Upgrade your CV - A bio/personal statement.

If you haven't had a chance to review my blog on how to get a hiring managers’ attention, click here to learn more. 

In order to make the right first impression, a well structured CV that is tailored to the role you are applying for is essential to securing that next step. 

This blog focuses on how to write an effective bio/personal statement. 

You might wonder why this step is so crucial when you feel as if your experience speaks for itself, but when a hiring manager is reviewing application after application, a strong introductory bio can make or break the decision on whether they continue to read on.  

To make your personal statement stand out, follow these guidelines so that it engages the hiring manager to keep reading. 

• Start by providing a short and succinct summary of your experience.

• Highlight how your key skills can contribute to their organisation

• Describe your soft skills which are relevant to the role

• End by describing your enthusiasm for the role. 

In this example below, the candidate is a Technical Project Manager who has worked for a bank and an insurance company for the last 6 years.  

Which one do you feel tells their story better?

I've worked as a Tech PM and feel like I have demonstrated the right skills throughout my career to make me successful in this one.  I am a team player and adaptable to change and willing to learn in a new environment which makes me a key candidate for this role.  

This example above is very generic, contains abbreviations and typical buzz words that are commonly used.  It doesn't give much of an indication on how they have the experience for the role. The next example feels more personalised and highlights key elements of their experience to help the hiring manager feel like they are a stronger fit for the role. 

As a Technical Project Manager with 6 years of experience supporting technical implementations within the Financial Services sector,  I have applied agile methodologies across multiple projects to successfully deliver initiatives on time with the right resources and within budget.  I work strongly with stakeholders and partner well with teams to ensure all deliverables are met and would welcome the opportunity to apply this experience and develop further within your role. 

The hiring manager at a glance can see your experience, your key skills, your ability to work with teams and your willingness to develop further.  They will be keen to see what else you can offer in the rest of your application. 

For more hints and tips, check out my website or follow me on LinkedIn.  

If you would like help and support with ensuring your CV gets a hiring manager excited to meet you, get in touch to see how I can help.