Thank you to our partner, Marks Sattin recruitment, for this special guest article
The start of a new year is a perfect opportunity to refresh your professional profile to attract potential employers. Whether you’re actively job hunting, or looking to position yourself for future opportunities, one way to really stand out from the crowd is to volunteer your expertise to organisations who greatly need your support. Volunteering also provides valuable skills and experience which will serve you well in your professional career – so it really is a two way street!
At Marks Sattin, we understand the importance of a enhancing your personal brand and are dedicated to helping professionals refine their profiles and combine career expertise with meaningful extracurricular contributions to unlock new and exciting career prospects. We have a longstanding relationship with Charterpath which has YTD resulted in:
800+ people attending a Marks Sattin & Charterpath event, including raising £1,500 for Charterpath from a raffle!
Referring 200+ finance professionals to join Charterpath’s volunteering community
100+ finance professionals on Marks Sattin’s database who have applied for volunteering roles, creating £300k+ value for the non-profit sector!
Here’s our key takeaways to make sure your professional profile stands out.
Quantify your achievements
Employers value measurable results because they demonstrate the real world impact of your work. Be as specific as possible about your accomplishments.
Replace vague statements like "Improved team effectiveness" with specifics such as "Implemented a new workflow system that increased team productivity by 20%."
If you have ever undertaken a volunteering role, use metrics to highlight your contributions, such as revenue growth, cost savings, or project completion rates. Examples could be: “Managed a non-profit budget of £50,000, reducing costs by 15%”, or “Organised fundraising events that generated £20,000 for community initiatives.”
LinkedIn allows you to showcase achievements further by attaching presentations, certificates, or portfolio items directly to job positions, providing recruiters with tangible proof of your skills.
Highlight extracurricular activities
Hobbies and volunteering achievements will enrich your CV and express your personality to a potential employer. Volunteering also allows you to diversify your network and demonstrate your commitment to causes, which can resonate strongly with interviewers. Choose opportunities that align with your career goals. If you’re interested in working in finance, volunteering for a non-profit’s finance team through Charterpath could be a great experience.
“Volunteering your professional skills is more than just a selfless act—it’s an investment in your career. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or someone in the midst of a career transition, volunteering offers invaluable opportunities for skill development, networking, and CV building.”
Alice Clementi
Co-founder and CEO of Charterpath
Focus on keywords
Recruiters and applicant tracking systems increasingly rely on keywords to shortlist candidates. Your CV and LinkedIn profile should integrate industry specific terms and skills to ensure you rank high in searches.
Go through job descriptions in your chosen field to identify frequently used terms.
Tailor to the job - highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. Include keywords from the job description to increase your chances of passing applicant tracking systems (ATS).
On LinkedIn, add these keywords to your headline, summary, and skills section to enhance your visibility in recruiter searches.
One of the most common mistakes professionals make is focusing entirely on past roles and achievements without gearing their CV or LinkedIn towards future opportunities. Before you begin, define your career goals for the year ahead, and why not consider whether there are any volunteering opportunities available which align to your career goals.
Optimise sections for readability
Both CVs and LinkedIn profiles need to be scannable and easy to read. Hiring managers often spend less than 30 seconds reviewing each candidate, so your information must be well-structured.
Stick to reverse chronological order for job experiences, focusing on your most recent and relevant roles.
Use bullet points to summarise your responsibilities and accomplishments.
Introduce clear section headings (e.g. Professional Experience, Certifications, Skills) to guide the reader through your CV.
On LinkedIn, leverage the platform’s 2,600-character summary section to tell your professional story with clarity and impact.
Refresh and refine your profile picture & branding
Your LinkedIn profile picture acts as a digital first impression, so ensure it’s clear, professional, and up to date.
Use a high-quality headshot in which you’re dressed appropriately for your target industry.
Smile and aim for a friendly demeanour to convey approachability.
Equally, consider adding a customised LinkedIn banner that represents your professional branding. A simple background featuring your industry tools or a tagline can set your profile apart positively.
Stay active throughout the year
Finally, remember regular updates to your profile keep them fresh and ensure they remain aligned with your career progression.
Add new projects, volunteering assignments, certifications, or roles as you complete them.
Celebrate milestones, contributions, or skills acquired by sharing relevant updates with your LinkedIn network.
Stay active on LinkedIn - engaging with posts, commenting on industry discussions, or even writing original content, keeps your professional presence visible and top of mind.
Connect with any non-profit organisations that you would be keen to volunteer for to follow their activities and learn more about them.
Start your job search with Marks Sattin
“My advice would be to create a list of bulleted responsibilities for each role, highlighting your remit and duties. Then a list of achievements underneath, showcasing results against set targets. Remember, a CV should be about YOU and your impact. If you have achieved milestones or added value through extracurricular activities such as hobbies, sports or volunteering your skills, be sure to highlight this too!
One of the biggest mistakes people make is including unnecessary information. Keep it concise. Use data, percentages and values to create impact. It's always worth looking at including the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when creating a CV, to give the reader context and insight into your experience.”
Alastair Paterson
Commercial Director at Marks Sattin
At Marks Sattin, we specialise in placing professionals in finance, technology, transformation and legal roles.
Whether you're seeking your next challenge or looking for market intel, our team of experts are here to help you navigate the job market with confidence. This year, take charge of your professional journey not just by refining your CV and LinkedIn profile, but also by engaging in meaningful volunteering opportunities with Charterpath.
If the idea of volunteering your skills with a non-profit has caught your imagination - follow these 3 simple steps:
Follow Charterpath on LinkedIn for all the latest news, inspiration and roles
Have a look around our website at www.charterpath.org.uk for case studies, helpful resources and live volunteer opportunities
Sign the Charterpath pledge to show your support for our mission and volunteer your skills for at least 2 days each year
About Charterpath
Charterpath CIO is a UK registered charity (1207509) on a mission to chart a path between non-profits and volunteers with financial skills. Charterpath was co-founded by Alice Clementi and Alex Marsh, both chartered accountants with extensive volunteering and fundraising experience alongside their professional careers. They were inspired to start Charterpath in 2020, after seeing first-hand the unprecedented financial challenges facing the non-profit sector from the pandemic.
Inspired to support our mission? Follow Charterpath on LinkedIn and join our community at www.charterpath.org.uk to access our newsletter, exclusive events and volunteer roles!