How to Write a Personal Profile for a CV or Resume [+ Real Examples]

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Why Your CV Personal Profile Matters

When a hiring manager first receives your resume, they spend 6 to 10 seconds reviewing it. Given this short attention span, you should use every opportunity to make the most prominent skills and achievements noticeable at first sight. A personal profile, also known as a career summary, helps you do just that. This short section at the top briefly outlines your years of experience, relevant skills, and achievements. It is meant to grasp the recruiter's attention and inspire them to read the entire resume. Your career path should be clearly outlined.

Personal profile writing is confusing for many reasons. Some job-seekers use it to reiterate their skills and experience once again. Others fill it with unnecessary self-descriptions like proactive, motivated, hard-working. In today's article, our resume writers are going to share tips for writing a persuasive profile that sparks interest and draws attention to your strengths as an employee. A compelling personal profile is more than just a brief job history written in a few words. It does not take too much space but presents your most relevant skills and career progression.

Example of a good personal profile for a job application with key duties for the position of a logistics coordinator:

Detail-oriented and proactive logistics coordinator with over 5 years of experience managing international supply chains and optimizing transport processes. Adept at reducing costs through data-driven strategies and improving on-time delivery rates by 25%. Currently seeking to leverage my expertise in a dynamic, growth-focused company.

Example of a bad personal profile that neither shows relevant experience nor makes a strong personal statement:

I am a hardworking, honest person who is good with people and always tries to do my best. I have done various jobs and am looking for a new opportunity where I can learn and grow.

Want a flawless resume by tomorrow? Professional and certified writers of Resumeperk.com can assist with writin of your CV personal profile as well as other resume sections. A writer works on resume content, design and keywording, and is open to your comments and suggestions. We work with English-speaking writers only and can develop your brand-new custom resume within 24 hours.

People Also Ask

What to include in profile of CV?

Your CV personal profile should include your job title, top achievements, key skills, and career goals in a short paragraph of 3–5 lines.

How to make profile of a person?

Start by identifying the person’s core strengths, experiences, and career goals. Summarize them clearly and concisely in a personal profile.

How to write a personal profile on a resume?

Use 3–5 lines to introduce yourself, your key achievements, and what value you bring to a potential employer. Tailor it to the job description.

Example of a personal profile?

"Detail-oriented software engineer with 5+ years of experience in web development, passionate about scalable and user-centered applications."

Do You Need a Personal Statement on a CV or Resume?

Do you need a resume personal statement?

Does every job-seeker need a personal profile? If you open some career blogs on the internet, you will find that the opinions vary. However, our resume writing agency with 12+ years of experience recommends that you always include a personal statement. It gives you a priceless opportunity to summarize what's unique about you as a candidate and how your superstrengths are relevant to the job.

When You Should Include a Resume Personal Statement

• You have relevant experience in the target industry or role.
• You want to highlight your unique strengths and professional achievements.
• You aim to grab the recruiter’s attention with a strong summary of your value.
• You're applying for a job where you meet most or all of the requirements.
• You want to tailor your CV for a specific position using a compelling summary.

When You Might Use a Resume Objective Instead

• You're a recent graduate with little or no work experience.
• You're changing careers and lack direct experience in the new field.
• You want to highlight transferable skills rather than past achievements.
• You prefer to state your career goals and what you aim to contribute.
• You don’t have enough concrete accomplishments to fill a traditional summary.

Whether you are an experienced insurance administrator or have just completed training courses in human resources or business management, your career aspirations should be clearly embedded in your employment history.

How to Write a Strong Personal Profile: Step-by-Step Guide

3-5 sentences in length

Personal statements are meant to be concise. Their goal is to briefly market your skillset and professional highlights. Since the resume has a 2-page limit, keep the profile to 3-5 sentences and bullet points. Such a strict limitation requires the ability to prioritize facts and determine what's most valuable for your target position.

Tailor it to your desired job

Effective resume writing requires targeting, and a personal statement is no exception. Remember to slightly target the skill set and qualifications you describe in a summary. Different employers want different work expeirence and specialization, and personal profiles should reflect that. Targeting a personal profile every time may sound daunting, yet, this is the only working strategy to pass the ATS and get noticed.

Speak through facts and evidence

Saying that you are highly skilled and have great communication skills is the easiest thing to do. Yet, recruiters want facts and evidence. Instead of saying you have strong sales skills, write "Awarded Regional Sales Manager multiple times". Instead of claiming that you're a proven leader, say "Led a team of 30+ software developers with 100% of deadlines met". Facts sound more persuasive and draw more attention.

Include valuable educational credentials

Apart from workplace accomplishments, academic achievements also worth of your attention. If you have a degree from prestigious school, a certification which is valued high in your industry, or were awarded for superior academic performance, mention it in your CV personal profile. This is particularly important for entry-level professionals who don't have much career accomplishments yet.

Use context

Context and details can say a lot about our experience to a recruiter. Simply writing that you're a marketing professional sounds somewhat vague. If you write that your work experience encompasses employment with small marketing agencies where you completed projects for large manufacturing customers, it would be a better example. If such context meets what the employers is looking for, you'll have a better chance for an itnterview.

Insert high-value keywords

Since the profile is placed at the top of your CV, keywords you use here will value more than the keywords at the bottom of the page. Review the job description to understand what qualifications the company seeks in the first place, and use them. Don't staff the entire section with keywords, though - you write for human recruiters in the first place!

Proofread carefully

Hiring managers don't tolerate typos and grammar mistakes. 59% of them will reject a resume with typos. So, it's a good idea to proofread the document paying special attention to CV personal statement. Read the document aloud to faster identify issues or use an online spell checker to get rid of typos, poor punctuation and incorrect grammar.

Use the Who + What + Result approach

This approach is very simple and yet very effective to use when you need to align your history with job requirements or educational history. Let's take a look at several examples of how to use this formula before you start writing your own section:

Who	What	Result
Experienced digital marketer	Skilled in SEO, content strategy, and paid advertising	Boosted web traffic by 65% in 6 months for a B2B tech company
Recent finance graduate	Proficient in Excel, financial modeling, and data analysis	Completed a stock portfolio analysis project that beat market return by 10%
IT support specialist	Strong in troubleshooting, network administration, and support	Resolved 95% of user tickets on first contact, improving satisfaction
Project manager with PMP cert	Led cross-functional teams on $500K+ projects	Delivered 100% of projects on time and under budget
Customer service professional	Expert in client relations and conflict resolution	Improved customer retention rate by 30% through proactive support

Common Mistakes in Personal Profiles (and How to Avoid Them)

A personal profile is not a cover letter that can list many details and explain gaps in employment dates; for example, you need to find a way to impress your prospective employers with your unique skills in a single CV statement. You have no space for making a mistake! Let's take a look at the most common mistakes for a clear understanding:

Mistake	Example of Mistake	Corrected Version
Too vague or generic	“I am a hardworking individual who always gives 110%.”	“Results-driven marketing specialist with 3+ years’ experience in digital campaigns.”
Lacks relevance to the role	“I enjoy hiking and reading mystery novels.”	“Skilled in market analysis and customer segmentation to boost brand engagement.”
Filled with clichés	“Team player and go-getter who thinks outside the box.”	“Collaborative project coordinator with a track record of delivering ahead of schedule.”
Focuses on what you want, not value offered	“Looking for a role that allows me to grow and learn.”	“Eager to apply data analysis skills to deliver insights that support business goals.”
Too long and rambling	“I have done many things in my career including sales, marketing, and also some admin work. I believe I can do a great job.”	“Sales and marketing professional with administrative experience, known for driving customer growth and streamlining operations.”

The most important advice is to make sure your curriculum vitae's profile is written for the specific job with specific skills. You need to show you are a skilled labourer for the chosen role!

CV and Resume Personal Profile Examples by Profession

To get inspired for writing, take a look at examples of personal profile below:

Career Changer

1. 1. Motivated marketing professional with 10+ years of experience, now transitioning into UX design. Certified by Google UX Design program, with a strong eye for user behavior and visual storytelling. Passionate about creating inclusive and accessible digital experiences.
2. Detail-oriented banking professional transitioning into marketing, bringing 7+ years of experience in client relationship management, data analysis, and financial strategy. Proven ability to understand customer needs, identify growth opportunities, and deliver results in fast-paced environments. Passionate about leveraging analytical and communication skills to build brand loyalty and drive campaign success.

Entry-Level Graduate

1. Recent economics graduate with strong analytical skills and internship experience in financial reporting. Eager to apply academic knowledge in a practical setting and contribute to data-driven decision-making in a fast-paced environment.
2. Compassionate and dedicated nursing graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and hands-on clinical experience in medical-surgical and pediatric care. Skilled in patient assessment, care planning, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care. Eager to begin a professional career, committed to continual learning and providing empathetic support to diverse patient populations.

IT / Software Developer

1. Detail-oriented full-stack developer with 3+ years of experience building scalable web applications using JavaScript, PHP, and MySQL. Adept at working in agile teams and passionate about clean code, security, and performance optimization.
2. Enthusiastic Software Enginer with 7+ years of experience in website and commercial application development. Experienced in advanced software development methodologies and processes that contribute to application design as well as in identifying process bottlenecks. Has a track record of reducing downtime by 20% while ensuring that 100% of projects are completed ahead of time.

Healthcare Professional

1. Compassionate registered nurse with 5 years of clinical experience in acute and post-surgical care. Skilled in patient advocacy, crisis management, and delivering empathetic care in high-stress environments. Seeking to join a patient-focused hospital team.
2. Experienced and results-driven hospital administrator with over 8 years of expertise in healthcare operations, staff management, and patient services optimization. Proven ability to streamline processes, improve patient satisfaction, and ensure compliance with healthcare regulations. Adept at leading multidisciplinary teams, managing budgets, and implementing strategic initiatives that enhance care delivery and operational efficiency. Passionate about fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement in healthcare environments.

Office / Operations Manager

1. Organized and resourceful operations manager with over 7 years of experience in team supervision, process optimization, and cost control. Proven ability to streamline procedures, boost productivity, and lead cross-functional teams.
2. Result-oriented Office Manager with 3+ years of experience handline a wide range of administrative, supervisory and executive support tasks. Extensively experienced with budgets, payroll, and capable of meeting office organization needs as well as offering cost-effective, innovative solutions to employer challenges. Ensures compliance with organizational goals while coordinating resources and boosting team productivity. In a previous role, researched new office supplies vendor, reducing expenses by 15%.

Customer Service Representative

Friendly and solution-oriented customer service specialist with a track record of resolving over 95% of issues on the first call. Skilled in conflict resolution, CRM systems, and maintaining customer satisfaction under pressure.

Digital Marketing Specialist

Results-driven digital marketer with 4+ years of experience in SEO, paid ads, and content marketing. Grew organic traffic by 120% in under 6 months. Data-savvy, creative, and passionate about user engagement.

What not to include in your personal profile?

To compose a powerful personal statement, try to avoid the following common mistakes:

• Don't copy and paste job descriptions from experience section. CV profile is meant to summarize what you have to offer a potential employer, not to repeat the same content that a recruiter can find below in a resume.

• Don't include personal information. If you mention age, marital status or personal reasons why you want to work for a company, they won't accept your resume. Include professional-related information only if you want an interview.

• Don't overuse buzzwords. Adjectives like hardworking, team player, organized, able to work under pressure, enthusiastic sound like buzzwords to recruiters. Use self-descriptions carefully and try to rely on facts.

• Don't list too many skills. If you include management skills, ability to work undependently, eye for detail, project management, conflict resolution and other skills in a row, this will spoil the impression. Choose 2-3 skills and prove them with examples.

• Don't lie! Of course, you may write that you have a degree from Stanford, but the truth will reveal after a simple background check. Don't risk your reputation and only write true facts.

How to write a LinkedIn personal statement?

If you use LinkedIn profile for job search, avoid copying and pasting text from your CV profile. LinkedIn summary should be written a bit differently. Here's how:

• Write 2-4 short paragraphs. Unlike the resume, LinkedIn personal statement doesn't have length limitations. Thus, you can go into deeper detail about your extensive experience or particular skills and interests.

• Use the first person. Resume is written in third person, and a CV profile is no exception. On the contrary, you need to use the first person in LinkedIn summary. Otherwise, you will sound too formal.

• Write as you speak. Since LinkedIn is a social media, you needn't use formal language that you've used on a resume. Instead, use a conversational tone and write as if you were speaking to a colleague or a potential employer face-to-face.

• Show your character and hobbies. In addition to business achievements, skillset and career goals, show your personality as well. You may include a joke, list interests and hobbies, or show your personal qualities in other way.

• Add multimedia content. LinkedIn allows you to add videos, articles or images. Support your self-descriptions with evidence and attach any content that can tell more about you or serve as samples of your work.

LinkedIn Summary vs Resume Personal Profile: Key Differences

Although they serve similar purposes — introducing you to potential employers — your LinkedIn summary and resume profile should be written differently to suit their platforms.

Criteria	LinkedIn Summary	Resume Personal Profile
Audience	Public (anyone can view it, including recruiters, colleagues)	Private (intended for a specific hiring manager or recruiter)
Length	100–300 words	3–5 lines (40–60 words)
Tone	Conversational, storytelling allowed	Professional, concise, tailored
Content	Career journey, motivations, personal insights	Key strengths, accomplishments, job-specific value
Keyword Focus	SEO-oriented (recruiters search on LinkedIn)	ATS-friendly (Applicant Tracking Systems)
Call to Action	Invite to connect, visit website, open to opportunities	None — designed to blend into resume format

Pro Tip: Never copy-paste your resume profile into LinkedIn or vice versa. Adapt your tone and focus to fit the medium.

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FAQ: Personal Profile for CV or Resume

What is the difference between personal profile and personal details?

A personal profile is a summary of your professional strengths and career goals. Personal details include your contact info, address, etc.

Can I find personal profile samples online?

Yes, you can find them in our CV sample section and in the article below, sorted by job titles and experience levels.

Is it necessary to include a profile in a resume?

While not mandatory, a well-written personal profile can boost your chances by quickly showing your value to hiring managers.

Recommended reading:

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• How to Put LinkedIn On Resume: Expert Tips
• 5-Step Guide On How to Add Resume to LinkedIn
• How To Delete Resume On LinkedIn | ResumePerk.com
• Tips & Tricks for Professional LinkedIn Profile Writing
• Build A Powerful LinkedIn Profile: 11 Tips From LinkedIn Resume Writers
• 12 LinkedIn Profile Tips for Job-Seekers
• How To Delete Resume On LinkedIn | ResumePerk.com
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