A personal statement is a short, text-based essay that is written to accompany your CV when applying for employment, higher education or promotion. It usually consists of three paragraphs:
The purpose of the personal statement is to provide the employer with an easily digestible overview of your skills and abilities, and your suitability for a position. It is supposed to serve as a complement to the CV; it should be more succinct and offer greater information about any key skills you possess.
A personal statement is also important for those applying for higher education courses (in the UK). Also, it provides universities with an insight into your interests and motivation and will be used as part of their assessment process.
How to write a personal statement?
Firstly, you should check for any special instructions as each job application form will be different. But as a general rule, the following elements should be included:
1) The introductory paragraph which sets out the nature of the position and why you feel qualified to apply for it;
2) An overview paragraph describing your background and skills; and
3) A concluding paragraph about what you can offer in return for them hiring you.”
Personal statements can take many forms: the standard version is the short formal essay: other formats include: narrative, question & answer, or even video. In addition, there may also be specific requirements for the content of your personal statement too – you might need to write it in a certain form (e.g. autobiographical essay, thesis statement). If you already have written professionally for your chosen subject area, you can also use this material to help you create your personal statement.
A common format of the personal statement is an essay.
There are several types of personal statements:
The most common type of personal statements is the autobiographical essay. In this statement, the author discusses his or her background and purpose in submitting a CV. The autobiographical section serves a twofold purpose. It suggests a reader’s interest in the writer, and gives example of writing skills which may be useful for employers to consider when choosing potential employees.
Another commonly used format for personal statements is the narrative. You can use it to give an account of your past experiences in education, relationships, or other important events. Moreover, it may be about an experience in the workplace or in a school environment.
A personal statement can be divided into three parts: First Statement (Personal Profile), Second Statement (Background History), and Coda.
Personal Profile
The student begins with a personal profile in which he or she discusses their educational background, professional accomplishments and any memorable moments that pertain to their credentials for admission to college or university. They then present their career history that they hope will interest employers and show why they are desirable candidates for the position they are seeking.
The student then tells the admission board about the type of position they are applying for and why they want that particular job or degree. The final statement explains the importance of the application to their life by explaining how it will benefit them.
A common problem students face when writing a personal statement is whether or not to include information about extracurricular activities, family information, leadership skills, job experience or any other knowledge they have. This becomes especially important if an applicant has come from an environment where he takes pride in having little to no participation in extracurricular activities (i.e., South Korea).
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Second Statement
The student’s second statement discusses the background information that relates to the job they want. And, the student should describe what they like to do and what they like to do well. By including these details, employers can better understand their fit for the position.
Coda
The coda is the last section of the personal statement and it explains why this particular achievement is important to them and how it will benefit them in the future. The coda should end with a strong conclusion that makes their interest in an organization or school known and shows their interest in continuing to participate with the company or school after completing their training programs.
You can see Examples of Personal Statement Here
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