How to write a personal statement for your CV. Show an employer what you can bring to the table with a great CV profile.
Photograph: Pa A critical aspect of creating an effective CV is writing a personal statement, sometimes called a profile or career summary, that enables the recruiter to quickly identify the strategic value you can add to their organisation. Your CV should be a self-marketing document aimed at persuading the recruiter to interview you – and your personal statement is a critical part of making this happen. Many candidates struggle with writing the statement but it doesn't have to be a difficult as you may think. A well written statement can be between 50 and 200 words, although it is important not to ramble. It's important to read the job specification carefully and ensure not only that your skills and experience match but you reflect this in your statement.
For example an opening statement without the opening "I" could read: As a general rule, it's best to break the statement into three sections: Who you are. CV profiles, personal statements, career aims and objectives. A Career Aim, Personal Statement or Profile can be a useful way of flagging an interest and skills for a particular career on your CV, particularly if you have no relevant degree or work experience to give your CV focus.
When profile is used used on this page it can be assumed that personal statement could have been used in its place. A profile is only part of a CV so this section should be read in conjunction with our CV examples. What do you call it? Is it necessary? It's not necessary to have a profile but if you do, it must be lively and succinct! Your CV's Personal Statement – Get it Right. What should be included in my personal statement? Your CV is designed to do one thing and one thing only: to get you an interview.
Yet the average recruiter will only spend between 20 to 30 seconds glancing at your CV which means that you need to make an impression quickly and sell yourself. Your personal statement is your first opportunity to do just that. It is perhaps the single most important part of you CV. Get it wrong and your chances of being invited to interview are drastically reduced. Its aim is to highlight your professional attributes and goals, emphasising why they should continue reading the rest of your CV.
Unfortunately, too many people follow the tradition of using stock phrases and ‘key' words that they think will help them stand out from the crowd. Phrases such as “Looking for a challenging opportunity…” should be avoided because they're only focused on ‘me, me, me'. Advertising agencies are paid large sums of money by brands to create headlines that grab their audience's attention.