How to Write a CV Personal Statement [+4 Real-life Examples]
Creating an effective CV takes time and close attention to detail. You've already included your jobs and experience , and now you want to allow the recruiter or hiring manager to understand the strategic value you can add.
This is when you need to utilize a personal statement at the top of your CV.
How to Write a CV Personal Statement [+4 Real-life Examples]
What is a Personal Statement?
A personal statement is a few brief and direct sentences at the top of your CV. The personal statement is also referred to as a career summary or personal mission statement.
This is used to grab the attention of the recruiter or hiring manager and summarizes essential experiences or training that you can bring to this position.
Why do I Need a Personal Statement?
A recruiter or hiring manager is tasked with sorting through an enormous amount of resumes every single day. A personal statement is a way to separate yourself from the other applicants.
This statement summarizes your experience and highlights your unique talents . The CV personal statement is meant to demonstrate why you are the perfect fit for the job.
Even med students need a medical school personal statement , as it is what differentiates them from all the other students applying. Plus, it allows them to share their personal stories and objectives.
Where do I Start?
Always begin by reading the job description carefully and thoroughly.
Your personal statement should be tailored to each job description, so it explicitly states the value you’ll bring to the position you are applying. A generic personal statement cannot do that.
Once you have a solid handle on the job description, you can begin writing. It’s important to keep your personal statement brief, about 50-200 words will do.
Don’t forget that you have your whole cover letter to show some personality and include engaging content.
The personal statement should be a quick summary that highlights why you are the best person for the job.
You’ll need to decide whether you are writing your personal statement in first- or third-person. This should follow how you've written the rest of your CV.
For example, if you've already written, “I grew and developed a team of 50 salespeople,” in your CV then you will want to keep your personal statement in first-person to match the prevailing style.
No matter what you choose, make sure that you keep it consistent throughout. Do not switch between first- and third-person as that will get confusing to the hiring manager.
Writing a personal statement for your CV in first-person does not mean you need to start every sentence with “I.”
There are ways to craft your personal statement to sound snappy, concise and personal, and here are a few examples to help inspire your personal statement.
CV Personal Statement Examples
It doesn’t matter what chose as your desired career or how much experienc e you have, use these examples to drive the creation of your own personal statement.
You can take snippets from each or write something completely different. Always remember that your personal statement is a reflection of yourself and should align with your own personal goals and experience.
If these examples don’t fit your exact career, feel free to take some pointers and write yours from scratch.
#1: Personal Statement Example for Recent Graduate CV
“As a recent graduate from university, with an honors degree in communications, I held several internships within leading organizations, including Bertelsmann. These internships enabled me to gain experience in the field and learn how to serve up valuable contributions in a fast-paced, professional environment.”
Explanation: This example should be customized to include the university you’ve graduated from and any relevant internships. A compelling personal statement always highlights relevant skills and experiences.
In this case, a recent graduate does not have extensive experience in the workforce, so soft skills like experiencing success in a fast-paced work environment and becoming a trusted team member become even more critical.
#2: Personal Statement Example for Returning to the Workforce CV
“A highly motivated and experienced office administrator, I am currently looking to resume my professional career after an extended hiatus to raise my family. Proficient in all Microsoft Office programs, I can lead meetings and work with clients to keep your office running smoothly and efficiently. After spending several years volunteering as an administrative worker for a local charity, I am committed to resuming my professional career on a full-time basis.”
Explanation: After time off from a career, it can be hard to break back into the market. This personal statement outlines the reason for the break, the relevant qualifications and what the applicant has been doing in between jobs.
Any volunteer experience becomes highly relevant when there is no concrete professional experience to draw upon, to demonstrate the use of those skills.
#3: Personal Statement Example for a Career Change CV
“With over 15 years as a sales manager, I have extensive experience building high-functioning sales teams that consistently achieve budget numbers. In fact, my ability to grow talent led to a 20% increase in annual renewals across the board. Now, after 15 years, I am seeking new challenges to flex my marketing muscles in a fast-paced environment.”
Explanation: When changing careers , it's essential to highlight skills that are transferable between industries.
In this case, leadership and team-building experience can apply to any industry. Homing in on concrete numbers and percentages increases credibility when applying for a position.
The applicant ends with the reason behind the desired career change. This part is not necessary but may be appealing to some hiring managers who are wondering what the impetus for the career change.
#4: Personal Statement Example for a Experienced Professional CV
“As a friendly, professional and highly trained educator, I am passionate about teaching and have an innate ability to understand student’s needs. Creating a safe and productive environment for optimal learning is my top priority. I’ve worked as a teacher for nearly 10 years in a variety of subjects and my experience and skill set make me the perfect fit for your team.”
Explanation: With more experience comes more skills and a better idea of strengths and weaknesses. Showcasing your passion for the industry is a great way to begin a personal statement, as it shows the hiring manager your dedication to the craft.
A personal statement can be written in many different ways, but it is ultimately up to you to determine what skills you want to highlight for your chosen position.
You can follow these examples or take learnings from each to contribute towards your personal statement.
If you understand the job you are applying for and know the unique skill set that you bring to the table, you will have a stellar personal statement for your CV that will get you across the table from the hiring manager in no time.
Suggested Reading:
- How to Write a CV (Curriculum Vitae) in 2023 [31+ Examples]
- 43+ Resume Tips and Tricks to Land Your Next Job
- 150+ Must-Have Skills for Any Resume [With Tips + Tricks]
- How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”
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How To Write A Personal Statement For A Job? Employment
Personal statements are often used in job applications, but can also be used for college and university applications, too. Here, we’ll give you some hints and tips for creating a personal statement for a job that goes the distance. Read on to find out more!
What is a personal statement?
First thing’s first…what is it?
A personal statement for a job is usually a paragraph about you that goes on the top of your CV. It’s sometimes known as a personal profile, professional profile, or even a career objective – so keep an eye out for these kinds of terms too in your job hunt.
Your personal statement should be an ‘ overview of you ,’ covering things like: who you are, why you think you are suitable for the role, what you will bring to the job, and your career goals.
If you are wondering why a personal statement is important (after all, shouldn’t all that be in your CV anyway?) it’s worth knowing that recruiters get 100s of CVs sent to them every single day. And on average they spend about 6 seconds looking at a CV before making a decision on the candidate. So, having a personal statement at the top of your CV gives a brief, easy to read summary that will hook the recruiter in and make them want to call you in for an interview.
Example of a personal statement for a job:
A friendly and enthusiastic individual, currently looking to return to a retail assistant role after spending the last 3 years raising a family. I possess excellent communication and listening skills, and I work extremely well in a team, as well as being able to work confidently on my own. I have recently volunteered at a local charity shop, as a sales assistant, to refresh my skills, and I am committed to continuing my career on a full-time basis.
How to write a personal statement
Like the example above, your personal statement should be short and sweet. Remember, your aim is to catch the attention of the recruiter so they read your CV in more depth before inviting you to interview.
Before you start, it’s best to sit down with your updated CV and make a list of all of your relevant skills and experience. Examples of skills you could include are:
- Communication
- Numeracy (i.e. good at working with money)
- Problem solving
- Organisation
- Creativity
- Confidence
Once you have a list of these things, it should be a lot easier to pull together an effective personal statement.
What if I have no work experience?
Having no work experience doesn’t mean you can’t write a good personal statement. There are plenty of other ways you can demonstrate your skills. Do you have a hobby or an interest? If you do, it’s likely you use key skills to do this and the best part is you can put this in your personal statement. Similarly, if you were involved in any clubs, teams or projects at school.
The key to writing an effective personal statement is keeping it relevant to the role you are applying to. So make sure you read the job advert and any accompanying information thoroughly to understand what the employer is looking for!
What do I put at the start of my personal statement?
Many, many people struggle to write about themselves. So, if this is you, don’t worry! To kick off your personal statement, see if you can come up with a short, sharp statement (no longer than one sentence) that describes you accurately.
This could be one that highlights your previous work experience:
‘A flexible construction worker with three years’ experience in bricklaying, roofing, plastering and plumbing.’
Or one that shows skills and experience you have from hobbies, interest or education:
‘A hardworking individual with a passion for creativity alongside a Distinction in Level 3 Graphic Design.’
Again, keep it short. And don’t forget to big yourself up a little bit! Make the recruiter believe that you are the best person for the role you are applying for.
What goes in the middle of a personal statement?
When it comes to writing your personal statement, it’s best to have at least a loose structure in mind to help you get everything down that you need to. You could include:
- Why are you applying?
- Why are you suitable for the role?
- What relevant job experience or training do you have?
- What projects or experiences have you taken part in that could show your abilities ?
- What makes you the perfect person for the job?
Use the answers to these questions to write your personal statement.
What goes at the end of a personal statement?
The end of your personal statement should make it clear to whoever is reading what your goals are professionally. For example, the construction worker above may put:
‘Looking to take on my next challenge in the world of construction, and develop my skills with a reputable local business.’
Or, for the aspiring graphic designer:
‘Looking for a start in the exciting world of graphic design, where I can learn from the best with a creative and innovative company.’
Remember: keep it brief!
Do’s and Don’ts for your personal statement
To help you on your way, here is a list of the do’s and don’ts for your personal statement.
- Make sure your tone is polite, friendly and (most importantly) professional.
- Keep it short and sweet. Your personal statement should only be around 3 or 4 sentences long.
- Include relevant information, such as previous experience.
- Highlight your key skills.
- Make it clear what kind of role you are looking for – this will help highlight your suitability for the one you are applying for.
- Use the job advert, person specification and any other information you have about the company to inform your personal statement.
- Make your achievements clear! Blow your own trumpet!
- Use slang words or be too conversational
- Include any personal information that’s not relevant. For example: how many children you have, whether you are single or married, etc.
- Be negative!
- Lie or exaggerate the truth.
- Take a template from online without personalising it!
Need a bit more help?
If you need help in writing your CV or personal statement, we can help. For a detailed and private 1-2-1 with one of advocates who can advise, please call 01902 96228 or fill in the form below to request a callback.
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- How to write a resume
How to write a resume personal statement
What is a resume personal statement?
A resume personal statement expresses who you are, where you’ve been, and sometimes where you plan to go next right at the top of your resume.
Everyone has different circumstances, so the personal statement helps to orient a potential future boss in terms of what they are about to read in the resume. Think about what you would like to share that matters to you. This space is particularly useful if you are changing industries, coming back in to the employment market or looking for a promotion. Your shop window starts here. The personal statement may be the only thing than an employer reads.
The resume personal statement hooks in a reader, influencing them to read more. So, how do you write a resume personal statement that is both natural and grabs an employer’s attention? Offer them a brief insight into who you are and why you would be a fantastic hire. So what do you write in a personal statement for a job?
This guide will cover:
- The basic formatting of a personal statement: How to tailor your personal statement to give you a competitive advantage
- Personal statement examples you should (and shouldn’t) use
- Practical steps for getting started on your resume personal statement
The personal statement format
The personal statement is a short paragraph that sits right below your contact information at the top of a resume. It sums up your experience, goals and skills with confidence. Think of your resume’s personal statement like an extended tagline for your career. A resume personal statement should include:
- Between 50 and 200 words in 3 - 4 sentences
- Your title or function, for example “Junior developer” or “Passionate hospitality manager”
- An opening hook
- Soft skills and hard skills
- Impressive facts and stats
- Your short and/or long-term goals
- Job-specific slant for the position you’re applying to
This may seem like a lot to cram into 200 words but perfecting your elevator pitch shows that you have a firm grasp of why your experience, goals, and skills make you the perfect fit for the job. Go all out to make this as fitting for each role as possible. Too often candidates come up with what they see as the perfect introduction to them and forget about how a hiring manager for each specific role might read it. Be flexible with the personal statement. It might not present the very best version of you - it should present the best version of you for this particular role.
This brief introduction is only a short piece of text, it is not disruptive and in many cases even serves as a welcome addition to what is otherwise a dry and impersonal document. It should be clear to you by now how we feel about the personal statement: Include it, especially because it allows you that bit of creativity that may make all the difference. Adopt a coversational tone and consider using the first person for these few lines. Third person (past tense) is standard for resumes, but if you want to go personal, this is where to do it.
How do I start my personal statement? How do you not start a personal statement? Even with a personal statement of 3-4 lines, sometimes the first sentence is the hardest. Even the first few words can have a disproportionate effect on how your personal statement is viewed. Your starting "hook" should make your fit with the role clear and specific. Use an example that is as unique to you as possible - you have to make your future employer sit up and pay attention. The first word of your personal statement should never be "I" - a great resume explores the potential of a common partnership and should not be a uni-directional monologue.
Align your resume’s personal statement with the job description
The hiring manager delicately chose every word in their job description. Gather clues from its tone, which skills they highlight, and any hints that point toward their dream employee. One of the top resume tips from HR managers is to include relevant keywords specific to the job posting itself as well as the actual wording of the job title.
What would this job description look like in 3 - 4 sentences? What keywords, skills, and tone would the job description have?
While still sticking to the facts about who you are and your experiences, your resume personal statement should highlight as many similarities with the job description as possible. When the hiring manager reads the first few sentences in your resume, they feel like you are exactly the person they were describing when they wrote the job description.
Position of the personal statement
Recruiters still prefer to see a candidate's personal details at the top (or running along a column on either side) of the resumes that cross their desk. This allows them to quickly search through the resumes that Applicant Tracking Systems have sorted into their virtual “yes” pile. You do not want your (relatively modern) personal statement to get in the way of this tradition.
The best place to put your statement is after your personal details (if they are at the top) and before your employment history section. Remember that the length of your resume is important. If you have already been very selective and cannot possibly leave out any more information and if adding your personal statement means your resume spills over onto a third page, you may consider not including your statement for the position in question. This ensures you comply with the unwritten rule that a resume should not be longer than two pages.
What is a good personal statement length? 200 words is the maximum suggested length, but if you go with one powerful sentence that you want the hiring manager to remember for the rest of the interview process, then why not? Less is more, but you have to be confident in your application to go with this option.
Plan to write your resume personal statement last
Instead of getting stuck at the beginning trying to write the perfect statement, skip this section and jump right into your employment history first. Once you’ve added your relevant work experiences, take a look at your keywords, phrases and skills from your past positions.
Your complete work history and the job description for the job you want are the foundations for your personal statement. By writing your resume personal statement last, it should be easier to get started once you have the right inspiration.
It might be the case that you leave a certain number of lines for the personal statement on your resume and write an individual statement for each role. You will often have a public version of your resume that is accessible on job boards (etc), so there should still be an "ideal" personal statement version.
How do I write a resume from scratch? While it is good advice to write the resume personal statement after your have written the resume itself (giving your brain a chance to ponder your true highlights), starting writing a resume is a mammoth task in itself. There are many useful pieces of advice when sitting down to write a resume, but for me, the key is to think about the reflecting the combination of what you are good at, what you enjoy and how those things will contribute to the direction of your career. For sure, be honest about your experience, but there has to be a creative flavour of ensuring that your past adequately reflects where you want to go.
Check out resume personal statement examples
Before you dive into writing, get a sense for different rhythms and layouts by checking these resume personal statement examples. How do you write a good personal statement?
Let's start with the basics. Since every person is unique, all personal statements should be unique too. You should, therefore, resist the urge to (largely) copy someone else's existing statement. This is the only spot on your resume to let your voice be heard, so try to write something that would prompt a friend to exclaim, “That sounds like something you’d say!” while, of course, keeping it professional.
Example. Innovative Executive Assistant with 10+ years of experience with global financial firm assisting a team of three C-Level directors. Expertly coordinate travel, manage large-scale expense reports, and streamline communication and calendars across departments..Seeking an Executive Assistant role with the Resume.io team to expand my office management career and thrive in an environment that requires independent problem-solving skills and focus under short deadlines.
The example above does the following things:
- States their title in the first sentence
- Includes specifics such as team size and duties
- Succinctly sums up major responsibilities and skills
- Highlights hard skills—experience arranging travel and expense reports—as well as soft skills—grace under pressure, attention to detail and communication.
- Specifically tailors the final statement with the company and/or job description
Here are a few more resume personal statement examples:
Experienced Digital Marketing Manager with five years of expertise in heading up a global firm. Increased inbound leads by 500% and raised online sales from 100,000 annually to over 2 million in a three-year period. Looking to grow career by applying skills to the Resume.io marketing team.
Straight to the point and accomplishment focused, without the use of “I”. Now let’s look at a less effective example:
I have worked as a Digital Marketing Manager for five years. During this time I have been an important and hard-working member of the team and showed my ability to work under pressure to deliver on company targets. I am looking to bring my skills to a new role in digital marketing.
Generic and ignores accomplishments. Also, too many uses of “I” in a passive voice.
Next is an example of a personal statement that focuses more on career objectives . A career objective can be used as a way to get across your skills and experience, without the personal bit. It’s a good option if you’re an entry-level candidate or college graduate without a lot of experience in the industry you’re applying for. The idea is, because you don’t have the relevant experience to talk about, you pull skills and experience from other areas of your resume so you can show you have what it takes.
Keep your career objective brief — 2-3 sentences max — following the same rules as the personal statement.
Content writer with three years' experience in a large e-commerce company. Delivered content that grew brand social presence to over 700,000 across three channels and improved email open rates by 48%. Looking to further career by joining the Resume.io as an SEO Executive.
See how it uses transferable skills? Combining these with numbers makes them all the more impressive.
And a less effective resume personal statement example:
I am a content writer looking to secure a role as an SEO Executive. While I have no experience in this field and am a dedicated individual and a keen learner. My enjoyment of how search engines work will help me excel in your company.
There’s not enough here to capture attention and it doesn’t sell transferable skills. Whichever type of opening statement you go for, if you have numbers to show, make them count.
Writing your personal profile resume
Always write the first draft of a personal profile resume without editing. Don’t worry about length or word choice in the first pass. Brag about yourself, be proud of your accomplishments , and add in all of your most impressive stats.
Some of the best writing happens without editing too soon, so don’t worry about sounding over the top or egotistical, that’s what editing your personal profile resume is for. If the goal is to get 3 - 4 perfect sentences, it’s likely your first draft will be closer to 6 - 8, maybe even longer. Then consider which parts are closest to helping you get the job and cull the rest. It might seem brutal, but brevity is critical at the top of your personal profile.
Polish your personal statement and experiment
Once you’ve narrowed your focus, use the following questions to help you review your work and edit your statement:
Is my first sentence clear and concise? The opening line should state your position and use strong, enthusiastic language to hook in the reader. It often includes years of experience as well.
Is it direct opposed to passive? A strong sense of self comes through in a personal statement. Instead of sentences that begin with “I believe I am…” or “I enjoy…” be bold. Get right to the point and take ownership of your skills.
Does it include objective information? For this one, try to get inside the hiring manager’s mind. If you were filling this role, what boxes would you need to check off? The second and third sentence often include specific skills, facts or figures to support this need.
Does it read naturally? Even with all these specifics, the statement should still be easy to understand and have a natural rhythm when read aloud. Cut out any jargon that acts as filler or that changes your tone. Formality may vary from company to company, but personal statements should always reflect the type of employee or person you are.
What are three tips for writing a personal statement?
- Make sure that your personality comes across in the writing.
- Quantify any accomplishments and include financials where possible.
- If you are at a moment of career change, don't fail to mention your goals.
Common mistakes in personal statements
When writing your personal statement, beware of platitudes. These are clichéd expressions that have become meaningless from overuse. They induce recruiters to roll their eyes and move on to the next candidate. Think of such terms as “an administrative jack-of-all-trades” or “a cog in the wheel’ and being ready for a “new challenge.” Definitely avoid this list of human resources’ most hated resume phrases.
Try to be original in your choice of words and ask a friend or family member to take a critical look at your personal statement when you are done. By the way, you should always have someone proofread your entire resume when you think you are ready to send it.
Some people call their personal statements " resume objectives ." This is something else entirely. A resume objective is required when a candidate needs to project their hopes for their next role that differe from their previous experience a little. This objective can then be used to outline the motivations behind a career change and is also common with early-career professionals.
Does a personal statement need a title? Some resume templates might call the opening statement a summary and others may exclude a description entirely. Either option is fine as employers are conditioned to expect a few lines at the to of a resume to serve as a headline for your job application.
What do employers expect from your resume opening statement?
Sometimes it is useful to consider job seeking activity from the point of view of the end hiring managers. External recruiters are important people to impress, but it is the employers that will be making the ultimate hiring decision. They will be reading lots of resumes, so what would they want to read in your resume opening statement?
- They will want the resume opening statement to be written for them. When you are on the hunt for a new member of your professional family, an intensely personal connection is vital from the first lines.
- They will expect a quantifiable context to your resume opening statement. Impressive words come easily when you really need a job, but backing them up with numbers to demonstrate their scale is less simple.
- They will expect to be impressed. If you cannot impress a specific employer for a specific role with the first lines of your resume, then the role is almost certainly not for you. Nothing to shout about? Move on.
Key takeaways
Think of your CV personal statement as the first 2 minutes of an interview—whether on the phone or in person. The HR manager asks you to “tell me a little about yourself,” and you have a quick minute to set the tone for the rest of the conversation. Similarly, the CV personal statement should include:
- A natural, yet professional CV tone that reflects your personality
- The top reasons your experience makes you a unique fit for this position
- Why this role aligns with your career plans
- Facts and data on your CV that back up your earlier points
Crafting a personal statement for each role will cause some serious thought. What is your essential fit for the role that will make a hiring manager sit up and think "wow, I need to have them on my team?" What would you want to read if you were in their shoes. You will definitely have lots to say, but keep it simple and powerful.
One more good CV statement example:
Expert SEO copywriter with a decade of B2C and B2B experience across three industries. Versatile in writing social, website and long-form copy to convey each brand’s unique tone and message. I cultivated 15 new clients in two years and grew readership by over 200%. I am now seeking to expand my editing and content creation expertise in a Marketing Manager position.
Once you’ve mastered writing your CV personal statement, this clear sense of who you are and what you want will prepare you to pitch yourself during interviews.
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Film Personal Statement Examples
Our film personal statement examples, as well as our top rated statements , should inspire you to write your own unique statement, and help you understand how students have successfully applied for film studies in the past.
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What is a film personal statement?
When you apply to university, you need to write a film personal statement to convince the course leaders that you’ll be a great candidate on their course.
A successful film personal statement should include a breakdown of your skills, achievements and ambitions.
When reading a film studies personal statement, university tutors are looking for confident, committed, and enthusiastic students that will bring value to their department.
How do I write a film studies personal statement?
We recommend you start by making a series of detailed notes about your skills, experience, hobbies/extracurricular activities and career plans.
A successful personal statement will highlight all of these, and back them up with examples. Think about what sparked your interest in film - was it a movie you watched during your childhood? or a story you read as a teenager? or were you inspired by a visit to a museum or a family member that works in the film industry? Whatever your motivation, the admissions tutors want to hear about it!
Read through some of our film personal statement example above for inspiration, and take a look at some previous successes in our top rated statements .
What should I include in my film studies personal statement?
- Make sure your passion and enthusiasm shines through. Think about any creative activities you have completed, such as a series of YouTube videos, a writing project, podcast or presentation.
- Try to show your commitment to a film studies course by talking about things you have done that might help you. These include extra classes, getting a part-time job or a relevant hobby that shows hard work and dedication.
- Talk about your work experience and what skills you have learned from it, e.g. did you shadow somone in a TV or film production crew, or take up an internship or trainee scheme somewhere?
- Round off your statement with your ambitions for the future and your gap year plans (if you have any).
For more help and advice on what to write in your film personal statement, please see:
- Personal Statement Editing Services
- Personal Statement Tips From A Teacher
- Analysis Of A Personal Statement
- The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
- Personal Statement FAQs
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- 10 Top Personal Statement Writing Tips
- What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline.
CV personal statement examples
Landing job interviews in requires a strong personal statement at the top of your CV.
Essentially, your CV personal statement is a brief paragraph which appears at the very top of your CV – and it’s aim is to summarise the benefits of hiring you and encourage employers to read your CV in full.
In this guide I have included 14 CV personal statement examples with helpful notes under each one, followed by a detailed guide of how to write your own personal statement that will win you lots of interviews.
CV templates
14 CV personal statement examples
To start this guide, I have included 10 examples of good personal statements, to give you an idea of how a personal statement should look , and what should be included.
Note: personal statements are generally used by junior candidates – if you are experienced, check out our CV profile examples instead.
Graduate CV personal statement (no experience)
Although this graduate has no paid work experience, they compensate for it by showcasing all of the skills and knowledge the have gained during their studies, and demonstrating how they apply their knowledge in academic and personal projects.
Graduate CV personal statement (part time freelance experience)
This candidate has graduated with a degree in biochemistry but actually wants to start a career in digital marketing after providing some digital freelance services to fund their studies.
In this case, they haven’t made much mention of their studies because they aren’t relevant to the digital marketing agencies they are applying to. Instead they have focused their personal statement around their freelance work and passion for the digital field – although they still mention the fact they are degree educated to prove their academic success.
School leaver CV personal statement (no experience)
This candidate is 16 years old and has no work experience whatsoever, but they compensate for this by detailing their academic achievements that relate to the roles they are applying for (maths and literacy are important requirements in finance and accountancy roles).
They also add some info on their extracurricular activities and school work-placements, to strengthen this student CV further.
Top tips for writing a CV personal statement
- Thoroughly research the jobs and companies you are planning to apply for to identify the type of candidate they are looking for – try to reflect that in your personal statement
- Don’t be afraid to brag a little – include some of your most impressive achievements from education, work or personal life
- Focus on describing the benefits an employer will get from hiring you. Will you help them to get more customers? Improve their workplace? Save them time and money?
- If you have no work experience, demonstrate transferable workplace skills from your education, projects, or even hobbies
School leaver CV personal statement (part time experience)
Although this person has only just left school, they have also undertaken some part-time work in a call centre alongside their studies.
To make the most of this experience, they have combined their academic achievements with their workplace exposure in this personal statement.
By highlighting their GCSE results, summer programme involvement, work experience and expressing their ambitions to progress within sales, this candidate really makes an appealing case for hiring them.
College leaver CV personal statement (no experience)
This candidate has left college with good grades, but does not yet have any work experience.
To compensate for the lack of workplace exposure, they have made their A level results prominent and highlighted skills and experience which would benefit the employers they are targeting.
Any recruiter reading this profile can quickly understand that this candidate has great academic achievements, a passion for IT and finance and the ability to transfer their skills into an office environment.
College student CV personal statement (freelance experience)
As this student has picked up a small amount of freelance writing work during their studies, they have made sure to brag about it in their personal statement.
They give details on their relevant A level studies to show the skills they are learning, and boost this further by highlighting the fact that they have been applying these skills in a real-life work setting by providing freelance services.
They also include key action verbs that recruiters will be looking for , such as creative writing, working to deadlines, and producing copy.
Academic CV personal statement
Aside from junior candidates, the only other people who might use a personal statement, are academic professionals; as their CV’s tend to be more longer and detailed than other professions.
This candidate provides a high level overview of their field of study, length of experience, and the roles they have held within universities.
School leaver CV personal statement with and sports experience
Although this person has no work experience, they are still able to show employers the value of hiring them by selling their other achievements and explaining how they could benefit an organisation.
They expand on their sports club involvement to demonstrate their teamwork, leadership skills, communication and motivation, which are all important traits in the workplace, and will be looked upon favourably by recruiters and hiring managers.
They also draw upon their future plans to study business studies and take a part time job, to further prove their ambition and dedication.
History graduate CV personal statement
This history graduate proves their aptitude for both academic achievement and workplace aptitude by showcasing valuable skills from their degree and voluntary work.
They do this by breaking down the key requirements for each and showing how their skills could be beneficial for future employers, such as listening, communication, and crisis management.
They also describe how their ability to balance studies alongside voluntary work has not only boosted their knowledge and skills, but also given excellent time management and organisational skills – which are vital assets to any employer.
Law graduate CV personal statement
This legal graduate makes the most from their work university work placements by using it to bulk out the contents of their CV personal statement.
They include their degree to show they have the necessary qualifications for legal roles, which is crucial, but more importantly, they showcase how they applied their legal skills within a real-life work setting.
They give a brief overview of the types of legal professionals they have been working alongside and the type of work they have been carrying out – this is all it takes to get the attention of recruiters and show employers they have what it takes to fulfil roles in the legal sector.
Medical student CV personal statement
This medical student proves their fit for the role by showcasing the key skills they have gained from their studies and their work experience placements.
In just these few sentences, they are able to highlight the vast amount of experience they have across different disciplines in the industry, something which is particularly important in the medical sector.
As they have not graduated yet and are still studying, they have provided proof of their most recent grades. This can give the recruiter some indication as to the type of grade they could be graduating with in the near future.
Masters student CV personal statement
This masters student has started by specifying their area of study, in this case, accounting, and given details about the specific areas of finance they are most interested in. This can hint towards their career goals and passions.
They have then carefully listed some of the key areas of accounting and finance that they are proficient in. For example, business finance, advanced corporate finance and statistics.
They have also outlined some of the transferable skills needed for accounting roles that employers will be looking out for, such as communication, attention to detail and analytical skills.
Finance student CV personal statement
As this finance student has recently undertaken some relevant work experience, they’ve made sure to shout about this in their personal profile.
But more than this, they have included a list of some of the important finance skills they gained as a result of this work experience – for example, financial reporting, processing invoices and month-end reconciliations.
Plus, through power words and phrases such as ‘prevent loss’ and ‘ improve upon accuracy and efficiency’, they have also showcased how they can apply these skills in a workplace setting to benefit the potential employer.
Internship CV personal statement
This digital marketing professional has started their personal profile by outlining their most relevant qualifications and work experience, most notably their freelance role as a content manager.
They have also provided examples of some of the key marketing skills that potential employers might be looking for, including very detailed examples of the platforms and tools they are proficient in – for example, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.
They have then closed their statement by giving a detailed description of the type of role or opportunity they are looking for. In this case, an in-house position in a marketing company.
How to write a personal statement for your CV
Now that you’ve seen what a personal statement should look like and the type of content it should contain, follow this detailed guide to one for your own CV – and start racking those interviews up.
Guide contents
What is a CV personal statement?
Cv personal statement or cv profile, personal statement format, what to include in a cv personal statement.
- Personal statement mistakes
How to write persuasively
A personal statement is a short paragraph at the top of your CV which gives employers an overview of your education, skills and experience
It’s purpose is to capture the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers when your CV is first opened – encouraging them to read the rest of it.
You achieve this by writing a tailored summary of yourself that explains your suitability for the roles you are applying for at a very high level, and matches your target job descriptions .
One question candidates often ask me is , “what is the difference between a personal statement and a CV profile?”
To be honest, they are almost the same – they are both introductory paragraphs that sit at the top of your CV… but there are 2 main differences
A personal statement tends to be used more by junior candidates (graduates, school leavers etc.) and is relatively long and detailed.
A CV profile tends to be favoured by more experienced candidates , and is shorter in length than a personal statement.
Note: If you are an experienced candidate, you may want to switch over to my CV profile writing guide , or example CV profiles page.
To ensure you grab recruiters’ attention with your personal statement, lay it out in the following way.
Positioning
You need to ensure that your personal statement sits at the very top of your CV, and all of it should be totally visible to readers, without the need to scroll down the page.
Do this by reducing the top page margin and minimising the space taken up by your contact details.
This will ensure that your whole personal statement can be seen, as soon as your CV is opened.
We have a Word CV template which can help you to get this right.
Size/length
Your personal statement needs to contain enough detail to provide an introduction to your skills and knowledge, but not so much detail that it bores readers.
To strike the right balance, anything between 8-15 lines of text is perfect – and sentences should be sharp and to-the-point.
As with the whole of your CV or resume , your personal statement should be written in a simple clean font at around size 10-12 to ensure that it can be read easily by all recruiters and employers.
Keep the text colour simple , ensuring that it contrasts the background (black on white is best) and break it into 2 or even 3 paragraphs for a pleasant reading experience.
It should also be written in a punchy persuasive tone, to help you sell yourself and increase your chances of landing interviews , I cover how to do this in detail further down the guide.
Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our CV builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional CV templates and pre-written content for every industry.
Once you have the style and format of your personal statement perfected, you need to fill it with compelling content that tells recruiters that your CV is worth reading.
Here’s what needs to go into your personal statement…
Before you start writing your personal statement, it’s crucial that you research your target roles to find out exactly what your new potential employers are looking for in a candidate.
Run a search for your target jobs on one of the major job websites , look through plenty of adverts and make a list of the candidate requirements that frequently appear.
This research will show you exactly what to include in your personal statement in order to impress the recruiters who will be reading it.
Education and qualifications are an important aspect of your personal statement, especially if you are a junior candidate.
You should highlight your highest and most relevant qualifications, whether that is a degree, A levels or GCSEs. You could potentially go into some more detail around modules, papers etc. if they are relevant to the roles you are applying for.
It’s important that you discuss the experience you have gained in your personal statement, to give readers an idea of the work you are comfortable undertaking.
This can of course be direct employed work experience, but it doesn’t have to be.
You can also include:
- School/college Uni work placements
- Voluntary work
- Personal projects
- Hobbies/interests
As with all aspects of your CV , the content should be tailored to match the requirements of your target roles.
Whilst discussing your experience, you should touch upon skills used, industries worked in, types of companies worked for, and people you have worked with.
Where possible, try to show the impact your actions have made. E.g . A customer service agent helps to make sales for their employer.
Any industry-specific knowledge you have that will be useful to your new potential employers should be made prominent within your personal statement.
For example
- Knowledge of financial regulations will be important for accountancy roles
- Knowledge of IT operating systems will be important for IT roles
- Knowledge of the national curriculum will be important for teachers
You should also include some information about the types of roles you are applying for, and why you are doing so. Try to show your interest and passion for the field you are hoping to enter, because employers want to hire people who have genuine motivation and drive in their work.
This is especially true if you don’t have much work experience, as you need something else to compensate for it.
CV personal statement mistakes
The things that you omit from your personal statement can be just as important as the things you include.
Try to keep the following out of your personal statement..
Irrelevant info
Any information that doesn’t fall into the requirements of your target roles can be cut out of your personal statement. For example, if you were a professional athlete 6 years ago, that’s great – but it won’t be relevant if you’re applying to advertising internships, so leave it out.
Generic clichés
If you are describing yourself as a “ dynamic team player with high levels of motivation and enthusiasm” you aren’t doing yourself any favours.
These cliché terms are vastly overused and don’t provide readers with any factual details about you – so keep them to a minimum.
Stick to solid facts like education, skills , experience, achievements and knowledge.
If you really want to ensure that your personal statement makes a big impact, you need to write in a persuasive manner.
So, how do you so this?
Well, you need to brag a little – but not too much
It’s about selling yourself and appearing confident, without overstepping the mark and appearing arrogant.
For example, instead of writing.
“Marketing graduate with an interest in entering the digital field”
Be creative and excite the reader by livening the sentence up like this,
“Marketing graduate with highest exam results in class and a passion for embarking on a long and successful career within digital”
The second sentence is a much more interesting, makes the candidate appear more confident, throws in some achievements, and shows off a wider range of writing skills.
Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our CV builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.
Your own personal statement will be totally unique to yourself, but by using the above guidelines you will be able to create one which shows recruiters everything they need.
Remember to keep the length between 10-20 lines and only include the most relevant information for your target roles.
You can also check our school leaver CV example , our best CV templates , or our library of example CVs from all industries.
Good luck with the job hunt!
How to write a personal statement for a job
All the tips you need to write a CV personal statement that makes you stand out from the crowd.
Contains 16 personal statement examples.
What is a personal statement?
A personal statement, also known as a personal profile, summarises what you can offer an employer in relation to the job you’re applying for.
“It needs to convince your audience that you’re a good fit for the role in hand” says McGuire, Founder of Giraffe CVs.
Senior HR Business Partner at Amazon , Lucy Ventrice agrees “It’s your opportunity to sell yourself and highlight what sets you apart from others”.
The personal statement shouldn’t be confused with a supporting statement, which is similar to a cover letter.
The functional, chronological or hybrid styles of CV all require a personal statement.
Writing a personal statement can be challenging.
You have to condense your experience and skills into a few sentences.
The advice in this guide will help you produce a first class personal statement on your CV.
Writing a personal statement
Recruiters and employers like personal statements as they can easily see if you are a match in skills, experience and attitude to their job.
With over 100 applications for some vacancies this is a brilliant time saver. Recruiter will only read the rest of your CV if you’re personal statement signals you’ll add value.
You need to be able to sell yourself succinctly in your personal statement to stand out from the crowd.
Sharon Xenophontos, Senior HR Manager at Macfarlanes LLP sees it as “an opportunity to summarise your unique selling points and allow employers to quickly read ‘between the lines’ of your CV.”
Lucy Ventrice, Senior HR Business Partner at Amazon agrees “in a very competitive market you must focus on what experience, skills or attributes you have that would benefit a future employer?”
How long should a personal statement be?
Sharon Xenophonotos, Senior HR Manager at Macfarlanes LLP recommends you “use proper sentences, a short paragraph of two to three sentences should be sufficient”.
Sally Whiteside, Head of HR for Tesco Online agrees “It should be short and sharp, representing your tone of voice to set you apart”.
Remember, the personal statement is a summary. You can expand on your successes elsewhere in your CV.
How to structure a personal statement
A personal statement should answer the question “why are you the best person for the job?” says Lucy Ventrice Senior HR Business Partner at Amazon.
She suggests “Start with a mind map. Put yourself in the middle and [write down] your experience, skills and attributes. Do the same with the future employer in the middle, what are they looking for in the job advert? Then compare the two and build from there.”
McGuire, a Professional CV Writer adds “while it may seem logical that your personal statement should be all about you, to be effective, it should be about your target employer and how you can meet their needs”.
Break this down into:
- Number of years of experience in the field.
- What specialist or transferable skills can you offer?
- What areas of expertise do you have?
- What relevant industries have you worked in?
- What personal qualities relevant to the role can you offer?
- Do you have any relevant qualifications or interests?
- The answers to these questions will determine the structure of your personal statement.
Sally Whiteside, Head of HR for Tesco Online agrees “The statement should be structured around your history of achievements, linking them all together to tell a compelling story of what it would be like to work with you and what value you will add to the company.”
How to start a personal statement
While introducing yourself in a career summary format, your opening sentence needs to “hook your reader, compelling them to read the next sentence, and the next” says McGuire, Founder of Giraffe CVs.
The opening sentence of your personal statement should include:
- Your job title.
- Number of years’ experience.
- A particular expertise you have.
- Active positive words or verbs.
Example personal statement opening
Innovative Project Manager (Prince II Practitioner and Certified Scrum Master) with over 5 years’ experience managing complex IT projects for a FTSE 100 company operating across the UK, Europe, India and South Africa.
How to end a personal statement
There are two ways to end your personal statement.
Senior HR Manager at Macfarlanes LLP, Sharon Xenophontos, finds it helpful if candidates let employers know what they are looking for. “It’s all part of the matching process” she says.
If you’re at a relatively early stage in your career state your career goal. Remember, your stated must relate to the role you’re applying for.
Example personal statement ending – entry level
My career goal is to gain responsibility for leading on a project and managing delivery successfully, actively contributing to achieving the business goals.
If you’re a bit further along in your career, state more specific goals and why you’d like to work for the employer.
Example personal statement ending –career developer
Hoping to join an innovative and dynamic company, and develop my social media and marketing skills further.
What should I include in my personal statement?
Here we’ve listed what to include in your personal statement, and what not to include.
Include in the personal statement
- Very little! Be concise. 150 words maximum. “Lengthy blocks of text are a turn off when you have a huge stack of CVs to get through” adds McGuire.
- Skills that are specific to the job. A good example would be ‘skilled in taking client briefs and presenting findings to stakeholders’. Avoid generic statements such as ‘possess good communication skills’.
- Skills that make you stand out from all the other applicants. Think about the unique value you can bring to the employer.
- Evidence of how your skills, competencies and experiences match the requirements set out in the job description/advert. “Think of examples that help to bring what you’re saying to life” adds Ventrice.
- Language, lingo and vocabulary comparable to that used by the employer in the job description, their website, their social media channels. Doing this will go a long way to showing that you’re a good fit for the organisation.
- The basics of good writing; “keep it simple, no jargon, correct grammar, avoid duplication.” says Ventrice.
- Your passions, as long as they’re relevant. For example, if you’re passionate about the environment and are applying for a job in a sustainability organisation it can help you stand out.
- “Your immediate career objective” says Xenophontos. It helps the employer understand why you’re applying.
Don’t include in the personal statement
- Uninteresting and uninspiring phrases. “Using clichés that could describe anyone in any role at any level is a big turn off” says McGuire.
- Generic statements that you use for every job you apply for. Employers won’t be impressed if you don’t take the time to tailor your personal statement to their job.
- Exaggerations or embellishments. Once you get to interview any untruths will be discovered.
- “Lists of unsubstantiated adjectives and “buzzwords” says Xenophontos. She recommends you “concentrate on what genuinely differentiates you from other candidates”.
- Negative language. Your personal statement needs to be a buoyant and positive introduction to you.
- Personal information. There’s no requirement to let an employer know your marital status or how many dependants you have.
- Disjointed statements. “You can’t rely on the fact the reader will join the dots between what you can offer and the results you can deliver for them; spell it out” recommends McGuire.
Personal statement examples
Since every personal statement is about one particular individual’s suitability for working for one particular employer, every personal statement should, in theory, be unique.
But we know getting started on a personal statement can be tough.
To help, we’ve curated some practical personal statement examples for you to base your personal statement on.
Half are for people in specific career stages / circumstances. Half are industry-specific. Use the links to jump to the one that suits you best.
Career stage / circumstance personal statements
Your current career stage or circumstance will have a major impact on both your employability, and how to present your employability in your CV.
We hope you can build upon the following sample personal statements to give your best representation of yourself in your next job application.
Unemployed personal statement
School leaver personal statement, graduate personal statement, career change personal statement, career break personal statement.
Industry-specific personal statements
Your skills, competencies and goals will be shaped hugely by the industry you work in. Accordingly, so will your personal statement.
We hope you’ll be able to find inspiration from one or more of the following sample personal statements as you write your own.
Nursing personal statement
Midwifery personal statement, teaching personal statement, teaching assistant personal statement, accounting personal statement, marketing personal statement, civil engineering personal statement, customer service personal statement, economics personal statement.
It’s important to carefully manage your unemployed status in your job application.
Our first piece of advice is to play down the fact you’re unemployed. Or, in other words, don’t write anything to highlight it.
Focus on the skills and experience you’re bringing to the role and the difference you can make.
Employers may wonder how up to date you are. You can address this head on in your personal statement by highlighting volunteering, attending training courses or reading trade journals or blogs to stay aware of industry trends.
Don’t worry too much about the gap on your CV. These days, employers are more understanding. After all, there are countless reasons why people become unemployed, for example redundancy or caring for dependants.
Unemployed: Sample CV template and guide
Unemployed personal statement example
Successful Sales Manager with over eight years’ experience in the Telecoms industry. Proven track record of success, including leading the top performing team in the region, and developing a sales training programme for all new staff. Now looking for the right opportunity to bring my skills to a dynamic IT software company in a management position.
School leavers worry they don’t have anything to put in a personal statement.
Jon Gregory, Editor of Win that Job.com , who advises parents and teenagers to find work, has this advice:
“Employers are usually not recruiting school leavers for knowledge or experience. They want to understand why you’re interested in a particular job. If you ‘care about the environment’ or perhaps ‘love working with animals’, it’s that relevant individuality that counts.”
Gregory adds “Talk less about what you want and more about what you can give in the future. Show you are positive, proactive, determined and in it for the long haul”.
Think widely about how your hobbies or interests could be relevant. Gregory recommends that “if you have employability skills developed from other work, projects or interests, use them to demonstrate your potential.”
First job: Sample CV and guide
School leaver personal statement example
Motivated and enthusiastic student with a passion for design technology, especially woodwork. I am interested in completing a construction apprenticeship in joinery, as I have always enjoyed making things. I am good at maths and confident when taking measurements and I recently won a school award for my chair design.
When writing your first CV after graduating, Sue Moseley, Senior Career Advisor for London University recommends that you “think of your personal statement as the headline to your CV. A good headline grabs attention because it connects with something the reader cares about. So start with what the employer cares about and work from there”.
“Change your statement for each application even if it’s just a linguistic tweak to match the employer’s voice. If the job ad asks for ‘excellent customer experience’, using those terms in your statement will increase impact” she adds.
“The vital key to impact is evidence” she goes on to say “When an employer reads your statement, how do they know it’s true? Use examples and numbers, based on things you’ve done”.
Graduate: Sample CV template and guide
Graduate personal statement example
Customer experience: As a student ambassador I welcomed a group of 30 sixth formers and their families onto campus and received positive feedback about the clear and helpful way I handled questions.
Lis McGuire, Founder of Giraffe CVs says “show how your transferrable skills can be applied to your target career and convey energy, enthusiasm, and commitment ”. She adds “don’t fall into the trap of over-explaining yourself and the reasons for your transition”.
If you’re changing careers to move into HR, for example, highlight the relevant parts of your previous career such as people management, recruitment or inductions, training, and exclude the other less relevant areas of your roles.
Career change: Sample CV template and guide
Career change personal statement example
Experienced manager with 5 years’ experience in recruiting, inducting and training staff. Recently delivered change management and restructuring programme for two departments, sensitively managing redundancies and redeployments. Passionate about employee engagement and enabling staff to contribute fully to achieve business aims. Now looking for challenging HR role in the retail sector.
“When your CV lands on a hiring manager, or recruiter’s desk, the first questions they’ll have are, ‘Why did this person take a career break?’ and, ‘can they do this job?’” says Fay Wallis, founder of Bright Sky Career Coaching . “Your personal statement is the best place to answer these questions and explain away any concerns” says Wallis.
She warns “don’t make your career break the focus of your CV though. Instead, make your experience and relevance for the role leap out at the person reading it”.
“Follow this with a brief reason for your career break. And end the personal statement with another reason that you are right for the role” Wallis adds.
Returning to work: Sample CV template and guide
Career break personal statement example
An experienced Communications Officer, with proven media relations, copywriting and proofreading skills within the voluntary sector. Looking to return to a communications role, following a career break to travel the world to experience other cultures. Recently qualified in social media management with a strong interest in working for a sustainability organisation.
Julie Watkins, Careers Advisor at The Royal College of Nursing suggests that “your personal statement should include the kind of sector you have worked in, any relevant clinical fields and what you’re passionate about.” She goes on to say “this could include empowering patients to take ownership of their health and wellbeing or an interest in health promotion.”
Watkins adds “in the current fast paced environment of the NHS you must emphasise your resilience and flexibility.”
She also highlights “the need for a tailored personal statement, as it’s the one thing that will really make your CV to stand out in the health sector.”
Nursing personal statement example
Caring and efficient Nurse committed to safeguarding the medical needs and wellbeing of my patients and their families. Particularly skilled at building rapport with anxious patients and focused on providing a high standard of care that lead to improved patient recovery. Experienced in a number of specialist and complex fields including geriatrics, cardiac and maxillofacial. Excellent observational and record keeping skills to ensure continuity of care and team support. Looking to now develop experience in other clinical areas within a high performing Trust.
Lynne Pacanowski, Director of Midwifery at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital suggests “identifying what you have learnt from working in different areas such as antenatal, community, labour ward, or from services such as midwife led or tertiary units, and use this in your personal statement.”
Include skills that will interest the Trust, for example, advising expectant mothers on diet, exercise and medications during pregnancy.
Pacaonwski recommends you “demonstrate that you understand the population of the area the Trust serves.”
She goes on to say “you can also highlight challenging situations you have been involved with, for example, difficult births, identifying when cesareans are needed, or supporting mothers with challenging home situations.”
Midwifery personal statement example
Professional, approachable and efficient Midwife committed to providing the best quality care and support for mothers and families throughout their pregnancies. Four years’ experience and a first honours midwifery degree from University of Liverpool. Extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of pregnancy including ante and postnatal nutrition, and supporting both low and high risk women in a hospital setting. Have experience in both medical and community midwifery, particularly with women from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Recently trained in aromatherapy to support women mentally and physically during labour. Looking for a new position within a progressive Trust with a Birthing Centre.
Jo Postlethwaite, Head Teacher of Somervale School , recommends that you get to know your target audience and says “Read everything you can about the setting. Read their vision statement. What can you say about yourself that shows you support this ethos?”
Secondly she recommends that you “Talk like a member of staff – spend a bit of time looking at the sort of language the establishment uses. Do they talk about pupils, students or children? Do they talk about ambition or aspiration? Ensure you use their words back to them.”
Additionally, it’s important to describe your teaching philosophy and enthusiasm for your subject.
Teaching personal statement example
Passionate Science Teacher striving to make a real difference to young people’s lives through engaging lessons matched to individual learning needs. Excellent behavioural management skills gained through vast experience of working in diverse academic settings. Experienced in developing lessons for a wide range of students. Now looking for a teaching role that offers more responsibility and management experience within a challenging and proactive school.
Jo Postlethwaite, Head Teacher of Somervale School , feels that “simple is best. Don’t over complicate what you write. This is your opportunity to summarise your good points. So, be succinct, but don’t forget to highlight how you work closely with teachers and parents as well as pupils.”
Postlethwaite often has 50+ applications to read through so she wants to see candidates “showing their ‘unique selling points (USP). But don’t be tempted to go for a ‘wacky’ colour or design as this can be off-putting.”
Finally, Postlethwaite recommends you “check your spelling and grammar, not just for your personal statement but your whole application. Errors in applications for teaching or support roles would end up on the ‘no’ pile.”
Teaching assistant personal statement example
A highly motivated Teaching Assistant with four years experience and a caring and supportive attitude. Through my recent studies in Early Childhood, I am up to date with developments in Early Years Care and Education, and have recent experience in Reception and Y1 classes. I have supported children with special needs and helped with behaviour management in the playground. Happy to support teachers with developing learning materials and displaying work, and am also comfortable communicating with parents and carers. Now looking to broaden my experience with Y2 and 3 children.
Ex-Accountant turned Career Coach Diana Norris of Career Balance suggests that “you should think of your CV as the first report you will write for your new employer, and your personal statement as the executive summary. Your statement should show you can write succinctly and ensure your reader grasps the essentials of your argument.”
Norris goes on to add “anything you think an employer really needs to notice should be in your profile. If you’re fluent in another European language, and the organisation you’re applying to does business in the EU, don’t leave that information languishing at the bottom of the second page of your document.”
She also recommends that you “avoid over used phrases like “good team player”. She calls it ‘CV ‘blah blah blah’ language. Employers tend not to see it when they read a CV – their eyes slide over it.”
Accounting personal statement example
Experienced and qualified Accountant with a sound understanding of financial controls and processes. A strong commercial awareness combined with the ability to analyse and produce high quality management reports to tight deadlines. Specific experience of developing cost saving practices, budget management and forecasting within the retail and utilities sectors. Now looking to broaden experience specifically in an IT firm.
Kate Kassis, Marketing Manager for Harrods has the following advice for would-be marketing executives: “Keep it concise and avoid unnecessary use of adjectives. Simple yet effective language skills are key to any marketing role.”
Kassis goes on to say: “Be honest. Don’t over-sell but, where possible, look to include a commercial angle. Creativity is key in Marketing but the ability to think strategically is even more important”.
When she’s recruiting, Kassis looks for something that tells her the applicant has the ability to ‘run with it’. This means working to deadlines, managing and presenting to stakeholders, delivering results and critically analysing.
Marketing personal statement example
Intuitive Marketing Executive skilled at increasing sales through diligent research and efficient resource allocation. Especially adept at managing complex projects while also developing key stakeholder relationships. Able to maximise profits whilst working within a tight marketing budget. Enjoy identifying client needs and delivering practical short and long term solutions. Now looking or a new role to develop my digital marketing skills.
“A good personal statement should focus on three key themes – your postgraduate experience, including details of chartership; the range of technical skills you have developed; and how you apply these to consultancy” says Rob Delahunty, Associate Director at Webb Yates Engineers .
“You’ll really stand out to an employer”, says Delahunty, “if you can show how these themes transfer to the workplace. Highlight your ability to work within a design team with architects, contractors and other specialists; show how your specialist IT knowledge or skill for analysis was applied to project challenges; and demonstrate your experience in assessing the environmental or safety impact of a project.”
Delahunty recommends: “Include any licences, industry accreditation, security clearances and certification you have, as they establish you as a recognised professional in the industry.”
Civil engineering personal statement example
An ambitious and highly motivated Civil Engineer with strong practical and technical skills, consistently finishes commercial and residential projects under budget and on schedule. Sound knowledge of designing, testing and evaluating overall effectiveness, cost, reliability, and safety of a design. Advocates for environmentally-conscious design and cost-effective public infrastructure solutions. Currently seeking a challenging professional position within a cutting edge engineering practice.
“Convey your enthusiasm for the role as employers are looking for staff who will represent them and their brand in a positive way. Highlight if you won any awards or suggested a change that benefited customers in some way” suggests Amanda Reuben, Experienced Fashion & Retail Brands Recruiter and Founder of Bijou Recruitment .
Reuben wants to see a number of personal qualities displayed in a Customer Service personal statement. She says, “you want your candidate to be friendly, warm and engaging whilst also remaining calm under pressure.” She also recommends that you show how you have managed customer expectations or dealt with difficult situations.
Think what you associate with the brand or company – are they fast paced and focused on efficient service, or do they like you to take time with customers. Show you understand and can support their approach.
Customer service personal statement example
A well-presented, patient and friendly Customer Service Advisor with a proven track record of building relationships by providing information on additional products and services and helping customers find the right ones to meet their needs. A genuine ‘can-do’ attitude demonstrated through a number of staff awards, and an excellent telephone manner combines to contribute to the growth of any business. Trained in effectively resolving customer complaints and now looking for a suitable position to take on more responsibility and expand retail experience.
For your personal statement to stand out, Dr Chris Sherrington, Head of Environmental Policy and Economics for Eunomia , an independent consultancy recommends you “show creativity in the way you’ve approached problems. This is important as there can be subject areas within specialist fields where outcomes can’t easily be quantified.”
He goes on to say “also show how you’ve offered relevant advice based on sound economic principles, and where you’ve successfully made the best use of the data that’s available.” This could be in a report you’ve produced or some analysis you’ve delivered.
Economics personal statement example
Proactive Economist with 5 years’ experience in both public and private sector, and specific expertise in healthcare trends. Extremely skilled in market trend analysis, financial modelling and business planning, having delivered a comprehensive management report on a proposed outsourcing opportunity. Enjoy developing productive industry and internal relationships to increase understanding of business needs and economic impact. Now looking for a role to further develop my strategic planning skills within the environmental sector.
Personal statement do’s and don’ts
- Do sell yourself and highlight what sets you apart from other candidates.
- Do make it relevant. Tailor it to the job you are applying for.
- Do be succinct. Max 150 words or 2-3 sentences.
- Do use a career summary format showing what you have to offer.
- Do make it engaging. It needs to be interesting to read.
- Do be specific. Avoid generic phrases that everyone uses.
- Do show some passion, as long as it’s relevant.
- Do make it about the employer. Show how you can do their job.
- Do include number of years experience, specialist skills and expertise, relevant industries and personal qualities.
- Do have a strong opening sentence to ‘hook’ the employer to read on.
- Do end your statement by letting the employer know what you are looking for.
- Do show you’re a good fit. Pay attention to the language used by the employer.
- Don’t make spelling or grammar errors.
- Don’t be negative about yourself or a previous employer.
- Don’t exaggerate or embellish what you can do. Be honest.
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