How to Write a Personal Profile for CV in 2024

Have you ever spent hours crafting the perfect CV, only to have it lost in the black hole of a recruiter’s inbox? Studies show that recruiters spend only 7.4 seconds (on average) scanning a CV (Source: theladders.com). That means you have a very narrow window to make a strong impression. One way to grab a recruiter’s attention and land that interview is with a compelling personal profile for your CV. This short introduction is your chance to shine. You have the opportunity to:

• Highlight your most relevant skills and experience
• Convince the recruiter to give your CV a closer look.

In this blog post, we’ll explore:

• What a personal profile is
• Why it’s important
• How to write one that will make you stand out from the competition.

I will also provide some helpful tips and examples to get you started. By the end of the article, you will have a clearer idea of how to write a Personal Profile for your CV or resume that will make you stand out from the competition. So, let’s get started!

Who am I, and why should you trust my advice on CVs?

My name is Brian Vander Waal, and I have invested more than 17 years in the employment and careers sector. As a career coach, I have supported thousands of clients by creating CVs, resumes, and cover letters that have helped them land their dream jobs. Due to my expertise and experience, I know what it takes to help people succeed in creating CVs, resumes, and cover letters.

What is a personal profile for CV?

A personal profile for CV is a short, snappy introduction that tells the hiring manager a little bit about you as a person.  A personal profile should be no more than three sentences long. It is a brief summary of your:

• Key skills
• Work experience
• Personal qualities
• Qualifications.

It is not an exhaustive list of your entire work history, academic background, skills, or qualifications. Instead, your CV profile should focus on your most unique selling points related to the job specification. 

Your personal profile should be tailored to each job you apply for, as it aims to give employers an insight into your suitability for the role.

Why is a personal profile needed on my CV? 

A personal profile or personal statement is needed on your CV because:

• It gives a prospective employer an insight into who you are as a person
• It is aimed at encouraging recruiting managers to continue reading your CV
• It can make you stand out from other candidates and give you the best chance of landing an interview.

So, if you’re unsure how to write one or are looking for inspiration, read on! 

Top Tips On How to Write a High-quality Personal Profile for CV

A personal profile for CV is a great way to boost your job application and CV. It allows you to sell yourself to potential employers and show them why you’re the perfect candidate for the role.

However, writing a personal profile can be tricky. You need to strike the right balance between sounding arrogant and being too modest. You must also ensure your profile is relevant to the job you’re applying for. 

To write an effective personal profile for CV:

• Consider what qualifications, personal qualities, skills, and experiences are most relevant to the role you are applying for.
• Use strong verbs to describe these qualities and quantify your achievements where possible.
• Make sure your CV personal profile is error-free by proofreading it carefully before submitting your CV to a recruiter.

What to include in your personal profile for CV 

When writing a personal profile for your CV, you must make sure that your CV stands out from the rest. Here are some of the things that you should include in your personal profile:

1.   A summary of who you are as a person

You should include a summary of who you are as a person. This is your chance to sell yourself and your unique personal qualities relevant to the role. Make sure you make the most of it! It allows employers to see what you can bring to the table.

2.   Your skills and work experience

You should highlight your skills and work experience. This is your chance to really showcase what you can do. Highlight your unique selling points specifically related to the role you are applying for, including:

• Experience
• Hard skills,
• Technical skills
• Soft skills

Further, if you are seeking a career change, it would be wise to highlight your transferable skills. This will help make you a stronger candidate for the job role because it will show employers that you have the required skills and experience they are looking for.

3.   Relevant qualifications 

Highlighting your skills and experience should be complemented by including any relevant qualifications (if applicable). This will show employers that you have the required qualifications for the role you are applying for.

4.   Your career goals

State your career objective, including the position you seek, a brief description of your career goal, and what you hope to achieve in your role. Stating your career goals will give employers an insight into your motivation and drive

How long should my personal profile for CV be? 

A personal profile for CV should be around 50-75 words long or three sentences or less. It should give the reader a brief but informative summary of who you are and what you can offer.

Dos and Don’ts of a Personal Profile for CV 

There are a few Dos and Don’ts to follow when writing your personal profile for CV.  Your CV is the first impression a potential employer will have of you, so you must ensure that your personal profile or personal statement gives them the best possible idea of who you are and what you can do. Here are some dos and don’ts to help you write the perfect personal profile for your CV: 

Do:

1. Keep your personal profile short and sweet, between 50-75 words or under three sentences.
2. Focus on the positive aspects of who you are and what you can bring to the employer.
3. Tailor your personal profile to the specific job or jobs you are applying for. This means you must ensure that each skill and professional experience you highlight is relevant to the role.
4. State the job title of the position you are seeking.
5. Use strong action verbs such as developed, organized, coordinated, oversaw, increased/decreased, created, designed, etc. These will make your profile more dynamic and engaging to read.
6. Proofread your personal profile and CV multiple times. You want to ensure that there are no grammatical or spelling errors.
7. Consider using a personal profile template or example as a starting point for creating your own. This can help ensure you include all relevant information in an easily digestible format.
8. Update your personal profile regularly. As your skills and experience change, so should the information in it.
9. Use keywords. Include relevant keywords throughout your personal profile to ensure that it is picked up by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
10. Remember that your personal profile should supplement your CV information and help round out your application.

Don’t:

1. Waffle on or include too much information – remember to keep it short and sweet!
2. Include anything negative about yourself.
3. Use first-person pronouns such as ‘I,’ ‘me,’ or ‘my.’ This is already assumed.
4. List your duties and responsibilities from previous roles. This is what the work experience section of your CV is for.
5. Lie or exaggerate on your personal profile. Remember that everything you write can and will be verified, so it’s not worth stretching the truth.

Benefits of a Personal Profile for CV

There are many benefits to adding a personal profile to a CV including:

• Recruiters look at personal profiles to get a sense of who you are
• A personal profile can briefly outline your unique selling points (USP). As a result, you are more likely to grab the attention of a prospective employer or recruiter. 
• It greatly increases your chances of being shortlisted for an interview. 
• It summarises your story in your own words with impact.
• It directs the recruiter’s understanding of you and what you have to offer from the outset rather than allowing them to make assumptions.
• It allows you to pique the interest of a recruiter or potential employer.
• It allows you to persuade recruiters to continue reading your CV in the few seconds you have.
• Personal profiles can easily be tailored or adapted to target each role you apply for.

Personal Profile for CV Examples

Below are some CV Personal Profile and Personal Statement examples. These examples should bring to life many of the points I explained in the guide above, including:

• How to structure it
• How to write one that will make you stand out from the competition! 

The intention is not for you to copy them but rather to use them as a template.  These examples are also provided to inspire you and help you to get your creative juices flowing.

Example 1: Retail Store Manager

A highly competent, experienced Store Manager with a BA (Hons) in Business & Management and the proven ability to lead and develop retail stores and my staff, currently seeking a Retail Store Manager role. Key achievements include successfully developing fundraising ideas and consistently increasing sales by as much as 88% by focusing on customer service, loyalty, and marketing. 

Example 2: Senior Project Manager

A conscientious, efficient, and professional person with 15 years of experience in project management and a BSc (Hons) in Project Management, seeking a Senior Project Manager role, which will utilize my organisation skills, management skills, and attention to detail.  Recent achievements include project management of a £1.5 million project and developing an innovative filing and indexing system.

Example 3: Cyber Security Architect

Trusted Cyber Security Analyst with an MSc in Cyber Security, a CompTIA Security+ certification, and 8 years of experience protecting companies against internal and external threats; currently seeking a Cyber Security Architect role.  Talented at preemptively detecting unidentified threat vectors and applying preventative measures to mitigate security flaws.  Gained experience employing technological solutions, designing security systems, assessing systems for gaps, and recommending solutions against malicious actors.

Example 4: Lead Engineer

A seasoned mechanical engineer with an MSc in Advanced Mechanical Engineering and more than 9 years of experience creating product concepts from inception to production, currently seeking a role as a Lead Engineer. Practised in the processes of specification, design, prototyping, cost analysis, validation, and testing. Skilled in using AutoCAD to create full-scale and detailed project proposals, including project work scope and end-user requirements. Achieved success in improving design components, increasing product and manufacturing efficiency, and decreasing the constant need for re-engineering.

Example 5: Employment and Careers Consultant

An experienced Employment and Careers Consultant, Project Manager, and Careers Adviser with a Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development and more than 23 years of international experience of working with young people aged 14-25.  My success in developing programmes, brokering jobs and apprenticeships, reducing unemployment, and empowering clients and staff demonstrates the value I can bring to your organisation as a Consultant.

Example 6: Voluntary Sector Service Manager

An experienced Day Centre Manager, Project Manager, and Line Manager with more than 16 years of experience working with vulnerable adults, children, and elderly people. Successfully supported many people who are fleeing domestic violence and who have mental health issues within the voluntary sector.  Currently seeking a Service Manager role, which will benefit from my extensive experience and success in managing day centres, managing projects, and empowering clients and staff.

Example 7: Senior Nurse

A compassionate, caring and competent Registered Nurse with a BSc (Hons) in Adult Nursing and 7 years of professional experience supporting patients with acute to chronic conditions through successfully creating, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive nursing care plans. A proven leader who is skilled at guiding nursing teams toward achieving patient care goals, improving satisfaction, and continuously driving widespread healthcare system initiatives. I am seeking a Senior Nurse role that will utilize my listening, advising, and strong judgment skills.

Example 8: Live-in Nanny 

A caring, patient, and flexible childcare professional with more than six years experience in childcare, more than five years experience as a Live-In Nanny, and a Pearson Edexcel Level 3 for the Children and Young People’s Workforce qualification.  Currently looking for a Live-in Nanny role, which utilizes my creativity, organizational skills, and ability to meet the holistic needs of children. 

Example 9: Local Government Officer

An enthusiastic, self-motivated, and highly personable individual with over 3 years of experience working in Local Government, looking for a role within the Local Authority that will utilize my Project Management, Human Resource, Finance, and Data Management Skills.

Example 10: Graduate CV Personal Profile

A recent graduate with a 2:1 BA in Economics and Management from the University of Oxford, seeking a Graduate Commercial Analyst position. My studies have given me a comprehensive knowledge of economic theory, data modeling, data analysis, financial modeling, investment analysis, valuation of transactions, business planning and market trends analysis. An accomplished user of Excel, Stata, Matlab, SAS, and various statistical software.

Example 11: Student CV – Retail Management Apprenticeship

An efficient, hardworking, and enthusiastic student with experience working part-time at Next. Achieved an A / A / B in Economics, Business Studies, and Maths respectively. Able to quickly adapt to different situations and surroundings. I am currently seeking a Retail Management Apprenticeship, which will utilize my customer service skills, communication skills, and interpersonal skills.

Summary / Conclusion:

Your personal profile for CV is your chance to sell yourself to a prospective employer or recruiter and show them why you’re the perfect candidate for the role. It is a great way to boost your CV, ensuring you are more likely to be shortlisted for an interview for the job you are applying for.  Your CV personal profile or Personal Statement aims to give employers an insight into your suitability for the role, so it should be tailored to each job you apply for. 

Here are some next steps:

• Bookmark this guide: Keep these tips handy to refresh your memory before writing your next personal profile.
• Schedule a consultation with me: I can help you write your personal profile or CV / Resume. Contact me through this form to book CV or resume writing services.
• Subscribe to my newsletters for even more career advice and job search tips delivered to your inbox!
• Connect with me on social media (see links below) for ongoing career development resources and insights.

Thanks for reading! I hope this article was helpful! If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below!