Building Your Rope Access CV: What Employers Actually Look For

Your CV is your first impression. In rope access, it's often the only thing standing between you and a callback. Get it right, and you're on the shortlist. Get it wrong, and you're lost in the pile.

The problem? Most rope access CVs are either too long, too vague, or missing the information employers actually care about. Project managers and agency recruiters scan CVs in 30 seconds. If they can't find what they need quickly, they move on.

This guide tells you exactly what employers look for, how to structure your CV, and the common mistakes that cost technicians work.

What Employers Actually Want to See

We've spoken to rope access company owners, project managers, and recruitment agents across Europe. Here's what they consistently say matters most — in order of priority.

1. IRATA (or SPRAT) Level and Validity

This is the first thing every employer checks. They need to know:

• Your current level (1, 2, or 3)
• Certification expiry date — if it expires within 3 months, some employers won't consider you
• Certification number — for verification

How to present it:

✅ "IRATA Level 2 — Valid until March 2028 — Cert #12345"

❌ "IRATA certified"

Be specific. Vague statements waste everyone's time.

2. Logged Hours

Your logbook hours tell employers how experienced you really are. A Level 2 with 1,100 hours is very different from a Level 2 with 3,500 hours.

How to present it:

✅ "Total logged hours: 2,800 (as of January 2026)"

• Offshore wind: 1,200 hours
• Oil & gas: 800 hours
• Onshore industrial: 800 hours

This immediately shows your experience profile and helps employers match you to appropriate work.

3. Trade Skills and Certifications

After IRATA level and hours, your trade skills determine your value. List every relevant certification with:

• Full certification name
• Issuing body
• Validity date
• Certification number (if applicable)

Example:

A clear certification table is worth more than paragraphs of text. Employers can see at a glance whether you meet their project requirements.

4. Equipment Ownership

Increasingly important, especially in markets like the Netherlands and Scandinavia. If you own your own equipment, say so clearly.

How to present it:

✅ "Full rope access kit owner — Petzl harness, ID descender, ascenders, 2x 50m ropes, backup device, full hardware set. All equipment within inspection dates."

Some employers specifically search for technicians with their own kit. This is also a signal of professionalism and commitment to the industry.

5. Relevant Work Experience

List your recent projects — but keep it focused. Employers don't need your entire career history. They want to see:

• Project type (what was the work?)
• Sector (offshore wind, oil & gas, construction, etc.)
• Your role (Level 1 support, Level 2 lead, Level 3 supervisor)
• Duration (how long were you on the project?)
• Location (shows willingness to travel)

Example format:

Offshore Wind Turbine Blade Repair — North Sea, Netherlands Level 2 Rope Access Technician | Oct 2025 – Dec 2025 Leading edge repair on Siemens Gamesa 8MW turbines. 3-person rope access team. 60 turbines completed. Working from SOV vessel, 2/2 rotation.

Refinery Shutdown Maintenance — Antwerp, Belgium Level 2 Rope Access / NDT Inspector | Jul 2025 – Aug 2025 UT thickness measurements on piping and vessels. Surface preparation and coating inspection. Night shift rotation.

Keep each entry to 2–4 lines. Focus on what you did, not generic job descriptions.

6. Medical Fitness

Many projects require medical certificates. Note on your CV:

• Offshore medical validity (OGUK, Dutch, Norwegian, or equivalent)
• Any fitness-to-work certificates
• Colour vision status (relevant for some inspection work)

How to present it:

✅ "OGUK Offshore Medical — Valid until August 2026. Fit for offshore and confined space work."

7. Availability and Mobility

Employers need to know:

• When you're available — "Available from 1 March 2026" or "Currently available"
• Where you're willing to work — "UK, Netherlands, Norway, Middle East" or "Worldwide"
• Work pattern preferences — "Open to offshore rotations (2/2, 3/3)" or "Onshore only"

Don't be vague. "Flexible" means nothing. Specific availability information gets you matched to real opportunities.

8. References

Most employers will want at least one reference, typically a Level 3 supervisor from a recent project. Include:

• Name and IRATA level
• Company
• Contact email or phone
• Which project they supervised you on

Always ask permission before listing someone as a reference. And keep your references current — a supervisor from 3 years ago carries less weight than one from last month.

CV Structure: The Optimal Format

Based on what employers want, here's the structure that works:

Page 1 (This Is the Only Page Many People Read)

• Full name
• Phone number (with country code)
• Email address
• Location (city/country)
• Rope Access Network profile link
• LinkedIn profile link

Summary (2–3 lines): "IRATA Level 2 rope access technician with 2,800 logged hours. Specializing in offshore wind blade repair and NDT inspection. Full GWO and BOSIET certification. Own equipment. Available for North Sea rotations."

Certification Table: All certifications in a clear table format (see example above).

Key Skills: Bullet list of your core competencies — blade repair, UT inspection, coded welding, whatever applies.

Page 2 (If Needed)

Work Experience: Last 5–8 projects in reverse chronological order, using the focused format described above.

Education/Training: Relevant training courses, trade qualifications, academic background (brief).

References: 1–2 professional references.

That's it. Two pages maximum. Ideally one page if your career is early-stage.

Common CV Mistakes That Cost You Work

Too Long

A 4-page CV with every job since 2015 is a red flag, not a selling point. If an employer can't find your IRATA level in 10 seconds, your CV needs editing.

Missing Certification Details

"IRATA qualified" without level, expiry date, or number is useless. "GWO trained" without specifying which modules (BST, ART, etc.) creates confusion. Be precise.

Generic Job Descriptions

"Responsible for performing rope access duties including maintenance and inspection work" tells the employer nothing they don't already know. What specific work did you do? What equipment? What sector? Details matter.

No Availability Information

An employer has a project starting in 2 weeks. Your CV doesn't mention availability. They move to the next candidate who states "available immediately." Simple fix, big impact.

Outdated Information

Expired certifications listed without noting they're expired. Old contact details. References who've moved on. Review and update your CV every time something changes.

Missing Contact Details

No phone number? No email? It happens more than you'd think. Make it easy for people to reach you.

Beyond the CV: Your Digital Presence

In 2026, your CV is just one part of your professional profile. Employers also check:

Rope Access Network Profile

• Searchability (employers can find you by skill, location, level)
• Verification status
• Equipment ownership details
• Availability calendar
• Direct contact capability

Your Rope Access Network profile works while you sleep — employers searching at 2am for a Level 2 with GWO and blade repair experience can find you without you sending a single email.

LinkedIn

• Headline: "IRATA Level 2 Rope Access Technician | NDT Inspector | Offshore Wind"
• Skills section with rope access keywords
• Recommendations from supervisors and colleagues
• Posts about your work (photos, project completions)

Consistency

Make sure your CV, Rope Access Network profile, and LinkedIn all tell the same story. Conflicting information raises doubts.

The Employer's Perspective

Understanding how employers use your CV helps you write a better one:

Agency recruiter: Scans for IRATA level, key certifications, and availability. Matches against project requirements. Decision time: 30 seconds.

Company project manager: Looks for relevant sector experience and specific trade skills. Checks hours to gauge experience. Decision time: 1–2 minutes.

Small company owner: Reads more carefully. Looks for reliability indicators — consistent work history, current certifications, professional presentation. Decision time: 2–5 minutes.

In all cases, the first 30 seconds decide whether you make the "yes" pile or the "maybe later" pile. Front-load the information that matters.

Action Steps

1. Audit your current CV against the structure above. What's missing?
2. Create a certification table with every relevant cert, its expiry date, and issuing body
3. Update your work experience to focus on specific projects, roles, and sectors
4. Add availability and mobility information
5. Check your references — are they current? Have you asked permission?
6. Create or update your Rope Access Network profile — complete every section
7. Align your LinkedIn with your CV

Your CV should take 5 minutes to update after every project. Make it a habit. The technicians who stay consistently employed are the ones whose professional materials are always current and always ready.

Final Thought

The rope access job market rewards preparation. A great CV won't make up for missing certifications or lack of experience — but a poor CV can absolutely hide your strengths from the people who need to see them.

Take 30 minutes today to bring your CV up to standard. Then make sure your online presence — especially your Rope Access Network profile — tells the same professional story.

The next opportunity could land in your inbox tomorrow. Be ready for it.

Need a second opinion on your CV? We've reviewed hundreds. Drop us a message and we'll give you honest feedback.