CV Tips - Personal Statement

Personal statements function as the introduction to your CV and include a brief overview of your professional profile and career objectives. Personal statements are designed to grab the recruiter’s attention and keep them reading further.

Top tips:

• Tailor your personal statement to every job you apply to.
• Personal statements should be punchy and attention-grabbing. Keep your personal statement between 50 and 150 words. Short, sweet and to the point.

There is no specific layout to a personal statement, everyone is unique and ‘personal’. It’s up to you how to structure it but there are things you should include.

Things to include in your Personal Statement:

• A Personal Profile – Introduce yourself, letting the employer know a little bit about you. Present yourself using keywords.

• Your Motivations – Tell the employer about your aspirations and motivations. What drives you to succeed?

• Skills and Experiences - Elaborate on your past experiences. Include skills and qualifications that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

• Your Career Goals – Detail what do you want to gain from this job and what your career goals and future expectations are.

Keywords:

Make your personal statement stand out by using solid keywords. Keywords are a great way to express yourself positively and confidently.

Examples:

• Confident
• Flexible
• Adaptable
• Hardworking
• Reliable
• Dedicated
• Dynamic
• Enthusiastic
• Resourceful
• People-oriented
• Loyal
• Driven
• Motivated

What tense should your personal statement be written in?

Your personal statement can be written in any person or tense – as long as you maintain consistency throughout.