A CV personal statement is a 3–4 sentence paragraph at the top of your CV addressing your target company directly and summarising your job-specific achievements, qualifications, and skills.
7 CV personal statement examples
Here are 7 personal statement examples for various stages of your career:
1. CV personal statement for a first-time job applicant
If you’re writing a CV for a first job, you’ll have less work experience, so focus on positive skills you’ve picked up during your education. In this example, the candidate focuses on their communication skills and organisational skills:
Reliable and friendly individual with first-rate communication and organisational skills. With three A-Levels graded A*–C, I’ve completed internships in customer service and administration, and I’m eager to apply my skills and contribute to British Gas’ success.
2. CV opening statement for a student
If you’re a student looking for a part-time job to support your studies, or seeking an internship to secure your future career, write a personal statement describing your positive qualities.
Related CVs: Medical student CV, law student CV, academic CV, student nurse CV
3. CV profile statement for a school leaver
If you’re applying for jobs after your secondary education, include your GCSEs and T-Levels (if applicable) in your CV’s personal statement to give recruiters a clear picture of your level of training:
Innovative individual and self-taught Digital Artist with 8 GCSEs grades 9–4. Currently studying at Longhill High School. Passionate about 3D modelling and animation. Hoping to expand my knowledge of digital design by applying for a full-time internship with Flaneur Magazine after leaving school.
Related CV sample: School leaver CV
4. Personal statement for a career change CV
Transitioning to a new career path? Here’s an example of how to write a personal statement for a career change CV. This applicant is currently a graphic designer.
5. CV personal statement if you’re returning to the workforce
If you’ve been out of the workforce for a while — perhaps because you’ve been taking care of your children or have been a carer for a member of your family — talk about your experience and skills. You could also explain your absence from the workforce to ease employers’ worries.
Related CVs: Stay at home mum CV, carer CV
6. CV personal statement for a graduate
View this CV personal statement for writing ideas if you’re a recent graduate:
Related CV samples: Graduate CV, CV examples for students
7. CV personal statement for an entry-level role
If you’re applying for an entry-level position, here’s how you might word your personal statement:
13 CV personal statement examples for jobs
Here are 13 CV personal statement examples from different industries.
Even if you don’t see an example that exactly matches your job title, you can adapt the general writing style to target the role you want (don’t forget you can check existing CV examples and look at their personal statements).
1. Administration CV personal statement
Applying for an administration or office management role? Here’s a personal statement from an administrative assistant’s CV that shows you how to write your own:
Related CV samples: Administrative CV, administrator CV, Civil service CV
2. Customer service CV personal statement
This personal statement for a customer service position underscores the applicant’s years of experience with strategic bolding and showcases their customer service skills:
Related CV samples: Customer service CV, customer service advisor CV, customer success manager CV
3. Waiting staff CV personal statement
Here’s a CV opening statement that you can imitate if you’re applying for server or waiting staff positions:
Related CV samples: Waiter/Waitress CV, barista CV, restaurant manager CV
4. Retail assistant CV personal statement
Below is a CV personal summary example that you can adapt if you’d like to work in retail:
Self-motivated and enthusiastic Sales Assistant with 1 year of experience working in busy retail environments. Currently completing my GCSEs at Fairfield Comprehensive School. Experienced with point-of-sale (POS) systems and interacting with customers of all ages and backgrounds. Hoping to apply my friendly demeanour and sales skills at Zara as a part-time sales assistant.
Related CV samples: Retail CV, retail assistant CV, shop assistant CV
5. Engineering CV personal statement
This CV personal profile highlights an engineering applicant’s educational background and technical skills:
Related CV samples: Engineering CV, design engineer CV, civil engineering CV
6. Project manager CV personal statement
Applying for project management roles? Use this example personal statement for inspiration:
Related CV samples: Project manager CV, business analyst CV, consultant CV
7. Marketing CV personal statement
Here’s how to write an effective marketing CV personal statement:
Related CV samples: Marketing CV, digital marketing CV, marketing manager CV
8. Teaching assistant CV personal statement
Apply for teaching assistant roles with this teaching assistant personal statement:
Related CV samples: Teaching assistant CV, tutor CV, librarian CV
9. Accountancy CV personal statement
This accountant CV showcases the applicant’s accounting skills and years of experience:
Related CV samples: Accountancy CV, assistant accountant CV, account executive CV
10. Cleaner CV personal statement
Mention your professional demeanour and previous recommendations to stand out as a cleaner job candidate, like so:
Related CV sample: Cleaner CV
11. Data analyst CV personal statement
This personal statement from a data analyst CV highlights the applicant’s relevant analytical skills, including their SQL expertise and data modelling proficiency:
Related CV samples: Data analyst CV, computer science CV
12. Primary teacher CV personal statement
Include your teaching qualifications and specialisations when writing your teaching CV personal statement so employers know you’re qualified as soon as they start reading:
Related CV sample: Teacher CV
13. Delivery driver CV personal statement
Don’t have much space left on your CV for your personal statement? This delivery driver candidate displays their time management skills and educational background in the following short CV personal statement example:
Related CV samples: Delivery driver CV, driver CV
Copy-and-paste personal statement template for a job
Still unsure how to word your personal statement? Copy and paste this personal statement template onto your CV, changing the parts in brackets to reflect your own situation:
Copy-and-paste CV personal statement template
[Adjective 1], [Adjective 2] [Your Job Title or ‘Student’] with [Number] [Months/Years] of experience [Your Primary Responsibility at Work]. Possess [a Degree/A-Levels/GCSEs] in [Subject Name(s)]. Excited to apply my skills in [Skill 1] and [Skill 2] to the [Job Title] position at [Company Name].
What is a CV personal statement?
A CV personal statement is a short (3–4 sentences) paragraph that sits at the top of your CV just under your name and contact details. Your personal statement should:
- explain who you are
- state how much relevant work experience you have
- name your key skills and qualifications
- state the job you’re interested in
A well-written personal statement on your CV is key to getting recruiting managers interested in learning more about you by summarising your biggest professional strengths and selling points.
How to write a CV personal statement
Follow these three steps to write a good CV personal statement when you’re applying for jobs:
1. Describe your professional experience
The first sentence of your personal statement should outline your professional experience and include a key trait (e.g., a unique adjective that describes you, such as ‘Dedicated’).
For instance, if you’ve got three years of experience as a barista, here’s an example of how to start a personal statement for a job with similar requirements:
Sentence 1: list your professional experience and key traits
Hardworking barista with 3 years of experience in a customer-facing role.
If you haven’t got any formal work experience, mention your highest level of education and any work placements you’ve had instead:
Sentence 2: mention your educational background and placements
Motivated sixth form leaver with four A-Levels and a week’s work experience at HSBC in Darlington.
2. Add key skills and accomplishments
In your second sentence, expand on the key skills you’ve listed on your CV that apply to the job. If possible, mention any noteworthy achievements from previous roles that are relevant to the new job you’re applying for.
For example, the second sentence of a call centre representative’s personal statement might say:
Sentence 3: write about your key skills and accomplishments
Skilled at resolving customer complaints with a 100% client satisfaction rate.
Note that you should add hard numbers (‘100%’). Adding numbers to your CV personal statement puts your achievements in context, and lets employers see what kind of performance they can expect if they hire you.
Add an extra sentence if you’d like to give even more details about your achievements and capabilities or mention any special trade licences or qualifications you have.
3. State your career objective
The final sentence of your CV should summarise your most job-relevant career goal and directly target the company you’re applying for. Use the company’s name and the job title here to tailor your CV to the role.
Tailoring your CV to the position shows you’ve considered the company’s needs and aren’t just sending your CV to every company with openings.
Here’s an ideal final sentence for a retail position:
Sentence 4: target a specific employer
Seeking to apply my unrivalled interpersonal skills and provide customers with great service in the retail assistant role at River Island.
3 tips for making a job-winning personal statement
Below are three tips for how to perfect the structure and word choice of your CV’s personal statement to give yourself the best chance of landing an interview:
1. Don’t make it too long
Unsure how long your CV’s personal statement should be? Aim for under 100 words to make it easy and quick for the recruiting manager to read. Make your personal statement as short as possible while still including all the key facts.
Here’s what a short personal statement example looks like as part of the structure of a CV:
2. Use the right font
Your personal statement should use the same font and font size as the rest of your CV. Use one of the most effective CV fonts throughout your document, such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica.
3. Don’t use ‘I’
Avoid using ‘I’ in your personal statement. Not using ‘I’ takes up less space on a CV and sounds more professional, as you can see:
Using ‘I’ in a CV personal statement
I’m a personable teaching assistant with 7+ years of experience in the classroom. I’ve been recognised for my ability to help pupils with special needs prepare for KS2 SATs, with all my pupils to date gaining ‘AS’ outcomes. I’m hoping to bring an exceptional standard of support to teachers at Green Lane Primary School.
Removing ‘I’ from a CV personal statement
Personable teaching assistant with 7+ years of experience in the classroom. Recognised for my ability to help pupils with special needs prepare for KS2 SATs, with all to date gaining ‘AS’ outcomes. Hoping to bring an exceptional standard of support to teachers at Green Lane Primary School.
Frequently asked questions about CV personal statements
Here are 3 common questions about putting a personal statement on a CV:
1. Do I need a personal statement on my CV?
Yes, you do need a personal statement on your CV.
Although a personal statement isn’t a must-have requirement, it gives your CV a competitive advantage by
- summarising your CV so recruiting managers can quickly see if they should read the rest;
- showing employers you’ve personalised your CV to fit their company requirements.
A CV personal statement also emphasises your most hirable qualities in a place employers can easily see.
2. What is the difference between a CV and a personal statement?
Here’s the difference between a CV and a personal statement:
- a CV is a job application document that summarises your work experience (including volunteer and internship work), education, and skills to help employers decide whether to interview you;
- a personal statement is part of your CV that sums up your skills, qualifications, and work experience so companies can decide if you’d make a good hire at a glance.
Here are resources to help you write a CV:
3. How do you write a personal statement for a CV when you’re a teenager?
Even if you’re a teenager with no work experience, you can write a CV personal statement that helps you get hired. Here’s how:
- describe the skills you’ve developed in school or through extracurricular activities that’ll help you succeed in your target job;
- highlight any relevant volunteer, internship, or part-time work experience you have;
- note any awards you’ve received to show that you’re able to exceed expectations;
- customise your statement to the job advert by including the company name, your desired job title, and an explanation of how you could help the company reach its goals.
Here’s an example of a well-written personal statement from a CV for a teenager:
Enthusiastic and friendly secondary school pupil currently completing my GCSEs. Excellent self-discipline from years of practice as a pianist. Skilled with numbers and received the ‘Cardinal’s Exceptional Maths Pupil’ award in June 2022. Seeking a responsible summer position as a part-time waiter at Brighton Cheery Restaurant.
