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How to Write a Resume Personal Statement

What is a resume personal statement?

A resume personal statement expresses who you are, where you’ve been, and sometimes where you plan to go next right at the top of your resume.

Everyone has different circumstances, so the personal statement helps to orient a potential future boss in terms of what they are about to read in the resume. Think about what you would like to share that matters to you. This space is particularly useful if you are changing industries , coming back in to the employment market or looking for a promotion. Your shop window starts here. The personal statement may be the only thing than an employer reads.

The resume personal statement hooks in a reader, influencing them to read more. So, how do you write a resume personal statement that is both natural and grabs an employer’s attention? Offer them a brief insight into who you are and why you would be a fantastic hire. So what do you write in a personal statement for a job?

This guide will cover:

• The basic formatting of a personal statement: How to tailor your personal statement to give you a competitive advantage
• Personal statement examples you should (and shouldn’t) use
• Practical steps for getting started on your resume personal statement

The personal statement format

The personal statement is a short paragraph that sits right below your contact information at the top of a resume . It sums up your experience, goals and skills with confidence. Think of your resume’s personal statement like an extended tagline for your career. A resume personal statement should include:

• Between 50 and 200 words in 3 - 4 sentences
• Your title or function, for example “Junior developer” or “Passionate hospitality manager”
• An opening hook
• Soft skills and hard skills
• Impressive facts and stats
• Your short and/or long-term goals
• Job-specific slant for the position you’re applying to

This may seem like a lot to cram into 200 words but perfecting your elevator pitch shows that you have a firm grasp of why your experience, goals, and skills make you the perfect fit for the job. Go all out to make this as fitting for each role as possible. Too often candidates come up with what they see as the perfect introduction to them and forget about how a hiring manager for each specific role might read it. Be flexible with the personal statement. It might not present the very best version of you - it should present the best version of you for this particular role.

This brief introduction is only a short piece of text, it is not disruptive and in many cases even serves as a welcome addition to what is otherwise a dry and impersonal document. It should be clear to you by now how we feel about the personal statement: Include it, especially because it allows you that bit of creativity that may make all the difference. Adopt a conversational tone and consider using the first person for these few lines. Third person (past tense) is standard for resumes, but if you want to go personal, this is where to do it.

How do I start my personal statement? How do you not start a personal statement? Even with a personal statement of 3-4 lines, sometimes the first sentence is the hardest. Even the first few words can have a disproportionate effect on how your personal statement is viewed. Your starting "hook" should make your fit with the role clear and specific. Use an example that is as unique to you as possible - you have to make your future employer sit up and pay attention. The first word of your personal statement should never be "I" - a great resume explores the potential of a common partnership and should not be a uni-directional monologue.

Align your resume’s personal statement with the job description

The hiring manager delicately chose every word in their job description. Gather clues from its tone, which skills they highlight, and any hints that point toward their dream employee. One of the top resume tips from HR managers is to include relevant keywords specific to the job posting itself as well as the actual wording of the job title .

What would this job description look like in 3 - 4 sentences? What keywords, skills, and tone would the job description have?

While still sticking to the facts about who you are and your experiences, your resume personal statement should highlight as many similarities with the job description as possible. When the hiring manager reads the first few sentences in your resume, they feel like you are exactly the person they were describing when they wrote the job description.

Position of the personal statement

Recruiters still prefer to see a candidate's personal details at the top (or running along a column on either side) of the resumes that cross their desk. This allows them to quickly search through the resumes that Applicant Tracking Systems have sorted into their virtual “yes” pile. You do not want your (relatively modern) personal statement to get in the way of this tradition. 

The best place to put your statement is after your personal details (if they are at the top) and before your employment history section. Remember that the length of your resume is important. If you have already been very selective and cannot possibly leave out any more information and if adding your personal statement means your resume spills over onto a third page, you may consider not including your statement for the position in question. This ensures you comply with the unwritten rule that a resume should not be longer than two pages.

What is a good personal statement length? 200 words is the maximum suggested length, but if you go with one powerful sentence that you want the hiring manager to remember for the rest of the interview process, then why not? Less is more, but you have to be confident in your application to go with this option.

Plan to write your resume personal statement last

Instead of getting stuck at the beginning trying to write the perfect statement, skip this section and jump right into your employment history first. Once you’ve added your relevant work experiences , take a look at your keywords, phrases and skills from your past positions.

Your complete work history and the job description for the job you want are the foundations for your personal statement. By writing your resume personal statement last, it should be easier to get started once you have the right inspiration.

It might be the case that you leave a certain number of lines for the personal statement on your resume and write an individual statement for each role. You will often have a public version of your resume that is accessible on job boards (etc), so there should still be an "ideal" personal statement version.

How do I write a resume from scratch? While it is good advice to write the resume personal statement after your have written the resume itself (giving your brain a chance to ponder your true highlights), starting writing a resume is a mammoth task in itself. There are many useful pieces of advice when sitting down to write a resume, but for me, the key is to think about the reflecting the combination of what you are good at, what you enjoy and how those things will contribute to the direction of your career. For sure, be honest about your experience, but there has to be a creative flavour of ensuring that your past adequately reflects where you want to go.

Check out resume personal statement examples

Before you dive into writing, get a sense for different rhythms and layouts by checking these resume personal statement examples. How do you write a good personal statement?

Let's start with the basics. Since every person is unique, all personal statements should be unique too. You should, therefore, resist the urge to (largely) copy someone else's existing statement. This is the only spot on your resume to let your voice be heard, so try to write something that would prompt a friend to exclaim, “That sounds like something you’d say!” while, of course, keeping it professional.

Example. Innovative Executive Assistant with 10+ years of experience with global financial firm assisting a team of three C-Level directors. Expertly coordinate travel, manage large-scale expense reports, and streamline communication and calendars across departments..Seeking an Executive Assistant role with the Resume.io team to expand my office management career and thrive in an environment that requires independent problem-solving skills and focus under short deadlines.

The example above does the following things:

• States their title in the first sentence
• Includes specifics such as team size and duties
• Succinctly sums up major responsibilities and skills
• Highlights hard skills —experience arranging travel and expense reports—as well as soft skills —grace under pressure, attention to detail and communication.
• Specifically tailors the final statement with the company and/or job description

Here are a few more resume personal statement examples:

Experienced Digital Marketing Manager with five years of expertise in heading up a global firm. Increased inbound leads by 500% and raised online sales from 100,000 annually to over 2 million in a three-year period. Looking to grow career by applying skills to the Resume.io marketing team.

Straight to the point and accomplishment focused, without the use of “I”. Now let’s look at a less effective example:

I have worked as a Digital Marketing Manager for five years. During this time I have been an important and hard-working member of the team and showed my ability to work under pressure to deliver on company targets. I am looking to bring my skills to a new role in digital marketing.

Generic and ignores accomplishments. Also, too many uses of “I” in a passive voice.

Next is an example of a personal statement that focuses more on career objectives . A career objective can be used as a way to get across your skills and experience, without the personal bit. It’s a good option if you’re an entry-level candidate or college graduate without a lot of experience in the industry you’re applying for. The idea is, because you don’t have the relevant experience to talk about, you pull skills and experience from other areas of your resume so you can show you have what it takes.

Keep your career objective brief — 2-3 sentences max — following the same rules as the personal statement.

Content writer with three years' experience in a large e-commerce company. Delivered content that grew brand social presence to over 700,000 across three channels and improved email open rates by 48%. Looking to further career by joining the Resume.io as an SEO Executive.

See how it uses transferable skills? Combining these with numbers makes them all the more impressive.

And a less effective resume personal statement example:

I am a content writer looking to secure a role as an SEO Executive. While I have no experience in this field and am a dedicated individual and a keen learner. My enjoyment of how search engines work will help me excel in your company.

There’s not enough here to capture attention and it doesn’t sell transferable skills. Whichever type of opening statement you go for, if you have numbers to show, make them count.

Writing your personal profile resume

Always write the first draft of a personal profile resume without editing. Don’t worry about length or word choice in the first pass. Brag about yourself, be proud of your accomplishments , and add in all of your most impressive stats.

Some of the best writing happens without editing too soon, so don’t worry about sounding over the top or egotistical, that’s what editing your personal profile resume is for. If the goal is to get 3 - 4 perfect sentences, it’s likely your first draft will be closer to 6 - 8, maybe even longer. Then consider which parts are closest to helping you get the job and cull the rest. It might seem brutal, but brevity is critical at the top of your personal profile.

Polish your personal statement and experiment

Once you’ve narrowed your focus, use the following questions to help you review your work and edit your statement:

Is my first sentence clear and concise? The opening line should state your position and use strong, enthusiastic language to hook in the reader. It often includes years of experience as well.

Is it direct opposed to passive? A strong sense of self comes through in a personal statement. Instead of sentences that begin with “I believe I am…” or “I enjoy…” be bold. Get right to the point and take ownership of your skills .

Does it include objective information? For this one, try to get inside the hiring manager’s mind. If you were filling this role, what boxes would you need to check off? The second and third sentence often include specific skills, facts or figures to support this need.

Does it read naturally? Even with all these specifics, the statement should still be easy to understand and have a natural rhythm when read aloud. Cut out any jargon that acts as filler or that changes your tone. Formality may vary from company to company, but personal statements should always reflect the type of employee or person you are.

What are three tips for writing a personal statement?

• Make sure that your personality comes across in the writing.
• Quantify any accomplishments and include financials where possible.
• If you are at a moment of career change, don't fail to mention your goals.

Common mistakes in personal statements

When writing your personal statement, beware of platitudes. These are clichéd expressions that have become meaningless from overuse. They induce recruiters to roll their eyes and move on to the next candidate. Think of such terms as “an administrative jack-of-all-trades” or “a cog in the wheel’ and being ready for a “new challenge.”  Definitely avoid this list of human resources’ most hated resume phrases. 

Try to be original in your choice of words and ask a friend or family member to take a critical look at your personal statement when you are done. By the way, you should always have someone proofread your entire resume when you think you are ready to send it.

Some people call their personal statements " resume objectives ." This is something else entirely. A resume objective is required when a candidate needs to project their hopes for their next role that differe from their previous experience a little. This objective can then be used to outline the motivations behind a career change and is also common with early-career professionals. 

Does a personal statement need a title? Some resume templates might call the opening statement a summary and others may exclude a description entirely. Either option is fine as employers are conditioned to expect a few lines at the to of a resume to serve as a headline for your job application.

What do employers expect from your resume opening statement?

Sometimes it is useful to consider job seeking activity from the point of view of the end hiring managers. External recruiters are important people to impress, but it is the employers that will be making the ultimate hiring decision. They will be reading lots of resumes, so what would they want to read in your resume opening statement?

• They will want the resume opening statement to be written for them. When you are on the hunt for a new member of your professional family, an intensely personal connection is vital from the first lines.
• They will expect a quantifiable context to your resume opening statement. Impressive words come easily when you really need a job, but backing them up with numbers to demonstrate their scale is less simple.
• They will expect to be impressed. If you cannot impress a specific employer for a specific role with the first lines of your resume, then the role is almost certainly not for you. Nothing to shout about? Move on.

Key takeaways

Think of your CV personal statement as the first 2 minutes of an interview—whether on the phone or in person. The HR manager asks you to “tell me a little about yourself,” and you have a quick minute to set the tone for the rest of the conversation. Similarly, the CV personal statement should include:

• A natural, yet professional CV tone that reflects your personality
• The top reasons your experience makes you a unique fit for this position
• Why this role aligns with your career plans
• Facts and data on your CV that back up your earlier points

Crafting a personal statement for each role will cause some serious thought. What is your essential fit for the role that will make a hiring manager sit up and think "wow, I need to have them on my team?" What would you want to read if you were in their shoes. You will definitely have lots to say, but keep it simple and powerful.

One more good CV statement example:

Expert SEO copywriter with a decade of B2C and B2B experience across three industries. Versatile in writing social, website and long-form copy to convey each brand’s unique tone and message. I cultivated 15 new clients in two years and grew readership by over 200%. I am now seeking to expand my editing and content creation expertise in a Marketing Manager position.

Once you’ve mastered writing your CV personal statement, this clear sense of who you are and what you want will prepare you to pitch yourself during interviews.

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CV Personal Statement:  Examples and Actionable Tips

Fact: recruiters spend only 6 seconds reviewing each CV. So poorly organized CVs inevitably get discarded. 

Having an effective CV layout is the first step to attracting their attention. And the second step is topping that CV with a compelling personal statement (also known as a personal profile, personal summary, or executive summary).

What is a Personal Statement in a CV? 

A personal statement for a CV is a short and compelling paragraph that summarizes why you’re the most qualified person for the offered role. It tells the reader who you are and what valuable qualifications you will be bringing to their company.

NB : Opening statement, personal profile, personal summary, or executive summary are the other common names for a personal statement. 

Many believe that the work experience section is the most important element of a CV. Yet, it is your personal statement that can end up making or breaking the success of your job application. 

Because it provides the reader with a quick answer to one question they have on their mind: Are you qualified for the job or not? 

Remember: You’ll be directly competing with numerous other applicants with similar skills and work experiences. A compelling CV statement sets you apart by giving the reader a condensed snapshot of who you are as a person. 

Do I Need To Include a Personal Statement On My CV?

The short answer is YES! A personal statement entices the reader to read your entire CV by giving them a preview of your most valuable skills. It also helps you differentiate from other candidates by explaining your background, motivation, and personal character traits concisely. 

In essence, a personal statement helps you express why you are the right choice for the job in one condensed paragraph.

Where Should a Personal Statement Go in a CV?

A personal statement goes into the header area of your CV. Include it right under your name and contact details as a separate, highlighted area. A good personal statement is about 3-4 sentences long and occupies not more than 1/4th of the page. 

Alternatively, you can design a two-column CV and allocate the upper sidebar area for your personal statement. As a recent survey found, 77% of recruiters prefer two-column CVs to single-column ones.

Sample personal statement placement on a CV template

What Do You Write in a CV Personal Statement?

A compelling personal statement summarizes your professional and educational background; highlights the main skills and accomplishments. It can also express your career objectives and/or interest in the particular industry or subject if you’re a current student or recent graduate.  

Personal Statement Examples for CV 

To give you an idea of how to write your statement, let’s look at some examples.

Remember: You need to write a unique personal statement for your CV. Simply copying and using these examples may not be the best move because the sample CV statements won’t reflect your unique experiences and personality. 

Good CV Personal Statement Examples

Employers want to see experts. Therefore, your personal statement must speak directly to your most marketable skills. 

You should never come off sounding desperate or diminish your worth (even if you have been recently laid off ). Use a confident tone with first-person implied and strong verbs to describe your core competencies and other benefits you can bring to the workplace. 

General Jobseeker Personal Statement Example

Highly motivated, fully trained engineer with 15 years of experience in the telecoms industry. Worked with XYZ Telecoms Ltd, Cool Mobile Carrier, and Acme Telco as a field engineer and project team leader. Successfully managed large commercial telecom infrastructure installations. Currently unemployed due to the relocation of the company. Open to new opportunities in NOC. 

Personal Statement CV Example For an Administration Position 

Adaptable and resourceful facilities manager with experience in supporting enterprise-sized organizations in real estate, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing industries. Strong organizational skillset: Six Sigma, standardized method of procedure (MOP) policies implementation. Was responsible for facilities operations on 2.4 million square feet in a 20-building chemical manufacturing campus, serviced by a 20+ people team of building engineers, electricians, HVAC technicians, and cleaners.

Accountant Personal Statement CV Examples

Below are two samples for a senior and a junior accountant. 

Chartered Accountant 

ACCA-certified accountant for mid-market and enterprise-sized companies. Conducted due diligence and tax audits for FTSE 500 companies. Commenced for a 100% accuracy track record in financial reporting, as well as fast turnaround on complex analytical reviews. Provide on-demand advisory on trust setup, company incorporation, and tax deferrals. 

Account Assistant 

Detail-oriented, certified accounting assistant with experience in payroll administration. Familiar with Gusto, Xero, and Intuit software. Effectively process payroll, benefits, taxes, and social contributions for over 1500 employees per month. Possess a strong foundation in employee classification,  tax reporting, and financial management. 

CV Personal Statement Examples for Students

Whether you’re applying for an internship or looking for a part-time job , a compelling personal is a must-have for a student CV. 

Since your work experience history may be a bit “thin”, you need to persuade the employer via other means — your transferable skills, academic interests, and personal traits. A personal CV allows you to spotlight all of these. 

Remember that you are bringing your energy, dedication, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn to the table. As you will not have any employment history, you need to make sure to get your personality and your soft skills over in your statement.

CV Statement for a Student Looking for a Full-Time Summer Job 

Junior copywriter, enrolled in a BA Writing Program at the University of Manchester (graduation date: fall 2025). Alumni of the 2022 Copywriting Bootcamp program from Matters Agency. Well-versed in target audience analysis, brand positioning, and editorial campaign planning. Writing clips for eCommerce and SaaS brands are available in my portfolio.  

CV Statement for an Internship 

Second-year mechanical engineering student at the University of Leeds, seeking to apply theoretical knowledge in safety system design. Proficient in AutoCAD and completed a series of blueprints for fire and water safety systems as part of my coursework. Fast learner, self-starter, and team player, I’m excited to contribute my technical expertise to a dynamic engineering team.

CV Statement for a Student Looking for a Part-Time Job 

Junior front-end developer (React, Angular JS), seeking a part-time programming position in the Great London area. Current availability is 10-15 hours per week, preferably with hybrid work arrangements. Solid understanding of design systems and UX/UI best practices. Past work experience in finance and eCommerce sectors. 

CV Personal Statement Examples for 16-Year-Olds

Joining the workforce straight after high school makes sense if you want to take a gap year or pursue trade education later on. The wrinkle, however, is that most employers may be wary of your age and lack of experience.

The goal of a personal statement is to dispel those doubts by showing that you’re a serious, mature, and hard-working candidate, eager to learn and hone your craft. 

Personal Statement for a Barista Position 

Genuine coffee lover and frequent guest at Maddie’s Cafe, I would love to join the barista team. As a former head of the prom planning committee, I understand the importance of good teamwork, efficient planning, and following instructions. My main objectives are to learn more about beverage prep and deliver exceptional experiences to customers. 

CV Personal Statement Examples For A Graduate

Your personal statement should focus on your main educational attainments and experiences. If you are applying before you have had your degree results, it is fine to give a projected grade. You can also mention any specific modules you have studied that are relevant to the job on offer and how much you enjoyed working on them.

Remember: Your goal is to explain why you’re interested in this role and what you could bring to the table. 

Graduate Personal Statement Example

Business administration graduate with a 1:1 honors degree from XYZ University. Interested in an entry-level merchandising position within your Commercial Sales Department to expand my knowledge in retail merchandising, procurement, and inventory management. Looking to apply my analytical and data modeling skills for merchandising strategy optimization. 

Personal Statement for High School Graduate 

Energetic and enthusiastic high school graduate (June 2023) with top A-levels grades in English, Maths, and French. Seeking an entry-level role in sales, where I can make use of and develop my language skills. My long-term career goal is to further my language qualifications and position myself as a European sales manager living and working overseas for a global company.

Personal Statement Examples for CV With No Experience

Lack of experience in a particular role or industry should never discourage you from applying. Although you may not tick all the criteria boxes, you still have transferable skills and unique work experiences to showcase.

Moreover, ongoing talent shortages are prompting employees to reconsider their hiring criteria, plus invest more in new hire training and upskilling. Four in five companies now struggle to fill in open vacancies, which is the highest number in the past 17 years. 

So take your chances and apply even if you don’t have sufficient work experience. 

Personal Statement Example with No Relevant Work Experience 

Former front-desk hotel employee, looking for an opportunity to leverage strong service orientation and organizational skills in new roles (Customer Success or Customer Support). Familiarity with appointment booking software, digital chat apps, and CRM software. With my strong commitment to personal growth and my adaptable nature, I believe I could be a valuable asset to customer-centric teams.  

Personal Statement Example with No Industry Experience 

Self-starter with a BA degree in Communication and experience in corporate event management seeking a transition to music festival management. Experienced in organizing off-site events for 100+ people (including location scouting and travel coordination). I thrive in fast-paced environments and am eager to build a strong network of new partners. 

Discover even more personal statements from our collection of CV examples . 

CV Personal Statement For A Career Change

Career change is a big decision, but it can lead to a more fulfilling professional life. Besides, you’re not completely starting anew. Many of the hard and soft skills are quite universal. There is any number of different jobs that need the same set of skills that you have developed, so always try to lead with these and use real-life examples of your experience.

Career Change Personal Statement Example:

Working for the past 10 years as a regional sales manager has allowed me to develop keen skills in building strong working relationships and lucrative networks. Communication skills I developed during my time at my current employer enabled me to win vital contract wins that increased sales revenue by 20% over three years. I am now ready to take on a new challenge and want to work in the charity sector so that I can use my skills to give something back for the direct benefit of others.

How To Write A Strong Personal Statement for a CV 

An effective personal statement summarizes your skills and experience in a relevant way i.e., it indicates how you can be of help to the employer. 

In short, a compelling CV personal statement: 

• Lists your most marketable skills and qualifications 
• Highlights your industry knowledge and work experiences 
• Mirrors some of the key phrases, used in the job description 

And here’s how to write a personal statement that makes a mark.

1. Review the Job Description Once Again 

As you go through the role description, pay attention to the words, used by the employer, to describe the candidate’s requirements, duties, and personality. Keep those in the back of your head. 

These are the keywords you’d want to use all around your CV — in the personal statement, work experience, education, and skills areas. 

2. Do a Mental Tally of Your Skills 

Try to remember the times in your previous work roles when you accomplished notable objectives, went above and beyond expectations , or otherwise did better than your peers.  

Note down everything that springs to mind including your years of experience in a similar role, challenges you took on and the positive results achieved, new projects you kick-started – anything that has close relevance to this new position.

3. Make a Draft Personal Statement 

Write down a sample personal statement. Don’t worry about the length – just put as many details as you’d like on paper. Once you’re done, revisit the job description. See how your personal statement compares to the description. Does it paint a picture of someone who would fit the role? 

4. Edit for Clarity and Briefity 

A good CV personal statement shouldn’t be longer than 3-4 sentences. Take a critical look at your draft version and condense it to the bare essentials: 2-3 main skills, a major accomplishment, and a note on your motivation and/or personal traits. 

Other things that don’t belong in your personal statement are:

• Explanation of employment gaps or present unemployment status 
• Information about hobbies or personal interest 
• Any mention of references or recommendations 
• Irrelevant skills or work experiences 

Want to stand out even more? Add a persuasive opening statement that highlights your strengths as a candidate. 

A compelling personal statement can be the key between your CV making the ‘yes’ pile or the reject bin. Take some time to get your statement right and always write a new one for each job you apply for by mirroring the employer’s language. 

Finally, to give your CV a polishing touch, try out one of our fancy, but free CV templates , coming in multiple styles: professional, modern, simple, and creative!

Elena runs content operations at Freesumes since 2017. She works closely with copywriters, designers, and invited career experts to ensure that all content meets our highest editorial standards. Up to date, she wrote over 200 career-related pieces around resume writing, career advice... more

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Academic Personal Statement Guide + Examples for 2024

You have a bright future ahead of you in academia and you’ve already found the program of your dreams.

The only problem? 

You have to write an impressive academic personal statement that sets you apart from a sea of applicants.

We know that writing about yourself might not come naturally. And when the academic program you have your sights set on is on the line, it doesn’t make it any easier.

But there’s no need to worry!

We’ve prepared this guide to help you write your academic personal statement and secure your spot in your program of choice.

In this article, we’re going to cover:

• What Is An Academic Personal Statement?
• 7 Steps to Writing the Best Academic Personal Statement
• An Example of a Stellar Academic Personal Statement

Let’s dive in.

You’ll need an academic CV alongside your personal statement. Create one with ease with Novorésumé !

What Is an Academic Personal Statement?

A personal statement is an essential part of the academic application process.

Much like a motivation letter , your academic personal statement serves to demonstrate why you’re the right candidate for the course and sell yourself as a capable student.

Your goal is to show the admissions committee that they’ll benefit from having you in their university as much as you’ll benefit from joining the program.

Academic Vs CV Personal Statement

The term ‘personal statement’ can mean different things depending on your field.

In the world of job hunting, a personal statement usually refers to a few sentences that go at the top of your CV . This paragraph is meant to convey your top skills, relevant experiences, and professional goals to a hiring manager from the get-go and increase your chances of getting an interview.

However, in the world of academia, a personal statement refers to a more in-depth description of you as a candidate. 

In a nutshell, an academic personal statement shows the admissions committee your academic achievements so far, as well as what motivated you to apply and pursue this position.

Personal statements are also often required when applying for certain jobs, much like writing a cover letter . If you’re looking at a position as a faculty member in a university or other academic institution, for example, you might be asked to provide an academic personal statement.

7 Steps to Write an Academic Personal Statement

Preparation is the key to success and this is exactly where our guide comes in handy.

So just follow these steps and you’re sure to secure your spot:

#1. Read the Brief (Carefully!)

Academic personal statements aren’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all piece of writing. 

Typically, every institution has its specific requirements on what candidates should include in their academic personal statement.

To make sure you’re on the right track with your academic personal statement, read the brief carefully. Consider taking notes and highlighting important points from your program’s brief as you go through it.

Pay attention to any specific question the university wants you to answer. If you don’t address everything the admissions board expects, your personal statement will look sloppy and you’ll be considered an inattentive candidate.

Be sure to re-read the brief after you’ve finished writing your academic personal statement, too. This way you can make sure you’ve answered everything adequately and you’ll have the opportunity to correct any slips.

#2. Research the Program

Make sure you do your homework on the academic program you’re applying to.

You can’t write a good academic personal statement without research, let alone a great one. Much like researching your employer , taking the time to learn more about your desired school and personalizing your application can make a huge difference.

For example, you can dive into how your values align with that of the school you’re applying to, and how your experience and interests relate to specific things about the program. The more you focus on how you’re the right fit for this specific position, in this specific program – the better.

Carefully read through the school and program’s official pages since everything you would need to know is probably on the school’s official website. You can also ask current and former students for help but remember that whatever they say should never replace official information when crafting your academic personal statement.

#3. Plan Your Statement

An academic personal statement is meant to explain your academic interests and shouldn’t contain irrelevant details about your personal life.

Focus on why you want to study the course you’ve chosen and provide any information about your achievements so far.

Ask yourself the following questions to get the ball rolling on what to write:

• Why do you want to study (or work) in this program? How will it benefit you?
• How do your skills match the position?
• What makes you stand out from other applicants?
• What are your exact career aspirations?
• How can you and your work benefit the institution you’re applying to?
• If you changed fields, how did you decide to apply in this direction?
• What insight can you bring thanks to your different experiences?
• How will this change of field help your future career?

Write down your answer to these questions in the first draft of your academic personal statement.

#4. Look at Example Statements

Don’t hesitate to read other people’s academic personal statements online. They’re a great source of inspiration and can help get rid of any remaining writer’s block.

If you’re struggling to understand how to meet the language and formatting requirements for your academic personal statement, seeing actual examples is the best way to learn.

But be careful – don’t copy any lines you read, no matter how impressive you think they are. 

Most universities run every academic personal statement through intensive plagiarism checking, and even a paraphrased sentence could lead to your application being rejected for plagiarism.

So pay more attention to the overall structure of the academic personal statements you read, rather than copying the exact wording.

#5. Structure the Contents

There should be a cohesive argument that your entire essay follows. Each sentence and paragraph should complement and build on the one that comes before it.

The structure of your personal statement should include:

An intriguing introduction to you as a candidate

The introductory paragraph should grab the admission committee’s attention and keep them engaged.

Here you should be sure to avoid cliches like saying how you’ve “always dreamt” of graduating from this university or of studying this exact program. Instead, give an example of what really influenced you to pursue this dream.

Here’s an example:

• I’ve always loved reading and since I was a child, it’s been my dream to graduate from Oxford University and contribute to the world of literary analysis. That’s why I spent the past year volunteering at my local writers’ society and giving constructive feedback during workshops and book discussions.
• It wasn’t until I failed my first essay assignment in secondary school that I realized the depth that lies beneath each sentence in a given text. I began to delve into the rich layers of literary texts and the intricacies of literary analysis became my passion. Although initially challenging, the depth of understanding that this field offers about human emotions, cultural contexts, and narrative structures enthralled me. I found myself questioning the narrative structures and character motivations that I had previously taken for granted, and I was eager to understand how the subtle and often overlooked elements within a text could have a profound impact on its overall interpretation. This need to fundamentally understand a given author’s work has stayed with me since and led me to pursue literary analysis as a postgraduate student.

An engaging body

The main part of your academic personal statement should detail your interests, experience, and knowledge, and how they make you suitable for the position.

This is where you should expand on your motivation and use the following tips:

• Why this university? Provide strong reasons for your choice, related to your future career or the institution’s reputation.
• Mention your relevant studies and experience. This includes projects, dissertations, essays, or work experience.
• Give evidence of key skills you have, such as research, critical thinking, communication, and time management, and explain how you can contribute to the department with them.
• Say what makes you unique as a candidate and provide an example.
• Explain who have been the main influences who put you on this path and why they’ve influenced you.
• Mention other relevant experiences, such as memberships in clubs related to the subject, awards you might have won, or impressive papers you’ve written.
• Talk about your career aspirations and how the program ties into your goal of achieving them.

Depending on the guidelines of the specific university, you could also divide your academic personal statement’s body with subheadings, such as:

• Academic background
• Research interests
• Methodological approaches
• Research experience
• Personal experience
• Extracurricular activities 
• Relevant skills
• Career aspirations

A logical conclusion

Your academic personal statement needs a conclusion that ends on an enthusiastic note.

Make sure the conclusion reiterates the main points from the body of your text.

Your relevant accomplishments and desire to attend this specific program should be clear to any reader.

#6. Pay Attention to the Language

When writing the first draft of your academic personal statement, pay attention to the language and tone you’re using.

An academic personal statement is also a formal text, so your writing should reflect that. Colloquialisms aren’t appropriate, as they would take away from the well-mannered impression you want to give the admissions committee.

However, you also want your personal statement to be straightforward and avoid any complex jargon from your field of study.

For example, your opening sentence shouldn’t be overly complicated. You should communicate everything as clearly as possible, and be inclusive to those outside of your field of study since they might be on the admissions board that’s reading your academic personal statement.

Make sure that the tone throughout your text is positive and conveys your enthusiasm for the program. Your academic personal statement should show the admissions committee that you really want to be there, and why that’s beneficial to everyone involved.

#7. Proofread Your Statement

This step probably isn’t surprising to you but it’s worth paying attention to.

Your academic personal statement is a very formal document and it should be spotless. 

So, make sure it adheres to academic writing conventions . For example, contractions like “I’m” instead of “I am” are informal, and should be avoided.

Mistakes like these are very common when writing about yourself, particularly when you’re used to describing yourself in informal environments.

Carefully proofread your academic personal statement, then run it through a grammar checker like Grammarly or Quillbot, then proofread it again.

The tiniest grammar mistake or typo could make the admissions board reject your application.

Academic Personal Statement Example

Ever since my first encounter with the enchanting worlds spun by Flaubert, Balzac, and Proust, my intellectual pursuits have gravitated toward French literature. With an undergraduate degree focused on French Language and Literature, I have been fortunate to explore my passions both theoretically and empirically, embedding them within broader themes of cultural theory and comparative literature. It is with great excitement that I apply for the postgraduate research position in the French Literature program at Kent University, with the aim of contributing novel scholarly perspectives to this captivating field.

Academic Background and Research Interests

During my undergraduate studies, I delved deeply into the realms of 19th-century Realism and Naturalism. My senior thesis, which examined the dialectics of morality and social structures in Balzac's "La Comédie Humaine," was not merely an academic exercise; it served as a crucible where my theoretical understandings were rigorously tested. This research experience intensified my interest in the complex interplay between literature and societal norms, a theme I am eager to further explore in my postgraduate work.

Methodological Approaches

My academic approach is fundamentally interdisciplinary. I strongly believe that literature should not be studied in a vacuum; rather, it should be contextualized within historical, sociological, and psychological paradigms. During a semester abroad in Paris, I took courses in cultural anthropology and French history, an enriching experience that complemented my literature-focused studies. This holistic approach will enable me to contribute a multifaceted perspective to the research endeavors at Kent University.

Previous Research and Scholarly Engagements

My scholarly activities have also extended beyond the classroom. Last summer, I participated in an international conference on French Literature and Post-Colonial Theory, presenting a paper on the depictions of colonial landscapes in Dumas' adventure novels. The opportunity to engage with academics from various disciplines provided me with fresh insights and underscored the importance of collaborative research. Further, I've had the honor of having a review article published in the Sheffield Journal of Contemporary Literary Explorations, where I critiqued a groundbreaking new translation of Verne's works.

Extracurricular Contributions and Skills

In addition to my academic achievements, I have sought to enrich my department’s intellectual community. I served as the editor of our departmental journal and organized a series of seminars featuring guest speakers from the worlds of academia and publishing. My strong organizational skills, combined with proficiency in both written and spoken French and English, make me a versatile candidate capable of adding value to the French Literature program’s broader objectives.

To summarize, my deep-rooted passion for French literature, fortified by rigorous academic training and interdisciplinary methodologies, makes me an ideal candidate for the postgraduate research position in your esteemed program. The prospect of contributing to academic discourse at Kent University is an opportunity I find deeply compelling. I am especially excited about the potential for collaborative research and interdisciplinary inquiries, which aligns perfectly with my academic philosophy. I am fully committed to leveraging my skills, experiences, and enthusiasm to make a substantive scholarly contribution to the study of French Literature. Thank you for considering my application; I am keenly looking forward to the possibility of furthering my academic journey in this vibrant intellectual community.

FAQs on Academic Personal Statements

If you’re wondering anything else about academic personal statements, check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions related to them here:

#1. How do you start a personal statement for an academic job?

Applying for an academic job is different from applying for a position as a student. First, you need to establish your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role immediately.

Start by explaining your current status, for example, as a postdoctoral researcher or an experienced member of the faculty, and specify the position you are applying for. Then follow up with your research interests or personal philosophy towards teaching.

You can add a personal anecdote or compelling fact that summarizes your academic journey so far, or your passion for the field. After that, your academic personal statement can go deeper into the qualifications from your academic CV and how you’re a great fit for the position.

#2. How do I introduce myself in an academic personal statement?

The introduction of your academic personal statement is the key to grabbing the attention of the admissions committee.

Start by stating the field or subject that interests you, and why. You can share a specific personal anecdote or observation that led you to this academic pursuit and set the stage for the detailed explanation in your main body.

The goal of your introduction is to give the reader a sense of who you are, what drives you, and why you would be a valuable addition to their department.

#3. Is an academic personal statement like an essay?

Yes, an academic personal statement can be considered a type of essay.

Both essays and academic personal statements are structured forms of writing that are meant to deliver a coherent argument and are divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion. They provide supporting evidence to prove the point and maintain a logical flow to guide the reader to the final conclusion.

However, essays tend to be objective and explore a specific topic or question in depth. Academic personal statements use similar techniques but they present the candidate’s qualifications, experiences, and aspirations in a way that’s meant to persuade the admissions committee.

#4. How long is an academic personal statement?

Typically, an academic personal statement is between 500 and 1000 words long.

The exact length of the text varies depending on the university and program you’re applying to. You should always check the specific requirements for your desired program, and stick to the guidelines you find.

However, if the university you’re applying to doesn’t specify a word count, you should aim for one to two pages.

#5. What do I avoid in an academic personal statement?

Since your personal statement is a crucial part of your academic application, it’s important to avoid any common mistakes.

Make sure the content of your academic personal statement isn’t too generic. Its goal is to give insight into you as an individual, beyond what can be read in your CV . 

You should also avoid cramming too many points in your text. Your academic personal statement should follow a logical flow, and focus on the relevance of what you’re sharing about yourself and how it relates to the academic program you’re pursuing.

Key Takeaways

And that concludes our guide to writing an academic personal statement!

We hope you feel more confident when crafting your application for that academic program or faculty position you have your sights set on.

Now let’s recap what we talked about so far:

• Academic personal statements are very different from CV personal statements. While CV personal statements are brief paragraphs at the top of the page, an academic personal statement is an in-depth text that details why you’re interested in a given position, and what makes you a good candidate.
• The guidelines on academic personal statements vary according to the institution you’re applying to. Read the brief very carefully, and pay attention to what it says about word count and questions your personal statement should answer. Any mistakes here could result in rejection.
• There are differences between applying for a postgraduate program and applying for a faculty position. But in both cases, you should research the exact place you want to apply to and adjust your application accordingly to match the institution’s values.
• Always proofread your academic personal statement before sending it, even if you’re sure there are no errors.

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Student CV template + 10 CV examples

Build your CV on this template 

Finding a job as a student can be challenging… Especially when you have little or no experience

But having a strong student CV will get you noticed by employers and help you to land the interviews you deserve.

This student CV template and 10 student CV examples show you exactly how to create an interview-winning CV, no matter what your current situation is.

There’s also a detailed student CV writing guide at the bottom.

Student CV template (With part time experience)

CV templates 

Why this CV is effective

Writing a school leaver CV is a big challenge, especially when you have no work experience, but all of the job adverts seem to be asking for experienced people.

Here’s how this candidate overcomes this barrier and creates an attractive CV.

The profile/personal statement

This 16 year old candidate doesn’t have any full time work experience in the field they are hoping to work in, so they use their profile to sell their academic achievements and transferable student skills .

The purpose of the profile (or personal statement) is to catch recruiters’ attention as they skim through all of the CVs in their inbox. This profile contains lots of information around highest level of qualifications, subjects that are relevant to their target roles, and extra-curricular activities

They also clearly mention their desire to enter the finance industry, and demonstrate why they have the necessary skills to succeed in it.

Quick tip:  If you struggle with spelling and grammar, try our quick-and-easy CV Builder

Build your CV now 

The core skills and achievements

The core skills and achievements are in the bullet pointed section under the profile, and as you can see, the points are very short and sharp. This ensures that they can be seen from a quick glimpse of the CV and they gives recruiters a snapshot of this person’s skills.

Good skills and achievements to include are things like:

• Highest qualification level
• Skills relevant to the industry you are targeting
• School teams and clubs
• Positions of responsibility
• Awards and recognition

Education section

As a school leaver, your education is going to be of great interest to employers , so you should include details of your subjects and grades.

You can even include details of any coursework or projects that might be relevant to the jobs you are targeting.

• Work experience

This teenager candidate’s work experience consists of one part time kitchen role which isn’t relevant to the finance roles they are applying for. However, this doesn’t stop them from using the role to their advantage.

Throughout the role description, the candidate showcases lots of transferable workplace skills such as communication , teamwork , and problem solving .

The role is structured for easy navigation by including an outline at the top, followed by bullet pointed responsibilities.

Student CV (no experience )

    Top tips for writing a CV with no experience

• Research your target jobs thoroughly to find out exactly what skills and knowledge you need to highlight in your CV
• Draw out transferable workplace skills from your school work, studies, projects and extra-curricular activities to prove that you have valuable skills that employers are looking for
• If you have any hobbies or interests that are relevant or impressive (such as sports teams, writing, club membership, charity work etc.) add them to your CV to give it a boost
• For a quick way to add experience to your CV, pick up a short term voluntary role in your local area

College student CV

University student CV / Graduate

As a graduate , you are competing against lots of other similar candidates to land graduate jobs and internships – so it’s important to get your CV ( curriculum vitae ) right and make it stand out from the pack.

The personal statement / profile

As a graduate, it’s vital to make recruiters stick to your CV when they first open the document. This candidate does that by writing a powerful personal statement which summarises all of the skills they have picked up in university, work placements, and personal projects .

It’s short, sharp and punchy, which makes it an interesting read, and it’s heavily tailored to the needs of the candidate’s target employers, by including plenty of relevant terms and key words .

Core skills and achievements

To give readers a quick snapshot of their most in-demand abilities, this candidate has included a bullet pointed list of some impressive skills and achievements which relate to their target roles.

Related projects

As a graduate with limited experience, it’s wise to highlight some relevant projects that you’ve undertaken from university, school, or personal work. It’s a great way to compensate for a lack of work experience in your field.

This candidate is keen to land a product design role, so they have gone into huge detail around the product design elements of their studies. They have highlighted subjects and modules to give recruiters a deep insight into their technical knowledge.

Whilst this candidate’s work experience is not relevant to the roles he is applying for, he still uses them to demonstrate his ability to work in a team environment and contribute to an employer. Roles are well structured and broken up into easy-to-read segments so that employers can read them quickly and find the info they need.

Download CV template

You can also check out our example CV for PhD applications

Internship CV

Finance student CV

Law student CV

Masters student CV

Medical student CV

See also: Student nurse CV

How to write a student CV

Writing your student CV is a lot easier when you have sample CVs and CV templates , but it’s still important to understand what recruiters want to see in your CV – and the type of information you need to get across.

These tips will help you perfect your student CV and land a junior role or apprenticeship with a good salary and progression opportunities.

• CV structure and format

Student CV structure and format

Firstly, you must structure and format your CV in a fashion that makes it easy to read, and gives it a professional outlook.

Use a word processor like Google Docs to create your CV and check out this overview of how to layout your CV and the sections you need to include.

Formatting tips

• Keep the font simple and clear – don’t be tempted to use fancy fonts that might be tricky to read.
• The colour scheme should be toned down and clear with black text on a white background creating the easiest reading experience.
• Text should be broken up as much as possible to ensure that busy recruiters and hiring managers can digest the information quickly
• Use big bold headings to clearly define sections and break the information up further

Do your research

Before you start writing your CV it’s crucial to find out what your target employers want to see in a candidate.

Without knowing the skills and knowledge that are required for the jobs you are applying for, it will be difficult to know what you should populate your CV with.

I would advise heading over to the job sites and scanning through plenty of adverts to find out what the most important skills in your niche are.

CV personal statement/profile

Your personal statement or profile is an introductory paragraph which sits at the top of your CV, and is designed to give employers a high-level summary of what you can offer them

The personal statement is arguably the most important part of your CV because it is the first part of the CV that a recruiter’s gaze will be drawn to – if it’s weak, they may skip on to the next CV in their inbox.

So, ensure that your personal statement is packed with relevant skills and gives a good overview of your abilities – this way it will persuade recruiters to read the rest of your CV.

What to include in your student CV profile

• Summary of your education – Being a student, your education is going to be of great interest to hiring managers, so add a high-level overview of your education to your profile, focusing on your highest levels of achievement and qualifications that are relevant to your target jobs.
• In-demand skills – To ensure that your CV gets noticed by recruiters, you need to pack your profile with skills that are important to the jobs you are applying for. Read the job descriptions of the roles you are applying to and include as many of the essential skills as you can (you could have gained these through studies, work experience or even personal achievements)
• Work experience – As a student you might not have much (or any) work experience, but anything you have done should be included in your profile because recruiters love to see it. This could include school  work placements, internships, freelancing or even volunteering.

Your education section

As a student it’s unlikely that you will have a lot of experience to write about, so your education section will provide you with more opportunities to write about your skills and knowledge.

Add your education section near the top of your CV, unless you have some highly relevant work experience that will be more interesting to employers (e.g. a work placement within the industry you are applying to)

Formatting your education section 

Your education needs to be easy for recruiters to navigate, so break it down into clear sections for each qualification, using bullet points and bold headings.

Head each entry with;

• Name of qualification and subject (e.g. GCSE in Maths)
• Institution studied at (school, college, university etc.)
• Dates Studied 

And for your most recent and relevant qualifications you should expand by adding details on:

• Awards and achievements

This will allow you to provide employers with plenty of detail on the skills and knowledge you picked up, along with the achievements you made.

For older and less relevant qualifications you don’t have to provide as much detail because employers will be less interested. For example, if you have a marketing degree and are applying to marketing roles, it will be important to add lots of information on your marketing degree, but your primary school studies will not be as interesting to readers.

Adding your work experience (paid or unpaid)

As a  student, it can be difficult to find experience to place in your CV or resume . – especially if you don’t have any paid work experience.

But the key to adding work experience to your student CV is being creative.

The work experience that you include in your CV doesn’t have to be limited to full-time paid jobs only.

Think outside of the box and include any instances where you have shown initiative outside of your studies, such as:

• Volunteer work – Volunteering for a local or online business in your industry can be a great way to learn relevant skills and add them to your CV.
• School/University work placements – If you have done any work placements within your studies these will give you a great chance to prove your skill set and work ethic.
• Freelancing – Getting freelance work is easier than ever now, thank to sites like Fiverr and PPH. Set up a profile and start offering freelance work, then add some of your projects to your CV.

Writing about these types of activities will give you plenty of opportunities to showcase workplace skills and prove you are a motivated candidate.

How to structure work experience in your CV

Use the structure below to write about your work experience and provide recruiters with a pleasant reading experience, whilst highlighting your skills and achievements.

Hobbies and interests

When you don’t have much work experience, your hobbies and interests can be used to demonstrate lots of workplace skills and qualities.

Add interesting and constructive hobbies that will demonstrate a range of skills and personal traits, like the following

• Playing for a sports team – Shows teamwork, dedication, leadership…
• Being a member of a club – Shows organisation, passion, consistency…
• Writing a blog – Shows writing skills, pro-activity, tech knowledge…
• World travel – Shows confidence, coordination, people skills …

Avoid common passive hobbies like…

• Watching TV
•  Eating out
• Going to the cinema

They are unlikely to impress anyone.

Check out my video on how to add hobbies and interests to your CV..

Using your student CV template

Once you’ve written a winning student CV (or student resume ) it’s time to start landing job interviews.

Apply for jobs on multiple job websites with a strong cover letter , as well as searching for your target companies and sending them emails speculatively. You can learn how to write a cover letter with my detailed guide .

You would also benefit from attending jobs fairs locally and in major cities.

Job hunting is never easy, so don’t give up if you don’t get responses straight away. Be patient, keep making applications and adjust your approach based on feedback.

Stay positive and you’ll be in your dream job in no time.

You can also try our editable CV template .

Good luck with the job search !

PS. You can also use an online CV creator or a blank CV template .

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Writing a personal statement for your CV

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

What is a CV personal statement?

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

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

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

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

Do I need a personal summary on my CV?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What should I include in my CV personal profile?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take a look at  how to write a CV .

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

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

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

Find out more about the  top 7 CV mistakes .

CV personal statement examples

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

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

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

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

Find out more

• Learn more about  applying for jobs .
• Get more advice on CVs and cover letters .

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CV Examples Cabin crew

CV Examples for Students + Comprehensive Guide

We have all been there, being a job-hunting student trying to crush a job application , land our first job, that precious internship, etc. Here, we help you navigate the first step of the process: Crafting your best possible CV as a student.

• 1. Student cv examples
• 2. How to write a CV as a Student
• 2.1 Previous work
• 2.2 Student CV format
• 2.3 Student CV layout
• 3. CV Header for students
• 4. CV personal statement student
• 5. Skills for student CV
• 6. Work experience
• 7. Student cv with no work experience at all
• 8. Education or Qualifications section
• 9. Additional sections on a student CV

Student CV Examples

Among the following student CV examples you can find a recent-graduate looking for a summer job related with electronics, an BA student looking for an internship, a nurse student CV, a student teacher CV, a grad school resume, and an economics college student looking for a position in the academic job market. Easily browse these sample resumes in PDF format by clicking the "Download CV button"

High School Student about to start Vocational School with a no-experience resume

University student - Senior year CV example

College student without experience outside academia.

Student Teacher CV example

Student Nurse CV example

How to write a great CV as a Student

Many people tend to think that crafting a great Cv as a student is more complicated than usual, since students tend to have a shorter work history or no work history at all. In this article we debunk some myths, include real-life samples, and challenge you to do some introspective work to be able to come up with the best possible version of your CV. Shifting the focus to sections like the personal statement , the skills section , the education section , etc. without forgetting about the work history, that even though it won't probably be the most important section on your CV, it can definitely help you build a stronger application. Let's dive in!

Grammar mistakes are a huge red flag for recruiters, not because they expect candidates to have excellent written skills but because they mean that you didn't pay attention to the details, and in a competitive job-market this is a basic and very important skill that they will find in other candidates. Grammar mistakes in your Student CV are very easy to fix: Make sure you use a grammar checking tool when writing your CV.

Things to consider before Starting your Student CV

Before kickstarting your student CV writing process, we highly encourage you to stop for a second and understand why you need a CV. The most likely scenario is that you need it to apply to a specific role or set of roles. In this case we encourage you to identify what skills are necessary for these target roles or singlerole. Some of the skills can be easily found in the role's job description; others require a little bit of industry knowledge and common sense. Checking the business' physical or online presence can also help.

The next step will be to spot specific examples within your experiences (if you have them), academic background, academic achievements, experiences, volunteering, free-time activities or hobbies, etc. that proof you have acquired and/or practiced those skills, and are ready to apply them in the role/roles you are applying to. Use the recommended CV sections that you will find below to make sure you cover them all.

This exercise of identifying these skills will give you a huge advantage, and the next step will be to write a "master CV" that you will be able to use as a base to create new variations for many target roles if you want to do so.

The perfect student CV format & useful tips

Like usual, there isn't a one-size-fits-all format. The best format for a student CV will depend on the amount of work history and information you have. Students with lots of relevant work history and academic background will pick CV templates with larger room for these types of sections, while students with fewer professional history will pick a template that can fill up a page with fewer content. It also depends if you are also attaching cover letters or not.

In addition to the template/ design, the format of a student CV is determined by the structure and order of its sections, that we will cover in the next segment. Depending on the structure and sections you pick, it will be considered a skill-based CV or a Chronological CV,but don't get too messed up with these terms, since hint: it doesn't really matter how your CV format is called.

Skill-based CVs tend to be more common among students, since this format highlights your abilities and qualifications over heavily focusing on your work history like the reverse-chronological CV does.

One important tip is that no matter what you turn your CV in as a PDF, even if you use a Miscrosoft Word CV template to make it. The reason is because turning your CV otherwise can very easily alter its format and content, and you want to avoid this at all costs. Of course, this rule doesn't apply if the job application form specifically requests a file other than a PDF, then turn it in the specifically requested format. But otherwise, even if it isn't specified, always turn in a PDF CV. Find here PDF CV templates .

Student CV Layout

The general rule says that you should be able to fit your CV in one page; this is especially easy in the case of students. Remember that if your CV is longer than that, you can always use an online CV like the one you can see below, or a portfolio type of website to present extended information. That being said, teaching and research positions in academia tend to accept and actually prefer long CVs with all the candidate's information; in these cases CVs can be 2 pages or even more.

The layout of your student CV will depend on the importance you want to give to the work history section. In order to decide this, check out this segment . If you have relevant experience, we recommend you to go with the first layout, if you have a work history but most of the transferable skills are in other parts of your CV like your interests, your academic background, personal statement, the skills section, etc. then go with the second one, and if you have no experience at all then go with the third one.

Personal Statement

Work Experience

Additional Sections

These are just proposed layouts; the final ideal section structure will have to be decided on a case-to-case basis, depending both on the student's profile and the skills required in the target roles.

In terms of your CV format, it is important to make sure that it can be properly read by ATS applicant tracking software . And in terms of its content, it's equally crucial to follow this article's guidelines to ensure your student CV covers the minimum requirements for the role. If your CV can't be read by these softwares or you haven't include the right keywords , there is a big chance your CV won't get to the eyes of a human.

CV Header for students

This is a comprehensive list of action verbs you should be using on your cabin crew CV:

Often overlooked, the CV header is inevitably the segment that will be first noticed on your CV, therefore it is smart to make good use of it. In addition to your full name, your cabin crew CV header should contain:

• A valid and professional and valid email address. High school students and other students should avoid using emails with nicknames and other addresses created just for fun. Ideally use an email that uses your name and surname. If you don't want to change your email address with these characteristics, just create a new one and forward incoming email to your old email address.
• A valid phone number
• A professional CV headline, also known as Job title , is a one-liner of your most relevant / prominent skills. Here you have a whole article that will help you craft the best CV headline. Check out the CV headline examples for students.
• Location or desired location
• Social media profile links
• Personal website links
• Availability

Even though it is very obvious, it's important to mention that both email address and phone number should be yours, don't use email addresses or phone numbers that belong to other people.

CV headline for students - Great examples

Highly-motivated student with passion for electronics and robotics

BA Student with experience managing a channel with >1K Subscribers

Awarded Student with 4 experience pursuing an MBA at UCLA

Creative BA Student with strong digital branding skills

Hospitality management senior bilingual in English and Spanish

Marketing Student with 2 years experience with real clients

Immigration Law recent graduate with 1 year experience

Journalism sophomore with strong video editing skills

Nursing school junior with focusing on palliative care

Civil Engineering Technician with land surveying experience

UX Designer with 8 years product design role experience

High School student

BA student ready to work

BA student looking for opportunity

Marketing Student

Nursing School Junior

Civil Engineering senior looking for summer internship

2d Year academic foundation programme practicioner

Hospitality Management Student

Do you notice the difference? It's not that these last CV headlines are completely wrong; definitely better to add these rather than not adding a CV Headline at all; however, they are missing an opportunity to mention key skills that define you and that ideally align with the target role.

CV Personal Statement

Also known as "professional summary", "executive summary", "about me", etc. this is the section for you to shine as a highly motivated and capable student. This section is a brief summary of your skills and experience, where you will explain at a glance: who you are and what you have done over the years. After reading the job description as described here , you want this summary to detail why you are the ideal candidate for the position. This means that ideally, the personal statement should be rewritten for each position you apply to. If you are applying to very similar positions and come up with a summary, that is good for all of them, that is also a good way to go about it.

Be as concise as you can be: the ideal length of the professional summary on a student CV is one or two paragraphs, with no more than 200 words.

As you can see in the following example, the personal statement, can also include your career goal or CV objective, since lately there has been voices against including this in a specific section on your CV. This goal shouldn't be vague and must be totally aligned with the company's goals.

CV personal statement student examples

I am a multi-disciplinary creative professional with a passion for digital marketing channels and design. At a young age I got involved in multiple projects around personal and corporate communication and branding, including my Digital Marketing Youtube channel with over 1K subscribers. These projects have allowed me to develop a deep knowledge and understanding of how the main marketing channels work, as well as applying a wide range of skills like illustration, photo and video editing, motion graphics, etc.

With a year of experience in the retail industry and about to finish my double major in English and Scenic art studies, I am currently looking for a creative digital marketing position where I can be involved in the campaign design and strategy process in order to kickstart my career in the advertising industry.

I am a BA Student that has acquired excellent communication and visual art skills through my years of education and personal projects. I am a very curious person, specifically when it comes to social media platforms and I am highly motivated to add value to the company as a key part of your team.

Student CV key skills section

Skills are commonly divided into two categories: Hard and soft-skills. The hard skills are those skills that can be measured more easily, like languages or technical skills. You can say that you are proficient in the usage of Adobe Photoshop or fluent in Spanish and there isn't much room for interpretation: we are going to assume you can use photoshop like a pro and hold a conversation in Spanish understanding that you could make mistakes but these won't affect communication. These type of skills can be listed and included in your CV by quantifying them whether with proficiency descriptions or with scale charts:

Soft skills, on the other hand, are inter-personal and behaviorial skills, very hard to quantify and highly subject to interpretation. Therefore, it isn't generally a good idea to use lists to include soft-skills in a CV; instead candidates should use other sections to include them, as described here .

However, skill-based CVs are an exception to this norm, particularly in the case of students with a no-experience resume where the skills section becomes one of the most important sections. So, when it makes sense, it is totally fine to list your soft-skills in. But you should still avoid including bullet points in descriptionless lists. Instead, as shown in the examples below, you should include examples of how you have used those skills, alternatively mentioning how you acquired them.

When it comes to including the skills section in a Student CV there is many possibilities, here are three smart ways to go about it:

• A Skills / Skills summary section combining all your hard and soft skills, with subsections.
• Many sections grouping skills in categories.
• A dedicated section for each relevant skill.

Adding one or more skills sections to your CV doesn't mean you can't include examples showing off your skills in other CV sections. You should still use your achievements, responsibilites, executive summary etc. to emphasize what you are most talented at.

Great examples of student CV skills usage

MY STRONGEST SKILLS

EXCELLENT COMMUNICATOR

• My academic background in English and scenic arts along with my passion for creative writing have given me the confidence to effectively communicate messages across channels using strong storytelling techniques.
• Through my customer services experience in a busy and demanding retail environment, I have improved my interpersonal communication skills, particularly when it comes to effective client communication.
• I have a true passion for creative work. Bringing ideas to life is something that has always come naturally. I developed a passion for digital illustration earlier in life, and I have consistently created marketing materials for countless events and businesses. You can check out my portfolio here.
• I am always exploring and learning about new formats, developing an interest in short video materials and websites, what brought me to create my personal blog and Youtube channel, maintaining a strong publication consistency over the last three years.
• My Youtube channel and my blog have ignited my analytical skills, pushing me to measure every detail and audience interaction with tools like Google Analytics, Sendgrid, Google Data Studio and Tableau.
• This has allowed me to consistently grow my audiences and increase the monetization of my blog and my subscriber's email list.

FAST-LEARNER

• Thanks to the selfless community contributors, I have learned many skills and following the motto 'learn by doing' put them into practice. I am thrilled with the evolution of web and video formats and look forward to keeping learning and using new trends and formats to grow.
• Excellent Communicator
• Fast-learner

EDITION SKILLS

• Adobe Photoshop ●●●●●○
• Adobe Illustrator ●●●●●○
• Adobe After Effects ●●●●●○
• Adobe Premier ●●●●●○
• Final Cut Pro ●●●●○○
• Figma ●●●●●○

MARKETING SKILLS

• Email Marketing ●●●●●○
• Facebook Business Ads ●●●●●○
• Linkedin Ads ●●●●○○
• Youtube Editor ●●●●●○
• Google Analytics ●●●●●○
• Google Ads ●●●●●○
• Google Data Studio●●●○○○
• CMSs: Wordpress, Hubspot & Webflow ●●●●●○
• Languages: HTML5 & MySQL ●●●●○○
• Communication ●●●●●○
• Team Work ●●●●●○
• Organization ●●●●●○

In the following example, we can see how a student has done a great use of her personal profile to describe some of the skills required for the job, even though she has a no-experience resume:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I am a passionate electrical engineering student in my junior year, looking for an electronics apprenticeship in the Bournemouth area, that allows me to work on projects related to renewable energies , the internet of things or/and electric mobility.

I have more than 8 years experience troubleshooting electronic devices and home appliances, as well as installing electrical systems in tiny houses, caravans, etc. My engineering studies have given me the confidence and structure to start electrical projects around the internet of things and green power like the ones I present below.

• Organization skills
• Planning skills
• Internet of things
• Electrical Systems

Experience or no-experience, that is the question

Even though you might think that you don't have a work history, or that the experience you have doesn't relate to your targeted role, in most cases it is a better idea to include it in your student CV than to leave it out. The key is to take these informal or apparently unrelated experiences, and write a work description focusing on the transferable skills used in these kinds of experiences.

Let's take the case of the university student that is looking for an internship at a marketing or creative agency. He's never had a formal marketing job; however, he's been working on his personal brand for more than 3 years now with a blog with thousands of monthly visitors and a Youtube channel with more than 1K subscribers, the tasks he's performed to build those audiences will be very valuable on his next marketing job. Therefore he must mention these in his student CV, and even though they can be added in a separate section, including it as a work experience, it is a perfectly fine option to showcase his responsibilities and achievements.

Related experience example

BRAND MANAGER & PRODUCT OWNER 123easiestmarketing.com

08/2018 - Present

I started a blog and a Youtube Channel to share easy to digest but effective marketing pills with small business owners and entrepreneurs. My main responsibilities are:

• Create the content calendar for the Blog, the Youtube, and other social media profiles
• Researching and crafting interesting video and web content that drives traffic and engages users across channels focusing on Youtube, email subscribers & web visitors
• Developing a marketing automation strategy to onboard new subscribers across the different marketing channels ensuring a coherent brand identity

To the date, the site has consistently published a blog post per week and currently has 11K monthly organic visitors, while the Youtube channel has more than 1K subscribed users in more than 30 countries.

BRAND MANAGER & PRODUCT OWNER

123easiestmarketing.com + Youtube Channel

Non related work experience example

Likewise, his work history includes a retail weekend work at an electronics store for more than a year, even though at first it could seem that this experience is completely irrelevant for the job application at hand, it really isn't, since working in a retail position has most likely developed his customer service and teamwork, both very transferable skills to most positions at a marketing/creative agency. Therefore, when including this experience, his focus has been on responsibilities and achievements that showcase these skills. Next, you can see an example showing how to include a non-related work experience in your student CV:

Non related experience example

Customer Services Assistant Expert DominicSmith Dublin

09/2016 - 08/2019

I worked 8-hour weekend shifts at the Electrical & Home Entretainment Expert store in Dundrum. Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest days of the week, when the in-store assistance doubles. As a customer services assistant I:

• Strategically delivered marketing materials and information to customers making sure our merchants branding guidelines were followed
• Delivered customer service assistance and advice based on the customer needs, always with an active problem-solving approach
• Was in charge of the stock management for the portable devices section.

Over my 3 years at Expert DominicSmith, I contributed to always achieving our quarterly revenue goals and successfully passed mystery-shoppers test scoring above the chain's average, gaining the recognition of our regional manager.

• Assisted customers
• Cashier-related tasks if required
• Restocking goods

No-experience resume / CV for students

Now, we understand if your response to our question is that you are a high school student genuinely has no experience, not even in sporadic garden or lown mowing. This is then the only case where you should write a 100% no-experience CV , which is totally fine; you will then relay on other sections to showcase your skills, like the Education, Hobbies Interests or Volunteering sections.

Qualifications or Academic background section

If there is a case where the education or qualifications section is more relevant than ever is in the case of students and recent graduates. Take advantage of this section to highlight any awards, honors you have obtained over your academic background.

Include only your higher education diplomas, avoid including lower education if you have obtained higher education diplomas afterwards. High school student resumes, should also only include their current studies with the predicted year of graduation. College students, vocational students or university students should include their A-Levels, GCSEs and the current degree they are studying including their estimated time of graduation.

Following, we attach an example of how to successfully maximize the use of the education section on a student resume example:

Qualifications example for students

B.A. IN ENGLISH & SCENIC ARTS

American College Dublin

• Graduated with first class honors: 3.25/4

09/2017 - 04/2022

B.A. IN ENGLISH & SCENIC ARTS American College Dublin

The power of additional sections on a student CV

Even though we have set a layout framework for student CV sections, there is no limit when it comes to the number or nature of sections. There are typical additional sections that can be very useful on a student's CV to showcase skills:

• Language skills
• Honors & awards
• Interests or hobbies
• Volunteering experience
• Complementary education
• Extracurricular activities

But then, as you can see in this high school student resume , where she has added a section under the name "Highlighted products" or another one to explain a specific project she is currently working on, the possibilities are endless, and will depend on the position and the with a list of interesting projects she's done over her academic years and free time, and the candidate.

Is it necessary to add student cover letters to your applications?

As you probably guessed, the answer to this question is that it depends. If the application process has a field for it, then you definitely have to include one, and as it happens with the CV you should target it as much as you can to the targeted role.

On the other hand, if the job application doesn't offer the possibility to add one, don't add one. Your personal statement will act as a sort of brief cover letter targeted to the role.

Finally, students that are sending a spontaneous application, should evaluate the convenience of adding a covering letter on a case-per case basis. There is actually three recommended options:

• Send an email attaching your cover letter and CV
• Send an email with the cover letter as the email content with the CV attached
• Send a brief email attaching the CV that includes a targeted personal statement where the candidate clearly aligns his/her goals with those of the role and company

Once again, make sure to use a grammar checking tool when crafting your application email, linkedin message or cover letter.

Montse Lorente

Coach & recruiter @ kaelon.co and co-founder @ cvonline.me

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

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

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

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

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

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

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

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

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

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

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

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

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

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

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

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

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

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

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

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

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

Tips for the introduction

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

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

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

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

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

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

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

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

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

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

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

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

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

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

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

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

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

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

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

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

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

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

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

Tips for the main body

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

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

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

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

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

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

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

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

Tips for the conclusion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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• Avoiding repetition
• Literature review
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• Burned or burnt
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Best CV Personal Profile Examples

What is a CV personal profile?

A personal profile, also known as a CV summary, is the opening statement of your CV. It is a short introduction which outlines your personal characteristics, telling the prospective employer what kind of a person you are, the attributes and qualities that you possess and the work experience that you have.

How to write a CV profile statement from scratch

When writing your personal profile, ensure it is:

• Short (no more than 6 lines);
• Relevant to the job you are applying for, and;
• Contains some real-world examples .

Be bold, be confident and talk about yourself in a positive way.

Your personal profile is not the place to be humble; it is your chance to be noticed and tell the potential employer exactly who you ‘really’ are and what you can do for them.

Warning: Do not go ‘over the top’ and give the impression that you are either very arrogant or simply too good to be true! Keep it balanced and realistic, bearing in mind the needs of the employer.

Click here if you want to see a bad example of a personal profile.

What information to include on a personal profile

The purpose of your personal profile is to concisely present your skills, qualities, work experience, and your career goals and ambitions. Consequently, you can mention anything from the following categories when constructing your personal profile:

Personal Qualities

• Self-motivated
• Having an eye for detail
• Management skills
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Design skills
• 5 years experience in …
• Excellent track record of …
• Extensive background in …
• Previous work experience in …

An ideal statement should have at least one example for each of these three categories.

How long should my profile statement be?

There are no set rules about the length of a personal profile, however, it is highly recommended to keep it ideally within the 50/80-words boundary (no longer than six lines). The reason for this is because employers, in the first instance, tend to scan CVs rather than extensively read it. Keeping it short and to the point increases the chances that they will actually read it.

Furthermore, as the total length of a CV is only 2 A4 pages long, having a short statement frees us valuable space for other key sections of your CV such as the work experience, education and skills sections .

Winning personal profile CV examples from all job sectors

Business management cv profile.

• The candidate mentions their key personal skills and qualities that are relevant and important when managing a business.
• The candidate mentions their relevant work experience in the field, indicating that they are able to work within multiple job sectors.

IT CV profile

• The candidate correctly highlights their areas of expertise, such as designing websites, networking and managing databases. It is clear from these examples that the individual has a broad understanding of IT and would be able to work on a wide range of IT projects.
• The candidate reassures the prospective employer that although they are working in a very technical field, they have the ability to work with a wide range of people. Interpersonal and communication skills are key to any job.

Student CV profile

• The above personal statement is clear and informative, making it clear that the applicant is a student, currently completing their university degree, and are looking to work part-time in the industry.
• It is always a good idea, as the candidate has done in this example, to clearly mention your availability for work and also the reasons for why you are seeking work. “Making money” is not a good enough reason for an employer to give you a job. The candidate has mentioned that they wish to put into practice what they have learned and make a positive contribution to the employer.

HR CV profile

• The candidate highlights that they have previous work experience in Human Resources (HR), making them familiar with the payroll systems and employment law. Additionally, they indicate some personal qualities (such as interpersonal skills and being sensitive to people’s privacies) which would be highly beneficial for the role that they are applying for.

Manager CV profile

• The candidate not only states that they have three years’ of experience in management but they also mention the positive contribution that they made to that organisation. In this case, it was a significant improvement in the performance of the team that they were managing.

Sales/retail CV profile

• Just by looking at the profile statement of this individual, we can conclude that this person has thorough experience of sales and is able to handle the various aspects of the selling process. Additionally, their promotion indicates that they are a high achiever.

Teaching CV profile

• In just a few lines, the candidate demonstrates a great deal of compassion, empathy and care for young people and their futures. This level of care and concern, along with an enduring passion for teaching, are the key ingredients of being successful in any teaching careers.
• The candidate indicating that they are able to work with young children from all backgrounds and walks of life. This is important, especially when living in today’s multicultural and diverse societies.

Engineering CV profile

• The candidate correctly highlights their previous work experience and areas of expertise. This makes them look like a very competent and accomplished chemical engineer, increasing the chances of being invited for an interview.

Designer CV profile

• This is an effective statement because the candidate highlights their valuable 1st class degree in Graphic Design and previous work experience in the design industry. Additionally, the candidate makes mention of their personal qualities, such as having the ability to think outside the box, to further indicate their suitability for the job.

Hospitality CV profile

• The above is an excellent example of how profile statement should be constructed; it contains references to their previous work experience in the same industry, personal qualities that are relevant to the job (e.g. having a passion for food and socialising with people) and their job achievements (e.g. winning an award). Any employer reading this statement will have to think twice before they put it in the rejection pile!

Admin CV profile

• The candidate mentions their previous work experience project management and providing administrative support to businesses.
• This admin personal statement clearly demonstrates that the individual is aware of all the challenges that administrators face; working in a busy working environment, handling multiple projects simultaneously, prioritising tasks and achieving the highest standard of work.

Customer service CV profile

• The candidate indicates that they are able to resolve customer enquiries and complaints face-to-face, over the phone or via email. This ability enables them to work in a variety of different job settings, i.e. a call centre, on the shop floor or at a desk.
• Their statement contains a tangible example of accomplishment (i.e. successfully resolving 150 customer enquiries or complaints).

Media CV profile

• The candidate has included many examples of their previous work experience and competencies in the field. Any employer interested in hiring an experienced camera operator will most certainly be impressed and continue reading the remainder of their CV.

Healthcare CV profile

• The candidate highlights that they are able to work with a variety of different people, something which is essential as physiotherapists will be working with people from all backgrounds and ages.
• The statement includes personal qualities that are important to have as a physiotherapist, such as being caring and friendly. Although some careers advisors do not recommend generic words such as ‘caring’ and ‘friendly’, it is nevertheless recommended to include them if they truly reflect your personality and if the rest of the personal statement contains specific information which is not generic in nature.

Writer CV profile

• This profile is short and punchy, increasing the chances that it will be read in full by the prospective employers
• The candidate highlights their career achievements by stating that their works have been accepted and published by leading newspapers and magazines – a testimony to the high quality of their work.

Science CV profile

• This statement is short and to the point; highlighting all the important information such as the candidates work experience, expertise and some personal qualities and characteristics.

Do I need to include a personal statement on my CV? No, it is entirely optional to include a personal profile on your CV. However, it is generally recommended to include one, particularly as it serves as a little “About me” section at the top of your CV. Every written document has an introduction, why shouldn’t a CV?

Can I use the first person tense in my statement? Yes, the first and third person tenses are both fine to use – but not both. Decide on the one tense and stick to it.

Where should I include the profile statement on my CV There is no fixed place in which you should put your personal profile. Some candidates place it at the bottom of their CVs. Ideally, you should position it at the top of your CV.

What is the most important thing to include on a personal profile? Real-world examples and tangible performance indicators, for example; increased sales by x percent, managed x number of people, won such-and-such awards, improved productivity by x percent, etc. These types of information are highly valuable, as opposed to saying that you are the “best salesperson in the country” and not backing it up with any evidence!

Need help with other sections of your CV?

While you’re still here – don’t forget to check out our amazing How to write a CV guide for more practical tips on writing your perfect CV or this useful resource.

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How to Write a Standout UCAS Personal Statement: Tips for Success!

• Author:  Stephanie Odili, Psychology BSc, School of Humanities and Social Science

Universities receive thousands of personal statements alongside students’ applications each year, so writing a UCAS personal statement that stands out among the thousands is an essential requirement to increase your chances of getting accepted onto your chosen course. Read on for useful tips to guide you to achieve a standout personal statement! 

What is a UCAS Personal Statement?

A UCAS personal statement is a brief, standard-format essay explaining who you are in at least 500 words. Personal statements should include what experiences, hobbies, values and goals have shaped your interest in the degree you are applying to obtain.

As stated, your personal statement should be concise but include necessary information that will get you accepted onto your chosen course. Visit UCAS to see examples of personal statements and useful tips 

How to Structure Your UCAS Personal Statement

As your personal statement is considered a standard-format essay, it should ideally include a proper introduction, a main body for your education, work experiences, possible hobbies information and a suitable conclusion at the end; all specifically tailored to your chosen course.

Avoid including any information that you cannot tailor to the course.  A personal statement is like a CV or cover letter, while the university itself is like an organisation you seek employment from; consider what you would do with a cv or cover letter when applying for a particular job, you would tailor it specifically to that job to increase the odds of you being chosen! 

Opening Strong: Crafting an Engaging Introduction

The introduction is the first thing the admissions officer sees, so make it engaging enough to keep them reading through your entire personal statement.

A common mistake is overlooking the importance of the introduction by putting key information somewhere in the middle or close to the end. If you start weak, it may affect how your personal statement is viewed overall. An example of a weak start to an introduction is stating something like ‘I have always known I would be a [inserts course/career of interest]’.

You want to start strong by providing a glimpse of the knowledge you have of your chosen course, you could do this by inserting a quote and commenting on how it has impacted or inspired your interest in the course, demonstrating your knowledge of what the degree content offers. For course content information and tips that can help shape your statement, visit the relevant university course pages. 

Showcasing Your Academic Achievements

There should be a section of the main body of your statement that highlights your academic achievements, strengths and interests. This is the time to showcase your brilliance and exceptional ways but be careful not to exaggerate or include false information as that may work against you in the long run; especially for courses that involve interviews! Stay true and proud of your achievements, no matter how big or small you think they are, they got you to this stage of your application! 

Demonstrating Passion for Your Chosen Course

In your introduction you gave a glimpse of your interest and knowledge of the course, next you must demonstrate your passion for your chosen course in detail. You want to provide examples that communicate you are completely interested and willing to give full focus into the teachings on the course. 

Including Work Experience and Extracurricular Activities

One way to demonstrate your passion is to include examples of how personal and/or work experiences have shaped your interest to study the course. These experiences can be voluntary, paid, mentored, extracurricular activities (such as summer schools and reading) or anything that has contributed to you wanting to learn about the course.

Notice the word ‘personal’ is used to describe what you are writing, so do not shy away from including personal experiences that relate to your course interest, as it gives the reader a glimpse into your personality. Do not deny them the chance to get to know you by making it overly formal and only including paid employment or academic achievements. If a CV and cover letter provides opportunity to include a bit of personal experiences, imagine how much more can be provided in a personal statement! 

How to Write a Strong Conclusion

For the conclusion, ensure you finish strong. You can give a brief explanation of what you hope to achieve with the degree in question, a summary of your goals and the steps you will take after obtaining your degree. This lets the reader know you see yourself finishing the degree and going on to make use of it to do greater things.

Proofreading and Getting Feedback on Your Personal Statement

Of course, this guide would not be complete without the following advice!   Ensure you have enough time and patience to create a great personal statement, proofread as you go and get others to read through it so they can give you feedback. People who are sure to provide helpful feedback are academic staff, mentors, past or present students (especially those on the same course), family and peers. 

Key Takeaways for Crafting a Winning UCAS Personal Statement

Here is a summary of some things to remember: 

• Do your research: Visit university and UCAS sites for examples and tips 
• Give yourself time: Start early to give yourself plenty of time to write and review your work 
• Be balanced: Have a balance between being concise and including detailed relevant information 
• Get personal: It is a personal statement, so make it that way rather than just a generic statement 
• Check and check again : Proofread and obtain feedback! 

I hope this helps, happy writing! 

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