How to write a CV summary (personal profile or statement)

A three-sentence formula for the summary at the top of your CV, with five examples and a list of what to cut.

The short paragraph at the top of a CV goes by several names: personal profile or personal statement in the UK, summary or professional summary in the US, sometimes just profile. They all do the same job: tell the reader in a few seconds who you are, what you are good at, and what you want next, so they read the rest of the CV with the right job in mind.

It is also the part of most CVs that says the least. “Hard-working, motivated team player with excellent communication skills” could describe anyone. This guide shows how to write one that could only describe you.

Do you need one?

Usually, yes, but it is optional. It earns its place when:

• your job title alone does not explain what you do or want (career changers, people with varied roles, graduates);
• you are applying to a specific type of role and want to frame your experience for it;
• your strongest selling point is buried further down the page.

If you are tight for space on a one-page US résumé and your recent job title says it all, a summary can go. Note that a UK “personal statement” on a CV is not the same as the longer personal statement written for university applications.

The three-sentence formula

1. Who you are, professionally. Job title or field, years of experience if useful, and your specialism.
2. Your strongest evidence. One or two concrete achievements or skills, ideally with a number, that match the jobs you are applying for.
3. What you want next. The kind of role, team or problem you are looking for. Keep it about the employer’s need, not only yours.

That is usually 40 to 80 words; the builder adds a note above 80. Anything over about 120 words starts to look like a cover letter.

Five examples

These are fictional. Use the structure, not the words.

Experienced professional

Chartered accountant with 9 years in manufacturing finance, most recently leading a team of 5 through a move to a new ERP system that shortened the monthly close from 10 days to 6. Strong on cost accounting, controls and explaining numbers to non-finance managers. Looking for a financial controller role in a growing manufacturing or engineering business.

Graduate

Mechanical engineering graduate (MEng, 2:1) with a 12-month industrial placement in automotive testing, where I designed a fixture that halved set-up time on the brake test rig. Comfortable with SolidWorks, MATLAB and hands-on workshop work. Looking for a graduate engineering scheme in product design or test.

Career changer

Secondary school teacher of 7 years moving into learning design. I have planned and delivered more than 1,500 lessons, built a Year 9 science course now used across my department, and completed a certificate in instructional design. I want to apply that experience to designing online training for adult learners.

Returning to work

Payroll administrator with 6 years’ experience processing monthly payroll for up to 400 staff, returning after a career break caring for family. I have refreshed my skills with a current payroll qualification and kept up with recent changes to statutory pay. Looking for a part-time payroll or HR administration role.

Skilled trade or hands-on role

Qualified electrician (NVQ Level 3) with 11 years in domestic and light commercial work, including rewires, consumer unit upgrades and EV charger installs. Known for tidy work and clear explanations to customers. Looking for a permanent role with a contractor where I can also mentor apprentices.

Notice what they have in common: a specific field, at least one concrete achievement, named skills that a job ad would also name, and a clear target.

First person, third person or neither?

The usual options:

• Implied first person (no pronouns): “Chartered accountant with 9 years…” This is the most common style and works in every region.
• First person: “I have planned and delivered…” Common and acceptable in UK and European CVs, especially in the second and third sentences. Less common on US résumés.
• Third person: “Sarah is a chartered accountant…” Avoid. It reads as if someone else wrote it.

Several of the examples above mix implied first person with an “I” sentence. That is fine; just do not switch into third person. See tense and pronouns for the rest of the CV.

What to cut

The builder checks your summary for common clichés and flags them, and the clichés and buzzwords guide has a longer table of replacements.

Watch out: Do not paste the same summary into every application. The last sentence (what you want next) should name the type of role you are applying for. Changing it takes a minute and is the easiest part of tailoring your CV.

A quick test

Cover your name and read your summary. Ask:

1. Could a colleague in a similar job have written exactly the same words? If yes, add a specific achievement.
2. Does it contain a number or a named skill the job ad asks for?
3. Would the reader know what job you want?
4. Is it under about 80 words?

If you can answer yes to the last three and no to the first, it is doing its job.

Where it goes

Directly under your name and contact details, before work experience. Give it a plain heading such as “Profile” or “Summary”, or none at all. Fancy headings like “About me in a nutshell” can confuse applicant tracking systems; the section order and headings guide lists safe ones.

Next: cut the remaining filler with the clichés and buzzwords table.