9 Great Personal Statement Examples for Your CV — & Why They Work

Personal statements — the paragraphs at the top of CVs that summarise past experience and accomplishments — may be short, but they are undoubtedly important. After all, a personal statement gives you the chance to sell yourself to potential employers — and you don’t have much time to do that, says Romanie Thomas, founder of Juggle Jobs: "People spend, on average, a measly nine seconds glancing at CVs, so a compelling introduction is critical.”

Hooking a potential employer within seconds might seem like a lot of pressure. But don’t worry, these four examples — plus tips on why they work — will help you craft a personal statement that shines.

1. Include Keywords, Not Buzzwords

Keywords are specific statements or required skills taken from the job advert. Keywords will ensure your CV not only passes an initial screening from the recruiting software known as an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), but they also show the hiring manager that you understand the role. Alternatively, buzzwords are simply seen as fluff, acting as useless and cliché adjectives that take up valuable space in your personal statement.

“It seems the world is full of disruptors, gurus and ninjas,” says Gabi Dalla Riva, Head of Talent at Credit Karma U.K. “Steer clear of buzzwords that will make your statement generic and lacking in substance”.

Example Personal Statement:

“Startup veteran for 10 years, including businesses rated the UK’s fastest-growing. Strategic advisor with a specialism in fast-growth forecasting, initial finance and operations function setup in SaaS, e-commerce, fintech and blockchain businesses. Proven team builder, creating an FP&A function from scratch and leading first hire to full CIMA qualification.”

Why This Works:

Thomas provided this example from a professional on Juggle. The keywords are in bold. He explains; “Keywords will drag your CV out of the slush pile with an ATS, and effectively speak to the traditional matching done by real-life recruitment professionals.” This personal statement is information-dense and calls out several of the expert skills of the candidate via keywords.

2. Focus on Brevity

Personal statements should be a maximum of three to five lines. “Think of your personal statement as your elevator pitch — keep it concise and to the point,” suggests Dalla Riva. “If you're applying to multiple roles, have a couple versions of your statement to make the most impact with your audience.” I.E., Don’t have a generic statement. Keep it short, to-the-point and specific to the role and company.

Example Personal Statement:

“CIM qualified VP Marketing with experience growing market share and penetrating new markets for world-class luxury goods brands. Fluent in French, I have held country leadership roles in Belgium and Singapore and possess strong Digital Marketing skills. London-based, I am now seeking a Chief Commercial Officer role with an entrepreneurial, fast-paced luxury brand with international growth.”

Why This Works:

Chris Mumford, managing director of the London office of Aethos Consulting Group, provided this example of an executive-level personal statement. While only three sentences, this personal statement packs a punch.

Mumford explains: “It’s clear that the applicant is an expert in digital marketing, the inclusion of the French language capability and markets worked in conveys that the applicant has international experience, [and] an ATS will instantly match this person with roles in London.” Also, note that the statement is keyword-dense as well.

3. Actionable Stats Make a Difference

Once you move past an ATS, recruiters and hiring managers look at hundreds of CVs each day. Including specific data and actionable statistics from your experience will make a personal statement stand out. Metrics of success also serve to quantify your achievements.

Matt Dodgson, director of Market Recruitment, gives a great example of a sentence that truly quantifies achievements: “Grew Company X's client base from 10 to 50 within one year. Increased sales by 40 percent by implementing a new lead qualification tool.” See it in action with a full personal statement below.

Example Personal Statement:

"Target-oriented Sales Executive with a 15-year sales record. Proven success in both B2B and B2C verticals. Grew [Company X]’s client base from 10 to 50 within one year. Increased sales by 40 percent by implementing a new lead qualification tool. As a confident networker, brings to the table effective relationships with key senior contacts in FTSE 250 organisations."

Why This Works:

“Similar to your CV, quantifications tell a moving story,” says Dodgson. He explains that adding the 40 percent metric to the above statement makes it stand out much more, rather than just saying “Increased sales by implementing a new lead qualification tool.”

Dodgson also suggests name-dropping with purpose. In the above example statement, Company X signifies a recognisable client or high-powered firm the applicant has worked with. However, you must always include metrics to back up your results working with the big-name organisation.

4. Consider Bullet Points

If you struggle with articulating your value in full-sentences, Becky Heys, professional CV writer and owner of Heys Resumes, tells us that bullet points are an acceptable option. She says, “This style can be much more reader-friendly, concise and often the preferred style of recruiters and executive-level candidates.”

Example Personal Statement:

Why This Works:

Heys explains that this is a brief but strong synopsis of experience. Bullets also make it easy for the reader to quickly scan and understand what you do and if you’re the right candidate. If you do opt to use a bullet point format, Heys recommends the following outline:

5. Personal Statements for Graduates and Students

Students and graduates may struggle with creating a personal statement due to a lack of professional experience. However, this is an issue that can be easily resolved according to Andy Agouridis, director of CareerHigher. The trick is shifting away from paid professional experience and focusing on the below:

Example Personal Statement:

“Self-motivated Digital Technology Solutions Professional with experience participating in a software engineering virtual internship program of a Fortune 500 financial services firm. Equipped with strong problem-solving skills gained from completing various programming projects as part of the The Complete 2022 Web Development Bootcamp course. Adept at working well in a team while maintaining focus in own self-development “

Why This Works:

Employers know that graduates and students haven’t had the opportunity to gain significant paid experience yet. However, they highly appreciate skills, experience, and achievements from your student life. Additionally, hiring managers are on the lookout for motivated early stage professionals who are committed to building a relevant career.

6. Personal Statements for Retail Roles

The retail industry is both wide and specific at the same time. There is a variety of high-end to low-cost products and services on offer including grocery stores, beauty salons, drug stores, and more. However, running a retail store requires specific skills that may be different to other industries. According to Agouridis, key retail requirements include customer service, communication skills, and ability to operate in a fast-paced environment. Make sure you build these skills into your personal statement to make your application relevant.

Example Personal Statement:

“Results-oriented Retail Strategy Consultant with 15 years of experience in supporting retail and wholesale planning and omnichannel marketing strategy of emerging and established retail businesses. Have a proven track record of success in growing top global brands, increasing sales and margins, and optimizing retail operations. A multilingual and skilled communicator adept at engaging C-level executives and distilling complex strategies into simple action points for all levels of an organization. Possess strong organizational skills to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment.”

Why This Works:

Hiring managers are looking for employees who have a background related to the industry. We suggest helping your audience understand why you may be the best candidate for the role by using relevant keywords in your personal statement. To do this, use a combination of industry skills based on the above with job-specific skills that you can find in job descriptions.

7. Personal Statements for Career Changes

Career changes can be challenging. Regardless of whether you are looking to penetrate a new job function, industry, or geography, you may find some resistance till you make it. Agouridis says that recruiters and hiring managers are conditioned to look for candidates with a background similar to their vacancies. Therefore, your best strategy as a career changer is using transferable skills to demonstrate your fit even if you come from a different background. For maximum impact, combine this with a keen interest in your new target career.

Example Personal Statement:

“Driven Entrepreneur with 10 years of experience in managing all aspects of ecommerce business, including go-to-market strategies, strategic partnerships, marketplace commercial efforts, and operations. Proven success in building own business from scratch, driving up to $2M in sales growth, and strengthening market position. Seeking to leverage ecommerce business expertise as a Senior Ecommerce Manager in the consumer goods industry.”

Why This Works:

Using transferable skills makes your application easy and fast to process. Starting your CV with a strong and relevant personal statement can allow decision makers to see you as a suitable candidate even if you come from a non-traditional background. Further, demonstrating commitment to your target field can alleviate any concerns in relation to your motivation for the role.

8. Personal Statement for Marketing Roles

Marketing is different from most job functions. It’s business importance is undeniable, as it is key in acquiring clients or customers and generating revenue. However, being successful in marketing requires specific skills. Some of these key skills include a strong business acumen, creativity, and storytelling, as well as technical skills in SEO, social media, and project management. Of course, demonstrating commitment to a career in marketing is also crucial.

Example Personal Statement:

“Creative Head of Marketing with 10+ years of experience leading the development and execution of revenue-driving digital marketing strategy for international markets. Increased [Company X] client acquisition by up to 1000% and conversion rate by up to 200%. Adept at leveraging strong business acumen, SEO, and social media expertise to meet brand and lead generation objectives.”

Why This Works:

Marketing leaders are on the lookout for talent to bring on board. However, they evaluate applications based on how candidates would fit into the marketing function. Showcasing relevant experience and skills as well as a strong drive to build a career in marketing can help you stand out from the competition.

9. Personal Statement for Engineering Roles

Engineering jobs come with high barriers to entry and specific requirements. In most cases, engineers must have a relevant degree or professional certifications combined with strong industry experience. Also, engineers are typically trained in specific ways to identify, analyse, and resolve problems in a data-driven manner. Thus, if you are applying for an engineering role, focusing on relevant experience and expertise is imperative.

Example Personal Statement:

“Analytical Drilling Engineer with over 13 years of experience in spearheading drilling, completions, and workover operations in the oil and gas industry. Proven track record of success in reducing average drilling time by up to 50% and saving costs by up to 30%. Equipped with strong leadership and problem-solving skills to manage a QHSE compliant operation without sacrificing operational efficiency. “

Curate The Perfect Personal Statement for Your CV

It can be nerve-wracking to write a short, yet highly effective pitch of yourself when applying for jobs. As you write yours, use these examples as guidance. Remember to use specific keywords from the job advert, keep it short and relevant, and include quantifiable metrics of your past.