Your CV personal statement is the first thing recruiters read. A strong personal statement can increase your interview chances by 30%. This guide provides 15 real examples and expert tips for writing one that stands out.
What is a CV Personal Statement?
A CV personal statement (also called a professional summary or profile) is a 3-5 sentence paragraph at the top of your CV that summarizes your key skills, experience, and career goals. It's your elevator pitch to recruiters.
A Good Personal Statement Should:
- Be 50-150 words (3-5 sentences)
- Highlight your most relevant skills and experience
- Include quantifiable achievements where possible
- Be tailored to the specific job you're applying for
- Use keywords from the job description
Personal Statement Formula
Follow this proven structure:
📝 The 3-Sentence Formula:
Sentence 1: Who you are + years of experience + key skill/qualification
Sentence 2: Your main achievements with numbers/results
Sentence 3: What you're looking for + how you'll add value
15 CV Personal Statement Examples
1. Marketing Manager
"Results-driven Marketing Manager with 7+ years of experience leading digital campaigns for B2B SaaS companies. Proven track record of increasing lead generation by 250% and reducing customer acquisition costs by 40% through data-driven strategies. Seeking to leverage my expertise in marketing automation and team leadership to drive growth for an innovative tech company."
✅ Why This Works:
- • Specific job title and years of experience
- • Quantifiable achievements (250%, 40%)
- • Industry-specific keywords (B2B SaaS, marketing automation)
- • Clear value proposition
2. Software Developer
"Full-stack Software Developer with 5 years of experience building scalable web applications using React, Node.js, and AWS. Successfully delivered 15+ projects on time and under budget, including a customer portal that improved user satisfaction scores by 35%. Passionate about clean code and seeking a challenging role where I can contribute to innovative products."
3. Recent Graduate (No Experience)
"Recent Business Management graduate from University of Manchester with First Class Honours. Completed a 6-month internship at Deloitte where I supported the consulting team in delivering a £500K project for a FTSE 100 client. Strong analytical and communication skills, with proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Tableau. Eager to begin my career in management consulting."
💡 Graduate Tip:
Emphasize education, internships, and transferable skills when you lack full-time work experience.
4. Project Manager
"PMP-certified Project Manager with 8 years of experience delivering complex IT infrastructure projects worth up to £5M. Expert in Agile and Waterfall methodologies, with a 98% on-time delivery rate. Led cross-functional teams of up to 25 people and consistently achieved project goals within budget. Seeking a senior PM role in a fast-paced technology environment."
5. Sales Executive
"High-performing Sales Executive with 6 years of experience in B2B software sales. Consistently exceeded quarterly targets by 30%+ and closed deals worth over £2M annually. Skilled in consultative selling, CRM management (Salesforce), and building long-term client relationships. Looking to bring my proven sales expertise to a growing SaaS company."
6. Registered Nurse (NHS)
"Compassionate Registered Nurse with 4 years of experience in acute medical wards. NMC registered with post-registration qualifications in acute care. Experienced in patient assessment, medication administration, and care planning. Received 'Nurse of the Year' award in 2024 for outstanding patient care. Seeking a Band 6 position to further develop my clinical leadership skills."
7. Teacher (Primary)
"Qualified Primary School Teacher with QTS and 5 years of experience teaching Key Stage 2. Proven ability to raise student attainment, with my Year 6 class achieving 92% pass rate in SATs (15% above national average). Skilled in differentiation, behaviour management, and creating engaging lesson plans. Passionate about fostering a love of learning in young children."
8. Accountant
"ACCA-qualified Accountant with 6 years of experience in financial reporting and audit for mid-sized manufacturing companies. Expert in UK GAAP and IFRS, with strong proficiency in Sage, Xero, and Excel. Successfully led year-end audits resulting in zero material misstatements for 3 consecutive years. Seeking a Senior Accountant role with opportunities for progression to Financial Controller."
9. Career Changer (Teaching to HR)
"Former Secondary School Teacher transitioning to HR with CIPD Level 5 qualification and 8 years of people management experience. Skilled in training delivery, performance management, and conflict resolution. Successfully mentored 15+ trainee teachers and improved staff retention by 20% through wellbeing initiatives. Eager to apply my people development expertise in a corporate HR environment."
🔄 Career Change Tip:
Highlight transferable skills and any relevant training/certifications for your new field.
10. Data Analyst
"Data Analyst with 4 years of experience turning complex datasets into actionable business insights. Proficient in SQL, Python, Tableau, and Power BI. Built automated reporting dashboards that saved 20 hours per week and identified £300K in cost savings through data-driven recommendations. Seeking a senior analyst role in a data-driven organization."
11. Customer Service Manager
"Customer Service Manager with 7 years of experience leading teams of up to 30 agents in fast-paced call center environments. Improved customer satisfaction scores from 72% to 91% and reduced average handling time by 25% through process optimization and team training. Experienced in Zendesk, Salesforce Service Cloud, and workforce management."
12. Graphic Designer
"Creative Graphic Designer with 5 years of experience crafting compelling visual identities for B2C brands. Expert in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and brand strategy. Portfolio includes award-winning campaigns that increased brand engagement by 150%. Passionate about creating designs that tell stories and drive business results."
13. Operations Manager
"Operations Manager with 9 years of experience optimizing supply chain and logistics for e-commerce companies. Reduced operational costs by 30% and improved delivery times by 40% through process re-engineering and vendor negotiations. Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certified. Seeking a senior operations role in a high-growth environment."
14. HR Business Partner
"Strategic HR Business Partner with 8 years of experience supporting C-suite executives in tech startups. CIPD Level 7 qualified with expertise in talent acquisition, employee relations, and organizational development. Successfully scaled HR operations through 3 funding rounds, growing headcount from 50 to 300 employees while maintaining 85%+ retention rate."
15. Civil Engineer
"Chartered Civil Engineer (CEng MICE) with 10 years of experience delivering major infrastructure projects worth up to £50M. Specialist in structural design and project delivery using BIM and AutoCAD. Led the design team for a award-winning bridge project completed 10% under budget. Seeking a Principal Engineer role with a leading consultancy."
How to Write Your Personal Statement
Start with Your Job Title & Experience
Begin with your current or most recent job title and years of experience.
Example: "Marketing Manager with 7+ years of experience..."
Add Your Key Skills & Specialization
Mention 2-3 core skills or areas of expertise relevant to the target role.
Example: "...specializing in digital marketing and data analytics..."
Include Quantifiable Achievements
Add 1-2 specific achievements with numbers to prove your impact.
Example: "...increased lead generation by 250% and reduced costs by 40%..."
State What You're Looking For
End with what type of role you're seeking and how you'll add value.
Example: "...seeking to leverage my expertise to drive growth for an innovative tech company."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Being Too Generic
Bad: "Hard-working professional seeking a challenging role."
Good: "Marketing Manager with 7 years of B2B experience, proven track record of 250% lead growth."
❌ Using First Person
Bad: "I am a marketing manager with 7 years of experience..."
Good: "Marketing Manager with 7 years of experience..."
❌ Being Too Long
Bad: A 200-word paragraph that recruiters won't read.
Good: 3-5 concise sentences (50-150 words) that get to the point.
❌ No Numbers or Achievements
Bad: "Experienced in sales with good results."
Good: "Consistently exceeded targets by 30%+ and closed £2M in annual sales."
Personal Statement vs Professional Summary
| Aspect | Personal Statement | Professional Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Graduates, career changers | Experienced professionals |
| Focus | Skills, goals, potential | Achievements, results, expertise |
| Tone | Aspirational | Results-driven |
| Length | 3-5 sentences | 3-5 sentences |
Generate Perfect Personal Statements with AI
Writing a compelling personal statement for each application is time-consuming. My CV Buddy uses AI to generate tailored personal statements that highlight your most relevant experience.
AI-Powered Personal Statement Generator
Upload your CV and paste the job description. Our AI analyzes both and creates a personalized statement that matches the role's requirements. Edit, refine, and use it in seconds.
Key Takeaways
- Keep it 3-5 sentences (50-150 words)
- Start with job title + years of experience
- Include quantifiable achievements with numbers
- Tailor it to each job application
- Use keywords from the job description
- Avoid first person ("I am...") - write in third person