Personal statement examples

Personal statement examples by Michael Cheary OK, so putting a personal statement together is never easy…But even if you’ve written one before, how you write a personal statement will always depend on your current situation. In other words, what you write as a school leaver will look a lot different to someone who has many years of previous work experience.To help you find the right one for you, here are some real personal statement examples â€" and how you can use them to make your CV stand out:Free CV Template Free CV Template Email address: Please enter a valid email addressmessage here By clicking Submit, you accept our Terms & Conditions and consent to receive emails and career related topics. See our Privacy policy for details. Continue without submitting Download Free CV TemplateUniversity personal statement  First things first: personal statements aren’t just for your CV.They’re also a key part of the UCAS application process, and a way to sell yourself to prospective universities. However, they will be much more detailed â€" and longer â€" than the one you write for a job application.We’ve covered everything you need to know about personal statements for university here.School leaver personal statement exampleAll personal statements should be tailored to the role in question. No exceptions.Start by answering the following three questions: Why do you want to work in this industry? What skills make you right for the role (hint: use the job description)? And where do you want to go in your career?However, school leavers should always focus on the latter and what you can bring to the business, as we ll as focusing on the knowledge and skills gained through education, rather than employment history. Soft skills are also a great place to start.Example:A highly motivated and hardworking individual, who has recently completed their A-Levels, achieving excellent grades in both Maths and Science. Seeking an apprenticeship in the engineering industry to build upon a keen scientific interest and start a career as a maintenance engineer. Eventual career goal is to become a fully-qualified and experienced maintenance or electrical engineer, with the longer-term aspiration of moving into project management.School leaver CV templateGraduate personal statement exampleSimilar to a school leaver personal statement, but with extra attention paid to specific things youve studied during  higher education.Once again, try and explain why you’re applying and where you’d like to go in your career, as well as the specific skills or knowledge you can offer. But try and drop in a few more details o n your degree (projected grades are fine), as well as particular modules that have inspired you to work in this profession if possible.And remember: a personal statement written for a CV differs greatly from one written for a university application. If you haven’t written one before, you should start by reading our tips on how to write a personal statement.Example:A recent  business economics graduate with a 2:1 honours degree from the University of X, looking to secure a Graduate Commercial Analyst position to use and further develop my analytical skills and knowledge in a practical and fast-paced environment. My career goal is to assume a role which allows me to take responsibility for the analysis and interpretation of commercial data for a well-respected and market-leading leading company.Graduate CV templateUnemployed/redundancy personal statement exampleDealing with redundancy is never easy. But when dealt with in the right way, it needn’t be a hindrance when making appli cations.Put the main focus on your employment history, and provide further information for your break in your cover letter. You dont even necessarily need to mention it again, if youve already explained it elsewhere.Remember, your personal statement is intended to sell yourself. So emphasise your positives rather than apologising for a negative.Example: Driven Retail Manager with over ten years’ experience in the fashion industry. Proven track record of success, including managing the top performing store in the region, and having the lowest staff turnover rate of all UK outlets. Currently out of work due to company closure, looking for the right opportunity to bring my expertise to a well-established fashion brand in an upper management position.How to: Deal with redundancyRedundancy CV templateCareer break personal statement exampleThere are many good reasons someone may need to take  a career break.Some possible examples could include parental leave, caring for a family member, plans to travel or long-term illness. However, whatever the reason for your own break, its never something you should feel the need to justify to a prospective employer.In fact, knowing how to explain a gap  in your CV is mostly about confidence.  So  leave any extra explanation for your cover letter and focus your personal statement on your career before the  break   and any skills learned during your time off which may be applicable to the role.Example:A highly motivated and experienced PA, currently looking to resume my professional career after dedicating the last five years to raising a family. Excellent admin skills, thorough knowledge of all Microsoft Office programs, as well as proficiency in minute-taking and extensive experience liaising with clients. After volunteering for one day a week with a local charity to refresh my skills, now fully committed to continuing my career on a full-time basis.Career  break CV templateCareer change personal statement exampleIf you’re c hanging industry completely, think about any  transferable skills and applicable to the sector you’re moving into.Any numbers you can give to demonstrate your success could be crucial even if you’re moving into an area where your expertise may seem slightly different. So always aim to back up your claims with real examples.Focus on one or two achievements, demonstrate the impact they had, and  youll instantly start adding value to your application.Example:As an experienced sales manager, my tenacious and proactive approach resulted in numerous important contract wins. My excellent networking skills have provided my team with vital client leads, and my ability to develop client relationships has resulted in an 18% increase in business renewals for my current organisation. After eight years in sales, currently seeking a new challenge which will utilise my meticulous attention to detail, and friendly, professional manner.Changing careers: What you need to know  Career change CV te mplateFinal thoughtsIf you’re still not sure of what to write, don’t panic.Crafting a winning personal statement will take time, especially if you havent written one before. Use these examples as a loose structure to follow, and youll be able to add to them as your experience grows.And remember: you should always aim to edit your personal statement for each role you apply for. That way, you can ensure youre really selling yourself to their role, rather than simply sending the same generic statement for each application.It should only take a few more minutes to complete. But if its enough to attract an employers interest,  it will be time well spent in the long run.How to write a personal statementPersonal statement dos and don’tsRead more CV help tipsStill searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs  now.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Personal statements