how to write a good personal statement on a job application

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How to Write a Strong Personal Statement

• Ruth Gotian
• Ushma S. Neill

A few adjustments can get your application noticed.

Whether applying for a summer internship, a professional development opportunity, such as a Fulbright, an executive MBA program, or a senior leadership development course, a personal statement threads the ideas of your CV, and is longer and has a different tone and purpose than a traditional cover letter. A few adjustments to your personal statement can get your application noticed by the reviewer.

• Make sure you’re writing what they want to hear. Most organizations that offer a fellowship or internship are using the experience as a pipeline: It’s smart to spend 10 weeks and $15,000 on someone before committing five years and $300,000. Rarely are the organizations being charitable or altruistic, so align your stated goals with theirs
• Know when to bury the lead, and when to get to the point. It’s hard to paint a picture and explain your motivations in 200 words, but if you have two pages, give the reader a story arc or ease into your point by setting the scene.
• Recognize that the reviewer will be reading your statement subjectively, meaning you’re being assessed on unknowable criteria. Most people on evaluation committees are reading for whether or not you’re interesting. Stated differently, do they want to go out to dinner with you to hear more? Write it so that the person reading it wants to hear more.
• Address the elephant in the room (if there is one). Maybe your grades weren’t great in core courses, or perhaps you’ve never worked in the field you’re applying to. Make sure to address the deficiency rather than hoping the reader ignores it because they won’t. A few sentences suffice. Deficiencies do not need to be the cornerstone of the application.

At multiple points in your life, you will need to take action to transition from where you are to where you want to be. This process is layered and time-consuming, and getting yourself to stand out among the masses is an arduous but not impossible task. Having a polished resume that explains what you’ve done is the common first step. But, when an application asks for it, a personal statement can add color and depth to your list of accomplishments. It moves you from a one-dimensional indistinguishable candidate to someone with drive, interest, and nuance.

• Ruth Gotian is the chief learning officer and associate professor of education in anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and the author of The Success Factor and Financial Times Guide to Mentoring . She was named the #1 emerging management thinker by Thinkers50. You can access her free list of conversation starters and test your mentoring impact . RuthGotian
• Ushma S. Neill is the Vice President, Scientific Education & Training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She runs several summer internships and is involved with the NYC Marshall Scholar Selection Committee. ushmaneill

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Personal Statements: Examples, Do's and Don'ts

As the name suggests, a personal statement is unique to everyone, but that does not mean there are not specific personal statement rules and guidelines to follow. Being able to quickly showcase your skills, personality and job fit can be challenging, so we are here to shed some light on structuring a personal statement that’ll make you stand out from the crowd. 

In this guide, we will be looking at how to write a personal statement and the do’s and don’ts. By the end, you should have a better idea of how to structure a personal statement and impress your potential new employers.

💡 Note: We will be covering professional personal statements and not personal statements for University admissions in this article.

What is a personal statement?

Often confused with a cover letter or supporting statement, a personal statement is a small section on various forms of CVs. A personal statement is often no more than a few sentences where you can quickly summarise your skills, experience and job fit into a bitesize paragraph. 

A personal statement gives you the opportunity to briefly sell yourself to your potential employer and showcase why you are the best candidate for the role. It is important to note that not all employers will require a personal statement, but if done correctly they can help set you apart from other applicants. 

What makes a good personal statement? 

As a personal statement is essentially a summary of the rest of your CV and you as a person, you want to ensure you list all the most important things from your CV that are the most relevant to the job you are applying for. You should never use the same personal statement, when applying for multiple jobs you can use a similar statement for each, but it should be tailored to each individual role if possible. 

How to start a personal statement 

Start your personal statement by introducing yourself and set the tone for the rest of your personal statement.

You want to capture the employer’s interest and summarise exactly why you are a perfect fit for the role. Most personal statement examples start with saying the role you are currently in, how much industry experience you have and key achievements or relevant skills and statistics. 

How to finish a personal statement 

A good way to finish your personal statement is to summarise your overall goal or aim when moving forwards towards this job and your career.  This means you have spoken about the past, present and future, in just a few lines and gives the employer a good idea of you and your potential. 

How to finish a personal statement can vary from role to role, but this is a good rule of thumb and will stand you in good stead, as with any application, tailor it to the job, some may call for this, some may not.

Personal statement do’s

• Tailor your personal statement - utilise the job description to help you highlight exactly what the employer is looking for, highlight the skills and experience it calls for. The job description is the blueprint to your personal statement for that role, so try and signpost your abilities from the exact things the employer is looking for.
• Be concise - ensure that you keep your personal statement short and relevant, aim for the maximum of a few lines or around 200 words at most. Find the most important and relevant things that you can say within that word count.
• Highlight you - candidates have a habit of being too generic and not showcasing themselves, it is called a personal statement, so keep it personal to you. Personal does not mean talking about your dog though, but how you personally can succeed at this job.
• Include tangibles - always try to give additional details that add value to your application, for instance, quantifying something always makes it sound better. ‘Increased sales by 35%’ sounds better than just saying ‘increased sales’.
• Hit key points - a good personal statement will be able to give the employer a quick summary of you and entice them to read more or move you forward to the interview stage.
• Get a second opinion - having someone else read over your personal statement can be a real help, they may spot something you haven’t or not understand something the way you had intended. This will help improve your finished personal statement.  

Personal statement don’ts

• Use the same wording - you can actually hurt your own chances if you use an overly generic personal statement. You want to show that you have put effort into your application and impress the employer.
• Make it too long - candidates will often confuse their personal statement with a cover letter, this is a short rundown of you, focus on skills, successes, and statistics, things that can be quickly digested. Grab their attention with your personal statement, but do not bore them with an essay.
• Go too personal - this may sound strange, but remember you are writing a professional application, and not setting up a dating profile. Focus on what you can bring to the company, and how your skills would be perfect for the role.
• Send off your first draft - always read over your personal statement a few times to make sure it flows right and rolls off the tongue. Having a spelling or grammar mistake can ruin your chances of getting the job.
• Be too broad - showing that you understood the job description and are a good candidate for the role can be evident if you have a good personal statement, but being too broad will make you look like you copy and pasted the same response to 20 applications.

What next? 

Now you have a better understanding on how to structure your personal statement to increase your chances of getting your new role, you want to start your job search . Currently at Michael Page, we have over 10,000 live jobs on the site so submit your CV today to become discoverable for new roles added in your industry. 

For more CV and cover letter advice , read through our collective library of articles that’ll help you create a winning CV. 

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How To Write a Personal Statement That Stands Out

Table of contents

Laura Jane Bradbury

A personal statement is a chance to highlight your unique qualities, skills, and experiences, all while showcasing your personality.

But whether you're applying for university, a job, or funding, it can be daunting to write about yourself. To increase your chances of getting accepted, it's important to know how to create an effective personal statement.

In my six years as a copywriter, I’ve written many personal statements that get results. In this article, I’ll guide you through what to include, what to avoid, and how to tailor a personal statement based on your application type.

Key Takeaways

• A personal statement is an opportunity to share your unique qualities, experiences, and skills.
• It should always relate to the course, job, or funding you are applying for.
• Include accomplishments and experiences that demonstrate how suited you are to the position or course you are applying for.
• Use clear and simple language to ensure your points are understood.

Your personal statement should be concise and demonstrate how you fit the position or opportunity you’re applying for. It’s important to keep information relevant, rather than listing all of your skills and accomplishments.

Follow these steps to accurately write and tailor your statement.

Understand your prompt

Before you start, make sure you understand what's expected of you. Are there specific instructions, keywords, or phrases that stand out in your prompt? Read through it thoroughly and note the requirements. You can then brainstorm ideas for each point.

Let's say I'm applying for a university journalism course. I've been asked to write a statement that shares why I'm interested and why I would be a good fit. I can use columns to plan my content:

Putting your ideas together first makes it easier to stay on track. Otherwise, you might lose focus and include irrelevant information. 

Show, don't just tell

Once you’ve listed your experiences, skills, and accomplishments, consider how you can demonstrate them with examples. Take a look at the list you created during the previous exercise and organize your points so you have clear examples and proof.

This technique helps you demonstrate your experiences and how they tie in with your application.

When telling anecdotes, use engaging stories that demonstrate your skills. For instance, a story about how I handled a fast-paced news internship proves I work well under pressure. 

Start strong

Recruiters, application tutors, and funders read lots of personal statements. You can make yours stand out with an engaging introduction.

Examples of a strong opening include:

A meaningful statistic

This draws readers in and increases credibility: 

"Communication is the key to marketing success, according to Business Marketing News. With five years of experience communicating and delivering campaigns to global clients, I have the skills and passion to add value to your team."

A personal story

Anecdotes connect the reader with the author’s real-life experience: 

"My first exposure to microbiology was during my time as a research assistant for a microbiologist. I was fascinated by the complex and intricate processes within cells."

An alarming statement

This piques the reader’s interest by making an issue seem urgent:  

“ The fashion industry churns out clothes at an alarming rate, causing mass production of synthetic fibers and harsh chemicals which have a detrimental impact on the planet. Funding my sustainability initiative is vital to mitigating this environmental impact." 

Avoid cliches such as "From a young age, I have always loved...." and "For as long as I can remember, I have had a passion for..."

Pro tip: Use Wordtune Editor 's Shorten feature to cut unnecessary fluff and make your intro sharper. Simply type in your sentence and click Shorten to receive suggestions.

Get Wordtune for free > Get Wordtune for free >

Admission committees and employers appreciate sincerity and authenticity. While it may be tempting, avoid exaggeration. You can better emphasize your skills and personality by being honest. For instance, rather than claiming I read every type of newspaper in my journalism application, I can focus on my dedication to reading The New York Times.

Your writing style should also feel genuine. Instead of trying to impress with complex language and fancy words, keep sentences simple and direct . This makes them more effective because they’re easier to read. 

Address weaknesses

Addressing weaknesses can show your willingness to confront challenges. It also gives you a chance to share efforts you have made for improvement. When explaining a weakness, exclude excuses.

Instead of saying "I didn't achieve my expected grades due to work commitments impacting my studies," try “While I didn't achieve my expected grades, I am now working with a tutor to help me understand my weak areas so I can succeed in your program.”

Wordtune’s Spices feature can help you develop counterarguments to weaknesses. In the Editor, highlight your text, click on Spices, and then Counterargument . Here’s an example:

Using Wordtune’s suggestion, I can highlight my eagerness to learn and provide examples to support my argument.

Highlight achievements

This is your chance to shine! A personal statement should highlight your best qualities — provided they relate to your prompt.

Ask yourself:

• What are your skills and strengths? Identify both academic and non-academic abilities such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork.
• What challenges have you faced? Reflect on how you have overcome significant challenges and how these experiences have helped you grow. For example, completing a course, learning a new language, or starting a business.
• What are your unique selling points? Consider what sets you apart from other applicants. For example, you may have a unique set of technical skills or experience learning in a different country.
• How have your achievements shaped your goals and aspirations? Sharing your goals shows that you think long-term and have taken the time to make sure you’re applying for the right opportunity.

Connect with the institution or company

Tailor your statement to the specific institution or company you're applying to — this shows you understand their values and have carefully considered where you want to seek opportunities.

To do this, head to the company or institution’s website and look for the About page. Many organizations include a mission statement on this page that conveys its purpose and values.

For example, universities often include their values under “Community” or “Student Life” sections. Here, Princeton University’s “In Service of Humanity” section highlights how they value using education to benefit society. Applicants can engage with this by explaining how they interact with their communities and seek to use their education to help others.

You can also research a company or institution’s social media. Look for similarities — maybe you both prioritize collaboration or think outside the box. Draw upon this in your personal statement. 

End with a strong conclusion

A strong conclusion is clear, concise, and leaves a lasting impression. Use these three steps:

• Summarize the main points of your statement. For example, “My experience volunteering for the school newspaper, along with my communication skills and enthusiasm for writing, make me an ideal student for your university."
• Discuss your future . Share your future ambitions to remind the reader that you’ve carefully considered how the opportunity fits into your plans.
• Include a closing statement. End on a positive note and offer the reader a final explanation for why you would be a great match. For instance, “Thank you for reviewing my statement. I am confident my skills and experience align with the role and your company culture.”

Tip: Learn more about writing an effective conclusion with our handy guide . 

Different types of personal statements

Now you know how to write a personal statement, let’s look at what to focus on depending on your application type.

The length of your personal statement will vary depending on the type. Generally, it should be around 500 words to 650 words . However, a university application is often longer than a statement for a job, so it’s vital to determine what is expected of you from the beginning.

Whatever the length, it’s important to remove and edit content fluff , including any repetition or copy that does not relate to your prompt.

Personal statement checklist

Use this checklist to ensure that your statement includes: 

• An engaging introduction.
• Clear examples of your experiences, skills, and expertise. 
• A commitment to improvement, if required.
• Any applicable achievements. 
• A direct connection to the company or institution’s values.
• A strong conclusion that summarizes information without adding new content.
• Authentic, simple language.

Personal statements are an opportunity to delve deeper and share who you are beyond your grades or resume experience. Demonstrate your ability with anecdotes and examples, address any weaknesses, and remember to use genuine and simple language. This is your place to shine, so follow our tips while displaying your unique personality, and you’ll be sure to stand out from the crowd.

Want to get started and create a powerful introduction? Read our step-by-step guide .

What is the difference between a cover letter and a personal statement?

A cover letter expresses your interest in a position and introduces you to an employer. It’s typically shorter and focuses on your qualifications, skills, and experience for a particular role. A personal statement, however, is common for a job, internship, funding, or university application. It explores your background, goals, and aspirations, as well as your skills and experience.

What is the purpose of a personal statement?

A personal statement is an opportunity to stand out by detailing your background, experiences, and aspirations. It should explain why you are interested in and a good match for the company or institution you are applying to.

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How To Write A Personal Statement (With Examples)

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Whether you want to apply to colleges, graduate programs, or competitive jobs, writing a persuasive personal statement will give you a leg up over the other applicants. A personal statement gives you a chance to express your qualifications, motivations, and long-term objectives in a way that gets hiring managers and admissions boards excited to meet you.

No matter why you’re writing a personal statement, we’re here to help you stand out from the crowd.

Key Takeaways:

To write a personal statement, first brainstorm, then narrow down your ideas, and start with an intro that leads into your qualifications.

Make sure to proofread your personal statement before submitting.

Personal statements describe your interests, skills, and goals, with a particular focus on your passion.

Personal statements are typically found in academia, however some professional organizations may also request one.

What Is a Personal Statement?

How to write a personal statement, tips for writing a strong personal statement, questions to ask yourself when writing a personal statement, when do i need a personal statement, academic personal statement examples, professional personal statement example, personal statement faq.

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A personal statement is a written work that describes your skills, areas of interest, accomplishments, and goals. It is typically included with a college or scholarship application, and sometimes used as part of job applications as well.

Personal statements are a chance for you to show an admissions board or a hiring committee what makes you special outside of your resume . Think of it as an in-depth cover letter where you get to detail not only your skills, but why you’re so passionate about the subject.

Short of an interview, it’s the best way to show your personality in a way that (hopefully) convinces someone to hire or admit you.

When you’re ready to write your statement, there are a few ways you can approach it. We’re going to go over a seven-step process so you can keep your thoughts organized and work through a process. Feel free to switch up the method, so it works for you.

Understand the prompt. Before you put pen to paper, make sure you understand the prompt and what is being asked of you. If there’s a specific set of questions you need to respond to, make sure you frame your thinking that way instead of just choosing a topic.

Brainstorm. Think of some ideas and an outline before you start writing. Consider how you can answer the prompt you’re given and what unique experiences you can bring to the table. The more options you have, the better off you’ll be.

Narrow it down. An excellent way to pick your final approach to draft a statement would be to jot down a few sentences for each idea you had. This helps you tell what topic is easiest to write about or what you feel most confident. No matter how you narrow down your ideas, you need to settle on the strongest one to convey your qualifications.

Start with an intro. Once you’re ready to write, you’ll want to write your opening paragraph first. This is a chance for you to introduce yourself and let people know who you are. Try to keep this paragraph short since it’s just an intro, and you’ll have more space to get into your qualifications in the next paragraph.

Write about your qualifications. When you write about your skills, make sure you align them with the job description or the program’s goals or university.

You can expand this section to a few paragraphs (if word count allows) and be sure to cover your achievements, qualifications, skills, talents, goals, and what you can bring to the program or organization.

One to three body paragraphs should suffice, with scholarship and graduate school personal statements being the longest of the bunch, and job personal statements being the shortest.

Sum up your argument. Your statement is a persuasive argument for why the committee should pick you. It should be a compelling summary of your qualifications, and it should show that you have a clear desire to work for the company.

Proofread. Look for any spelling or grammar errors and check to make sure your writing is clear and concise. Cut out anything that doesn’t fit or help paint a good picture of what kind of student or employee you are. You might want to show your draft to a few people to ensure everything sounds right.

No matter what approach you take to writing your statement, a few things hold. We’ll give you some tips to make your statement stand out from the rest.

Write to your audience. Chances are you have a good idea of who will be reading your application and personal statement, so try to gear your writing toward them. Think of what will persuade or impress them and incorporate that into your writing.

Stay truthful. It might be tempting to exaggerate the truth or smudge a little bit, but make sure you stay truthful. If you claim to have skills or experience that you don’t have and land the job, it might be pretty easy to tell that your writing doesn’t exactly align with your experience.

Tell a story. If you can, try to weave your narrative into a story. Not only will it be more engaging for your reader, but it will also show if you can use your skill to create a story. It doesn’t need to be elaborate, but tying everything together into a narrative will impress your readers.

Use your voice. To make your statement more personal and unique, you should write in your voice. Don’t try to copy examples of statements you find or let your editor drown out what makes you unique. Make sure you keep your personality and qualifications front and center since it’s a personal statement.

Get specific. Instead of generally talking about skills you have, find ways to show your reader when you used those skills. Being specific and giving examples will make your argument more compelling and show your reader that you’re a master.

Use simple language. Since personal statements are so short, it’s not the time for long and complex sentences. Keep it concise and easy to read. You don’t want to risk confusing your reader since committees usually have a few minutes to consider your candidacy, and you don’t want to lose their attention.

Sometimes, especially during the brainstorm process, it can help to ask yourself questions to get your mind focused. These questions can help realize what you want to write in your personal statement.

Some questions you can ask yourself include:

“Why am I interested in this application? What about it makes me want to apply?”

“What are my strengths and weaknesses?”

“What type of work gets me excited and deeply engaged?”

“What is my life story and how does it relate to this application?”

“Where do I want to go?”

“Who do I want to be?”

“What have I learned from my past?”

“How can I explain my past experiences?”

“How would my friends and family describe me to a stranger?”

“What obstacles have I overcome and how does it make me who I am today?”

Asking yourself questions like these will open up your mind to new ideas on how to write your personal statement.

You may need to write a personal statement for a university, scholarship, or job application.

University application. When you’re writing a personal statement for a school application, you’ll usually have a few paragraphs to get your point across. These prompts tend to be more open-ended and give you a chance to explain why you want to attend that school, how you align with their program, and why you are an excellent fit for the school’s culture.

A personal statement for a graduate program needs to be much sharper and more focused. At this point in your education, you’re expected to know precisely where you’d like to turn your academic focus and be able to communicate that efficiently.

Scholarship application. When you need to write a personal statement for a grant or scholarship application, you want to make sure you align your values and purpose with the providers. These can be tricky to write, but they’re like a careful balance between personal statements for school and work.

Job application. For work-related personal statements, you’ll want to focus on your skills and qualifications more than your personality. Employers are more concerned with how you can meet their skill requirements. Professional personal statements tend to be shorter, so there’s less space to talk about anything but your qualifications.

Here are two examples of shorts personal statement for graduate program applications:

From the moment I stepped into the lab, smelled the clean scent of fresh lab coats, and saw the beakers glistening under the light, I felt an excitement to learn that hasn’t left me since. Each time I enter the lab, I feel the same flutter of my heart and a sense of purpose. I want to continue to chase this feeling while contributing to a broader scientific knowledge catalog, which I know the Graduate Biology Program at City University will allow me to do. I want to continue the research I started in college on communicable diseases while gaining a critical education. City University’s program emphasizes in-class and hands-on learning, a perfect combination for my learning style.

As a graduate of State University with a B.S. in Biology, I have the foundation to build my knowledge and experience. While at State University, I worked in a lab researching the efficacy of a new flu vaccine. There, I managed other student researchers, worked as a liaison between the professor running the lab and students and managed the data reports. I am ready to bring my extensive experience to City University classrooms while learning from my peers. I am eager to begin the coursework at City University, and I believe I am uniquely prepared to contribute to the campus culture and research efforts. I look forward to stepping into City University’s lab in the fall and feeling the familiar excitement that drives me to pursue a graduate program and learn more about public health.

If you need to write a professional personal statement, here’s a sample you can model yours after:

As a recent graduate of State University with a B.A. in Communications, I am prepared to take what I have learned in the classroom and bring my work ethic and go-getter attitude to ABC Company. I believe that I have the skills and experience to excel as a Marketing Coordinator from my first day. My classes in Digital Communication, Social Media Marketing, and Business Management and my work as Outreach Chair of the university newspaper have prepared me to take on responsibilities as I learn more about the field. I also believe that my dedication to animal welfare aligns with the ABC Company’s goal of finding loving homes for all of their foster pets and makes me especially interested in this position.

What do I write in a personal statement?

A personal statement should include an introduction, your relevant skills/experiences, and your goals. You want to keep your personal statement relevant for the program or job in question. Make sure to show your passion and indicate what you’d like to do with the degree or opportunity.

How do you start off a personal statement?

Start your personal statement by introducing yourself. Give a brief snapshot of your background that also describes why you’re passionate about this field or area of study in particular. Another powerful way to start off a personal statement is with a significant accomplishment that immediately speaks to your relevant skill set and experience.

What exactly is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a brief statement that sums up your qualifications. A personal statement is a brief written document that university admissions boards, scholarship programs, and sometimes hiring managers require from applicants. A personal statement’s purpose is to show the reader that you are qualified, fully invested in the aims of the program, and have plans for what you would do if granted the opportunity.

How do you write a 500-word personal statement?

To write a 500-word personal statement, start by writing without worrying about the word count. If your personal statement is too long, look for sentences that include skills, experiences, or qualifications that aren’t strictly related to the requirements or aims of the program/job you’re applying for and remove them.

If your personal statement is too short, go back to the program, scholarship, or job description. Make note of the preferred experiences and required skills. For example, if you’ve included a skill in your personal statement without experience to back it up, consider adding a brief story that shows you putting that skill into action.

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Amanda is a writer with experience in various industries, including travel, real estate, and career advice. After taking on internships and entry-level jobs, she is familiar with the job search process and landing that crucial first job. Included in her experience is work at an employer/intern matching startup where she marketed an intern database to employers and supported college interns looking for work experience.

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How To Write a Personal Statement for Job Searching

Madeleine Burry writes about careers and job searching for The Balance. She covers topics around career changes, job searching, and returning from maternity leave, and has been writing for The Balance since 2014.

Different Types of Personal Statements

What you should include, tips for writing a job search personal statement, examples of personal statements.

Kiyoshi Hijiki / Getty Images

What's a personal statement, and why do you need one when you're job searching? A job search personal statement is a place to share why you're interested in a position and why you're a good match.

In your statement, you can get a bit personal—use the space to share details and insights about yourself, and forge a connection with potential employers. Here are some tips on how to write a successful personal statement that will further your job search.

A personal statement may be included in your curriculum vitae  or CV. Much like an in-person elevator speech or the summary section within a resume, a CV personal statement highlights your objectives and abilities. Since a CV may stretch over several pages, this allows you to showcase must-see details from within the document. You'll want to write just a few sentences for a personal statement in a CV.  

Or, you may need to write a personal statement as part of a job application. This helps hiring managers to separate out candidates applying for every job in a category (e.g., putting in applications for any "production manager" position) from more engaged candidates, who are interested in the company.

Write something that matches the application's requested word count; if one isn't provided, aim for 250 to 500 words. Regardless of where it appears, your goal in a personal statement is the same: try to connect your background and goals with the job at hand.

In your personal statement, you want to make a connection between yourself and the position. Think of this as a three-part process:

• Share Some Details About Yourself: Who are you? You may say things like "Highly seasoned production manager" or "Recent graduate with honors."
• Highlight Your Most Relevant Experience and Talents and Share What You'd Bring to the Company: Think: "Strong, speedy writer capable of crafting ad copy that engages and enchants." or "In my years as a project manager, I've never let a detail slip; I've won internal awards for the best team player. My projects release on time and match requested specifications."
• Provide a Bit of Information About Your Career Goals: For instance, "Looking for a staff writer position" or "Eager for placement in a mid-sized firm as an audit supervisor" or "Seeking a position as a production assistant to further develop my skills in television and put my time management abilities to the test."

While it's called a personal statement, avoid over-sharing. Only include information that's relevant to the job at hand. That is if you're applying for a position as an accountant, no need to mention your goal of becoming a staff writer at a magazine.

Remember, the main goal of your personal statement is for it to further your job search.

Your personal statement should always be personalized—it's a mistake to reuse the same personal statement for every job you apply for. You don't need to write the personal statement from scratch each time—just make tweaks so it reflects the needs of the company and the qualities requested in the job description.

Here are more tips for writing a successful job search personal statement:

• Know Your Audience: Target your personal statement to a specific job position and company. Spend a bit of time researching the company to get a sense of what they're looking for in a candidate. Decode the job description so you understand the company's needs in a candidate. Take notes on where your qualifications are a good match for the position.
• Make Some Lists: What have you done that employers should know about? Make a list of your accomplishments (and keep in mind that while splashy awards are important, so too is reorganizing a chaotic system that gives everyone hives to make it user-friendly). Brainstorm a list of your talents as well as your soft, communication, and general skills.
• Go Long on Your First Draft—Then Cut It Down: Hopefully, your time spent thinking about the company's needs and what you have to offer has given you plenty of fodder to get started writing your personal statement. At this point, don't worry about length; write as much you want. Then, go back and edit—aim for a few sentences for a CV and around 250 to 500 words in an application. Cut unnecessary words and clichés that don't add meaning. Instead, use action verbs . While it's fine to write in the first person, avoid overusing the word "I." Try to vary the composition of sentences.
• Make It Targeted: You have lots of skills and interests and work experience. What you want to emphasize in one position is not necessarily what you want to highlight in another. If you are qualified as both a writer and an editor, choose which talent to call out in your personal statement—and make it the one that's most relevant to the job you want.

Here are some examples of personal statements to use as inspiration:

• I'm a seasoned accountant with CPA and CMA certification and more than 10 years of experience working in large firms. Oversaw audits and a department of ten. My positive attitude and detail-oriented spirit help ensure that month-end financial wrap-ups go smoothly and without any inaccuracies or fire drills. Looking for a leadership role in my next position.
• Recent college graduate with freelance writing experience at major print magazines as well as online outlets and the college newspaper. A strong writer who always meets deadlines, and matches the company tone and voice. In search of a staff writer position and eager to learn the magazine trade from the ground up.
• I'm an award-winning designer in children's clothes looking to make the transition to adult athletic year. At Company X, I developed a new line for toddlers and traveled to Asia to oversee production. I'm a fast learner and am eager for a new challenge in the growing field of athleisure.   

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CV Personal Statement Examples and Tips

Your personal statement is the first thing a recruiter or hiring manager will read when flicking through what will usually be a huge pile of CVs. With so much competition, you need a personal statement that grabs their attention for all the right reasons. But how do you write one? Here’s our guide along with a couple of personal statement examples for inspiration.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a concise paragraph that sits at the top of your CV just below your name and contact details and tells the reader why you would be a fantastic asset for their company. It should include a summary of your most relevant skills and experience and give the recruiter an insight into your ambitions and character.

Your personal statement should explain:

• Who you are
• Your suitability for the role and the value you can add
• Your career goals

Conveying all that information in just a few sentences is certainly not easy, but with research suggesting that recruiters spend an average of just six seconds reviewing each CV before deciding whether the applicant is a good fit, you must get it right.

How to write a winning personal statement for your CV

No one has your specific skills and experience, so your personal statement must be unique. However, there are some universal tips you can follow.

• Length, formatting and tone of voice

Probably the biggest challenge you’ll face when writing a personal statement for your CV is keeping it between 50 and 150 words, or around four or five lines of text. It should be clean and concise, formatted consistently and written in the same font and point size as the rest of your CV.

Personal statements can be written in the first (“I am a marine biologist”) or third-person (“Marine biologist looking for”), but whatever voice you choose, keep it consistent throughout your CV.

Recruiters read so much hyperbole and waffle that being honest and understated will help you stand out. This is not The Apprentice, so buzzwords, empty promises and meaningless metaphors should be avoided at all costs.

• Back up your claims

Cliches like ‘hard worker’ or ‘experienced’ are just empty words that recruiters see hundreds of times a day. Instead, establish your credentials with relevant vocational qualifications or professional memberships you have and quantify the level of experience you have. For example, “I am a RICS qualified surveyor with eight years’ experience working for a property development company”.

• Include statistics from your career

Including specific data or statistics in your personal statement will immediately make it stand out from the hundreds of others recruiters read every day. Metrics of success are far more memorable than simply listing your achievements. For example, “I introduced a new lead qualification tool that increased sales by 15 percent”.

• Remove pronouns in the third person

The personal statement on your CV is the one place where it’s okay to talk about yourself in the third person. However, using pronouns, for example, “he is a conscientious worker with 12 years of experience...” is a step too far. Instead, drop the pronouns, so that would become “A conscientious worker with 12 years of experience…”

Personal statement examples

Here are a few examples of personal statements to keep you on the right track and hopefully provide a little inspiration.

Written in the first person by a graduate looking for their first professional role.

I am a recent graduate with a first-class degree in economics, specialising in econometrics and international trade. I have commercial experience in the finance sector courtesy of an internship with a UK corporation, where I developed the technical data engineering skills you are looking for. I have a proven ability to meet deadlines and produce consistently high-quality work, as evidenced by my degree, and would relish the chance to develop my skills within your organisation.

Written in the third person by an experienced purchasing manager looking to climb the ladder.

Purchasing manager with 12 years of experience who wants to progress to a more senior role within the aviation industry. Has developed strong and lasting relationships during previous managerial positions in the sector and wants to put this strong network to good use to add value to your business.

Time to get hired

Writing a winning personal statement that you’re happy with and that summarises your skills and experience effectively in just a few lines will take time. However, using these tips and examples as a guide and editing your personal statement for every role is an important piece of the puzzle.

To hear Guardian Jobs reader Elia’s story and how her Personal Career Management programme helped land her ideal job watch the video .

Personal Career Management can offer you a  free review to assess your needs and to see which programme is right for you.

To book call Personal Career Management on 01753 888 995 or fill in the contact form .

Personal Career Management are Career Management Partners for the Guardian and are a specialist career coaching and outplacement company.

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Writing a Winning Personal Statement for a Job

Table of Contents

When you walk into a new place, your immediate instinct is to greet and introduce yourself to the people around you. This is the same way a job application works; you don’t want to shove your resume into the employer’s face. Let them know who you are and what you can do first by introducing your skills with a personal statement for a job . 

A personal statement is often the first thing employers read when reviewing your application, so it’s your opportunity to make an excellent first impression. This guide will teach you how to write an exceptional personal statement that will intrigue the recruiter.

What Is a Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a short document you write as part of your job application. It is a summary of your skills, experience, and accomplishments , often the first thing employers read when reviewing your application. This document highlights the qualities and experiences that make you a good fit for the job and explains why you’re interested in the position. 

A well-written personal statement can help you stand out from other job applicants and make a positive impression on potential employers. It also enables you to make a strong impression on employers and increase your chances of landing an interview and, ultimately, the job.

How Long Should a Personal Statement Be?

There is no standard length for a personal statement for a job. In general, it should be as long as it needs to be to highlight your skills, experience, and accomplishments effectively. But not so long that it becomes boring or challenging to read.

Your personal statement can be between one and two pages long. This should allow you to include enough information that provides an overview of your skills and experiences. But not so much that you overwhelm the reader.

It’s essential to keep in mind that a personal statement is not a replacement for your resume. It should complement your resume and provide enough information that showcases your skills and experiences without overwhelming the employer.

How to Write and Structure a Personal Statement

It’s essential to structure your statement in a clear, direct, and easy-to-read manner. The structure of your statement will depend on the specific requirements of the job you are applying for.

Here are some tips to note.

1. Start With an Introduction.

The introduction is your chance to grab readers’ attention and encourage them to keep reading. Start with something interesting, unique, and catchy to engage the employer and get them to read the entire piece.

2. Provide an Overview of Your Skills and Experience

Briefly summarize your skills and experiences. This could include any relevant education, training, or experience that makes you a good fit for the job. Keep it brief and to the point. Avoid including unnecessary detail.

3. Write Your Achievements

In your personal statement, you should also highlight your accomplishments. This could include any awards or recognition you have received, projects you have worked on. Or specific skills or experiences that set you apart from other candidates.

4. Write About Your Interest in the Job.

The next thing to write in your statement is why you are interested in the job and the company. This could include any specific reasons you are drawn to the industry, the company’s mission or values. Or any other factors that make the job appealing.

5. Write a Compelling Conclusion.

The conclusion of your statement is your final opportunity to make an impression on the employer. End with something memorable, such as a call to action or a statement of your future goals.

Tips for Writing a Personal Statement for a Job

Here are some important tips for writing a personal statement for a job:

• Research the company and the job. Before you begin writing your personal statement, it’s essential to do some research on the company and the job you are applying for. This will help you understand the company’s culture and values. And give you a better idea of what the recruiter is looking for in an applicant.
• Tailor your statement to the job. 
• Be direct in your statement 
• Use specific examples to engage the employer.
• Always proofread and edit your statement to ensure it is spelling and grammar error-free. 

Examples of Personal Statements for a Job

I am a highly motivated and organized individual with a passion for problem-solving and great attention to detail. A graduate of Administration with over five years of experience in customer service. Confident in my capability to excel in a fast-paced work environment. Skilled in communication, time management, and conflict resolution, and I am always looking for ways to improve processes and exceed expectations. I am excited about the privilege of joining your team and contributing to the success of your organization.

I am a graduate of [university name] with a degree in English Language and Literature. I have always been passionate about language and its ability to communicate ideas and emotions. During my time at the university, I developed strong writing skills and an understanding of the nuances of rhetoric. My experiences working as a proofreader for a publishing company have given me valuable experience dealing with different types of text production. From academic essays to brochures.

I am applying for the Output position at your company because it combines two things close to my heart: communication and technology. In this role, I would ensure that all material output from the company is error-free and meets established standards regarding style, grammar. My educational background and previous work experience make me perfectly suited for this job. I look forward to using my skills to contribute positively to your organization.

I am a highly accomplished and results-driven sales manager with over ten years of experience. I have a proven track record of driving growth and profitability in global and regional businesses. This is through innovative sales strategies, strong team leadership, and effective customer management.

My skills encompass all aspects of the sales process, from lead generation to contract negotiation and closing. I am also an expert at optimizing channel partnerships to maximize market reach. In addition to my technical expertise, I possess excellent communication skills that enable me to build relationships with clients. Driven by challenge and success, I am looking for a new opportunity to utilize my skill set to achieve my desired goals.

I am a highly motivated and skilled professional with over five years of experience in the retail industry. Eager to apply for the position of Manager at your company. My strong background in customer service and team leadership, and my passion for exceeding sales targets, make me a perfect fit for this role.

As Assistant Manager at XYZ Retail, I successfully implemented several initiatives that increased customer satisfaction and boosted sales. I developed and implemented a new training program for our sales team. This led to a 20% increase in sales within the first three months. Additionally, I was consistently recognized for building and maintaining solid relationships with customers, vendors, and other stakeholders.

I am excited to bring my experience and skills to your team and contribute to your company’s success. Thank you for considering my application. 

Wrapping Up

Your personal statement is your first impression on the employer , and a wrong first impression ruins everything. So take care to write a compelling and intriguing personal statement. Highlight your unique skills and capabilities that distinguish you from other applicants.

Ensure that your statement is direct, professional, and catchy enough to make the employer consider you for the job.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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CV personal statement examples

If you want to secure job interview, you need a strong personal statement at the top of your CV.

Your CV personal statement is a short paragraph which sits at the very top of your CV – and it’s aim is to summarise the benefits of hiring you and encourage employers to read your CV in full.

In this guide I have included 17 CV personal statement examples from a range of professions and experience levels, plus a detailed guide of how to write your own personal statement that will get you noticed by employers

CV templates 

17 CV personal statement examples

To start this guide, I have included 10 examples of good personal statements, to give you an idea of how a personal statement should look , and what should be included.

Note: personal statements are generally used by junior candidates – if you are experienced, check out our CV profile examples instead.

Graduate CV personal statement (no experience)

Although this  graduate has no paid work experience, they compensate for it by showcasing all of the skills and knowledge the have gained during their studies, and demonstrating how they apply their knowledge in academic and personal projects.

When you have little or no experience, it’s important to draw out transferable workplace skills from your studies and extracurricular work, to showcase them to employers.

Graduate CV personal statement (part time freelance experience)

This candidate has graduated with a degree in biochemistry but actually wants to start a career in digital marketing after providing some digital freelance services to fund their studies.

In this case, they haven’t made much mention of their studies because they aren’t relevant to the digital marketing agencies they are applying to. Instead they have focused their personal statement around their freelance work and passion for the digital field – although they still mention the fact they are degree educated to prove their academic success.

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School leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate is 16 years old and has no work experience whatsoever, but they compensate for this by detailing their academic achievements that relate to the roles they are applying for (maths and literacy are important requirements in finance and accountancy roles).

They also add some info on their extracurricular activities and school work-placements, to strengthen this student CV further.

    Top tips for writing a CV personal statement

• Thoroughly research the jobs and companies you are planning to apply for to identify the type of candidate they are looking for – try to reflect that in your personal statement
• Don’t be afraid to brag a little – include some of your most impressive achievements from education, work or personal life
• Focus on describing the benefits an employer will get from hiring you. Will you help them to get more customers? Improve their workplace? Save them time and money?
• If you have no work experience, demonstrate transferable workplace skills from your education, projects, or even hobbies

School leaver CV personal statement (part time experience)

Although this person has only just left school, they have also undertaken some part-time work in a call centre alongside their studies.

To make the most of this experience, they have combined their academic achievements with their workplace exposure in this personal statement.

By highlighting their GCSE results, summer programme involvement, work experience and expressing their ambitions to progress within sales, this candidate really makes an appealing case for hiring them.

College leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate has left college with good grades, but does not yet have any work experience.

To compensate for the lack of workplace exposure, they have made their A level results prominent and highlighted skills and experience which would benefit the employers they are targeting.

Any recruiter reading this profile can quickly understand that this candidate has great academic achievements, a passion for IT and finance and the ability to transfer their skills into an office environment.

College student CV personal statement (freelance experience)

As this student has picked up a small amount of freelance writing work during their studies, they have made sure to brag about it in their personal statement.

They give details on their relevant A level studies to show the skills they are learning, and boost this further by highlighting the fact that they have been applying these skills in a real-life work setting by providing freelance services.

They also include key action verbs that recruiters will be looking for , such as creative writing, working to deadlines, and producing copy.

Academic CV personal statement

Aside from junior candidates, the only other people who might use a personal statement, are academic professionals; as their CV’s tend to be more longer and detailed than other professions.

This candidate provides a high level overview of their field of study, length of experience, and the roles they have held within universities.

School leaver CV personal statement with and sports experience

Although this person has no work experience, they are still able to show employers the value of hiring them by selling their other achievements and explaining how they could benefit an organisation.

They expand on their sports club involvement to demonstrate their teamwork, leadership skills, communication and motivation, which are all important traits in the workplace, and will be looked upon favourably by recruiters and hiring managers.

They also draw upon their future plans to study business studies and take a part time job, to further prove their ambition and dedication.

History graduate CV personal statement

This history graduate proves their aptitude for both academic achievement and workplace aptitude by showcasing valuable skills from their degree and voluntary work.

They do this by breaking down the key requirements for each and showing how their skills could be beneficial for future employers, such as listening, communication, and crisis management.

They also describe how their ability to balance studies alongside voluntary work has not only boosted their knowledge and skills, but also given excellent time management and organisational skills – which are vital assets to any employer.

Law graduate CV personal statement

This legal graduate makes the most from their work university work placements by using it to bulk out the contents of their CV personal statement.

They include their degree to show they have the necessary qualifications for legal roles, which is crucial, but more importantly, they showcase how they applied their legal skills within a real-life work setting.

They give a brief overview of the types of legal professionals they have been working alongside and the type of work they have been carrying out – this is all it takes to get the attention of recruiters and show employers they have what it takes to fulfil roles in the legal sector.

Medical student CV personal statement

This medical student proves their fit for the role by showcasing the key skills they have gained from their studies and their work experience placements.

In just these few sentences, they are able to highlight the vast amount of experience they have across different disciplines in the industry, something which is particularly important in the medical sector.

As they have not graduated yet and are still studying, they have provided proof of their most recent grades. This can give the recruiter some indication as to the type of grade they could be graduating with in the near future.

Masters student CV personal statement

This masters student has started by specifying their area of study, in this case, accounting, and given details about the specific areas of finance they are most interested in. This can hint towards their career goals and passions.

They have then carefully listed some of the key areas of accounting and finance that they are proficient in. For example, business finance, advanced corporate finance and statistics.

They have also outlined some of the transferable skills needed for accounting roles that employers will be looking out for, such as communication, attention to detail and analytical skills.

Finance student CV personal statement

As this finance student has recently undertaken some relevant work experience, they’ve made sure to shout about this in their personal profile.

But more than this, they have included a list of some of the important finance skills they gained as a result of this work experience – for example, financial reporting, processing invoices and month-end reconciliations.

Plus, through power words and phrases such as ‘prevent loss’ and ‘ improve upon accuracy and efficiency’, they have also showcased how they can apply these skills in a workplace setting to benefit the potential employer.

Internship  CV personal statement

This digital marketing professional has started their personal profile by outlining their most relevant qualifications and work experience, most notably their freelance role as a content manager.

They have also provided examples of some of the key marketing skills that potential employers might be looking for, including very detailed examples of the platforms and tools they are proficient in – for example, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.

They have then closed their statement by giving a detailed description of the type of role or opportunity they are looking for. In this case, an in-house position in a marketing company.

Graduate career changer personal statement

Switching careers as a graduate can be tough. Especially when it comes to writing a personal statement that will attract employers in your new chosen field.

This candidate is looking to move from history teaching into journalism, so they have created a statement which briefly mentions their current workplace, but mainly focuses on highlighting transferable skills which are relevant to journalism. They achieve this by discussing the writing skills they use in their current role, and mentioning their hobby of writing – including some publications they have been featured in for extra brownie points.

Business management graduate personal statement

This business management proves their ability to work within a junior business management position by swiftly highlighting their impressive degree (to ensure it is not missed) and summarising some of the real-life experience they have gained in management during their university placements and volunteering. They do not let their lack of paid work experience, stop them demonstrating their valuable skills.

PhD graduate

PhD graduate roles attract a lot of competition, so it’s important that your CV contains a personal statement that will quickly impress and attract recruiters.

This candidate provides a short-but-comprehensive overview of their academic achievements, whilst demonstrating their exceptional level of knowledge in research, languages and publication writing.

By highlighting a number of skills and abilities that are in high-demand in the academic workplace, this CV is very likely to get noticed and land interviews.

How to write a personal statement for your CV

Now that you’ve seen what a personal statement should look like and the type of content it should contain, follow this detailed guide to one for your own CV – and start racking those interviews up.

Guide contents

What is a CV personal statement?

Cv personal statement or cv profile, personal statement format, what to include in a cv personal statement.

• Personal statement mistakes

How to write persuasively

A personal statement is a short paragraph at the top of your CV which gives employers an overview of your education, skills and experience

It’s purpose is to capture the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers when your CV is first opened – encouraging them to read the rest of it.

You achieve this by writing a tailored summary of yourself that explains your suitability for the roles you are applying for at a very high level, and matches your target job descriptions .

One question candidates often ask me is , “what is the difference between a personal statement and a CV profile?”

To be honest, they are almost the same – they are both introductory paragraphs that sit at the top of your CV… but there are 2 main differences

A personal statement tends to be used more by junior candidates (graduates, school leavers etc.) and is relatively long and detailed.

A CV profile tends to be favoured by more experienced candidates , and is shorter in length than a personal statement.

Note: If you are an experienced candidate, you may want to switch over to my CV profile writing guide , or example CV profiles page.

To ensure you grab recruiters’ attention with your personal statement, lay it out in the following way.

Positioning

You need to ensure that your personal statement sits at the very top of your CV, and all of it should be totally visible to readers, without the need to scroll down the page.

Do this by reducing the top page margin and minimising the space taken up by your contact details.

This will ensure that your whole personal statement can be seen, as soon as your CV is opened.

We have a Word CV template which can help you to get this right.

Size/length

Your personal statement needs to contain enough detail to provide an introduction to your skills and knowledge, but not so much detail that it bores readers.

To strike the right balance, anything between 8-15 lines of text is perfect – and sentences should be sharp and to-the-point.

As with the whole of your CV or resume , your personal statement should be written in a simple clean font at around size 10-12 to ensure that it can be read easily by all recruiters and employers.

Keep the text colour simple , ensuring that it contrasts the background (black on white is best) and break it into 2 or even 3 paragraphs for a pleasant reading experience.

It should also be written in a punchy persuasive tone, to help you sell yourself and increase your chances of landing interviews , I cover how to do this in detail further down the guide.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional CV templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Once you have the style and format of your personal statement perfected, you need to fill it with compelling content that tells recruiters that your CV is worth reading.

Here’s what needs to go into your personal statement…

Before you start writing your personal statement, it’s crucial that you research your target roles to find out exactly what your new potential employers are looking for in a candidate.

Run a search for your target jobs on one of the major job websites , look through plenty of adverts and make a list of the candidate requirements that frequently appear.

This research will show you exactly what to include in your personal statement in order to impress the recruiters who will be reading it.

Education and qualifications are an important aspect of your personal statement, especially if you are a junior candidate.

You should highlight your highest and most relevant qualifications, whether that is a degree, A levels or GCSEs. You could potentially go into some more detail around modules, papers etc. if they are relevant to the roles you are applying for.

It’s important that you discuss the experience you have gained in your personal statement, to give readers an idea of the work you are comfortable undertaking.

This can of course be direct employed work experience, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can also include:

• School/college Uni work placements
• Voluntary work
• Personal projects
• Hobbies/interests

As with all aspects of your CV , the content should be tailored to match the requirements of your target roles.

Whilst discussing your experience, you should touch upon skills used, industries worked in, types of companies worked for, and people you have worked with.

Where possible, try to show the impact your actions have made. E.g . A customer service agent helps to make sales for their employer.

Any industry-specific knowledge you have that will be useful to your new potential employers should be made prominent within your personal statement.

For example

• Knowledge of financial regulations will be important for accountancy roles
• Knowledge of IT operating systems will be important for IT roles
• Knowledge of the national curriculum will be important for teachers

You should also include some information about the types of roles you are applying for, and why you are doing so. Try to show your interest and passion for the field you are hoping to enter, because employers want to hire people who have genuine motivation and drive in their work.

This is especially true if you don’t have much work experience, as you need something else to compensate for it.

CV personal statement mistakes

The things that you omit from your personal statement can be just as important as the things you include.

Try to keep the following out of your personal statement..

Irrelevant info

Any information that doesn’t fall into the requirements of your target roles can be cut out of your personal statement. For example, if you were a professional athlete 6 years ago, that’s great – but it won’t be relevant if you’re applying to advertising internships, so leave it out.

Generic clichés

If you are describing yourself as a “ dynamic team player with high levels of motivation and enthusiasm” you aren’t doing yourself any favours.

These cliché terms are vastly overused and don’t provide readers with any factual details about you – so keep them to a minimum.

Stick to solid facts like education, skills , experience, achievements and knowledge.

If you really want to ensure that your personal statement makes a big impact, you need to write in a persuasive manner.

So, how do you so this?

Well, you need to brag a little – but not too much

It’s about selling yourself and appearing confident, without overstepping the mark and appearing arrogant.

For example, instead of writing.

“Marketing graduate with an interest in entering the digital field”

Be creative and excite the reader by livening the sentence up like this,

“Marketing graduate with highest exam results in class and a passion for embarking on a long and successful career within digital”

The second sentence is a much more interesting, makes the candidate appear more confident, throws in some achievements, and shows off a wider range of writing skills.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Your own personal statement will be totally unique to yourself, but by using the above guidelines you will be able to create one which shows recruiters everything they need.

Remember to keep the length between 10-20 lines and only include the most relevant information for your target roles.

You can also check our school leaver CV example , our best CV templates , or our library of example CVs from all industries.

Good luck with the job hunt!

Personal Statement vs Cover Letter: A Guide

Personal statements and cover letters are both valuable documents for your job applications. Either document can accompany your CV and help to convince the recruiter or hiring manager that you’re right for the job. In this article, we’ll discuss personal statements vs cover letters, comparing the differences between each document, outlining their uses and providing a guide to writing a strong example of each.

Understanding the Purpose of a Personal Statement or Cover Letter

The purpose of both a personal statement and a cover letter is similar. Both documents supplement your CV with useful additional information intended to persuade the employer that you’re a suitable candidate. Most modern CV examples are short, concise documents, so either a personal statement or cover letter can be useful for greater detail.

While the purpose of both the personal statement and cover letter are similar, their uses are different. A personal statement is distinct from a CV summary or CV objective, both of which are sections of the CV itself. It usually takes the form of a separate document, essaying your career highlights, skills, experiences and objectives. It tends to be a more personal document than a CV or cover letter, and it can be useful for speculative applications where you’re seeking to introduce yourself to a company.

On the other hand, a cover letter is a professional introduction that accompanies your CV for formal, specific job applications. While your cover letter can contain similar details to your personal statement, the format and structure of the letter is different.

Key Differences Between a Personal Statement and a Cover Letter

These key differences between a personal statement and a cover letter can help you decide which is most suitable for your job applications:

The primary purpose of a personal statement is to express your core values, ethics and strengths in a short, personal story about your life and career. These tend to be used as an introduction to speculative applications. They’re also often used for academic applications and graduate roles. Cover letters, on the other hand, are formal letters accompanying your CV for advertised positions.

Target audience

You’ll usually send your cover letter to a known contact who’s handling the hiring process. This could be a recruiter, an HR manager or a manager within the department you’re applying to work in. Personal statements may be addressed speculatively to heads of department, directors or managers within a company, although it’s still always best to obtain the name of the person you’re sending it to.

Personal statements are essays that delve into your motivations, objectives, values and key qualities. They give you the chance to really express what’s important to you in your career, and what you hope to achieve. Cover letters usually afford some space for this type of content, but they also include various pleasantries and formalities associated with formal job applications.

Length and structure

While there can be some scope for differences in length between a cover letter and personal statement, it’s important to keep both as concise as possible. A cover letter is typically three short paragraphs. A personal statement can be a little longer and more detailed, but a length of four or five paragraphs will usually suffice.

Expert Tip:

Although personal statements are often more speculative than cover letters, you should still write yours with a specific job in mind. This can help you to remain focused with the content of your statement, to make a more compelling case to hiring managers about your credentials and suitability.

Writing an Effective Cover Letter

Cover letter templates typically include the sections outlined below. Follow this guide to ensure your cover letter has the structure and content to make a strong impression with hiring managers:

• Letter header: include your name, phone number, email address and postal address.
• Date: add the date you’re sending the letter.
• Hiring manager’s name and organisation details/address: address the letter to the hiring manager by name, if you have it. Include the company name and address.
• Greeting: greet the hiring manager by name if you know it (for example, ‘Dear Julia Lucas’). If you don’t know their name, use their job title (for example, ‘Dear HR Manager’), or simply ‘Dear hiring manager’.
• Introductory paragraph: in your first paragraph, confirm the role and mention where you saw it advertised. Briefly mention why you think you’re suitable for the role, how it fits with your career ambitions and why you’re keen to work with the organisation.
• Description of your qualities: in the second paragraph, explain how your experience and skills make you a strong fit for the role. Pick out one or two examples of achievements and successes in previous roles and highlight some of the key strengths you can bring to the role.
• Closing paragraph and call to action: finish the letter by expressing your gratitude and enthusiasm, and adding a call to action. This is typically an invitation for the hiring manager to contact you to arrange an interview, or to discuss the details of your application further.
• Sign off: use a conventional, formal letter sign-off to complete your letter. If you know the name of the hiring manager, use ‘Yours sincerely’. If you don’t know their name, use ‘Yours faithfully’. Sign your letter by hand or using a digital signature.

Example Cover Letter

Harry Boardman 27 Cuckoo Lane Bristol BS1 3EF

Joanne Saunders Head of HR Abacus Logistics

Dear Joanne,

I’m writing to apply for the role of Account Manager, as advertised in Transport Monthly’s June 2024 edition. I’m particularly interested in working for your organisation owing to its excellent reputation for developing staff and providing clear career pathways.

I joined Howells Transport and Logistics as an Account Executive in 2013, moving to Account Management in 2018. Since then, I’ve contributed to the ongoing growth of the company by building exceptional customer relations, increasing repeat business by 38%. My commitment to providing high-quality, reliable shipping and logistics solutions has helped Howells win the South West Transport Awards ‘Logistics Provider of the Year’ twice in the past five years.

Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome the chance to discuss the role further. Please don’t hesitate to contact me to arrange an interview, or for any clarification about my application. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely, Harry Boardman

“The purpose of both a personal statement and a cover letter is similar. Both documents supplement your CV with useful additional information intended to persuade the employer that you’re a suitable candidate."

Crafting a Persuasive Personal Statement

As its name suggests, a personal statement can be a more personal document than a cover letter, which sticks to more formal letter-writing conventions. Follow this structure to create a compelling, persuasive personal statement:

Personal values and career objectives

Open your personal statement with an expression of your values and career objectives. This will help the employer to quickly understand your personality, the qualities you can bring to the organisation and how well you’ll fit in based on your career stage and what you hope to achieve.

Key skills and experience

In the next paragraph, provide a summary of your career to date, highlighting the key experiences you’ve had and the skills you’ve developed. Focus on the skills and experience required for the type of role you’d like to be considered for. Use strong verbs and active voice to keep this section focused, concise and impactful for the reader.

Express enthusiasm and gratitude

Use your third paragraph to express your enthusiasm for the organisation and the potential opportunities they might have for you. Explain why you want to work for the organisation, referencing their reputation and any types of work they’re known for.

Call to action

A call to action for a personal statement may be slightly more vague than it is for a cover letter. Mention that you’d be happy to meet or connect for an informal discussion about yourself, the organisation and any current or potential future opportunities.

Example Personal Statement

As a creative, innovative web designer, I’m keen to pursue opportunities to work for organisations that think differently and aren’t afraid to challenge the industry status quo. I’ve always sought to bring a fresh, vibrant energy to my design projects, and I’m hopeful of finding opportunities within your organisation that align with my priorities.

My experience includes four years’ working as a principal web designer for Almendra Web Design, a boutique web agency based in Manchester.  Working as part of a small team of designers and developers, we advocate for simple, beautiful apps that have a clear, stated purpose and deliver an unrivalled user experience. This stripped-back approach has enabled us to outmanoeuvre larger agencies and win major contracts with clients in the tech, retail and fashion industries.

For me, good design is characterised first and foremost by clarity and simplicity. My web design projects always start by defining the purpose and desired outcomes of the project in the clearest terms. I then strive to create simple, effective design concepts that deliver on the brief and provide developers with a strong framework to build upon. As a team, Almendra has been recognised by the Greater Manchester Business Awards as the city’s best medium-sized web agency.

I would be extremely interested in discussing my experience further with you, and how it might fit with your organisation. If you have any roles you believe are a good fit for my experience and skill set, or if you’d just like to discuss future potential opportunities for collaboration, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Key Takeaways for Personal Statement vs Cover Letter

Whether you’re writing a personal statement or a cover letter, remember to keep it concise and focused on the role you’re applying for. Use strong verbs and include examples of your achievements, while explaining your career motivations and objectives. Jobseeker offers a wealth of tools to help you craft the perfect job application. Find CV templates to easily create a winning CV. Read CV articles to understand how to make a better impression with employers. You can also access cover letter articles and resources to increase your chances of job application success.

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• Degrees and Programs

Finding Fit: A Roadmap to Graduate School

November 2019

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APA’s Finding Fit webinar series breaks down the graduate program application process into clear, logical and manageable steps.   

In his presentation, you’ll learn how to write a personal statement using the reverse pyramid approach. In addition, you’ll learn what to include and what to leave out of your statement.

This program does not offer CE credit.

Greg J. Neimeyer, PhD

Director of the Continuing Education Office and the Center for Learning and Career Development, APA.

More in this series

Learn the primary purpose of the graduate interview, the kinds of questions that you will be asked and the critical things that you can do to maximize your chances of getting into the graduate programs of your choice.

January 2020 On Demand Webinar

Learn how many letters of recommendation you’ll need, who you should (or should not) ask to write your letters and what information those letters should ideally contain.

November 2019 On Demand Webinar

Learn about the differences between graduate psychology degrees and types of training, the different types of training environments, the primary training outcomes and goals of different types of programs, and APA accreditation.

October 2019 On Demand Webinar

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What is the Personal Statement: It is an important part of the university application or even some scholarships require it.

By writing the personal statement, the student reflects his ambitions and purpose in studying the particular major at the university.

It also explains the student’s hopes after graduating from university and how to use this degree to achieve his own dreams and help the surrounding community.

The personal statement is the first opportunity for the student to reflect his passion for studying the major he wants at the university, and here lies the importance of the personal statement.

How to write a personal statement

Start writing your personal statement with a brief, professional summary of yourself. Think of it as an oversized bite that sums up who you are. Always start with the following:

• Your job aspirations
• Why did you become interested in studying your desired specialty?
• Talk about practical experience related to the program and specialization you have chosen
• What subjects interested you in your previous studies and how did they help you choose your chosen major?
• Why you want to study at the university you are applying to
• Talking about anything else helps highlight your personality and positive energy in achieving your dreams and helping your community. Talking about real experience in hobby clubs, volunteer work, or speaking scientifically about your specialty increases the likelihood of drawing attention to your personal statement and getting accepted into the university. 

Examples of writing the beginning and subject personal statement

• A media and broadcasting professional with five years of experience working in digital media.
• A highly creative broadcast expert who recently completed a master's degree in videography as well as four years of experience across digital media.
• Experienced web developer with extensive knowledge of web languages, including XHTML, CSS, PHP and JavaScript.
• An outgoing, sociable and well presented Store Assistant with a passion for first class customer service and three years previous experience in a busy high end fashion store.
• A skilled and adaptable builder who specializes in masonry works as well as roofing, plastering, plumbing, woodwork and demolition.
• A articulate and self-motivated Customer Service Specialist with three years' experience in the banking and financial services sectors.

How should I end a statement of purpose – Personal Statement

• Your personal statement should end with your goal. It is an opportunity to conclude your statement with an explanation of why you want to study for this role and why you are the best candidate.
• “Looking for a start in the exciting world of electrical engineering where I can learn a trade and fulfill a lifelong ambition.”
• Hoping to find my next challenge in the world of marketing, and grow my digital portfolio within an innovative and exciting company.”
• “I look forward to starting my career in journalism in a role where I can build on the skills gained at university and work experience.”

Your personal statement should end with your goal. It's an opportunity to conclude your statement with an explanation of why you want the role and why you are the best candidate.

Examples of writing the end of a personal statement

How many words are required to write a personal statement.

• The average words for a bachelor’s program student is between 400 and 600 words.
• Some master's programs require a personal statement of 1,000 words. 

You should avoid exceeding the number of words required by the university because the application review staff reviews a huge amount of personal data. Therefore, the more brief and purposeful the personal statement is within the required number of words, the greater the likelihood of you being accepted by the university. 

Mistakes when writing a personal statement?

• The personal statement is too short or too long
• The personal statement does not contain the required information or contains negative information
• Written inconsistency of the content of the personal statement.

Tips for writing a personal statement in a professional manner

We've compiled our list of key do's and don'ts to help you create the perfect personal statement.

• Grab the reader's attention by adopting a polite, professional, and positive tone
• Keep the personal statement short, concise, and within the recommended length.
• Include a brief overview of your career history.
• Highlight in the personal statement key areas of expertise
• Include basic skills in the personal statement.
• Determine the type of role you are looking for.
• Avoid clichés. Filling your personal statement with ready-made clichés makes your application impersonal and boring
• Use the language of the job description.
• Do not include unnecessary personal information.
• Don't talk about your flaws!
• Don't lie or exaggerate - you will find out.

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How to Write a Great Personal Brand Statement (With Examples)

Personal branding is a key tool in the digital age. It helps you stand out in your career, business, and relationships. One powerful tool for personal branding is the personal brand statement.

A personal branding statement focuses on your skills, strengths, values, and goals. It's a snapshot of who you are and what you can offer, showcasing your unique story, passions, and expertise.

Using a good personal branding strategy, you can present your true self, build trust, and make a lasting impression. A solid personal brand statement also guides your actions and decisions, aligning them with your values and goals.

In this article, we'll explore personal brand statements. We'll examine why they're important, their key parts, and how to create an impactful statement that shows off your unique personal brand. We'll also talk about tips and strategies for using personal brand statements to help you succeed professionally and personally.

What is a Personal Brand Statement?

Why is personal branding important, the pillars of a strong personal branding statement, strong personal brand statement examples, tips & techniques for creating strong personal brands, common mistakes to avoid when crafting a personal brand statement, integrating your successful personal brand statement into your professional life, updating and maintaining your personal brand statement.

To answer the question “What is personal branding?” you should know what a personal brand statement is. Likewise, it is also vital for you to know the answer to the question, ‘ Why is personal branding important ?'.

First of all, here is the personal branding definition. This succinct and compelling declaration encapsulates your unique attributes, professional goals, and values. It serves as a concise summary of who you are, what you excel at, and what sets you apart from others in your field.

So, what is the importance of personal branding ? A solid personal brand statement is like a spotlight on your career. It shows you're an expert in your field.

It's like a special tool that helps you stand out in a tough job market. It draws in potential bosses or customers and enables you to find great job opportunities.

Creating a clear and straightforward personal branding statement shows others who you are as a professional and what you can do. This can help people remember you and can lead to exciting new chances.

Personal branding helps you grow in your career. When you think carefully about your personal brand and share it with others, you can make yourself stand out from everyone else in your job field.

Standing out can help you get new opportunities, meet influential people, and get your desired jobs. Personal branding lets you show off what makes you special, like your unique skills, strengths, and knowledge. This helps employers, clients, or partners see you as valuable.

On top of that, your own personal brand affects how others see you. How you show yourself and your personal brand shapes what others think of you.

A well-thought-out personal brand can make people think well of you, trust you, and see you as a credible professional. This positive image can lead to more chances to advance in your career, work with others, and grow.

To sum it up, personal brands are important for career development because it helps you stand out and show your unique value. It also influences how others see you, giving you new opportunities and help you grow professionally.

By investing time and effort in personal branding, you can control how people see you professionally, shape your reputation, and set yourself up for success in your chosen field.

A strong personal branding statement is built upon several key pillars:

• Authenticity - This forms the core of your personal brand. You create a genuine, relatable brand that resonates with others by staying true to yourself and your values.
• Clarity - This means being able to show what's unique about you. Having a short and clear personal branding statement helps people see what makes you different.
• Relevance - This is about making your personal brand match what people expect from you. You can make a strong connection if you know what people need and shape your message to that.

Last is consistency . This is about always being the same and keeping your promises. This helps build trust and makes you seem reliable. This can make your personal brand stronger. If you keep clarity, relevance, and consistency in mind, you can make a personal brand statement that shows who you are and leaves a lasting impact.

Your personal branding statement is the foundation that sets you apart, defining your unique qualities, aspirations, and value proposition.

Here are ten successful personal branding examples for your reference.

• "I am a visionary leader passionate about driving social impact through technology innovation."
• "As a marketing strategist, I specialise in helping companies build powerful brands that captivate audiences and drive business growth."
• "I am a certified fitness coach dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve their health and wellness goals through personalised training and nutrition plans."
• "Combining my love for design and sustainability, I create eco-friendly and stylish home decor that brings beauty and conscious living together."
• "I am a sought-after keynote speaker who inspires and motivates audiences to unlock their full potential and embrace personal growth.
• "I am a creative problem solver passionate about crafting compelling brand stories that connect businesses with their target audiences."
• "As a financial advisor, I empower individuals and families to take control of their financial well-being through personalised strategies and sound investment advice."
• "I am a technology evangelist dedicated to simplifying complex concepts and helping others confidently navigate the digital landscape."
• "With a background in psychology and a passion for personal development, I guide individuals in overcoming limiting beliefs and unlocking their true potential."
• "As a seasoned project manager, I thrive in dynamic environments, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful results on time and within budget."

These examples provide us with key insights into effective personal brand statements. Firstly, they are concise and focused, conveying a clear and specific message.

Secondly, they highlight your unique skills, passions, and expertise. They also showcase your value to the respective fields and the audience it serves. Lastly, these examples demonstrate the power of combining personal authenticity with a clear value proposition to create memorable and impactful personal brand statements.

Here are some tips and tricks to make an effective personal brand statement .

Start with self-reflection . Think about what makes you unique, what you're passionate about, and what you value. This helps you create a personal brand that's true to you.

Next, try understanding your target audience. If you know what they need and expect, you can shape your statement to connect with them.

When crafting your strong personal brand statement , keep it short and clear. Focus on what makes you unique. Using a story can make your statement more interesting and connect with people on an emotional level.

Lastly, refinement is vital. Check it regularly to ensure it matches your brand and connects with your audience. Getting feedback from people you trust can help you improve it over time.

Using these personal branding tips and techniques can help you make a personal brand statement that captures who you are, connects with your audience, and sets you apart.

Crafting a strong personal brand statement is crucial for success, but it's easy to stumble into common mistakes that can weaken your impact. To avoid these pitfalls, take note of the following common mistakes in writing a personal branding statement.

• Lack of clarity: Your personal branding statement should be concise and to the point. Avoid using jargon or ambiguous language that might confuse your audience.
• Being too generic: Avoid using generic and clichéd phrases that don't differentiate you from others. Your statement should highlight your specific strengths, skills, and values.
• Overemphasis on job titles: Don't focus solely on your job title or current role. Instead, highlight the skills, expertise, and achievements that make you stand out.
• Overpromising: Be authentic in your statement. Avoid making grandiose claims or promises that you cannot deliver on.
• Neglecting your target audience: Tailor your personal branding statement to the audience you want to reach. Consider what they value and how you can meet their needs.
• Lack of consistency: Ensure that your branding statement aligns with your overall personal brand across all platforms and communications.
• Ignoring feedback: Be open to feedback from peers, mentors, or friends. They can offer valuable insights and help you refine your statement.
• Neglecting your unique qualities: Identify and highlight what distinguishes you. Your statement should reflect your authentic self and what makes you unique.
• Being too self-centered: While your personal branding statement is about you, focus on how your skills and expertise can benefit others and add value.
• Ignoring your online presence: In today's digital age, your personal branding statement should be consistent with your online presence and social media profiles.
• Being too lengthy: Keep your branding statement concise. Aim for a few sentences or a short paragraph that captures the essence of your brand. ⁠

Using your personal brand statement professionally can help you make a solid and lasting impression. Here's how you can do it:

• Online Presence: Put your personal brand statement on your social media platforms, website, or professional bio. This way, anyone who sees your online profiles will know what you're all about.
• Networking: Use your brand statement when meeting new people at events or meetings. It's a quick and easy way to introduce yourself and tell people what separates you.
• Actions: Make sure what you do matches what you say in your personal brand statement. This shows you're genuine and builds trust with your coworkers.

Using your personal brand statement in these ways can create a solid personal brand that helps boost your professional success and connects you with others in your industry.

Keeping your personal brand statement up-to-date is important. This makes sure it still fits your career path and values. As you grow in your career, your personal brand should change and grow too.

Make sure to check and update your personal brand statement frequently. This makes sure it still talks about your goals, values, and skills in the right way. Remember to include any new things you've learned or achievements earned.

By evolving your personal brand statement as you progress in your career, you can keep your personal brand powerful and put yourself in a good spot for future success.

An excellent personal brand statement is critical in today's work world. It's a strong and concise way to show people what makes you unique and what you can bring to the table.

As you work on your personal brand, remember four key things - being true to yourself, clear, relevant, and consistent. Understand who you are and your audience, and use effective writing techniques . This will help you make a compelling personal brand statement that sticks with people.

Lastly, stay away from things like being untrue about yourself, being unclear or too complicated, not thinking about your audience, and not being consistent. Instead, make sure your personal brand is genuine, clear, relevant, and consistent.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• How often should I update my personal brand statement? ⁠You should check and change your personal brand statement at least once a year or when big things change in your work, goals, or skills. Regular checks ensure your personal brand statement stays up-to-date with your work journey. ⁠
• Should my personal and professional brand statements differ? ⁠Your personal and work brand statements may overlap, but they can be different. Personal statements often share your interests and beliefs. Professional statements usually highlight your job skills and expertise. ⁠
• What is the ideal length of a personal brand statement? ⁠A good personal brand statement is short, usually one to three sentences. Aim for a clear, strong message that effectively shows and tells your unique value. ⁠
• How can I make my personal brand statement stand out? ⁠Discuss your special strengths, experiences, or viewpoints to make your brand statement stand out. Include specific examples or achievements that show your expertise and what makes you different from others in your work. Adding a touch of creativity or storytelling to your personal brand statement can also make it more memorable. ⁠
• Do I need a personal brand statement if I'm a student or a recent graduate? ⁠ Yes, having a personal brand statement is beneficial regardless of your experience level. As a student or recent graduate, your brand statement can highlight your educational background, relevant skills, internships, or projects demonstrating your potential and passion for your chosen field. It sets the foundation for building your professional identity and helps you stand out in a competitive job market.

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