A personal statement, also known as a professional profile or career summary, is the top line of a CV that provides a brief introduction to the candidate and their career goals. It is typically two to three sentences in length and serves as a snapshot of the candidate’s experiences and qualifications. In this blogpost, we will explore everything there is to know about personal statements, with tips to create one of high quality and inform you whether you should edit it for every company. These guidelines will help you create an elevator pitch for yourself to impress employers.
What is a Personal Statement?
A personal statement is a brief summary of a candidate’s experiences, skills, and career goals. It typically appears at the top of a CV and serves as an introduction to the candidate. The personal statement should highlight the candidate’s top qualities and skills, as well as provide a brief overview of their experiences and career aspirations.
Why is it important?
A personal statement is important because it gives the employer an immediate idea of the candidate’s qualifications and experiences. Employers can speed up their screening process by quickly determining whether a candidate is a good fit for the job and the company, by looking at their personal statement. A high quality personal statement indeed increases the chances of candidates landing interviews.
Tips to create one of high quality
A high-quality personal statement should include all the important information, like the candidate’s most relevant skills, experience, and career aspirations. Furthermore, candidates should tailor the personal statement to the job and company they are applying to. The statement should highlight the candidate’s strengths, providing a brief and positive overview of their experiences. Candidates should be careful not to include any negative information about the themselves in the personal statement.
Additionally, candidates should research the requirements of the job that they are applying for and cater their statements accordingly, highlighting their suitable skills and experiences. The statement should be concise, well-written, and error-free. Candidates should also use strong action verbs and avoid clichés.
How long should it be?
A personal statement should be two to three sentences in length. It should be to the point and comprehensive. The candidate should focus on their most relevant skills and experiences.
Is It necessary?
A personal statement is not always necessary, but it can be helpful in setting a candidate apart from other applicants. A well-written personal statement would highly increase the chances of candidates being selected for an interview, as mentioned earlier.
Should you edit it for every company?
Candidates should research the company and the job, and tailor their statements to highlight their relevant skills and experiences. It is recommended that the candidates edit their personal statement for every company they apply to (without making it obvious by mentioning the companies’ names- that is what cover letters are for).
Conclusion
A personal statement is a brief summary of a candidate’s experience, skills, and career goals. It is an important part of a CV as it gives the employer an immediate idea of the candidate’s qualifications and experience. If your personal statement is well-written, it can set you apart from other applicants and increase your chances of landing an interview. Your should also tailor your statement to the job and company you are applying for, and ensure it is concise, well-written, and error-free. You should focus on branding yourself by highlighting your strengths and avoiding negative information.
You can also create your CV using AM CityGrad and let employers find you, at https://connect.amcitygrad.com/. Good luck with your job hunt!