personal statement after career break

Yes, You Can Put a Career Break on Your Resume. Here’s How.

I’ve coached hundreds of job seekers over the past six years, but never have I seen more of them returning to work after months- or years-long career breaks than I have recently. For example, I work with moms whose career plans got dashed by the pandemic and with immigrants who need a minute to settle their families into a new country.

Although they’re in good company, clients are anxious about these gaps—even the planned and intentional career breaks—worrying they’ll be perceived as less attractive than other candidates. After all, professionals with resume gaps have historically faced biases that affected their employment odds. In the past, I’ve seen some clients with clear gaps on their resumes have trouble landing interviews, and others try to find creative or even questionable ways to hide career breaks.

But nowadays, I reassure my clients that there’s no need for Simone Biles–level resume gymnastics. They’re re-entering the workforce at a time when career breaks aren’t as taboo as they once were. I even encourage them to address those gaps head-on in their resumes—because, when done strategically, it can actually help you.

Why career breaks have become so common—to take and talk about

We can’t all work nonstop from the moment we toss that graduation cap in the air until the day we retire. People have long taken deliberate career breaks for all kinds of reasons, such as leaving a disappointing or toxic workplace ; focusing on family commitments; relocating for a partner; traveling; doing some reflection and strategic career planning; pursuing education or training; volunteering; focusing on a passion; resting and recovering from overwork; or exploring a new career path.

But the pandemic and the realizations it spurred about work and life led many more workers to take breaks, whether by necessity or very much by choice. Professionals exited the workforce in droves, with women leaving at higher rates than men, according to International Labour Organization (ILO) data. But people’s career breaks eventually came to an end, and in 2022, employment surpassed pre-pandemic levels .

While the outpouring of talent from the workforce was initially because of layoffs and personal obligations like caretaking, it continued for other reasons. More people than ever before found themselves without a commute and working remotely. With more time to think about what they wanted and growing clarity on what they were and weren’t willing to put up with, people quit their jobs at record rates during the Great Resignation . Not everyone had another job lined up.

In early 2022, LinkedIn polled close to 23,000 workers and more than 7,000 hiring managers about career breaks. They discovered that a whopping 62% of employees had taken career breaks in the past, and 35% (mostly women) expressed an interest in taking a career break in the future.

LinkedIn even rolled out a new feature in March 2022, allowing members to spotlight career breaks in the “Experience” section of their profiles. Users can indicate they took a career break and select a reason from a dropdown menu, including relocation, retirement, travel, volunteer work, bereavement , career transition, caregiving, full-time parenting, gap year, layoff/position eliminated, and professional development. Users can also add details such as responsibilities, achievements , and skills developed, much like they would provide for any other work experience .

With so many people taking, planning, and even highlighting career breaks on their professional profiles, I reassure my clients with career gaps that it’s OK—and can even be beneficial—to include them on their resumes.

Why you might want to include a career break on your resume

Putting a career break proudly on your resume gives you the opportunity to take control of the narrative. You can frame a career break as a positive, explain whether it was intentional, and in any case show how you made the most of the time and what you gained from it. Highlighting a break with those kinds of details could tell an employer more about your character, values, and skill set—i.e., everything they’re trying to find out in the interview process.

Some recruiters and employers specifically target professionals returning after career breaks and even offer re-entry programs ( Harvard Business Review estimates that nearly 40% of Fortune 50 companies have one of these programs in-house). When people cut or try to camouflage a career break from their resumes, screening programs and recruiters may not recognize they qualify, and both sides miss out.

When to include a career break on your resume

When I discover a client has an unexplained resume gap, I gather information about the break and first decide if we need to add it to their resume. Ask yourself:

• When was the career break? If my client’s break took place more than 10 to 15 years ago, we don’t include it because we don’t include any content that far back.
• How long was the career break? If it’s more recent, the deciding factor is the length of the break—I recommend adding it if it lasted more than a month. If there’s more than a one-month gap on your resume, then an employer will assume you weren’t working. For example, if one job on your resume ended in May 2022, they’d expect another employer to be listed starting in May 2022 or June 2022. If the starting date for a new employer is July 2022 or later, you should add a career break to your resume with an explanation.

How to add a career break to your resume experience section

The best spot for a career break on your resume is in your experience section. To add one, follow these simple steps:

• Come up with a name for the “position,” such as “Family Sabbatical,” “Professional Development,” or “Volunteer.”
• Where the name of a company is typically listed, add “Career Break,” “Planned Career Break,” or other similar language. Alternatively, if you volunteered during your career break, you can list the name of the sponsoring company.
• Write the time frame for the career break just as you would for a job.
• List a handful of notable activities and accomplishments.

Examples of career breaks on a resume experience section

Here’s how I listed my own career break on my resume: 

Self-Employed Part-Time , January 2022 – June 2022 Planned Career Break

• Took an intentional pause to focus on caregiving for my infant.
• Recruited notable guests and recorded episodes for my Express to Impress Podcast .

As you can see, you might take one career break for multiple reasons, and your resume should reflect that.

Here are several additional examples of what a career break could look like in the experience section of your resume (some of these are real examples!):

Education and Family Sabbatical, Mar. 2021 – Present

• Relocated to Tokyo to join my husband and carry out family caretaking responsibilities.
• Completed Accreditat Certificate in English Language Teaching and International House Teaching Certificate.

Education and Wellness Sabbatical, Feb 2019 – Jan 2020 Career Break Took voluntary career hiatus for a wellness sabbatical to get credentialed as a coach, travel, explore programs and build capabilities in well-being, and mindfulness to enrich my leadership and professional development skills to help organizations build workplaces and cultures where people can thrive and perform better. I built the following skills: blogging, relationship building, people development, and leadership development.

Career Break  |  April 2019 – March 2021 Relocation

• Intentionally relocated my family from India to the U.S., purchasing and settling into our home, taking maternity leave, and enrolling the children in school.
• Earned AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner qualification.

Skipper, April 2017–April 2018 Career Break Achieved dream to complete a long-distance sail with family from Seattle to the Galapagos Islands with many stops along the way. Survived a broken mast, steering loss, a fire, many leaks, and toddler tantrums.

Professionally Active Career Break June 2020–December 2020

• Member of a 50-person division laid off during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
• Stayed professionally active by attending weekly webinars and training to gain new skills.
• Joined Toastmasters (in a remote format) and improved professional speaking skills.
• Earned PMP certification.

Professional Development | December 2021–April 2022 Career Break

• Took an intentional pause from a 15-year fulfilling career to take a self-designed sabbatical to rejuvenate myself and discover opportunities to use my skill set in new ways.
• Shadowed 3 professionals to gain a deeper understanding of their day-to-day responsibilities
• Conducted 20+ informational interviews to understand new industries and my career options.
• Successfully completed Flatiron School’s cybersecurity bootcamp.

Dad Intentional Career Break, Jan 2019 – Dec 2020

• Resigned from fulfilling role to spend quality time with my family as a stay-at-home dad, allowing my wife to pursue her career goals.
• Grew my planning, management, multi-tasking and troubleshooting skills and developed patience and gratitude.

Volunteer Nurse,  IVHQ |  Buenos Aires, Argentina December 2021–February 2022

• Treated patients under supervision, performing check-ups, providing basic medical care, and taking patient notes.
• Gained insight into the Argentinian healthcare system.
• Improved Spanish language skills.

How (and if) to mention a career break in your resume summary

I typically don’t recommend mentioning a career break in your resume summary because there’s already precious little space there, and you can—and should —address it in a positive way in a cover letter instead. But suppose an employer doesn’t allow candidates to send a cover letter. In that case, I’d suggest adding a sentence to the end of the summary section acknowledging you took time off, sharing the reason briefly, and expressing your eagerness to return to work.

Examples of career break mentions in a resume summary

Let’s take a quick look at a few examples of what that line at the end of your resume summary could look like.

Highly motivated to rejoin the workforce in a role that leverages my organizational skills after taking a career break for caretaking.

More inspired than ever to engage in meaningful work after a refreshing intentional two-month career break for travel.

Invested in my education after a COVID-19 layoff, and eager to bring new knowledge to a growing company.

What I love about all of these examples is that these professionals are proud of their career breaks. And by focusing on what they gained during a break from traditional employment, they set the tone and shape how others perceive these gaps.

Whether intentional or unplanned, a career break provides rich growth opportunities and can be one of the most interesting parts in your career journey. So go ahead and display yours proudly and prominently.

How to Write a CV Personal Statement [+4 Real-life Examples]

Creating an effective CV takes time and close attention to detail. You've already included your jobs and experience , and now you want to allow the recruiter or hiring manager to understand the strategic value you can add.

This is when you need to utilize a personal statement at the top of your CV.

How to Write a CV Personal Statement [+4 Real-life Examples] 

What is a Personal Statement? 

A personal statement is a few brief and direct sentences at the top of your CV. The personal statement is also referred to as a career summary or personal mission statement.

This is used to grab the attention of the recruiter or hiring manager and summarizes essential experiences or training that you can bring to this position.

Why do I Need a Personal Statement?

A recruiter or hiring manager is tasked with sorting through an enormous amount of resumes every single day. A personal statement is a way to separate yourself from the other applicants.

This statement summarizes your experience and highlights your unique talents . The CV personal statement is meant to demonstrate why you are the perfect fit for the job. 

Even med students need a medical school personal statement , as it is what differentiates them from all the other students applying. Plus, it allows them to share their personal stories and objectives.

Where do I Start? 

Always begin by reading the job description carefully and thoroughly.

Your personal statement should be tailored to each job description, so it explicitly states the value you’ll bring to the position you are applying. A generic personal statement cannot do that. 

Once you have a solid handle on the job description, you can begin writing. It’s important to keep your personal statement brief, about 50-200 words will do.

Don’t forget that you have your whole cover letter to show some personality and include engaging content.

The personal statement should be a quick summary that highlights why you are the best person for the job. 

You’ll need to decide whether you are writing your personal statement in first- or third-person. This should follow how you've written the rest of your CV.

For example, if you've already written, “I grew and developed a team of 50 salespeople,” in your CV then you will want to keep your personal statement in first-person to match the prevailing style.

No matter what you choose, make sure that you keep it consistent throughout. Do not switch between first- and third-person as that will get confusing to the hiring manager.

Writing a personal statement for your CV in first-person does not mean you need to start every sentence with “I.”

There are ways to craft your personal statement to sound snappy, concise and personal, and here are a few examples to help inspire your personal statement. 

CV Personal Statement Examples

It doesn’t matter what chose as your desired career or how much experienc e you have, use these examples to drive the creation of your own personal statement.

You can take snippets from each or write something completely different. Always remember that your personal statement is a reflection of yourself and should align with your own personal goals and experience.

If these examples don’t fit your exact career, feel free to take some pointers and write yours from scratch. 

#1: Personal Statement Example for Recent Graduate CV

“As a recent graduate from university, with an honors degree in communications, I held several internships within leading organizations, including Bertelsmann. These internships enabled me to gain experience in the field and learn how to serve up valuable contributions in a fast-paced, professional environment.”

Explanation: This example should be customized to include the university you’ve graduated from and any relevant internships. A compelling personal statement always highlights relevant skills and experiences.

In this case, a recent graduate does not have extensive experience in the workforce, so soft skills like experiencing success in a fast-paced work environment and becoming a trusted team member become even more critical.

#2: Personal Statement Example for Returning to the Workforce CV

“A highly motivated and experienced office administrator, I am currently looking to resume my professional career after an extended hiatus to raise my family. Proficient in all Microsoft Office programs, I can lead meetings and work with clients to keep your office running smoothly and efficiently. After spending several years volunteering as an administrative worker for a local charity, I am committed to resuming my professional career on a full-time basis.”

Explanation: After time off from a career, it can be hard to break back into the market. This personal statement outlines the reason for the break, the relevant qualifications and what the applicant has been doing in between jobs.

Any volunteer experience becomes highly relevant when there is no concrete professional experience to draw upon, to demonstrate the use of those skills. 

#3: Personal Statement Example for a Career Change CV

“With over 15 years as a sales manager, I have extensive experience building high-functioning sales teams that consistently achieve budget numbers. In fact, my ability to grow talent led to a 20% increase in annual renewals across the board. Now, after 15 years, I am seeking new challenges to flex my marketing muscles in a fast-paced environment.” 

Explanation: When changing careers , it's essential to highlight skills that are transferable between industries.

In this case, leadership and team-building experience can apply to any industry. Homing in on concrete numbers and percentages increases credibility when applying for a position.

The applicant ends with the reason behind the desired career change. This part is not necessary but may be appealing to some hiring managers who are wondering what the impetus for the career change.

#4: Personal Statement Example for a Experienced Professional CV

“As a friendly, professional and highly trained educator, I am passionate about teaching and have an innate ability to understand student’s needs. Creating a safe and productive environment for optimal learning is my top priority. I’ve worked as a teacher for nearly 10 years in a variety of subjects and my experience and skill set make me the perfect fit for your team.”

Explanation: With more experience comes more skills and a better idea of strengths and weaknesses. Showcasing your passion for the industry is a great way to begin a personal statement, as it shows the hiring manager your dedication to the craft. 

A personal statement can be written in many different ways, but it is ultimately up to you to determine what skills you want to highlight for your chosen position.

You can follow these examples or take learnings from each to contribute towards your personal statement. 

If you understand the job you are applying for and know the unique skill set that you bring to the table, you will have a stellar personal statement for your CV that will get you across the table from the hiring manager in no time.  

Suggested Reading:

• How to Write a CV (Curriculum Vitae) in 2024 [31+ Examples]
• 43+ Resume Tips and Tricks to Land Your Next Job
• 150+ Must-Have Skills for Any Resume  [With Tips + Tricks]
• How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”

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How to Write a Resume After a Career Break

In This Guide:

Why should you address career breaks in your resume, how do you explain a career break in your resume, where to put an employment gap in your resume.

The best resume format for back-to-workers

Career break resume sample

Key takeaways.

Career gaps have long been normalized, particularly since the pandemic made us reassess our work-life balance and values. It's now perfectly OK to follow a non-linear career path . In fact, having a gap in your employment history can help your skills and professional convictions stand out.

Whether due to caregiving responsibilities, a layoff, health and well-being, traveling, or education, quitting paid work means redefining your priorities and owning your career decisions.

But how do employment gaps look on a resume? Not as scary as you think.

In this article, we'll offer expert advice on how to transform a career break into a compelling part of your resume narrative. We will also cover:

• The best ways to present a work hiatus.
• When and why to include a career break in your resume.
• Which resume format to use if you’re re-entering the workforce after a break.
• Sample resumes tailored to various scenarios for work returners.

No one takes time off to do nothing. Perhaps you were a stay-at-home parent , on a sabbatical, navigating through a tough burnout, or simply working on a personal project while traveling. Whatever the case, you prioritized yourself and your needs.

Recruiters need to understand how you used this break from work to explore new opportunities and expand your skill set. If you can frame your career break as a journey of self-discovery or dedication, you’re likely to stand out as an ideal candidate when you return to the workforce.

Remember, hiring managers are human too. They understand that career breaks are normal, so there's no need to hide them on your resume —they’ll find out eventually. Instead, be transparent  about it and clearly explain what you did during your time away from the workforce and how it’s shaped your career plans and goals.

So, here are 4 reasons why you should include your career break in your resume:

• Take control of your resume narrative.
• Explain your time off as a positive and intentional experience.
• Let recruiters get to know you beyond the traditional resume information.
• Show your commitment to self-development and lifelong learning.

See? Nothing can stop you from transforming your career break into a valuable time away from work. Below, we explore how to write your resume depending on your current circumstances.

There's no need to mention career breaks that occurred over 5 years ago on your resume. These details are often irrelevant and could unnecessarily clutter your resume. Instead, focus on providing explanations for any recent breaks, as recruiters are more likely to be interested in your activities during these periods.

Explaining your career break on a resume boils down to a simple formula:

• Be specific.
• Focus on transferable skills.
• Put your time away from the workforce in the experience section.

Before we explore 10 case-specific scenarios, let's look at a bad example of a work experience section  where a career gap sticks out like a missing tooth.

• • Designed and implemented new features for a variety of client-facing applications, leading to a 40% increase in customer satisfaction.
• • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of new software with existing systems.
• • Led the migration of legacy systems to modern applications, significantly reducing system downtimes and maintenance costs.

What a missed opportunity! Check out the well-detailed software engineer role, and then there's this glaring gap right at the top of the resume.

The candidate did take a few years off to raise their child, but there’s no mention of the skills they gained during this time. It's pretty clear that the whole transparency thing didn’t pan out.

Now, let’s take a look at a better example of how this stay-at-home parent’s resume  could be presented:

• • Enhanced leadership and time management skills by balancing family care responsibilities with community engagement.
• • Kept technical skills sharp by completing online courses in new programming languages and software development methodologies.
• • Volunteered to teach basic computer skills to underprivileged children, enriching their educational opportunities and my communication skills.

This revised version works way better. Instead of leaving a blank spot, it highlights valuable skills like leadership, time management, and continued learning. This approach maintains the resume's flow and presents the candidate as proactive and resourceful, making a strong case for their readiness to re-enter the workforce.

Handling a career break for bereavement on a resume can be approached with sensitivity and professionalism. It's important to communicate honestly while maintaining privacy and focusing on your readiness to return to work. Here’s how you could structure such a break:

• • Participated in webinars, ensuring up-to-date industry knowledge.
• • Developed soft skills such as resilience and time management, applicable in all professional settings.
• • Prepared to re-enter the workforce with renewed focus and updated skills.

Next, let’s have a look at another common reason for a career break — layoffs . Sometimes, a layoff can be a very productive period where you can pursue your passions or simply rest and explore new paths. Here’s how you can put a layoff on your resume and frame it as something positive.

• • Devoted extensive periods to studying the fundamentals of graphic design, exploring both its artistic and technical aspects.
• • Participated in various professional workshops and seminars to enhance my creative capabilities.
• • Established a network with seasoned designers, gaining invaluable insights and guidance.

If you’re returning from a learning sabbatical , here’s an example you can adapt to reflect your own experience. When written this way, it’s indistinguishable from other well-crafted resume entries.

• • Immersed in diverse architectural styles and techniques to broaden design perspectives and expertise.
• • Participated in workshops and collaborated with renowned architects and artists to refine creative and technical skills.
• • Conducted a comparative study of historical and contemporary architectural works across various regions of Spain.

Moving on, let’s explain a career break due to an illness or a serious injury  that left you unable to work. It's important to emphasize that you have fully recovered and are ready to rejoin the workforce.

• • Developed enhanced problem-solving and crisis management skills through navigating recovery challenges.
• • Strengthened emotional resilience and adaptability, vital for high-pressure environments.
• • Focused on mental fitness and cognitive exercises to expedite recovery and enhance mental acuity.

While it's not common for American students to take a gap year , it's quite popular among international students who often spend a semester or a year abroad traveling and exploring different career paths.

However, if you're seeking a job in the United States, you'll need a U.S. resume  that reflects your relevant experience. A travel sabbatical  is completely acceptable, as long as you show that you’re now fully available to concentrate on work.

• • Enhanced videography and storytelling skills, producing compelling content that resonated with a diverse audience.
• • Successfully grew YouTube channel's fan base by 50% through strategic content creation and audience engagement.
• • Acquired advanced digital marketing and SEO skills to optimize content visibility and viewer engagement.

Another major reason for leaves of absence among Americans is burnout. The intense stress and significant layoffs prompted by the 2020 pandemic have sparked a wave of individuals taking up to a year off to restore their mental health .

Here’s how your resume experience section could look if you took a leave for burnout prevention .

• • Completed a comprehensive online course in psychodrama, enhancing communication skills and emotional intelligence.
• • Achieved significant improvements in mental well-being, resilience, and stress management techniques.
• • Developed a deeper understanding of team dynamics and conflict resolution, preparing for a healthier and more effective return to the workforce.

Some individuals take a career break to focus on personal projects or entrepreneurial ventures. Later, many decide to return to traditional employment. These gaps in linear work history perfectly illustrate self-motivation and risk management, even if the venture didn’t turn out as expected. We recommend including this career break for entrepreneurship  in your resume—it can enhance your professional profile significantly.

• • Developed and implemented tailored marketing campaigns that increased client engagement and sales.
• • Honed leadership skills by managing a team of freelance marketing professionals and coordinating multiple projects.
• • Decided to conclude the venture to seek broader opportunities, successfully leveraging the entrepreneurial experience to enhance strategic thinking and business acumen in new roles.

Research and writing can also take up a lot of time and dedication, so it’s really common for writers to take a year off from paid work. This gives you the time and flexibility to focus on your book or dissertation.

Here’s an example of a writing sabbatical on a resume :

• • Conducted comprehensive research that contributed to new insights in sustainable urban planning, under the guidance of industry-leading academics.
• • Enhanced analytical and critical thinking skills through deep analysis and synthesis of complex concepts related to environmental sustainability.
• • Prepared and refined the dissertation manuscript, advancing knowledge in Environmental Science and developing expertise that supports my professional goals.

Finally, a common reason for taking a pause from work is volunteering . Many people find volunteering very fulfilling  as it lets them make a tangible impact on communities or the environment. Don't hesitate to add that to your resume if that’s your case.

• • Collaborated on projects aimed at habitat restoration and species conservation, gaining hands-on experience in field research.
• • Developed skills in data collection and ecological monitoring, contributing to ongoing environmental studies.
• • Engaged with local communities to implement sustainable environmental practices and promote conservation education.

If your time off led to a whole new career path, check out our article 5 Career Change Resume Examples and Guide  which will help you craft a top-notch resume.

The best place to put your career break is in the experience section of your resume to make it an integral part of your professional progression. List it like a normal work experience entry, using reverse-chronological order  to arrange the separate elements.

Here’s how you should build it:

• Write the type of career gap in the place you’d use for the job title.
• State the location.
• Add career break duration dates.
• Put a one-sentence description of what you did during your time off.
• List the skills you acquired or the activities you were involved in, using bullet points.

Some say that you can mention your career break in your personal statement  at the top of your resume, but we advise against that. Here’s why:

• The resume summary  is reserved for highlighting your expertise, top skills, and certifications. A career break doesn’t belong there as it might cause bias among recruiters. On the contrary, if it’s placed in the experience section, it’s more likely to be perceived as a natural career step.
• Similarly, the resume objective  is focused on the candidate’s motivation and work goals. You have no more than three short sentences to express your willingness to contribute to a particular company. Why waste this precious space on your time off (which implies you de-prioritized work for a while)?

The best resume format for back-to-workers

Choosing the best resume format  after a career break often depends on the specifics of your work history and the type of role you’re seeking. However, a couple of formats generally stand out as particularly effective for emphasizing the strengths you’re bringing to potential employers:

• Combination (hybrid) resume : This format is especially useful for career returners because it allows you to showcase relevant skills and qualifications at the top of your resume, followed by a reverse-chronological work history. This structure helps to highlight your capabilities and accomplishments up front, while also providing the timeline of their professional experiences, including any gaps.
• Functional resume : This format focuses primarily on skills and experiences rather than chronological work history. It’s particularly beneficial for those who have significant gaps in their employment or have frequently changed jobs. A functional resume helps to draw attention away from the gaps in employment and instead emphasizes relevant skills and achievements that align with the job they are applying for.

Refrain from using a reverse-chronological resume as it works best for those with a steady work history and few or no gaps in their employment.

This format emphasizes the timeline of employment, placing a spotlight on gaps in work history, which might lead recruiters to focus more on the time spent out of work rather than the skills and experiences gained during or between employment.

To sum up, choose a resume format that highlights the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. This should be enough to frame employment gaps positively.

Taking a career break for childcare, as many parents do, is a common and respected decision. Incorporating this into a resume, as this candidate has done by listing " Stay-at-Home Mom " alongside her professional role, reflects confidence and reliability. This approach highlights her ability to balance personal responsibilities with professional development, showcasing a well-rounded and committed professional.

Should I write about my career break on the cover letter?

The short answer is yes, but don’t overshare. While the cover letter  is a great place to talk about the skills or qualifications you’ve gained while on sabbatical, putting too much information can backfire.

For example, if layoffs were the reason for your career break, a positive framing could be, " The recent restructuring at my previous employer gave me an opportunity to travel and focus on my mental health. This period allowed me to thoughtfully re consider  my career trajectory and identify where I am most passionate about contributing my skills. ”

How should I talk about my employment gap in an interview?

Even if your resume and cover letter give enough information about your time off, you might still get asked about this in the interview . Here are our basic tips on how to cope:

• Be honest and direct.  Start by openly acknowledging the gap. Honesty shows integrity and helps build trust with your interviewer. Explain the reason for the break and keep your explanation factual and concise, avoiding overly personal details that might detract from your professional focus.
• Emphasize positive outcomes and growth . Focus on what you learned or how you grew during your time away from the workforce. Whether you acquired new skills, volunteered, pursued further education, or simply took time to refine your career goals, highlighting these positive outcomes demonstrates proactivity and resilience. Make sure to connect your experience back to the job you’re applying for .
• Show readiness to rejoin the workforce . Discuss how your time off has re-energized you or given you fresh perspectives, making you even more prepared and excited to contribute to the potential employer’s team. This reassures the interviewer of your commitment to your career path.
• Rehearse your response. The more you listen to yourself speaking about your experience, the more relaxed you’ll be. Nerves won’t disappear completely but practicing in front of a mirror will help boost your confidence and spare you an awkward silence during the interview.

For more tips on how to prepare for an interview, read our article Here’s What You Need to Know Before Your Next Interview .

Do employers frown on career breaks?

Employers' views on career breaks can vary, influenced by factors like industry, corporate culture, and the specifics of the break. However, perceptions are generally becoming more positive, particularly as awareness of work-life balance and mental health grows. Consider the return-to-work programs  specifically designed for those who have taken a career hiatus—such initiatives reflect changing attitudes. Below are a few factors that can influence these opinions:

• Reason for the break:  Employers are more understanding if the break was taken for a significant reason like pursuing further education, caregiving for a family member, personal health issues, or even volunteering. The key is to show that the break was spent productively or was necessary for personal development.
• Duration and frequency:  Longer and more frequent breaks might require more explanation to reassure employers of your commitment and stability.
• Industry norms: In some industries, such as tech or creative fields, taking time off for personal projects or to pursue passions can actually be seen as a boost to your resume, indicating creativity and initiative.
• Current trends:  Increasingly, companies are valuing diversity in experience. Many employers recognize the benefits that a well-rounded life experience can bring to a team.

In any case, it’s good to show how the break has made you a better candidate for the position you’re applying for.

How are career breaks different for women?

Right after the COVID-19 outbreak hit, a staggering 54 million women around the world found themselves out of work. According to Reuters , the Americas saw the biggest regional plunge in women’s employment, with a 9.4% drop due to the pandemic.

Adding to that, a study from LinkedIn  highlights an interesting trend: women are 43% more likely than men to list a career break on their profiles, and the top reason? Full-time parenting.

Career breaks present many challenges for women , such as lack of recent experience, lack of earnings and savings, and biases, but these can be positively addressed in job applications. Overall, your resume should emphasize resilience, adaptability, and the acquisition of new skills during the career break. This approach addresses potential concerns head-on and positions the work pause as a strategic decision beneficial to your professional journey.

What are the best jobs after a career break?

Career breaks for reasons like childcare or caring for sick family members can extend beyond a year. However, this shouldn’t stop you from re-entering the workforce when you're ready.

Considering jobs that are in high demand  could be a swift solution, especially if you have the necessary skills. Here are some examples:

• Freelance or contract work:  These positions often offer flexibility and lower entry barriers in terms of long-term commitment from employers. Fields such as freelance writing , graphic design , software development , and consulting are great for this type of work.
• Part-time jobs : These can be an excellent way to ease back into the workforce. Part-time jobs  can be found in various sectors like retail, education, and administration. They allow you to balance work with other life responsibilities.
• Remote jobs : With the increase in remote work, there are more opportunities than ever in areas such as customer service , virtual assistance, and online teaching. These jobs offer the convenience of working from home, which can be particularly appealing after a break.
• Returnship programs:  Some companies offer "returnship"  or re-entry programs specifically designed for professionals who have taken a career break. These programs provide training, mentorship, and sometimes lead to permanent roles.
• Education and health services: Jobs in education and healthcare, such as teaching , tutoring , nursing , or healthcare , often value experience and interpersonal skills, which can be ideal for those re-entering the workforce.
• Nonprofit sector jobs: If you’re passionate about a cause, working for a nonprofit  can be rewarding. These roles often value diverse life experiences and dedication over continuous career histories.
• Consultancy : If you have significant experience in a specific field, consultancy  can allow you to leverage your expertise on a flexible basis, working with businesses to improve their practices, without committing to a full-time role.

When looking for jobs after a long career break, tailor your resume to highlight any skills and experiences gained during the break, such as volunteer work, part-time jobs, courses, or freelance projects. Use Enhancv’s resume builder  to craft a document that will make your strengths stand out.

Navigating the return to work after a career break can be tricky, but with the right approach, your resume can make a strong impact. Here are a few strategic tips to help you effectively present your career gap:

• If you took a career break in the last 5 years, it's important to address it directly on your resume.
• Include the employment gap in the experience section, briefly explaining how you spent your time and any new skills you acquired.
• Present the career break positively, emphasizing the beneficial outcomes of your decision. This is an opportunity to control the resume narrative and shift focus away from the gap.
• Consider using a hybrid or functional resume format, which prioritize skills over chronological work history.
• Be prepared to discuss details of your career hiatus in your cover letter or during job interviews. Aim for a balance between privacy and transparency.

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How to Describe a Career Break Gap In Your Resume

The decision to return to work shouldn’t get derailed at the first step: updating your resume. Many job seekers aren’t sure how to present time off from a full-time career while raising a family, caring for an aging parent, or not working in your area of expertise for other reasons, such as military service. So how do you address the time off so employers focus on your potential and not the gap?

First off, there’s good news.  Career gaps are becoming more common. Between COVID-19’s ongoing impact on so many careers, recognition from employers of the importance of family caregiver roles, and the reality that businesses face downturns, organizations are more accepting that the best candidates may not have smooth, linear career journeys.

Don’t hide it. Employers notice career gaps on resumes, especially if you have been out of work for several years. But a career break shouldn’t be a career breaker ™! The key is to present your career gap honestly, so your aptitude and attitude shine through.

We recommend your resume be a true and honest presentation of your experience and skills and that means acknowledging your time away from a full-time career. There’s a temptation to fill career gaps on resumes by expanding work start and stop dates or supplying details of volunteer and part-time roles. We’ve found that it’s more likely an employer will call you if they know how you’ve spent your time during a career break, whether you were a stay-at-home-parent, caregiver for a sick relative, in military service, or a freelancer.

We recommend you place the break reason at the top of your professional experience section before your last work role. Here’s some sample wording and format to communicate your break:

Career Sabbatical to be a Caregiver, 9/15-present Career Break to Raise my Family, 6/12-present Pregnancy Pause, 2/18-present

Simply listing the break communicates to the employer that you were purposefully not working instead of making them wonder if you were unable to find a job.

Did You Work a Little?  If you were working a little during your break to keep busy or contribute to the household finances, gather similar experiences under one heading so it doesn’t appear that you frequently moved jobs. Highlight a few related professional achievements focused on results. You don’t need to list everything you did only share what is relevant to the role you are seeking or that demonstrates a skill. Here’s a sample:

Part-time Freelance SQL Programmer, 9/15-5/19 • Created ordering app for a small grocer, helping to increase sales by 10% • Reworked a user experience in two days to meet new product launch

Independent Sales Contractor [Avon, Amway, Rodan & Fields, etc.], 11/17-present • Expanded territory by 30%, up-sold customers, and won annual sales award

Ready to get started?  At reacHIRE, we partner with progressive companies who rely on us to find and encourage people to return to work after a career break. We work with you to bring out your skills and confidence and provide you with a community of people returning to full-time employment. Check out the  positions we have open  and if nothing suits your skills, sign up for our newsletter, so you’ll be the first to know  when your dream job is ready !

How to Write a Resume Personal Statement (with examples)

Published on:

• June 23, 2023

“I’m a recent graduate applying for a new job / changing careers or industry / returning to the workforce after a long break… How am I going to impress a hiring manager or recruiter?

The answer lies in your personal statement on your CV or resume.

Your personal statement should consist of a few short and direct sentences. It appears on top of your resume right after your name and contact information on your resume or CV. Your resume personal statement should be a short summary of why you’re the right fit for the job. Alternatively, it is also known as a career summary or resume profile.

A resume personal statement should be written in the same way as elevator pitches. The objective is to convince the hiring manager that your CV is worth reading while introducing yourself in a concise and clear manner.

CV Personal Statement/Profile: Why It’s Important

Your resume personal statement serves as a quick way to introduce yourself to potential employers. In a short paragraph, they summarize your qualifications and career goals, making it easier for a hiring manager to decide whether you’re fit for the job.

Located at the top of your CV, it’s your chance to really sell yourself to employers and showcase the relevant skills and experience you have.

You can express your career goals and showcase your strengths in a personal statement while proving to recruiters that you’re an ideal candidate for the position.

Essentially, the personal profile gives a few seconds of insight into who you are that should entice employers to look at your CV closely.

The summary serves as a concise introduction to what you can bring to the table, which will help the reader make a decision on whether they would like to proceed with reviewing your resume. Thus, it should be filled with related and concise information–the skills you have acquired and the key contributions you have made over the course of your career.

Do you know that a hiring manager takes only about 6 seconds to glance over a resume before deciding whether or not to read it?

So, it’s crucial for you to summarize in around 50-200 words what you can bring to the table, including who you are, your strongest skills, and accomplishments.

Want to make sure that your resume profile/personal statement will boost your chances of getting job interviews?

Then, remember to tailor your personal statement to the specific job description. It should explicitly demonstrates what value you’ll bring to the job you are applying for. Generic personal statements can’t achieve that.

Also, you must decide if you are writing your personal statement in the first-person or third-person perspective. It should be written in the same way as the rest of your CV and cover letter.

How to Write a Personal Statement for a CV/Resume?

In your CV personal statement or a profile, include the following five factors to give a good first impression to hiring managers:

• Who you are or your professional title
• Your  1–3 top skills
• Your 1–3 best achievements
• Your target company’s name
• Your goals for your new employer (how you hope to contribute to your new employer)

Personal Profile for a CV—Example

“Growth marketing specialist (who you are) with 7 years experience in multichannel digital marketing in the health and beauty industry (your skills). Increased organic social media strategies at Skin Naked leading to a 10% cost savings in ads and a 155% boost in revenue sales for 6 months (achievements). Looking to leverage sustainable growth strategies through social media, content, and email marketing for Sassy Lingerie   (the target company and the goals you hope to achieve).”

How to Write a CV Profile?

Creating a strong CV personal statement might seem challenging at first. Here’s a simple step-by-step strategy that’ll help.

• Identify the most important requirements and responsibilities in the job description.
• Highlight your most relevant skills and achievements on your CV.
• Include all your best and proudest achievements in your personal statement.

Personal profiles might work as both a CV summary and a CV career objective, depending on your level of experience.

It’s best to use a CV summary if you have years of relevant work experience . Give a brief description of your career — highlight your measurable accomplishments and showcase your skills.

When writing an entry-level CV or changing careers, use a CV objective . Explain the skills you’ve learned so far and how well your abilities will fit in. Focus on the value you can offer, make the employer aware that you’re there to help solve their pain points.

Check out some general tips for writing an effective CV personal profile and keep these in mind when applying for a variety of industries and job positions.

1. Keep your personal statement short

Each day, recruiters have hundreds of resumes to review. They won’t bother to read a 4-page resume. Your resume has approximately 6 seconds to impress a hiring manager – so make sure you utilize your space effectively.

When writing a personal statement, how long should it be?

A good rule of thumb is to write a short paragraph of 50 to 200 words. That is usually between 3 and 6 sentences. Be sure to highlight your most relevant accomplishments, but don’t overuse them. Take the time to make every word count on your CV as this will serve as your elevator pitch to sell yourself effectively to potential employers.

2. Add measurements to your achievements

When listing your achievements, show quantitative data if you can. Because employers love to see concrete evidence of your performance, it’s crucial that you show results in numbers and percentages. Whenever possible, include figures to illustrate your contributions to a project.

For your quantitative achievements, consider some of these questions:

• How much money savings did your company make? Ex. 10% early project delivered with 15% cost savings
• Have you increased your sales or revenue? Ex. Achieved $500K monthly recurring revenue consistent in 6 months
• How many colleagues have you trained or supervised on your team? Ex. Trained 7 junior programmers in 2 years.

3. Avoid jargon and CV buzzwords

It is important to utilize keywords from the job description when writing your CV. But avoid using them as jargon or generic buzzwords. You should avoid cliche words such as:

• Go-to person/guy/girl
• Hard-working team player
• Results-driven/detail-oriented
• Thinking outside the box

You can find more generic buzzwords here which will do more harm than good in your resume.

4. Don’t mix the grammatical person

If you’re writing your CV in the UK, it’s OK to write in either the first or third person. However, you can’t do both at once. Additionally, career experts recommend removing the pronouns completely.

CV Personal Statement/Personal Profile Examples for Different Professions

In the following examples, you’ll find samples for a variety of professions. Our CV personal statements are sorted into two categories: CV personal statements for experienced candidates and CV profiles for entry-level candidates or those without experience.

CV Personal Statements for Experienced Candidates

Example #1 – Copywriter CV Personal Statement

“A conversion-focused direct response copywriter and editor with 5+ experience in the health supplements space. Wrote a sales page for Free Your Gut that accumulated $1.8M in revenue sales for 3 months with conversion rates of 65%. Interested in expanding direct response copywriting expertise for a consultancy and media buyer position at Goodlife Naturals Inc.”

Example #2 – Marketing Specialist CV Personal Statement 

“Maryland-based growth marketing specialist, with 7+ years of experience converting users at a 53% rate for a local mobile carrier and increased sales by 66% in 12 months. Seeking to leverage leadership excellence and marketing skills to raise ROI and lead-generation efficiency for Talk Mobile.”

Note: The sample includes skills and accomplishments and measures them to prove them. Furthermore, it clearly states its value proposition or offer.

Example #3 – Accounting Clerk CV Personal Statement

“Highly-trained, efficient accounting clerk with 6 years experience in providing quality, error-free accounting and clerical support. Reduced reconciliation discrepancies by 55% by using QuickBooks effectively. Technically adept with modern accounting applications software to streamline processes. Ensured biweekly payroll and benefits of 350+ employees. Organizes and plans effectively so that key responsibilities can be completed within strict deadlines. Seeking to provide my accounting skills at AccountPro Corporation.”

Example #4 – Software Architect/Engineer CV Profile Examples

“Highly-motivated and detail-oriented software architect/engineer with 10+ years experience in tech space. Managed and trained a small group of 7 coders at Transferly Systems. Delivered projects 10% ahead of schedule with 15% fewer errors than any other team. Would like to work for KingSumo as a developer with strong programming skills. ”

“Computer science specialist with solid experience in Ruby, Oracle, C++, Java, and C#. A versatile software developer with experience in a wide range of projects. I am looking to join a fast-paced fintech/SaaS company.”

Tips: You should not list all your professional skills in your CV personal statement. Focus on what is important when you write. Provide examples of your expertise to validate your claims.

See some more samples:

Example #5 – Graphic Designer CV Personal Statement

“Creative graphic designer with 5+ years of experience. Seeks to use excellent time management, graphics design, and curation skills to lower project time at Tiny Steps Inc. Developed and curated over 200+ graphics projects which increased website traffic by 45%, conversion rate by 55% within 18 months for Moore Gears Corp.”

Example #6 – Civil Engineer CV Profile

“A seasoned civil engineer with eight years’ experience in project management and construction. With a proven track record of safety on construction sites. Completed project 21 days ahead of schedule at a cost saving of 17% with 0% incident on site. Leveraging safety, leadership, and project management skills handling 500+ workers and subcon Looking for a civil engineering job position in MegaCon Contracting Services Inc. to provide safety assurance during project execution.”

Not a fan of the plain paragraph style? Bullet points also work well in your CV personal statement. See the below sample:

Example #7 – Office Manager CV Profile

• A reliable and highly efficient office manager with more than five years of experience at a large corporation.
• Appointed an executive secretary position in under 2 years.
• Increased office productivity by 15% by introducing a time management system.
• Seeking excellent project management and organization skills to help Hogan & Paul’s Inc. reduce office administration costs.

We understand if you felt overwhelmed by the CV personal statement samples above. You can still effectively sell yourself in a CV profile even if you lack a great deal of work experience. Take a look at these examples:

Personal Statement Examples for CV with No Experience

Example #8 – Recent Graduate CV Personal Statement

“Highly-motivated B.A. Marketing graduate from Glendale University seeking a position as a PR assistant at MindView Corp. Leveraging on excellent data-analysis and creative storytelling techniques to create compelling and hyper-targeted marketing campaigns tailored to MindView customers.”

Case in point, you want to convey you’ve learned a lot already and you have what it takes to help their organization or company.

Example #9 – Graduating Student CV Personal Statement/Objective

My career goal is to join the Department of Marine Biology at Hawaii State University after graduating from California University with a degree in marine biology. Utilizing the skills I gained from volunteering at California University to maintain the university’s research databases and library in order to ensure students have easy access to them.”

“I’m  an enthusiastic and passionate senior year student of marine biotechnology. I’m  interested in joining a research team to gain experience in research, especially in collecting, dissecting, and analyzing clinical samples’ data.”

Note: The incorrect sample does not specify a position. Employers instantly see that as a red flag. This indicates that the job seeker is probably emailing the same CV to every company within 30 miles of home.

Example #10 – Graduating Student CV Personal Statement

“I am a recent Johnson University graduate with an honors degree in broadcast journalism with internships at ABC TV3 Corporation for 1 year.  My internship allowed me to realize invaluable experience in the broadcast industry and hone my skills to contribute to fast-paced, professional environment .”

Note: It is important to highlight relevant skills and experiences in your personal statement. Recent graduates lack practical experience in the workforce, so interpersonal and soft skills like being successful and a trusted team member are critical.

Example#11 – Junior Business Analyst CV Personal Profile

“With 5+ years as a finance & security analyst, currently seeking a role at ThriveSpot to make actionable insights on financial metrics. Created business reports for OmniSpring to grow employee understanding of key concepts by 19%. Helped create a slide presentation of SWOT analysis, which was turned into a webinar with 2,700+ views.”

Tip: It’s absolutely okay to mention impressive achievements in your CV personal statement even if you were just a mere part of the team.

Example#12 – Medical Assistant CV Personal Statement

“An efficient and passionate health care provider/medical assistant who has enjoyed volunteering and support for 55+ seniors in elderly care facility. Seeking to help CradleCare maintain and improve the company’s industry-leading patient satisfaction level through quality and dedicated health services.”

Example #13 – Personal Statement for a Career Change CV

“With 10+ years extensive experience as a sales manager building high-functioning sales teams that consistently achieve budget figures. Led a 20% increase in annual renewals across the board with the growth of the sales team’s talents. Seeking to further develop my sales skills after 10 years by taking on new challenges and opportunities in SaaS/Fintech.” 

Example #14 – Returning to the Workforce Personal Statement 

An accomplished and highly motivated office administrator, I seek a new career opportunity after taking time off to raise my family. Successfully conducted meetings and coordinated client projects to keep the office running smoothly and efficiently using Microsoft Office, Project Management, and communication software. After volunteering for a local charity for several years, I am now committed to returning to work full-time.”

In some cases, re-entering the workforce after a break can be difficult. In this statement, the candidate explains why they took a break from work, their qualifications, and what they did during that time. Moreover, whenever someone lacks professional experience during the hiatus, the candidate can use the skills they learned as a volunteer so it becomes highly relevant.

Marissa Letendre, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Marissa Letendre is a senior HR leader and resume expert with over 12 years of experience. She has worked for both startups and Fortune 50 corporations and has helped thousands land jobs at top companies. Marissa has written on a wide range of topics, including employee engagement, career development, resumes, job searching, recruiting, and organizational effectiveness and has been featured on sites such as Slack and The Undercover Recruiter.

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10 Returning to Work Resume Objective Examples

Returning to the workforce after a hiatus can seem daunting, but it also opens up a world of new possibilities for professional growth and fulfillment.

Whether your break was due to family commitments, personal development, or travel, crafting a compelling resume objective is a critical step in communicating your desire to rejoin the professional sphere.

This page offers a wide selection of carefully constructed resume objectives tailored to those seeking to navigate their way back into a fulfilling career.

Each example is designed to help you articulate your renewed commitment to the workforce and underscore the unique blend of skills and experiences you bring.

Let these ten returning-to-work resume objectives guide you in making a powerful first impression as you embark on this next chapter of your professional journey.

Return to Work Resume Objectives Examples

How to Write a Returning to Work Resume Objective?

Crafting a resume objective for returning to work involves conveying not just your fit for the job, but also your renewed commitment and the value you can bring post-hiatus. Here are some key strategies to create an effective resume objective:

1. Highlight Transferable Skills:

Emphasize any skills gained during your break that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Transferable skills like organization, communication, or time management are often developed in various non-work activities.

2. Spotlight Continuous Learning:

If you’ve taken any courses or certifications during your time off, mention these to demonstrate initiative and a desire for continuous improvement.

3. Demonstrate Commitment:

Convey a strong willingness to not only return to the workforce but also to embrace the roles and responsibilities of your desired position.

4. Showcase Adaptability:

Indicate a readiness to adapt to new environments and the updated dynamics of the modern workplace, especially if there have been significant changes in your industry.

5. Mention Updated Knowledge:

If you’ve kept up with your industry’s trends or advancements during your break, make a note of this to show ongoing engagement with your professional sphere.

6. Express Enthusiasm:

Enthusiastic candidates are attractive to employers; express your excitement about re-entering the workforce and contributing to your potential employer’s success.

7. Personalize for the Role:

Tailor your objective to each job you apply for, ensuring it aligns with the company culture and the specifics of the job listing.

8. Address the Gap:

If feasible, briefly acknowledge the reason for your career break in a positive light, and focus on how it has prepared you to return to work with a fresh perspective.

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CV personal statement examples

If you want to secure job interview, you need a strong personal statement at the top of your CV.

Your CV personal statement is a short paragraph which sits at the very top of your CV – and it’s aim is to summarise the benefits of hiring you and encourage employers to read your CV in full.

In this guide I have included 17 CV personal statement examples from a range of professions and experience levels, plus a detailed guide of how to write your own personal statement that will get you noticed by employers

CV templates 

17 CV personal statement examples

To start this guide, I have included 10 examples of good personal statements, to give you an idea of how a personal statement should look , and what should be included.

Note: personal statements are generally used by junior candidates – if you are experienced, check out our CV profile examples instead.

Graduate CV personal statement (no experience)

Although this  graduate has no paid work experience, they compensate for it by showcasing all of the skills and knowledge the have gained during their studies, and demonstrating how they apply their knowledge in academic and personal projects.

When you have little or no experience, it’s important to draw out transferable workplace skills from your studies and extracurricular work, to showcase them to employers.

Graduate CV personal statement (part time freelance experience)

This candidate has graduated with a degree in biochemistry but actually wants to start a career in digital marketing after providing some digital freelance services to fund their studies.

In this case, they haven’t made much mention of their studies because they aren’t relevant to the digital marketing agencies they are applying to. Instead they have focused their personal statement around their freelance work and passion for the digital field – although they still mention the fact they are degree educated to prove their academic success.

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School leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate is 16 years old and has no work experience whatsoever, but they compensate for this by detailing their academic achievements that relate to the roles they are applying for (maths and literacy are important requirements in finance and accountancy roles).

They also add some info on their extracurricular activities and school work-placements, to strengthen this student CV further.

    Top tips for writing a CV personal statement

• Thoroughly research the jobs and companies you are planning to apply for to identify the type of candidate they are looking for – try to reflect that in your personal statement
• Don’t be afraid to brag a little – include some of your most impressive achievements from education, work or personal life
• Focus on describing the benefits an employer will get from hiring you. Will you help them to get more customers? Improve their workplace? Save them time and money?
• If you have no work experience, demonstrate transferable workplace skills from your education, projects, or even hobbies

School leaver CV personal statement (part time experience)

Although this person has only just left school, they have also undertaken some part-time work in a call centre alongside their studies.

To make the most of this experience, they have combined their academic achievements with their workplace exposure in this personal statement.

By highlighting their GCSE results, summer programme involvement, work experience and expressing their ambitions to progress within sales, this candidate really makes an appealing case for hiring them.

College leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate has left college with good grades, but does not yet have any work experience.

To compensate for the lack of workplace exposure, they have made their A level results prominent and highlighted skills and experience which would benefit the employers they are targeting.

Any recruiter reading this profile can quickly understand that this candidate has great academic achievements, a passion for IT and finance and the ability to transfer their skills into an office environment.

College student CV personal statement (freelance experience)

As this student has picked up a small amount of freelance writing work during their studies, they have made sure to brag about it in their personal statement.

They give details on their relevant A level studies to show the skills they are learning, and boost this further by highlighting the fact that they have been applying these skills in a real-life work setting by providing freelance services.

They also include key action verbs that recruiters will be looking for , such as creative writing, working to deadlines, and producing copy.

Academic CV personal statement

Aside from junior candidates, the only other people who might use a personal statement, are academic professionals; as their CV’s tend to be more longer and detailed than other professions.

This candidate provides a high level overview of their field of study, length of experience, and the roles they have held within universities.

School leaver CV personal statement with and sports experience

Although this person has no work experience, they are still able to show employers the value of hiring them by selling their other achievements and explaining how they could benefit an organisation.

They expand on their sports club involvement to demonstrate their teamwork, leadership skills, communication and motivation, which are all important traits in the workplace, and will be looked upon favourably by recruiters and hiring managers.

They also draw upon their future plans to study business studies and take a part time job, to further prove their ambition and dedication.

History graduate CV personal statement

This history graduate proves their aptitude for both academic achievement and workplace aptitude by showcasing valuable skills from their degree and voluntary work.

They do this by breaking down the key requirements for each and showing how their skills could be beneficial for future employers, such as listening, communication, and crisis management.

They also describe how their ability to balance studies alongside voluntary work has not only boosted their knowledge and skills, but also given excellent time management and organisational skills – which are vital assets to any employer.

Law graduate CV personal statement

This legal graduate makes the most from their work university work placements by using it to bulk out the contents of their CV personal statement.

They include their degree to show they have the necessary qualifications for legal roles, which is crucial, but more importantly, they showcase how they applied their legal skills within a real-life work setting.

They give a brief overview of the types of legal professionals they have been working alongside and the type of work they have been carrying out – this is all it takes to get the attention of recruiters and show employers they have what it takes to fulfil roles in the legal sector.

Medical student CV personal statement

This medical student proves their fit for the role by showcasing the key skills they have gained from their studies and their work experience placements.

In just these few sentences, they are able to highlight the vast amount of experience they have across different disciplines in the industry, something which is particularly important in the medical sector.

As they have not graduated yet and are still studying, they have provided proof of their most recent grades. This can give the recruiter some indication as to the type of grade they could be graduating with in the near future.

Masters student CV personal statement

This masters student has started by specifying their area of study, in this case, accounting, and given details about the specific areas of finance they are most interested in. This can hint towards their career goals and passions.

They have then carefully listed some of the key areas of accounting and finance that they are proficient in. For example, business finance, advanced corporate finance and statistics.

They have also outlined some of the transferable skills needed for accounting roles that employers will be looking out for, such as communication, attention to detail and analytical skills.

Finance student CV personal statement

As this finance student has recently undertaken some relevant work experience, they’ve made sure to shout about this in their personal profile.

But more than this, they have included a list of some of the important finance skills they gained as a result of this work experience – for example, financial reporting, processing invoices and month-end reconciliations.

Plus, through power words and phrases such as ‘prevent loss’ and ‘ improve upon accuracy and efficiency’, they have also showcased how they can apply these skills in a workplace setting to benefit the potential employer.

Internship  CV personal statement

This digital marketing professional has started their personal profile by outlining their most relevant qualifications and work experience, most notably their freelance role as a content manager.

They have also provided examples of some of the key marketing skills that potential employers might be looking for, including very detailed examples of the platforms and tools they are proficient in – for example, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.

They have then closed their statement by giving a detailed description of the type of role or opportunity they are looking for. In this case, an in-house position in a marketing company.

Graduate career changer personal statement

Switching careers as a graduate can be tough. Especially when it comes to writing a personal statement that will attract employers in your new chosen field.

This candidate is looking to move from history teaching into journalism, so they have created a statement which briefly mentions their current workplace, but mainly focuses on highlighting transferable skills which are relevant to journalism. They achieve this by discussing the writing skills they use in their current role, and mentioning their hobby of writing – including some publications they have been featured in for extra brownie points.

Business management graduate personal statement

This business management proves their ability to work within a junior business management position by swiftly highlighting their impressive degree (to ensure it is not missed) and summarising some of the real-life experience they have gained in management during their university placements and volunteering. They do not let their lack of paid work experience, stop them demonstrating their valuable skills.

PhD graduate

PhD graduate roles attract a lot of competition, so it’s important that your CV contains a personal statement that will quickly impress and attract recruiters.

This candidate provides a short-but-comprehensive overview of their academic achievements, whilst demonstrating their exceptional level of knowledge in research, languages and publication writing.

By highlighting a number of skills and abilities that are in high-demand in the academic workplace, this CV is very likely to get noticed and land interviews.

How to write a personal statement for your CV

Now that you’ve seen what a personal statement should look like and the type of content it should contain, follow this detailed guide to one for your own CV – and start racking those interviews up.

Guide contents

What is a CV personal statement?

Cv personal statement or cv profile, personal statement format, what to include in a cv personal statement.

• Personal statement mistakes

How to write persuasively

A personal statement is a short paragraph at the top of your CV which gives employers an overview of your education, skills and experience

It’s purpose is to capture the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers when your CV is first opened – encouraging them to read the rest of it.

You achieve this by writing a tailored summary of yourself that explains your suitability for the roles you are applying for at a very high level, and matches your target job descriptions .

One question candidates often ask me is , “what is the difference between a personal statement and a CV profile?”

To be honest, they are almost the same – they are both introductory paragraphs that sit at the top of your CV… but there are 2 main differences

A personal statement tends to be used more by junior candidates (graduates, school leavers etc.) and is relatively long and detailed.

A CV profile tends to be favoured by more experienced candidates , and is shorter in length than a personal statement.

Note: If you are an experienced candidate, you may want to switch over to my CV profile writing guide , or example CV profiles page.

To ensure you grab recruiters’ attention with your personal statement, lay it out in the following way.

Positioning

You need to ensure that your personal statement sits at the very top of your CV, and all of it should be totally visible to readers, without the need to scroll down the page.

Do this by reducing the top page margin and minimising the space taken up by your contact details.

This will ensure that your whole personal statement can be seen, as soon as your CV is opened.

We have a Word CV template which can help you to get this right.

Size/length

Your personal statement needs to contain enough detail to provide an introduction to your skills and knowledge, but not so much detail that it bores readers.

To strike the right balance, anything between 8-15 lines of text is perfect – and sentences should be sharp and to-the-point.

As with the whole of your CV or resume , your personal statement should be written in a simple clean font at around size 10-12 to ensure that it can be read easily by all recruiters and employers.

Keep the text colour simple , ensuring that it contrasts the background (black on white is best) and break it into 2 or even 3 paragraphs for a pleasant reading experience.

It should also be written in a punchy persuasive tone, to help you sell yourself and increase your chances of landing interviews , I cover how to do this in detail further down the guide.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional CV templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Once you have the style and format of your personal statement perfected, you need to fill it with compelling content that tells recruiters that your CV is worth reading.

Here’s what needs to go into your personal statement…

Before you start writing your personal statement, it’s crucial that you research your target roles to find out exactly what your new potential employers are looking for in a candidate.

Run a search for your target jobs on one of the major job websites , look through plenty of adverts and make a list of the candidate requirements that frequently appear.

This research will show you exactly what to include in your personal statement in order to impress the recruiters who will be reading it.

Education and qualifications are an important aspect of your personal statement, especially if you are a junior candidate.

You should highlight your highest and most relevant qualifications, whether that is a degree, A levels or GCSEs. You could potentially go into some more detail around modules, papers etc. if they are relevant to the roles you are applying for.

It’s important that you discuss the experience you have gained in your personal statement, to give readers an idea of the work you are comfortable undertaking.

This can of course be direct employed work experience, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can also include:

• School/college Uni work placements
• Voluntary work
• Personal projects
• Hobbies/interests

As with all aspects of your CV , the content should be tailored to match the requirements of your target roles.

Whilst discussing your experience, you should touch upon skills used, industries worked in, types of companies worked for, and people you have worked with.

Where possible, try to show the impact your actions have made. E.g . A customer service agent helps to make sales for their employer.

Any industry-specific knowledge you have that will be useful to your new potential employers should be made prominent within your personal statement.

For example

• Knowledge of financial regulations will be important for accountancy roles
• Knowledge of IT operating systems will be important for IT roles
• Knowledge of the national curriculum will be important for teachers

You should also include some information about the types of roles you are applying for, and why you are doing so. Try to show your interest and passion for the field you are hoping to enter, because employers want to hire people who have genuine motivation and drive in their work.

This is especially true if you don’t have much work experience, as you need something else to compensate for it.

CV personal statement mistakes

The things that you omit from your personal statement can be just as important as the things you include.

Try to keep the following out of your personal statement..

Irrelevant info

Any information that doesn’t fall into the requirements of your target roles can be cut out of your personal statement. For example, if you were a professional athlete 6 years ago, that’s great – but it won’t be relevant if you’re applying to advertising internships, so leave it out.

Generic clichés

If you are describing yourself as a “ dynamic team player with high levels of motivation and enthusiasm” you aren’t doing yourself any favours.

These cliché terms are vastly overused and don’t provide readers with any factual details about you – so keep them to a minimum.

Stick to solid facts like education, skills , experience, achievements and knowledge.

If you really want to ensure that your personal statement makes a big impact, you need to write in a persuasive manner.

So, how do you so this?

Well, you need to brag a little – but not too much

It’s about selling yourself and appearing confident, without overstepping the mark and appearing arrogant.

For example, instead of writing.

“Marketing graduate with an interest in entering the digital field”

Be creative and excite the reader by livening the sentence up like this,

“Marketing graduate with highest exam results in class and a passion for embarking on a long and successful career within digital”

The second sentence is a much more interesting, makes the candidate appear more confident, throws in some achievements, and shows off a wider range of writing skills.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Your own personal statement will be totally unique to yourself, but by using the above guidelines you will be able to create one which shows recruiters everything they need.

Remember to keep the length between 10-20 lines and only include the most relevant information for your target roles.

You can also check our school leaver CV example , our best CV templates , or our library of example CVs from all industries.

Good luck with the job hunt!

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How to write a CV for returning to work after a career break (with examples)

It’s not as complex as you might think.

What you’ll learn:

Why do you need to mention a career break on your cv.

• How formatting your CV can mean you don’t need to mention your career break.
• When do you need to mention a career break on your CV?
• How to address a career break on your CV, with examples.

Writing a CV is rarely something we do for fun, and the task can seem even more complicated if you’re returning from a lengthy spell away from employment.

However, for one reason or another, many of us take breaks, and then jump back into things. Part of your return to work plan should include sussing out how to include details of your career break on your CV while ensuring you still catch the eye of the hiring manager or recruiter.

Today, we’re going to take a look at when you need to mention a career break on your CV (you might not need to at all), and how to go about doing it.

It’s better to address a career break on the CV, rather than leave it ambiguous. These days, it’s very normal for people to take time out of work, perhaps to travel or to care for a loved one. Having a gap in your CV, as long as you can explain it, shouldn’t be a problem.

If you don’t address it in your CV, but the recruiter notices a gap in the years in your employment, they might wonder why you haven’t mentioned it.

Of course, if the leave was for personal or family reasons, you definitely do not need to go into a lot of detail. Simply stating that you were out of work for personal reasons is enough.

Using formatting to distract attention from a career break in your CV

Of course, you only need to address a career break in your CV if it’s going to be obvious to the person reading it. Generally speaking, this will be because there’s a gap in the start and end dates of the different employment headings in the experience section. In some cases, you might be able to get around this by, for example, using years rather than months to show when you worked for an organisation. For example, rather than writing

• Assistant Cactus Stroker at Ouch My Hand Hurts Inc.: May 2020 - January 2022.
• Lead Nettle Hugger at Yikes That Stings Inc.: January 2022 - Present.

You could instead write:

• Assistant Cactus Stroker at Ouch My Hand Hurts Inc.: 2020 - 2022.
• Lead Nettle Hugger at Yikes That Stings Inc.: 2022 - Present.

When do you need to mention a career break on a CV?

When you're writing a resume for returning to work after a long absence, whether you need to mention the career break (and where you include it) will depend on when it happened.

Here are a few scenarios:

1. If you’re on a career break now

2. you’ve had a career break recently, but have been working for some time.

In this instance, you only need to include details of your time away from work in the experience section of your CV (i.e. where you list the details of your previous roles). 

Because you’ve been back in the swing of things for a while, your personal statement should read like any other CV – detailing your skills, strengths and passions around the industry and the role you’re applying for.

Writing a CV can be extra tough if you've had some time away from employment.

3. You had a career break more than 5 years ago

This isn’t a hard and fast rule, and you’ll need to make a judgement call about your career trajectory and experience since you had your career break. 

However, if this was something that happened five or so years ago, there’s a good chance you don’t need to include it at all. Since then you’ll have gained so much valuable experience that it will wipe out any potential concerns from hiring managers or recruiters that you’re playing catchup.

How to address a career break on your CV

This will depend somewhat on why you took a career break.

For example, if you were ill, or caring for someone that was, no one will expect you to have also completed heaps of online courses and learnt eight new languages. That time was about getting yourself, or someone else, through a tough time, and the person reading your CV should understand that (if they don’t, you probably don’t want to work for them anyway).

Whatever the reason for your time off, there are a few things you should try to do when writing about your career break on a CV:

• Give a brief description of why you weren’t working. Again, there’s no need to go into overly personal details here.
• Where possible, highlight positive things you were able to achieve during that time.
• Show why this career break was necessary, or has positioned you better for the job you’re now applying to.

Example 1: A recent career break due to illness

“I have recently taken time away from work to undergo treatment for, and recover from, an illness. This period of time has allowed me to fully regain my fitness and, towards the end of my recovery, I’ve been able to prepare for coming back to work by completing a number of online courses”.

Example 2: Returning from an OE

“I’ve recently taken a career break to do some travelling, spending time in Japan, Korea and Vietnam. As well as learning about these cultures, this gave me a great opportunity to practice my Japanese language skills. This increased understanding of other cultures will help me in this role due to your international client base”.

The above are examples of how to talk about career breaks in the personal statement section of your CV. If you’re including details in your work experience section as well/instead, you’d structure it as you would a previous job description. For example:

Career break - Dates away

• Why you were away.
• What you achieved.

Other articles you might like

A solid transferable skills-based CV can make it easier to switch careers.

Done right, your CV can be a powerful tool for helping you stand out from other candidates. Here, we’ll show you how.

With the right prep, there’s no need to fear career change interviews.

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• CV and Cover Letter
• 3 strategic tips for...

3 strategic tips for explaining career gaps on your CV

6 min read · Updated on May 16, 2024

No matter the reason for your career break, you can address it honestly and effectively

If you've taken a career break, you might be concerned about how it will impact your job search success. In fact, research shows that half of workers are reluctant to disclose their career gaps. 

But that career gap on your CV shouldn't have to hold you back. In the following guide, we'll take a look at how you can make this common job seeker's dilemma work to your advantage.

How do I explain an employment gap on my CV?  

Honesty really is the best policy when it comes to your CV, especially when addressing why you were out of work. The last thing you want is to deceive the hiring manager.

Remember that employment gaps occur for a variety of reasons, from dismissal and redundancy to travelling and maternity leave. Keep in mind the following as you prepare to explain the career gaps on your CV:

Career breaks are common. Research by Applied found that 33% of workers have taken a career break of six months or more. Recruiters and interviewers are no strangers to candidates that have taken time off to travel, to care for a family member or were dismissed from their last role.

You don't have to go into every detail. For example, if you were fired from your last job, don't bad-mouth your employer for making you leave. Instead, be discrete and explain how you weren't a fit for the role or had outgrown the job, and are currently seeking a position that better matches your competencies.

Details of your career gap should be brief on your CV. Ideally, you should address the reasons for the gap in your cover letter or during the interview . Save your CV for your selling points.

Writing your CV when you have a career gap

Believe it or not, there's a right and wrong way to document employment gaps on your application. Here are some practical approaches for sharing career gaps on your CV while maximising your chances at getting invited for an interview:

1. Update your personal statement

If you have a career gap on your CV, here's a savvy strategy: address it head-on through your personal statement . Below are a few career break examples and suggestions for phrasing your personal statement in a way that shows you're ready to re-enter the workplace:

What to say: Now ready to re-establish a career in X. Available immediately.

What not to say: Recently made redundant and looking for a new job. 

What to say: Now ready to resume a position in the X industry after taking some time to refocus my career goals.

What not to say: Having been fired from my previous job, I need a new one. 

Caring for someone

What to say: Now looking to re-establish my career in X after taking some time out as a carer.

What not to say: Was out of work for personal issues which I don't want to discuss. 

What to say: Now ready to re-enter the X industry and deliver similar impressive results in a new role with my new-found skills.

What not to say: I recently took a year out to travel, eat, and drink!

Taking a course

What to say: Currently seeking a position in X after refining and developing my skills through X course.

What not to say: I wasn't sure what I wanted to do next so I went back to college.

Addressing a career gap on your CV can be scary. But remember, it's all relative. As you can see from the above employment gap explanation examples, it's all about how you frame things. 

The secret to landing an interview is to show what you gained from this stint out of work and, ultimately, why you'd be a valuable asset to anyone's business.

2. Highlight the skills you've learned

Think about what you learned during your break that makes you more employable, and then go ahead and add them to your CV's skills section . You can also showcase them in your CV's personal statement and cover letter.

Chances are you boosted essential soft skills such as self-motivation, communication and confidence. You may have also taken professional development courses or volunteering placements, or even spent time reflecting and refocusing your career. Feel free to go beyond the work-related skills and expand on competencies developed from day-to-day life.

Remember that every experience offers a valuable learning curve. It's your job to identify what you gained from your career break to show prospective employers that – despite being out of work – you developed useful new skills.

Once you've secured an interview, avoid dwelling on your unemployment and apologising for career gaps on your CV. Instead, focus on the positives and make your career break look purposeful, rather than desperate.

3. Format your employment history dates 

One quick way to address career gaps on your CV, especially if they aren't that significant, is by formatting the dates. If your employment gap lasted only a few months, consider replacing the start and end dates on your CV with just the employment years.

Most job hunters forget that a CV doesn't need to document their entire employment history . Instead, it should cover a brief but powerful summary of the last 10 to 15 years of your work while outlining your core skills.

If you should retain employment dates, do NOT try to extend dates to mask a gap – lying may get you into more trouble than it's worth.

Don't be discouraged by your career gap

Having a gap on your CV is not the end of the world – or your career. As we've covered here, there are acceptable ways to address the career gaps on your CV without hurting your application. Be truthful about your employment history, and turn your career gaps into opportunities to showcase your skills and your readiness to take on a new role.

Need help explaining an employment gap on your CV? Submit your CV for a free review and let our experts give you tips on how to improve your application.

This article was originally written by Laura Slingo and has been updated by Charlotte Grainger.

Recommended Reading:

5 ways to productively fill an employment gap

What makes a bad CV?

5 things to remove from your CV right away

Related Articles:

Listing professional experience on your CV: a 5-step guide

5 steps to crafting an impressive self-employed CV

How to get a job with a criminal record: restart your career

See how your CV stacks up.

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CVs & Résumés

How to explain a career break in your cover letter.

Nikki Vivian

Writing a cover letter is about being able to show that the skills and experience you possess make you the ideal candidate for the position on offer. This can be tricky if you’ve recently taken a career break and feel you need to address this in the letter.

How to structure your cover letter

The way you structure and format your cover letter is important, because if you do it well, it will allow a recruiter to read it quickly, pulling out the relevant points in a logical progression. It’s important that each paragraph links together in a way that flows naturally from one point to the next.

Follow this structure for maximum effect:

1. Address and date

The top of your letter needs to include your address and the address of the company (if it’s being sent by post). If your cover letter is being sent by email, a date is sufficient.

2. Recipient and greeting

3. opening paragraph.

This should make it obvious why you are applying for the role and why you are a great candidate to be considered. Make sure this section is not generic. Talk about why you want this role specifically and give a summary as to why you are an ideal candidate to back it up.

4. Body of letter

This section will have 2 or 3 short paragraphs going into further detail about why you are perfect for the position. Address all the essential criteria mentioned in the job description and make sure you elaborate on what’s in your CV or résumé, rather than just repeating it. This is also where you will mention your career break, including the skills you gained during the break and examples to show what you have to offer in the role.

Tips for writing a cover letter for returning to the workforce

How you address the employment break you’ve had in your career is important. It needs to be framed in a positive way with a brief explanation, but it shouldn’t be the focus of your cover letter. Here are some actionable tips:

Focus on achievements first

Don’t make the break sound negative.

You don’t need to apologise for having a career break or explain the reason for having one. It will have brought benefits, so make sure you frame it in a positive light. Highlight what it has helped you with and any skills and experience you picked up from it.

Don’t dwell on it

Your break is a small factor to consider, so don’t make it the focus of your letter. Mention it and move on.

Make it clear you’re ready to be back

Align your letter with your cv, keep to the point.

Don’t write pages and pages. A cover letter should be one page — ideally, no more than 500 words. Everything you need to say should be able to be condensed into a page, even if you have a long career history.

Keep it relevant

Everything you write should be directly related to selling yourself for the role you’re applying for. It’s tempting to write about all you’ve done, but if it isn’t relevant, it isn’t benefitting you. Keep it clear, simple and to the point.

Remember your soft skills

Give a call to action.

When you end your letter, invite the recipient to take the next move by giving a call to action . This might be asking them to call you, or confidently telling them you are looking forward to meeting them at the interview stage. This is far more effective than thanking the reader for their time and allowing them to move on to the next application. Be bold, it will pay off.

Career break cover letter template

Final thoughts

Have you ever taken a career break? Did you feel it affected you when applying for jobs? Join the conversation in the comments section below.

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Learnist.org

Home » Personal Statement Examples » Career Break Personal Statement Example

Career Break Personal Statement Example

By Guest Author

   If you have had a break from your career and you want to begin applying for jobs again it is important to address this rather than leaving an employer to imagine what the gap is for.

Many people have gaps in their CV such as: Travelling, Maternity/Paternity Leave, Returning to work once children are at school age, Relocation etc and most reasons are genuine but an employer will not be aware of this so it is important to explain why you have had a period of not working and why you are now looking to get into work. You can do this by highlighting the experiences that you do have and matching your up to date CV with the skills and attributes that they are looking for in the role they are advertising.

Below is a personal statement that you can use as an example:

I am an enthusiastic and passionate individual who is keen to continue my career in (what area – or if this is a new area change to keen to begin my career) following a break from my career.

I am self motivated and methodical in my work. I plan and organised my work schedule and like the challenge of working to tight deadlines. I have always been interested in (what subject relevant to the job role) and am willing to undergo any further training in or around this subject to improve myself for my career prospects.

I am a reliable and honest person who is keen to succeed and following a career break from (what are the reasons for your career break) I am now keen to continue and progress further. I am a dedicated and thorough individual who pays great attention to detail and hopes to continue in a career I consider to be important.

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