How to write a CV personal statement, with examples

A CV personal statement is a short paragraph of two to four lines at the top of your CV that says who you are, what you do and what you want to do next. Write it in plain facts, tailor it to the job and leave out empty adjectives.

Key points

• Keep it to two to four lines, or about 40 to 70 words.
• Use a simple formula: who you are, what you offer, what you want.
• Name real tools, settings and strengths, not general personality words.
• Change it for each job so it echoes the advert.
• It may be called a profile, summary or personal statement. They mean much the same thing.

What is a personal statement, and is it the same as a profile?

A personal statement is the short introduction at the top of your CV. In most CVs it is also called a profile, a summary or a personal profile. The names vary by country and industry, and the purpose is the same: to tell a busy reader in a few seconds who you are and why you fit.

Do not confuse it with a personal statement for a university application or a scholarship, which can be a page or more. On a CV, it is brief.

What formula can I follow?

Use three parts and write them in one tight paragraph.

1. Who you are: your role or level and how long you have done it.
2. What you offer: two or three concrete strengths, tools or kinds of work.
3. What you want: the kind of role or setting you are applying for.

Fill in the formula, then trim every word that does not carry a fact.

What does a good personal statement look like?

Here are samples for different people. They are examples only, so replace the details with your own facts.

Experienced worker "Admin clerk with six years in a small accounting office. Experienced in invoicing, filing and handling supplier queries by phone and email. Looking for an administrative role in a busy office where accuracy matters."

Recent graduate "Marketing graduate with a major in communication and hands-on experience running a university society page. Comfortable with writing posts, basic design apps and simple reporting. Seeking a junior marketing role."

School leaver "Matric leaver who helped run a family tuckshop on weekends. Good with cash, customers and counting stock. Looking for a part-time shop assistant job with a chance to learn."

Career changer "Former primary school teacher moving into training and development. Experienced in planning lessons, explaining clearly to mixed groups and tracking progress. Looking for a junior corporate trainer role."

Returning after a break "Customer service professional returning to work after a period of family care. Previously handled queries and complaints in a call centre. Refreshed computer skills with a short course. Seeking a customer support role."

How is this different from a career objective?

An objective says what you want. A personal statement says what you offer and then what you want. The first is about you. The second is about both you and the employer. Because the reader cares about their need, lead with what you bring.

Compare: "Seeking a position where I can grow my skills" with "Receptionist with three years at a medical practice, experienced in booking, filing and greeting patients, seeking a front desk role." The second helps the reader decide.

How do I choose the words?

Use words the employer would use in the job advert. If the advert asks for "customer queries", write "customer queries", not "client interactions". Keep verbs and nouns concrete: tools, tasks, places, types of customer.

Avoid pile-ups of adjectives such as "dynamic, results-driven, passionate and self-motivated". They can be written by anyone and prove nothing. If you want to show that you are reliable, a line like "no missed shifts in two years" says it better, as long as it is true.

What should I avoid?

• First-person sentences that run on ("I am a person who...").
• Claims you cannot support in the rest of the CV.
• Telling the reader what they must do ("You will not regret hiring me").
• Long histories: leave detail for the experience section.
• Repeating the same words as the first bullet of your current job.

How do I tailor it quickly?

Keep a base version, then change three things for each job: the job title or type of role, the one or two strengths that match the advert, and the setting. This takes a minute. A sentence such as "retail assistant" can become "grocery store assistant" if the advert is for a supermarket.

If you are writing the CV for many similar jobs, keep two or three versions. Name them clearly so you send the right one.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you have nothing specific to say. A weak statement is worse than none. A CV with a clear experience section can stand without one. If you have a strong, relevant history, a statement helps. If you are changing fields or have a gap, a statement is useful to guide the reader's reading.

Can I write it in the third person?

You can, but the more natural style is to leave out the pronoun: "Accountant with five years of..." rather than "I am an accountant" or "She is an accountant". Pick one style and keep it throughout the CV.

How do I check mine?

Read it aloud and ask four questions:

1. Does it name my role or level?
2. Does it include at least two facts that can be verified?
3. Does it point to the kind of job I am applying for?
4. Could someone else have written it word for word? If yes, add detail.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a personal statement be?

Two to four lines, which is roughly 40 to 70 words. If it runs past a short paragraph, trim it. Readers often start with this section, so it needs to be quick to read and clear about your role, strengths and goal.

Should a personal statement be in the first person?

Most CVs use a first-person style without the word "I", for example "Experienced driver with a clean record" rather than "I am an experienced driver". Whichever style you pick, use it throughout the CV so the document feels consistent.

Do I need a different statement for every job?

You do not need to rewrite it completely. Keep a base version and adjust the job title, the matching strengths and the setting for each application. A small change that mirrors the advert makes the CV easier to read for that job.

What if I have no experience to mention?

Use education, volunteering, projects and responsibilities. State what you studied or did, one or two skills you have shown, and the type of job you want. Keep it honest and plain, and avoid inflated words.

Next steps

Write three versions using the formula, then cut each to under 60 words and choose the one that best matches the advert. If you want a guided way to put this together, you can build your CV step by step with CV Sorted: it is free to build and preview.