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A personal statement is a professional piece of writing all about you. Your strengths, experiences and what you can bring to the table. Also known as a personal profile or career objective, is a brief paragraph or section of your CV (curriculum vitae) that highlights your key skills, experiences, and career goals.
It serves as an introduction to your CV, providing a concise summary of who you are as a professional and what you can bring to a potential employer. Usually placed at the beginning of a CV, it is often the first thing a recruiter will read about you. Therefore, your personal statement should grab your readers attention and convince them that your application is worth investing in.
The Do's and Don'ts in your personal statement
To ensure you are sufficiently prepared for this essential part of CV writing, take a look at our do's and don'ts for personal statements.
1. Do keep it concise
In a CV, personal statements are usually space-limited, not more than a couple of short paragraphs (around 200 words). Therefore, it is important to keep them concise, easy to understand and informative.
Most students first write a personal statement when applying to universities. Although a personal statement in a university application is generally longer than those found within a CV, only a specific number of characters is allowed. Keep an eye on your word count to ensure you don't exceed the required limit.
Don't worry if you write too much. Read through the statement carefully, shorten and rearrange longer sentences or remove anything you feel is not so important.
2. Do choose your words carefully
When writing a personal statement, try to use powerful words with a big impact. For example, talk about how you 'successfully completed', how you 'delivered results' or what you 'experienced'.
Use this opportunity to talk about what you have achieved and what you have learnt from this, as opposed to listing what you have done. This way, the recruiter can gain better insight into your skills and what you can bring to the company.
3. Do avoid clichés
To make the statement personal to you, avoid clichés. A recruiter probably sees hundreds of CVs from candidates that are 'great team players'. Instead of just stating this, give an example of where you practised this skill!
4. Do use the job description
The great thing about paying particular attention to a job description is it will usually tell you exactly what the hiring manager wants to see from a candidate. To ensure you will be ticking all the correct boxes, refer to the skills and experiences mentioned here. Include them in some way, shape or form in your CV and don't forget to include some in your personal statement.
5. Don't forget to use spellcheck
A personal statement should read well and be free from any grammatical errors. Make sure to stick to one font size, and one font type and include commas and full stops as required.
It's easy to confuse tenses when referring to past experiences and linking them to your present self. However, to ensure a smooth read, double-check using one tense only.
6. Don't include irrelevant information
It is difficult enough to include all the essential information without all the added extras. Try and refrain from using irrelevant facts that don't support the job role, quotes from people other than yourself (the recruiter wants to read all about you, not Gandhi) and even jokes. Not only does this distract the recruiter, it also wastes precious space.
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Avoid including lists that can already be found in your CV elsewhere. For example, your qualifications can be found under another heading in your CV, so unless you want to draw on some skills you learnt whilst studying, there is no need for you to list them again in your personal statement.
7. Don't lie
It is never okay to lie or exaggerate content for your personal statement.
Plagiarism also exists in this category. Software is used by UCAS and other organisations to detect such copying and even worse, they will inform the universities or a recruiter of such behaviour.
Stick to facts or statements that you can back up with proof. Do not claim to have done anything you have not, as this may catch you out in the future!
If you don't have any work experience, don't say that you do. Here's how to write a CV without it.
8. Don't be negative
Be specific about the things you can do and provide the proof. There is no need to include any negative information here, as you are trying to sell yourself!
A small guide to writing a personal statement
- Keep it concise: Your personal statement should be brief and to the point, typically 2-3 sentences or a short paragraph. It should quickly grab the reader's attention and provide an overview of your professional background.
- Tailor it to the job: Customize your personal statement for each job application to highlight the skills and experiences most relevant to the position you're applying for. This shows employers that you've taken the time to understand their requirements and that you're a strong fit for the role.
- Showcase your strengths: Focus on your critical skills, accomplishments, and attributes that make you stand out as a candidate. Highlight your unique selling points and what sets you apart from other applicants. Be specific and provide examples to back up your claims.
- Include career goals: Briefly mention your goals and how they align with the position and the company you're applying to. This demonstrates your ambition, motivation, and commitment to professional growth.
- Use strong language: Use action verbs and positive language to convey confidence and enthusiasm. Instead of saying "I am proficient in X," say "I have a strong command of X." This creates a more impactful impression.
- Be honest and authentic: Your personal statement should reflect your true self and accurately represent your skills and experiences. Avoid exaggerations or making claims you can't support. Employers appreciate authenticity and honesty.
- Keep it professional: Remember that your personal statement is a professional introduction. Focus on your career-related qualities, experiences, and goals. Avoid personal details, unrelated hobbies, or irrelevant information.
Focus on the things you can do well that show you in the best light.
We have put together CV templates for you to use.
Top tip: Once you have completed your statement, don't forget to read it out loud. This is how it will sound to the recruiter; you may also hear mistakes you might not have seen before.
Post by Maryam Tashfeen.
Maryam Tashfeen was raised in North East England and is a fourth-year medical student at Medical University Pleven and a former student at the University of Bradford. She has previously held work-experience roles in several countries, including England, Bulgaria and Jordan. She works in the retail sector alongside her studies and volunteers for many great charities. Through her personal journey as a student and her experience in the working world, she can provide you with great insight into all things relating to student life, jobs and careers.
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