Is Including a Personal Statement a Compulsory for My Resume?

While personal statements often differ from one application to another, they can usually be organised similarly. They begin with an opening paragraph that sets the tone for what follows.

Personal statements must be free of cliches that can cause recruiters to roll their eyes and move on to the next applicant. They should also avoid sounding generic or unoriginal.

Search for Examples

You can find plenty of resume examples online, and these are a good place to start when trying to decide what you want to include. Look for ones that are clear and concise and use a tone that reflects your personality without being overbearing or inappropriate.

Your statement is an opportunity to show the recruiter or admissions committee something about the person behind the transcript, test scores, recommendations, and activities list. It’s also a chance to highlight your passion for the field or degree program to which you are applying.

Research the Industry

A personal statement is often included with a CV when applying for a role that isn’t advertised and you want to get in touch with the company directly (note that many recruitment agencies encourage applicants to write a cover letter instead). It may also be used on university applications to give a more detailed picture of an applicant, especially if they are applying to highly selective universities and fellowships.

For most applications, the key to a successful personal statement is ensuring that it is relevant to the specific role for which you are applying. Many statements tend to be far too general and only show a cursory glance at the skills and experience required for the job, so it is important to try to distinguish yourself from other candidates by making your statement as specific to the role as possible.

Check the Format

The format of your statement can impact how it’s received. Including headers or footers can cause the ATS to drop information, and it’s also important to stick with common fonts that will be recognized by the system. Avoid using underlines unless they’re intended for links, or the text needs to stand out in some way. If possible, read your statement out loud to make sure it flows well and that there are no grammatical or spelling errors.

If your story lacks inherent drama, don’t try to force it by including details that don’t add anything to the overall picture.

Check the Design

Once you’ve written your statement, it’s always a good idea to ask friends or family members to read it through. They’ll be able to highlight errors or awkward wording that may make your statement hard to read. They can also help with the flow of your writing, ensuring that everything makes sense and flows.

Do not include any cliches in your statement as this will be off-putting to the recruiter and could leave them with a bad impression of you. Instead, try to draw on skills and experiences that align with the role you are applying for as this will be a far more effective way of getting them interested in your application.