The role of a Firearms Officer is one of the most demanding, respected, and highly responsible positions within the police service. Firearms Officers are entrusted with protecting the public and tackling serious threats where armed intervention is necessary. Day to day, the job description includes responding to incidents involving weapons, protecting high-risk individuals or locations, supporting counter-terrorism efforts, and working as part of specialist armed response units. Salaries for Firearms Officers in the UK generally range between £35,000 and £55,000 per year, depending on experience, region, and overtime. Given the seriousness of the role, presenting an interview-winning Firearms Officer CV template
is essential to stand out from the competition and demonstrate your professionalism, courage, and suitability for this unique career.
Why a Firearms Officer CV needs to shine
Your CV is not just a document listing your duties and training—it is your professional story, your chance to show your discipline, resilience, and capacity to perform under pressure. Recruiters and senior officers reviewing your CV want to see a combination of technical skills, operational knowledge, and personal qualities such as integrity, composure, and teamwork. With the right CV example
, you can highlight the qualities that make you a candidate they can trust to handle the responsibility of carrying and deploying firearms in defence of the public.
The building blocks of a strong Firearms Officer CV
When structuring your CV, keep in mind that clarity and relevance are vital. A busy police recruitment panel may only spend a few seconds initially scanning your CV, so you need to capture their attention with clear achievements and evidence of your capability. A tried and tested CV template
will typically follow this structure:
Personal Profile / Summary Statement: A short but powerful opening paragraph highlighting your commitment to public safety, your firearms training, and your operational competence.
Key Skills: Bullet-pointed skills tailored to the firearms officer role, including weapons handling, tactical decision-making, risk assessment, conflict resolution, and leadership.
Professional Experience: Reverse chronological history of your policing or security career, with measurable achievements such as successful operations, commendations, and team leadership roles.
Education and Training: Details of your police training, specialist firearms courses, tactical command certifications, and relevant continuous professional development.
Additional Information: Security clearance, languages spoken, IT or technical skills relevant to modern policing.
Highlighting achievements, not just responsibilities
Many candidates make the mistake of simply listing job duties. To truly stand out, you must focus on achievements. Instead of writing “Responsible for armed response operations,” expand to “Successfully deployed as part of an armed response unit in over 150 high-risk incidents with zero civilian casualties, demonstrating exceptional discipline under pressure.” Recruiters value measurable results, as they prove your impact.
Tailoring your CV to the Firearms Officer role
A generic CV will not get you shortlisted. You must tailor your content to each application. Study the job advert carefully, paying attention to the competencies listed—such as “calm under pressure” or “decision-making in high-stress environments”—and mirror those phrases within your CV. A polished CV example
designed for Firearms Officers will weave keywords and values used in police recruitment.
Advice for graduates entering policing
For graduates or individuals looking to enter policing and progress into firearms roles, it can be challenging to fill a CV with experience. The solution is to showcase transferable skills. Highlight university projects, part-time work, volunteering, or sports team leadership roles that demonstrate discipline, teamwork, and responsibility. Your personal profile should make clear your aspiration to join the firearms division in the future, emphasising your willingness to undertake rigorous training.
Advice for middle management candidates
If you are already working as a Police Constable or Sergeant with ambitions to join or progress within a firearms unit, your CV should demonstrate leadership. Show how you have managed teams, mentored new officers, coordinated joint operations, or introduced safety improvements. Police forces value Firearms Officers who not only follow orders but also have the initiative and strategic thinking to lead under pressure.
Advice for senior management candidates
At Inspector level and beyond, your CV must highlight strategic command capability. You need to show evidence of setting tactical strategy, managing large operations, liaising with external agencies, and overseeing armed deployments. At this level, communication skills, stakeholder management, and strategic oversight are as important as operational firearms expertise. A carefully structured CV template
will ensure these elements are highlighted.
The do’s of a Firearms Officer CV
Do keep it concise – two pages is ideal.
Do use action verbs such as “deployed,” “commanded,” “protected,” “resolved.”
Do evidence your achievements with statistics, outcomes, or commendations.
Do tailor your profile for each application.
Do present a professional design – clean, simple, and easy to read.
The don’ts of a Firearms Officer CV
Don’t use generic phrases such as “hardworking team player” without evidence.
Don’t include irrelevant hobbies that do not support your policing profile.
Don’t list duties only – focus on achievements.
Don’t allow spelling or grammar errors – attention to detail is vital in policing.
Don’t send the same CV everywhere – always customise.
CV structure that wins interviews
The key to a winning CV is balance. Your opening statement should immediately capture attention by stating your role and intent: “Highly trained Firearms Officer with over 10 years’ experience in armed response, counter-terrorism support, and specialist tactical operations.” Then use your professional experience section to evidence this with tangible examples. Your skills section should include both technical and soft skills—firearms handling alongside resilience, decision-making, and teamwork. Finally, ensure your design is modern but professional. A strong CV template
can give you this edge instantly.
How to optimise your Firearms Officer CV for ATS systems
Many police recruitment portals use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). This means your CV must be keyword-rich to pass initial scans. Use specific terms from the job description such as “armed response unit,” “public protection,” “critical incident management,” and “tactical deployment.” By mirroring the language of the role, you increase your chance of progressing to interview stage.
The power of LinkedIn alongside your CV
Your CV and LinkedIn profile should work together. Recruiters often review both. On LinkedIn, ensure your profile headline clearly states “Firearms Officer | Armed Response Unit | Tactical Specialist” to increase your visibility. Share professional development, commendations, or relevant articles that demonstrate thought leadership in policing. Together, a strong CV and LinkedIn presence significantly enhance your credibility.
Final tips to secure your next role as a Firearms Officer
Keep your CV up to date with recent operations or training.
Prioritise clarity and evidence—every bullet point should prove your value.
Tailor for every application—generic CVs rarely succeed.
Prepare a concise cover letter to accompany your CV, showing motivation and fit.
Conclusion and next steps
Creating an interview-winning Firearms Officer CV template
is an investment in your career. Whether you are entering policing, moving into firearms units, or progressing into senior leadership, the right CV can open doors to opportunities.
I’m Jerry Frempong, and for over 25 years I’ve coached professionals across the UK to land their dream roles with powerful CVs and LinkedIn profiles. If you’re serious about securing your next Firearms Officer role, don’t leave your CV to chance. Book a one-to-one appointment with me today, and together we’ll craft a CV and LinkedIn profile that showcase your strengths, achievements, and potential in the most compelling way possible.
👉 Book your appointment here
