Pet Sitter CV example

Handing over a set of keys and a beloved pet is an act of trust – and your CV should inspire the same confidence. Employers want to know from the start that you’re careful, and capable of handling whatever a day with dogs or cats (or exotic pets) might throw at you.

This guide will take you through structuring, formatting, and writing a CV that makes recruiters feel as reassured as an owner coming home to a happy, healthy pet. By the end, you’ll have a document that gives you a professional edge and opens the door to new opportunities.

A well-structured CV makes life easy for the recruiter. They don’t want to dig through cluttered paragraphs to figure out if you’re a trustworthy candidate – they want clear, accessible information that speaks for itself. Even the most qualified and capable candidates will miss out on opportunities if their structure is messy or full of mistakes.

Here’s the layout to follow:

• Name and contact details – Keep your name and personal details front and centre at the top. Whether or not to include a photo is your decision.
• Profile – Start with a snapshot of your skills, career highlights, and professional aspirations.
• Core skills – Focus on core skills like making it easy for employers to see your key strengths at a glance.
• Work experience – Walk through your professional experience, beginning with your latest position and moving backwards.
• Education – Outline your education and certifications, focusing on those most relevant to the role.
• Additional info – Include anything from your hobbies and interests to the languages you speak – these are all totally optional.
  

Presentation counts as much as content, so follow these tips to ensure the best possible CV format. Use bullet points to keep things clear, organise the CV with distinct section headings, and choose a professional font that’s straightforward to read. Keep the document concise and under two pages in length so that employers can find the essentials at a glance without losing interest.

A professional profile is your first chance to show that you don’t just enjoy being around animals – you bring measurable value to every pet sitting role you take on. In just a few lines, it should highlight your experience, your reliability, and the reassurance you offer to both pets and their owners.

Recruiters want to see at a glance that you’ll add something meaningful to their business or service, not simply that you love animals.

Try to include the following in your CV profile:

• Where you worked – Describe the types of environments you’ve worked in, whether through agencies, private households, or animal care services.
• Your top qualifications – Mention any relevant training or certificates that show your professional commitment.
• Essential skills – Outline the practical abilities that make you suited for the role.
• Specific experience – Highlight the range of animals you’ve cared for and the responsibilities you’ve handled.
• Value provided – Point out how your reliability and professionalism benefit owners and reassure them their pets are safe.
  

The CV skills section works as a fast-read summary of your abilities – almost like a quick checklist for recruiters scanning through a stack of applications. But the key is substance over filler. Instead of leaning on vague traits or generic buzzwords, this section should highlight tangible, job-specific capabilities that align closely with the requirements in the advert.

A well-chosen set of skills here shows you understand the expectations of the role and can deliver exactly what’s needed. Because it’s so quick to tailor, you can adjust this section easily for each job, helping you stay directly relevant and competitive.

For pet sitting roles, trust and responsibility are proven through your work history. Lay out your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent jobs.

Each role should begin with a short overview of your position and the type of work you carried out, followed by bullet points for responsibilities and achievements. Keep the detail clear and concise so recruiters can instantly see the value you’ve provided. If you’re just starting out, mention volunteer work, informal jobs for neighbours, or animal-related studies that demonstrate relevant skills.

• Outline – Set the scene by describing the client, household, or agency you worked for, along with the purpose of your role.
• Responsibilities – Break down what you actually did, using action words like “supervised” or “monitored”. For example: “supervised feeding routines” or “monitored animal health and behaviour.”
• Achievements – Show the impact you had, such as improving client satisfaction or building repeat business.

Education isn’t usually the main focus for a pet sitter CV, but it does help to show you’ve got solid foundations. List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, from most recent backwards.

If you’ve undertaken any animal care or first aid courses, make sure to include them here. If you’re new to the profession, this section can be expanded with details of relevant studies, otherwise keep it short to allow your work history to shine.