PANCo CV Guide

What to include in a PANCo CV

Even if you have looked online at CV templates and examples, it can be daunting writing your own and knowing what design to choose, how to structure it and what to include to maximise your chances of a successful application.

Breaking your CV down into the main sections, such as contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, key skills, achievements and references, can help. It can give you a framework to work to, makes the task easier for you and enables the reader to navigate the document.

The actual information you include in your CV for a PANCo position will depend on your credentials, competencies, and overall background. Before writing it, read through the job description thoroughly to identify what the organisation wants and add the most relevant information that aligns with their needs.

Let us now look at each of the main sections you should include in your CV and some details to add to give you the best possible chance of getting that all-important interview invitation.

Contact information

The first section of your CV will typically be your contact information at the top of the document. It provides prospective employers with the information they need to contact you. There are some do’s and don’ts to consider when completing this section:

Do

• Include vital details, such as:
  • Your full name. 
  • Your professional job title (optional), e.g. “PANCo”.
  • Location, e.g. town/city and county.
  • A current and reliable phone number – ensure your voicemail sounds professional if you have one.
  • A professional email address – ensure it is simple and professional (e.g., [email protected]).
• Keep it updated and double-check that all contact details are current and accurate.
• Add links to your LinkedIn or professional profiles, where relevant, and ensure they align with your CV.
• Make it visible and place your contact information at the top of your CV for easy access.

Don’t

• Include personal details and sensitive information, such as your full address, age, date of birth, marital status, gender, religion or national ID number unless specifically required.
• Use casual or inappropriate email addresses (e.g. [email protected]), as it can come across as unprofessional.
• Include links to personal social media accounts unless relevant to the job.

Keep the contact section professional, clean and concise; avoid overloading it with too much information.

Professional summary

The next part of your CV, below your contact information, is your professional summary, which is also known as a personal statement, executive summary, or professional profile. It is a brief paragraph, between 3-5 lines, where you describe your qualifications, key skills, experiences, career goals and passion for the PANCo role. It should be enough to convey your value without overwhelming the reader.

While all sections of your CV are important, your professional summary is crucial. It is usually one of the first things prospective employers will see and read, so it is your chance to make a positive initial impression. An exceptional, tailored, and relevant summary will captivate their interest and encourage them to read on, while a generic, poorly thought-out one may do the opposite. Therefore, you want to make your summary as eye-catching and engaging as possible.

So, how should you write your professional summary, and what should you include? Here are some pointers to help:

• Begin with a strong opening statement, including your professional job title and years of experience. For example: “Dedicated Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordinator with 5+ years of experience in promoting healthy lifestyles within early years environments”. If you are applying for your first PANCo role, give related experience in health, fitness, education, or childcare.
• Highlight your key skills by choosing two or three that closely align with the PANCo role and make you a strong candidate, for example, program planning, behaviour change facilitation and knowledge of healthy eating and active lifestyles.
• Mention any relevant qualifications and certifications, like PANCo training or other health and nutrition-related qualifications.
• Briefly showcase your professional accomplishments or measurable results, if possible. For instance: “Successfully launched a healthy eating campaign that improved meal options across settings, increasing parental engagement by 30%”.
• Briefly mention your career goals and what you hope to achieve in the role, as it shows motivation and a clear direction.
• Convey your dedication to fostering well-being and a healthier community.
• Incorporate keywords or phrases from the job posting to show your relevance to the role. Employers appreciate a professional summary that directly addresses their requirements.

Here is an example of a professional summary for a PANCo:

“Passionate and proactive Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordinator with over 5 years of experience in early years settings. Skilled in designing inclusive physical activity programs and promoting balanced nutrition aligned with EYFS and Ofsted guidelines. Successfully implemented initiatives that improved child well-being and increased parental engagement by 30%. Committed to fostering collaborative environments that drive positive health outcomes.”

Education

The education section of a PANCo CV is where you summarise your qualifications, training and certifications relevant to the role you are applying for. It highlights how your academic background and specialised training support your ability to promote physical activity, health and nutrition in early years settings. It also helps employers assess your suitability.

You can add your education after your professional summary or to your work experience. If you have limited experience in the PANCo role, perhaps focus on your qualifications and training and start with your education. It depends on your background and preference and is ultimately your choice.

When you write the education section of your CV, add your qualifications in reverse chronological order (most recent first) and focus on those most relevant to the PANCo position. Here is an example of what to include:

Formal qualifications

List any relevant qualifications, e.g. at degree or diploma level. Where applicable to your background, include:

• Any degrees related to health sciences, nutrition, physical education, early childhood studies or similar fields.
• Childcare or early years education diplomas (e.g. Level 3 Diploma in Childcare or Early Years).

Do not worry about listing any lower qualifications, such as A Levels and GCSEs (or equivalent), unless mentioned in the job posting and/or you do not possess higher qualifications. Only include them if they add value and you have sufficient space in your CV.

For each qualification, include:

• Title/name.
• Institution name and location. 
• Graduation/completion date or the period of attendance (the month/year is sufficient).
• Grades awarded or expected (if applicable).
• Relevant coursework (optional).

PANCo-specific training and certifications

If you have completed any PANCo training or certification, mention it prominently. For example: “Certified Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordinator”. Include the name of the training provider and the month/year you completed the training.

Other certifications

If you have other certifications that support your role, include them. For example:

• Paediatric first aid training.
• Food hygiene certificate.
• Health and safety.
• Child protection and safeguarding.

You may also want to list any relevant workshops, seminars or ongoing professional development activities in this section that enhance your expertise.

Example of an education section:

Education

• Certified Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordinator (PANCo) – [Training Provider Name], [Month, Year].
• Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies – [University Name and Location], [Month, Year].
• Level 2 Award in Food Hygiene and Safety – [Certifying Body], [Month, Year].
• Paediatric First Aid Training – [Certifying Body], [Month, Year].

Work experience/employment history

Work experience, or employment history, refers to the roles you have held previously in your career, along with your duties and the skills and achievements gained. It is an important section of your CV, demonstrating your professional background and ability to perform specific tasks or meet job requirements, thus giving the employer confidence in your suitability for the position.

Your work experience will typically go after your education section on your CV. However, if you have more experience than qualifications, add this section after your professional summary to make it stand out.

For a PANCo CV, tailor your work experience to the role you are applying for and focus on your most relevant roles and responsibilities. Be concise and add them in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Here are some pointers on what to include in this section:

• Heading: Include a heading, “Work Experience” or “Employment History”.
• Job title: Clearly state your job title for each of your previous roles, e.g. ” Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordinator (PANCo)”.
• Employer/organisation name: Include the name of the organisation you worked for.
• Location: Add where you worked, i.e. town, city or county.
• Dates of employment: Mention the month and year you started and ended each role. If still employed, add “present” instead.
• Key duties:
  • Highlight your key responsibilities in bullet point form.
  • Keep it brief and aim for three to five bullet points.
  • Focus on tasks relating to physical activity and nutrition or promoting healthy lifestyles.
  • You can add your notable achievements and skills here or include them in a separate section.

Here is an example of how to structure this section:

Work experience

Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordinator (PANCo) [Organisation Name], [Location]. [Month/Year] – [Month/Year].

• Designed and implemented programs to promote physical activity and balanced nutrition in early years settings.
• Trained staff and collaborated with families to foster healthy behaviours in children.
• Successfully increased physical activity engagement by 20% through tailored initiatives.
• Developed educational resources on balanced eating and active living for parents and educators.

Providing unique responsibilities and achievements can differentiate you from other candidates and increase your chances of an interview.

Key skills and achievements

Your CV should also include details of your key skills, i.e. abilities you gain via learning, experience, and practice. If you review the job description, look for the skills mentioned and align your skills with their requirements to tailor your CV to the position. They may also use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan for particular words in CVs, so including specific skills can help yours pass through their filters.

Combine hard skills (technical expertise) and soft skills (personal traits), for example:

• Hard skills – are technical, job-specific skills often measurable and learned through training, education, or practice. They are usually more tangible and easier to quantify. Some hard skills for a PANCo include health education, program development, child development knowledge, nutritional planning, training and mentoring, data monitoring, policy implementation, etc.
• Soft skills – are personal traits and interpersonal abilities that influence how you interact with others and handle situations. They are more about behaviour and character, often less tangible but equally important in the workplace. Some soft skills for a PANCo include communication, problem-solving, leadership, empathy, teamwork, organisation, adaptability, etc.

Example: “Identified and resolved gaps in meal planning, ensuring adherence to nutritional standards and improving food quality” (nutritional planning and problem-solving skills).

Including key skills on your CV and customising them shows you are capable and can add value to the organisation. It enables prospective employers to identify your strengths and suitability for the position, which can help set you apart from other candidates.

You can also pair your skills with achievements, describing how you have successfully used them. Integrating your achievements into the skills section can make them more impactful. We will look at how to focus on your achievements later.

Other information

A typical CV contains your contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, key skills, achievements and references. You can add others if you have sufficient space and think it will make it more interesting. The aim is to catch the eyes of potential employers, so they want to invite you to an interview. Here are some examples of other sections and information to consider:

• Certifications and training – include these in your education section or have a separate one if you feel they will not stand out in the document.
• Professional development – include workshops, seminars, online courses, and conferences relevant to physical activity, nutrition, health or childcare.
• Volunteer work – if you have undertaken any volunteering, especially where you contributed to health or wellness initiatives, you can mention your roles in a separate section or include them in your work experience.
• Languages – if you speak multiple languages, list them along with your proficiency levels, as it can be an asset when working with diverse families.
• Professional memberships – if you are a member of any professional bodies and associations related to the PANCo role or health, nutrition and early years, you could add them to your CV, e.g. a member of the PANCo network or Early Years Alliance.
• Hobbies and interests – include hobbies related to physical activity, health and wellness, such as yoga, cooking nutritious meals or fitness training, to highlight your personal connection to the field.
• DBS – you can also add details of a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check to your CV and the type, e.g. Basic, Standard or Enhanced.

One thing to consider when adding other sections is not to add too many, as it can make the document cluttered. Only include separate ones where you need the information to stand out to prospective employers and ensure it relates to the PANCo role.

References

Your final CV section will include your references, where you add details of 2-3 individuals (referees) who can vouch for your professional abilities, character and suitability for the role. It is important for a PANCo, as it assures employers of your credibility and effectiveness in promoting physical activity and nutrition programs.

Before adding referees, choose individuals who can provide the best possible references, such as a line manager, supervisor or colleagues. If applying for your first job, you can add a teacher, tutor, mentor or coach. Ensure you seek permission from your referees before listing them.

If you have limited space on your CV and the job posting is not asking for reference details at this stage, you can write “References available upon request”. You will then usually provide details of your referees at or after the interview stage.

If you need to add details of your referees on your CV, include the following information for each one:

• Name of the referee – full name of the person providing the reference.
• Job title – mention their professional role.
• Organisation – the name of the organisation they represent.
• Relationship to you – clarify their connection to you (e.g. former manager, supervisor, colleague).
• Contact details – provide their email address and phone number, for example:
  • Jane Smith. Health and Wellness Manager. Active Early Years Ltd. Former Supervisor. Email: [email protected]. Phone: 01234 567890.

Give your referees information on the role you are applying for so they can tailor the reference accordingly. Also, keep their information up-to-date and professional.