Personal Statement: how to write an effective one

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 - CV Writing, How To Write A CV, Personal Profile, Personal Statement, Tutorial

Personal Statement: how to write an effective one

There is a lot of debate in the world of employment, as to whether there is a need to insert a Personal Statement into your Professional CV. My answer is quite simple: YES!

Why? It engages the reader and focuses them on why you applied for the job by wholly confirming your capability to fulfil the requirements of the Job Advert. It’s that simple. Having confirmed your capability to do the job in the first half page on your CV, your CV will be read fully, and hence you are more likely to get a telephone interview: the next stage in the job application process, and the whole point of submitting your CV.

It hence annoys me – I am beyond disappointment – when people read poor detailed guidance, and pack Personal Profiles with power words. Here is an example, and I show them how to do it properly……

Help with Personal Statement

David, an experienced retail manager, asks: I need help with my CV. This is the current personal statement section – do you think that is good or needs reworking in anyway?

I am a reliable, self confident, determined and responsible person. I am practical, a proven team worker, capable of motivating others and I deliver excellent customer service. Experienced in aspects of retail management including customer service, staffing, training, health and safety, cash control, dealing with customer issues and security. I am accustomed to working under pressure, enjoy meeting targets, maintaining schedules and delivering results. I am always keen to acquire new skills and gain wider experience.

In answer
Yawn! If I see another one of these power-packed word pieces of utter rubbish I think I will reject it. Oh, hang on: that’s what I and everyone else in the world of employment does anyway!

Here’s the formula to write a great and most importantly engaging Personal Statement:

• I am
• I do/deliver
• I seek

You can easily do this in less than 3 to 5 lines/sentences.

So, for you that could be:

I am a retail manager with X years experience, based in Y location. I have Z years of experience with A, B and C known brands, in all aspects of retail operations, merchandising and management. I have managed teams of up to D people, across E number of stores, in sectors as diverse as F, G and H, being responsible for delivery of targets of J revenue and K profitability. I now seek to further develop my career in the area of (the job advert).

There – done in less than a minute. Simple when you know how, and horribly effective as it gets the hiring manager to pick up the phone: the whole point of a job application.

Good Luck!

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