What is a Personal Statement?

A personal statement sometimes called a statement of purpose, is a short essay submitted along with applications for academic programs, scholarships, employment, or other opportunities where an applicant wants to provide more information about their fit or suitability for the position.

The main purposes of a personal statement are to introduce yourself in your own words, highlight your relevant qualifications and experiences, and explain your interest and motivation for the program or opportunity you are applying to. It allows you to stand out from other applicants and convince the admissions committee or hiring manager that you would be a great addition.

Tips for Writing an Effective Personal Statement
Here are some tips for crafting an outstanding personal statement:

• Open with an attention-grabbing introduction. Draw the reader in immediately by sharing an interesting anecdote or observation relevant to your goals and experiences.
• Clearly state your motivations and interests. Explain why you are passionate about the field or opportunity and what specifically interests you about the program or position. Back this up with details from your background.
• Connect your past experiences to your future goals. Show how your qualifications, whether through work, academic studies, extracurriculars, or life experiences, have prepared you for this next step. Highlight transferable skills.
• Provide concrete specifics and examples. Don’t just state that you are a “strong leader” – share a story that demonstrates your leadership abilities in action. Use facts, numbers, and specific scenarios rather than vague generalities.
• Edit carefully for clarity, concision, and word choice. Get feedback from others to ensure it flows smoothly and your accomplishments and suitability shine through.
• Close with a conclusion that reinforces your fit and passion. Thank the readers and leave them with a positive final impression of your candidacy.

Personal Statement Template
The following is a template you can use to structure your statement:

Introduction (2-3 sentences)

• Grab the reader’s attention with an interesting fact, story, or experience
• Clearly state the program/opportunity you are applying to
• Briefly introduce yourself and your relevant qualifications

Background and Experiences (2-3 paragraphs)

• Provide a short overview of your educational and career background
• Highlight 2-3 of your most relevant and impressive qualifications, academic achievements, work experiences, or extracurricular activities
• Give specific examples and details to bring these experiences to life

Statement of Purpose and Goals (2-3 paragraphs)

• Clearly explain why you are interested in this field/opportunity and what specifically appeals to you about the program
• Communicate how your qualifications, skills, and experiences have prepared you for this opportunity
• Relate your purpose and goals to your background to show fit

Future Impact and Closing Statement (1-2 paragraphs)

• Express your determination to succeed and enthusiasm for the work
• Articulate how you plan to make a meaningful impact or contribution
• Thank the readers for their consideration and reinforce your strong candidacy

Proofread carefully! Have 2-3 people review it and provide feedback before finalizing. Be ready to refine based on comments to further strengthen and polish your statement. Stick to a professional tone throughout.

Sample Personal Statement
Here is a sample personal statement for a graduate program in marketing:

Introduction: As the e-commerce manager for a leading sporting goods retailer, I have gained invaluable experience in digital marketing strategies that drive online sales. An MBA focused on marketing analytics would allow me to take my skills to the next level by learning advanced techniques for data-driven decision-making.

Background: I graduated summa cum laude from State University with a B.S. in Business Administration in 2017. As the social media director for our award-winning Entrepreneurship Club, I helped promote campus events that drew thousands of attendees. In my current role at Sports Superstore, I manage a team of five and have optimized our website and social media campaigns to increase annual online revenue by 25% over the past two years.

Statement of Purpose: I am passionate about using marketing to positively impact businesses. By analyzing customer data and testing promotions, I’ve seen firsthand how strategic marketing decisions can significantly boost the bottom line. An MBA from Your University will equip me with the expertise to craft sophisticated, metrics-based strategies that maximize returns. Specifically, I am interested in learning predictive analytics techniques to anticipate consumer behavior and drive higher conversion rates.

Future Impact: Upon graduating, I plan to apply my enhanced skill set to advance within the digital marketing department of a major retailer or to start my agency. By leveraging cutting-edge marketing analytics, I aim to help businesses strategically tailor their messaging to attract more qualified prospects. Your program will allow me to fulfill my potential as an innovative leader who drives growth through data-driven initiatives. I am confident it will prepare me to make a meaningful impact.

Proofread and provide feedback to tighten and refine the details as needed to strengthen this marketing MBA personal statement. My goal is to stand out among a competitive pool of applicants by showcasing relevant experience together with genuine motivation, direction, and potential for leadership in this field. Thank you for your consideration.

All the best!