A personal statement is the first thing a potential employer is likely to read on your CV, and it’s a great opportunity to grab their attention. You should aim to concisely run through your top achievements and sell yourself to the employer.
Below we give some real-life examples of personal statements to give you an idea of how to write your own.
School leaver
At this point you may not have much, or any, professional experience or career achievements. Instead, focus on why you want to work in the industry you’re applying to, what relevant skills you have and where you want your career to go in the future. Focus on any achievements you’ve made in your studies or hobbies.
“A conscientious and proactive individual who has recently completed their A Levels, attaining excellent results in English and IT. Seeking a work placement in the media industry to build upon a keen interest in journalism. Aiming to train as a journalist, with a long-term aspiration of working for a national news channel.”
Graduate
A graduate personal statement will be largely similar to that of a school leaver, but with extra emphasis on higher education. As before, explain why you’re applying for the role, your career goals and list some relevant skills or knowledge which you can bring to the table.
“A recent graduate of law with a first class honours from X University, looking to secure a vacation scheme and further develop my practical experience within the legal sector. Aiming to complete my Legal Practice Course and secure a training contract with a firm specialising in family law.”
Unemployed or Redundant
Most people will find themselves unemployed at some point in their lives, and neither this nor having been made redundant should be a hindrance to you when applying for jobs if dealt with in the right way. Focus on your past employment experience and emphasise your skills and positive attributes.
“A hardworking event organiser with over ten years’ experience in the wedding industry. Proven success in organising beautiful, memorable events for clients, having organised on average 15 weddings a year for the past 5 years, and managing a core team of 10 staff. Currently out of work due to company closure, looking for the right opportunity to bring my expertise to a reputable, bespoke events company.”
Career break
There are many reasons why people take a career break, including parental leave, long-term sickness or following your dreams of travelling. Focus your personal statement on the career achievements you made before your time off and any skills or relevant experience you may have gained since then.
“A highly motivated and experienced Administrator, currently looking to resume my career after two years of parental leave. Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, extensive experience of diary management and minute-taking. Recent voluntary experience as administrator for a local charity. Now ready to continue full-time work and develop my professional career.”
Career change
If you’re looking for a complete career change, think about which of your skills are transferrable and applicable to your new industry. Wherever possible, back up statements with quantifiable evidence.
“As an experienced Retail Manager for a luxury homewares brand, my determined and proactive approach resulted in weekly, monthly and yearly targets being consistently met. My skills in team management resulted in the lowest turnover in company staff for 20 years. After 6 years in this role I have decided to seek a new challenge which will focus more on my passion for restoration and design within the furniture industry and will allow me to utilise my training in textiles design.”
Take your time writing your personal statement and don’t worry if it doesn’t come naturally at first. Practise makes perfect and researching examples is an excellent way to get ideas. Remember to tailor your personal statement to each role you applying for.