How to describe yourself on a CV
How to describe yourself on a CV to get noticed? Start with a strong personal statement. A personal statement is a vital part of any CV. It serves as an introduction and at the same time as a summary of your document, allowing you to present your professional profile and gain the interest of a potential employee. If you are wondering what is the best way to introduce yourself in your CV, you are on the right page. Check the About me CV examples and read on to find out everything you need to know.
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What is the About Me section of a CV? In simplest terms, this is a short paragraph at the top of your CV, just below your contact details, describing your professional profile. Usually 3-4 sentences long, it talks about your past experiences and achievements.
In this post you will find out:
What makes a personal statement good
A good personal statement for your CV should be a brief summary that highlights your skills, experience, and achievements relevant to the job you are applying for. It should be concise, well-written, and tailored to the specific position you are applying for.
These are some of the key elements that make up a good personal statement on a CV:
Tailored to the job
Make sure your personal statement is relevant to the position you are applying for. Read the job description carefully and identify the key skills and requirements. Tailor your statement to highlight the skills and experience you have that match the requirements of the position.
Shows your unique qualities
Your personal statement should highlight what is unique about you – the skills, experience or achievements that set you apart from other candidates. Think about what sets you apart and how you can add value to the role.
Clear and easy to understand
A good personal statement should be easy to read and understand. Use simple language and avoid using jargon or technical terms that the employer may not be familiar with. Your statement should be no longer than two or three sentences and should communicate your professional profile straight away.
Features your achievements
Use your personal statement to showcase your achievements. These can range from awards you have won to projects you have managed. Make sure you give specific examples that demonstrate your skills and experience.
Has a positive tone
Your personal statement should have a positive tone and should show your enthusiasm and passion for your work. Use words that express confidence and a positive attitude. This is a great way to show that you can be a great addition to the team.
What to write about yourself in a CV
Let's start by saying that every CV is designed to introduce you in such a way that a potential employer can determine from this short document whether it is worth inviting you for an interview. When writing a CV, you should remember that each section of the CV describes a different aspect of your professional profile.
In your CV you should write:
- Contact details including your phone number, email address and home address.
- An About Me section, also known as a Personal statement, Professional Summary, or CV bio, which includes a maximum of 4 sentences describing your experience and achievements.
- Employment history, a section that tells you about your past work experience. Write your experiences in reverse chronological order, i.e. starting with the most recent. Under each experience, list a few achievements or responsibilities from that particular workplace.
- Education. This section of your CV tells a prospective employer whether you are sufficiently qualified for the job.
- You may also want to add additional sections, such as Certificates, Interests, Languages, etc., to provide additional information about what the employer can expect from you.
Take a look at these 3 examples of expertly written CVs to see what we mean:
What to write in a personal statement of your CV
Your About Me section has the special purpose of convincing recruiters that you are right for the job. It should be both powerful and friendly. There are certain words that carry a specific power. Use impactful adjective and action verbs.
See which adjectives are worth putting in your Personal Statement…
Self-motivated
Self-motivated people are a great addition to any team because they are driven by their internal desire to succeed, improve and grow and are willing to put in the effort to achieve their goals.
Personable
Personable people contribute to a good working atmosphere. This translates into both a smooth workflow and good relations with colleagues or customers.
Charismatic
Charismatic people display strong interpersonal skills, as well as communication skills and a natural ability to easily connect with others, which makes them successful in leading and influencing other people toward achieving a common goal.
Organised
Being organised is a very important quality at work, especially in professions that require a lot of attention to detail and accuracy. Good organisation helps to maintain an efficient workflow and to avoid mistakes or missed deadlines.
Decisive
This is a very important trait, especially in those aspiring to leadership positions. Being decisive requires the right set of skills to be able to consider a situation objectively and make an informed decision in a timely manner.
Reliable
More often than not, employers are looking for skilled people who will stay with the company for years. Show that you are a person who can be relied upon.
Passionate
Being passionate about your work is important because it can drive motivation and dedication to your job. Employers look for passionate employees because they are more likely to be enthusiastic, driven and dedicated to their tasks and responsibilities.
Adaptable
Being adaptable can be very important, especially in a dynamic, fast-paced working environment, where changes occur not even from day to day, but from hour to hour. This is an important trait that demonstrates flexibility and persistence.
Action verbs to use in your CV…
| Achieved | Influenced |
| Accomplished | Innovated |
| Advised | Led |
| Analysed | Managed |
| Built | Mentored |
| Completed | Negotiated |
| Conducted | Organised |
| Coordinated | Oversaw |
| Created | Planned |
| Delivered | Produced |
| Designed | Reduced |
| Developed | Resolved |
| Directed | Sold |
| Established | Supervised |
| Executed | Trained |
| Facilitated | Transformed |
| Implemented | Updated |
| Improved | Upgraded |
| Increased | Utilised |
How to sell yourself on a CV
It may sound a bit crude, but in simple terms, the purpose of a CV is precisely to 'sell' yourself to a potential employer. You want to present yourself in the best possible light, emphasising your strengths, experience, and skills in order to get the job you are applying for. How can you do this?
Start with an engaging personal statement
Grab the attention of the recruiter, or employer, with a short and compelling personal statement that showcases your key strengths and unique achievements or skills.
Tailor your CV to the role
Tailor your CV to the position you are applying for. Use keywords and phrases from the job description to highlight your relevant skills and experience and highlight some of your most important achievements and accomplishments.
Highlight your successes
Instead of simply listing your responsibilities, focus on your achievements and how you have added value in previous roles. Use tangible metrics to show your impact and the value you can bring to the organisation. You can do this both in the About me section and in your Employment History, listing achievements and responsibilities under each experience.
Highlight your skills and competencies
Present your relevant skills and competencies with specific examples of how you have used them in previous roles. These could be either hard skills, soft skills, or industry knowledge.
Use concise language and action verbs
Write in concise language and use strong action verbs to describe your achievements and responsibilities. Avoid overly complicated language or jargon and focus on communicating your message clearly and effectively.
Proofread your CV
Carefully read and edit your CV to ensure that there are no errors or typos and that the formatting and layout are consistent and professional.
About me CV examples for specific job titles
Let’s start with the fact that recruiters review dozens of CVs a day. You want yours to be the one that stands out. But how do you do it? One proven way is to write a good Personal Statement, also known as the About me section or CV Bio.
Check out these 10 About Me CV examples and get inspired to write your CV:
About Me – CV example for a graduate student
Recent graduate student willing to work part-time experienced in a team environment. Graduated with honours in Business Management. Exhibits high personal culture and excellent communication skills. A quick learner, looking for new challenges in a work environment that provides opportunities for growth.
About Me – CV example for a healthcare assistant
Empathetic healthcare assistant with 5 years of experience working with the elderly and people with disabilities. Provides professional care, assisting with basic activities and hygiene, medication administration, and reporting health status to families. Able to build great relationships with patients, based on trust and mutual respect.
About Me – CV example for an elementry teacher
Passionate teaching professional with strong background in early childhood education and talent for helping children reach full potential. Experienced in using various teaching methods and skilled at creating supportive and nurturing learning environments.
About Me – CV example for a customer service respresentative
Focused Customer Service Representative skilled in customer relationship development and sales. Providing unsurpassed support to demanding customers with a passion for consistently improving numbers, enhancing knowledge and exceeding expectations. Provides superior customer service and resolve all issues quickly and with positive attitude.
About Me – CV example for a nurse
Caring Nurse with 10+ years of experience in diverse healthcare organisation working with young patients. Adept at introducing detailed care plans and coordinating patient care through interdisciplinary collaboration. Demonstrated expertise in physical, psychosocial, developmental and educational aspects of nursing care for patients and families.
About Me – CV example for a waiter
Self-motivated eager individual offering excellent skills in guest relations and upselling products and services. Engaging Waiter with ability to articulate and help customers make fine dine menu choices. Excellent issue resolution and customer service skills.
About Me – CV example for an accountant
Organised Accountant with 8 years of managing accurate accounting information, tax return support, bookkeeping and corporate operations. Astute financial professional with keen eye for detail and high level of integrity. Works well in large teams in corporate environments.
About Me – CV example for a receptionist
Personable and energetic Receptionist committed to delivering excellence in all aspects of customer service and administrative support. Exhibits excellent etiquette both on the phone and during face-to-face conversations. Offers honed competence in data entry, database management and planning.
About Me – CV example for a sales assistant
Confident Sales Assistant providing excellent customer service thanks to exceptional people skills and dedicated work ethic. Experienced in book and toy sales, and in providing accuracy and efficiency in day-to-day store tasks. A strong team player, proficient in monitoring security and serving diverse customer needs.
About me – CV example for a barista
Friendly Barista with great people skills and 3 years ofexperience. Dedicated to creating a personalised experience for each customer. Knowledgeable about every step of coffee production, from planting to roasting to brewing, and enthusiastic about promoting sustainable and fair-trade coffee.
How to describe yourself on a CV - Takeaways
To best describe yourself in your CV, use each section to present yourself in a good light without bending the truth.
The Personal Statement section gives you the greatest potential to describe yourself in your CV.
Overall, a good Personal Statement should be concise, relevant and highlight your unique qualities and achievements. It should show your enthusiasm and passion for your work and leave a positive impression on the employer.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to describe yourself in your CV to grab the attention of readers and get them interested in your candidacy, waste no more time and get on with writing your own CV. You can use our CV examples to help you do this, as well as our CV builder, which contains a whole collection of professional personal statements that you can use in your CV.
Jagoda Obszarska
Senior Content Editor, SEO Content Writer
Meet Jagoda Obszarska – a certified copywriter, Polish language translator, and seasoned career adviser. Thriving on constant self-improvement, she eagerly stays ahead in her field. With a rich background working with individuals from over 50 countries, Jagoda has successfully completed more than a thousand projects in copywriting and translation.
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