personal statement for fresh graduate cv

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 2024 [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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• Knowledge Base
• Applying to graduate school
• How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

• Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
• Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
• Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

• A personal experience that changed your perspective
• A story from your family’s history
• A memorable teacher or learning experience
• An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

• Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
• Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
• How does it fit into the rest of your life?
• What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

• Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
• Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

• What first sparked your interest in the field?
• Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
• Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

• Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
• Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

• Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
• Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
• Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

• If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
• If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
• If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

• Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
• Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

• Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
• Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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Writing a personal statement for your CV

CV personal statements are like the sales pitch of your CV, but not everyone thinks they're useful. Discover if they're really necessary, how to write a CV personal profile and templates for inspiration

What is a CV personal statement?

A CV personal statement is a concise paragraph or summary, which details what you can bring to a job or company. It's also known as an opening statement, personal profile, personal summary or executive summary.

Sitting at the top of your CV, it's your opportunity to sell yourself to employers and to highlight the relevant skills and experience you possess.

While effectively and succinctly convincing recruiters that you're a good fit for the role, a personal statement gives you the chance to show off your strengths and share your career goals.

'The focus of your CV statement should be to target your offer to employers - why should they hire you and how are you different to other graduates? Therefore, making your personal statement as unique as possible is crucial to ensure you stand out from the crowd,' explains Alex Proctor, careers consultant at the University of Bradford.

Do I need a personal summary on my CV?

Traditionally, almost all CV types include a personal statement but there is some debate about whether you actually need to include one.

Some recruiters and careers advisers believe that personal profiles are one of the most important parts of a CV, as they provide an easily accessible overview of a candidate's ability, while others feel that personal statements are a waste of valuable space and time.

The latter belief is often the case with graduate CVs, as some employers feel that those just stepping onto the career ladder don't necessarily have enough knowledge or experience to warrant a personal statement. Because of this, a graduate's personal profile runs the risk of being bland and generic and stating things that should be a given, such as, 'I'm hardworking and organised,' which is why some recruiters believe that they are best suited to more senior CVs.

So while your CV doesn't need a personal statement, employers spend only seconds looking at application documents. With this in mind, a CV personal statement gives you an invaluable opportunity to make your application stand out as quickly as possible.

Alex believes 'that a CV personal statement is a good idea, because employers often have so many CVs to read through and the personal statement, if clear and concise, can elevate your chances of getting through to the next stage of the recruitment process.'

If you'd like to include a personal statement on your CV it might be best, as a graduate, to focus on your educational background and the career path you'd like to embrace. If you have relevant experiences use these to make your personal statement unique. 'If you haven’t got much work experience, focus on what experience you can extract from your degree,' advises Alex. 'If you have taken part in various projects demonstrate what your role was. Alternatively, if you have written a dissertation, showcase your topic and what skills you have developed from this experience. Employers will value your individuality even if you haven't had masses of practical work experience.'

If you're struggling to give it context and get it right, make an appointment with your university's careers or employability service and ask an adviser to help you hone your writing. 

What should I include in my CV personal profile?

In terms of length, a CV personal profile should be no longer than 150 words. 'It should be short, impactful and aligned effectively with the CV content,' explains David Ainscough, careers consultant team lead and deputy director at the University of Cambridge.

'A personal CV profile should include details of your educational background, evidence of work experience, as well as your career aspirations. You ideally need to ensure you are telling the reader what you can offer skill-wise and don't be afraid to also share any accomplishments,' adds Alex.  

If you're struggling with what to write, break your personal statement down into three parts. Focus on:

• who you are
• what you can offer
• your career aims.

Start by introducing yourself. For example, 'A recent graduate with a 2:1 in English literature from the Hillview University' or a 'Highly-skilled physiotherapist with five years’ experience…'

Next, detail what you can offer the company. Ask yourself why you're suited to the role and cover any relevant skills or experience. If you lack practical work experience instead draw attention to your academic achievements, such as contributing to university publications, which developed written communication, attention to detail and teamworking skills. Or how you applied skills learned on your physical therapy degree during your time as a physio assistant for university sport teams.

Conclude your personal statement by highlighting your career goals. For example, 'I am looking to start my career in the exciting world of publishing and to develop the skills learned through my university studies and internships.'

It's up to you how you present this information; there is no hard and fast rule. However, personal statements are generally displayed as a single paragraph, without a title or subheading. You'll need to keep it consistent with the rest of your CV formatting, meaning that the font size and type will need to be the same throughout your document.

Also, consider the voice and tense you'd like to use. Personal statements can be written in either the first or third person, but you'll need to maintain this voice throughout - don't switch between the two.

Take a look at  how to write a CV .

How do I make my CV personal statement stand out to employers?

• 'Remember that first impressions count so make sure you're giving the recruiter a comfortable reading experience. Layout and clarity are crucial,' says David.
• Tailor your CV personal statement (and CV in general) to each application.
• Be honest. Untruths are easy to uncover and lying on your CV is a criminal offence.
• Provide evidence of skills and experience but remember to keep it brief. For example, 'experienced event manager, who led a team to organise a charity ball for 150 people, raising £5,000 - a 20% increase on previous years.'
• Use the job description to help form your CV personal profile.
• Stick to the word limit.
• Check for spelling and grammar mistakes. The personal summary sits at the top of your CV so any errors will be immediately apparent.
• 'Keep it fresh. It needs to be reviewed in each application you make so consider something new to say each time,' adds David.
• Read it aloud once you've finished writing to make sure it flows.
• Copy and paste from your  cover letter or from online CV personal statement examples. Your personal summary needs to be unique and personal to you.
• Include unnecessary personal information such as your age, marital status etc.
• Use clichés, slang or jargon.
• Use bland, empty statements like 'I work well independently and as part of a team'. This tells employers absolutely nothing about what you’re capable of.
• Overuse buzzwords.
• Include quotes from previous employers.
• Ramble. Recruiters don't have time to read through waffle, so get to the point.

Think about the connotations of the words you use - 'currently studying' implies things might change, 'trying' implies failure, 'might' or 'maybe' sounds like you're not sure. The words you use have power so choose them carefully. You want to sound confident, positive and enthusiastic.

Find out more about the  top 7 CV mistakes .

CV personal statement examples

To help you get started take a look at the following CV personal profile examples.

As a recent graduate from the University of Townville, with a 2:1 honours degree in marketing, I have undertaken internships at industry-leading agencies such as Beyond Imagination and Noah Freemans. These placements have allowed me to develop sector knowledge and gain hands on experience, as well as expand transferable skills such as commercial awareness, communication and negotiation and analytical skills. My career aim is to gain a role which allows me to further my expertise and take on increased responsibility at a market-leading digital marketing agency.

I am a highly motivated 2:1 forensic science graduate from Groveshire University, looking to secure a graduate position that enables me to use and develop my analytical, attention to detail and communication skills. I have gained relevant experience in both scientific and hospital laboratories, which allowed me to build on my problem solving, concentration and team working skills. My career goal is to assume a role that enables me to analyse and interpret forensic data and to eventually move into crime scene investigation.

Remember; avoid copying and pasting ready-made examples. Instead use them as a guide to craft your own, tailored CV personal statement. Take a look at our  example CVs .

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Gre prep online guides and tips, 3 successful graduate school personal statement examples.

Looking for grad school personal statement examples? Look no further! In this total guide to graduate school personal statement examples, we’ll discuss why you need a personal statement for grad school and what makes a good one. Then we’ll provide three graduate school personal statement samples from our grad school experts. After that, we’ll do a deep dive on one of our personal statement for graduate school examples. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a list of other grad school personal statements you can find online.

Why Do You Need a Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a chance for admissions committees to get to know you: your goals and passions, what you’ll bring to the program, and what you’re hoping to get out of the program.  You need to sell the admissions committee on what makes you a worthwhile applicant. The personal statement is a good chance to highlight significant things about you that don’t appear elsewhere on your application.

A personal statement is slightly different from a statement of purpose (also known as a letter of intent). A statement of purpose/letter of intent tends to be more tightly focused on your academic or professional credentials and your future research and/or professional interests.

While a personal statement also addresses your academic experiences and goals, you have more leeway to be a little more, well, personal. In a personal statement, it’s often appropriate to include information on significant life experiences or challenges that aren’t necessarily directly relevant to your field of interest.

Some programs ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose/letter of intent. In this case, the personal statement is likely to be much more tightly focused on your life experience and personality assets while the statement of purpose will focus in much more on your academic/research experiences and goals.

However, there’s not always a hard-and-fast demarcation between a personal statement and a statement of purpose. The two statement types should address a lot of the same themes, especially as relates to your future goals and the valuable assets you bring to the program. Some programs will ask for a personal statement but the prompt will be focused primarily on your research and professional experiences and interests. Some will ask for a statement of purpose but the prompt will be more focused on your general life experiences.

When in doubt, give the program what they are asking for in the prompt and don’t get too hung up on whether they call it a personal statement or statement of purpose. You can always call the admissions office to get more clarification on what they want you to address in your admissions essay.

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What Makes a Good Grad School Personal Statement?

A great graduate school personal statement can come in many forms and styles. However, strong grad school personal statement examples all share the same following elements:

A Clear Narrative

Above all, a good personal statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a couple of key points that you want to communicate about yourself and then drill down on how you can best communicate those points. (Your key points should of course be related to what you can bring to the field and to the program specifically).

You can also decide whether to address things like setbacks or gaps in your application as part of your narrative. Have a low GPA for a couple semesters due to a health issue? Been out of a job for a while taking care of a family member? If you do decide to explain an issue like this, make sure that the overall arc is more about demonstrating positive qualities like resilience and diligence than about providing excuses.

Specific Examples

A great statement of purpose uses specific examples to illustrate its key messages. This can include anecdotes that demonstrate particular traits or even references to scholars and works that have influenced your academic trajectory to show that you are familiar and insightful about the relevant literature in your field.

Just saying “I love plants,” is pretty vague. Describing how you worked in a plant lab during undergrad and then went home and carefully cultivated your own greenhouse where you cross-bred new flower colors by hand is much more specific and vivid, which makes for better evidence.

A strong personal statement will describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why the program is a good fit for you. It’s important to identify specific things about the program that appeal to you, and how you’ll take advantage of those opportunities. It’s also a good idea to talk about specific professors you might be interested in working with. This shows that you are informed about and genuinely invested in the program.

Strong Writing

Even quantitative and science disciplines typically require some writing, so it’s important that your personal statement shows strong writing skills. Make sure that you are communicating clearly and that you don’t have any grammar and spelling errors. It’s helpful to get other people to read your statement and provide feedback. Plan on going through multiple drafts.

Another important thing here is to avoid cliches and gimmicks. Don’t deploy overused phrases and openings like “ever since I was a child.” Don’t structure your statement in a gimmicky way (i.e., writing a faux legal brief about yourself for a law school statement of purpose). The first will make your writing banal; the second is likely to make you stand out in a bad way.

Appropriate Boundaries

While you can be more personal in a personal statement than in a statement of purpose, it’s important to maintain appropriate boundaries in your writing. Don’t overshare anything too personal about relationships, bodily functions, or illegal activities. Similarly, don’t share anything that makes it seem like you may be out of control, unstable, or an otherwise risky investment. The personal statement is not a confessional booth. If you share inappropriately, you may seem like you have bad judgment, which is a huge red flag to admissions committees.

You should also be careful with how you deploy humor and jokes. Your statement doesn’t have to be totally joyless and serious, but bear in mind that the person reading the statement may not have the same sense of humor as you do. When in doubt, err towards the side of being as inoffensive as possible.

Just as being too intimate in your statement can hurt you, it’s also important not to be overly formal or staid. You should be professional, but conversational.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We’ll provide three examples here, along with brief analysis of what makes each one successful.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 1

PDF of Sample Personal Statement 1 – Japanese Studies

For this Japanese Studies master’s degree, the applicant had to provide a statement of purpose outlining her academic goals and experience with Japanese and a separate personal statement describing her personal relationship with Japanese Studies and what led her to pursue a master’s degree.

Here’s what’s successful about this personal statement:

• An attention-grabbing beginning: The applicant begins with the statement that Japanese has never come easily to her and that it’s a brutal language to learn. Seeing as how this is an application for a Japanese Studies program, this is an intriguing beginning that makes the reader want to keep going.
• A compelling narrative: From this attention-grabbing beginning, the applicant builds a well-structured and dramatic narrative tracking her engagement with the Japanese language over time. The clear turning point is her experience studying abroad, leading to a resolution in which she has clarity about her plans. Seeing as how the applicant wants to be a translator of Japanese literature, the tight narrative structure here is a great way to show her writing skills.
• Specific examples that show important traits: The applicant clearly communicates both a deep passion for Japanese through examples of her continued engagement with Japanese and her determination and work ethic by highlighting the challenges she’s faced (and overcome) in her study of the language. This gives the impression that she is an engaged and dedicated student.

Overall, this is a very strong statement both in terms of style and content. It flows well, is memorable, and communicates that the applicant would make the most of the graduate school experience.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 2

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 2 – Musical Composition

This personal statement for a Music Composition master’s degree discusses the factors that motivate the applicant to pursue graduate study.

Here’s what works well in this statement:

• The applicant provides two clear reasons motivating the student to pursue graduate study: her experiences with music growing up, and her family’s musical history. She then supports those two reasons with examples and analysis.
• The description of her ancestors’ engagement with music is very compelling and memorable. The applicant paints her own involvement with music as almost inevitable based on her family’s long history with musical pursuits.
• The applicant gives thoughtful analysis of the advantages she has been afforded that have allowed her to study music so extensively. We get the sense that she is insightful and empathetic—qualities that would add greatly to any academic community.

This is a strong, serviceable personal statement. And in truth, given that this for a masters in music composition, other elements of the application (like work samples) are probably the most important.  However, here are two small changes I would make to improve it:

• I would probably to split the massive second paragraph into 2-3 separate paragraphs. I might use one paragraph to orient the reader to the family’s musical history, one paragraph to discuss Giacomo and Antonio, and one paragraph to discuss how the family has influenced the applicant. As it stands, it’s a little unwieldy and the second paragraph doesn’t have a super-clear focus even though it’s all loosely related to the applicant’s family history with music.
• I would also slightly shorten the anecdote about the applicant’s ancestors and expand more on how this family history has motivated the applicant’s interest in music. In what specific ways has her ancestors’ perseverance inspired her? Did she think about them during hard practice sessions? Is she interested in composing music in a style they might have played? More specific examples here would lend greater depth and clarity to the statement.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 – Public Health

This is my successful personal statement for Columbia’s Master’s program in Public Health. We’ll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I’ll highlight a couple of things that work in this statement here:

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• This statement is clearly organized. Almost every paragraph has a distinct focus and message, and when I move on to a new idea, I move on to a new paragraph with a logical transitions.
• This statement covers a lot of ground in a pretty short space. I discuss my family history, my goals, my educational background, and my professional background. But because the paragraphs are organized and I use specific examples, it doesn’t feel too vague or scattered.
• In addition to including information about my personal motivations, like my family, I also include some analysis about tailoring health interventions with my example of the Zande. This is a good way to show off what kinds of insights I might bring to the program based on my academic background.

Grad School Personal Statement Example: Deep Dive

Now let’s do a deep dive, paragraph-by-paragraph, on one of these sample graduate school personal statements. We’ll use my personal statement that I used when I applied to Columbia’s public health program.

Paragraph One: For twenty-three years, my grandmother (a Veterinarian and an Epidemiologist) ran the Communicable Disease Department of a mid-sized urban public health department. The stories of Grandma Betty doggedly tracking down the named sexual partners of the infected are part of our family lore. Grandma Betty would persuade people to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, encourage safer sexual practices, document the spread of infection and strive to contain and prevent it. Indeed, due to the large gay population in the city where she worked, Grandma Betty was at the forefront of the AIDS crises, and her analysis contributed greatly towards understanding how the disease was contracted and spread. My grandmother has always been a huge inspiration to me, and the reason why a career in public health was always on my radar.

This is an attention-grabbing opening anecdote that avoids most of the usual cliches about childhood dreams and proclivities. This story also subtly shows that I have a sense of public health history, given the significance of the AIDs crisis for public health as a field.

It’s good that I connect this family history to my own interests. However, if I were to revise this paragraph again, I might cut down on some of the detail because when it comes down to it, this story isn’t really about me. It’s important that even (sparingly used) anecdotes about other people ultimately reveal something about you in a personal statement.

Paragraph Two: Recent years have cemented that interest. In January 2012, my parents adopted my little brother Fred from China. Doctors in America subsequently diagnosed Fred with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). My parents were told that if Fred’s condition had been discovered in China, the (very poor) orphanage in which he spent the first 8+ years of his life would have recognized his DMD as a death sentence and denied him sustenance to hasten his demise.

Here’s another compelling anecdote to help explain my interest in public health. This is an appropriately personal detail for a personal statement—it’s a serious thing about my immediate family, but it doesn’t disclose anything that the admissions committee might find concerning or inappropriate.

If I were to take another pass through this paragraph, the main thing I would change is the last phrase. “Denied him sustenance to hasten his demise” is a little flowery. “Denied him food to hasten his death” is actually more powerful because it’s clearer and more direct.

Paragraph Three: It is not right that some people have access to the best doctors and treatment while others have no medical care. I want to pursue an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia because studying social factors in health, with a particular focus on socio-health inequities, will prepare me to address these inequities. The interdisciplinary approach of the program appeals to me greatly as I believe interdisciplinary approaches are the most effective way to develop meaningful solutions to complex problems.

In this paragraph I make a neat and clear transition from discussing what sparked my interest in public health and health equity to what I am interested in about Columbia specifically: the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and how that focus will prepare me to solve complex health problems. This paragraph also serves as a good pivot point to start discussing my academic and professional background.

Paragraph Four: My undergraduate education has prepared me well for my chosen career. Understanding the underlying structure of a group’s culture is essential to successfully communicating with the group. In studying folklore and mythology, I’ve learned how to parse the unspoken structures of folk groups, and how those structures can be used to build bridges of understanding. For example, in a culture where most illnesses are believed to be caused by witchcraft, as is the case for the Zande people of central Africa, any successful health intervention or education program would of necessity take into account their very real belief in witchcraft.

In this paragraph, I link my undergraduate education and the skills I learned there to public health. The (very brief) analysis of tailoring health interventions to the Zande is a good way to show insight and show off the competencies I would bring to the program.

Paragraph Five: I now work in the healthcare industry for one of the largest providers of health benefits in the world. In addition to reigniting my passion for data and quantitative analytics, working for this company has immersed me in the business side of healthcare, a critical component of public health.

This brief paragraph highlights my relevant work experience in the healthcare industry. It also allows me to mention my work with data and quantitative analytics, which isn’t necessarily obvious from my academic background, which was primarily based in the social sciences.

Paragraph Six: I intend to pursue a PhD in order to become an expert in how social factors affect health, particularly as related to gender and sexuality. I intend to pursue a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Reproduction. Working together with other experts to create effective interventions across cultures and societies, I want to help transform health landscapes both in America and abroad.

This final paragraph is about my future plans and intentions. Unfortunately, it’s a little disjointed, primarily because I discuss goals of pursuing a PhD before I talk about what certificate I want to pursue within the MPH program! Switching those two sentences and discussing my certificate goals within the MPH and then mentioning my PhD plans would make a lot more sense.

I also start two sentences in a row with “I intend,” which is repetitive.

The final sentence is a little bit generic; I might tailor it to specifically discuss a gender and sexual health issue, since that is the primary area of interest I’ve identified.

This was a successful personal statement; I got into (and attended!) the program. It has strong examples, clear organization, and outlines what interests me about the program (its interdisciplinary focus) and what competencies I would bring (a background in cultural analysis and experience with the business side of healthcare). However, a few slight tweaks would elevate this statement to the next level.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples You Can Find Online

So you need more samples for your personal statement for graduate school? Examples are everywhere on the internet, but they aren’t all of equal quality.

Most of examples are posted as part of writing guides published online by educational institutions. We’ve rounded up some of the best ones here if you are looking for more personal statement examples for graduate school.

Penn State Personal Statement Examples for Graduate School

This selection of ten short personal statements for graduate school and fellowship programs offers an interesting mix of approaches. Some focus more on personal adversity while others focus more closely on professional work within the field.

The writing in some of these statements is a little dry, and most deploy at least a few cliches. However, these are generally strong, serviceable statements that communicate clearly why the student is interested in the field, their skills and competencies, and what about the specific program appeals to them.

Cal State Sample Graduate School Personal Statements

These are good examples of personal statements for graduate school where students deploy lots of very vivid imagery and illustrative anecdotes of life experiences. There are also helpful comments about what works in each of these essays.

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However, all of these statements are definitely pushing the boundaries of acceptable length, as all are above 1000 and one is almost 1500 words! Many programs limit you to 500 words; if you don’t have a limit, you should try to keep it to two single-spaced pages at most (which is about 1000 words).

University of Chicago Personal Statement for Graduate School Examples

These examples of successful essays to the University of Chicago law school cover a wide range of life experiences and topics. The writing in all is very vivid, and all communicate clear messages about the students’ strengths and competencies.

Note, however, that these are all essays that specifically worked for University of Chicago law school. That does not mean that they would work everywhere. In fact, one major thing to note is that many of these responses, while well-written and vivid, barely address the students’ interest in law school at all! This is something that might not work well for most graduate programs.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 10

This successful essay for law school from a Wheaton College undergraduate does a great job tracking the student’s interest in the law in a compelling and personal way. Wheaton offers other graduate school personal statement examples, but this one offers the most persuasive case for the students’ competencies. The student accomplishes this by using clear, well-elaborated examples, showing strong and vivid writing, and highlighting positive qualities like an interest in justice and empathy without seeming grandiose or out of touch.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 1

Based on the background information provided at the bottom of the essay, this essay was apparently successful for this applicant. However, I’ve actually included this essay because it demonstrates an extremely risky approach. While this personal statement is strikingly written and the story is very memorable, it could definitely communicate the wrong message to some admissions committees. The student’s decision not to report the drill sergeant may read incredibly poorly to some admissions committees. They may wonder if the student’s failure to report the sergeant’s violence will ultimately expose more soldiers-in-training to the same kinds of abuses. This incident perhaps reads especially poorly in light of the fact that the military has such a notable problem with violence against women being covered up and otherwise mishandled

It’s actually hard to get a complete picture of the student’s true motivations from this essay, and what we have might raise real questions about the student’s character to some admissions committees. This student took a risk and it paid off, but it could have just as easily backfired spectacularly.

Key Takeaways: Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

In this guide, we discussed why you need a personal statement and how it differs from a statement of purpose. (It’s more personal!)

We also discussed what you’ll find in a strong sample personal statement for graduate school:

• A clear narrative about the applicant and why they are qualified for graduate study.
• Specific examples to support that narrative.
• Compelling reasons why the applicant and the program are a good fit for each other.
• Strong writing, including clear organization and error-free, cliche-free language.
• Appropriate boundaries—sharing without over-sharing.

Then, we provided three strong graduate school personal statement examples for different fields, along with analysis. We did a deep-dive on the third statement.

Finally, we provided a list of other sample grad school personal statements online.

What’s Next?

Want more advice on writing a personal statement ? See our guide.

Writing a graduate school statement of purpose? See our statement of purpose samples  and a nine-step process for writing the best statement of purpose possible .

If you’re writing a graduate school CV or resume, see our how-to guide to writing a CV , a how-to guide to writing a resume , our list of sample resumes and CVs , resume and CV templates , and a special guide for writing resume objectives .

Need stellar graduate school recommendation letters ? See our guide.

See our 29 tips for successfully applying to graduate school .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon

Top 40 Fresher Resume Summary Examples

When it comes to creating an impactful resume as a fresher, a strong resume summary can make a significant difference. The resume summary serves as a brief introduction, highlighting your key skills, education, and career objectives. Tailoring your summary to showcase your unique qualities can help you stand out from the competition.

To assist you in crafting a compelling fresher resume summary statement, we have compiled a list of the top 40 examples. Each example represents a different field of study, ranging from software engineering to interior design, and includes a snapshot of the individual’s skills and aspirations.

Take a moment to review these examples and find inspiration to create your own outstanding resume summary. Remember, the key is to accurately represent your qualifications and demonstrate your enthusiasm and ambition. By doing so, you can catch the attention of potential employers and open doors to exciting opportunities in your chosen profession.

Whether you’re an aspiring software engineer, a motivated marketing graduate, a dedicated finance graduate, or any other field of study, these examples will provide you with valuable insights to help you kickstart your career.

So dive in and let these examples guide you in creating an impressive resume that showcases your potential and paves the way for a bright future.

Recommended : Fresher Resume Objective Examples

40 Best Fresher Resume Summary Examples

1. Aspiring software engineer  with a strong foundation in computer science principles. Adept at analyzing and solving complex problems with a collaborative approach. Passionate about learning new technologies and contributing to innovative projects.

2. Motivated marketing graduate  with a solid understanding of marketing principles and excellent communication skills. Proficient in social media management and market research. Committed to delivering results and driving business growth.

3. Dedicated finance graduate  with a strong background in financial analysis and data interpretation. Detail-oriented and able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. Skilled in financial modeling and forecasting.

4. Enthusiastic graphic design graduate  with a creative mindset and a strong eye for detail. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and experienced in designing visually appealing graphics. Passionate about creating meaningful visual experiences.

5. Eager mechanical engineering graduate  with a strong technical skill set. Hands-on experience in CAD software and a proven ability to develop innovative designs. Seeking an opportunity to apply engineering knowledge and contribute to real-world projects.

6. Driven human resources graduate  with a deep understanding of recruitment and employee engagement strategies. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong relationships with diverse teams. Committed to promoting a positive work culture.

7. Ambitious computer science graduate  with a solid foundation in programming languages and algorithms. Proficient in software development and experienced in collaborating on team projects. Passionate about leveraging technology to solve real-world problems.

8. Result-oriented business administration graduate  with strong analytical skills and a keen business acumen. Experienced in conducting market research and developing comprehensive business plans. Dedicated to driving organizational success.

9. Passionate environmental science graduate  with a strong commitment to sustainability and conservation. Skilled in data analysis and environmental impact assessment. Committed to making a positive impact on global environmental issues.

10. Detail-oriented accounting graduate  with a strong foundation in financial management and taxation. Proficient in Microsoft Excel and experienced in preparing accurate financial reports. Dedicated to maintaining high ethical standards in financial practices.

11. Dynamic electrical engineering graduate  with hands-on experience in circuit design and testing. Proficient in electrical CAD software and well-versed in industry standards. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the development of innovative electrical systems.

12. Creative journalism graduate  with strong writing and editing skills. Experienced in multimedia storytelling and social media management. Committed to delivering compelling and accurate news content.

13. Motivated civil engineering graduate  with a solid understanding of structural design and construction principles. Skilled in AutoCAD and experience in project management. Dedicated to ensuring the safety and efficiency of infrastructure projects.

14. Result-driven sales and marketing graduate  with excellent communication and negotiation skills. Experienced in customer relationship management and developing marketing campaigns. Committed to achieving sales targets and building long-term client relationships.

15. Driven biology graduate  with a strong background in research and laboratory techniques. Skilled in data analysis and scientific report writing. Passionate about contributing to advancements in the field of biotechnology.

16. Detail-oriented pharmacy graduate  with a deep understanding of pharmaceutical regulations and drug dispensing procedures. Experienced in providing patient counseling and medication management. Committed to ensuring patient safety and optimal healthcare outcomes.

17. Adaptable hospitality management graduate  with excellent interpersonal skills and a strong customer service orientation. Experienced in event planning and coordinating hospitality operations. Dedicated to delivering memorable guest experiences.

18. Enthusiastic psychology graduate  with a strong foundation in counseling and research techniques. Skilled in administering psychological assessments and providing support to individuals. Committed to promoting mental well-being and helping others.

19. Dynamic mechanical engineering graduate  with a passion for innovation and problem-solving. Experienced in designing and optimizing mechanical systems. Proficient in CAD software and dedicated to creating efficient and sustainable solutions.

20. Passionate art and design graduate  with a strong portfolio showcasing diverse artistic skills. Experienced in various mediums, including painting, illustration, and digital design. Committed to expressing creativity and making a meaningful impact through art.

21. Motivated computer engineering graduate with a solid foundation in hardware and software development. Proficient in programming languages such as C++ and Python. Committed to staying updated with the latest technological advancements.

22. Detail-oriented business management graduate with a strong understanding of business operations and strategic planning. Experienced in conducting market research and analyzing data to identify growth opportunities. Dedicated to driving organizational success.

23. Enthusiastic architecture graduate with a knack for spatial design and visualization. Proficient in architectural software tools like AutoCAD and SketchUp. Passionate about creating sustainable and aesthetically pleasing structures.

24. Eager data science graduate with strong analytical skills and a deep understanding of statistical techniques. Proficient in programming languages like R and Python. Committed to leveraging data to gain valuable insights and drive informed decision-making.

25. Versatile marketing communication graduate with excellent written and verbal communication skills. Experienced in managing social media platforms and creating engaging content. Passionate about developing effective marketing strategies.

26. Driven chemical engineering graduate with a solid foundation in chemical processes and plant operations. Experienced in conducting experiments and analyzing data. Committed to ensuring safety and sustainability in the manufacturing industry.

27. Ambitious human resource management graduate with a strong understanding of recruitment and talent acquisition. Skilled in conducting interviews and managing employee relations. Committed to fostering a positive work environment.

28. Passionate nutrition science graduate with a deep knowledge of nutrition assessment and dietary planning. Experienced in educating individuals on healthy eating habits. Dedicated to promoting wellness through evidence-based nutrition practices.

29. Inspired civil engineering graduate with a strong background in structural design and construction management. Skilled in using software like SAP2000 and AutoCAD. Committed to delivering high-quality and sustainable infrastructure solutions.

30. Creative visual communication graduate with a flair for graphic design and visual storytelling. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and experienced in creating visually appealing digital and print materials. Dedicated to delivering impactful visual experiences.

31. Dedicated biomedical engineering graduate with a passion for healthcare technology and medical devices. Skilled in analyzing and debugging complex systems. Committed to improving patient care through innovative engineering solutions.

32. Detail-oriented pharmaceutical science graduate with a strong foundation in drug formulation and quality control. Experienced in pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and regulatory compliance. Committed to ensuring the safety and efficacy of medications.

33. Motivated supply chain management graduate with a solid understanding of logistics and inventory management. Experienced in optimizing supply chain processes to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Dedicated to delivering seamless operations.

34. Adaptable environmental engineering graduate with a passion for sustainable development and environmental conservation. Skilled in conducting environmental impact assessments and implementing mitigation strategies. Committed to protecting natural resources.

35. Energetic tourism and hospitality management graduate with excellent customer service skills and a knack for problem-solving. Experienced in front desk operations and event management. Dedicated to creating memorable guest experiences.

36. Results-driven physics graduate with a passion for research and data analysis. Skilled in experimental design and data modeling. Proficient in scientific software tools such as MATLAB and LabVIEW.

37. Passionate social work graduate with strong interpersonal skills and a deep commitment to social justice. Experienced in community outreach and working with diverse populations. Dedicated to empowering individuals and promoting social change.

38. Adaptable agricultural science graduate with knowledge of crop production and sustainable farming practices. Experienced in conducting field research and implementing agricultural technologies. Committed to improving global food security.

39. Creative interior design graduate with an eye for detail and a passion for creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces. Proficient in 3D modeling software like SketchUp and AutoCAD. Dedicated to delivering outstanding design solutions.

40. Inquisitive political science graduate with a strong understanding of political systems and public policy. Skilled in conducting research and analyzing data. Committed to contributing to informed decision-making and driving positive change.

We hope these fresher resume summary examples help you create a compelling resume summary statement. Remember to tailor it to highlight your unique skills, education, and career objectives.

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3 Graduate CV Examples (+How to Write a Graduate CV)

Posted by CV Nation on Jan 28, 2021

An in-depth, illustrated guide to writing a fantastic graduate CV, which includes 3 graduate CV templates that you can use now.

Preparing an effective graduate CV can be a daunting task. How do students and recent graduates show employers that they’re the best candidates for jobs when they have little or no experience?

In this guide, we’ll show you how to do exactly that.

We’ll show you how to package your academic experiences in a way that makes recruiters see you as a worthy candidate among experienced professionals.

Graduate CV Example

How to Write a Graduate CV

Contact details.

It goes without saying that your CV should include your contact details. However, there is often some confusion among job-seekers regarding the way this information should be presented.

So, what are the key points to consider?

There is no need to include your full address, unless recruiters have requested you to do so. Instead, simply include the name of the town/city and country that you live in.

If you have a LinkedIn profile, include your LinkedIn profile URL. However, if your LinkedIn profile is very basic, don’t include your LinkedIn URL until you’ve improved it and added quality, engaging content that makes you stand out.

Basic, bare-bones LinkedIn profiles can do more harm than good to your applications.

Ensure to include your phone number and email address. Use a professional email address. Unprofessional email address – such as funnyman@ or beeroclock@ - may indicate an unprofessional candidate.

Personal Statement/Professional Profile

Personal statements, often called professional profiles or summaries, are short introductions to your CV. Their aim is to sell you to the reader and show your value in just a few sentences.

Graduates' personal statements should touch on their academic skills and experiences that are pertinent to the professional world .

For example, law graduates may have gained various legal skills while obtaining their degree. They may also have completed internships with law companies and undertaken legal projects at university.

Such skills and experiences are what graduates should draw attention to in their CV’s personal statement. Focusing on skills and experience gained during your time in academia that are relevant to the job you’re pursuing will show recruiters that you’re ready to make an instant impact.

Here is an example of a graduate’s personal statement:

Create a skills section that highlights your key capabilities. In this section, focus on hard skills – acquired skills that are necessary to perform the job you are pursuing.

The required hard skills will depend on the career you are pursuing.

For example, if you’re looking to land jobs in law, essential hard skills will include research and legal knowledge. If you aim to secure a graduate job in marketing, essential hard skills will include data analysis and digital marketing.

However, there are a number of soft skills that employers in all fields look for in graduates. If you can demonstrate these on your CV, you’ll stand a great chance of impressing recruiters and progressing to the next stage of the application process.

Soft Skills

When it comes to soft skills, it’s much more beneficial to show, rather than tell .

Stating that you have good communication skills, for example, holds little weight. However, revealing that you’ve completed multiple public presentations, shows that you’ve got good communication skills.

The best places to show your soft skills on your CV include work experience and internship sections, voluntary work sections, and education sections.

Let’s take a look at the most important soft skills for graduates and how to demonstrate them in your graduate CV.

Which soft skills do employers value most in graduates?

1. Time Management

The ability to effectively manage time is one of the most sought-after soft skills in graduates. Good time management improves efficiency and provides a platform for the success of operations.

Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe’.

The point is that achieving success very often depends on how you manage your time.

If your CV communicates your time management skills, you will stand a greater chance of impressing recruiters and employers.

How do you show your time management skills on your graduate CV?

One of the best ways to show your time management skills is to detail your achievements that came about as a result of your time management.

Here is an example:

Reduced delivery times by 2 days by streamlining the packaging process and implementing new software systems.

If you have no work experience, you may want to highlight specific projects that you have completed in your CV’s education section. Here, you can show how you used your time management skills to achieve positive outcomes.

2. Communication

Communication is widely recognised as a valuable soft skill for graduates. Employees with good communication skills are able to follow instructions, improve relationships with customers and maximise operational efficiency.

How do you show your communication skills on your CV?

Draw attention to times you have delivered presentations or completed group projects. These types of activities demonstrate your communication acumen.

Note in the example below how the candidate illustrates her communication skills by describing her experience delivering public presentations in the education section of her CV.

Another way of showcasing your communication proficiency is to ensure your CV is professionally written, using a broad vocabulary, excellent grammar and polished writing.

3. Commercial Awareness

As a graduate with little or no work experience, employers will often want to know that you understand the workings of their industry.

Use your personal statement/professional profile to demonstrate your knowledge of your targeted industry. You may also want to touch on work experiences or internships that have introduced you to the industry.

4. Problem Solving

Problem solving is a an important soft skills for graduates. Employees who can respond to problems in a composed manner, generate effective solutions and implement corrective actions can play a big role in business success.

Good problem solving is made up of analytical acumen, lateral thinking, flexibility, creativity and decision-making. So, if you can demonstrate your problem solving capabilities on your CV, you’ll also convince employers that you possess a whole range of other valuable soft skills.

How do you demonstrate your problem solving skills on your graduate CV?

To showcase your problem solving skills, detail examples of your problem solving achievements in your work experience section.

Improved customer response times by 32% by sourcing and implementing new client management software following a string of complaints from customers.

As Yolanda Lau – co-founder and chief talent officer at FlexTeam and chief experience officer at Liquid – touches on in her article on Forbes , empathy is one of the most in-demand soft skills.

Why is empathy an important soft skill? Why do employers care about empathy?

Employees with empathy care about their colleagues, understand their colleagues’ views and communicate more effectively.

In turn, this maximises efficiency and improves overall business performance.

How do you show your empathy in your graduate CV?

The best way of showing your empathy is to touch on your voluntary work or extra-curricular activities. Have you volunteered at charities? Do you spend your free time helping others?

Such activities can be highlighted in a ‘voluntary’ section or an ‘interests’ section’ to demonstrate your empathy.

The education section is arguably the most important section on a graduate CV.

Not only is this the place to show off your degrees and qualifications, but you can also highlight other key skills and experiences gained during your time in academia.

For many graduates, this makes up for a lack of work experience .

For example, when writing about your university degrees, you could include a number of key projects that you undertook to show your expertise and skills.

How do you format your education section on your graduate CV?

List the qualification you obtained, as well as the grade you achieved, the name of the university attended and the dates of the course. Include the key modules undertaken as this can help to convey your knowledge and expertise. Additionally, include the title of any dissertations you have completed.

Here is an example of a graduate CV’s education section:

Work Experience and Internships

Now it’s time to include your work experience.

Consider splitting your work experience up into separate sections. These separate sections might include ‘relevant work experience’, ‘internships’ and ‘other work experience’. This will enable you to draw more attention to your most relevant experiences.

List your work experience in reverse-chronological order. The involves listing your current or most recent position first, then moving on to your previous position and so on.

You may think some or all of your work experience is irrelevant. For example, if you’re pursuing a career in business management, but have work experience as a waitress, you might question if you should include this experience on your CV.

In most cases, you absolutely should include it.

This kind of work experience allows you to demonstrate various valuable, sought-after soft skills. For example, touching on your experience dealing with irate customers and achieving positive outcomes demonstrates strong problem solving skills.

What to do if you have no work experience to include on your graduate CV

If you have no experience, think about your extra-curricular activities and non-paid endeavours.

This may include volunteering at charities, even if only for short periods of time. Other common forms of non-paid work include writing for websites and working with family members.

Of course, you should never lie on your CV and try to pass such activities off as paid work if they were not. Be honest and state that you weren’t employed. You can still use these activities to demonstrate your skills and your ability to add value.

Awards can play a big role in improving your CV and making you stand out from the competition. If you’ve been presented with any awards, whether during employment, academic experiences or extra-curricular activities, ensure to list them in this section.

Include the title of the award, the name of the institution that presented you with the award and the date you achieved the award.

Here is an example of a graduate CV’s awards section:

Hobbies and Interests

Most professionals are not recommended to include hobbies and interests on their CV as they’re usually not directly relevant.

However, for graduates who may not have a great deal of work experience, hobbies and interests can be a fantastic way of showcasing your skills, experiences and knowledge.

For example, do you enjoy taking part in public speaking competitions? If so, including details of this on your CV would indicate you’ve got good communication skills. Have you captained your local sports team? If so, including details of this on your CV would indicate sound leadership skills.

When writing your CV, use your hobbies and interests to your advantage to demonstrate your skills, experiences and knowledge.

Additional Information

Include any additional information in the final section of your CV. Additional information may include language skills, IT/software proficiency and licences.

Further CV Writing Tips for Graduates

Should you include references on your graduate cv.

References do not need to be included on CVs, unless you have been asked to by recruiters.

When submitting a CV, you are usually at a very early stage of the job application process. References will be requested by employers at a later stage of the application process.

How long should your graduate CV be?

The optimal length for graduate CVs is two pages. This should provide enough space to illustrate your experiences, skills and ambitions.

CVs that are longer than two-pages risk losing the attention of recruiters.

If you have little or no work experience, a one-page CV may prove more beneficial. One-page CVs have various advantages, including the fact that they are concise and the key information is easy to locate.

Should you include a photo on your graduate CV?

CVs for applications in the UK, United States, Australia and Canada should not have a photo, unless you’re pursuing jobs in modelling, cabin crew or acting.

However, photos are often expected on CVs in many countries in Continental Europe, including Germany and Spain.

For find out if photos are expected on CVs in your country and profession, take a look at our guide on the topic .

We hope you’ve found this guide helpful in preparing a great graduate CV. For more in-depth CV writing support, view our ultimate guide on how to write a CV .

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• Graduate CV
• Career Advice

Graduate CV Template

When it comes to a graduate CV, we've seen literally tens of thousands of them since starting in 1997. That puts us in the top 1% of recruiting organisations who can vouch for this! Now you can benefit from our extensive experience with our professionally accredited CV template and guide. Although there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all method for a perfect CV, there are certain graduate CV tips you can follow to make sure that your CV template is faux-pas free and ends up at the top of any recruiters pile.

Before you even start, it is worth thinking about the purpose of your CV by looking at an example or two. To ensure its success it needs to accomplish a few main things.

A graduate CV template should:

• Introduce you as a promising potential candidate for the role
• Present all of your relevant skills and accomplishments
• Tell a story of your professional experience to date
• Reflect something of your character through your personal statement and interests sections

Your CV should not:

• Be an exhaustive list of your every achievement, regardless of relevance
• Include a lengthy discourse about every course you've ever taken
• Contain information just to 'bulk it out'. Being concise will help your reader and maintain their interest, making them want to know more

Graduate CV presentation:

You have to remember that there's no accounting for taste, so you have to make the content of your CV unique, rather than using an elaborate layout to make you stand out from the crowd (unless, of course, you are going for a design job, in which case you have room to get creative). You can't afford for a recruiter to reject your CV because they don't like your font or layout, so making the document as accessible as possible is a must. 

Some suggestions are:

• Use a simple business font, some of our consultants favour Arial, Calibri, or Verdana and ensure you have used the same font and letter size throughout
• Use bold or italics to emphasise text, such as job roles, rather than underlining
• Use bullet points, numbering and dashes to format content
• Ensure new paragraphs, bullet points and headings are all in line with each other and of a consistent style (e.g. headings in bold etc)
• Split your CV into sections and ensure those sections are obvious (e.g. Profile, Work Experience, Education) and when listing experiences within these sections keep to a reverse chronological order, with your most recent experience/education at the top
• Aim for two pages in length; less is okay, more and you risk losing the reader's interest
• When reading the Job Specification decide what the most important factors are that the company are looking for and ensure that your relevant experiences for this are on the front page of your CV
• Should the recruiter want a hard-copy, use a high quality A4 paper

Personal details/header:

These are standard and required by all employers, but note that you shouldn't include your date of birth, marital status or gender. Ensure that your personal details are clearly placed at the top of the first page of your CV and don't take up too much space, you could also use your name as a header so that it appears on both pages of your CV. Don't include the header 'Curriculum Vitae'; it's a waste of space that you might need to utilise later and furthermore your prospective employer will know what the document is. The essentials to include are:

• Postal address
• Email address
• Telephone number(s)

Personal profile:

This is an optional section of a graduate CV template which can be used to show the employer you are focused and determined to pursue a career in their field. Most selectors want an uncomplicated summary of expertise and suitability. Don't fall into the trap of making unsubstantiated statements here - for example "I am hard working" - that should be evident from the content of your CV. Instead make this a factual and relevant mission statement. Any information you feel the need to impart, but cannot fit within your personal profile, you should include in your graduate cover letter .

• Appear at the beginning of your CV
• Be no longer than 2-4 sentences
• Give an overview of your current situation - "I have just graduated with a degree in ..."
• Be positive, lively and to the point
• Avoid buzzwords such as 'dynamic' and 'team player', which every applicant will be using
• Specifically detail what it is you want to do - "I am looking for a job as a ... in the field of ..."
• Be different for each application. Ensure you make it specific to the job and the employer and do not use a generic profile that can be utilised for every CV you send out.

Your education:

Write your education in reverse chronological order, so start with your university degree. The employer wants a snapshot of you as an academic in this section - not a summary of 15 years' worth of your school reports. Focus on your university grades, specialisation and extra-curricular experiences to start with.  A term that is often used in relation to the graduate employment market is 'transferable skills' and this section is where you need to throw light on those skills which might include leadership, project management, communication and presentation skills. Essentially the education section should contain:

• Qualifications (Degree, A levels and some GCSE's) in reverse-chronological order
• The dates you attended each establishment
• Degree subject, type, grade and establishment
• More detail on specialisation/university experience
• A level grades, subjects and establishment
• Maths, English and Science GCSE grades and establishment and maybe one or two more if relevant, avoid listing them all though
• Other skills, e.g. computer literacy and other languages

Work experience:

You might think that at this stage you don't have much in the way of work experience - but when looking at a graduate CV example we often find that relevant content gets overlooked. You can include everything you have done from student internships  and voluntary work to schemes and summer placements. Some great examples of voluntary or extra-curricular work experiences that can sometimes be overlooked are competitions such as Young Enterprise and SIFE. As long as you have developed relevant skills, then it is worth a space on your CV. What is not appropriate is an essay about part-time work with limited responsibility. Again, your student work experience should be listed in reverse chronological order.   Your work experience will be comprised of:

• Company or organisation, dates and job title
• A sentence outlining the role you performed
• Bullet points summarising specific responsibilities you were given
• Evidence to back up specific achievements and skills you claim to have developed whilst in this role

Interests and activities:

This is the place to say a little bit about you as a person, outside of work, and to let your personality shine through. You can mention any activity or hobby, but obviously keep it appropriate, there are certain things that a graduate recruiter just won't want to hear, so use your own discretion.   Try to avoid irrelevant listing of things you enjoy with no evidence to back it up. If you enjoy running and go running twice a week, tell them that you go running twice a week and not just that you enjoy running or if you are involved in a club/society, don't just say you enjoy that subject or sport, tell them you are an active member of the club or society. If you have taken a gap year or worked abroad and been travelling or spent a summer travelling this is the place to detail it, although obviously don't go into too much detail about every little aspect of your journey, but it can be good to show organisation, confidence and a motivation to learn new things!    Examples worth including in this area are:

• Sports teams
• Societies/clubs
• Awards (these are particularly good as they can suggest a high achieving and competitive nature)

References:

Two references are ample for your entry-level graduate CV. One can be academic and the other from a period of work experience. You can choose to omit the contact details if, for example, one is a current employer or you would prefer to contact them first. If omitting the references remember to note at the bottom that 'references are available on request' or something similar so the recruiter knows you are willing and prepared to provide these.

Final graduate CV proof-reading and notes:

What overall tone does your graduate CV take? Has it conveyed all of your accomplishments as well as an idea of you as a person? Have you missed anything glaringly obvious? Sometimes we get a CV example that omits the degree grade, degree subject or even a contact number. Don't get complacent when sending out your CV to numerous companies, give yourself a break between each CV and ensure you have covered all aspects when writing and/or tailoring it.

Try out some of the following proofing methods:

• Leave it overnight - (a GRB favourite) you will find that fresh eyes spot new mistakes
• Don't forget the obvious - Use the spell check tool, it is truly invaluable, and make sure your punctuation is all correct.
• Read it out loud - this can help identify tone, check the flow and ensure you haven't just constructed a wordy list
• Ask everyone you can to have a look - peers are good, but professionals in the industry are even better. Be prepared for a little criticism because, after all, you want the best possible CV

One more important point - don't be tempted to 'stretch the truth' in your CV. Getting your foot in the door would be worthless if, once you are at an interview, you can't back up your claims or are inconsistent with what you are telling a recruiter. You want an employer who wants you for all the unique skills and experience you can bring.

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• Marketing graduate CV examples

There is enormous competition for marketing graduate roles, so you want your CV to really wow the crowd if you want to attract the best employers.

To shape a distinctive and captivating marketing CV, follow this step-by-step guide and check out our real-life marketing graduate CV examples.

Guide contents

• Structuring and formatting your CV
• Writing your CV profile
• Detailing work experience
• Your education
• Skills required for your Marketing graduate CV

CV templates 

Marketing graduate CV example 1

Build your CV now 

This example CV demonstrates how to effectively structure and format your own Marketing graduate CV, so that it can be easily digested by busy employers, and quickly prove why you are the best candidate for the jobs you are applying to.

It also gives you a good idea of the type of skills, experience and qualifications that you need to be including and highlighting.

Marketing graduate CV structure & format

The format and structure of your CV is important because it will determine how easy it is for recruiters and employers to read your CV.

If they can find the information they need quickly, they’ll be happy; but if they struggle, your application could be overlooked.

A simple and logical structure will always create a better reading experience than a complex structure, and with a few simple formatting tricks, you’ll be good to go. Check them out below:

Formatting Tips

• Length: Whether you’ve got one year or three decades of experience, your CV should never be more than two sides of A4. Recruiters are busy people who’re often juggling numerous roles and tasks, so they don’t have time to read lengthy applications. If you’re a recent graduate or don’t have much industry experience, one side of A4 is fine.
• Readability: Help out time-strapped recruiters by formatting your CV for easy reading. Using lots of bullet points and lists will help them to skim through your info, while clearly formatted headings will allow them to navigate towards the content which is most useful to them.
• Design: It’s generally best to stick to a simple CV design, as funky or elaborate designs rarely add any value to your application. A clear, modern font and a subtle colour scheme work perfectly and allow your skills, experience and achievements to speak for themselves.
• Avoid photos: Logos, profile photos or other images aren’t necessary and rarely add any value – save the space for written content, instead!

Structuring your CV

Divide your CV into the following major sections when writing it:

• Name and contact details  – Head your CV with your name and contact details, to let the reader know who you are and how to contact you.
• CV profile – A brief paragraph which summarises your skills and experience and highlights why you’re a good match for the role.
• Core skills list – A snappy, bullet-pointed list of your most relevant skills.
• Work experience – A structured list of your work experience in reverse chronological order.
• Education – A summary of any relevant qualifications or professional training you’ve completed.
• Hobbies and interests – An optional section, which should only be used if your hobbies are relevant to the jobs you’re applying to.

Now I’ll guide you through exactly what you should include in each CV section.

CV Contact Details

Write your contact details in the top corner of your CV, so that they’re easy to find but don’t take up too much space.

You only need to list your basic details, such as:

• Mobile number
• Email address
• Location – Don’t list your full address. Your town or city, such as ‘Norwich’ or ‘Coventry’ is perfect.
• LinkedIn profile or portfolio URL – Remember to update these before listing them on an application.

Marketing graduate CV Profile

Your CV profile is the first thing recruiters will read – so your goal is to give them a reason to read onto the end of the document!

Create a short and snappy paragraph that showcases your key skills, relevant experience and impressive accomplishments.

Ultimately, it should prove to the reader that you’ve got what it takes to carry out the job.

Tips for creating an impactful CV profile:

• Keep it brief: The best CV profiles are short, sharp and highly relevant to the target role. For this reason, it’s best to write 3-4 lines of high-level information, as anything over might be missed.
• Tailor it: No matter how much time you put into your CV profile, it won’t impress if it’s irrelevant to the role you’re applying for. Before you start writing, make a list of the skills, knowledge and experience your target employer is looking for. Then, make sure to mention them in your CV profile and throughout the rest of your application.
• Don’t add an objective: You only have a short space for your CV profile, so avoid writing down your career goals or objectives. If you think these will help your application, incorporate them into your cover letter instead.
• Avoid cliches: “Determined team player who always gives 110%” might seem like a good way to fill up your CV profile, but generic phrases like this won’t land you an interview. Recruiters hear them time and time again and have no real reason to believe them. Instead, pack your profile with your hard skills and tangible achievements instead.

What to include in your Marketing graduate CV profile?

• Summary of experience: Demonstrate your suitability for your target jobs by giving a high level summary of your previous work experience, including the industries you have worked in, types of employer, and the type of roles you have previous experience of.
• Relevant skills: Make your most relevant Marketing graduate key skills clear in your profile. These should be tailored to the specific role you’re applying for — so make sure to check the job description first, and aim to match their requirements as closely as you can.
• Essential qualifications: Be sure to outline your relevant Marketing graduate qualifications, so that anyone reading the CV can instantly see you are qualified for the jobs you are applying to.

Quick tip: Your CV is your first impression on recruiters, so it’s vital to avoid spelling and grammar mistakes if you want to appear professional. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to add pre-written content that has been crafted by recruitment experts.

Core skills section

Underneath your profile, create a core skills section to make your most relevant skills jump off the page at readers.

It should be made up of 2-3 columns of bullet points of your relevant skills.

Before you do this, look over the job description and make a list of any specific skills, specialisms or knowledge required.

Then, make sure to use your findings in your list. This will paint you as the perfect match for the role.

Work experience/Career history

Now it’s time to get stuck into your work experience, which should make up the bulk of your CV.

Begin with your current (or most recent) job, and work your way backwards.

If you’ve got too much experience to fit onto two pages, prioritise space for your most recent and relevant roles.

Structuring your roles

Whilst writing your CV, it’s essential to look at it from the eyes of a recruiter.

If they’re met with giant blocks of text which are impossible to navigate, they might get frustrated and skip onto the next CV.

Instead, make use of the 3-step structure shown below, to give them a pleasant reading experience.

Start with a solid introduction to your role as a whole, in order to build some context.

Explain the nature of the organisation you worked for, the size of the team you were part of, who you reported to and what the overarching purpose of your job was.

“The Marketing Agency is an international marketing consultancy creating print and online marketing materials for multi-sector SMEs. As a Marketing Intern, I draft content to enhance client profiles and brand awareness.”

Key responsibilities

Use bullet points to detail the key responsibilities of your role, highlighting hard skills, software and knowledge wherever you can.

Keep them short and sharp to make them easily digestible by readers.

• Attending initial client meetings with prospective new clients, taking vital notes on requirements
• Handling requests from printers and ensuring specifications for print material are correct
• Working with photographers, ensuring images capture client’s brand story

Key achievements

Round up each role by listing 1-3 key achievements , accomplishments or results.

Wherever possible, quantify them using hard facts and figures, as this really helps to prove your value.

• Launching an email campaign for an SME recruitment firm leading to a 40% increase in registration
• Receiving 100% positive feedback on printed promotional material for a client’s exhibition stand

Next up, you should list your education and qualifications.

This can include your formal qualifications (a degree , A-Levels and GCSEs), as well as sector-specific Marketing graduate qualifications and/or training.

While school leavers and recent grads should include a lot of detail here to make up for the lack of work experience, experienced candidates may benefit from a shorter education section, as your work experience section will be more important to recruiters.

Interests and hobbies

Although this is an optional section, it can be useful if your hobbies and interests will add further depth to your CV.

Interests which are related to the sector you are applying to, or which show transferable skills like leadership or teamwork, can worth listing.

On the other hand, generic hobbies like “going out with friends” won’t add any value to your application, so are best left off your CV.

Essential skills for your Marketing graduate CV

Tailoring your CV to the roles you are applying for is key to success, so make sure to read through the job descriptions and tailor your skills accordingly.

However, commonly desired Marketing graduate skills include:

• Collaboration – Highlight your ability to work effectively with others to create successful campaigns.
• Creativity – Prove that you can think creatively and apply this in multiple ways from words on a page to design concepts.
• Accuracy – Showcase that you have a meticulous and thorough approach to work so that the brand is always portrayed professionally.
• Analytical – Be able to show that you can comfortably handle data to provide strong frameworks for various marketing campaigns.
• IT skills – Demonstrate confidence across a range of platforms from basic office programmes to marketing and CRM software.

Writing your Marketing graduate CV

A strong, compelling CV is essential to get noticed and land interviews with the best employers.

To ensure your CV stands out from the competition, make sure to tailor it to your target role and pack it with sector-specific skills and results.

Remember to triple-check for spelling and grammar errors before hitting send.

Good luck with the job search!