A Short Guide to Writing a Personal Statement

Are you applying for jobs and not gettig shortlisted for jobs that you know you could do? If so, have you aksed yourself why? It's easy to fall into the trap of saying that it was fixed, or too may applicants. Anyone familiar with some of my other hubs will know that I talk about the importance of being honest with yourself. If you're not getting shortlisted - look at your self and ask 'What is it that I'm not getting right? or 'Could I do something differently?'

I'm afraid the saying 'You cannot change the behaviour of others - you can only change your own' is apt here. Accept that if you continue completing personal statements in the same way, then it's likely you'll continue to be rejected. Examine what you're doing, seek advice and accept that you will have to do something different. A well completed application form and personal statement are the gateway to a job interview and the opportunity to get your dream job. I've read hundreds of application forms and personal statements and continue to be suprised by the poor quality of many of them. You may have tried lots of different things already, but read my hub which has a number of tips to help you get to that interview stage.

So where should you start?

• Be honest with yourself (e.g. Recognise what's not working.)
  
• Be open to a change of strategy.
• Start forward planning.
  
• Allow sufficient time to produce an outstanding personal statement.
  

Unless you keep a diary it can be difficult when applying for a job to recall details of your achievements or specificchallenges you have faced. I've never had the discipline to keep a dairy, but every weekend for the last sixteen years or more I have spent thirty minutes to an hour thinking about what I learnt from work that week and typing up a bullet pointed list

This meant when I was applying for jobs I had a prompt sheet and a wealth of information that I could draw on. It saved me a lot of stess and it certainly contributed to my success of being shortlisted for every job I applied for.

Also there are lots of organisations that have samples of excellent personal statements for you to read such as A Perfect CV or search out Amazon for books on writing personal statements for specific jobs.

1. Read the Job Description and Job/Personal Specification and write the statement based on these. Too many people concentrate on describing what skills they have with scant regard for what skills the job requires. Read the documents and make notes about what skills and experience you have that match the criteria before you start.
2. Follow a clear logical structure - Don't keep going backwards and forward to the same subject.
   
3. Use headings - This tip is a matter of personal choice, but in my view it makes a statement far easier and quicker to read .
4. Capture the readers interest- Start with what you can bring to the company. Too many people write about what the job would do for their own career. That's not very attractive to a potential employer.
   
5. Avoid using acronyms - If you use an acronym, then you need to tell the reader what it means. Don't assume that the reader will know, you cannot be certain who is taking part in the short-listing process.
6. Use appropriate language - Some people make the mistake of writing in the same style as they would write to a friend. Don't it's not appropriate.
   
7. Back-up your experience with quotes and/or data and don't forget to mention the impact- Don't just say " I have improved company sales for the last two years. " This is a weak statement. By how much did the sales increase? Was this above expected performance? What were the benefits to the company? Another favourite of applicants is to say "I am committed to equality and diversity." How? What have you done to demonstrate this commitment?
   
8. Mention your relevant Continuous Professional Development (CPD) - Companies will want to know that you have up-to-date in your specialist area. Don't just write a list. Mention a couple of key points and remember to describe the impact any training and how it has impacted on your role.
   
9. Be succinct - Two pages are generally the accepted length for personal statements. However, you can also write too little. There are applicants who on being told they were not short-listed because there was too little information people have often said they thought they would go into detail at the interview. In the current competitive job market that sort of naivity is unwise. You are unlikely to be shortlisted.
10. Don't leave it until the last moment to complete a personal statement - I don't advocate spending two weeks drawing it up- but doing it the night before the deadline is generally not productive. Remember, you don't want to keep applying for jobs - you want to get an interview and the job.
    
11. Type your personal statement - Unless they actually say they want you to handwrite a statement then it should be typed. Some of you are probably thinking that no one these days would do anything but type - but believe me they do. I have seen dozens of statements written in very poor handwriting with mistakes crossed out. It just doesn't look professional.
    
12. When you have finished the statement. Put it away in a drawer for 24 hrs before reading it again. You will then look at it with fresh eyes.
13. Proof-read your statement - Oh yes I know it sounds obvious but too many people submit miss-spelt statements. You can't rely on a spell checker nor your own eyes. It's all too easy to read through your own mistakes. (I know - I do it on these hubs). Ask a reliable friend to proof-read it for you and give you feedback on the content.
    

You may feel that you don't want to tempt fate and start preparing for a job interview that you may not get. Well have faith in yourself. Start making notes on different examples of your experience that you would want to talk about in an interview. You can even jot down some questions that you would like to ask. This isn't a waste of time, it's another example of forward planning.

Good luck