How to write a Personal Statement that doesn't sound contrived

[Marblesjacks]

I am applying for a new job and haven't written an application in years. I'm sure there are many people in the same boat at the moment.

How do you write a Personal Statement without sounding like a complete idiot? I'd like it to flow and sound natural rather than full of cliches and overused phrases ... are there any good resources out there? I am very out of practice. Thank you for any advice.

I don't know about resources as such but when I advise my 6th formers on their UCAS applications I always tell them to start off by just saying out loud why they want to study X and writing that down. Once you know WHAT you want to say you can fanny about with the phrasing, order, emphasis etc as needed but start with the basics.

Just put yourself in their shoes and tell them, in normal speak, why you are a good bet.

Do not be embarrassed about singing your own praises. Remember that if a man is applying, he won't be.

On a job application I would make sure that I cover every point on the person specification or job description. Remember, they are not thinking 'does this person sound amazing' they are ticking off whether you are worth shortlisting.

Is there essential criteria?

I’ve done a few Civil Service based ones and they have always needed to be able to match the criteria to your statement, and I prefer to keep a paragraph/section a piece for each one. I tend to start and end saying essentially the same thing - why I want the role and why I am right for it.

I also always think I sound wanky doing it, but you’ve got to really!

Something like ' I am looking to develop my career in the Wool sector and would relish the opportunity to work in a dynamic and innovative company such as Knits r Us.

I believe my skill set and experience to date makes me eminently suitable for the role of knitting manager. Specifically: [copy person spec]

• Experienced of different yarns

In my role at Patterns Inc I regularly knitted with cotton, yak fur and spaghetti

• Management experience

I am an experienced manager currently with 6 direct and 12 indirect reports

Etc.

My advice....read elevator pitch. Then come up with a pitch that describes your particular unique combination of what makes you tick.
If you can get to the bottom of how you think and why you act it will tell an employee/college much more about what your capable of.
So, not “ I m good at organising” or “I like working with people” think harder and summarise why you are good at organising- what is it in your brain that does that...or why you like working with people...dig deep into self awareness and then you’ll stand out much more than usual trite phrases. Shows you’ve really thought about who you are.

@titchy Love it! And love the job!

@Hagqueen

Is there essential criteria?

I’ve done a few Civil Service based ones and they have always needed to be able to match the criteria to your statement, and I prefer to keep a paragraph/section a piece for each one. I tend to start and end saying essentially the same thing - why I want the role and why I am right for it.

I also always think I sound wanky doing it, but you’ve got to really!

No not wanky.

Civil service and other companies use STARs: situation, task, action, results.

I’ve done coaching with youngsters on this for both cvs, applications and job interviews. I’ve been interviewing for years. A lot of work to get your stars together but it makes you shine out at interviews.

Do exactly this: look up about STARs if you don’t know and then keep a “ bank” of them you collect and build over your career. Ready to run with when you need a promotion, salary raise, job change etc.

Give examples for most of the person specification. So if project management, describe a project you have managed and the impact. Big yourself up but no blatant lies. Maybe do notes or a mind map first to get deeper into your ideas.

(I hate job application forms so much!!!!!!).

@titchy

Something like ' I am looking to develop my career in the Wool sector and would relish the opportunity to work in a dynamic and innovative company such as Knits r Us.

I believe my skill set and experience to date makes me eminently suitable for the role of knitting manager. Specifically: [copy person spec]

• Experienced of different yarns

In my role at Patterns Inc I regularly knitted with cotton, yak fur and spaghetti

• Management experience

I am an experienced manager currently with 6 direct and 12 indirect reports

Etc.

I’m sorry, not knocking you 😳 but that’ll be OP and other 500 applicants. Just vanilla and full of what she “ believes”

No problem imagine

It won't be OP and 500 others though. 400 others will have said nothing in their PS of note!

The PS (or covering letter) is a tool to enable shortlisting. Nothing more nothing less. So one which has all the essential and most if not all the desirable criteria addressed will go on the 'interview' pile. The rest on the reject pile.

Though yes I agree about 'I believe'. Should be 'I am' and 'I have'. That was my inner imposter peeking out!

Half of cover letters these days aren't even seen by the hiring manager, someone from HR will just screen it against the job criteria. Buzzwords are what they want - use the words they have used in the person specification and make their lives easy.

When we score applicants =-- we have to score them, we refer to the essential & desirable criteria. So absolutely, refer to each & everyone essential criteria point to get scored high enough to get to interview.

I dunno about the STAR thing. I get why some folk like it, but I may not have a result specific which is easily understood for the R .

Don't worry about it sounding contrived. It's all guff and they know it, but they still ask it!

Thank you everyone, really helpful and I'm taking on board the tips