Write an Effective Personal Statement
What is a Personal Statement
Your potential employer may request you to write a personal statement to get supplementary data about you, i.e. information which you did not mention in your CV. In fact, they want to make a decision about your suitability for the job you are applying.
A personal statement is a prolog to a selection team. It decides whether to invite you for an interview or not. If they call you for an interview, interview questions are usually based on your personal statement.
Your personal statement helps them to clarify the following issues:
1. How you write
2. What kind of person you are
3. What you want to do
4. How much you understand about the job
5. What you can do
6. Why you want to do it
7. How you think
There are two types of personal statement, the general and the specific.
The general personal statement usually gives you freedom in writing. There are no strict indications how you should write it. However, it is better to keep to the rules of the conventional format: engaging introduction, supporting paragraphs and logical conclusions.
The specific personal statement requires you to answer specific questions given to you by your potential employer.
How to Write a Good Personal Statement
The purpose of a personal statement is to show your potential employer what makes you unique and different from other applicants. You need to provide facts that confirm your skills, passion, drive, and desire for the job you are applying for. If you want to write it well, go through the stages below:
Preparation Stage
1. Place on your desk copies of documents such as your diploma, academic transcripts, certificates, CV and a cover letter.
2. Make a list of jobs and names of your former employers, addresses of institutions you have worked for, dates of work experiences, achievements, participation in conferences, workshops, seminars, duties, responsibilities, etc.
3. Refer to the above materials while writing your personal statement.
Writing Stage
1. Write an attractive introduction.
2. Make the first paragraph authentic and impressive.
3. Supporting statements should underline your strengths.
4. Answer the questions that they asked
5. Use the first person singular.
6. Do not repeat facts from your CV.
7. Write concisely in about three hundred words.
8. Pay attention to content, logic, structure, and style.
9. The conclusion should sum up your suitability for the position.
10. Use www.grammarly.com writing software to avoid grammar mistakes.
You should edit and proofread your personal statement a few times. Use the language that professionals usually use in your field. Do not use worn-out statements, for example, an applicant writes that he likes his profession because it is very important for the future of the people in this country. Yes, it is true. But instead of such general truth, think of something original and specific to your personality and your professional knowledge or skills. Do not repeat general truths, i.e. something that is well-known to everyone and has been accepted by the society many years ago.
Look at some beautiful examples of successful personal statements.
EXAMPLES OF PERSONAL STATEMENTS
PERSONAL STATEMENTS BY SUBJECT