Do I need an NVQ to be a painter and decorator?

Not always. Many employers value proven skill, though an NVQ or a CSCS card can help on larger sites.

How do I show my work if I am self-employed?

Give a short list of typical jobs, the areas you cover and one or two kind words from customers, with their permission.

Should I list the products I use?

Mention specialist ones such as airless spray if the advert asks for them, but put more weight on the finish and how you prepare.

Painter and decorator CV example

A strong painter and decorator CV shows neat finishes, good preparation and the ability to work in people's homes and on commercial sites. Include your NVQ or CSCS card where you hold one, and the kinds of job you have done, such as wallpapering, spraying and exterior work.

Sienna Murray

Painter and decorator

Profile

Careful painter and decorator with NVQ Level 2 and experience in homes, rentals and small commercial sites. Skilled in preparation, cutting in, wallpapering and brush, roller and spray finishes, leaving each room clean and tidy. Holds a CSCS card and a full UK driving licence.

Experience

Painter and Decorator

a small decorating business

Prepared walls, ceilings and woodwork by filling, sanding, caulking and masking before painting

Painted and wallpapered whole houses, including hallways, stairwells and ceilings, to agreed finishing dates

Sprayed kitchen cabinets and doors to a smooth finish, protecting nearby surfaces

Measured rooms and ordered paint and wallpaper with very little waste

Left each home clean, with dust sheets cleared and furniture put back

Decorator

a property maintenance firm

Redecorated empty rental flats between tenancies, often within a few days

Scraped, primed and repainted exterior woodwork, gates and railings

Used scaffold towers and stepladders safely on internal and external jobs

Reported damp, cracks and other problems to the supervisor before decorating over them

Example · fictional candidate · Botanical design · Use this design

Tips for a painter and decorator CV

List NVQ Level 2 or 3 and your CSCS card if you hold them, plus any PASMA tower or working at height training
Say which finishes you can do, such as emulsions, gloss, wallpaper, spray and specialist coatings
Mention preparation, since good preparation is what employers look for in a decorator
Describe the kinds of job you do, such as occupied homes, new builds, rentals or commercial sites
Keep a few before-and-after photos to show at interview or link to, if you can
Give your driving licence and say whether you have your own van and equipment

Applying with a cover letter? See our painter and decorator cover letter example.