When submitting a CV for a job opening, you may be asked to write a personal statement that serves as a summary of your profile. It can include why you should be considered for the role, what skills you have, and your career goals.
Writing this personal statement can be a struggle for some job applicants because it has to be easy to read but very informative for recruiters or hiring managers to check.
If you are one of the few who do find it hard to write a personal statement for your CV, here are 10 great tips you can follow and should remember:
1. List Down Your Skills And Experience Relevant To The Position You Are Applying For
Before writing a personal statement, you need to know what to write. Check what skills and experience the job requires and list which ones you have to serve as a reference. Yes, that means you need to tailor your personal statement according to the different positions you are applying for, rather than just a blanket statement to cover all jobs.
2. Start Writing A One-Liner That Highlights Your Work Experience Or Your Skills
Your personal statement should begin with a one-line sentence about who you are. Ideally, it should highlight your skills and experience. The beginning statement should also be short but enough to promote yourself to the position you are applying for.
3. Use A Structure To Write Your Personal Statement
A personal statement should be around 3 to 5 sentences in length. It is best that it still has a structure to make it easier to read. As an idea, create a structure that you believe will work well to introduce yourself and explain why you are the best candidate. You can start by letting the reader know why you are applying, why you are the right person for the job and conclude with your experience.
4. Keep The Tone Polite, Professional And Friendly
As you write your personal statement, make sure that the tone is professional but friendly. The summary will serve as your friendly introduction, which you would have made if you were in the room.
5. Don’t Write A Very Long Personal Statement
When a personal statement is too long, it will immediately turn off the reader from your application. Cut away the fluff and keep the keywords that match the job requirements. Write the statement like it is a summary of your resume.
6. Write Down What Kind Of Position You Are Looking For
If you want to clarify what kind of position you are after, don’t hesitate to highlight it in your personal statement. This will also help the company determine if you are suited for the post.
7. Promote Your Achievements
Your personal statement is your promotional ad, so you need to make sure that your achievements that are relevant to the position are highlighted well in it.
8. Add The Source Where You Found The Job Opening
Some companies are interested to know where you found the job opening that led you to them. You can cite this in your personal statement briefly while talking about why this job is your dream job.
9. Do Not Exaggerate Or Be Negative
It is also essential to avoid exaggerating your skills or speaking negatively about your past experiences in your statement. Remember, you are trying to promote yourself as a good candidate.
10. Always Proofread
The spelling, the punctuation, the grammar. Everything. Proofread or get someone else to proofread for you.
Examples Of A Good Personal Statement
A highly motivated team player, graduate from ABC University and five years of related experience in retail operations and management. Proficient in stocktaking and forecasting with MS, Linux and OS applications. Looking for a position that enables me to expand my knowledge and provide growth opportunities, both personally and career-wise.
Dedicated and Committed Teacher with 8 years of special education background in Grade 1 to 12, developing creative methods in building interests in young minds to achieve their best. Collaborate with neighbouring schools to localise our lessons and evaluate the learning progress of those who participate in those lessons. Seeking for a role in ABC School to expand my experience as an educator in non-classroom settings.
Exceptional creative skills with extensive experience in multimedia and marketing. Proven 10 years of experience, a track record of award-winning designs and helped increase clients’ annual sales by 20%. I want to prove I am valuable to ABC’s marketing department with my network and contributions.
Conclusion
If you want to get an edge over other applicants, you need to promote yourself well. With a well-written personal statement, you can give hiring managers and recruiters a quick glimpse of your personality that they won’t be able to glimpse easily with just your CV alone. Use the 10 tips above to guide you while you draft your personal statement, and once you are done, it will be a memorable personal statement that will indeed paint you in a positive light.
Finished with your Personal Statement? Now, let’s work on other areas of your resume: How to Include Volunteer Experience on Your Resume 5 Key Things You Need To Have In Your Resume Should You Place Your Photo On Your Resume?
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