How long should a CV personal statement be?

Three to four lines, or about 50 to 100 words.

Should a personal statement be in first person?

Many are written without pronouns, for example: Experienced nurse with... Either is fine if you stay consistent.

What should I avoid in a personal statement?

Clichés such as hard-working team player, vague claims, and anything not tailored to the job.

Is a personal statement the same as a CV summary or profile?

Yes, the terms are often used interchangeably.

CV Personal Statement: How to Write One + 10 Examples

A CV personal statement (also called a profile or summary) is three to four lines at the top of your CV that say who you are professionally, the value you bring, and the role you want next. Use a simple formula: your role and experience, two or three strengths or achievements relevant to the job, and your goal. Tailor it to every application and avoid empty clichés.

The formula

Formula

[Job title or identity] with [years or type of experience] in [area]. [Key strengths or achievement with evidence]. Looking to [goal tied to the role you are applying for].

10 examples

Graduate

Recent marketing graduate with hands-on experience running social media for a student society of 2,000 members. Comfortable with content planning, basic analytics and Canva. Looking for a junior marketing role where I can grow in digital campaigns.

Career changer

Former primary teacher moving into learning and development, with eight years' experience designing lessons for varied needs and recently certified in instructional design. Seeking a learning designer role in a corporate team.

Nurse

Registered nurse with six years in acute medical wards, including two as shift lead. Calm under pressure and committed to mentoring new staff. Seeking a senior staff nurse role in emergency care.

Software engineer

Backend engineer with five years building APIs in Python and Go for high-traffic e-commerce platforms. Led a migration that cut infrastructure costs by 30%. Looking to join a product team solving scaling challenges.

Sales

B2B account executive who exceeded quota for three consecutive years, selling SaaS to mid-sized manufacturers. Skilled in consultative selling and pipeline management. Seeking a senior AE role.

Admin

Organized office administrator with four years supporting a busy legal team, managing diaries for six partners and introducing a digital filing system. Looking for an executive assistant role.

Finance

ACCA-qualified accountant with seven years in management accounting for retail businesses, specialising in forecasting and cost control. Seeking a finance business partner role.

Hospitality

Restaurant supervisor with five years in high-volume venues, leading teams of 12 and consistently achieving top guest review scores. Looking to step up to assistant manager.

Creative

Brand designer with six years creating identities and campaigns for consumer brands, from concept to rollout. Looking to lead design projects in a growing in-house team.

Executive

Operations director with 15 years scaling logistics businesses, most recently growing a regional network from 3 to 11 sites while improving margin. Seeking a COO role in a growth-stage company.

Tips

Tailor to each job ad.
Use evidence: numbers, scope, results.
Cut clichés like "hard-working team player".
Keep it short: three to four lines.

Next, build your skills section or see the full guide on how to write a CV.

CV Personal Statement: How to Write One (With 10 Examples)

The formula

10 examples

Tips

Frequently asked questions

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