The personal statement is your opportunity to make a powerful first impression with potential employers. This concise yet impactful paragraph showcases who you are professionally and why you’re the ideal candidate for the position. When crafted effectively, it serves as your written handshake—brief, memorable, and setting the tone for everything that follows.
For an Outstanding Personal Statement
1. CONCISE
A strong personal statement is brief and focused:
- Keep it to one well-developed paragraph (typically 4-6 sentences)
- Eliminate filler words and phrases that don’t add value
- Minimize the use of “I” at the beginning of consecutive sentences
- Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader interest
- Choose precise words that convey meaning efficiently
2. RELEVANT
Your personal statement should be tailored specifically to the position:
- Focus exclusively on skills and experiences relevant to the job requirements
- Demonstrate clear understanding of what the role entails
- Avoid generic phrases like “team player” or “hard worker” without context
- Explain specifically how you can contribute value to the organization
- Include a brief mention of your career direction or professional goals
- Make connections between your background and the company’s needs
3. ACCURATE
Precision and correctness are essential:
- Verify all information is truthful and verifiable
- Proofread carefully for spelling and grammatical errors
- Use appropriate punctuation (avoid exclamation points in professional writing)
- Ensure consistency in tense and tone throughout
- Have someone else review for clarity and correctness
Example Structure for a Personal Statement
A well-constructed personal statement typically follows this pattern:
- Opening statement about your professional identity
- Key qualifications and experiences relevant to the position
- Specific achievements that demonstrate your capabilities
- Value proposition explaining what you bring to the organization
- Brief closing that connects to your career goals
Example Personal Statement (Marketing Assistant Position)
Marketing professional with three years of experience creating digital content for B2B companies. Having increased social media engagement by 45% in my current role through data-driven strategy and creative copywriting, I bring proven skills in analytics, content creation, and campaign management. My background in consumer psychology complements my technical abilities, allowing me to develop meaningful connections between brands and their audiences. I am eager to apply this combination of analytical thinking and creative execution to help XYZ Company expand its digital footprint while pursuing my goal of becoming a marketing strategist.
Notice how this example:
- Remains concise in one paragraph
- Varies sentence structure
- Includes specific achievements (45% increase)
- Highlights relevant skills (analytics, copywriting, etc.)
- Connects the candidate’s abilities to the company’s needs
- Briefly mentions a career direction
- Avoids generic expressions
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Being too generic: Your statement should be impossible to copy and paste for different applications
- Including irrelevant information: Personal details not related to the job waste valuable space
- Focusing only on what you want: Employers care more about what you can offer them
- Using clichés: Phrases like “thinking outside the box” or “detail-oriented” lack impact
- Writing too much: Recruiters spend seconds on initial screening—be brief and compelling
Your personal statement is often the first piece of information a potential employer reads about you. Make every word count by keeping it concise, relevant, and accurate.
Your Turn!
Now it’s your turn! Practice writing your own personal statement in the comments, focusing on a specific job you’re interested in. Share how you’ve made your statement concise, relevant, and accurate—our community can provide feedback to help you polish this crucial career tool!