Practical Tips for Writing a Perfect Personal Statement [+5 word-for-word examples]
- Ana
- Mar 17, 2020
- 11 min read
Updated: Sep 24
A personal statement (also called a personal profile, professional summary, or career overview) is a short paragraph at the top of your resume that highlights your most relevant skills and experience, usually in three to four sentences.
Why does this matter?
Because employers make decisions in seconds. (7 seconds, to be precise.) So, your personal statement is what determines whether they keep reading or move on to the next resume.
Think about it this way:
If your resume is a movie, then the personal statement is the trailer.
If the trailer is sharp, intriguing, and tailored, the audience (employers) will want to see more.
If it’s vague, boring, or something they’ve already seen a hundred times, they’ll skip it without hesitation.
That’s why this opening paragraph needs to be the crown of your CV. It should be:
Informative and specific
Aligned with the role you’re targeting
A strong reflection of your skills and experience
In other words, it needs to convince employers that you’re exactly the candidate they’re looking for.
Of course, no personal statement alone will guarantee an interview. But a well-written one increases the time a recruiter spends with your resume, which dramatically improves your chances of landing an interview invite.
If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry. Here, you’ll learn exactly how to write a personal statement for a resume in the next 5 minutes, plus see resume personal statement examples you can adapt to your own career.
What We'll Cover:
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How to Write a Resume Personal Statement: 5 Essential Tips from a Recruiter
While working in recruitment, I reviewed over 30,000 resumes and quickly learned how much weight the personal statement carries. It’s usually the first section I’d read, and in those 7 seconds of scanning, it often determined whether I kept going or moved on to the next candidate.
The problem? Most candidates don’t use that space well. They either paste in a generic line, lean on buzzwords, or turn it into half a page of fluff. And when that happens, the reality is that recruiters skip ahead to the next resume.
The encouraging part is this: writing a strong personal statement is much simpler than people think. It comes down to being intentional, concise, and relevant. Here are three resume personal statement tips I wish more job seekers knew, based on what actually made me stop and pay attention.
1. Write your personal statement at the end.
Here’s the truth: you can’t summarize what isn’t written yet. That’s why I always recommend saving your personal statement for last.
First, complete your full resume: your experience, education, and skills. Then scan it the way a recruiter would. What achievements jump off the page? What results show your impact? Pull those into your personal statement.
From my recruiting days, the resumes that stood out most were the ones that led with specific, measurable wins, not vague job duties.
2. Customize your career summary for each job.
Let me be blunt: a generic personal statement is a dealbreaker.
Recruiters can spot it in seconds. I used to see the same cookie-cutter lines over and over (“Motivated professional with a proven track record…”), and it told me the candidate wasn’t invested in this role.
Instead, tailor your statement to the job posting. Mirror the language the company uses. Highlight 2–3 skills or achievements that directly align with what they’re asking for.
Yes, it takes a bit more effort. But every time I saw a candidate who clearly wrote their summary for my role, I slowed down and read their resume more carefully. That’s the difference customization makes. Plus, this approach also makes your resume more ATS-friendly, which is a win-win.
Btw, curious about ATS? Head to this insider guide to learn how applicant tracking systems actually work.
3. Keep your personal statement concise.
Again, think of your personal statement as a trailer, not the full movie. 30–75 words is the sweet spot, about 3–5 lines.
Longer blocks of text will be skipped, no matter how good the content is.
When I reviewed resumes, the strongest ones used crisp sentences or even a short bullet list. They didn’t try to cram in their entire career. They gave me just enough to want to learn more.
Pro tip: If you’re targeting multiple career paths, create a couple of versions upfront. Then tweak each one against the specific job description before you hit send. It’s faster, and you’ll stay laser-focused on what each employer values.
4. Include numbers.
If there’s one thing that can instantly set your resume apart, it’s quantifying your achievements.
Most candidates write vague statements about their responsibilities and career goals. But the thing is, your personal statement isn’t about you. It’s about the value you bring to the employer. And the best way to prove that value is with numbers.
As a recruiter, I paid closer attention to resumes that backed up claims with measurable results. Why? Because past performance is the best predictor of future success. If you’ve delivered results before, I can trust you’ll do it again.
Here are a few examples of metrics you can include in your personal statement:
Revenue you generated or ROI delivered
Size of teams you managed
Customer satisfaction scores (like NPS)
Number of customers or clients you supported
Number of people you trained or coached
Time or money you saved the company
Not sure where to start? Ask yourself: “How do I know I’m doing my job well?” The answer will usually point you toward something measurable. You can also check this list of 40+ resume metrics for inspiration.
5. Mention the company or job you’re applying for.
Finally, here’s one of the simplest (but most overlooked) resume personal statement tips: mention the company or role directly in your opening lines.
Why does this matter? Because employers, like anyone else, want to feel special. They want to know you wrote this application for them, not for every job in the city.
When I was recruiting, the candidates who did this instantly stood out as more invested and more aligned.
For example: Instead of writing “Marketing professional with 7 years of experience,” try:“Marketing professional with 7 years of experience driving growth for SaaS companies, now excited to bring that expertise to [Company Name].”
That tiny change shows effort. And effort is magnetic. It signals that you’ve researched the role, understand the company, and see yourself in the position.
Trust me, in a competitive market, that personal touch can be the deciding factor between getting skipped and getting shortlisted.
My main point? A well-written personal statement won’t guarantee you the job. But it will buy you more time in a recruiter’s hands. And that extra time can be the difference between getting skipped and getting shortlisted.
Resume Personal Statement: Do’s and Don’ts
A personal statement can either set the tone for your entire resume or sink it before the hiring manager even gets to your experience.
In my years as a recruiter, I saw candidates lose opportunities not because they lacked skills, but because their opening lines felt generic, sloppy, or irrelevant to the role.
The key? Treat your personal statement like a first impression. You only get one shot, and it has to be sharp, professional, and tailored.
Below are the essential resume personal statement tips I recommend to every job seeker: the do’s that make you memorable and the don’ts that get you skipped.
Do This:
Answer the big three: Who are you? What are you an expert at? What value do you bring to this role? Structure your personal statement around these, and you’ll stay sharp and focused.
Highlight 2–3 key strengths only. Instead of listing every skill you have, pick the ones most relevant to the role. For a marketing role, that might be campaign strategy, content creation, and analytics. For HR, it could be employee engagement, compliance, and HRIS implementation. Build your personal statement around those so the employer instantly sees your fit.
Support your claims with keywords and evidence. Generic: “Excellent at leadership and collaboration.” Stronger: “Led a team of 12 through a company-wide systems migration, completing the project three weeks ahead of schedule with zero downtime.” Not only is the second version specific, it also uses keywords that the job description is likely to include.
Keep your writing crisp and meaningful. Instead of padding with filler, tighten your sentences. Weak: “I am a detail-oriented finance professional who has been working in accounting for many years.” Strong: “Finance professional with 10+ years’ experience in corporate accounting, reducing audit errors by 40% through process automation.” Same idea, more impact.
Proofread until it’s flawless. A single typo can derail an otherwise great resume. Imagine writing “Manged a team of 15”—a recruiter will notice that instantly. Tools like Grammarly help, but reading your statement out loud or asking a trusted friend to review it will catch mistakes you miss.
Don’t Do This:
Just list traits without proof. Writing “results-oriented sales manager” or “team player” doesn’t tell an employer anything new. Instead, show evidence: “Exceeded sales targets by 60% across three quarters and improved customer satisfaction from 4.9 to 8.4.” Recruiters believe achievements, not adjectives.
Start every sentence with “I.” This makes your personal statement read like a cover letter instead of a resume. Since the whole document is about you, pronouns are unnecessary. Removing them also frees up space to highlight stronger action-driven content.
Lie or embellish your experience. It might seem tempting to stretch the truth to tick every requirement box, but recruiters can usually spot inconsistencies. And if not, the hiring manager will catch them during interviews. Dishonesty instantly damages your credibility.
Try to be funny. Humor doesn’t translate well on resumes. What sounds witty to you may sound unprofessional (or worse, confusing) to an employer. Keep your personal statement straightforward and let your results do the talking.
Include irrelevant personal details. Hobbies, family information, or age don’t belong in your personal statement. Unless they directly strengthen your candidacy (for example, language skills in an international role), keep the focus strictly on professional value.
Here's a visual recap of what we've covered so far:
Made with Canva. Wanna try it yourself? Try Canva Resume.
What Should a Resume Personal Statement Look Like?
So, how does all of this come together on paper?
A strong resume personal statement isn’t flowery, vague, or overloaded with buzzwords. It’s concise, action-oriented, and achievement-driven. It tells the recruiter exactly who you are, what you specialize in, and the results you’ve delivered, all in 3-5 sharp lines.
When you apply the tips we’ve covered, you’ll create a section that feels like a highlight reel of your career: focused, tailored, and professional. This is the kind of opening that makes an employer lean in instead of skim past.
And if you’re still unsure how to structure it, here’s a plug-and-play template you can adapt to your own career:
Fill-in-the-Blank Personal Statement Template
<adjective 1> and <adjective 2> <current job title> with more than <number> years of experience in <industry 1> and <industry 2>. Extensive experience in <area of expertise 1>, <area of expertise 2>, and <area of expertise 3>. A strong <key strength 1> combined with the ability to <skill 1> and <skill 2>. <action> resulting in <outcome>. Currently looking to broaden experience/use existing skill-set in <specific industry/company/role>.
This framework gives you a clear structure: start with your title and experience, highlight areas of expertise, add a signature strength, show a measurable achievement, and finish by tying it back to the role you’re targeting.
Personal Statement Examples: 5 Interview-Worthy Samples That Show What Works
Sometimes it’s easier to learn by example than by rules, right? That’s why I’ve pulled together a few resume personal statement examples across different industries and career levels.
These samples show you how to structure your statement, highlight achievements, and tailor your introduction so it speaks directly to employers. Use them as inspiration, or plug your own details into the same style to create a statement that’s sharp, credible, and interview-worthy.
Personal Statement Example for Accountants
ACCA-certified and analytical Accountant with over 10 years of experience in the FMCG and banking industries. Skilled in cost-saving initiatives, budget management, and financial forecasting. Strong commercial awareness combined with expertise in analyzing data and producing high-quality management reports under tight deadlines. Identified a payment oversight that saved the company $400K+. Now seeking an opportunity to apply my skills in a regulatory environment.
Personal Statement Example for Recruiters
Customer-focused recruitment consultant with more than 5 years of experience in the IT industry. Extensive experience in leading end-to-end recruitment processes, managing HR projects, and consulting internal stakeholders. Strong communication skills combined with the ability to adapt to changing requirements and to re-prioritize with ease. Recruited 200+ candidates with 75%+ six-month retention rate. Looking to broaden experience as a Recruitment Manager at XYZ.
Personal Statement Example for Social Media Assistants
Creative and tech-savvy social media assistant with 2 years of experience in delivering social media campaigns (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter). Strong analytical skills combined with an ability to gather market insight and advise on social media trends. Optimized the company’s website SEO, resulting in a 154% increase in organic traffic in 6 months. Extensive experience in preparing campaigns, optimizing SEO, and writing social media content.
Personal Statement Example for Internal Auditors
CIA-certified Internal Auditor with 8+ years of experience gained in the retail and banking industry. Experienced in performing risk audits, optimizing existing business processes, and reporting to C-level executives. Strong analytical skills applied to detect deficiencies resulted in $1.2M and 400+ working hours saved per year. Currently seeking to apply my skills in the Process Optimization Manager position at XYZ.
Personal Statement Example for Administrators
An experienced HR Administrator with 7+ years of experience gained in Fortune 500 companies. Extensive experience in managing administrative tasks for HR departments, liaising with clients, and managing multiple stakeholders. Excellent organisation skills and advanced knowledge of all Microsoft Office programs. After part-time volunteering at a local charity to refresh my skills, I'm now seeking to continue my career on a full-time basis as the Office Administrator at XYZ.
Key Takeaways: How to Write a Perfect Personal Statement for Your Resume
Your personal statement will never get you the job on its own. But it will decide whether an employer keeps reading long enough to discover the rest of your story. That’s why this small resume section carries so much weight.
If you take anything from this guide, let it be this:
Don’t rush it. Write it last, after you’ve seen the bigger picture of your resume.
Don’t take shortcuts. Tailor it to the role, because generic statements are a recruiter’s biggest pet peeve.
Don’t waste words. Keep it lean, keep it sharp, and let your achievements do the heavy lifting.
Think of your personal statement as the “first handshake” of your resume. It sets the tone, builds trust, and gives the employer a reason to want to know more. Do it well, and you’ll stand out in the pile. Not because you wrote the longest or flashiest career summary, but because you wrote the one that feels relevant, credible, and confident.
And if you’re staring at a blank page right now? Don’t overthink it. Start with the template, plug in your keywords and numbers, then shape it until it sounds like you on your best day. That’s all recruiters are really looking for: a reason to believe you can do the job, and a reason to want to meet you.
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Ana Colak-Fustin
Ana is a former recruiter, HR consultant, and founder of ByRecruiters.com. Her career advice and business have been featured in Yahoo News, Jobscan, A Better HR Business, Starter Story, Best Colleges, and other global media. Since 2018, over 13,000 professionals worldwide have used her resume templates to land new jobs. She's on a mission to help 80,000 more.
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