Quick Answer:
A personal statement on a resume summarizes the benefits of hiring you and encourages recruiters to pay attention to your resume. It's the first section of the resume that recruiters see, so it should be brief, easy-to-read, and attention-grabbing. Your statement should include who you are, suitable skills, achievements, your target company, and what you hope to do for your new employer. It should be short and concise, mentioning only the most relevant information for your target roles.
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Landing a job interview requires a memorable resume. Including a good personal statement at the top of your resume is a perfect way to do it.
Essentially, your resume personal statement is a brief paragraph that aims to summarise the benefits of hiring you and encourage employers to pay attention to your resume.
If you are wondering whether you should include it.
Yes.
And you will see why. In this article, we have all the information you need on how to write an eye-catching personal statement and a couple of useful examples.
The Purpose Of A Resume Personal Statement
Hundreds of resumes go through the hands of a Recruiter in just a day. So, you understand how important it is to grab his or her attention in just seconds. One really effective way is to write a personal statement at the top of a resume.
By including a strong personal statement you would for sure get more attention than one without.
Personal statement vs resume objective vs resume summary, is there a difference?
Actually, the differences are very small, and we’re talking essentially about the same thing, so no worries there. However, a resume objective statement tends to focus a little bit more on your own interests as the job seeker—it emphasizes what you are looking for in a position or a company.
A resume summary statement, on the other hand, communicates what is your value to the company and how you could be helpful. It is a way to “sell yourself” to the employer. Here you can see more details on how to write a Resume Objective and a Resume Summary.
See which one is more suitable for your needs.
If a personal statement is the one you need, stay with us.
The Elements Of A Good Personal Statement
A good CV personal statement or personal profile has 5 simple elements:
- State who you are;
- Write 2–3 suitable skills;
- Include 2–3 achievements;
- Write the name of your target company;
- What you hope to do for your new employer.
The Construction Of A Good Personal Statement
The personal statement on your resume is the first section that recruiters would seе. Therefore, it should be compelling and attention-grabbing to the particular position. Here are four steps to creating a personal statement that is going to be remembered:
1. State who you are
Begin with a description showing your current position in your profession and field of specialization. You could also include what you like most about your work and any characteristics and skills that would make you the perfect choice for the position.
2. Add measurements to your achievements
After that, you should communicate how suitable for the position you are and what is your value to the organization. This section should highlight accomplishments relevant to the position you are applying for. Show that you could be beneficial for the company.
If you are wondering which accomplishments to mention, select those that directly associate with your position. If the position requires managerial experience, mention previous situations that have placed you in such a role. This way, you could quickly establish yourself as the right candidate for the job.
3. State your career objectives
The third section of your personal statement should state why you are applying for this particular position. You have already communicated your skills and qualifications in the previous sentences, so you write the last one concise and direct.
4. Keep your personal statement short
Your whole personal statement should be short, concise, and easy to read. Keep in mind to use simple sentences telling the recruiter the most important information for you.
Examples
After telling you how to structure it, see how it is done.
“An efficient, and reliable administrative professional with 8+ years of experience supporting executives, sales personnel, and managers to improve the internal operations for their businesses.
Proficient in CRM applications and design programs. Diversified skill set covering administrative support, client relations, human resources and recruiting, account management, and project management. Excellent interpersonal, phone, and digital communication skills.”
“As a recent graduate from the University of Townville, with a 2:1 honors degree in marketing, I have undertaken internships at industry-leading agencies such as Beyond Imagination and Noah Freemans. These placements have allowed me to develop sector knowledge and gain hands-on experience, as well as expand transferable skills such as communication, negotiation, and analytical skills. My current goal is to gain a role that allows me to further my knowledge and take on increased responsibility at a market-leading digital marketing agency.”
“I am a highly competent IT professional with a proven track record in networking and managing databases. I have strong technical skills as well as excellent interpersonal skills, enabling me to communicate easily with clients. I am eager to be challenged in order to grow and further improve my skills. My greatest passion in life is using my technical know-how to benefit other people and organizations.”
Resume Personal Statement for Career Changers Example
Experienced Sales Manager
“As a Sales Manager with 7 years of experience, 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 a 16% increase in business renewals for the organization I work for. I currently seek a new challenge which will utilize my meticulous attention to detail and friendly, professional manner.”
Resume Personal Statement for Entry Level Job
Entry Level Business Analyst
“Enthusiastic Business Analyst, skilled in leadership and communication. Seeking to enhance understanding of key metrics for IPSoft. As a business report writer for Valens Securities helped grow employee grasp of key concepts by 42%. My PowerPoint presentation of GBMP’s Policy Deployment plan was turned into a webinar that got 2,300 views.”
Resume personal statement for experienced professional
Experienced Teaching Assistant
“Enthusiastic teaching assistant with 6 years of experience. Seeking to maintain a graduate teaching assistant position at St. Andrews University. Mentored 70+ students for 3 years. Delivered lectures, edited 2 books. Commended by 2 professors for research quality. Graded 1000+ student papers. Skilled in materials development and research.”
And if you are still not sure how to write your personal statement, go through our Resume Examples. They are all approved by top Hiring Managers and have helped thousands get their dream job.
Final Words: Writing a Resume Personal Statement
Your personal statement will be totally unique to yourself, but by using the above tips and tricks we gave you, you will be able to create one which shows the Hiring Managers everything they need.
Remember to keep it short and only include the most relevant information for your target roles.
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Do you have any other questions about personal statements on a resume? Give us a shout-out in the comments below!
Make one that's truly you.
