CV personal statement examples (UK)
The personal statement, or profile, is the short paragraph under your name. It is the first thing a recruiter reads, so it decides whether they keep reading.
What a good personal statement does
In three to five lines it answers three questions: who you are (your role and level), what you bring (one or two strengths with evidence) and what you want next. It is written for the job you are applying for, not for every job.
A simple formula
- Role and experience: "Qualified electrician with 8 years in domestic and commercial work."
- Strength with proof: "Known for clean, first-time-right installs and zero call-backs on my last 60 jobs."
- Goal: "Looking for a supervisor role with a growing contractor."
Examples by job
Nurse
NMC-registered adult nurse with five years on busy surgical wards. Calm in emergencies, confident with deteriorating patients and a trained practice assessor for student nurses. Looking for a Band 6 post in theatres recovery.
Healthcare assistant
Caring healthcare assistant with three years in residential dementia care and a Care Certificate. Patient, reliable and trusted by families to notice the small changes that matter. Seeking a HCA role on an NHS ward.
Electrician
JIB Gold Card electrician with 18th Edition and eight years in domestic rewires and commercial fit-outs. Works cleanly and to programme, with my own tools, van and a full UK licence. Available for site or maintenance work.
Warehouse operative
Warehouse operative with counterbalance and reach truck licences and a steady 115% pick rate. 100% attendance over two years on rotating shifts. Happy to work nights and weekends.
Retail or hospitality
Friendly barista and shift lead with four years in high-volume coffee shops, serving up to 200 customers a day. Trains new starters and handles cashing up. Available evenings and weekends.
Admin or office
Organised office administrator supporting a 40-person team, from diary management to invoicing in Xero. Known for tidy systems and quick replies. Looking for a PA or office manager role.
Software developer
Backend developer with four years building Python and Go services on AWS. Cut API response times by 70% at my current fintech employer. Looking for a mid-level role on a product team that ships often.
Accountant
ACCA part-qualified finance assistant (9 of 13 exams passed) with three years in a £40m manufacturing business. Runs month-end reconciliations and the fixed asset register. Looking for a management accountant role.
Marketing
Digital marketer with four years across paid social, email and SEO for consumer brands. Grew organic traffic by 140% in 18 months at my current employer. Looking for a marketing manager role.
Graduate
Business Management graduate (2:1, University of Leeds) with a year's placement in a retail head office analysing weekly sales. Confident with Excel and presenting to managers. Looking for a graduate scheme in commercial or buying.
School leaver
Hard-working school leaver with 7 GCSEs including English and Maths. Volunteered every Saturday at a charity shop for a year, working the till and sorting stock. Looking for a first job or apprenticeship in retail.
Career changer
Former secondary school teacher moving into learning and development, with ten years of designing lessons and training staff. Recently completed a CIPD Level 5 certificate. Looking for an L&D coordinator role.
Mistakes to avoid
- Empty phrases such as "hard-working team player with excellent communication skills" with nothing to back them up
- Writing about what you want from the employer instead of what you offer
- Going on too long. Keep it to five lines at most.
- Switching between "I" and third person. Pick one. Most UK CVs leave out "I" altogether.
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