3 Easy Steps to Writing a Successful Personal Statement for Your CV
A personal statement, also known as a personal profile, conveys who you are and why you would be the best fit for the job.
Simple as this may sound, it can be a tricky task to get right.
And with it being the first section of your CV that employers see, it’s important you take the time to nail this quick introduction of yourself.
But not to worry. Here at Jump, we’re confident we can give you the advice you need to write a stand-out personal statement that hooks the employer’s attention and ensures they grab the bait!
So, buckle in and let’s get started…
What is a Personal Statement?
A personal statement is a small paragraph that sits at the top of your CV which provides the employer with a concise overview of:
- Who you are
- Your suitability for the job
- Your career goals
Essentially, a personal statement is a powerful overview of you as a professional. You are offering the employer a summary of what you have to offer in relation to the job you’re applying for, but in a very condensed form.
Albeit a small section of your CV, a good personal statement is paramount to your application’s success.
Think of it as the blurb of your professional career. If done right, it will make your application stand-out from the crowd and ultimately increase your chances of landing an interview.
So, now that we’ve got to grips with the what and why, let’s dive into how you go about writing a personal statement.
Voice, Formatting and Length
Tone of Voice
Your personal statement is the part of your CV which allows the employer to get to know you, so be sure to write it in your own voice.
Using your own words to describe yourself and your skills makes your statement feel less robotic and more unique to you. You want to bring your statement to life as much as possible — but be sure to keep it consistent with the rest of your CV.
Formatting
On the subject of consistency, it’s important to ensure that your personal statement’s entire formatting is in line with the rest of your CV’s format.
To put it simply: your manner of voice, layout and style should remain the same throughout.
Length
Employer’s have many personal statements to read through in a day, so having a statement which is compact and scannable will score you some easy brownie points.
As a reference, try to make sure your personal statement is around 50–200 words.
Remember, this is a quick summary which demonstrates why you’re the best fit for the job. Any expansions on these details can be explored within the latter sections of your CV.
Read the Job Description
Be sure to tailor your personal statement specifically to the job you’re applying for.
You should be explicity showing the employer the values that you will bring to the position. The easiest way to do this is to research the company and use the job description to figure out exactly what skills and achievements you should be highlighting.
Once you have a good idea of the skills required for the job, you can begin writing a killer personal statement in three easy steps…
Step 1: Professional Overview
Begin your personal statement with a brief professional summary. To do this, simply introduce yourself and portray to the employer where you currently stand in your career. From here, you can give a brief statement of your professional qualities.
Your first sentences may read something like:
“Organised and adaptable Administrative Assistant with five years experience working in office environments. My excellent time keeping and attention to detail means that all tasks are completed efficiently and to the highest quality.”
Telling the employer who you are and your top qualities from the get-go will give them confidence that you’re a good fit for the role. It will also push them to continue reading your statement.
Step 2: Your Suitability
The next part of your personal statement should draw on your skills and achievements that line up with the job requirements.
This part can be tricky, and opposite to writer’s block, you may find yourself struggling to whittle things down. So to get this right, only display your top skills and strengths that relate to the essential specifications of the position.
For example, if the employer is looking for someone with excellent communication skills and you have experience in the customer service sector, say so.
Step 3: Career Goals
The final few sentences of your personal statement should simply reaffirm why you’re applying for the job.
To guarantee your statement a first-place finish, keep your career goals in line with the position you are applying for. This is an effective way of highlighting to the employer that you’re a professional worth investing time, money and energy into.
The aim here is to leave a lasting impression on the employer which persuades them to take action on you as a potential candidate. Making sure your personal statement clearly states why you are applying and what you are hoping to achieve from the position is the ultimate cherry on top.
The Importance of Personal Statement Writing
This advice should give you what you need to write a great personal statement. The important thing to do now is devote the time to follow this advice closely.
Getting your personal statement right is a fundamental part of getting your CV right, and ultimately, your job search. It will not only distinguish you from other professionals, it will also allow you to find the job that is right for you.
Think about it: if you’re taking the time to figure out what a certain position wants from it’s candidates, you can consider whether you have the skills and qualities required for you to be truly successful and happy in the job.
Although a small distinction, finding the right job for you is much more important than finding any job. That’s why here at Jump we recommend ideal job matches based on your skills and personal preferences.
What is a Personal Statement?
A personal statement is a small paragraph that sits at the top of your CV which provides the employer with a concise overview of:
- Who you are
- Your suitability for the job
- Your career goals
Essentially, a personal statement is a powerful overview of you as a professional. You are offering the employer a summary of what you have to offer in relation to the job you’re applying for, but in a very condensed form.
Albeit a small section of your CV, a good personal statement is paramount to your application’s success.
Think of it as the blurb of your professional career. If done right, it will make your application stand-out from the crowd and ultimately increase your chances of landing an interview.
So, now that we’ve got to grips with the what and why, let’s dive into how you go about writing a personal statement.
Voice, Formatting and Length
Tone of Voice
Your personal statement is the part of your CV which allows the employer to get to know you, so be sure to write it in your own voice.
Using your own words to describe yourself and your skills makes your statement feel less robotic and more unique to you. You want to bring your statement to life as much as possible — but be sure to keep it consistent with the rest of your CV.
Formatting
On the subject of consistency, it’s important to ensure that your personal statement’s entire formatting is in line with the rest of your CV’s format.
To put it simply: your manner of voice, layout and style should remain the same throughout.
Length
Employer’s have many personal statements to read through in a day, so having a statement which is compact and scannable will score you some easy brownie points.
As a reference, try to make sure your personal statement is around 50–200 words.
Remember, this is a quick summary which demonstrates why you’re the best fit for the job. Any expansions on these details can be explored within the latter sections of your CV.
Read the Job Description
Be sure to tailor your personal statement specifically to the job you’re applying for.
You should be explicity showing the employer the values that you will bring to the position. The easiest way to do this is to research the company and use the job description to figure out exactly what skills and achievements you should be highlighting.
Once you have a good idea of the skills required for the job, you can begin writing a killer personal statement in three easy steps…
Step 1: Professional Overview
Begin your personal statement with a brief professional summary. To do this, simply introduce yourself and portray to the employer where you currently stand in your career. From here, you can give a brief statement of your professional qualities.
Your first sentences may read something like:
“Organised and adaptable Administrative Assistant with five years experience working in office environments. My excellent time keeping and attention to detail means that all tasks are completed efficiently and to the highest quality.”
Telling the employer who you are and your top qualities from the get-go will give them confidence that you’re a good fit for the role. It will also push them to continue reading your statement.
Step 2: Your Suitability
The next part of your personal statement should draw on your skills and achievements that line up with the job requirements.
This part can be tricky, and opposite to writer’s block, you may find yourself struggling to whittle things down. So to get this right, only display your top skills and strengths that relate to the essential specifications of the position.
For example, if the employer is looking for someone with excellent communication skills and you have experience in the customer service sector, say so.
Step 3: Career Goals
The final few sentences of your personal statement should simply reaffirm why you’re applying for the job.
To guarantee your statement a first-place finish, keep your career goals in line with the position you are applying for. This is an effective way of highlighting to the employer that you’re a professional worth investing time, money and energy into.
The aim here is to leave a lasting impression on the employer which persuades them to take action on you as a potential candidate. Making sure your personal statement clearly states why you are applying and what you are hoping to achieve from the position is the ultimate cherry on top.
The Importance of Personal Statement Writing
This advice should give you what you need to write a great personal statement. The important thing to do now is devote the time to follow this advice closely.
Getting your personal statement right is a fundamental part of getting your CV right, and ultimately, your job search. It will not only distinguish you from other professionals, it will also allow you to find the job that is right for you.
Think about it: if you’re taking the time to figure out what a certain position wants from it’s candidates, you can consider whether you have the skills and qualities required for you to be truly successful and happy in the job.
Although a small distinction, finding the right job for you is much more important than finding any job. That’s why here at Jump we recommend ideal job matches based on your skills and personal preferences.
So, now that you’re here, why not start the search?
Originally published at https://academy.jump.work.
