Writing a Personal Statement for a CV (Examples)

You have the experience, the skills, and the proper references. So why do your CVs keep going out with nothing in return? The real issue might be your CV’s personal statement. If your CV were the front page of a newspaper, the personal statement would be the headline—it needs to grab attention, spark interest, and make the reader want to know more, not turn the page.

I’ve reviewed thousands of personal statement examples—some that opened doors, and many that didn’t. The difference often comes down to just a few well-chosen words. Below, I’ll walk you through a clear and compelling template to help your personal statement stand out and get results.

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What is a CV personal statement?

A CV personal statement—also known as a personal profile or CV summary—is a short introduction at the top of your CV, describing your relevant skills, experience, and what you can bring to a company. It’s typically between 50 and 150 words, or about 3 to 6 lines of text. It’s your opportunity to impress the employer and prove you’re an excellent fit for the position.

A personal statement in a CV usually features:

• Introduction, mentioning your job title or field of study
• Key skills and experiences relevant to the job
• Significant career or educational achievements
• Career goals that align with the company or employer

How to write a personal statement for a job

A strong personal statement isn’t just about listing achievements—it’s about positioning yourself for the role you’re aiming for. The best CV personal statements are focused, specific, and purposeful. They show not just what you’ve done, but why it matters and how it makes you the right fit for the job.

1. Introduce yourself. Answer, “Who are you?”

• Always start with a powerful adjective. Find a list lower down.
• If you have years of experience, always describe them as ‘over [X] years of experience’, or ‘[X]+ years of experience’.
• Always connect your experience to your ability to fulfil a key employee requirement with a power verb.

2. Show what you know and what you can do

• If you worked in a relevant role, refer to it.
• Connect with a power verb, and go into your most notable achievement, or the thing that will impress your new employer the most.
• Explain how that benefited your past employer.
• Use numbers to quantify your achievements and give a better idea of just how impressive you are.

3. Describe what you can do for them

• Be confident, starting with a phrase like ‘I am ready to’. 
• Scan the job ad for key traits and priorities, or check the company website for their values and significant projects.
• Connect it with your biggest achievement to show you can really walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

What to include in a CV personal statement for fresh graduates?

Maybe you’ve just finished school or university (and writing a student CV), and this is your first time applying for a full-time job. Transferable skills add a whole new dimension to a fresh graduate. Most people simply rehash generic lines about their degree; your goal is to do more than that.

Here’s a simple template to help you craft a compelling personal statement for your first CV:

[Power Adjective] [University Name] [Degree Name] title, specialising in [Your Main Area of Study / Interest / Skill You Developed in Private]. My educational background, combined with [Transferable Skill / Skill You Developed in Private],will allow me to [Argument to Hire You]. This will also enable me to slot into your team seamlessly and help you [Promise / Offer To Your New Employer].

And here’s how a personal statement might look on a CV for a recent graduate:

Remember, this is just a blueprint—not a script. As long as you are answering the employer’s most important questions and using powerful, confident language, you are in the lead.

What to write a personal statement on a CV with no experience?

Are you changing careers, or simply don’t have much relevant experience or qualifications? That’s okay. Think about what is essential for the employer. Scour the job ad for requirements, and plug those into your CV personal statement. Here’s how:

[Power Adjective] aspiring [Your Job Title] devoted to [Employer Requirement]. [Power Adjective like Competent, etc.] in [Transferable Skill], having [Power Verb like Made, Set Up, Compiled, Constructed, Developed, etc.] [Your Achievement / Argument to Hire You]. I am ready to [Promise / Offer To Your New Employer].

And here’s how that could work:

Again, as long as you’re answering those employer questions, you’re in the clear. 

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

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What to include in a personal statement on a CV for an experienced employee?

You’ve built up a few solid years of experience in your field and have some impressive achievements to show for it. So, how do you write a personal statement that truly reflects your potential? The key is to highlight those achievements in a way that grabs attention and shows employers exactly what you can bring to the table. A well-written CV personal statement can open the door—then it’s up to you to blow it off the hinges in the interview.

[Power Adjective] [Your Job Title] with over [X] years of experience [Power Verb][Your Main Responsibility that you excel in]. At [Previous Employer], [Power Verb][Your Most Impressive Achievement], which resulted in [The Benefit To Your Past Employer]. I am ready to [Promise / Offer To Your New Employer].

See the example:

It doesn’t matter whether you’re serving food, designing bridges, or flying helicopters. This formula works because it addresses what every employer wants to know.

How to start your CV personal statement?

Here is the promised cheat sheet of powerful words that radiate skill, competence and confidence. You should use them all through your CV and application letter, not just in your personal statement on a CV.

Best power adjective examples

Read them and decide which one is best for your industry, job type, experience and personality. Anything’s better than ‘reliable’!

• Accomplished
• Adaptable
• Astute
• Attentive
• Conscientious
• Cost-Saving
• Determined
• Disciplined
• Energetic
• Expert
• Flexible
• Industrious
• Insightful
• Methodical
• Meticulous
• Passionate
• Perceptive
• Persistent
• Personable
• Resilient
• Resourceful
• Studious
• Systematic
• Vigorous

Best power verb examples to link your CV personal statement

So, how do we say ‘worked on’ or ‘did’ in an actually impressive manner? Using action words. See the examples below:

• Accelerated
• Achieved
• Acquired
• Advanced
• Advocated
• Amplified
• Assembled
• Attained
• Built
• Chaired
• Consolidated
• Controlled
• Converted
• Coordinated
• Cultivated
• Delivered
• Designed
• Developed
• Devised
• Diagnosed
• Discovered
• Enabled
• Engineering
• Enhanced
• Established
• Executed
• Forged
• Formalized
• Fostered
• Generated
• Headed
• Implemented
• Initiated
• Inspired
• Introduced
• Launched
• Maximised
• Negotiated
• Operated
• Overhauled
• Pioneered
• Planned
• Produced
• Reduced / Decreased / Saved (costs, etc.)
• Resolved
• Secured
• Spearheaded
• Stimulated
• Streamlined
• Surpassed

Words to avoid in a personal statement on a CV

Now, here’s a list of words you should steer clear of:

• Amazing
• Creative
• Detail-oriented
• Excellent
• Go getter
• Go-to person
• Great
• Hard-working
• In charge of
• Ninja
• Outside the box
• Responsible for
• Results-driven
• Team player

Every recruiter has seen these phrases thousands of times. They signal a lack of originality, imagination, and often, a lack of confidence.

Tips for writing a personal statement for a CV

Do:

• Use impactful words such as action verbs and power adjectives.
• Mention specific achievements: “Trained 20+ employees on new accounting software” instead of “trained colleagues”.
• Tailor every CV personal statement to the employer. 
• Proofread for any spelling or grammatical mistakes.

Don’t:

• Use empty statements like ‘reliable and organised’ or ‘detail-oriented’.
• Describe boring job duties instead of impressive CV achievements.
• Come off as needy, desperate, cocky or boastful.
• Overuse ‘I’, ‘me’, and ‘my’.

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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Before sending out your CV, take a moment to review your CV's personal statement with a critical eye. Is it clear, tailored, confident, and concise? Does it show results rather than just responsibilities?

Fixing the basics can be the difference between getting rejected and getting invited in. Make every word count, and give your CV the best possible shot at landing that dream interview.

Writing a CV and needing help? Check these guides:

• Expert Tips to Create an Effective CV
• Hobbies & Interests to Include in a CV
• How to Use ChatGPT to Prepare a Good CV
• How to Write a CV for Any Job in the UK
• Speculative CV: Definition & Guidelines
• The Best CV Length in 2024: 1 or 2 Pages?
• Visual CV: Definition & Recommendations
• What is the Best AI CV Maker in the UK?

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with LiveCareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

Sources

• Bills E., (2024) Writing for clarity: Word choice & concision
• Columbia Gorge Community College, Resume adjectives and adverbs