personal statement job suitability statement template

CVs & Résumés

• Dec 15, 2022
• 10 min read

How to Write an Attention-Grabbing Suitability Statement

Learn how you can write a suitability statement for a new job role and discover the best tips and examples to make yours stand out.

Adele Weeks

CV and Recruitment Specialist

Reviewed by Hayley Ramsey

Whether you are a recent graduate or an experienced executive, putting together a  good résumé  can be quite a challenge, let alone crafting an adequate suitability statement . 

Even if you have  perfected your résumé , which details your previous experience and the skills that you have acquired throughout your career, you still need to showcase potential employers how you have developed your expertise. This is where the suitability statement comes in. Not only will it enhance your profile and emphasize your skills , but it will highlight your professional capabilities. 

To help you write your very own statement and land your next  dream job , we’ve put together a brief guide, complete with tips and examples.

What is a suitability statement?

A suitability statement, or personal statement , is used to depict the reasons you believe yourself to be a suitable candidate for a job role. Much like a  cover letter , a suitability statement should outline your skills, experience and the reasons why an employer should hire you.

This is an essential part of the job application process since it will highlight the characteristics and qualities that make you stand out from the crowd .

When submitting a job application, you can attach your suitability statement as a separate item. Alternatively, it may be presented with your CV or résumé when applying for an employment opportunity. 

How long should a suitability statement be?

Much like your résumé, the suitability statement should be short, concise, and to the point to grab the attention of the reader. The general criterion is 75 to 150 words .

In an  eye-tracking study  conducted in 2012, The Ladders revealed that a recruiter spends an average of six seconds absorbing key résumé details. 

So, as a jobseeker, how can your suitability statement make an impact on a busy recruiter? The answer is pretty simple: kindle their interest by detailing what you can bring to the table — the  distinctive qualities , or  je ne sais quoi,  that other candidates lack. 

How to structure a suitability statement

There are several ways to structure your suitability statement. Like the  skills section  in your résumé, this can be presented in a bullet-point format, a simple paragraph, or with your experience listed in separate headings , followed by small paragraphs. Although recruiters have different preferences, we recommend using the paragraph format. This enables you to outline your key offerings and write about how your experience meets the requirements of the position that you are applying for. 

Since all candidates are different, it could be wise to present your statement in your way. However, by using a paragraph format, you can detail your previous experience and the tasks you have completed, your key achievements, the skills you have gained, and the impact you have made. 

You may also choose to list your main offerings in bullet point format , which can be effective since they are often concise, straight to the point, and easily digestible. 

Whichever option you go for, it is important to detail how and when you gained your experience, when you learned and applied your primary skills, and the outcome.

How to write a suitability statement

The suitability statement writing process can be a challenge due to the limited word count. You may be wondering what things you should include and what things you should leave out. In order to identify what’s important and what isn’t, you must first understand who you’re addressing and what the job actually entails .

Before you write a suitability statement, remember to start with some reading. Once you’ve done that, follow it up with a bit of storytelling. Read our how-to below!

Step 1: Research the company

Before writing your suitability statement , you must  research your prospective employer  to obtain information on the  company’s culture  and values. That way, you can get a better understanding of how you can fit into the organization. 

You probably already know that you should  tailor your résumé  for each role; suitability statements are no different. So, since you need to modify the statement towards the position you are applying for , it is crucial to read through the job description thoroughly and identify the key requirements. That way, you can give an example of how you have executed the tasks and yielded positive outcomes. 

Step 2: Highlight relevant skills and experience 

Once you have conducted adequate research into your prospective employer, use this information to highlight your relevant professional skills and experience and align them with the company’s goals. Remember, to grab the reader’s interest from the get-go, your opening statement must be gripping. 

It’s essential to highlight relevant skills and experience in a way that indicates how they relate to the job description and candidate profile specifications. As you want to make an immediate impression, consider  highlighting prior accomplishments and responsibilities. 

Consider the following point: “I managed software development and upgrades.” Now take a look at this point, “As a lead software developer, I oversaw the development and upgrade of 12 software programmes, which automated processes and inspired a cost-saving of £30k”. Which is more compelling? Exactly! 

By highlighting your skills and experience in this way, you are demonstrating to your prospective employer that you not only match the job requirements, but you are capable of adding value to the company. 

Step 3: Get personal

This is your chance to state your suitability for a role . Do not be humble here. You need to  sell yourself  and a generic statement won’t make the cut. Yes, you may be a team player, and you might be great at taking initiative, but these are  cliché phrases that carry little meaning for employers. Such expressions will not make you stand out from the crowd. 

Employers want candidates to take a proactive approach in their statements . Therefore, it’s important to consider your achievements and how you have made a difference in previous roles. If the last restaurant you managed received a five-star rating from food critics or a 100% review score on TripAdvisor, that is great, but what was your role in those achievements? Be sure to include this. You need to demonstrate that you are the best candidate for the job.

Tips for writing a suitability statement

While some people are better at written communication than others, hiring managers hardly expect candidates to be masterful wordsmiths . Besides, even those who have a way with words are often repelled by the idea of selling themselves.

No matter which of those categories you fall into, we’ve compiled a list of handy tips to help you get started with confidence when writing your statement .

1. Use proper sentences

Though you’re supposed to condense your past experiences, skills, and passion for what you do into a few sentences, you still have to make sure they are grammatically correct . This means including a subject, a verb, and an object. Let’s look at the following example:

“I am a hard-working TV production floor manager. I have experience supervising and dealing with last-minute technical problems. Also working closely with the director.”

Everyone knows that “supervising” refers to crew members and not “problems”, but the way it’s written creates ambiguity. Each verb (“supervising” and “dealing”) needs to have its own subject (in this case, “crew” and “problems”). The final sentence has a verb and a subject, but no object at all.

To be concise, you must cut out fluffy words , not vital sentence structure components!

2. Divide it into sections

Before you start writing, note down the following suitability statement elements and tick them off one by one. This will help you ensure that you’re not wasting precious characters repeating yourself, and that you don’t omit any important information.

Your statement should mention the following:

• Your area of expertise
• Your number of years of experience
• Your professional achievements
• Any relevant skills, qualities, and qualifications
• Your immediate career aspirations

3. Convey confidence and enthusiasm

We all experience self-doubt from time to time. When writing your personal statement, however, try to maintain a positive, can-do attitude . Once you give yourself a pep talk (science says it works in combatting stress !), it’ll be easier to bring your best personal qualities to mind.

Words like “adaptable” and “proactive” can show hiring managers that you take your job seriously. Backing this up with examples of how your efforts have been fruitful in the past will also make you sound trustworthy.

If you’re feeling unsure due to a lack of relevant experience, focus on how your skills can be transferred between jobs. For example, the ability to communicate clearly and manage your time can be useful in any setting, whether applying for a civil service job or to become a veterinary assistant.

4. Avoid ending it abruptly

You want to wrap up your suitability statement on a striking note . To do this, dedicate your last sentence to summarizing your key skills or mentioning some of your near-future goals . If you’re planning on doing the latter, make sure you tie it in with the job description. For example, you could state how eager you are to take on a new challenge that will allow you to enhance your technical skills.

Your conclusion should affirm your confidence , commitment, and ambition as a professional, and show your prospective employer just how much of a benefit you could be to them.

5. Check for errors

Misspelling the word “professional” (which is a very common mistake , by the way!) is ironic to say the least. Not only that, it can seriously harm your chances of being considered for the position.

A study  involving over 500 professional recruiters has shown that spelling errors in your résumé can have just as negative an impact as the lack of work experience . So, to keep your application from ending up in the discard pile, you need to really polish it .

Once you’ve closely examined your statement, we recommend handing it over to a friend, too. A second pair of eyes can really help in catching those evasive little errors.

Suitability statement example

Once you’ve done your company research, reread the job listing, and outlined the points you’d like to make, it’s time to start writing ! Keeping the following example in front of you can simplify the process of structuring your own suitability statement:

“I am an intuitive and analytical Risk Management professional acclaimed for identifying operational risks and managing and mitigating financial crime risks and controls across international borders. Experienced in risk assessments and reviews, I have managed financial crime across 23 European countries and inspired cost savings of over £7 million. 

With a strong focus on the implementation and deployment of action plans, I have mitigated numerous risk issues. I am a strong communicator and leader, skilled in building and leveraging networks with key stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams. Additionally, I have adept knowledge of anti-money laundering and due diligence procedures in addition to a substantial commitment to complying with appropriate legislation and codes of practice.”

Final thoughts

Putting together a suitability statement is not an easy task. Whether you are writing it from scratch or starting with a generic template, it is vital to amend your statement for it to reflect the requirements of the position which you are applying for. 

Don’t forget to proofread the final draft of your statement! You don’t want to spend time writing the perfect blurb only to be rejected because of a small spelling mistake. The same applies to format issues. Be consistent ! It won’t appear very professional if the font changes halfway through.

Have you ever had to submit a suitability statement? Maybe you have a specific way of writing one? Let us know in the comments below.

Originally published 24 March 2020. Updated by Electra Michaelidou.

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Your personal statement

The purpose of a personal statement is to showcase your relevant skills and experience against the job requirements.  The statement is your opportunity to give examples of how you fit the requirements of the job.  When writing a personal statement it is important that you:

• Read the job specification so you are clear about the job requirements.
• Outline the skills and experience that you have that are relevant to the job and use examples to help demonstrate this.   Wherever possible include specific facts and figures that demonstrate the tangible results of your work.
• Keep to the word limit. If your statement is too brief it will not provide the required depth of detail and evidence to be assessed fully. 
• Proofread your statement before submitting it to make sure it is clear, easy to read and relevant.

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For some jobs, you will be asked to provide a CV (curriculum vitae) as part of your application. Here you can find information on how to write the best CV.

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Writing an Administrative Assistant’s Personal Statement

Table of Contents

Administrative assistants play an important role in any organization. They are responsible for scheduling appointments, answering phones, managing emails, and providing administrative support.

The job of an administrative assistant requires good organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to multitask. Asides from your resume, a personal statement is a vital document employers typically require to determine your suitability for a job role. The  administrative assistant personal statement examples  in this guide will help you get started on the right note.

A personal statement is your chance to sell yourself to the employer and demonstrate your abilities, qualifications, and skill set. You’ll surely leave a lasting impression on the recruiting manager with a solid personal statement that details what you can offer to the company.

This article will take you through writing the perfect administrative assistant personal statement . 

What Is A Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a document you submit as part of your job application. It is a summary of your skills, qualifications, and capabilities . It details what you can offer an employer regarding your applying job. 

A good personal statement must convince the hiring manager that you’re a perfect fit for the role at hand. You may include your interests, life, and career goals. The personal statement is also a great way to demonstrate your written communication skills. This is because administrative assistants often interact with customers and other stakeholders via email. 

What to Include in an Administrative Assistant Personal Statement

For your statement to stand out, you must include some essential information. Here are some key details to include in an administrative assistant’s statement:

1. Relevant work experience

List any previous work experience relevant to the administrative assistant position you are applying for. This could include experience working in a similar role, handling office tasks, or using appropriate software or technologies.

2. Skills and Abilities

Highlight any skills and abilities that make you a strong candidate for the role. These could be proficiency in computer programs such as Microsoft Office, excellent communication skills, and the ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively.

3. Education and Relevant training

Include any relevant education or training you have received, such as a degree in business administration or a certificate in office management.

4. Personal qualities

In your statement, highlight any qualities that make you well-suited for the role of an administrative assistant. These could include strong attention to detail, a positive attitude, and working well in a team.

5. Career goals

Finally, include a brief statement about your career goals and how the role of an administrative assistant fits into your long-term plans.

How to Write an Administrative Assistant Personal Statement

Your statement should be written in a clear structure, with each section building on the point you made in the previous one. 

The following steps will guide your writing:

1. Begin with a Hook

Begin your statement with a brief statement that captures the reader’s attention. You may start by explaining why you are interested in the administrative assistant position and what makes you a strong candidate.

2. Highlight your relevant work experience

When listing your relevant work experience, include the names of the companies or organizations you worked. Also include your previous job titles, and a brief description of your responsibilities.

3. Mention your most unique skills and abilities

You might have several skills and abilities, but only mention those relevant to the administrative assistant position. Also include any skills that give you an edge over other job applicants, one that portrays your uniqueness. 

4. Highlight your personal qualities that make you stand out

This is where you sell yourself to the employer. Detail any unique qualities that will make you excel on the job. These may include strong attention to detail, a positive attitude, and working well in a team.

5.  Conclude

Bring your statement to a close by convincing the employer that you’re indeed the perfect fit for the job role. 

Administrative Assistant Personal Statement Examples

I am an experienced and organized administrative assistant passionate about using my unique skill set to provide exceptional service.

My career has been built on the commitment to providing excellent support services, which I have perfected through initiative and dedication. 

As a professional, I take pride in learning complex tasks while working efficiently under tight deadlines. I often display impressive problem-solving abilities by resolving issues related to day-to-day operations in a timely fashion. Additionally, I always strive to increase my productivity by exploring creative methods of executing my duties. 

My strong interpersonal skills allow me to interact easily with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and build meaningful relationships. Furthermore, I always ensure effective communication between all stakeholders, helping create a peaceful work environment. On top of that, I am skilled at negotiating favorable terms and achieving organizational objectives. 

Overall, my experiences and expertise make me an ideal candidate for any organization looking for competent and reliable administrative assistance.

I am an experienced and enthusiastic administrative assistant, passionate about utilizing my diverse skills to help organizations achieve their objectives. With my extensive knowledge, I juggle many tasks while working efficiently and effectively under pressure. I focus on delivering results on time with accuracy and attention to detail that is second to none. 

My technical proficiency includes computer use, data entry, record keeping, scheduling, filing, and other clerical duties. With these abilities and my commitment to learning new software applications, I offer a unique blend of energy and experience to any organization. 

Additionally, I strive to build strong relationships through my active communication skills and problem-solving abilities. I also have excellent interpersonal and organizational abilities.

I hope to be considered for this opportunity to serve as an administrative assistant in your organization.

I am an experienced and enthusiastic administrative assistant, eager to bring my organized and dedicated work ethic to any workplace. 

With a proven track record of handling clerical duties efficiently and accurately, I am confident I will become an essential part of your team. My drive is fueled by my creative problem-solving skills and willingness to take on complex tasks easily. 

Furthermore, I have excellent interpersonal relationship skills to collaborate effectively with colleagues while maintaining professionalism. I strive to improve processes within any organization and possess the organizational skills necessary for achieving streamlined operations. 

Additionally, I can easily prioritize tasks, reduce risks, and keep communication lines open between departments while maintaining confidentiality and topmost discretion. My dedication to superior customer service will be invaluable when interacting with clients or customers. 

Overall, I offer a unique combination of experience, energy, skill, and reliability that would make me an ideal addition to your office.

Administrative assistants are the backbone of every organization, as many things won’t function without them. When seeking the role of an administrative assistant, you must display your uniqueness. And capture the employer’s attention in a way no other person does.

A strong personal statement will set you apart from the competition. So it’s worth investing your time and effort to create a striking statement.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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How to write a suitability statement.

A suitability statement — also known as a personal statement for employment — delineates the reasons why your skills and experience are suited for a job or position for which you are a candidate. Suitability statements are a vital aspect of your resume because they give prospective employers insight into the qualities and characteristics that distinguish you from other candidates. Suitability statements are usually attached with your application, or they are included when you send a resume for a job opening.

Research your prospective employer to find information, such as the corporate culture, the company's mission statement and the values the company promotes to the public. Check with your prospective employer to see if they have a preprinted form on which to write the statement. If not, use a word processing program to write your statement.

Begin by writing a compelling sentence that hooks the reader. Express why you are interested in the position. Use information from your research to tailor your opening to fit the qualities and objectives of your prospective employer.

Describe the job experiences and skills you possess that relate directly to the job or position for which you are applying. Provide specific details regarding your prior job responsibilities, special projects and achievements that demonstrate your proficiency. Instead of writing: "I managed a team of people and supervised projects," write: "As the regional manager of development for the Southwest, I was responsible for expanding into new territories and supervised a team of 25 sale representatives." Separate each skill or project into its own sentence to make it stand out.

Describe the personal qualities and characteristics you possess that will make you a unique addition to the company's workforce. If you have experience in the field for which you are applying, explain how that experience has enhanced your personal qualities, such as leadership, confidence and initiative. Your goal is to transform quantitative figures into qualitative characteristics, so that your prospective employer can identify you as a key player who can possibly contribute toward boosting the company's revenues as well as professional standing.

Explain how your personal and professional skills match the kind of employee the company is seeking. Be specific in making your claim. For example, instead of writing: "My job history and experience will enhance your company," write: "I am seeking the challenge of working in your international distribution division, where my extensive experience in regional marketing and sales can be utilized in a beneficial way." By being specific, you link your experience to the prospective position in a tangible way.

Conclude by expressing your appreciation for the opportunity to be considered, and list your contact information, including your phone number and email address. Close the letter with "Sincerely yours," or "Yours truly." Write your name and provide a signature between the closing and your printed name.

• Show your statement to a friend or colleague to check for spelling and grammatical errors. Revise your statement several times before you send it out.
• Use resume-quality paper when you print your statement
• Limit the statement to one page. Employers may receive hundreds of applications, and they may skip statements that are too long.
• Unless you are using a preprinted form and are instructed to hand write it, type the letter on a computer.
• Do not discuss salary, unless the employer instructs you to do so.

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CV personal statement examples

If you want to secure job interview, you need a strong personal statement at the top of your CV.

Your CV personal statement is a short paragraph which sits at the very top of your CV – and it’s aim is to summarise the benefits of hiring you and encourage employers to read your CV in full.

In this guide I have included 17 CV personal statement examples from a range of professions and experience levels, plus a detailed guide of how to write your own personal statement that will get you noticed by employers

CV templates 

17 CV personal statement examples

To start this guide, I have included 10 examples of good personal statements, to give you an idea of how a personal statement should look , and what should be included.

Note: personal statements are generally used by junior candidates – if you are experienced, check out our CV profile examples instead.

Graduate CV personal statement (no experience)

Although this  graduate has no paid work experience, they compensate for it by showcasing all of the skills and knowledge the have gained during their studies, and demonstrating how they apply their knowledge in academic and personal projects.

When you have little or no experience, it’s important to draw out transferable workplace skills from your studies and extracurricular work, to showcase them to employers.

Graduate CV personal statement (part time freelance experience)

This candidate has graduated with a degree in biochemistry but actually wants to start a career in digital marketing after providing some digital freelance services to fund their studies.

In this case, they haven’t made much mention of their studies because they aren’t relevant to the digital marketing agencies they are applying to. Instead they have focused their personal statement around their freelance work and passion for the digital field – although they still mention the fact they are degree educated to prove their academic success.

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School leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate is 16 years old and has no work experience whatsoever, but they compensate for this by detailing their academic achievements that relate to the roles they are applying for (maths and literacy are important requirements in finance and accountancy roles).

They also add some info on their extracurricular activities and school work-placements, to strengthen this student CV further.

    Top tips for writing a CV personal statement

• Thoroughly research the jobs and companies you are planning to apply for to identify the type of candidate they are looking for – try to reflect that in your personal statement
• Don’t be afraid to brag a little – include some of your most impressive achievements from education, work or personal life
• Focus on describing the benefits an employer will get from hiring you. Will you help them to get more customers? Improve their workplace? Save them time and money?
• If you have no work experience, demonstrate transferable workplace skills from your education, projects, or even hobbies

School leaver CV personal statement (part time experience)

Although this person has only just left school, they have also undertaken some part-time work in a call centre alongside their studies.

To make the most of this experience, they have combined their academic achievements with their workplace exposure in this personal statement.

By highlighting their GCSE results, summer programme involvement, work experience and expressing their ambitions to progress within sales, this candidate really makes an appealing case for hiring them.

College leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate has left college with good grades, but does not yet have any work experience.

To compensate for the lack of workplace exposure, they have made their A level results prominent and highlighted skills and experience which would benefit the employers they are targeting.

Any recruiter reading this profile can quickly understand that this candidate has great academic achievements, a passion for IT and finance and the ability to transfer their skills into an office environment.

College student CV personal statement (freelance experience)

As this student has picked up a small amount of freelance writing work during their studies, they have made sure to brag about it in their personal statement.

They give details on their relevant A level studies to show the skills they are learning, and boost this further by highlighting the fact that they have been applying these skills in a real-life work setting by providing freelance services.

They also include key action verbs that recruiters will be looking for , such as creative writing, working to deadlines, and producing copy.

Academic CV personal statement

Aside from junior candidates, the only other people who might use a personal statement, are academic professionals; as their CV’s tend to be more longer and detailed than other professions.

This candidate provides a high level overview of their field of study, length of experience, and the roles they have held within universities.

School leaver CV personal statement with and sports experience

Although this person has no work experience, they are still able to show employers the value of hiring them by selling their other achievements and explaining how they could benefit an organisation.

They expand on their sports club involvement to demonstrate their teamwork, leadership skills, communication and motivation, which are all important traits in the workplace, and will be looked upon favourably by recruiters and hiring managers.

They also draw upon their future plans to study business studies and take a part time job, to further prove their ambition and dedication.

History graduate CV personal statement

This history graduate proves their aptitude for both academic achievement and workplace aptitude by showcasing valuable skills from their degree and voluntary work.

They do this by breaking down the key requirements for each and showing how their skills could be beneficial for future employers, such as listening, communication, and crisis management.

They also describe how their ability to balance studies alongside voluntary work has not only boosted their knowledge and skills, but also given excellent time management and organisational skills – which are vital assets to any employer.

Law graduate CV personal statement

This legal graduate makes the most from their work university work placements by using it to bulk out the contents of their CV personal statement.

They include their degree to show they have the necessary qualifications for legal roles, which is crucial, but more importantly, they showcase how they applied their legal skills within a real-life work setting.

They give a brief overview of the types of legal professionals they have been working alongside and the type of work they have been carrying out – this is all it takes to get the attention of recruiters and show employers they have what it takes to fulfil roles in the legal sector.

Medical student CV personal statement

This medical student proves their fit for the role by showcasing the key skills they have gained from their studies and their work experience placements.

In just these few sentences, they are able to highlight the vast amount of experience they have across different disciplines in the industry, something which is particularly important in the medical sector.

As they have not graduated yet and are still studying, they have provided proof of their most recent grades. This can give the recruiter some indication as to the type of grade they could be graduating with in the near future.

Masters student CV personal statement

This masters student has started by specifying their area of study, in this case, accounting, and given details about the specific areas of finance they are most interested in. This can hint towards their career goals and passions.

They have then carefully listed some of the key areas of accounting and finance that they are proficient in. For example, business finance, advanced corporate finance and statistics.

They have also outlined some of the transferable skills needed for accounting roles that employers will be looking out for, such as communication, attention to detail and analytical skills.

Finance student CV personal statement

As this finance student has recently undertaken some relevant work experience, they’ve made sure to shout about this in their personal profile.

But more than this, they have included a list of some of the important finance skills they gained as a result of this work experience – for example, financial reporting, processing invoices and month-end reconciliations.

Plus, through power words and phrases such as ‘prevent loss’ and ‘ improve upon accuracy and efficiency’, they have also showcased how they can apply these skills in a workplace setting to benefit the potential employer.

Internship  CV personal statement

This digital marketing professional has started their personal profile by outlining their most relevant qualifications and work experience, most notably their freelance role as a content manager.

They have also provided examples of some of the key marketing skills that potential employers might be looking for, including very detailed examples of the platforms and tools they are proficient in – for example, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.

They have then closed their statement by giving a detailed description of the type of role or opportunity they are looking for. In this case, an in-house position in a marketing company.

Graduate career changer personal statement

Switching careers as a graduate can be tough. Especially when it comes to writing a personal statement that will attract employers in your new chosen field.

This candidate is looking to move from history teaching into journalism, so they have created a statement which briefly mentions their current workplace, but mainly focuses on highlighting transferable skills which are relevant to journalism. They achieve this by discussing the writing skills they use in their current role, and mentioning their hobby of writing – including some publications they have been featured in for extra brownie points.

Business management graduate personal statement

This business management proves their ability to work within a junior business management position by swiftly highlighting their impressive degree (to ensure it is not missed) and summarising some of the real-life experience they have gained in management during their university placements and volunteering. They do not let their lack of paid work experience, stop them demonstrating their valuable skills.

PhD graduate

PhD graduate roles attract a lot of competition, so it’s important that your CV contains a personal statement that will quickly impress and attract recruiters.

This candidate provides a short-but-comprehensive overview of their academic achievements, whilst demonstrating their exceptional level of knowledge in research, languages and publication writing.

By highlighting a number of skills and abilities that are in high-demand in the academic workplace, this CV is very likely to get noticed and land interviews.

How to write a personal statement for your CV

Now that you’ve seen what a personal statement should look like and the type of content it should contain, follow this detailed guide to one for your own CV – and start racking those interviews up.

Guide contents

What is a CV personal statement?

Cv personal statement or cv profile, personal statement format, what to include in a cv personal statement.

• Personal statement mistakes

How to write persuasively

A personal statement is a short paragraph at the top of your CV which gives employers an overview of your education, skills and experience

It’s purpose is to capture the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers when your CV is first opened – encouraging them to read the rest of it.

You achieve this by writing a tailored summary of yourself that explains your suitability for the roles you are applying for at a very high level, and matches your target job descriptions .

One question candidates often ask me is , “what is the difference between a personal statement and a CV profile?”

To be honest, they are almost the same – they are both introductory paragraphs that sit at the top of your CV… but there are 2 main differences

A personal statement tends to be used more by junior candidates (graduates, school leavers etc.) and is relatively long and detailed.

A CV profile tends to be favoured by more experienced candidates , and is shorter in length than a personal statement.

Note: If you are an experienced candidate, you may want to switch over to my CV profile writing guide , or example CV profiles page.

To ensure you grab recruiters’ attention with your personal statement, lay it out in the following way.

Positioning

You need to ensure that your personal statement sits at the very top of your CV, and all of it should be totally visible to readers, without the need to scroll down the page.

Do this by reducing the top page margin and minimising the space taken up by your contact details.

This will ensure that your whole personal statement can be seen, as soon as your CV is opened.

We have a Word CV template which can help you to get this right.

Size/length

Your personal statement needs to contain enough detail to provide an introduction to your skills and knowledge, but not so much detail that it bores readers.

To strike the right balance, anything between 8-15 lines of text is perfect – and sentences should be sharp and to-the-point.

As with the whole of your CV or resume , your personal statement should be written in a simple clean font at around size 10-12 to ensure that it can be read easily by all recruiters and employers.

Keep the text colour simple , ensuring that it contrasts the background (black on white is best) and break it into 2 or even 3 paragraphs for a pleasant reading experience.

It should also be written in a punchy persuasive tone, to help you sell yourself and increase your chances of landing interviews , I cover how to do this in detail further down the guide.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional CV templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Once you have the style and format of your personal statement perfected, you need to fill it with compelling content that tells recruiters that your CV is worth reading.

Here’s what needs to go into your personal statement…

Before you start writing your personal statement, it’s crucial that you research your target roles to find out exactly what your new potential employers are looking for in a candidate.

Run a search for your target jobs on one of the major job websites , look through plenty of adverts and make a list of the candidate requirements that frequently appear.

This research will show you exactly what to include in your personal statement in order to impress the recruiters who will be reading it.

Education and qualifications are an important aspect of your personal statement, especially if you are a junior candidate.

You should highlight your highest and most relevant qualifications, whether that is a degree, A levels or GCSEs. You could potentially go into some more detail around modules, papers etc. if they are relevant to the roles you are applying for.

It’s important that you discuss the experience you have gained in your personal statement, to give readers an idea of the work you are comfortable undertaking.

This can of course be direct employed work experience, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can also include:

• School/college Uni work placements
• Voluntary work
• Personal projects
• Hobbies/interests

As with all aspects of your CV , the content should be tailored to match the requirements of your target roles.

Whilst discussing your experience, you should touch upon skills used, industries worked in, types of companies worked for, and people you have worked with.

Where possible, try to show the impact your actions have made. E.g . A customer service agent helps to make sales for their employer.

Any industry-specific knowledge you have that will be useful to your new potential employers should be made prominent within your personal statement.

For example

• Knowledge of financial regulations will be important for accountancy roles
• Knowledge of IT operating systems will be important for IT roles
• Knowledge of the national curriculum will be important for teachers

You should also include some information about the types of roles you are applying for, and why you are doing so. Try to show your interest and passion for the field you are hoping to enter, because employers want to hire people who have genuine motivation and drive in their work.

This is especially true if you don’t have much work experience, as you need something else to compensate for it.

CV personal statement mistakes

The things that you omit from your personal statement can be just as important as the things you include.

Try to keep the following out of your personal statement..

Irrelevant info

Any information that doesn’t fall into the requirements of your target roles can be cut out of your personal statement. For example, if you were a professional athlete 6 years ago, that’s great – but it won’t be relevant if you’re applying to advertising internships, so leave it out.

Generic clichés

If you are describing yourself as a “ dynamic team player with high levels of motivation and enthusiasm” you aren’t doing yourself any favours.

These cliché terms are vastly overused and don’t provide readers with any factual details about you – so keep them to a minimum.

Stick to solid facts like education, skills , experience, achievements and knowledge.

If you really want to ensure that your personal statement makes a big impact, you need to write in a persuasive manner.

So, how do you so this?

Well, you need to brag a little – but not too much

It’s about selling yourself and appearing confident, without overstepping the mark and appearing arrogant.

For example, instead of writing.

“Marketing graduate with an interest in entering the digital field”

Be creative and excite the reader by livening the sentence up like this,

“Marketing graduate with highest exam results in class and a passion for embarking on a long and successful career within digital”

The second sentence is a much more interesting, makes the candidate appear more confident, throws in some achievements, and shows off a wider range of writing skills.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Your own personal statement will be totally unique to yourself, but by using the above guidelines you will be able to create one which shows recruiters everything they need.

Remember to keep the length between 10-20 lines and only include the most relevant information for your target roles.

You can also check our school leaver CV example , our best CV templates , or our library of example CVs from all industries.

Good luck with the job hunt!

Tips on Job-Suitability Statement

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Good Adjectives to List on an Application

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• Top Adjectives to Use on a Cover Letter
• Good Ways to Explain Yourself During an Interview

A job-suitability statement, also known as a personal statement, provides a summary of the key skills and experience you possess for a given job. It is a vital component of a solid cover letter and is intended to help you get an interview. To stand out from other candidates, create a suitability statement that specifically connects your skills to the job being sought.

Pinpoint Your Competitive Edge

Before putting pen to paper, make sure you really are suited for the job. Read the specifications and eligibility criteria of the job thoroughly and ascertain if your skills, education or training make you a good match. It’s important to be analytical and honest in your self-assessment when developing a suitability statement for inclusion in a cover letter or online job application. What is it about the job that attracts you? Why are you suited for this position?

Refer to the Job Description

Indeed Career Guide stresses that a suitability statement should be tailored specifically to the desired job. Obtain a copy of the job description before the interview. Refer to it when writing your suitability statement. The job description details essential functions or objectives. Match your top skills, professional work history, academic achievements and life experiences to these essential responsibilities.

Make Brevity the Soul of Wit

Most employers generally aren’t interested in whether you are a well-rounded individual who reads the classics and can spout Shakespearean quotes. Avoid focusing on yourself and why you want the job. Focus instead on the in-demand skills you bring to the company.

Always write in first person. Highlight any relevant education, training or professional experiences that suits the position. Keep your statement concise – 75 to 100 words generally is considered a good rule of thumb.

Grab the Interviewer’s Attention

Avoid tired phrases or clichés such as “making a difference” or “desire to apply my skills.” Such nosegays fail to distinguish you from the pack and may serve to disqualify you from further consideration. Showcase the depth of your skills, knowledge and experiences.

You pique an employer's interest by describing what it is you bring to the table – the special "something" that other candidates don't have. Craft an opening statement that is original, but avoid embellishment.

Highlight Memorable Achievements

Imagine that you are vying for a job as lead salesperson in a growing multinational. You might cite how your applied international sales experience makes you the most suitable candidate. For example: "I was placed in charge of our South American market and guided it to average sales growth of 8 percent to 15 percent in just two years. " As much as possible, particularize past accomplishments that the interviewer might find memorable.

Tell a Captivating Story

The Purdue Online Writing Lab ( OWL ) suggests that telling a good story is a great way to stand out and be remembered. If you lack professional cachet, but possess intangibles that make you a good fit, you may have to brainstorm. Find a way to tell a story about characteristics or work attributes that would suit you well – and by extension, suit the employer.

Did you have to overcome any unusual obstacles, such as growing up poor but bootstrapping your way through college? Do any of your academic achievements play directly into the required job competencies? Are you doing volunteer work in the community that showcases your leadership skills or initiative?

Sidestep Mistakes

Review your finished suitability statement several times, looking for typos, grammatical errors, misspelling and faulty sentence structure. This is your first and only impression, so don’t let a sloppy presentation doom your job pursuit at the outset. Ask friends, family members and colleagues to proofread your statement and provide feedback.

• Purdue OWL: Writing the Personal Statement
• Indeed Careeer Guide: How to Write a Personal Statement

Garry Kranz has been writing professionally since 1986, and has experience in both print and online media. Specializing in business reporting, he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs at well-known companies, including Ford, Dupont, Aetna, Frito Lay, Comcast, Philip Morris, and many others. His work has appeared in publications by Crain Communications, Media General, Forbes and Landmark Communications.

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Personal Statement Examples That Will Get You Writing

Whether you're aiming for a job, university program, or scholarship, the value of an effective personal statement is vital to success. However, writing a personal statement that will make your application stand out can be challenging.

This post will help you put your best foot forward by providing examples and tips for crafting your personal statement. By the end, you will be able to write a standout personal statement with confidence.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a written document that gives an overview of who you are, your experiences, achievements, and goals. It is typically required as part of a job, university program, or scholarship application. The purpose of a personal statement is to convince the reader that you are the right candidate for the opportunity by showcasing your strengths, experiences, and aspirations.

The content of a personal statement will vary depending on the context. Still, it generally includes information about your educational and professional background, achievements and accomplishments, skills and strengths, and goals and aspirations. It is an opportunity to highlight your unique qualities and what sets you apart from other applicants.

Personal statements are often limited to a certain word count or page limit, so it is important to be concise and focus on the most relevant information. Additionally, it is important to tailor your statement to the specific opportunity you are applying for, highlighting the skills and experiences most relevant to the role or program.

A well-crafted personal statement can be a powerful tool in the application process, demonstrating your passion, motivation, and suitability for the opportunity.

There are several reasons why you may need to write a personal statement:

• To apply for a job A personal statement is often required as part of a job application, allowing candidates to showcase their skills, experience, and personality to potential employers.
• To apply to a university Universities often require a personal statement as part of the application process, which allows the applicant to demonstrate their suitability for the program, their passion for the subject, and their goals for the future.
• To apply for a scholarship Personal statements are often required for scholarship applications. They allow the applicant to explain why they deserve the scholarship and how they plan to use it to achieve their goals.
• To promote oneself Personal statements can be used to promote oneself as an expert in a particular field or to showcase one's achievements and experience to a wider audience.

In all of these cases, a personal statement can effectively communicate your strengths and goals and make a compelling case for why you are the right candidate for a particular opportunity.

Why are personal statements important?

Crafting a killer personal statement can elevate your application to new heights! It can set you apart from the crowd and is a powerful tool to showcase your strengths, passion, and unique experiences. By weaving a compelling story about yourself, you help the reader understand what makes you tick and how you are prepared for the opportunity.

Beyond this, a captivating personal statement can provide valuable insights into your personality and values, making you an even more attractive candidate to employers and admissions officers. Trust us - a powerful personal statement is a game-changer for any successful application!

Personal statement examples

It's important to understand what to include in each personal statement. Here are some examples to consider:

Personal statement for a university application

As a passionate programmer and creative problem-solver, I am eager to pursue a degree in computer science and unleash the endless possibilities it offers me. Through this degree, I can acquire the skills and knowledge that will allow me to create meaningful solutions to real-world problems, something I strive for each day. With great excitement, I look forward to furthering my expertise in this field in a university setting and exploring the exciting opportunities ahead.

In high school, I was a dedicated student who took the initiative and maintained a strong work ethic. I earned high grades and actively participated in extracurricular activities such as the Computer Science Club and Robotics Team. My ambition has been to use my knowledge and skills to help build a better future. That is why I am confident that pursuing a career in computer science is the right decision for me.

Personal statement for job application

As a highly motivated and results-oriented professional, I am eager to contribute my skills and experience to an organization that values innovation and teamwork. Throughout my career, I have developed a reputation for being a problem-solver and effective communicator, with a keen eye for detail and the ability to work under pressure.

I have experience leading teams and coordinating tasks to ensure successful outcomes. Additionally, my communication skills enable me to effectively interact with colleagues, vendors, and customers to ensure that projects are completed on time. I am confident that my passion for my work and dedication to excellence will make me a valuable asset to any team.

Personal statement for scholarship application

Receiving this scholarship would be a life-changing opportunity for me. As a first-generation college student, I have faced many obstacles in pursuing my education, but I have never let these challenges hold me back. When my parents told me they could not help pay for my college tuition, I felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me. But I quickly realized that if I worked hard enough and never gave up, I could make my dreams come true.

With this scholarship, I can continue my studies and achieve my goals, including becoming a role model for other students in my community. I am committed to giving back to my community and using my education to impact the world positively.

Tips for crafting a personal statement

While crafting a standout personal statement can seem daunting, with the right guidance, you can create a compelling document that showcases your unique qualities and sets you apart from other applicants. This section will provide tips and strategies to help you write a powerful personal statement that effectively communicates your skills, experiences, and aspirations.

From tailoring your statement to the opportunity to using specific examples and demonstrating authenticity, these tips will help you create a personal statement that makes a lasting impression.

Here are some tips for writing a strong personal statement:

• Research: Before writing your personal statement, research the opportunity you are applying for. This will help you to understand the requirements and tailor your statement to the specific role or program.
• Be concise: Personal statements are often limited to a certain word count or page limit, so it is important to be concise and focus on the most relevant information. Ensure each sentence and paragraph adds value and contributes to your overall message.
• Use specific examples: Specific examples can be used to illustrate your skills and experiences. This will help to bring your statement to life and provide evidence to support your claims.
• Tailor your statement: Tailor your statement to the specific role or program. Highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the opportunity and demonstrate how they make you a strong candidate.
• Show, don't tell: Instead of stating that you are a good fit for the opportunity, provide specific examples and evidence to tangibly demonstrate your skills and experience.
• Be authentic: Be true to yourself and your experiences. Your statement should reflect your personality, values, and motivations and provide insight into who you are.
• Proofread and edit: Finally, proofread and edit your statement carefully. Check for spelling and grammar errors, and make sure your message is clear and concise. A well-written and error-free personal statement can make all the difference in a competitive application process.

By following these tips, you can create a personal statement that effectively showcases your strengths and makes a compelling case for why you are the ideal candidate for the opportunity. Remember to tailor your statement to the specific requirements of the opportunity, use specific examples to illustrate your achievements and experiences, and be authentic to yourself. With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to crafting a powerful personal statement that will help you stand out from the competition.

Unlock your future

Writing a personal statement can be challenging, but it can also be a rewarding experience with the right approach. A well-crafted personal statement can be the key to unlocking exciting new opportunities, whether it's a job, a university program, or a scholarship. Following the tips outlined in this blog post, you can create a personal statement that showcases your strengths, experiences, and aspirations and demonstrates why you are the ideal candidate for the opportunity. Good luck!

Header image by Akira Kaelyn .

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FREE 10+ Suitability Statement Samples [ Teacher, Job, Insurance ]

It doesn’t matter whether you are a fresh graduate or an experienced individual. Having to put a good CV or resume is a challenge, might as well make an adequate suitability statement that works perfectly for you. However, even if you have a perfect CV in which you have provided details about your previous experience and personal skills that you have acquired all throughout your career journey, there is still a need to show your potential employers about how you have developed your own field of expertise. This is where a suitability statement comes. This type of statement helps you in enhancing your profile and emphasizing your skills. It will also help you in highlighting your capabilities as an individual.

Suitability Statement

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In this generation, you will be facing different competitions especially when it comes to acquiring a potential job. That is why you have to be very sincere and methodical in going through the process. As much as possible, be prepared with interviews especially if you see yourself being in a good company. It is essential to have a professional approach so that your employer can ensure that they will be picking the right choice and you can be considered for a second meet.

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A suitability statement is also known as a personal statement . It is designed to work by delineating the reasons behind why your employer should actually hire you. It is one of the main reasons why your skills, knowledge, and abilities are suited to the company and to the job position that you will be applying for. This can be one of the most essential aspect with regards to applying for a job because it emphasizes your characteristics and your best qualities as an individual that enables you to stand out for the rest of the crowd.

Aside from that, it also gives you an insight about your skills and qualities which can keep your employers assured why they should consider your application. A suitability statement contains a short knowledge about some specific concerns pertaining to your awareness of the company that you will be applying for. It showcases your researching ability and helps you in conducting a thorough study. With this, you will not be having a hard time attracting the employer towards you.

• Research about the company – research about your prospective employer in order to know about the culture of our company and their values as well. This can help you in getting a better way of understanding how you are going to fit into the company or organization.
• Highlight relevant skills and experience – this part is essential because it allows you to indicate how they can relate the job description and applicant profile specifications. Might as well emphasize what you have accomplished together with your responsibilities.
• Get personal – this is going to be your chance in stating your suitability for a specific role. Sell yourself as much as possible. Employers prefer to have a proactive approach when it comes to the applicant’s suitability statement. That is why it is deemed necessary to include your achievements and how you are able to make a difference in your precious roles.

“I am an intuitive and analytical Risk Management professional acclaimed for identifying operational risks and managing and mitigating financial crime risks and controls across international borders. Experienced in risk assessments and reviews, I have managed financial crime across 23 European countries and inspired cost savings of over £7 million. 

With a strong focus on the implementation and deployment of action plans, I have mitigated numerous risk issues. I am a strong communicator and leader, skilled in building and leveraging networks with key stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams. Additionally, I have adept knowledge of anti-money laundering and due diligence procedures in addition to a substantial commitment to complying with appropriate legislation and codes of practice.”

careeraddict.com

You just have to make sure that you have covered all the key points. Make a draft and make sure that they are grammatically correct. Do not use ay jargons, specialist terms, or abbreviations. Most importantly, put something that will show an impact to your application.

Include your relationship to the applicant, how long you have known them, information about their personality, and your contact details.

Always have in mind that you should be able to stand out from the other candidates, so it is surely important to write a suitability statement that simply connects your skills to the job that you are applying for.

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Civil Service Personal Suitability & Behaviour Statements (2024 Update)

Learn all about Civil Service Personal Statements, Statements of Suitability & Behaviour Statements.

Looking to get a post in the Civil Service or zoom up the career ladder with a promotion during 2024?

If you have made or are considering making a Civil Service application or to other large employers, you will most likely have come across personal statements, behaviour statements and statements of suitability.

There are three different types of statement you may be asked to submit.

• Personal Statement
• Statement of Suitability
• Behaviour Statement

It can be easy to get confused between these three, however, we view a personal statement and statement of suitability as largely the same.

A behaviour statement, however, is different as this will relate just to behaviours and usually requires the use of the STAR method when structuring your examples.

In this comprehensive guide, we will show you how to get detailed Civil Service personal statement examples relevant to your level along with 250 word behaviour statements, great for inspiration.

Your Civil Service Statements Created For You

With InterviewGold you will have top quality personal, suitability and behaviour statements created for you and all tailored to you and your target job. All Civil Service grades covered.

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In This Lesson:

What is a personal statement / statement of suitability, why the civil service requests personal or suitability statements, how long should a personal or suitability statement be, how to deal with limited word count – example 250 words, creating a personal statement for senior leadership posts, using your personal statement to sell yourself, 8 top tips for civil service statements of suitability and personal statements, how to introduce yourself in a personal or suitability statement.

• Civil Service Personal / Suitability Statement Example

What is a Civil Service Behaviour Statement?

Typical civil service behaviour statement examples, how to answer civil service behaviour statements.

• Get Expert Personal, Suitability and Behaviour Statement Examples in Minutes

A Civil Service personal statement or statement of suitability is designed to be a summary, a written addition to your CV or application. It will be used by the recruiter to check your suitability and it will be assessed against the required Civil Service Success Profiles and strengths.

While your CV will detail your career history, experience and qualifications, it does not show who you are as a person. The personal or suitability statement offers you an excellent opportunity to provide more context and to outline why you are ideal for the role.

This text sits alongside your CV and is a great way for you to clearly show how you meet each of the essential criteria for the role and how your skills are relevant.

See how you can get your personal and suitability statements written for you in minutes.

When advertising a position, employers such as the Civil Service provide a job description which will detail the responsibilities, essential criteria and desirable skills. It will also specify the behaviours you will be assessed against.

This combination paints a picture of the perfect candidate for the role, someone they envisage as being an ideal employee in the post. The personal statement is a way for you to expand on your CV and to provide evidence showing that you bring all of these essential criteria.

Used well, your statement is an ideal way to align what you bring with what they need . A well written document will show clearly and instantly how your skills and experience best fit the role.

In our experience, most Civil Service personal or suitability statements are circa 500 – 750 words. For senior posts you may be allowed to write up to 1,250 words and some DWP posts ask for 1,200 words.

While it’s possible to have a request for a personal statement of just 250 words , we find these are more likely to be behaviour statements. Where we have seen a request for a statement of just 250 words, this is usually in the form of an interview question. For example, here is one from a recent job posting:

Tell us why you have applied for the role and what you hope to gain from the apprenticeship in terms of new learning and skills. (250 words max)

Study the job advert and description and make note of the word count if available. It is vital that you do not go over as this will show poor communication skills and an inability to summarise.

Irrespective of the word count, proper editing of your statement is essential. For example, there may be ten or more essential criteria plus three to five Success Profiles behaviours outlined in the job description. So how can you fit all of this in?

Proper preparation is essential and a top tip is to take the essential criteria and group them under common themes. You may find that your experience and an achievement can be used to address multiple points.

Use headings for your paragraphs and set yourself the discipline of spending only a hundred words on each point for example.

When you have a first draft, you are still likely to have exceeded the word limit – and this is a good thing. Now you have enough material to be discerning. Cross out all the parts that feel weak or unimportant until you are down to the most powerful ideas.

If going for a Civil Service leadership position, Grade 6 or 7 , your statement will require more thought and depth, as you need to communicate your character for the role and your vision for leading others. What are your values in leadership? What do you see as central to the exceptional performance of a team?

Before writing your statement, sit and map out the fundamentals of how you will take on the task. Then, as you write your statement, weave these beliefs into your text and link these directly to specific examples where you have proven their success.

Save time and effort and let InterviewGold create your statements for you . Fully tailored to you and your target job and perfectly structured with the correct word count.

Do not be afraid to blow your own trumpet in your personal or suitability statement. By that, we do not mean boasting or exaggerating, simply, state your great achievements, describe the behaviours you used to deliver them and highlight the skills and strengths you bring.

In a competitive sector such as this, you need to stand out as being an overall perfect fit for the role. Consequently, everything you write in your supporting statement needs to be tailored to the essential criteria.

Go through the job description and highlight the top 4 or 5 key responsibilities and duties and address each of these separately. Note keywords that seem to come up time and again and mirror this language in your statement.

Use bullet points and use these as the topics for your paragraphs. Of course, do not just repeat phrases they use but use them as a guide, edit and refocus.

To make your Civil Service personal or suitability statement really stand out here are some top tips. This guidance applies equally to all Civil Service roles from EO, HEO, SEO and to senior posts.

• Your statement must reflect your recent and relevant experience, skills and achievements.
• Avoid the temptation to just use the same statement for each application, instead, tailor it to the role.
• Address each requirement directly, providing evidence in the form of an achievement, skill, development or experience gained.
• Describe what you bring, the skills and experience acquired.
• The statement should include examples of real key achievements, what you have done, what you have delivered and core learnings.
• Use active, positive language, rather than lots of passive statements.
• Describe key and specific achievements rather than generalised responsibilities.
• Finally, ensure your examples reflect the level you are applying for. Very often, examples can be too simple, can fall short and not reflect the complexity required.

Read More: Get instant access to detailed sample personal and suitability statements for your level with InterviewGold. Click here to start.

As stated, the opening paragraph is going to win or lose the attention of the application panel. It is essential that you introduce yourself effectively as this gives a strong lead in and will hook the reader.

There are two options available to you.

1) Provide a personal profile, stating key information, years of experience, current post, key strengths and what you bring.

2) Focus on reasons for applying, detailing how your skills and experience fit perfectly. Perhaps tell a story of how you decided to be a part of the Civil Service, while outlining key criteria and how this fits with your career path.

Get this opening sentence right and you are well on your way to success.

Civil Service Personal / Suitability Statement Example Introduction

Here is an example of a strong opening introduction , a brief personal profile that is designed to grab the recruiter’s attention. For example:

I am a highly motivated and experienced finance professional with 8 years’ experience working within local and regional Government posts in England and Northern Ireland. My current role is Finance Analyst within the NHS where I have progressed rapidly during my two-year tenure.

I bring a degree in Economics from Aston University and I am skilled in financial modelling, business planning and team leadership.

I recently delivered a comprehensive business case for a proposed outsourcing opportunity leading to cost savings of £3m. Through this I gained proven experience in developing rewarding relationships with internal and external stakeholders resulting in improved working practices and data accuracy.

I am currently looking for a role within the Department of Heath and Social care.

As you can see that is a short lead-in to the statement that forms a strong, clear introduction. The recruiter knows instantly who the candidate is, their high level experience and why they have applied.

For your statement, you would need to continue and outline your experience, skills, relevant achievements and behaviours. Within the InterviewGold system you will get great formulas to use to bring powerful structure to any suitability or personal statement.

When you join InterviewGold you will have expert statements written for you with just a few clicks . Plus you will get sample Civil Service personal and suitability statements to inspire you.

Each role will have a set of behaviours you will assessed against. For example, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace and Managing a Quality Service are three of the top required in most roles.

Alongside your CV and / or application form, you may be asked for behaviour statements instead of a personal or suitability statement, or also in addition to these.

• Describe a time when you delivered an exciting piece of work that exceeded the expectations of others. (250 words max)
• Detail when you showed excellent leadership skills and explain what you learned from the experience. (250 words max)
• Explain your experiences against the Communicating and Influencing Behaviour (Level 2). (500 Words)

As you can see the request relates to specific behaviours and asks you to provide evidence of your experience with it. They are in effect the same format as competency based or behaviour interview questions.

For these y ou must use the STAR formula . They will be looking for clear evidence of experience in a previous role and your example must be strong, relevant and complex.

You should demonstrate the essential positive behaviours keeping in mind that different roles will favour different behaviours.

Review the job description to get a sense of what these might be and edit your answer so that the required essential ones are shown first.

Throughout your InterviewGold training course we teach you all about how to answer these questions. A good starting point is the section on competency behaviours in the Essential Learning module.

Read more: Get instant access to expertly written 250-word behaviour statements in the InterviewGold training system.

Get Personal, Suitability and Behaviour Statements Created For You in Minutes

Join InterviewGold now and get expertly written personal, suitability and behaviour statements relevant to your level and fully personalised to you. Click here to learn more.

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Table of Contents

Statement template bundle, 5 steps to produce a suitability statement.

• Step 1: Make a R

Step 3: Highlight Personal Characteristics

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• 21+ Suitability Statement Templates in DOC | PDF

A suitable statement for employment outlines any supporting explanation of your skills, proving that you are ideal for the employment or position you are applying for. Some companies simply ask for a resume for the job application. Still, you can write in detail your professional experience and professional qualifications through a personal statement essay letter or our suitability Statement Templates in Google Docs .

• Google Docs

Step 1: Make a R eview of the Corporate

Step 2: d efine your skills and experience, step 4: j ustify h owever your skills match the work, step 5: finish the statement.

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Word templates, google docs templates, excel templates, powerpoint templates, google sheets templates, google slides templates, pdf templates, publisher templates, psd templates, indesign templates, illustrator templates, pages templates, keynote templates, numbers templates, outlook templates.

20+ SAMPLE Suitability Statement in PDF

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Application Forms , Personal Statements

Civil service personal statement examples.

When you apply for any Civil Service job, you will need to complete an online application form that requires you to submit a personal statement. The personal statement will be assessed against the relevant Civil Service success profiles and strengths that are applicable or the role

DOWNLOAD RICHARD MCMUNN’S SET OF 9 CIVIL SERVICE PERSONAL STATEMENT EXAMPLES BELOW!

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So, how do you write a personal statement for a civil service job? Let’s start by looking at what you should include.

What Should a Civil Service Personal Statement Include?

Your personal statement should be used to compliment your CV and further outline why you are suitable for the role.

The key to a great civil service personal statement is to provide evidence against the Civil Service Success Profiles to show you match them and that you are perfect for the role. The Civil Service Success Profiles, otherwise known as the “essential criteria” will be outlined on the job advert or job description. Using these, you should demonstrate your previous experience and your skills that can be transferred to your new role within the Civil Service.

Remember, you must back up these skills and experience, and a great way to do this, is to demonstrate how you acquired the experience and skills in your previous roles.

Your personal statement should form around ‘how’ and ‘what’ you have previously done, all whilst matching the Success Profiles.

You will usually get just 250 words for your answers.

BONUS TIP – How do I write a CV for a government job?

A great personal statement still needs a good CV. Here is what you should include on your CV/Resume. Firstly, include an outline of your previous job experience, detailing the length of time you held each previous job role for, and a short breakdown of the responsibilities, tasks, and the work you did for each role. You should also include any awards, achievements or significant projects you previously obtained or worked on. This is your chance to shine, so don’t be afraid to sell yourself and big yourself up in the best light possible. If you have ever had any training or if you have been awarded any qualifications that are relevant to the Civil Service, or that showcase your commitment, ability to learn, or diversify, then you should highlight these too.

How to Structure a Civil Service Personal Statement?

The most important thing to do is structure your responses clearly and ensure that your statement focusses on the Success Profiles/Essential Criteria.

You are allowed to use heading or bullet points if this works best for you, but remember all of this will eat into your word count. Further below in this blog we have provided a breakdown of the 9 Civil Service Success Profiles and what you need to consider when preparing your statement for each Success Profile.

What Should you Avoid in a Personal Statement?

With 100s of people applying to Civil Service roles, it is important that your personal statement is NOT thrown aside because you’ve made one of the following common mistakes:

• Poor spelling and grammar – always check your spelling and grammar before submitting!
• Not tailoring your answers for the role – ensure you use the job description and align your skills and experience with the role you’re applying for.
• Using the same answers multiple times for multiple applications in the Civil Service (each application for a new role needs new answers).
• Not aligning your statement to the Civil Service Success Profiles – this is key!
• Using redundant or unnecessarily complicated language and cliches – keep it simple and easy to read – the assessor shouldn’t have to decipher your statement!

Writing the Perfect Civil Service Personal Statement – What are the Civil Service Success Profiles?

Seeing the big picture.

The Civil Service success profile of seeing the big picture requires you to have knowledge of how your job fits in with the public sector mission and objectives. It is important that you demonstrate within your 250-word personal statement that you have the ability to carry out your work in the best interests of the nation.

CHANGING AND IMPROVING

Whilst working in the Civil Service you must be open to continually changing and improving. If you do not improve your performance at work, or embrace change positively, the Civil Service will not be able to meet its objectives. Again, when creating your Civil Service personal statement and online application form, you will need to demonstrate within 250 words your ability to meet the changing and improving success profile!

MAKING EFFECTIVE DECISIONS

All members of the Civil Service, regardless of their role, are required to make effective decisions that demonstrate value money and efficiency. When making effective decisions, you must use an evidence-based approach and carefully consider your options, including an assessment of the risk involved and implications posed. Make sure you provide evidence of this Civil Service success profile within 250 words.

COMMUNICATING AND INFLUENCING

Another of the Civil Service success profiles and strengths is that of communicating and influencing. Within your chosen civil service job, you must communicate with clarity and purpose and always respect the needs, views and opinions of others. To meet the assessment for this success profile you will need to create a personal statement of just 250 words!

WORKING TOGETHER

Teamwork is absolutely vital when working in the Civil Service. Regardless of the position you are applying for, working with others must be demonstrated within your personal statement by way of using the STAR technique – situation, task, action and result. Within your personal statement, demonstrate you can work effectively with other people both within your team and also with external stakeholders or contractors. (250 words maximum!)

Can you demonstrate pride and passion for delivering service within an organisation? Are you able to value other people’s opinions and ensure your team is diverse in nature so that the expectations and needs of customers are met? If so, then you probably have what it takes to mee the Civil Service success profile of leadership! Once again, make sure you write a personal statement that demonstrates your ability to provide leadership within just 250-words.

DELIVERING AT PACE

Can you work at pace and deliver results to a high standard? If the answer is yes, then you might just have what it takes to work within the Civil Service. Again, another one of the success profiles is that of delivering at pace, and we strongly advise you provide a specific example of where you have been able to work quickly and accurately in a previous role when completing your personal statement. Aim to provide evidence of this success profile within your personal statement all within just 250 words!

DEVELOPING SELF AND OTHERS

Taking responsibility for your own development and the development of others is a vital aspect of all civil Service roles. If you are required to write a personal statement that demonstrates your ability of developing self and others, provide a specific example within 250 words of where you have focused on this important success profile.

MANAGING A QUALITY SERVICE

The Civil Service has a strong reputation for managing and delivering a quality service. Regardless of the department you are hoping to join within the Civil Service, there is a strong possibility you will be assessed against this important success profile. Again, provide a solid 250-word personal statement that gives evidence of where you have taken control of the delivery of a fantastic service to meet the needs of a customer or a client.

CIVIL SERVICE PERSONAL STATEMENT EXAMPLES  (DOWNLOAD YOUR GUIDE BELOW!)

Richard McMunn

2 thoughts on “ civil service personal statement examples ”.

Are the 9 examples specific using STAR to a certain situation or are they generic like the youtube videos

Hi Abul, that is a great question. The answer is a mixture. The way I have provided the answers is so that you can adapt them to use your own past experience with ease and create your own unique answer. My answers provide a structure as well as demonstrate what keywords and content needs to be in a high-scoring answer. This should allow you to develop your own unique answers quickly 🙂 I wish you the best of luck with your Civil Service Application! Let me know how it goes 🙂

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Your statement of suitability

Written by Elizabeth Holmes

Applying yourself – get that interview!

We asked our member schools what aspect of the application process teachers need to improve on. They told us that a worrying amount of teachers don’t realise how critical the ‘statement of suitability’ is. In fact, as part of child safeguarding and schools’ current focus on teacher wellbeing, this section of your application is a highly scrutinised area, yet some teaching candidates overlook it completely, writing just a few words.

No matter what role you are going for, you are highly likely to need to complete a personal statement or statement of suitability as part of the application process for most schools. If that sounds like a challenge, set that thought to one side.  There are some straightforward strategies you can employ to help. 

Getting personal

Alan Brown, head teacher at Oldfield Primary School, has some valuable advice for candidates who are intending to make applications.  “Our application process involves candidates writing a personal statement,” Alan said, “which is their chance to state their suitability for the role. This is a crucial part of the process. People are often too humble or don’t truly appreciate how important it is for them to demonstrate their suitability. We want this statement to stand out. This is about what the candidate has done, not what their previous school has done. Their role in those achievements must be clear.”

The need to suit your application to the context of the school cannot be overstated, however. “A generic statement will not do,” Alan says. “I need to be able to see that candidates have looked into our context carefully and have looked at our website and at Ofsted reports. Often the personal statement/statement of suitability just doesn’t stand out. I like to see more on a candidate’s philosophy of teaching and a really proactive approach in their statements.” Search current teaching vacancies here.

Go for a visit

Alan explains that as it is such a long process, he tries to personalise the pre-visit as much as possible. “I offer a chance for potential candidates to have a walk around the school. Candidates can learn so much about a school on a visit like that. I explain our values, our culture and the ethos of the school. This helps potential candidates to really consider whether they are suitable for our school and whether the school is suitable for them. It also helps the candidates to make sure their applications are as closely matched to what we are seeking as possible.”

This is such a crucial point. You can save yourself a huge amount of effort if you don’t feel a connection to a school. There is simply no point in applying if you don’t feel as though you could offer what the school is seeking, or, perhaps more importantly, don’t like the look of what the school is offering.

“Schools differ quite a bit now in their philosophies,” Alan explains, “so teachers need to find a school that suits them. I always stress to candidates that they need to think about our school and about their own philosophy and what they can bring to our school.”

When the task is to create an application that hits as many “essentials” and “desirables” as possible, you need a strategy so that your statement remains focused. Alan has sound advice: “The most efficient way of making sure you don’t overlook any important points is to use the structure of the job specification for your statement. That way you won’t miss anything important. Schools need to see that you have carefully matched your skills and experience to what they are asking for in the job specification. “I want to come and work in your school” must come through strongly in your application.”

This is not a one-way street, though. Raj Unsworth, chair of a multi academy trust and specialist advisor to @headsroundtable, is keen to remind candidates that the selection process is two-way. “If schools are too prescriptive about who they want, and they ask for a very narrow field, they will discount candidates too readily.”

The initial application stage is all about knowing the school. Where is the school on its journey? How can you fit into that journey? Honesty is really important here. Raj suggests doing your research meticulously at this stage. “I strongly recommend that potential candidates visit any school they are considering applying to. If that is not possible, at least have a conversation on the phone with the head teacher. It is so important for the match between candidate and school to be right. It has to work for both parties. Making this effort before the shortlisting stage will be noticed.”

“When completing the application, make sure you address the person specification and job specification, point by point in your statement of suitability, Raj explains. “You need to do this so that whoever reads your application can see easily how appropriate you are for the role. You need to tick as many essential and desirable boxes as possible.”

Staying focused

This view is echoed by Alan: “Last year, I wanted someone with capacity for leadership. This was very clear on the job specification and description. We wanted to develop someone in the role. But of the 30 applications we had, we moved 20 to one side very quickly because they did not address that capacity. The application has to be personal and linked to what the school actually wants. You are potentially joining an existing team and if your application is not specific to the needs of the school you may be throwing away your opportunity to work there.”

The message from Raj is clear. Do your homework before putting pen to paper. “Research the school. Read Ofsted reports, look at the website, understand how the school is governed, who the chair is, and where the school needs to go to improve. Only then can you know whether you are in a position to help the school to move forwards.”

Social media can help at this stage too. “It is also worth doing your research on social media, especially Twitter,” Raj suggests. “Does the school and/or head teacher have an account and if so, how is it used? Are you comfortable with how social media is used? Does it fit your personal values? It is important that the school has a philosophy you can support and work within so do your background checks well!”

Those important points again:

• Find out as much as you can about the context of the school. Read Ofsted reports, the school’s career page behind their job ad on eteach.com and the school’s website.
• Visit the school, or, if that is not possible, have a telephone conversation. Remember that this is your chance to ask questions. Assess while you impress!
• Use the structure of the job specification to structure your personal statement/statement of suitability.
• Treat the process as equally balanced; it is important to feel that the school is a place in which you can thrive and contribute to its on-going journey.
• Stay focussed and stand out!

Search teaching vacancies here.

About the author

Elizabeth holmes.

After graduating with a degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Reading, Elizabeth Holmes completed her PGCE at the Institute of Education, University of London. She then taught humanities and social sciences in schools in London, Oxfordshire and West Sussex, where she ran the history department in a challenging comprehensive. Elizabeth specialises in education but also writes on many other issues and themes. As well as her regular blogs for Eteach and FEjobs, her books have been published by a variety of publishers and translated around the world. Elizabeth has also taught on education courses in HE and presented at national and international conferences.

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