Different Types of Personal Statements
A personal statement can be included in your resume or CV. It is very similar to a personal elevator pitch or the summary section within a CV, highlighting your goals and abilities. Since a resume can extend over several pages, this gives you an opportunity to showcase the necessary details from within the document. You will want to write just a few sentences for the personal statement in your resume.
Alternatively, you may need to write a personal statement as part of a job application. This helps hiring managers differentiate candidates applying for any job in a certain category (for example, applying for any “Production Manager” position) from those more genuinely interested in the company.
Write something that matches the word count required in the application. If none is provided, aim for 250 to 500 words. Regardless of where it appears, your goal for the personal statement remains the same: try to connect your background and goals with the job in question.
What to Include
In your personal statement, you want to convey a connection between yourself and the position. Think of it as a three-part process:
- Share some details about yourself: Who are you? You can say things like “highly experienced Production Manager” or “recent graduate with honors.”
- Highlight your most relevant experiences and talents, and share what you will bring to the company: Think of “strong and fast writer capable of crafting advertisements that engage and entice” or “in my years as a project manager, I didn’t let a detail slip; I received internal awards for top team player. My projects are delivered on time and meet specifications.”
- Provide a little information about your career goals: For example, “I am looking for a role as a staff writer” or “eager to secure a position at a mid-sized company as a review supervisor” or “seeking a job as a production assistant to develop my skills in television and test my time management capabilities.”
Although it’s called a personal statement, avoid oversharing. Include information that is relevant to the job in question. If you are applying for an accountant position, there’s no need to mention your goal of becoming a staff writer for a magazine.
Remember, the primary goal of the personal statement is to enhance your job search.
Tips for Writing a Personal Statement for Job Searching
Your personal statement should always be personal – it’s wrong to reuse the same personal statement for every job you apply for. You don’t need to write the personal statement from scratch each time – just make some adjustments to reflect the company’s needs and the qualities requested in the job description.
Here are some other tips for writing a successful personal statement for job searching:
- Know your audience: Tailor your personal statement to a specific job position and company. Spend some time researching the company to get an idea of what they are looking for in candidates. Break down the job description to understand the company’s needs in the candidate. Take notes on how your qualifications match the position.
- Make lists: What have you done that employers should know about? Create a list of your accomplishments (and remember that impressive awards are important, but reorganizing a chaotic system, making it easy to use is also significant). Brainstorm a list of your talents, soft skills, communication, and public speaking. Start with the first draft and write densely – then go back and edit. Aim for a few sentences in your resume and about 250 to 500 words in the job application. Cut unnecessary words and boring phrases that add no meaning. Instead, use action verbs. While it’s good to write in the first person, avoid overusing the word “I.” Try to vary your sentence structure.
- Make it
Targeted: You have many skills, interests, and work experiences. What you wish to emphasize for one job may not necessarily be what you want to highlight for another. If you are qualified as a writer and editor, choose any talent you wish to highlight in the personal statement – and make it the most relevant to the job you want.
Examples of Personal Statements
Here are some examples of personal statements for inspiration:
- I am an experienced accountant with a CPA and CMA certification and over 10 years of experience working in large companies. I have supervised auditing processes and a team of ten. My positive attitude and organizational spirit help ensure that month-end closing processes run smoothly and without any inaccuracies or emergencies. I am looking for a leadership role in my next job.
- A recent university graduate with freelance writing experience in major print magazines, online platforms, and the college newspaper. A strong writer who always meets deadlines and matches the company’s tone and voice. I am seeking a position as a staff writer and am excited to learn the magazine industry from the ground up.
- I am an award-winning designer in children’s clothing seeking to transition to the adult sportswear field. At Company X, I developed a new line for toddlers and traveled to Asia to oversee production. I learn quickly and look forward to a new challenge in the growing modern sportswear field.
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Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-to-write-a-personal-statement-for-job-searching-3572159
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