This time, I would like to cover the basics of writing a personal statement that you need when applying to a school, company, or similar institution.
A personal statement (self-introduction essay) is generally submitted alongside a résumé summarizing your background and is a page on which you should concisely describe the essential information covered in your résumé as well as anything it could not include.
Things to Keep in Mind When Writing a Personal Statement
Be careful not to write a clichéd, predictable résumé
A typical personal statement generally covers your upbringing, strengths and weaknesses, career history and experience, and reasons for applying and aspirations.
However, many previously circulated personal statement samples include clichéd descriptions of one's upbringing, such as 'I was born the ... child in a family with ... sons and ... daughters...', and vague statements that simply assert 'I can do it well' are also common.
Even for these basic topics—upbringing, strengths and weaknesses, career history and experience, and reasons for applying and aspirations—using a single framework to describe the relevant information can make a clear difference in the result.
Key Points for Writing a Personal Statement
Tips for Writing a Personal Statement
To write a clear, easy-to-read personal statement, give each section a subheading, key points, a relevant story, and a conclusion.
For example, in the section on your upbringing, start with a subheading that gives the hiring manager a quick idea of the content or arouses their curiosity, then write approximately 1–2 lines presenting the key points related to that subheading.
Then add approximately 2–4 lines telling a brief story of your own that illustrates those key points, and finally describe what you learned from that story and how you should move forward.
What Makes a Successful Personal Statement?
Of course, each section should be written in a way that brings out its particular characteristics. In the section on your upbringing, it helps to show what in your life so far motivated you to choose this profession or field of study, while in the section on your strengths and weaknesses, you should present yourself honestly as you are and subtly indicate what efforts you are making to address your weaknesses and where they could be put to positive use.
For career history and experience, it is important to include professional details about your experience in the relevant work and how you can respond to crises and similar situations, while for your reasons for applying and aspirations, briefly outlining what you liked about the company, institution, or school and your plans for the mindset and methods you will use to carry out your work would make for an ideal personal statement.
I hope this information helps you write your personal statement, and with that, I would like to conclude this brief guide to writing a personal statement.
