Tips for writing an impressive cv

1. Creating a strong first impression

Writing a personal statement

A personal statement is a brief statement of the type of person you are, your skills and your achievements. It always comes near the top of the CV, before the main body, and presents the facts in the most positive way. A well-written personal statement will immediately capture the attention of the employer and make them want to find out more about you.

Vocabulary 4a. Read Silvia’s personal statement from her skills-based cv and find words and phrases which demonstrate the following points.

1. education 3. knowledge 5. success

2. character 4. experience

Well-organised, highly motivated communication strategy adviser. Geography graduate with recent professional experience developing communication strategy for positive change. Currently completing Master’s in development Studies with specific focus on sustainability. Fluent spoken and written English. Self-motivated, resourceful and able to motivate others, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

WRITING 4b. Each sentence in Silvia’s personal statement has a different main function. Write the sentences next to the questions that they answer (1-5).

1. What sort of person am I? Self-motivated, resourceful and able to motivate others, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

2. What is my area of professional expertise? .

3. What is my most important qualification? .

4. What is my most relevant skill for the job? .

5. What am I doing at the moment? .

4C. How would you answer these questions?

Vocabulary 5a.Complete the table using the words in the box.

Add more words and phrases to each column.

Ability to broad consistently high enthusiastic interest in motivator professional team leader

Modifier	Adjective 1	Sort of person		Adjective 2	Experience skills
Extremely Highly	creative	accounts manager	with
	customer-oriented	English speaker			communication skills
				deep	experience in...
	experienced	recent graduate		excellent
		sales professional		extensive	knowledge of..
	resourceful	self-starter		proven	range of transferable skills…
	results-focused			recent	skills in…

WRITING 5b. Write five true impressive sentences for your personal statement by choosing a word or phrase from each column in the following table.

For example, Highly experienced Computer Salesperson with excellent communication skills.