6 Tips for Including a Personal Statement on a Resume

A personal statement or objective on a resume is a brief paragraph or statement that summarizes your career goals, skills, and experience. It should be typically located at the top of the resume, and its purpose should be to provide the reader with a quick overview of who you are and what you can offer as a candidate.

1. Keep it brief: Your personal statement or objective should be a brief summary of your career goals and skills, ideally no more than 2-3 sentences.
2. Customize it for each job application: Tailor your personal statement or objective to the specific job you’re applying for. Use keywords from the job posting to show the employer that you’re a good match for the position.
3. Be specific: Use specific examples to highlight your skills and experience. For example, instead of saying “I have excellent communication skills,” say “I have experience giving presentations to large groups and communicating complex ideas to team members.”
4. Focus on your value proposition: Your personal statement or objective should highlight what you bring to the table as a candidate. Focus on your unique skills, experience, and accomplishments that make you stand out from other applicants.
5. Avoid generic statements: Avoid using generic statements that don’t provide any real insight into your skills or experience. For example, avoid saying things like “I’m a hard worker” or “I’m a team player.”
6. Keep it professional: Your personal statement or objective should be professional in tone and free of any personal information that’s not relevant to your career goals. Avoid using slang, jargon, or overly casual language.

FAQs

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“text”: “A personal statement is a brief summary of your professional background, skills, and career goals that is typically included at the beginning of a resume. It is also known as a resume summary or objective statement.”
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