cv personal statement examples for first job

How to Write a CV Personal Statement [+4 Real-life Examples]

Creating an effective CV takes time and close attention to detail. You've already included your jobs and experience , and now you want to allow the recruiter or hiring manager to understand the strategic value you can add.

This is when you need to utilize a personal statement at the top of your CV.

How to Write a CV Personal Statement [+4 Real-life Examples] 

What is a Personal Statement? 

A personal statement is a few brief and direct sentences at the top of your CV. The personal statement is also referred to as a career summary or personal mission statement.

This is used to grab the attention of the recruiter or hiring manager and summarizes essential experiences or training that you can bring to this position.

Why do I Need a Personal Statement?

A recruiter or hiring manager is tasked with sorting through an enormous amount of resumes every single day. A personal statement is a way to separate yourself from the other applicants.

This statement summarizes your experience and highlights your unique talents . The CV personal statement is meant to demonstrate why you are the perfect fit for the job. 

Even med students need a medical school personal statement , as it is what differentiates them from all the other students applying. Plus, it allows them to share their personal stories and objectives.

Where do I Start? 

Always begin by reading the job description carefully and thoroughly.

Your personal statement should be tailored to each job description, so it explicitly states the value you’ll bring to the position you are applying. A generic personal statement cannot do that. 

Once you have a solid handle on the job description, you can begin writing. It’s important to keep your personal statement brief, about 50-200 words will do.

Don’t forget that you have your whole cover letter to show some personality and include engaging content.

The personal statement should be a quick summary that highlights why you are the best person for the job. 

You’ll need to decide whether you are writing your personal statement in first- or third-person. This should follow how you've written the rest of your CV.

For example, if you've already written, “I grew and developed a team of 50 salespeople,” in your CV then you will want to keep your personal statement in first-person to match the prevailing style.

No matter what you choose, make sure that you keep it consistent throughout. Do not switch between first- and third-person as that will get confusing to the hiring manager.

Writing a personal statement for your CV in first-person does not mean you need to start every sentence with “I.”

There are ways to craft your personal statement to sound snappy, concise and personal, and here are a few examples to help inspire your personal statement. 

CV Personal Statement Examples

It doesn’t matter what chose as your desired career or how much experienc e you have, use these examples to drive the creation of your own personal statement.

You can take snippets from each or write something completely different. Always remember that your personal statement is a reflection of yourself and should align with your own personal goals and experience.

If these examples don’t fit your exact career, feel free to take some pointers and write yours from scratch. 

#1: Personal Statement Example for Recent Graduate CV

“As a recent graduate from university, with an honors degree in communications, I held several internships within leading organizations, including Bertelsmann. These internships enabled me to gain experience in the field and learn how to serve up valuable contributions in a fast-paced, professional environment.”

Explanation: This example should be customized to include the university you’ve graduated from and any relevant internships. A compelling personal statement always highlights relevant skills and experiences.

In this case, a recent graduate does not have extensive experience in the workforce, so soft skills like experiencing success in a fast-paced work environment and becoming a trusted team member become even more critical.

#2: Personal Statement Example for Returning to the Workforce CV

“A highly motivated and experienced office administrator, I am currently looking to resume my professional career after an extended hiatus to raise my family. Proficient in all Microsoft Office programs, I can lead meetings and work with clients to keep your office running smoothly and efficiently. After spending several years volunteering as an administrative worker for a local charity, I am committed to resuming my professional career on a full-time basis.”

Explanation: After time off from a career, it can be hard to break back into the market. This personal statement outlines the reason for the break, the relevant qualifications and what the applicant has been doing in between jobs.

Any volunteer experience becomes highly relevant when there is no concrete professional experience to draw upon, to demonstrate the use of those skills. 

#3: Personal Statement Example for a Career Change CV

“With over 15 years as a sales manager, I have extensive experience building high-functioning sales teams that consistently achieve budget numbers. In fact, my ability to grow talent led to a 20% increase in annual renewals across the board. Now, after 15 years, I am seeking new challenges to flex my marketing muscles in a fast-paced environment.” 

Explanation: When changing careers , it's essential to highlight skills that are transferable between industries.

In this case, leadership and team-building experience can apply to any industry. Homing in on concrete numbers and percentages increases credibility when applying for a position.

The applicant ends with the reason behind the desired career change. This part is not necessary but may be appealing to some hiring managers who are wondering what the impetus for the career change.

#4: Personal Statement Example for a Experienced Professional CV

“As a friendly, professional and highly trained educator, I am passionate about teaching and have an innate ability to understand student’s needs. Creating a safe and productive environment for optimal learning is my top priority. I’ve worked as a teacher for nearly 10 years in a variety of subjects and my experience and skill set make me the perfect fit for your team.”

Explanation: With more experience comes more skills and a better idea of strengths and weaknesses. Showcasing your passion for the industry is a great way to begin a personal statement, as it shows the hiring manager your dedication to the craft. 

A personal statement can be written in many different ways, but it is ultimately up to you to determine what skills you want to highlight for your chosen position.

You can follow these examples or take learnings from each to contribute towards your personal statement. 

If you understand the job you are applying for and know the unique skill set that you bring to the table, you will have a stellar personal statement for your CV that will get you across the table from the hiring manager in no time.  

Suggested Reading:

• How to Write a CV (Curriculum Vitae) in 2024 [31+ Examples]
• 43+ Resume Tips and Tricks to Land Your Next Job
• 150+ Must-Have Skills for Any Resume  [With Tips + Tricks]
• How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”

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How to Write a CV Personal Statement + Examples

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You know you can beat the competition with your qualifications. But if you fail to catch the hiring manager’s attention, they won’t even know you’re worth a call. That’s why you need a surefire method to show your value straight away. And an impressive personal CV statement can do that very thing.

This guide will show you:

• 20+ personal statement examples to inspire you.
• What is a CV statement and why your job application needs it.
• How to write a personal profile step-by-step.

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Are you writing a resume? We’ve got articles dedicated to resume profiles:

• How to Write a Resume Profile (+ Samples)
• Resume Summary Examples & Writing Tips
• What Is a Resume Objective? (+ Examples)

Need to write a CV? Check these guides:

• How to Write a CV for a Job
• Best CV Format in 2024
• What Is a CV & When Do You Need It?
• Academic CV Example & Writing Tips
• What to Include in a CV for a Job
• Best Free CV Templates for Word

Keep reading to learn what’s a CV profile and how to make a strong personal profile for your job application:

What Is a Personal Statement for a CV or Resume?

A personal statement , also called a CV profile, is a short paragraph at the top of your application. It’s like an elevator pitch: a catchy summary of your expertise, skills, and achievements. Think of it as an introduction to your CV. 

Why do you need a CV profile? Well, an eye-tracking study shows that well-performing CVs include a personal statement at the top of the document. An average recruiter takes around 6–8 seconds to look at a job application, so it’s very important to grab their attention straight away.

This image shows a heatmap of eye activity. And as you can see, readers usually read the whole personal profile and skimmed through the rest of the CV. That’s why it’s important to put extra effort into your CV profile—your success may depend on it!

If you don’t feel comfortable showing off your strengths, you should practice more. Check here: How to Talk About Your Greatest Strengths

How to Write a Personal Statement in 6 Steps

Writing about yourself is not easy, even for natural storytellers. Yes, you’re supposed to show how great you are, but you also can’t appear arrogant. Striking the right balance can be difficult.

So, what’s the best approach to crafting a CV profile? Leave it till you fill in all the other sections of your CV. Then, you can simply combine the most impressive parts to make a nice personal statement that sounds like an elevator pitch .

Here’s how to write a personal statement step-by-step:

1. Say Who You Are in the First Sentence

The first sentence of your personal profile must show that you’re a serious candidate for the job. So, skip your zodiac sign or your favorite football team, even if they’re a big part of who you are. Focus on your job title or degree, add a good word to describe yourself , and mention your professional experience. Plus, skip personal pronouns.

Here’s an example: Motivated project manager with 5+ years of experience in creative agencies.

2. Show Skills Tailored to the Job Posting

Next, highlight 2–3 skills for the job. How will you know which skills to mention on your CV ? Easily—just take a look at the job advertisement and see which abilities are required. Your personal profile must be tailored to the job offer, so add only the skills that match it closely.

For example: the job ad says “Looking for someone with good an eye for details and strong communication skills.” Then, your CV profile can state: Detail-oriented and communicative . 

3. State a Specific Goal That Aligns with the Company

The next part of your personal statement for a resume or CV should focus on what you want to achieve . But not just for yourself—for the company you’re applying to. Showing a concrete goal that will be beneficial to the company will get them thinking about your value straight away.

For example: Eager to use the Agile approach to coordinate advertising projects within established deadlines and improve the efficiency of creative teams at Flowerpot Visuals Inc.

4. Mention Relevant Experience or Background

Having relevant experience is like owning a ticket that admits you to the job you want. So, your personal profile must say a word or two about your professional background. Read the job advertisement again, and focus on what responsibilities await you in this role. Then, try to recall similar experiences from your previous jobs or other activities (yes, the academic experience can count, too).

For example: At Sunlight Video Prod, led 4 advertising campaigns involving cooperation between cross-functional teams through all development stages.

5. Provide Facts & Figures to Back Up Achievements

While having experience is valuable, owning relevant achievements is pretty much priceless. To make your accomplishments stand out, use numbers. How? Mention budgets, savings, value increases, and even groups of people you worked with. Saying “trained people during onboarding” sounds fine, but stating “trained 100+ people during onboarding” is much more impressive.

For example: In 2022, saved $23,000 by outsourcing technical maintenance teams.

6. Keep It Short and on Point

Your personal statement is not your biography. It should be around 2–5 sentences long. Remember, you want to convince the hiring manager to read the rest of your CV, so there’s no need to provide a lot of detail in your personal profile.

Want to make the writing process even faster? Try this CV profile template:

Personal Profile Template

[Personality trait] + [job title] + [years of experience] . Keen/Eager to use [two skills] to [specific goal] at [company name] . At [previous company] , helped/managed to [past achievement] .

Let’s see a comparison of a good personal profile and a badly-written CV profile:

CV Personal Profile Example

The first CV profile features all the good elements mentioned above:

• a brief introduction of the candidate
• a career goal
• and relevant achievements

Plus, the tone is professional and perfect for a job application.

The second personal profile example is different—while it expresses the candidate’s enthusiasm, it doesn’t mention relevant experience, uses weak language instead of achievement statements, and focuses too much on what the applicant wants to gain.

Now, head on to the next chapter to see more personal profile examples for various job types.

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20+ Personal Statement Examples

These CV profile examples can help you grasp what a great personal profile looks like even easier. I’ve included samples for different types of candidates, including experienced and student applicants, as well as examples for different job types. Enjoy!

Personal Statement Examples for Experienced Candidates

As an experienced candidate, you should highlight your expertise in the CV profile. Show off achievements, certifications, and valuable knowledge to impress employers.

CV Profile Example: Marketing Jobs

Motivated growth marketer with a background in sales and 5+ years of experience in an international corporation. Eager to provide leadership excellence to expand the customer base and increase revenue at SeaBluSea Trading. Developed a new sales strategy and workforce training program to boost sales by 32% within a year. 

See more: Sample CV for Marketing Jobs

Personal Profile for CV Example: Teaching Assistant Jobs

Empathetic teaching assistant with 2+ years of tutoring experience. Eager to support learners at Stars Learning Academy by providing personalized assistance to students with learning difficulties. Helped improve the academic performance of 11 students using 1:1 tutoring and task-based learning methodology.

See more: Teaching Assistant CV Sample (+ Instructions)

Profile Summary for CV—Sample for IT Support Jobs

Energetic IT consultant with 2+ years of experience in a call center environment. Enthusiastic about assisting StarCloud customers and solving their problems using a combination of technical knowledge and interpersonal skills. Achieved 100% customer satisfaction rate for six consecutive months at White Page Solutions.

See more: IT Support CV Example + How to Write

Personal Career Profile Sample for a Graphic Designer

Creative graphic designer specializing in 3D modeling and printing. Proficient in Blender, Autodesk Inventor, and Adobe software. Eager to create 3D models for new merchandise based on technical specifications and draft illustrations at PromoHouse. In 2022, designed a series of 10+ high-quality 3D medical models for Atlanta Medical School.

See more: Sample Graphic Designer Resume & Tips

CV Profile Sample for Software Engineers

Goal-oriented software engineer with 8+ years of experience. Certified Java SE 8 Programmer. Can’t wait to join Fay Ro House and create bug-free code for new applications at all stages of software development. At Greynox, mentored 20+ interns and junior developers during onboarding.

See more: Software Engineer CV: How to Write & Examples

Personal Statement for Nurse CV

Registered Nurse with 3 years of experience in a clinical setting. Current BCLS certification holder. Keen to provide high-quality patient care through all nursing activities using professional knowledge and interpersonal skills at Augusta Health. Improved nursing team efficiency by 18% using new assessment sheets in 2020. 

See more: Registered Nurse CV Example & Writing Tips

Personal Profile for Project Manager CV

Data-driven project manager with strong leadership and a goal-oriented attitude. Eager to optimize processes and increase KPIs at BaSee Ltd. In 2022, implemented new reporting patterns and project trackers to exceed targets by 22%.

See more: Sample Project Manager CV & Writing Guide

Personal Statement Example for Teaching Jobs

Passionate history teacher with 6+ years of experience in public high schools. Keen to motivate learners and help them reach their academic aspirations using new technologies and meaningful classroom activities at St. Valley High. In 2022, coached four students for the National History Bowl competition.

See more: Teacher CV Example & Tips

CV Profile for HR Jobs

Motivated HR professional with 4 years of experience in a corporate environment. Eager to support employees at Orb Inc. by leading new hire orientation and implementing recognition programs. At RectAngle, increased employee retention by 28% through team building and recognition efforts.

See more: How to Write a CV for HR Jobs

Personal Statement Examples for Students

Not all employers want to work with students. You need to convince them that you’ve got the skills and will to perform well at your desired job. In a personal profile, highlight relevant abilities, knowledge, and experience from academic activities, volunteer work, or part-time jobs.

Personal Profile for College Student CV

Third-year Literature student with strong interpersonal and customer service skills. Eager to advise customers of Firefly Stationery Shop to inform them about available products and help them make satisfactory purchases. Worked part-time in the college bookstore in 2021–2023.

Learn more: How to Write a CV for a College Student

CV Profile Sample for Business Administration Graduates

Goal-oriented Business Administration graduate seeking an Administration Assistant position at Petal Designs. Keen to use data-analysis skills and best management principles to find opportunities for process improvements. Initiated the use of project trackers to reduce unnecessary email communication by 29% during a six-month internship at Orb Technologies.

Learn more: CV for Graduates: Examples & Writing Tips

Personal Statement for a High-School Student CV

Motivated high-school student seeking a part-time cashier position. Eager to assist customers and keep the shop inventory in order at A&D Thrift Store. Excellent math and communication skills. Gained customer service skills while volunteering at a school bake sale in December 2022.

Learn more: High-School Student CV Example & Instructions

CV Profile for Internships

Driven Communications student seeking an internship with Moon Fly International. Fluent in Spanish and German. Enthusiastic about providing high-quality translations for newsletters and internal communications while putting newly acquired knowledge to good use. Completed courses in Communication Policy, Media and Mass Communication, and Interpersonal Relations with a current GPA of 3.91.

Learn more: How to Write a CV for Internships

Personal Statement Examples for Entry-Level Applicants

If you’re an entry-level candidate, your CV profile must show professionalism. Mention transferable skills and any relevant experience you have, even from volunteer activities or school projects.

Personal Profile for Entry-Level Customer Service CV

Motivated Music Theory student seeking an entry-level customer service job. Eager to provide advice and resolve customer queries at TicketFly using interpersonal skills and a problem-solving attitude. Developed time-management skills, patience, and empathy while working part-time as a babysitter in 2020–2022.

Check here for more information: Customer Service CV Example

CV Profile Sample for Entry-Level Sales Jobs

Personable high-school graduate with strong communication and math skills. Enthusiastic about joining the Red Dot Accessories sales team to inform customers about available products and promotions. Gained cash handling and sales experience while volunteering at Doggos Support Doggos’ charity events in 2022.

Check here for more information: How to Write a Sales Associate CV

Entry-Level Personal Statement Example for Personal Assistant CV

Goal-driven senior BBA student seeking an entry-level PA position. Great communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills. Eager to optimize meeting schedules, organize work duties, and plan travel itineraries for the CFO of B&G Inc. Organized 3 fundraising events while serving as Phi Kappa Phi sorority president in 2022–2023. Excelled in administrative duties while volunteering with Ribbon Rainbows Charity in 2021–2023.

Check here for more information: Personal Assistant CV Sample (Entry-Level & Experienced)

CV Profile Sample for Entry-Level Cashier Jobs

Energetic high-school graduate with a people-oriented and positive attitude. Reliable and trustworthy. Applying for the entry-level cashier position at WalCo Markets to provide high-quality and efficient service for customers. 

Check here for more information: Cashier CV Example

Entry-Level Personal Statement Example for Waitress Jobs

Freshman Fine Art student seeking a part-time waitress position at Healthy You. Keen to provide great service by helping patrons choose the best menu choices that match their preferences. Demonstrated great customer service skills while hosting school events at Sunny View High School.

Check here for more information: How to Write a CV for Waitress Jobs

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here.  Here's what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

Here’s a quick reminder of the formula for a great CV profile.

How to write a strong personal statement for a CV:

• Introduce yourself in the first sentence.
• Mention skills that match the job requirements.
• Name a goal you want to achieve for the company.
• Show your relevant experience.
• Demonstrate accomplishment with numbers.
• Limit your personal profile to 2–5 sentences max.

And that’s all!

Do you struggle with writing a personal profile from scratch? What’s the hardest part for you? Have you got any tips for other readers? Let us know in the comments below!

About Zety’s Editorial Process

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3 Good CV Examples for the First Job [2024]

As seen in:

Applying for your first job might be equally exciting and stressful. It’s a huge milestone in your life and often entails uncertainty and competition. You undoubtedly don’t want to receive emails with denials while your friends will be celebrating their first career successes.

That’s why you must approach your first job search with the right preparation and a clear strategy. Building a well-structured CV is one of the first steps to take.

In this guide, you'll get 3 good CV examples for the first job written by experts, the first CV template to take a look at and learn for yourself, and tips on how to make a CV for the first job shine.

Create an effective CV in minutes. Choose a professional CV template and fill in every section of your CV in a flash using ready-made content and expert tips.

Create your CV now

Create a professional CV now!

The LiveCareer online CV maker lets you build a professional CV fast and download it as a PDF or DOC.

Want to see alternate guides for job starters? Check this list:

• Career change CV example
• CV for a 16-year-old example
• CV for a part-time job example
• Cleaner CV example
• Customer service CV example
• School-leaver CV example
• Shop assistant CV example
• Student CV example

Good CV examples for the first job

Technical support engineer cv.

Olivia Finch

Technical Support Engineer

070 8193 4996

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/ofinch

Personal statement

Aspiring Technical Support Engineer Intern with a strong educational background in Computer Science and a passion for technology. During the internship at Techrise, achieved a 20% reduction in recurring technical problems. Eager to gain hands-on experience and contribute to a dynamic engineering team at UniTech.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

University of London, London

September 2019–June 2023

• Basic networking systems: Proficient in understanding networking concepts and basic network troubleshooting.
• Operating systems: Utilizing various operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Software applications: Proficient in using common software like Microsoft Office Suite and industry-specific applications. 
• Troubleshooting: Identifying and resolving technical issues regarding hardware, software, and network.
• Problem-solving: Implementing effective solutions to resolve complex issues and fix sudden malfunctions.
• Customer service: Delivering prompt and professional customer service to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Good collaboration: Communicating effectively within teams to achieve key goals and foster productive work environments.
• Attention to detail: Keeping a keen eye on details, striving to minimize errors, and meeting high-quality standards.

Technical support intern

Techrise, London

August 2023–October 2023

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

• Assisted senior support engineers in diagnosing and resolving 70+ technical issues.
• Provided phone and email support to assist customers with software and hardware troubleshooting and received a 95% satisfaction rating on post-resolution surveys.
• Assisted in maintaining and updating the company’s knowledge base and created 20+ technical knowledge articles addressing common customer issues.
• Gained hands-on experience with incident tracking and ticketing systems.

Key Achievement: 

• Collaborated with the development team to identify and resolve product-related issues, achieving a 20% reduction in recurring technical problems.

Certifications

• CompTIA Network+
• Google IT Support Professional Ceritficate
• English—native
• French—intermediate
• Programming: exploring new programming languages
• Technical literature: searching for latest novelties in engineering and technology

Copywriter CV

Marketing Copywriter

078 7197 5814

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/tayschof

Creative marketing copywriter with a BA in Marketing and first copywriting intern experience. Specialized in blogging, creating impactful social media content, and clickable e-mail newsletters. During the internship at Hypercopy, prepared content for a vast e-mail marketing campaign with a 6% CTR. Seeking an opportunity to contribute fresh ideas and excellent copywriting skills at WordSmith.

Copywriting intern

Hypercopy, Bristol

June 2023–August 2023

• Created 40+ blog articles, resulting in a 25% increase in organic traffic.
• Helped to implement SEO strategies that impacted the company’s website Google ranking from page 3 to page 1 for target keywords.
• Planned and implemented new social media content, doubling the number of Facebook followers and achieving a 50% increase in user engagement.
• Invented a comprehensive content calendar that helped to reduce content delivery delays by 20%.
• Crafted copy for a vast e-mail marketing campaign introducing a new client’s product with a 6% CTR. 

Bachelor of Arts in Marketing (Hons)

University of the West of England, Bristol

• Creative content writing: Skilled in creating engaging content that attracts large audiences.
• SEO copywriting: Adept in keyword research and SEO best practices to ensure high visibility and exceptional ranking results.
• Content strategy: Developing content strategies that reflect business goals and address target audience needs.
• Market research and analysis: Identifying key trends and competitors’ strengths to tailor marketing strategies.
• Social media marketing: Leading marketing campaigns on key social media platforms and studying campaign performance for improvement.
• Email marketing: Implementing email marketing campaigns and analysing metrics to optimize future activities.
• Communication skills: Communicating about ideas and brainstorming with colleagues to achieve better results.
• Time management: Prioritizing tasks effectively and maximizing productivity during challenging times.
• Attention to detail: Paying attention to details, quality standards, and specific requirements.
• German—intermediate
• French—elementary
• Blogging: running a blog about different types of web writing
• Literature: developing interest in digital media, SEO, and analytics
• Marketing trends: following the latest marketing trends and industry developments

Administrative assistant CV

Zachary Turner

Administrative Assistant

077 4978 6688

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/zturner

Detail-oriented administrative assistant intern with excellent organizational and communication skills. During my first internship experience at Brick&Board, negotiated new vendor contracts, resulting in a 20% reduction in office supply expenses. Eager to join Bundle&File to contribute to the efficient functioning of the company with valuable administrative expertise and the ability to address issues efficiently.

Administrative intern

Brick&Board, Birmingham

July 2023–September 2023

• Created and updated the company's customer database within deadlines, ensuring data accuracy.
• Assisted in maintaining an efficient electronic filing system that improved document organization in the company.
• Prepared comprehensive training manuals regarding office procedures, helping onboard 10 new staff members.
• Successfully coordinated and managed logistics for 3 monthly team meetings and 2 corporate events.
• Negotiated new vendor contracts, resulting in a 20% reduction in office supply expenses.

GCSEs—2023: Spring Hill High School, Birmingham, 10 GCSEs including maths and English

• Microsoft Office Suite: Proficient in using Microsoft Office applications to prepare documentation, presentations, etc.
• Knowledge of office equipment: Maintaining devices such as printers, copiers, fax machines, or telephones.
• Time management: Skilled in planning, prioritizing tasks, and managing calendars accordingly.
• Attention to detail: Handling administrative tasks with accuracy and focused attention.
• Document management: Storing and managing documentation both physically and digitally.
• Organizational skills: Handling administrative duties quickly and accurately.
• Multitasking: Managing multiple tasks and the same time without losing focus and quality of work.
• Problem-solving: Finding solutions to ad-hoc administrative problems and challenges.
• Critical thinking: Applying analytical thinking to improve processes and optimize the workflow.
• Spanish—intermediate
• Microsoft Office Specialist
• Office Administration and Management, Udemy, 2023
• Fundamentals of Administrative Professional, Udemy, 2022
• Technology: developing interest in new technologies, office software, and tools

Now, here's how to write a CV for the first job to kick-start your career:

How to make a CV for the first job?

• Start with a strong personal statement.
• Showcase work or internship experience.
• List your education degrees.
• Underline skills and talents.
• Add extra sections.
• Attach a cover letter.
• Apply the right formatting.

Let’s explain each step in detail:

1. Start with a strong personal statement

The first job CV has one serious drawback. It doesn’t contain a comprehensive work experience section, which is usually the highlight of a CV that makes up for other possible deficiencies. But how could you create a compelling work history section being on a start line?

Instead, use other means to turn a recruiter’s attention towards you. For starters, apply a personal statement that conveys key information about you as a growing professional.

A compelling CV introduction does three things:

• Introduces you as a job starter
• Shows what you can offer the employer
• Proves that your goals match the company’s vision.

Your personal statement doesn’t have to be long. On the contrary, it should be concise and consist of 3–4 sentences at maximum, which is around 50–150 words. Answering the following questions will help you get straight to the point:

• What adjectives describe you best as a young professional?
• What is the achievement you’re most proud of?
• What do you hope to achieve working for this company?

Many employers, specifically large companies and organizations, use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter and screen job applications. When crafting your personal statement, make sure to include the company name and the position you apply for. Additionally, try to reflect what was outlined in the job ad, paying particular attention to specific job keywords.

As an extra clue, consider writing your personal statement once your overall CV structure and content are all ready. It’ll be just easier to draw the most significant information out of it and make your personal statement more substantial.

See how it’s made in these examples:

Good CV examples for the first job: personal statement

If you lack direct experience in the field, don’t worry. Explain how your other experiences or skills you gained equipped you for the job. Being truthful about your qualifications is valued by employers, while lying on a CV will likely get you into trouble.

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder .

2. Showcase work or internship experience on your first CV

Gaining first-hand work experience, especially for your first job, can be a valuable step in launching your career. But not everyone is lucky enough to have some working background already when graduating.

However, there are many other ways to gain knowledge about your field and put it into practice. Internships, volunteer work, projects, courses, and certifications are beneficial when settling into a new work environment.

When preparing your work experience section , follow the typical chronological CV format, which puts your most recent work activities first. Organize your work experiences this way:

[Company name, location]

For each role, create bullet points that describe your responsibilities and achievements on a CV . However, focus on what you contributed and learned instead of what you just did.

To make your job descriptions more powerful, use action verbs and numbers where possible. This means saying: Assisted senior support engineers in diagnosing and resolving 70+ technical issues instead of: Helped senior support engineers with technical issues . That makes a difference, right?

See these examples for better comprehension:

Good CV examples for the first job: work experience

Gaining work experience is a gradual process, and it takes time to find the ideal role in your chosen field. But, limited work experience doesn’t always put you in a weak position. Employers realize that recent graduates may not have extensive working backgrounds, so they focus on transferable skills , personal qualities, and your potential for growth and success.

3. List education degrees on your first job CV

As a recent graduate, you likely have an impressive educational title or certification to show off in your first CV template. And that’s of great importance because employers use the education section to assess your suitability for a job. 

Your education section can be your strong point if you present it in a clear and concise way. But first, you need to know how to write a degree on a CV .

Here’s the template you can use for university degrees:

[Degree type] [Degree name] (Degree class), [Years attended]

[Institution name], [Institution location]

If you don’t have a university degree, you should outline your secondary education like this:

A-levels: [Subject name 1], [Subject name 2], [Subject name 3]

[School name], [School location], [Years attended]

[ n ] GCSEs (including Mathematics and English)

Look at the following education section examples:

Good CV examples for the first job: education

As your career progresses, the significance of your education may diminish in comparison to your work experience. So you may choose to put less emphasis on the education section in further versions of your CV.

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

4. Underline skills and talents on your first job CV template

If you doubt your candidature due to limited employment history, this is something that might help look at yourself more favorably.

While headhunting, employers don’t necessarily focus on a candidate’s professional expertise. Very often, they look for individuals who bring different skills and perspectives to their company or organization. They value their fresh perspective and innovative ideas, which can help them thrive and outperform competitors.

To prepare a captivating skill list for your CV , tailor it to the job you’re applying for. It’s important that you emphasize the skills most relevant to the position you’re targeting. Additionally, prioritize skills most essential to the job and place them at the top of your list.

These examples illustrate it best:

Good CV examples for the first job: skills

• Basic networking systems
• Operating systems
• Software applications
• Troubleshooting
• Problem-solving
• Customer service
• Good collaboration
• Attention to detail
• Creative content writing
• SEO copywriting
• Content strategy
• Market research and analysis
• Social media marketing
• Email marketing
• Communication skills
• Time management
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Knowledge of office equipment
• Document management
• Organizational skills
• Multitasking
• Critical thinking

As an extension, you can provide more specific information about each skill you decide to display. By providing a more detailed description of each skill, you narrow it down and make it easier for a recruiter to grasp your actual ability.

5. Add extra sections to your first job CV template

Have you ever seen someone buying a car spur of the moment? Employment, too, carries significant costs, responsibilities, and implications, so it rarely happens overnight. What’s more, recruiters like to investigate more into your candidature, taking as much relevant information into consideration as possible.

And since you’re a fresher, it’s essential that you reveal your strong points and showcase your abilities convincingly. To this end, use additional sections that provide a more detailed picture of your qualifications and personality.

There are many extras you can include to enhance your first job CV, and here they are:

• Achievements and awards
• Certifications and training
• Relevant coursework
• Hobbies and interests
• Additional projects
• Other activities

These examples will give you the clue:

Good CV examples for the first job: added sections

While certifications or courses seem pretty concrete, your hobbies and interests might require some extra effort. When listing them on your CV, enrich them with short descriptions. And lastly, include hobbies or activities that reflect positively on your character or showcase relevant skills. Generic, vague terms won’t get you that first longed-for job.

6. Attach a cover letter to your first CV

A strong CV already puts you at the forefront, but it doesn’t guarantee you’ll be offered a job. What if you’re competing with a number of candidates with similarly good achievements and comparable skills?

If you’re looking for a job in a competitive market, you should arm yourself with patience. But there’s something more you can do to pursue your career goals. Develop a targeted cover letter to go with your CV. Such a proactive approach puts you a step forward toward your vocation.

Writing a cover letter shouldn’t take much time. Once you have your first CV ready, it’s easier to write a cover letter as it provides context to it.

Here’s what a good cover letter should include:

• Header that is in line with British standards
• Employer’s address and a well-formed salutation
• Cover letter opening that introduces you as a candidate
• Short presentation of your key achievements
• Cover letter closing that emphasizes your interest in next steps
• Sign-off that matches the salutation.

How long should a cover letter be ? A cover letter is usually one page in length. It counts 250–400 words in total, is focused, and uses concise language. When writing your cover letter, stick to the main points relevant to the job (and your qualifications), and your document will support your application, not the reverse.

7. Apply the right formatting

If you have written a thesis, you know it requires perfect organization. Structuring a thesis properly, with clear chapters, sections, and logical flow, can sometimes be demanding. Just as writing a thesis, preparing a CV will push you to follow strict formatting rules.

A CV is often the first interaction a recruiter has with you, so make sure it leaves a positive impression. A sloppy cover letter indicates a lack of professionalism, which you want to avoid when competing for a job.

To make your first-job CV good-looking and easy to read, tick all these recommendations:

• Put your contact details at the top of your CV, so you’re easy to reach out to.
• Prepare a clear CV structure with the right section order. Use white space to improve readability.
• Pick the right CV font with a size that fits in between 10 and 12 points. You can use slightly larger fonts for section headings and your name at the top.
• Keep your CV length in check and don’t go beyond one page. Avoid unnecessary repetition and verbosity.
• Download your CV to PDF to preserve the formatting, your CV layout , fonts, and overall appearance of your document.

A cover letter alone simply won’t be enough—you need an impactful CV, too. Create your CV in minutes. Just follow our wizard and fill in every CV section with ready-made content. Get started by choosing a professional CV template .

We hope you benefited from our good CV examples for the first job and that you already know how to make a CV when starting a career. If you still have questions regarding the first CV template or contents, leave a comment. We’ll be happy to assist you.

About the author

Since 2005, the LiveCareer Team has been helping job seekers advance their careers. In our in-depth guides, we share insider tips and the most effective CV and cover letter writing techniques so that you can beat recruiters in the hiring game and land your next job fast. Also, make sure to check out our state-of-the-art CV and cover letter builder—professional, intuitive, and fully in line with modern HR standards. Trusted by 10 million users worldwide.

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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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• Advice & Tips

Crafting an Impactful Personal Summary on Your CV

March 15, 2024

Introduction

In the competitive landscape of the job market, both job seekers and employers are constantly faced with challenges. Job seekers strive to make their CVs stand out from the crowd, hoping to catch the attention of potential employers. On the other hand, recruiters and hiring managers are inundated with numerous resumes for each job opening, making it crucial for them to quickly assess candidates.

A well-crafted Personal Summary in a CV can be the key differentiator that sets a candidate apart from others vying for the same position. It provides a brief overview of who the candidate is, their skills, experiences, and career goals. For job seekers, it is an opportunity to make a strong first impression and showcase what they bring to the table. For employers, a compelling Personal Summary can help them quickly identify top talent that aligns with their needs.

Importance of Personal Summary in CVs

In today's competitive job market, standing out to potential employers is more crucial than ever. With hundreds of applications for a single position, recruiters and hiring managers often spend just a few seconds initially scanning each candidate's CV.

One of the most effective ways to captivate the attention of recruiters is by including a well-crafted personal summary at the beginning of your CV. This brief section serves as an introduction to who you are professionally, what skills and experiences you bring to the table, and what your career goals are.

The Personal Summary Acts as Your Elevator Pitch

Think of your personal summary as your elevator pitch – a concise and compelling overview of what you can offer as a potential employee. It is your opportunity to make a strong first impression and entice the reader to continue exploring your qualifications in more detail.

According to Jennifer Smith , a Career Coach at Career Boosters Inc. , "A well-written personal summary can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview. It sets the tone for the rest of your CV and helps employers quickly understand why you are a qualified candidate for the role."

Provides a Snapshot of Your Professional Identity

Your personal summary gives employers a snapshot of your professional identity. It communicates your unique selling points, such as key skills, relevant experiences, and career achievements. This section allows you to highlight what makes you an ideal candidate for the position.

Mark Johnson , HR Manager at Talent Finders International , emphasizes, "In today's fast-paced hiring process, recruiters appreciate candidates who can clearly articulate their value proposition from the get-go. A well-crafted personal summary can pique the employer's interest and compel them to read further into your CV."

Demonstrates Your Fit for the Role

By tailoring your personal summary to align with the specific job requirements and company culture, you can demonstrate your fit for the role right from the start. Employers are looking for candidates who not only possess the necessary qualifications but also share the company's values and vision.

According to a survey by HR Insights USA , 76% of recruiters consider the personal summary as one of the most important sections of a CV when evaluating a candidate's suitability for a job.

How to Write a Compelling Personal Summary

Crafting a captivating personal summary for your CV is crucial in capturing the attention of potential employers and setting yourself apart from other job applicants. This section serves as your elevator pitch, giving recruiters a glimpse into your professional background, skills, and career goals. Here are some essential tips to help you write a compelling personal summary:

1. Start Strong

Begin your personal summary with a strong opening sentence that grabs the reader's attention. Clearly state who you are professionally and what you bring to the table. Highlight your key skills, experiences, and accomplishments in a concise and impactful manner.

2. Showcase Your Unique Selling Proposition

Identify what sets you apart from other candidates and emphasize it in your personal summary. This could be a unique skill set, industry expertise, or a track record of success in your field. Make sure to showcase what makes you uniquely qualified for the position.

3. Keep It Concise

While it's essential to highlight your strengths, keep your personal summary concise and to the point. Aim for no more than 4-6 sentences that succinctly summarize your professional background and career objectives. Recruiters typically spend only a few seconds scanning each CV, so make every word count.

4. Use Action-Oriented Language

Use powerful action verbs to describe your experiences and achievements. Words like "achieved," "managed," "led," and "implemented" convey a sense of proactiveness and accomplishment. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to provide concrete examples of your success.

5. Show Personality

Your personal summary is an opportunity to showcase your personality and passion for your work. While maintaining a professional tone, inject some genuine enthusiasm and energy into your writing. Let your voice shine through to give recruiters a sense of who you are beyond your qualifications.

By following these guidelines, you can create a compelling personal summary that leaves a lasting impression on potential employers and increases your chances of landing your dream job.

Elements to Include in Your Personal Summary

When crafting your personal summary for a cv, it is essential to include the following key elements:.

1. Professional Title: Start with a clear and concise professional title that highlights your expertise and level of experience. This helps recruiters and hiring managers quickly understand your background.

2. Years of Experience: Mention the number of years you have been working in your field to give employers an idea of your level of expertise. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, this information is crucial.

3. Skills and Qualifications: Outline your key skills and qualifications that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Be specific and mention any certifications or specialized training that set you apart from other candidates.

4. Achievements: Highlight your major career accomplishments and contributions. Quantifying your achievements with numbers or percentages can provide concrete evidence of your capabilities.

5. Career Goals: Briefly mention your career objectives and how they align with the position and company you are applying to. This shows employers that you are focused and driven.

6. Personal Attributes: Include a few words about your personal characteristics that demonstrate your work ethic, personality, and values. This gives employers insight into your fit with their company culture.

7. Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description to ensure your CV passes through applicant tracking systems (ATS) and reaches the eyes of hiring managers. Tailoring your summary with industry-specific terms is crucial.

8. Contact Information: End your personal summary with your contact details, including your phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable). Make it easy for employers to reach out to you for further discussions.

By including these essential elements in your personal summary, you can effectively showcase your qualifications, experience, and suitability for the desired role. Remember to keep your summary concise, engaging, and tailored to each job application to make a strong first impression on potential employers.

Tailoring Your Personal Summary to the Job Description

When crafting your personal summary for a CV, one crucial aspect to consider is tailoring it to the specific job description. This customization not only showcases your suitability for the role but also demonstrates your attention to detail and dedication. Here are some essential tips on how to align your personal summary with the job requirements:

Understand the Job Requirements

Before writing your personal summary, carefully analyze the job description provided by the employer. Highlight key skills, qualifications, and experiences that the company is seeking in an ideal candidate. By identifying these crucial elements, you can tailor your personal summary to match the employer's expectations.

Match Your Skills to the Job

Once you have identified the key requirements of the job, align your skills and experiences with those specified in the job description. Clearly demonstrate how your qualifications make you a perfect fit for the position. Use specific examples or achievements to showcase your expertise in relevant areas.

Show Your Enthusiasm

Employers appreciate candidates who show genuine interest in the role and the company. Reflect your enthusiasm in your personal summary by expressing your passion for the industry, the company's mission, or the specific responsibilities outlined in the job description. This enthusiasm can set you apart from other applicants.

Use Keywords from the Job Description

Recruiters often use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan CVs for specific keywords before a human ever sees them. To increase your chances of passing the ATS screening, incorporate relevant keywords from the job description into your personal summary. This alignment signals to both the ATS and the employer that you possess the required skills.

Highlight Your Unique Selling Proposition

In a competitive job market, it's essential to differentiate yourself from other candidates. Use your personal summary to highlight your unique selling proposition (USP) – what sets you apart from others in your field. Whether it's a rare skill, a specialized certification, or a unique experience, emphasize how your USP makes you an asset to the company.

• Customizing your personal summary to the job description increases your chances of standing out to employers.
• Align your skills and experiences with the requirements outlined in the job posting.
• Express your enthusiasm for the role and the company in your personal summary.
• Include relevant keywords from the job description to pass ATS screenings.
• Highlight your unique selling proposition to demonstrate your value to potential employers.

Examples of Effective Personal Summaries

When it comes to crafting a compelling personal summary for your CV, seeing examples can provide valuable insight and inspiration. Here are some well-crafted personal summaries to give you an idea of how to structure your own:

"Results-driven marketing professional with over 7 years of experience in developing and implementing strategic marketing campaigns. Proven track record of increasing brand awareness and driving lead generation. Skilled in market research, data analysis, and digital marketing techniques. Passionate about leveraging creativity to deliver impactful results."

"Dynamic software engineer with a passion for problem-solving and innovation. Proficient in multiple programming languages and experienced in full-stack development. Strong collaborator with excellent communication skills. Dedicated to writing clean, efficient code and staying current with industry trends."

"Detail-oriented project manager with extensive experience leading cross-functional teams in the healthcare sector. Strong organizational skills and ability to deliver projects on time and within budget. Proven expertise in streamlining processes and improving operational efficiency. Adept at fostering positive relationships with stakeholders and ensuring client satisfaction."

These examples showcase the importance of highlighting your key skills, experiences, and accomplishments in a concise and impactful manner. Remember to tailor your personal summary to the specific job you are applying for and use language that aligns with the company's values and goals.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Personal Summaries

When crafting your personal summary for a CV, it's crucial to steer clear of common pitfalls that can diminish the impact of your application. To help you avoid these mistakes and create a powerful personal statement, here are some key points to keep in mind:

1. Clichés and Generic Statements

Avoid using clichés or generic statements that don't offer any meaningful insights into your skills or experiences. Phrases like "hardworking team player" or "great communication skills" are overused and do little to distinguish you from other candidates.

2. Lengthy Paragraphs

Keep your personal summary concise and to the point. Long paragraphs can be overwhelming for recruiters who typically spend only a few seconds scanning each CV. Aim to communicate your key attributes in a clear and succinct manner.

3. Irrelevant Information

Avoid including irrelevant details or experiences that do not directly relate to the job you're applying for. Focus on highlighting the qualifications and accomplishments that are most relevant to the position to keep the reader engaged.

4. Exaggerations or False Claims

Be honest and authentic in your personal summary. Exaggerating your skills or making false claims about your experiences can quickly undermine your credibility. Stick to presenting your achievements truthfully and substantiate them with concrete examples.

5. Lack of Specificity

Avoid being too vague or general in your personal summary. Instead of making broad statements, provide specific examples of how your skills and experiences have made a positive impact in previous roles. Concrete details will make your summary more compelling.

6. Negativity or Criticism

Avoid using negative language or criticizing past employers or colleagues in your personal summary. Stay positive and focus on highlighting your strengths and accomplishments rather than dwelling on negative experiences.

7. Grammatical Errors and Typos

Proofread your personal summary carefully to ensure it is free from grammatical errors and typos. Mistakes in spelling or syntax can detract from the professionalism of your CV and give the impression of carelessness. Take the time to review and edit your summary before submitting your application.

By steering clear of these common mistakes, you can create a personal summary that effectively showcases your unique qualifications and persuades recruiters to consider you for the job.

Expert Tips for Crafting an Impactful Personal Summary

Crafting a powerful personal summary is essential to make your CV stand out in a sea of applicants. To provide you with valuable insights, we reached out to experts in the industry who shared their top tips for creating an impactful personal summary that catches the attention of recruiters.

1. John Smith from CareerBoosters Inc.

"Your personal summary should be a concise yet compelling snapshot of your professional journey. Focus on showcasing your unique selling points and how you can add value to the potential employer."

2. Sarah Johnson from ProfessionalEdge Solutions

"Use action verbs and quantifiable achievements to demonstrate your accomplishments clearly. Remember, your personal summary is your chance to make a memorable first impression."

3. Emily Rodriguez from TalentConnect USA

"Tailor your personal summary to align with the specific job requirements. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that match what the employer is looking for."

These expert tips emphasize the importance of customization, strong language, and value proposition when crafting your personal summary. By following their advice, you can create a compelling narrative that sets you apart from other candidates and increases your chances of landing your dream job.

Incorporating Keywords in Your Personal Summary

Your personal summary on a CV is not only an opportunity to showcase your skills and experiences but also a chance to incorporate relevant keywords that can help your profile stand out to potential employers. In today's digital age, many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes based on specific keywords related to the job requirements. Therefore, strategically integrating keywords into your personal summary is crucial for increasing your chances of getting noticed by hiring managers.

Utilizing Industry-Specific Terms

When crafting your personal summary, it's essential to research industry-specific terms and phrases commonly used in the job you are applying for. By incorporating these keywords naturally into your summary, you demonstrate your familiarity with the field and align your qualifications with the employer's needs. For example, if you are in the marketing industry, including terms like "SEO," "content strategy," or "digital marketing" can help your CV get recognized by relevant employers.

Adapting to Job Descriptions

One effective strategy for incorporating keywords is to tailor your personal summary to each job description you apply for. Analyze the job posting carefully and identify the key skills, qualifications, and experiences that the employer is looking for. Then, mirror these keywords in your summary to show that you possess the necessary traits for the position. This not only increases your visibility to ATS but also demonstrates your genuine interest in the role.

Avoiding Overstuffing Keywords

While incorporating keywords is essential, it's equally important to maintain a natural flow in your writing. Avoid overloading your personal summary with excessive keywords as this may come across as forced and inauthentic. Focus on seamlessly integrating relevant terms that truly reflect your expertise and background. Remember, the goal is to strike a balance between optimization and readability.

Highlighting Achievements with Keywords

Instead of just listing skills or qualifications, consider incorporating keywords within specific accomplishments or projects you have worked on. For instance, rather than stating "proficient in project management," you could say "successfully led cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and within budget." By connecting keywords to tangible results, you provide concrete evidence of your capabilities to potential employers.

Seeking Feedback on Keyword Usage

Before finalizing your personal summary, consider seeking feedback from peers, mentors, or professional resume writers on the effectiveness of your keyword usage. External perspectives can help you identify areas where additional keywords could be included or where adjustments are needed for better impact. Constructive criticism can refine your summary and enhance its relevance to the desired job roles.

By incorporating relevant keywords strategically into your personal summary, you increase the visibility of your CV to employers and enhance your chances of securing interviews for your dream job.

In today's competitive job market, having a well-crafted personal summary on your CV can make all the difference in standing out to potential employers. A compelling personal summary is your opportunity to showcase your unique skills, experiences, and career goals in a concise and impactful manner.

By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can learn how to write a personal summary that captures the attention of hiring managers and helps you land your dream job. Remember to keep it relevant, focused, and tailored to each job application to increase your chances of success.

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• CV and Cover Letter
• Craft a winning personal...

Craft a winning personal statement for your CV to stand out

8 min read · Updated on March 12, 2024

Let the personal statement on your CV speak volumes about you

You probably have a fairly good idea of how to write a CV . Your employment history, education, and qualifications are relatively easy to pull together as you just need to look at dates, your previous job specs, and what you've achieved over the years.

The personal statement is often the trickiest component of a CV to write. Thankfully, we've got this comprehensive guide to help you write a winning one.

What is a personal statement for a CV?

Your personal statement is a short paragraph that sits at the top of your CV, just below your name and contact details. Diving into three key aspects, this section offers the recruiter or hiring manager a powerful overview of you as a professional:

1.    Who you are

2.    Your suitability for the role and the value you can add

3.    Your career goals 

Why include a personal statement on your CV?

It is estimated that recruiters spend an average of less than 8 seconds reviewing a CV before deciding whether the applicant is a good fit. 

As the personal statement is the first section they will read, it must be powerful and tailored to the job you're applying for to successfully showcase your suitability. If it's not, you're unlikely to convince the recruiter you're the talent they need for the job.

5 tips on writing your personal statement

Before we look at some personal statement examples, let's take a look at the basics. Here are some expert-backed tips for writing a good personal statement on your CV.

1. Keep it short and on point

Keep your personal statement clean and concise. It's typically around four sentences long, or about 50 to 200 words. If you're overshooting that word count, see which nonessential parts can be omitted.

2. Get the layout right from the start

Make sure that your layout is consistent with the rest of your CV's formatting . That means maintaining the same font size, font type, and text justification. Recruiters will notice these minor details, and so it's smart to get ahead of the game here. 

3. Use a heading (if there's space!)

You can add a “personal statement” heading in the same way that you'd title the subsequent sections of your CV. However, if you're tight on space, you can cut the heading as recruiters will know what this paragraph is nonetheless.

4. Choose the right perspective

The first person is acceptable for a statement (“I am an IT professional looking for a job in…”) as is the third person (“An IT professional looking for a job in…”). Choose the point of view that's most comfortable to write in, but, as always, keep it consistent with the rest of your CV.

5. Cut back on unnecessary words

If you're writing in the third person, remove all pronouns. Otherwise, it sounds existentially awkward, rather than objective. For example, “She is a retail professional seeking a management role…” would become “A retail professional seeking a management role…”

How to write a personal statement for a CV

We've looked at the purpose of a personal statement, what it should include, and how it should look on the page. Now let's zoom in on exactly how to write a winning statement.

When writing, keep in mind that the personal statement on your CV is your elevator pitch; it's the equivalent of the “Tell me about yourself” or “Why should I hire you?” question in an interview. Below, we break down what you need to include in your personal statement.

Part 1: Who you are

Your opening statement needs to tell the prospective employer where you stand in your career. 

This introduction could include your current role, years of experience, and what you like the most about your career or professional field. It gives the recruiter a hint of the qualities that make you valuable to the vacancy.

Your first sentence may read like so:

As a successful digital marketing professional with five years specialising in e-commerce, I have recently worked with several global brands in the sector to improve their marketing strategy and boost their reach.

Part 2: Your suitability and value

The next part of your statement should line up with the requirements in the job description and prove your relevant and impressive qualifications.

It's always best to address here the essential job specifications to articulate from the beginning that you're the right person for the job. For example, if the role requires management experience or a certain degree and you have these, say so.

Your middle sentences may look like this:

I have experience in optimising quality digital products via my most recent role and am therefore in tune with the latest developments across the online landscape. As a result, I have devised winning branding strategies for e-commerce businesses that are robust, customer-centric and set for aggressive growth.

Part 3: Your career goals

The last part of your personal statement should be short and snappy as it's reaffirming why you are applying for this vacancy.

It might read something like so:

I am currently looking for a senior branding or marketing management role within the e-commerce sector where I can maintain my strong track record and deliver similar results.

Complete CV personal profile examples

In addition to the samples above, here are a couple of complete personal statement examples to give you an idea of what yours should look like.

For a graduate, written in the third person:

A recent graduate with a first-class BSc degree in Mathematics, specialising in analytics and statistics. Holds commercial experience within the finance sector, thanks to an internship with a corporate UK business, and has resultantly developed technical skills in data science and data engineering. Has a proven ability to meet deadlines, prioritise, problem solve, and maintain high standards having balanced a part-time job alongside studies over the last three years. Now looking to secure a place on a graduate programme that will provide exposure to data science and career progression opportunities.

Addressing a recent redundancy, written in the first person:

I am a skilled and successful Product Engineer within the automotive industry, with an HND in mechanical engineering and seven years of experience in the sector. Having worked in a number of labs handling vehicle-based testing and mentoring development technicians, I am confident in managing teams in a hands-on environment and running new development projects from briefing to sign off. Currently looking for a role that complements my skill set and experience. Available immediately.

Writing your personal statement: common mistakes to avoid  

There are some common profile errors that you should avoid. Steer clear of these popular pitfalls to keep your personal statement as powerful as possible.

Buzzword overload

Are you an extremely self-motivated, ambitious professional with extensive experience and passion for a certain industry? We thought so.

Buzzwords are great, and you'll find them in abundance in job adverts. But it's best to sprinkle just a few through your personal statement as they don't particularly provide evidence of your skill or ability. It's much stronger to show the employer how you're self-motivated and ambitious with an example.

Using a generic personal statement

You might think that your personal statement can work for every application. For the most part, it will, because, in theory, the jobs you're applying for will be similar and match your skill set.

However, you must tweak and tailor your statement (and your entire CV) so that it targets the skills each vacancy requires. Otherwise, it won't be as impactful.

Including too much waffle

As you begin to plan and write the personal statement for your CV, you'll most likely find that you have a lot more to say than you originally thought. Be careful not to overwrite as you may be left with a statement that's clogged with too many adjectives and is clunky to read.

As a rule of thumb, highlight your best bits in your personal statement and save the details for your cover letter.

FAQs about your personal statement 

Now that we've shown you some examples of a personal statement on a CV, there's just one last thing to cover. Here are some frequently asked questions on the topic:

How long should a personal statement be?

When you're writing a personal statement for a CV, your word count should be between 50 and 200 words. Be sure not to waste any space with unnecessary waffle here. 

Does a personal statement have other names?

Yes! The personal statement on your CV may also be called a personal profile, a CV summary, or a professional summary. 

Does a CV (really) need a personal statement?

Yes, most CVs require a personal statement at the top of the page. Use our guide to help you write a summary that grabs the hiring manager's attention for the right reasons. 

Stand out with a winning personal statement

Writing a captivating personal statement on your CV is a quick way to hook potential employers. Make sure that your summary showcases what makes you unique and adds value to your application. 

Still unsure about your personal statement? Get in touch with one of our career experts by requesting a free CV critique today! 

Recommended reading: 

Professional email salutations that work (with examples)

Written communication: definition and examples

How long should a cover letter be and what should it include?

Related Articles:

What File Format Is Best for Your CV? Pros + Cons

Best fonts to use for a CV (with examples)

Should you put your address on a CV (with examples)

See how your CV stacks up.

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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 can I make it 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 .

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Home » Careers advice » Writing your CV personal statement

Writing your CV personal statement

There are many important aspects to a CV but your CV personal statement is perhaps the most important.

With so many applications to read through, the hiring manager wants to see a clear contender. They’re looking for someone who has the right skills, industry knowledge and attitude to succeed with their company.

Typically the hiring manager will spend only a few seconds reading your CV. Your CV personal statement is so important because it can demonstrate all of these things to the hiring manager in just a few short sentences.

What is a CV personal statement?

This section goes at the top of your CV, underneath your details. It is sometimes referred to by other names such as:

• Career objective
• Career goal
• Personal profile
• Personal statement
• Introduction

A personal statement for your CV has three key ingredients:

1. Who you are

In the first sentence, you’ll introduce yourself by stating who you are in a work context. If relevant (or required in the job advert) you might also state the amount of experience you have.

2. What makes you suitable for the role

The second sentence will focus on the work experience and skills you have that will benefit the company. You don’t have to go into too much detail here because your employment history and core skills section will adequately cover this. The key to completing this part is to ask: what are the most important requests in the job advert? Try to cover this in your second sentence to instantly show the employer you are the right person for the job.

3. What you are looking for 

Your third sentence sets out your present career goals by stating what you want to achieve. Try to see this from the hiring manager’s perspective. They are recruiting for a particular position and don’t necessarily need to know your lifelong aspirations at this stage.

Here is an example of a personal statement for a CV:

Job title: Parts department service team member

[WHO YOU ARE] I am a diligent, hard-working customer service provider with more than 8 years experience in the motor trade and a passion for exceeding customers’ expectations.

[WHAT MAKES YOU SUITABLE FOR THE ROLE] I am competent in all aspects of the customer journey, from b ooking MOTs, ordering parts and liaising with the workshop to using databases, managing diaries and communicating effectively across the organisation.

[WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR] I am looking for an opportunity within customer service with the opportunity to advance to a team leader position.

Although your personal statement is just a small part of your CV, it’s important to get off to a great start because it will be one of the first things the employer reads. Making a great first impression will leave the hiring manager wanting to know more, and consequently could land you an interview.

Here are some further examples of effective personal statements that follow the above formula:

Retail sales personal statement:

Accountancy personal statement:

Where to put your personal statement

Your personal statement CV section should serve as an introduction to your CV. It should go at the top just after your name and contact details. A well written personal statement will instantly grab the reader’s attention and leave them wanting to know more.

Personal statement length

A successful personal statement will be short and to the point – typically just one paragraph consisting of no more than 3 or 4 sentences. This is because lengthy blocks of text will just lose the hiring manager’s interest and land your CV squarely in the rejection pile. Above all, it should be engaging and focused upon the role you are applying for.

Aligning your personal statement with the job advert

Your personal statement can only be written after you’ve analysed the job advert. This is because only then can you fully understand what the employer wants. With only one paragraph, you have to show how you are the right person for the job. You should never write a generic personal statement because this suggests you are not really interested in their company or the position on offer.

Keeping your statement honest and realistic

Stating that you want to be the CEO in three years’ time may come across as a little arrogant, presumptuous and possibly unrealistic. Your personal statement needs to be realistic and focused upon the job on offer. Even if you would like to become a manager as soon as possible, you don’t need to show all your cards when an employer is looking to only fill this position.

You also need to be honest throughout your personal statement (and indeed, your CV) because even the slightest embellishment could hinder your chances of an interview. Likewise, avoid cliché statements as these can be spotted from a mile away. Stick to the facts whilst remaining positive, upbeat, engaging and relevant.

You may find this video from Deniz Sasal at LIG Academy helpful:

Top tips for success:

1. get to the point.

You’ve got about 3 or 4 sentences to use. Don’t fill them with waffle – you’ll dampen your impact. Pick out the key reasons why the employer should hire you, in the context of the job advert.

2. Use buzzwords sparingly

This is not the place to talk about being ‘highly motivated’, ‘a great communicator’ or ‘amazing team player’. You need to stick to hard facts here, such as length of experience or results. Sure, you might have covered these topics later on. However, the employer won’t read further if you stuff the profile with general, fluffy statements that have no value.

3. Don’t boast

This IS a good place to include key achievements from your track record. However, inflating those achievements will make you look insincere, arrogant or downright dishonest. If you detail achievements, make sure you’re not exaggerating to impress. The employer may be suspicious of your claims and you could lose out on that all-important interview

We have a huge collection of free CV templates with space to write your objective – check them out here .

We are a UK-based business that provides a range of services to job seekers including free Word CV templates, résumé templates and CV examples. Our CV template library includes hundreds of professionally designed Word CV templates and examples, all free for personal use.

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First CV templates – Write a winning CV for your first job

If you’re looking to land your first job, you’re going to need a CV.

Writing your first CV is a big challenge, but I believe anybody can create a strong CV – even when you don’t have any work experience.

In this post, I’m going to explain what a CV is, and show you 3 example first CV templates along with some CV writing guidance, so that you can create your own CV that will get you plenty of job interviews.

Writing your first CV

What is a CV?

• Example first CV templates

How to write your first CV

CV templates 

A CV (short for curriculum vitae) is a written document which you send to employers when you apply for jobs, and it contains relevant information about you, such as your education, skills, and knowledge.

It’s usually a 1 – 2 page document written using a word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs .

It’s purpose is to get the attention of employers, and persuade them to call you in for a job interview.

Quick tip: You should think of your CV as your marketing material – like a leaflet or advert for your services as an employee, selling your most valuable skills to employers.

Example first CV template 1

This is an example of a first CV which has been written by a school leaver with no experience.

Although they have no work experience, they have still managed to showcase lots of skills and knowledge that will be impressive to employers and help them get job interviews.

First CV template 2

First CV template 3

Now that you’ve seen a good example of a first CV, I will walk you through how to write a CV that will win you lots of job interviews.

Quick tip: Before you start writing your CV, research the types of jobs you will be applying for online and make a list of the skills and knowledge your target employers are looking for – then try to include as many as possible when writing the CV.

Structure and format

The first thing you need to consider when writing your CV, is how easy it will be for recruiters and hiring managers to read it.

Recruiters and hiring managers tend to be very busy and often have to review lots of CVs every day, so you need to make it easy and quick for them to read your CV, and digest the important information

CV formatting

Use these formatting tips to get started;

• Create a text-based document using Microsoft Word or Google Docs – Don’t add images because they will congest the page.
• Keep it simple by using a clear font (Arial, Tahomo etc.) and black text on a white background
• Give it a professional appearance and make it easy to navigate by clearly dividing the CV sections with bold headings and borders
• Break text up as much as possible using bullet points, to create a pleasant reading experience
• Keep the CV somewhere between 1 and 2 pages long . If you don’t have any experience, 1 page should be enough

How to structure your first CV

Here’s how you should structure and layout your first CV.

I’ll now run through each of those sections in more detail

Name and contact details

Your name and contact details should be clearly visible at the top of the CV, so that readers know who you are, and how to get in touch with you.

The only contact detail you need to include are your location , telephone number and email address .

You do not need to include your full address, DOB, martial status or anything more – these things are unnecessary at this stage of an application and will waste space

Your CV profile

Your CV profile  (or personal statement ) is an introductory paragraph which sits at the very top of your CV.

It’s the very first thing a reader will see when they open the CV, so you need to ensure that it grabs their attention, and sells your most valuable attributes.

The idea is to give a quick overview of what you have to offer in just a few lines.

Typical things you should include are:

• Your educational achievements – Grades, subjects, courses, awards
• Your hard skills – Numeracy, writing, languages, IT system experience etc.
• Soft skills – Communication, team work, adaptability
• Your goals – e.g. You want to work in finance, or you want to become a lawyer (you should also write about this in your cover letter )

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

Check out my video guide on writing a CV when you have no experience

Core skills and achievements

If you really want to highlight your most relevant skills for the jobs you’re applying for and show off your achievements – then add a core skills and achievements section like this.

It’s a simple bullet pointed list of:

• Your skills that are relevant to the jobs you are applying for
• Any impressive achievements that you’ve made in or out of school

These short sharp points will jump off the page at readers and ensure they notice them quickly – a great way to make a big first impression.

As a candidate with little or no experience, your education will need to contain plenty of detail.

List the schools/colleges you have attended and grades you have achieved in your GCSE and A levels, along with any other qualifications.

You should also highlight any positions of responsibility you have held in school such as being a prefect or member of a team or club.

Hobbies and interest

Hobbies and interests won’t be too important once you gain more work experience – but right now, they are a great way to demonstrate valuable transferable skills you may possess.

Good examples of hobbies to include are:

• Sports – Playing for a team or taking part in an individual sport competitively shows determination, patience, teamwork, communication, and many more valuable workplace skills
• Writing – If you write an online blog or perhaps your own books, this is a great way to show off your written communication skills
• Ventures – If you sell things on eBay or raise money for charity, this proves that you are motivated, enterprising and helpful
• Accomplishments – Perhaps you’ve run a marathon or climbed the 3 peaks, these sorts of personal achievements show you have a drive to be successful
• Volunteering – helping out businesses or charities involves a huge range of valuable skills you can showcase.

References: You don’t need to add references to your CV because employers should only ask for them once they’ve made you a provisional job offer.

Boosting your CV

If you feel that your CV is lacking skills and knowledge, there are plenty of things you can do to add some weight to it – check out the infographic below to learn how.

Who reads your CV?

When you apply for a job, your CV will be read and reviewed by either a hiring manager, or a recruiter.

Hiring managers are people within a company who are looking to hire a person for their team. For example, a shop manager who is looking to hire a shop assistant. This is the person you will normally end up working for directly when you are successful in getting the job.

Recruiters are people whose sole job is to find good candidates for hiring managers. They might work directly for a company, or externally for an agency. They will review your CV and speak with you, before passing your CV on to the hiring manager if you are successful.

If you can impress recruiters and hiring managers by showing them you have the right skills for their jobs, you will get plenty of job interviews and move one step closer to landing your dream job.

And your CV is the key to making that good first impression.

Writing your first CV – conclusion

Writing you first CV will always be a challenge, but if you stick to the guidelines above you can easily create an attractive CV that will attract employers.

Remember to make the document super-easy to read with simple formatting and a logical structure firstly.

Then ensure that you use your education, achievements and hobbies to highlight your most valuable skills.

Good luck with your job search.

More From Forbes

30 powerful resume keywords to beat ats in 2024.

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Using the right resume keywords ensures you are able to shine a light on your skills and experience

More than 90% of employers use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to initially filter out or rank middle-skilled and highly-skilled candidates for job postings, according to a 2021 global study conducted by the Harvard Business Review.

This means that there is at least a 90% chance that your resume will not make it past the screening software.

Applicant tracking systems rely on keywords to assess candidate suitability—and these keywords are the ones that are located within your resume. The problem is, many candidates do not know how to make a resume effective because they fail to include the most appropriate keywords for their industry and role they are applying to. Consequently, they never (or hardly ever) make it past the screening stage to secure an interview.

While there are several factors that determine whether your resume makes it past the ATS or not (although a few are beyond your control), knowing what skills to put on your resume and which resume keywords to include a few of the most critical steps you can take to ensure your resume beats ATS.

Why Use Resume Keywords?

"A recruiter will never see that candidate’s application, even though it might fill all of the employer’s requirements," continued the HBR study. Therefore, being the perfect fit for a role is not good enough. You might tick every box and fulfil all the requirements listed on the job description, yet fall short of being shortlisted for the role, all because your resume did not effectively evidence the criteria and skills the employer is looking for.

Here is a simplified example of how an ATS works from a recruiter's point of view:

• You send your resume through a job portal.
• When the recruiter is sifting out 1,000 applications, they'll enter a skill such as "project management," "Power BI," or an education requirement such as "MBA," from the job description.
• This filters available resumes to 300 candidates.
• If your resume is optimized to include the keyword they are looking for, it will show up; if not, it will never be seen and you've just lost the potential to land a career-boosting opportunity to an AI-powered gatekeeper—ATS.

Here Are All The Major Allegations Against Sean Diddy Combs

Its contest emerging designers find support at trieste, wwe raw results winners and grades as the rock and cm punk return.

Matching keywords is an essential step to take before sending an application, or you could risk ... [+] being sifted out at the screening stage

Where To Find Keywords To Put On Your Resume

There are number of sources you can use to find keywords for your resume. The first and most obvious of them is the job advert itself. Taking a careful look at the job description, and the key requirements/person specification/ideal candidate section, carefully identify what are the core requirements that the employer is asking for.

You might find it useful to undertake a keyword highlighting exercise by copying and pasting the entire job description and person specification into a Word document, and highlighting the technical and soft skills that stand out to you the most, which are relevant to what you already have to offer.

For example, take a look at this sample job description from Workable for a cost analyst role:

"We are looking for a cost analyst to help us audit our expenses and find ways to make our operations more cost-efficient. You’ll be the go-to person for cost analysis and you’ll get to prepare reports to help management make better decisions. To do this job well, we’d like you to be well-versed in data and financial analysis, and have strong attention to detail. Ultimately, your job will be an integral part of our efforts to ensure profitability and business success."

It then proceeds to list the following responsibilities for the cost analyst role:

• Gather and analyze financial data
• Determine standard costs and investigate variances with actual costs
• Prepare detailed reports, both periodically and ad-hoc
• Help management make important decisions based on costs and benefits (e.g. investments, market growth, pricing changes)
• Create and manage budgets, and monitor spending
• Conduct audits on financial processes and transactions
• Monitor changes in processes or methods to calculate effects on overall costs
• Estimate product costs for existing and new products
• Forecast and analyze costs of processes, labor and inventory
• Suggest cost-reducing or profitable solutions
• Conduct market research to support future business planning

And then the advert proceeds to list requirements and skills for the role (pay close attention to this):

• Proven experience as a cost analyst, cost specialist or similar role
• Experience in data, operational and financial analysis
• Knowledge of accounting processes and software
• Strong analytical skills
• A business acumen
• Great attention to detail
• Good communication aptitude
• Degree in Finance, Accounting or similar field
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred

With the above job advert, how many keywords can you easily identify?

Considering the above data, some of the likely resume keywords and skills used for the job posting above, which you would want to incorporate into your resume for a cost analyst role, include:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Good communication
• Attention to detail
• Cost analyst
• Accounting processes and software (and name a few)
• Financial analysis/Analyzing financial data

You can incorporate these keywords into your professional summary, skills highlights, and work experience and education sections.

ChatGPT can help you analyze a job description quickly and can even provide guidance on how to ... [+] tailor your resume for that specific role

How To Use ChatGPT To Find Resume Keywords

One time saving method you could employ to find keywords from the job advert and interspersed them throughout your resume, is to solicit the help of ChatGPT. ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot developed by OpenAI, that has millions of users around the world—with one of the fastest, unprecedented technology adoption rates in history.

It uses LLM (large language models) to engage with you as any other human being would,, providing you with timely information and shortening the length of time it takes to accomplish administrative and content writing tasks. While it is not wise to use ChatGPT to draft an entire resume for you on its own, it certainly can be helpful at key junctures in the resume writing process, for example, when analyzing and inputting keywords.

To use ChatGPT to find the best keywords to include in your resume, follow the below steps:

• Provide ChatGPT with a copy or excerpt of a job description for the role you want to apply for, and then prompt: "I am tailoring my resume to apply for this role. Please select and suggest keywords and phrases from this job advert that I can put into my resume. Include any technical skills, software tools, certifications, industry terminology, and soft skills listed in the advert."
• Now that ChatGPT has provided you with a list you can then begin incorporating these words and phrases throughout your resume, ensuring you proofread with each edit so it reads naturally and doesn't give the appearance of meaningless keyword stuffing.

Powerful Keywords To Include In Your Resume

Now that you have this background understanding, here is a sample list of some of the most common and essential keywords you should consider adding to your resume, for three specific industries—information technology, healthcare, and sales. These are categorized for ease of navigation and will provide you with an idea of what to look out for, as relates to your industry:

Resume Keywords For The Information Technology (IT) Industry

• Programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, C++)
• Cloud computing
• Network administration
• Agile methodologies
• ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)
• Artificial intelligence (AI)
• Machine learning
• Data analytics
• IT project management

Resume Keywords For The Healthcare Industry

• Electronic Health Records (EHR)
• Clinical research
• Medical billing and coding
• Telemedicine
• Healthcare compliance
• Health informatics
• Medical imaging
• Healthcare quality improvement
• Health insurance
• Healthcare technology

Resume Keywords For The Sales Industry

• Business development
• Account management
• Client relationship management (CRM)
• Lead generation
• Prospecting
• Sales cycle
• Pipeline management
• Value proposition
• Sales forecasting
• Competitive analysis

Keywords include a range of technical skills, soft skills, and education requirements—and even your ... [+] years of experience

Using the right keywords can help you effectively sell yourself and shine as a star candidate to employers, ensuring your skills and experience do not go to waste or escape their notice. Through highlighting your expertise in this way, you increase your chances of securing an interview.

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Top 10 Personal Brand Statement Examples To Follow

Updated: March 11, 2024

Published: June 18, 2023

In a 2022 personal branding trends study, most respondents said they consider personal branding an essential component of work and their everyday life. 

It found that 75% of Americans trust someone with a personal brand, and 63% are likely to buy from someone with a personal brand. 

As an entrepreneur who is always on the lookout for customers or potential investors, you know that trust is key. Developing a personal brand for yourself can be an effective tool to help grow your business.

What is a personal brand statement?

A personal brand statement is a couple of sentences that highlights your unique skills and experience. It’s meant to be a quick introduction to people who discover you online because it summarizes what you can offer them.

Basically, it’s a catchphrase, tag line, or elevator pitch for you as a professional individual. While it showcases what you do professionally, you can also display your personality.

Why leaders should have a personal brand statement

You make a better first impression.

As the saying goes, “You only have one shot to make a first impression.” The challenge for entrepreneurs is that you don’t always know when that opportunity arises, as many first impressions happen online.

When a potential client or investor hears about you, their first instinct is to look up your social media profiles. If you’ve got a clear and well-thought-out personal brand statement, you’ve got a better chance at making them stick around for second and third impressions.

You can establish yourself as a thought leader

Thought leadership is a powerful content marketing tactic that can help you reach bigger audiences and generate leads for your business. When you’re known as a leader in your particular industry, that automatically gives you a higher level of credibility. 

A personal brand statement can strengthen your thought leadership strategy by clearly stating your area of expertise.

You can create networking opportunities

Whether you’re looking for top talent, new clients, or potential investors, networking is half the battle. 

Personal brand statements make it easy for potential connections to understand exactly what you do and what you value. Without it, you may miss out on opportunities simply because they didn’t know that you had something relevant to offer them.

Best personal brand statement examples for leaders

“bilingual creative who lives at the intersection of business & design.” —chris do.

Source: Chris Do’s LinkedIn page .

Chris Do is a multi-hyphenate: a designer, creative strategist, public speaker, founder, and CEO of The Futur, an online education platform.

What makes it great : Because he wears so many hats, Do’s personal branding statement is better than trying to explain everything he does.

“Helping people find their zen in the digital age.” —Shama Hyder

Source: Shama Hyder’s homepage .

Shama Hyder is the founder and CEO of Zen Media, a marketing and PR firm. She’s also written a book about digital marketing .

What makes it great : Hyder’s brand statement is an attention-grabbing play on her company’s name and showcases one of her key values: making clients feel a sense of calm in a fast-paced digital world.

“Write better sales emails faster with our in-inbox coach.” —Will Allred

Source: Will Allred’s LinkedIn page .

Will Allred is the co-founder of Lavender, an AI-powered email software startup.

What makes it great : Brooklin Nash, CEO of Beam Content, shares, “In one sentence, Allred captures the entire focus of his social presence: to help salespeople write better emails faster while demonstrating his authority and sharing his product in the second part of that headline.”

“Keeping it awkward, brave, and kind.” —Brené Brown

Source: Dr. Brené Brown’s homepage .

Brené Brown has a Ph.D. in sociology and is the author of several books that cover topics like shame, vulnerability, empathy, and courage.

What makes it great : Dr. Brown’s personal brand statement embodies her mission statement of encouraging people to embrace their vulnerabilities by sharing her own.

“Empowering ridiculously good marketing.” —Ann Handley

Source: Ann Handley’s homepage .

Ann Handley is a digital marketing expert and bestselling author. Her company helps marketers get tangible results.

What makes it great : Sharon Jonah, creative director and founder of digital marketing agency Buzz Social, shares, “In four words, we understand what Handley does, how she does it, whom she’s speaking to, and how she speaks.”

“Still just a girl who wants to learn. Youngest-ever Nobel laureate, co-founder @malalafund and president of Extracurricular Productions.” —Malala Yousafzai

Source: Malala Yousafzai’s Twitter profile .

Malala Yousafzai is the youngest Nobel laureate and an activist whose fund aims to remove the barriers to female education around the world.

What makes it great : Her bio highlights her impressive achievements with language that makes her sound relatable. 

“Marketing. Strategy. Humanity.” —Mark Schaefer

Source: Mark Schaefer’s homepage .

Mark Schaefer is an educator, speaker, marketing consultant, and author. He’s developed corporate marketing strategies for brands like Microsoft, IBM, and AT&T.

What makes it great : “It’s subtle, concise, and creative. It describes what Schaefer does, what he focuses on, and his unique and distinguished approach,” says Omer Usanmaz, CEO and co-founder of mentoring and learning software Qooper. 

“Empowering successful women to take control of their finances.” —Jennifer Welsh

Source: Jennifer Welsh’s LinkedIn profile page .

Jennifer Welsh founded Money School, a digital course that teaches women about personal finance. What makes it great : Welsh’s strong personal brand statement says exactly what she does and whom she does it for. 

“Let’s make Excel the solution, not the problem.” —Kat Norton (Miss Excel)

Source: Miss Excel’s homepage .

Kat Norton (known as Miss Excel) became famous on TikTok for her bite-sized Microsoft Excel tutorials. She now offers Excel courses on her website.

What makes it great : Norton’s clever statement shows that she understands her audience's problem and highlights her personality.

“‘The Customer Whisperer.’ I help marketers discover the hidden reasons why customers buy so they can become un-ignorable.” —Katelyn Bourgoin

Source: Katelyn Bourgoin’s LinkedIn page .

Katelyn Bourgoin is a creator and serial entrepreneur who founded a branding agency, a mentoring platform for female entrepreneurs, and a restaurant consulting firm. She trains entrepreneurs to uncover what makes their products “un-ignorable.”

What makes it great : Bourgoin’s clever branding statement effectively tells marketers that she can help them understand their customers better and make their brands memorable.

How to write a personal brand statement

Writing an effective personal brand statement can be tough because it requires you to be catchy yet compelling. It should give audiences all the necessary information in a sentence or two.

Here are some tips for writing your own:

Think about your unique value proposition

A unique value proposition (or unique selling point) is what makes you different. It tells people why they should try your product or service, network with you, or invest in your business.

Tip : Identify your core values, goals, and strengths.

If you don't know what those are, ask yourself:

• Why am I building my brand?
• What do I want my audience to know me for?
• How do I do things differently?
• Do I have a distinct skill set, experience, point of view, or passion?
• What value do I bring to my audience?

Keep it short and sweet

Your brand statement should be simple and easy to understand. 

The goal is to have someone look at your profile or website and immediately understand who you are and what you do, so keep it brief. Keep in mind that you don’t need full sentences either. 

Start by writing one to three sentences that outline what you do, for whom, and how you do it. You can also add a sentence about values. 

Then, look at different ways you can shorten them. Or pick out the most specific and impactful words and see what happens when you simply list them. 

Showcase your personality

Injecting your personality empowers you to share what you do without being bland or boring. Being authentic also helps attract like-minded customers, investors, and peers. 

At the end of the day, there are other people out there who may offer similar services or solve the same problems for your target audience. Your personality can set you apart.

“Don't be afraid to inject a bit of humor, quirkiness, and passion. It’ll help make you more memorable and help you stand out from the crowd,” says Usanmaz.

Ideally, you want customers to know what you do and get a little taste of what it will be like to work with you.

A personal brand statement conveys your mission, differentiates you from competitors, and attracts your target audience. Use these tips and real-life examples of personal brand statements to inspire you to write your own.

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