5 Steps for Writing a Personal Profile on a CV

Updated 15 April 2023

A curriculum vitae, or CV, is the document in your application materials that lists your education, skills and work experience. The objective statement in your CV is a brief section that articulates your current career trajectory and ambitions. If you are applying for new positions, it can be beneficial to learn more about the personal statement in a CV. In this article, we explore why writing a personal profile on a CV is important, show how to craft your statement, detail tips for writing an effective profile and provide examples you can use as inspiration when writing your own.

Why is writing a personal profile on a CV important?

The personal statement is the part of a CV that provides hiring managers with an overview of your professional profile or career objectives. Quality is essential as its typically the first part of your CV that a recruiter may read. The personal profile, also known as objective statements or objective statements is a brief paragraph that follows your name and contact information at the top of the document. Additionally, the personal profile differs from longer statements usually included with university applications.

CV objective statements typically include these three components:

a statement of who you are
your value to the organisation
your career objectives.

As many recruiters decide whether a candidate is suitable within the first few seconds, using a format such as this helps recruiters gauge whether you may be a good match for the role. Your objective statement also provides an opportunity to optimise your CV for application-scanning software and programs that select documents based on keyword usage.

How to create your CV personal profile

You can follow these steps to create an effective objective statement for your CV:

1. State your professional title

Consider providing your professional title in the first sentence of your personal profile. This sentence shows who you are professionally and details your current position within your career. It communicates your profession and your level of expertise. You can also include why you're passionate about your profession and which qualities help you excel.

Example: As a renowned graphic designer, I understand the advanced elements of creating an attractive and irresistible image. I am passionate about creating designs that capture the attention of viewers and have refined my artistry through working with multinational brands and personas.

2. Explain how you can contribute

The hiring manager wants to know how you can improve operations in their organisation, and the next section of the personal profile is your chance to explain it to them. This part demonstrates your aptitude for the position and how your skills and experience can create value for the company. Showcase your achievements that relate to the position and highlight your ability to excel. Choose experiences and achievements emphasise that you're the best candidate for the position. For example, if the position details that leadership is important, describe situations in which your leadership abilities exceeded expectations.

Example: In my previous position as lead designer for the marketing department, I lead six specialised designing teams. I optimised our production by implementing project management tools and prioritising collaboration and ingenuity. We enhanced communication, perfected constructive criticism and reduced the requested weekly edits by 14% throughout the design department.

3. Show how you are unique

Your objective statement is an opportunity to show the hiring manager why they should consider you over the other candidates. However, it can be difficult to explain how you are unique from other candidates when you don't know them, so instead, you can focus on how you can benefit your potential employer. For example, you may learn from your research into the company that they want to increase their client retention, so you can include information about how you can excel in that area.

Example: As lead designer, I valued my connection to our clients. I implemented a new strategy of optimising each design pitch to cater to the client's specific interests and needs, as well as an integrated system for consistent feedback and fixes throughout the design process. This allows the client to remedy small requests at the outset of a design project, reducing the number of complete re-designs we had to manage. These two factors increased client satisfaction by 42% and client retention by 39% by the next quarter.

4. Detail your career objectives

Your potential employer may want to know that you are committed to improvement and planning to develop your skills and enhance your positions during your time with their company. Knowing that you plan to continue to improve can show them you are an excellent investment, and providing detailed goals shows you are self-motivated. Including how the position can help you reach your goals is a great way to communicate your interest.

Example: As part of my professional goals for the next five years, I would like to develop my design abilities and earn an award for my design team. I am seeking a position as a senior design executive, as it may allow me to contribute my innovative ideas to a company while developing my abilities and building professional, artistic relationships.

5. Edit and proofread the statement

The last step in creating your objective statement for your CV is editing and proofreading. During this process, you can refine your language by removing unnecessary words and optimising your verbs to be powerful and concise. Consider asking your friends, family and colleagues for their feedback. You can also use online proofreading programs or submit your CV to an application material feedback service. If you are a student, there may be career guidance specialists who can help you improve your objective statement and CV as a whole.

Tips for writing a personal profile on a CV

You can follow these helpful tips when crafting a personal profile for your CV:

Create a unique personal profile

Try to create a unique statement with each application so that you can showcase skills that more closely match the job. This is a more effective approach than using a generic statement that may not highlight your suitability for a specific position. You might find it more effective to communicate your qualities by detailing beneficial actions that use exact figures.

Use concise language and proper formatting

It is best to limit your statement to three or four sentences, totalling a maximum of about 200 words. This is enough for an impactful personal statement that is easy to scan by the employer. Although the content communicates your skills and capabilities, the way you present that information is equally important. Proper formatting and a consistent voice make your statement easier to read.

Determine your writing style and voice

Writing in the first person is the traditional approach, and using the third person can be just as effective, depending on the position. Choose the one you are most comfortable with and stay consistent throughout the other sections of your CV. For another style, you can omit the use of pronouns altogether.

Example: A renowned graphic designer passionate about creating designs that capture the attention of viewers.

CV personal statement examples

Here are some examples of personal statements that you could use as inspiration for your own statements. Remember to tailor your statement to match the requirements of your targeted position. These are some examples of personal statements for a CV:

Example one

This is an example of a personal statement for first-time job applicants:

I recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, majoring in statistics and analytics. I have experience working in the financial sector by way of an internship with a major multinational firm, which has helped me develop technical capabilities in data engineering and science. I have consistently proven my ability to meet deadlines and achieve project objectives, solve mission-critical problems and prioritise crucial tasks while maintaining the high standards expected of my role. I am currently seeking a position in an established data science firm to further my career goals.

Example two

This objective statement is one from an experienced professional showcasing their abilities and achievements:

Skilled and highly experienced product engineer with an extensive background in the automotive industry. Has a degree in mechanical engineering and over a decade of experience in the field. Has worked extensively in laboratory settings overseeing specialised testing processes and training new technicians. Wide range of experience covering team management, conceptualising development projects and implementing innovative procedures. Currently looking for a position to contribute extensive industry skills and experience.

Example three

This is the personal statement from an experienced marketing professional who keeps their profile concise:

An experienced digital marketing specialist with extensive experience in e-commerce. Has worked with several multinational brands in the development of global marketing strategies, improving market reach and coverage. Currently seeking a senior marketer position in a globally competitive firm.