How to Write a Personal Profile for CV in 2024

Writing a personal profile for CV can seem daunting, and you may feel that you don’t have enough experience to be able to put your best foot forward. If you do not feel confident doing it independently or need CV advice, a CV Writing Service can help. However, you can wow potential employers by writing an effective CV personal profile (also known as a personal statement) if you know how to do it. I have put together this ultimate guide to help you write the perfect personal profile for your CV.

By the end of the article, you will have a much 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!

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.  It is a brief summary of your key skills, work experience, personal qualities, and qualifications that are most relevant to the job you are applying for. 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. 

A personal profile should be no more than three sentences long. The aim of your personal profile is to give employers an insight into your suitability for the role, so it should be tailored to each job you apply for.

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, rather than just a list of your qualifications and professional experience. It is the first thing recruiting managers see when they look at your CV and it should encourage them to read on, rather than discard your CV. 

A personal profile for CV should be a short paragraph at the top of your CV and include your most relevant skills, qualifications, attributes, and experiences. The rest of your CV will describe these in more detail and include more of these. 

Including a personal profile on your CV can make you stand out from other candidates and give you the best chance of landing an interview. So if you’re not sure how to write one, or are looking for some 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 give your job application and CV a boost. 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, and you also need to make sure that 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 it comes to writing a personal profile for your CV, there are a few key things that you need to include in order to 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

This is your chance to sell yourself and your unique personal qualities relevant to the role, so 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

This is your chance to really showcase what you can do. Include any relevant experience that you have and highlight any hard skills, technical skills, or even soft skills that you have that are specifically related to the role you are applying for. If you are seeking a career change, it would be wise to highlight transferable skills that you have, which would make you a strong candidate for the job role. This will show employers that you have the required skills and experience they are looking for.

3.   Relevant qualifications 

As well as highlighting your skills and experience, you should also include any relevant qualifications that you have (if applicable). This will show employers that you have the required qualifications for the role that you are applying for.

4.   Your career goals

State your career objective, including the position you are seeking, 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.

All of the above elements should be summarized succinctly within three sentences or less in your personal profile for CV. By including these key elements, you will be sure to create a personal profile that will help you to stand out from the rest.  This can make all the difference when it comes to whether the recruiting manager continues to read your CV or not and whether you are successful in securing the role that you want.

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. This is so that it can give the reader a brief but informative summary of who you are and what you can offer. Try to include your unique selling points (USP), including your skills, experience, and achievements in your personal profile, as well as what makes you unique.

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 your first impression on a potential employer, so you need to make sure 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. Do keep your personal profile short and sweet, between 50-75 words or under 3 sentences.
2. Do focus on the positive aspects of who you are and what you can bring to the table.
3. Do tailor your personal profile to the specific job or jobs you are applying for. This means that you need to ensure that each skill and professional experience you highlight are relevant to the role in question.
4. Do state the job title or job role of the position you are seeking.
5. Do 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. Do proofread your personal profile and whole CV multiple times. You want to make sure there are no grammatical errors or spelling mistakes.
7. Do consider using a personal profile template or example as a starting point for creating your own. This can help to ensure that you include all of the relevant information in an easily digestible format.
8. Do update your personal profile regularly. As your skills and experience change, so too should the information in your personal profile.
9. Do make use of keywords. In order to ensure that your personal profile is picked up by applicant tracking systems (ATS), be sure to include relevant keywords throughout.
10. Do remember that your personal profile should supplement the information on your CV and help to round out your application.

Don’t:

1. Don’t waffle on or include too much information – remember to keep it short and sweet!
2. Don’t include anything negative about yourself.
3. Don’t use first-person pronouns such as ‘I’, ‘me’, or ‘my’. This is already assumed.
4. Do not list your duties and responsibilities from previous roles, this is what the work experience section of your CV is for.
5. Don’t lie or exaggerate on your personal profile – remember, 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), such as your experience and accomplishments, helping you grab the attention of a prospective employer or recruiter. 
• Adding a personal profile to the top of your CV or resume often greatly increases your chances of being shortlisted for an interview. 
• You can use a personal profile to summarize your story in your own words with impact, directing 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.
• CVs and resumes are typically viewed for a couple of seconds, so it is not easy to draw attention to the most important aspects of your career. Using a personal profile, you can emphasise the aspects of your career and experience that are most important to your employer, persuading them to continue reading your CV or resume.
• Personal profiles can easily be tailored or adapted to target each role you are applying for.

Personal Profile for CV Examples

Here are some CV Personal Profile and Personal Statement examples, which should bring to life many of the points I explained in the guide above including how to structure it, and 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 as you tailor your personal profile to your relevant skills, experiences, and the job role.

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 both 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. Practiced 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 in 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 currently seeking a Senior Nurse role that will utilize my listening skills, advising skills, and strong judgment.

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 give your CV a boost, ensuring you are more likely to be shortlisted to interview for the job you are applying for.  The aim of your CV personal profile or CV Personal Statement is 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 important reminders:

• Your CV personal profile should be between 50-75 words and no more than three sentences long.
• Personal profiles for your CV should be a short, snappy statement that highlights your relevant skills, professional experience, qualities, and qualifications that are most relevant to the job advert and job description. 
• You should also include any relevant career goals and what you hope to achieve in your role. This will give employers an insight into your motivation and drive.
• Your CV is your first impression on a potential employer, so you need to make sure that your personal profile gives them the best possible idea of who you are and what you can do. 
• Focus on the positive aspects of who you are and what you can bring to the table.
• Ensure that the skills and experience you highlight are relevant to the role in question.
• Use strong action verbs, as these will make your profile more dynamic and engaging to read.
• Proofread your personal profile multiple times. You want to make sure there are no grammatical errors or spelling mistakes and that everything is in order.
• Don’t over-inflate your experience or qualifications, but do make sure they are relevant to the role you are applying for. If you are able to include these strengths in your personal profile, employers will see that you have the right skills to be successful in the role, and will also be more likely to choose you over other candidates.

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

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