With the recruitment market continuing to be extremely candidate led in the beginning of 2022, it has never been a better time to find a new role. Your CV is your best tool for marketing yourself, and you may think that the standard contact information, employment history and qualifications sections are all you need. However, adding a personal statement can help set you apart from the competition.
What is a personal statement and is it needed?
A personal statement is known by many names; personal profile, CV profile or even just an introduction. In its simplest form, it is a the description of your career portfolio. Whether or not you need a personal statements is debated widely; some professionals state you need one to introduce yourself and your skills, and other specialists argue that it is a waste of space.
In short, you don’t need a personal statement to start your CV. However, as our expert recruiters know, sometimes your CV can be competing with many others, so it must stand out and grab attention from the beginning. Personal profiles are the ideal way to persuade recruiters to keep reading your CV, because you are telling them immediately why you should be hired.
There might be undisputable reasons why you decide not to have a personal statement – but the reason shouldn’t be that you can’t be bothered to write one! For example, if you’re applying for a specific role and it requires you to attach a cover letter, you may choose to omit your personal statement. It’s important not to repeat information, and of course always tailor your CV to the role you are applying for.
How to write a personal profile
Your statement sits under your name and contact information, and before your employment / education history, so a title for it is not essential. The important points to remember are that personal statements are usually around four sentences in length, and no more than six. If you aim for between 50 – 200 words, you will be writing for success.
For ease, personal statement can be split into three parts. The first sentence usually highlights “who you are”. This might include whether you are a graduate with a degree, an employee looking to progress to a more senior role, or an applicant immediately available looking to resume a position in a particular industry.
Eg. “I am an ambitious Marketing Executive looking to progress into a Marketing Manager role”.
The second part of the statement describes “what you can offer the company”. In this section you are highlighting your top skills and strengths, that will benefit the company you are applying to. You should also back up your skills with evidence.
Eg. “During my Digital Marketing Diploma, I developed an excellent attention to detail, due to the demands of assignments. A product of this is my ability to work well under pressure and my prioritising skills grew”.
The third and final section, is to highlight your career goals. Tell the employer why you are worth investing time and money in.
Eg. “I am now looking for a challenging environment within marketing to utilise my copywriting skills and develop my creative expertise”.
If you are looking for a new role and need help with your CV, get in touch with Plus One today and take your first step towards a fresh opportunity!
