How to introduce yourself to employers
When you are writing your CV at the very top of the page, after your name, you should write a personal statement, this is to enable you to introduce yourself to potential employers. Your personal statement will be first thing an employer will read when flicking through what can often be a huge pile of CVs. In order to get an interview you need a personal statement that grasps their attention for all the right reasons. But how do you write one? Here’s our guide:
Keep it short, neat and positive
Probably the biggest challenge you’ll face when writing a personal statement for your CV is keeping it between 50 and 150 words, or around four or five lines of text. It should be clear and concise, formatted consistently and written in the same font and size as the rest of your CV. Personal statements can be written in the first “I am a Secretary” or third person “Secretary looking for” but whatever voice you choose to use, keep it consistent throughout your CV.
Be honest
Employers read so much waffle that by being honest and understated will help you stand out. This is not The Apprentice so buzzwords, jargon, empty promises and meaningless comments should be avoided at all costs.
Back up your claims
Clichés like “hard worker” or “experienced” are just empty words that employers see hundreds of times a day. Instead establish your credentials with relevant vocational qualifications and qualify the experience you have. For example “I am CIPD qualified with eight years’ experience working in the commercial sector”.
Introduce facts from your career
Including specific data or statistics in your personal statement will make it stand out from the others employers read every day. Metrics of success are far more memorable than simply listing your achievements. For example “I introduced a new stationery supplier to my employer and reduced costs by 15 percent”
Prove your commitment
Every employer looks for commitment in a potential employer so it’s important that you stress how you are looking for a long term position in which to settle and formulate a long term career. To prove this there are some things you can stress, maybe your commitment to a course, a degree or an employer in the past.
Demonstrating teamwork is a must
Teamwork is crucial to the success of any employer so this is something you should demonstrate in your personal statement. Just by saying “working with colleagues to…” is enough but employers do want to see that you will fit in and that you are not a loner.
Communication is key
Everyone in an office is required to communicate, this could be in person with colleagues or clients, it could be on the telephone or it may be by email but the ability to communicate is a must. Your opportunity to prove you have these skills is by writing your CV and personal statement carefully. Check your spelling, check your grammar make sure everything is perfect.
Show your personality
Insert a personal touch if possible, but be careful with humour and chatty approaches. To say that you get on with others, that others find you approachable, or that you like working in a happy and successful environment is showing some of yourself.
Don’t come across as pretentious
Use ordinary words, be clear and concise, use positive words such as achieved, developed, learned, discovered, enthusiasm, commitment and energy. Avoid using contrived or grandiose language. Instead use short, simple sentences in plain English. No-one wants to employ a smart Alec.
Don’t try to be clever
Do not use gimmicks or quotations unless they are very relevant and you deal with them in a way that shows your qualities. Again this could make you look like a smart Alec or a show off. You need to get an interview and employers want to recruit the best person for the job. That person may not be the cleverest person around but they will be someone who the employer believes will fit with them and the team they will be working with.
Don’t not under any circumstances cheat
Do not be tempted to buy or copy a personal statement. Plagiarism is not good. This is about you and only you so you need to keep it that way. You only have a few lines to impress the employer and bag yourself an interview so the more compelling you make your personal statement and the more you sell yourself the more likely it is you will get the next stage.
By writing a winning personal statement that you are happy with that summarises your skills and experience effectively in just a few lines will take time to perfect. However using these tips as a guide and editing your personal statement for every role is an important part of getting the job you want.
Good Luck
Angela Burton