If you're in any doubt we're always happy to help so drop us an email at admin@ctcrecruitment.co.uk letting us know what sort of roles you are interested in and we'll answer all the questions we can (with over 20 years of specialist arb recruitment experience on the team we'll usually be able to help).
If we don't have a vacancy that currently appeals, it's still worth dropping us your CV to the email above with a list of your dream jobs; we have new roles coming through the pipeline all the time so it's definitely worth a try!
Hope this helps and Good Luck!
Beccy & Kate at CTC Recruitment
Your Simple CV template for jobs in Arboriculture
First and Last Name
Tel:
Email:
Address:
Skills: (eg: driving license, all chainsaw tickets held, aerial rescue, aerial chainsaw, team leading experience, machinery qualifications such as MEWP & chipper, surveying, handheld device experience, PA1, PA6, pricing experience)
Education: (list your basic education here. School/college, and the qualifications achieved)
School/college:
Exam results:
List education history by repeating the above as necessary.
Experience: (in time order – newest first)
Employer:
Role:
Start Date: End Date:
List employment history by repeating the above as necessary.
Hobbies & interests etc: (not obligatory… just if you want to add something more personal)
Copyright CTC Recruitment Ltd 2022
References - Worth the paper they're written on
You've found a new job! It's just what you're looking for. Better money, the position you're after, close to home and the boss is enthusiastic about you starting asap. Brilliant, well done!
So you can start on Monday, right? Ah, not so fast; there's a bit of paperwork to do first... well that's if the job is with a reputable employer who has your, and their own, best interests at heart.
The good news is that there's someone behind the scenes ready and waiting to get it in the system and get you working but they will need a bit of help from you.
It's not a lot, just a bit of compliance. Your chainsaw tickets etc. are probably close to hand... but the reference... that always seems more of an ask. Who to ask? And how? And what do they need to say?
Don't stress though, it should actually be easy and quick. Here are a few hints and tips to make it easier and get you to the yard as quickly as possible.
Remember that references need to be from within the last two years so that means that it'll be someone you've worked with fairly recently.
You'll usually be asked by your future employer or recruitment agency to supply the name and email address of one or two referees and all they have to do is confirm the dates that you worked. They can offer more information but it's not obligatory. The Citizens Advice Bureaux give more detail on what an employer can and can't say here.
It is polite to ask a referee beforehand and this helps you too because if they are expecting the email, they are more likely to respond quickly (sadly it's often reference requests not replied to which will delay things so it's worth oiling her wheels and preparing the referee). Your new employer is checking that you are honest and have worked where and when you've stated on your CV.
Lastly don't forget that, wherever you're working now, one day you'll probably need a reference so be the staff member they'd recommend to others (even on the days you don't feel like it).
Oh, and if you're one of the people being asked for a reference, please don't let it drop to the bottom of the to-do pile; someone's next role is likely to be resting on it!
Climbing the ladder when you're tired of climbing trees
With 20 years' experience in the industry, we are well aware that there comes a time in every climbing arborists' life that being up trees for a living becomes harder. Often that moment is what pre-empts the conversation we then have with them about next steps but it really pays to think about this before that moment arrives... If you've spent years doing the hard yards up in the treetops and are beginning to feel that a change is on the horizon the below should help.
There are several ways that experienced climbers and even groundsmen can advance their careers. There are lots of options, whether it's going on to become a tree surveyor, a planning officer, a practical assessor, an expert witness, and lots more - there's definitely something for everyone. The thing is that decades of experience and chainsaw tickets just isn't enough. However, a bit of forward planning and some extra time and effort will gain you the qualification you need to progress higher while your feet are on the ground!
The links below will take you to the Arboriculture Association website and they offer a wealth of information and support in this area.
For a simple page of the possible careers in this sector click here and for a more detailed, clear view of the qualifications needed for different roles it's here. You can also access a list of training providers which offer suitable courses across the UK here.
We would love to hear from education providers and those who have gone on to qualify at Level 3 or above in the arb sector about other options that will enrich this blog. We'll keep it updated so that it's useful on an ongoing basis.
It's no walk in the park - Challenging times in arb
If you've tried to recruit an arborist of any kind over the last few years you'll probably know what we mean when we say that it's no walk in the park. We are usually successful as long as the job offer is right. It also helps when the candidate understands that the benefits of employment over day rates... but what can we in the industry do to make it easier for candidates and employers in the long run?
Solving problems usually starts with good communication and we'd love to see more discussed around this issue. We think that there are three problems that could be approached differently to make it easier to find and place candidates in an industry where the perception of pay scales are still artificially inflated because of outdated and often dubious sub-contracting practices.
Firstly, many arborists new into the sector are tempted by apparent high day rates but when you break it down and take holiday pay, pension provision and other benefits into account this is clearly a misconception. The amount of paperwork needed to manage a contracting role is often not understood by an arborist new into the industry and can come as a nasty shock at year end. Then there's the lack of security in contracting which for many is a risk too far these days. Making clear the advantages of being on a payroll really helps a candidate to make a fair decision when comparing the many jobs available to them.
Compliance is well understood in the industry generally. Arborists and employers know how important it is to have up-to-date chainsaw tickets and LOLER and AFAG approved equipment is accepted as par for the course. Why then is there still so much confusion around adhering to sub-contracting employment regulations and what is considered to be proper contracting and what is tax evasion? As employers we, and all our clients in that area, comply with regulations and save massive headaches in the long run.
Lastly, and this is a hard one, pay scales need urgent discussion. Arboriculture is a skilled industry, not without risks and should be valued accordingly. Raising wages is not an easy thing to do, especially in Local Authorities, but if vacancies are to be filled a respectable offer is the fastest way to ensure success.
On reflection it seems that if all parties in the arboriculture industry could work together towards proper employment practices and better wages for qualified arborists it would be a much more compelling and heartening space in which to work.
