how to sell yourself in a personal statement examples

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9 Ways to Sell Yourself in an Interview (+ Examples)

Picture this: you apply for a job and make it to the final round. But another candidate, with less experience than you, gets the offer.

Frustrating, yes. But it’s really common.

The reality is, there’s a sea of candidates applying for each open role. A lot of them are in no way better than you. Yet, they get an offer and you don’t.

This is because you probably don’t know how to sell yourself. And selling yourself in an interview is often the key step to standing out from the competition.

It doesn’t mean being salesy or exaggerating your strengths. It simply means presenting your experience in the best light, knowing the company you’re interviewing with, and knowing interviewing etiquette.

In this article, I’ll help you:

• Understand what selling yourself means
• Learn how to sell yourself through research, your USP, and elevator pitch
• Learn additional tips for making a great impression

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What It Means to “Sell Yourself” in an Interview

In summary:

• Selling yourself in an interview doesn’t mean overpromising, exaggerating, or being arrogant.
• It means presenting relevant experience and skills in an appealing way and showing enthusiasm for the role.
• Remember — talking honestly about things you’ve done well in the past doesn’t make you appear cocky.
• If you’re a modest person, it can be challenging, but all it takes is a bit of practice for you to go from forgettable to irresistible.

People think selling themselves means overpromising, embellishing past achievements, and being pushy.

It’s actually this simple: selling yourself in an interview means presenting your strengths and skills that the company is looking for, backing them up with evidence, and showing enthusiasm for the role.

If you’re modest, it can be a daunting task — but anyone can do it with a bit of practice. Studies suggest that using self-promotion strategies can improve your interview ranking, so we’d say working on this will definitely pay off.

Take Lawrence for example. He’s a successful IT guy with an impressive resume and no problem getting up in front of a room full of colleagues. However, he hasn’t interviewed in a while and he’s always been a fairly humble guy.

Our career coach, Pam, asked about his strengths in their first session. He got confused and started to stumble and mumble. Lawrence was like most of us — the sheer thought of “self-promotion” made him cringe.

But after one session, Lawrence went from modest and forgettable to irresistible (and he got the job offer that he wanted anyway).

And if you’re like him, we’re here to help. Keep reading, as we’ll teach you how to sell yourself in an interview, step by step.

How to Sell Yourself in an Interview

• Research and understand your prospective company
• Identify and articulate your unique selling points (USPs)
• Create and master your elevator pitch
• Present your skills and accomplishments
• Showcase your soft skills
• Display positive body language
• Ask insightful questions
• Close strategically
• Send a thank-you note

1. Research and understand your prospective company

• Research who you’re interviewing for and what they want from this role.
• Your guidelines are the keywords in the job description.
• Scour their website, google them, check forums and hiring platforms to check their reputation, and speak to their (past) employees.

This is a crucial first step. It will help you:

• Adjust your approach
• Highlight relevant skills and experience
• Come up with relevant and thoughtful questions to ask.

You’ll come across as a person who knows (and owns) their stuff. The kind anyone wants on their team.

Where can you start?

Study the job description and find keywords that will point you in the right direction.

This will show you what they need and will help you take relevant experiences from your work history and present them in a memorable way.

But you’ll also need to:

• Visit their website
• Google their name and reputation
• Check forums
• Check hiring platforms for reviews
• Speak to people who work(ed) for the company to get the bigger picture

✅ Pro tip: Knowing who you’ll speak to during interviewing stages (HR, team leaders, founders, team members) will help you anticipate the kind of questions they’ll ask. HR will be most interested in your experience and qualifications. A CEO might focus on your vision, strategic thinking, and if you’re a cultural fit.

If you need more tips to rock any job interview, we’ve prepared a free course to teach you how to speak about your strengths, sell yourself, and negotiate the salary of your dreams.

2. Identify and articulate your unique selling points (USPs)

• Identify the unique selling points (USPs) that will make you stand out.
• Your USPs consist of key skills, key accomplishments, and an element that makes you special (experience in a certain industry; particular project/award; connections…).
• Support USPs with a proof statement (short story, example, achievement).
• Mention your USP when asked: “Tell me about yourself”, “Why should we hire you?”, and “Why this role/company?”

To convince a recruiter you’ll be the perfect addition to their company, think of the bits and pieces of your professional self that make you special.

Create your USP by:

• Mentioning key skills you possess that the company needs.
• Highlighting your main accomplishment (ideally the one that fits the job ad/company needs).
• Saying what sets you apart (a particular project/award, experience with certain industries, connections…).

Then, create a supporting proof statement for each selling point. It can be a short story or a particular example that showcases your selling point.

You can see a few examples below, adjusted to fit the criteria outlined in the job ad.

Example selling point #1: Management skills/experience

For a management role, you’ll want to demonstrate that you can successfully lead others. If this is one of your strengths, highlight it with specifics:

Proof Statement A (specific example): In my current role, I have built a great team that has grown from 3 to 14 over the last five years. Early on, I learned a lot from my mentors about how to hire the right people and coach them to success. Now I’m proud to say that my team has been acknowledged as the most productive and cohesive group in the division. Now my bosses send young managers to me to mentor!

Proof Statement B (general description): I love being a manager and I believe it’s one of my greatest strengths. I have managed customer service teams at both large and small companies for more than four years, so I know how to get the best out of customer service professionals.

Example selling point #2: Hard worker

A strong work ethic is a great asset and a desirable quality for almost any position.

Just keep in mind that interviewers hear this “hard worker” claim a lot and may not see it as a huge differentiator. If you choose this as one of your interview selling points, make sure you have a great example or proof statement that shows how you personify this quality.

Also, be sure to supplement this one with additional selling points that are more specific to the role and set you apart more clearly.

Proof Statement A (specific example): In my previous position, I put in many late nights to ensure that our monthly client newsletter went out on time — and that it met the company’s high-quality standards. Because of layoffs, we were understaffed and I volunteered to take on many additional tasks beyond my role — I wrote stories, edited for our other writers, oversaw layout, and served as the final proofreader to ensure no mistakes made it to press. The issue was a huge success and resulted in lots of positive feedback from clients and from senior management.

Proof Statement B (general description): I have always been that person who’s first in the office in the morning and last to leave in the evening. And I’m not happy unless I know I’m giving my all. I’m the guy who taught himself website design so that I could be more valuable to my team on our site redesign project. I also learned the classic drag-and-drop website design using my own portfolio as an example, so I could use this format for future projects. 

✅ Pro tip: You can mention your USPs on several occasions during the interview — when they ask:

• “Tell me about yourself”
• “Why should we hire you?”
• “Why this role/company?”

And for additional tips on how to leave a great impression, check out the video below:

3. Create and master your elevator pitch

• Create a 30–60–second–long elevator pitch to show who you are as a professional.
• Your elevator pitch = who you are, what you accomplished, what you can do for the company, and how you fit in.
• Be positive and practice for a perfect delivery.

An elevator pitch is a concise, appealing summary of your experience and key skills, typically delivered in the time span of an elevator ride — hence the name.

In an interview, you can generally use your elevator pitch when you’re asked “Tell me about yourself,” usually right at the beginning of an interview.

How to create an elevator pitch

• Be brief (30–60 seconds tops).
• Share your key accomplishments and skills: who you are and what you’ve done.
• Know your audience and speak to them: what you’ll do for them and how you fit in.
• Be positive: your enthusiasm counts and is an important factor recruiters will take into account.

Elevator pitch: Sample

I’m a Customer Service Specialist with 9 years of experience in the SaaS industry, primarily in the Trucking and Logistics sector. I have extensive experience with the biggest ELDs on the market. Over the past 4 years, I consistently exceeded expectations, resulting in 2 promotions in my current company. I’m looking for new challenges, perhaps even taking on more responsibilities as a Customer Success Manager, and I believe my versatile experience and connections are a solid starting point. I’m passionate about meaningful work and my unique blend of strong technical skills and excellent communication allows me to deliver exceptional service to customers. I’d love to discuss how my expertise can contribute to your team’s success.

4. Present your skills and accomplishments

• Focus on quantifiable accomplishments and relevant skills.
• Use the PAR (Problem-Action-Solution) formula to think of achievements.
• Check the frequency and scale of your work to think of achievements.
• Make your achievements SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely).
• If you don’t have enough relevant experience, qualitative achievements will do (positive feedback and similar).
• Use the STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Result) method when talking about achievements.

Remember that golden resume rule that you should always focus on your accomplishments and skills rather than everyday duties?

The same goes for interviews.

Quantifiable achievements (and relevant skills) are something you’ll always want to emphasize.

They’re solid proof of everything you say about yourself. Having trouble coming up with or quantifying achievements?

Use the PAR (Problem-Action-Solution) formula

For every position you worked in, think about some of your successes and what actions you took to achieve them. What problems were they tied to? This should help you get inspired.

Make your accomplishments SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely

This means providing achievements that are specific, measurable, data-driven, and believable.

Talk about frequency and scale

Think about how frequently you were able to deliver your work (resolved X customer tickets/day, wrote X long-form pieces of content/month, booked X demos with clients/week) or the scale of your work (how many people you managed, how many people from other departments you collaborated with, how big the budgets you handled were…). These are achievements in themselves.

List qualitative achievements

If you don’t have hard numbers but you still feel like you improved something, you can still bring it up as an achievement in an interview. Telling a story about it will create space for you to showcase your skills, especially if you’re just starting out and lack relevant experience (qualitative achievements are praises from your superiors, awards, promotions, and similar).

Use the STAR model

Once you have the list of achievements and skills you want to mention, the best way to showcase them is through the STAR model (Situation-Task-Action-Result) .

• Situation: the context of the problem you were faced with.
• Task: how you wanted to solve the problem.
• Action: what exactly you did.
• Results: the impact your action made on the business (it’s best to quantify the results whenever possible).

For each accomplishment, pick a single event from your experience. This is the most efficient way to prove your skills. And if you practice before the interview, your story will flow naturally, it will be engaging and compelling, and you’ll be able to efficiently get your point across.

Our Answer Builder will help you list supporting arguments for each event you want to mention.

5. Showcase your soft skills

• Don’t merely talk about soft skills — find a way to prove them during the interview.
• For proving interpersonal and communication skills, be an active listener, be clear and concise, and use positive body language.
• For proving you’re dedicated, prepare for the interview, research the company, and know their pain points.
• For proving your wit, know the company and ask smart, relevant questions.

Unlike hard skills, you can’t really quantify soft skills and present them as achievements. Yet, they’re equally important. So how do you showcase them in an effective way?

During the interview process itself.

Want to showcase your interpersonal and communication skills? ➡️ Be an active listener. Ensure you fully understand a question before answering. In your answers, be clear and concise. Pay attention to your non-verbal cues, nod your head to let a recruiter know you’re listening, and use positive body language (eye contact, open arms, body facing their direction). After the interview, send a thank-you note.

Want to showcase you’re dedicated and resourceful? ➡️ Come to the interview prepared. Getting to know the company before the interview will hint at how dedicated and resourceful you are in everything that you do.

Want to showcase your sharp wit and critical thinking? ➡️ Ask the right questions after the interview . Make sure they’re meaningful and tailored to the company you applied for — they’ll reveal a ton of useful information. You get the drill. Actions speak louder than words here.

6. Display positive body language

• Have a firm handshake and maintain eye contact.
• Sit up straight, facing the interviewer with your whole body. Don’t cross your arms.
• Smile when appropriate.
• Control nervous habits: no leg shaking and pen clicking.
• Practice in front of the mirror to quickly improve.

“It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it” — this is actually, mostly true. More than half of what you communicate is through your body language and non-verbal communication instead of what you actually say.

Being mindful of your non-verbal communication and body language will help you be confident and sell yourself, leave the right impression, and establish a more professional presence.

Here’s how to do it:

• Practice a firm handshake and eye contact. This will help you immensely with first impressions.
• Sit up straight. Don’t slouch or lean away from the interviewer. Keep your back straight, your arms open, and your entire body turned towards the interviewer.
• Maintain a proper amount of eye contact. Don’t avoid eye contact but don’t overdo it and stare at the interviewer all the time — a healthy amount, the one you’d use with your family and friends, will do. Maintaining eye contact will show that you’re confident and engaged.
• Smile when appropriate. A genuine smile during the handshake and when talking about positive experiences in your past will make a world of difference — showing that you’re an approachable, warm person, even hinting that you’re a team player.
• Control nervous habits. Don’t bite your nails, shake your leg, or click your pen. Contrary to what you think, these will only make you more nervous. Stop it and you’ll see your mind and body relax.
• Practice. Stand in front of the mirror (or use our Mock Interview Tool) and observe your body language, eye contact, hand gestures, and general posture. You should be able to quickly figure out areas of improvement and work on them to eliminate the negatives and be the best version of yourself in the interview. If you use the Mock Interview Tool, you’ll also get instant feedback on the quality of your answer, the pace of your speech, the power words that you used, and similar. You can also share your answers with friends, family, or coaching mentors who can help you further perfect your delivery.

7. Ask insightful questions

• The questions you ask at the end of the interview can make or break your reputation.
• Don’t be lazy, research the company and prepare a set of tailored questions.
• Nice questions to ask: “Why is this position open?”; “A year from now when you’re looking back on this hire, what would I have done to exceed every expectation?”; “What do new employees often find surprising after they start?; “Where do you see this role in the company’s growth?”
• Never say “No questions on my side, thanks.”

To put it frankly, the questions you ask at the end of the interview will show if you’re lazy and forgettable or curious and resourceful. They can make or break your status with a recruiter. God forbid you say “No questions on my side, thanks.”

If you get these questions right, it’ll give you an advantage over 90% of other applicants — and will help you to sell yourself. Not to mention you’ll identify if the company is the right fit for you.

You can ask all types of questions based on the company you’re interviewing for, the industry it operates in, company culture, or its long-term plans and vision.

Examples of insightful questions you can ask:

• Why is this position open?
• A year from now when you’re looking back on this hire, what would I have done to exceed every expectation?
• What do new employees often find surprising after they start?
• Where do you see this role in the company’s growth?
• What are the biggest challenges your team is currently facing and how are you addressing them?
• What’s different about working here than anywhere else you’ve worked?

Check our full guide for more smart questions to ask in a job interview .

8. Close strategically

• The end of the interview is your last chance to leave a lasting impression.
• Make a small announcement showing gratitude, circling back to company values and how you share them, restate your interest in the position, recap key points, ask for the next steps, and be courteous and confident.
• Do this at the end of the interview after you answered all the questions. You can say something like “Before we leave, I just want to thank you for your time and…”

Closing the interview is your last chance to leave a lasting impression, so you’ll want to make sure you emphasize your dedication, passion, and the fact that you’re the right fit for the role.

Here are a few tips to help you close your interview strategically and make recruiters excited about extending you an offer.

1. Show gratitude

Thank the recruiter for their time and show appreciation for the opportunity to discuss the role and company in question.

2. Circle back to the company’s culture and values 

Briefly mention the examples of shared values and goals between you and the company — it’ll show that you did your research and that you’re a cultural fit.

3. Emphasize your interest in the position

Restate how interested you are in the position within their company and mention a particular detail from the conversation/job description that made you excited to work there. Make sure to mention how the position matches your skills and experience and your professional plans for the future.

4. Recap key points

Briefly go through the key points mentioned during the interview (particular achievements and skills that make you a perfect fit). It’ll remind recruiters of how you can bring value.

5. Ask for the next steps

Feel free to inquire about the next steps in the interview process and how you’ll be moving forward. But remember to be polite!

6. Be courteous 

Thank the recruiter once again for their time and efforts and say you’re looking forward to hearing from them soon.

7. Display healthy confidence

Confidence is a magnet that will make others more attracted to you. Interestingly, confident candidates high in extroversion tend to engage in more honest self-promotion . This might motivate you to at least fake it till you make it.

✅ Pro tip: The perfect time to close the interview strategically is after all the questions are answered and the interview is about to end. You can start by saying something like “Before we leave, I just want to thank you for your time and…”

9. Send a thank-you note

• Sending a thank-you note after the interview is the last step to take in the interview process.
• Send it in the form of an email within 24 hours after the interview.
• If you interviewed with several people, send them thank-you emails separately.
• In this email, thank the recruiter for their time, personalize by mentioning one of the key points of discussion, subtly demonstrate you’re the right fit, and restate your interest in the position.

So you prepared for your interview , learned all types of questions and how to best answer them , learned how to sell yourself, and crushed the interview.

Chill time, right?

Not yet. Not until you take the final, crucial step to selling yourself:

Writing a post-interview thank-you note , the cherry on top that will solidify the rapport you established with the recruiter.

Here’s a few tips on how to write it:

• Begin this email by thanking the recruiter for their time
• Personalize it by briefly mentioning some of the key points of discussion
• Include details about your excitement for the position
• Subtly demonstrate how you’re a fit for the role
• Reiterate your interest
• Send the email within 24 hours after the interview
• If you had an interview with several people, send them separate thank-you notes (don’t copy-paste the same email to everyone!)

For more details and specific instructions on how to write a thank-you note, head here: How to Write an Interview Thank You Email [Tips + Examples] .

Post-interview thank-you note sample

Subject Line: Thank You | Content Writer Interview

Dear Rachel, Once again, thank you for the time you took to meet with me yesterday to discuss the Content Writer position at your company. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Skillful Communications, especially the details regarding the collaborative company culture and systematic approach to operational processes, which I really value.

I’m excited about the potential opportunity to work with your diverse team of writers and editors, as I’m certain I’d provide value with my educational background and hands-on writing and editing experience.

Please let me know if there is any additional information you need from me. I hope to hear back from you and have the opportunity to continue our discussion about the role.

Sincerely, Maja Stojanovic

How to Sell Yourself in an Interview: Popular Opinion vs. Expert Advice

Most people can’t stand the idea of “selling” themselves in an interview because they don’t really understand what it means. You might think you need to brag about yourself or exaggerate your accomplishments to win the interviewer over, but that’s rarely the case.

Let’s see what people from Reddit and Quora had to say about this. 

Neurorex on Reddit said:

“Selling yourself” has been one of the most damaging advice that’s been floating out there, with a terrible return rate, and successes that may not even have been attributed to the candidate’s salesmanship. With interviewers always expecting different things from applicants, this isn’t something you “failed” at, any more than you can fail at reading people’s minds. It’s just been a really sexy thing for people to say, to make them feel like they’re helping others by giving advice.

It’s more important to just be your best, professional self. Those interview questions are already ineffective in the first place, so it doesn’t help anyone to cater to random expectations. If you walk in and interpret the questions using your best professional judgment, and respond in kind, at least you can walk away from the meeting knowing that you were at least the most honest one in the room (whether you ultimately get the job or not).

Career expert comments:

The perfect example of what we talked about above — it’s easy to misinterpret this phrase and avoid it.

I wouldn’t say that interviewers expect to hear anything in particular from candidates. There’s no script candidates should follow blindly. Each question is there for you to display the way you think, the values you uphold, and the experiences you went through. That being said, I agree that you should be your honest, best professional self. No one expects you to lie, but it is expected that you prepare a few achievements relevant to the position you applied for and show that you’re aligned with the company. And that’s honest, right? ‘Cause otherwise you wouldn’t be invited to the interview. So coming in prepared, being sincere, and connecting with the interviewer in a meaningful way is more than enough to “sell” yourself. 

Tom O’Brien from Quora says:  

Well, the hiring company is making a decision to pay money for your services. Seems to me that that is the equivalent of a buying situation for them (and a selling situation for the interviewee).

In sales, the goal is to add value. The buyer should get some return on their investment. Going into an interview, my mindset is always “How can I add value to this company”. 

If you can’t answer that question, then you are not prepared for the interview. I believe this is true for ALL positions. Adding value in my context might mean the ability to implement a sales process AND land big enterprise accounts. If you are interviewing to be a dishwasher, adding value means always being on time and willing and able to help out whenever and wherever needed. Happy to be a team player so we all succeed.

Think in detail about how you add value before the interview.

In simple, transactional terms, this is the ultimate truth. It’s a proactive, value-driven approach to interviews. You will provide services you’ll be paid for — and your employer will buy those services and spend money. You need to showcase why your services are great and better than other candidates’ services. At the end of the day, the focus will always be on what you bring to the table.

Perfect-Maize-5540 says:

I’m not sure you actually need to be unique at a job interview. That could easily backfire. Just being memorably above average or qualified will probably do the trick.

Well, this sums it up nicely. You don’t need the fluff, the exaggeration, the lying, or the fake confidence (I’ve seen a lot of “fake it til you make it” pieces of advice on Reddit). You just need to show up prepared, talk about your strengths, and back them up with quantifiable accomplishments. These strengths need to be aligned with the job ad and demonstrate how you can help the company solve its pain points. If you can do this, you’ll be ahead of most of the candidates.

Summary of the Main Points

• Knowing how to sell yourself in an interview is a skill that will help you stand out (even if you have less experience than other candidates).
• Selling yourself isn’t bragging or lying in order to get a job — it’s presenting yourself and speaking about your skills and experience in a memorable, appealing way.
• In order to successfully do it, you’ll need to research and understand the prospective company, identify and promote your unique selling points, master your elevator pitch, focus on measurable accomplishments, and showcase your soft skills as well as your spotless non-verbal communication and body language.
• Post-interview thank-you notes are a useful tool that will help you solidify the great impression you left on the recruiter.
• As usual, preparing and practicing selling yourself in an interview will make you confident and appealing, increasing your chances of landing that offer.

___________________________

Need a hand? There’s 3 ways we can help:

• Tired of interviewing and not landing the job? Discover actionable lessons and interview practice here (Rated with 4.9/5 by 1,000,000 users).
• Learn about 30+ common job interview mistakes to avoid .
• Find out how to decrease anxiety and calm your nerves before a job interview .

I’m on my way to the interview now — what’s the key thing to do to sell myself?

Present your accomplishments and skills in a way that will prove you 1) have the experience 2) are aware of the company’s needs 3) are the right person for the job. Use the STAR model to showcase your achievements and pay attention to your non-verbal communication (be polite, smile when appropriate, and assume positive body language).

How to sell yourself in an interview if you have no experience?

By focusing on what you have: transferable skills, academic experience, and any work experience, however small. In these cases, draw a lesson from each academic experience and take one or two key transferable skills that will show you have the potential to be successful in a role (always focus on key skills listed in the job ad). Try to draw parallels between your existing skills and achievements and how you could use them to be successful in the future. Display positive body language, be polite, ask smart questions at the end of the interview, and send a post-interview thank-you email.

How to sell yourself in an interview for a managerial role?

Pick out your proudest leadership accomplishments and tell them through appealing stories using the STAR method. Present your key managerial skills (ideally ones also mentioned in the job description) as your unique selling points and prepare a proof point for each.

How to sell yourself in 30 seconds?

Create a spotless elevator pitch in which you’ll briefly touch upon who you are and what you do, your proudest accomplishment, and how you can bring value to the new company. You can be positive, persuasive, and confident in your delivery by practicing beforehand.

Can introverts successfully sell themselves?

Absolutely! Selling yourself in an interview is not about being extroverted, bold, loud, or boisterous. It’s about presenting your strongest accomplishments and skills and backing them up with proof. Preparing your unique selling points and practicing in advance will help you sell yourself, even if you’re on the introverted side. If it’s easier, you can use another technique: engaging in self-verification behavior that might help you present yourself authentically. Or, if you want a more realistic picture, you can throw in a story or two about your own shortcomings .

What if I have no unique selling points and am just a solid employee?

Being a solid employee is a strength in itself. If you don’t have crazy achievements or unique selling points, you can always turn to the quality, scale, or frequency of your work — talk about how much you got done and how quickly you got it done. Emphasize soft skills like being consistent, dependable, hard-working, adaptable, and similar. Focus on qualitative achievements (promotions, company awards, positive feedback, bonuses, etc.) and use the STAR method when speaking about your accomplishments.

Maja Stojanovic

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How to sell yourself in 25 words or less

Ever had to prepare an “elevator pitch” where selling an idea needed to be engaging enough to hit the mark within 30 seconds?

The online world has fast become the “elevator” of today, where we have just a few lines of text on a computer screen to make a striking impact on potential employers. With more pressure on people’s time than ever before, recruiters and employers can benefit from knowing your unique experiences, ambitions, and strengths  in 25 words or less. Creating a SEEK Profile allows potential employers to search for candidates and get a snapshot of their experience via the  Personal Summary feature.

With more pressure on people’s time than ever before, recruiters and employers can benefit from knowing your unique experiences, ambitions and strengths in 25 words or less.

To make your Personal Summary the lasting first impression it should be, check out these tips to help you stand out from other candidates.

• Highlight your stand-out features.  Condensing your work history into 25 words or less can be challenging - it is a mere, short, single sentence or two, so make sure you have the right information in there to catch your readers’ attention. The goal is to include your most distinctive features so that the reader is left with more knowledge and more intrigue about you. ⁠ A good example of this: I’m a self-motivated, creative copywriter with five years of marketing and advertising experience, specialising in digital content with a keen interest in social media. A bad example of this: I’m an experienced copywriter with five years of writing experience in the online marketing and advertising sectors, having specialised in digital media for one year.   ⁠
• Ensure correct spelling and grammar.  Trying to fit as much information about yourself into a punchy sentence or two can mean a lot of word juggling which may lead to grammatical errors. Make sure that your 25-word summary reads well and is easy to comprehend. Consider your tenses and make sure they’re consistent. Once you have done your own spelling and grammar check, you may even want to run some options by a few friends to find out which one reads more clearly! A good example of this: ⁠I’m an in-house corporate lawyer with over eight years’ experience, specialising in mergers and acquisitions with a focus on South-East Asia. A bad example of this: Gloria is an in-house corporate lawyer with over eight years experience. I have specialised in mergers and acquisitions in South-East Asia. ⁠
• Keep it directional with the most relevant points.  While you may have years of experience in various roles, it’s important to only communicate what will help you achieve the role you are presently seeking. There is no point including in your personal summary that you spent six years working in hospitality when you are seeking a new career in the construction management industry. Think of key attributes needed for the role you’re seeking and tailor your personal summary to respond to those needs. A good example of this: I’m a highly organised project management intern at a leading Australian construction company. I have a bachelor’s degree in construction management and strong analytical skills. A bad example of this: I’m a part-time waiter and organised project management intern with a bachelor’s degree in construction management. I have a keen interest in sport and surfing.

A final quick tip: practice makes perfect so try writing several personal statements until you hit the spot.

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How to Sell Yourself in an Interview (With 20+ Examples)

Are you preparing for a job interview and feeling unsure of how to make the best impression on your potential employer? Don’t worry—the key to success is all about confidently and effectively presenting yourself and your professional experience.

Knowing how to sell yourself in an interview can help you rise above other candidates and stand out from the crowd, putting your best foot forward.

So if you’re ready to learn, you’ve come to the right place. Here are effective ways to sell yourself in an interview, along with examples, so that you can ace your next interview with flying colors.

Arno Markus, ​BA, MSc., CPRW

Founder,  iCareerSolutions

Make an impression through what you wear

Whether it’s a video or a face-to-face interview, make sure you wear a clean and smart outfit. What you wear for your interviews says a lot about you as a person. 

If you wear a smart outfit, it shows you have high standards, and it shows that you care and I do know lots of hiring managers and recruiters who will not take somebody on if they fail to make an impression through what they wear in an interview.

Have a positive answer ready and for the question, “tell me about yourself”

Make sure you have a  positive  answer ready and prepared for the first interview question, “ tell me about yourself. ” This will be the first interview question asked, and they may pose it as introduce yourself, but either way, you have to get off to a flying start in your job interview.

So when you respond, cover the following three things: 

• The skills and qualities you have
• The experience you possess
• The type of person you are

Now, if this is your first job, simply swap experience for your educational qualifications. 

Research the company

Make sure you research the company you were applying to join because most candidates do little or no research and then fail the interview. When the interviewer says to you, “ what do you know about our company ” not many people can answer this because they are only interested in landing a job. 

They’re not bothered about the company they’re working for, but that’s a way to fail the interview.

Have a look at their website about: 

• The product and services that they offer
• For any company values in any mission statement and learn it
• Any positive news stories or future plans that they have now

You can normally find all these things on their website so just spend 5 or 10 minutes researching the company.

Ask smart questions at the end of the interview

My advice is to ask them three questions. 

• Question #1:   “What would you need me to concentrate on in the first 30 days of starting this role?”  That shows that you are already visualizing yourself in the role and want to do a good job. 
• Question #2:   “What’s the culture like within the organization?” 
• Question #3:   “Has anything frustrated you about previous employees who have held this position?”  

Those three really good questions will help you sell yourself in an interview.

Related: 50+ Good Questions to Ask in an Interview as an Interviewee

Sell yourself positively and confidently when they ask why they should hire you

They are going to say this to you. Now, this is your opportunity to stand out from the other candidates. When you answer the interview question “ why should we hire you, ”  give three reasons why they should hire you, not one.  

The majority of candidates will just give one reason. They will say something along the lines of:  “I’m a hard worker, and I will always do a good job.”  That’s no good; that will not land you the job.

You should also give three things that are of benefit to the employer. Remember, they’re looking to hire somebody that is going to be a benefit to them. 

Where possible, give evidence of how you performed in the past

Most employers and hiring managers score evidence as the most crucial criterion during a job interview. 

So if you’re asked a behavioral interview question such as, “ tell me about a time when you had a conflict in a team, ” make sure you give evidence of where you’ve been in a situation where this has happened previously. 

Now, if this is your first job and you have never been in a situation, give them an example of where you observed somebody else dealing with the situation. 

So if they say, “ can you give me an example of where you provided excellent customer service, ” respond with, “I’ve not been in that situation; however, I’ve witnessed good service being provided lots of times in the past, and this is what I witnessed.”

In conclusion, job interviews can be daunting for anyone. However, there are certain tried and tested techniques that you can use to stand out from the other candidates. With these tips and plenty of preparation, you can be sure to impress the interviewer!

Art Dielhenn, CPCC

Certified Career Coach, Los Angeles Coaching  | Author, “ Get Out Of Your Head, It’s A Mess In There! “

Self-management is the key

I used to go into interviews panicked, anxious, and lacking self-confidence. My heart raced. I felt desperate and full of expectations of either doing well in the interview or blowing it up and leaving mad and upset with myself. 

Related: Why is Self Confidence Important?

Interviews are hard for some of us. Self-management is the key. Go in, not expecting anything. Chat as if talking with a friend or advocate. You wouldn’t be there if they didn’t want you there. Let you shine through!

Stay in the moment and listen

I used to think that talking was the most crucial part of an interview, but I’ve learned that listening is equally important . 

But who are you listening to? Level one listening is listening to yourself; the sound of your heart beating, your fears, your expectations, and your discomfort. If you are listening at this level, then put your feelings aside, stop listening to your inner critic and concentrate on what your interviewer has to say. 

Listen and hear at level two. Be sensitive to the room and how it’s going, and make adjustments if needed.  Clear your mind, stay in the moment, and be curious.  Don’t speak out of nervousness to fill the silence. Wait for the question.

Know the business

Research the business and position you are seeking. This is critical. Know the terrain. Ask intelligent questions that let the interviewer know that you understand the business and can be effective in the environment.

Don’t sell yourself; Sell your experience and skills as a solution

Ask how you can be of service in solving their needs. Then prove you have the tools to do it. Selling yourself feels personal—take that out of the equation (it only gets in the way. see #1). 

Who you are will become self-evident as the interview progresses. Instead, focus on how you can be the solution to their needs and problems.

Use a weakness to pitch a strength

I always dreaded the question, “ Where do you have difficulty of what are your weaknesses? ” I used to flummox around trying to answer. It was very uncomfortable. 

Related: How to Best Answer “What Are Your Weaknesses?” in a Job Interview

Now I use the question as a way to show how I solved the weakness. I might say :

“A weakness I’ve been focusing on recently is follow-up. I realized I needed a better system. So I created computer prompts reminders, and my follow-up sales have grown significantly.” 

Why this approach? Because it lets the interviewer know that you are  willing  to admit areas of weakness, but more importantly, that you are smart enough and professional enough to fix them. 

So presenting yourself as a problem solver, aware, efficient, and flexible enough to change.

Be an advocate and build influence

This can be tricky, Advocate for them but also for yourself  without  being too prideful or pushy. They want to know that you can stand up for yourself and do the job. 

If you are passive, then they don’t get a clear picture of who you are or how you might fit in. 

Effective leaders want good solid, intelligent, self-starters to whom they can delegate.  Present as a strong, capable team member ready and able to get to work.

Dressed appropriately and have fun

Go into your interview dressed appropriately to the company standard with the intention of having fun, making a new friend, and being at your best.

Related: What Are the Best and Worst Colors to Wear to a Job Interview?

Brittany Wilson

Career Coach and Career Counselor, Allucere Coaching

Structure your answers and highlight your successes

An interview is an opportunity to sell yourself as the best candidate, though most people don’t highlight their biggest selling point:  their successes.  

In interviews, you should focus on providing  brief ,  structured  responses that highlight both what you’ve done in work and how successful you were. 

The best way to do this is to use the  STAR interview method . STAR is an acronym for  Situation, Task, Action, and Result.  

You should use the STAR method when answering questions like, “ Tell me about a time when… ” or “ In this job, you’ll have to get XYZ done; how would you go about that? ” 

When you are faced with these questions:

• Start by explaining the situation or the problem. 
• Briefly describe the task at hand. 
• Detail the steps you took to accomplish the task. 
• Finish your answer by explaining your results. 

By using the STAR method, you can keep your response to a few sentences and highlight how  results-oriented  you are.

Let’s practice an example. Imagine you are interviewing for a project management role, and the interviewer asks, “ Tell me about a project with many stakeholders. How did you manage those stakeholders? “

• Start by explaining the situation

“When I was a human resources project manager, we created a new enterprise-wide training program for high-performing employees to retain these top talents and prepare them for promotions. This involved working with every part of the organization, including executive teams.”

• Then, explain the task at hand

“Each part of the organization had multiple stakeholders with varying levels of power and needs. I had to first know every stakeholder, co-create training priorities with them, and agree on training outcomes.”

• Next, describe the actions you took

“To do this, I created a stakeholder map that outlined each stakeholder, their title, and the team they belonged to. Since there were so many stakeholders, I delegated people in the project team to be points of contact for each team. 

Lastly, I scheduled meetings with each stakeholder to co-create training priorities and agree on training outcomes. I documented the results of these meetings in a standardized document in a single, shareable location.

• Finally, explain your results

“As a result, we had very strong relationships with our stakeholders. They were happy to have a point of contact dedicated to them, they were clear on their expectations since it was documented, and the project team had an easy time navigating their relationships using our stakeholder map. Because of this, the project was launched on time.”

The STAR method is the best way to stand out in an interview, but it only comes  naturally  with practice. 

If you have an interview coming up, search for some common interview questions and practice the STAR method in writing, aloud to yourself or aloud to a friend. After some practice, you’ll become a natural, succinct interviewer and position yourself as a top candidate.

Jacqueline Victoria Grant

Recruiter and Certified Professional Career Coach, JVG Strategies

Have results-based responses

The biggest lost opportunity to sell yourself is when the interviewer asks you a question, and you tell them what you did by listing a laundry-list of job tasks and responsibilities versus what results you achieved. 

For example, instead of  “I was a corporate recruiter at XYZ company for x years where I did full-cycle recruitment,”  add statements such as  “I worked on xyz project which resulted in an increase of our new hire retention rate by x%” or “improved time-to-hire by 30%”. 

Use metrics if you can—this helps people quantify the scale and impact of what you’ve done. Think of KPIs or metrics you used in your previous roles and how you can share a few to demonstrate your value and tell your success stories. 

Be the best-prepared candidate the company meets with

Don’t just read over the job description and get on the company’s website for a quick glance before your interview.  Bring the wow factor and deep dive into research so you can be the most prepared candidate out there.  

Get on google news—what’s happened with that company in the news lately? Go on the LinkedIn pages of key individuals you’re interviewing with and understand their journey. 

Then, in the interview, you can show your ability to build rapport and connection by being curious about them and asking about their experiences. 

• What’s the industry like? 
• Who are their competitors? 
• What are their products or services? 
• What’s the business model? 
• How does the company drive its revenue? 

If you are well-informed and have done your research, you’ll be able to have well-informed discussions in the interview, naturally improving your confidence. 

This sells you more as a candidate because the interviewers will see you as proactive  and  competent  and get the impression that you really care about this company and opportunity. 

Use storytelling

People remember stories. Storytelling also gets you buy-in from your audience. i.e., Just saying you’re resourceful won’t convince me. Telling me a story about how you were resourceful gives me concrete context as to why that statement is true. 

Related: How to Get Better at Storytelling?

My advice for candidates is to choose five stories that demonstrate why you’re a strong candidate for the role. 

You should have some  accomplishment-based  stories (i.e., times you went above and beyond, achieved something, or met a goal) and  resilience-based  stories (times you failed, made a mistake, or faced a challenge). 

You can use the  S-T-A-R method  to structure your stories— Situation, Task, Action, and Result. 

Ask seller questions, not buyer questions

Asking questions only about the compensation package or the company’s work-life balance are buyer questions. These types of questions translate to: “ what’s in it for me?”  

Buyer questions are fine if asked in moderation and at the appropriate times, but your high-priority interview questions should focus on positioning yourself as the seller, not the buyer. 

For example, a seller question could be anything that demonstrates your value simply by asking that question. It could be a research-based question that shows how informed you are or how much you understand the company’s product. 

Or the question could demonstrate your eagerness to do well, such as  “What can I do within the first 30 days of being hired to be most successful in this role?” This question translates to your desire to add value and therefore sells you more as a candidate. 

Close your interview

Closing the interview is an effective way to demonstrate interest, confidence, and leadership. If done effectively, it will leave your interview on a positive note and solidify your chances of being moved forward in the recruitment process. 

Four things to be done here: 

• Check for objections 

I’ve heard some interview coaches and career coaches recommend asking, “ do you have any concerns about my candidacy? ” in the interview close. 

I understand the thinking behind this, as it is a direct way of uncovering the interviewer’s possible objections to you as a candidate, and then, therefore, you can address those objections at the moment. 

However, I’ve also heard many hiring managers and recruiters say that this question leaves the interview in a negative tone and puts the interviewer on the spot. 

Try asking instead,  “is there anything else about my skills or experience that I can clarify for you.”  This question is more curious and helpful but also can uproot possible objections. 

Then, don’t forget to:

• Re-express your interest in the role .
• Ask about the next steps .
• Thank the interviewer for their time .

Vicki Salemi

Career Expert, Monster

Prepare for the interview with anecdotes

Before any interview, even the first phone screen, take time to prepare to answer questions you’ll be asked simply by starting to review commonly asked  questions . Get in the headspace to briefly highlight your strengths while providing anecdotes to support them. 

For instance, in behavioral-based interview questions, interviewers may ask something like: “ Tell me about a situation when things didn’t go as planned. What happened, and how did you handle it? ” 

I’m a former corporate recruiter, and typically these questions probe further, asking candidates to reveal situations to support what they say. 

For instance, instead of saying, “ I work well with conflict, ” you would need to speak about perhaps a client situation when there was a conflict to illustrate yes, you really do work well with conflict. Take time to  thoughtfully  prepare your responses. 

Study the job description

Re-read the job description before the interview to identify the top three or four responsibilities and requirements. The interviewer will probably focus on these aspects the most, so when you prepare your selling points (more below), you can emphasize these attributes to exceed their expectations. 

Highlight your selling points

Identify your top skills, such as technical skills, to showcase how you can do the job. After all, you’ve already been there, done that with a previous job, and connected the dots for transferable skills to convince interviewers you can excel at the job because you’ve already mastered the skills (or similar skills) in another role.  

It’s not only the technical skills that count—highlight your soft skills, too, which are applicable to every job, such as: 

• Time management
• Project management
• Leadership skills
• Communication skills

Master the pivot

Sometimes selling yourself means you’re able to talk about uncomfortable things like maybe you left a toxic job without a new one lined up, so there’s a gap on your resume. 

Recruiters will likely identify red flags immediately, which could be a potential one, but how you answer them can be revealing. 

You may say something like, “ I mastered the job to the best of my ability and was working 80 hours a week which is why I’m interested in this job; it seems like I can dive in to start working while having a 40-hour work week… ” 

Be succinct in addressing any potential red flags raised by the employer  (or get ahead of it and address it without them asking!), and then pivot into why you’re both interested in the job and the best candidate for it. 

Build rapport with interviewers

Another way to build rapport involves not only answering the questions but building rapport with interviewers. Remember, you’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you! 

Focus on communication, listening/leaning in as they speak, your body language , eye contact, and, if it’s in person, of course, a firm handshake. 

Say thank you 

The last way to seal the selling process is often overlooked but  shouldn’t  be. As you express interest in the position and ask about the next steps, within 24 hours of the interview’s conclusion, send a thank-you to the interviewer. This could be via email or snail mail. 

In fact, when I worked in recruiting, very few candidates did both, but it made them really stand out. There’s no reason to not send a quick email (quick doesn’t mean hastily, though—while it only takes a couple of minutes, re-read it to check for grammatical errors and typos). 

Snail mail will go the extra mile if the interview occurred in the office and you know their mailing address, but due to the immediacy of email, I suggest sending both. 

Receiving a hard copy handwritten thank you note is a lost art, and when the interviewer receives it a few days after your interview, this nice additional touch (that, again, only takes a few minutes) can help sell yourself as a candidate.

James Cooper

Cofounder and Resume Writer, Final Draft Resumes

When selling yourself during a job interview, it’s important to highlight your qualifications and experience that are most relevant to the position you’re applying for and demonstrate how those qualifications and experiences make you a strong candidate for the job. 

Talk about your relevant experience

If you have previous experience in a similar role, be sure to highlight that experience and talk about the specific tasks and responsibilities you handled and any successes or accomplishments you had in that role.

For example:   “In my previous role as a marketing coordinator, I managed a team of designers and copywriters to create and launch successful social media campaigns. I was able to increase the company’s social media following by 20% in just six months.”

Demonstrate your qualifications

If you have a certain set of skills or qualifications relevant to the position, be sure to highlight those as well.

For example:   “As a computer science major, I have a strong understanding of programming languages such as Python, C++, and Java. I can use this knowledge to develop and maintain software applications in a fast-paced environment.”

Show you’re passionate about the company and the role you’re applying for

Employers want to see that you’re not just looking for a job but that you’re passionate about the company and the role you’re applying for.

For example:   “I’ve been following your company for a long time now, and I’m really impressed with your innovative products and services. I’m excited about the opportunity to be a part of the team and contribute my skills and experience to help the company grow and succeed.”

Tailor your answers and research the company beforehand

This way, you can show that you’re familiar with the company’s mission, values, and products/services.

For example:   “I noticed that your company is focused on promoting sustainability and eco-friendly practices, which aligns with my personal values. I would be honored to be a part of the team and help drive these initiatives forward.”

Show your potential

Show what you can bring to the table in the future and how you’re willing to learn.

For example:   “I may not have all the experience you’re looking for in this role, but I’m a quick learner , and I’m excited to learn new things. I believe I have the potential to become a valuable asset to the team, and I’m eager to work hard and grow with the company.”

It’s important to note that these are examples, and it’s always best to be honest, authentic, and tailor to the company and role you are applying for.

Bruce Hurwitz

President,  Hurwitz Strategic Staffing, Ltd.

Avoid showing off as being “woke”

Many employers today are concerned about “wokeism.” They see it as a threat to their corporate culture. So, to eliminate the concern, my client said: 

“When you hire someone, just as when you purchase something, you are looking to solve a problem, not create new or additional problems. 

I am a professional. I am not woke. If something bothers me, I will speak politely and professionally with the person. If that does not work, I will go to my supervisor for advice. In any event, I will not wear out the carpet from my desk and HR every time I think someone has looked at me funny.”

Follow up with a thank you mail and relate it to each interviewer

The interview includes follow-up. That means, first and foremost, the thank-you email, which must be sent to each interviewer on the same day as the interview. They cannot be generic; they must relate to the interviewer and prove that the candidate listened to and understood their concerns. 

There is a very easy way to do this. Ask each interviewer,  “If I get this job, how will I be able to make your life easier?”  Their answer should be the focus of the thank-you email. 

Go deep dive into the company

Candidates must differentiate themselves from their competition. Most candidates simply learn the corporate website, so when asked, “ What do you know about us? ” they basically regurgitate what they read. 

My clients do a  deep dive . First, they Google the company to find press releases or articles not linked to the website. They also look at the company’s social media presence. 

So, once they have regurgitated the website, they then add:

“But I’m curious about a couple of other things. I found online a press release you issued about [insert topic]. There was no mention of it on your website. I was curious about what happened. It sounded interesting to me. 

Also, I looked at your Twitter account and saw that you follow XYZ. They are located in Spain. Are you planning on expanding into the EU, and, if so, how will you deal with their privacy laws, the GDPR?” 

The interviewers probably will not know what in the world the candidate is talking about. That’s a good thing. 

They’ll report back to the decision-makers,  “[Name of candidate] asked me about this, that, and the other thing. What was he talking about?”  And the decision maker’s response will be,  “He does his homework. Hire him!”

Global HR Director at Trevolution Group,  Dyninno Group of Companies

Be honest from the very beginning

Let us get it straight: Honesty is one of the most demanded and sought-after qualities employers look for in potential hires. If you are not honest from the very beginning, your interviewer will eventually find out.

Being honest during a job interview means you are honest about your qualifications, work experience, and skill set. 

It is vital for the candidate to effectively communicate their qualifications and how they can add value to the company. 

This includes: 

• Researching the company beforehand to demonstrate your interest and commitment to the role
• Tailoring your answers to align with the company’s goals and mission
• Highlighting your accomplishments and successes with specific examples and statistics
• Being prepared to ask thoughtful questions. 

Additionally, it is important to demonstrate  enthusiasm  and  confidence  during the interview process. 

One effective way to sell yourself in an interview is to give specific examples and use numbers to demonstrate the impact of your previous experiences. 

When discussing relevant experience, instead of simply outlining your responsibilities, try highlighting your results and connecting how this could benefit the company.

Similarly, when discussing your strengths, give an example of a specific situation where you demonstrated that strength and achieved the outcome.

Related: How to Best Answer “What Are Your Strengths?” in a Job Interview

When discussing weaknesses, be honest and demonstrate that you are aware of the issue and have taken steps to improve. Being dishonest in an interview can have serious repercussions. 

Stick to ethics 

It is also essential to  avoid  using corporate jargon and hype words that may seem impressive but might lack substance. Instead, be honest and specific, and focus on tangible achievements and numbers to demonstrate your skills and experience. 

Lastly, ethics are an important consideration, as well. If a candidate speaks poorly of their former employer, it can be a red flag and reflect poorly on the candidate’s own ethics. Therefore,  it is better to avoid talking negatively about past experiences and to focus on the positives. 

Barry Maher

Speaker | Author, “ No Lie: Truth Is the Ultimate Sales Tool “

Learn everything you can about the company

I’ve consulted on hundreds of hires, and I have to say that the secret to standing out in an interview is first learning everything you can about the company. 

Then during the interview, politely take control, asking the interviewer or the panel things like what they feel it takes to be successful in the job and what they’d like to see in a hire. Get them talking. And make sure they each have a chance to speak. The more they talk, the higher they will rate you.

The best interview I’ve ever seen from an interviewee was in two parts. And she didn’t so much tell us how good she was; she showed us by her actions.

First, she asked us several questions that showed her interest in the job and her interest in helping the company accomplish its goals.

• “What would the perfect employee for this job look like for you?” 
• “In the best of all possible worlds, what would you like me to accomplish for you? In three months? In a year? In five years?” 

That type of question.

Even better, in responding to our answers, she demonstrated all the research she’d done about the company. Not just from the website and articles about the company, but she’d actually called many employees who held the type of position she was applying for as well as several of their managers. 

So she was able to show her understanding of the specific issues these employees faced and how the company wanted to deal with those issues. Then, of course, when she was answering their questions, she used the information she’d gathered to frame her remarks.

Very often, an interview will start with a “ Tell me about yourself ” question. This is a softball question designed to help the applicant relax and get comfortable. But it’s also a question that gives the applicant a chance to shine. 

I always suggest translating “ Tell me about yourself ” to mean “ Tell me why your background makes you the perfect person for this position. ” This is, of course, a question every applicant had better have an answer for  before  ever entering the interview.

The best response I ever heard to the “ Tell me about yourself ” question was:  “I’m someone who’s determined to become one of the best hires you’ve ever made.” 

Then the woman proceeded to explain, point by point, in chronological order of her life, all the reasons why she would be perfect for the position; again demonstrating the research she’d done on the company and the specific position and how much preparation she’d done for the interview.

Explain why you’re interested in the specific job you’re interviewing for

One question that often comes up in almost any interview is, “ Why should we hire you? ” or some variation of it. The absolute  wrong  way to answer that question is to appear to be bragging. “ Let me be frank; there’s nobody out there that can do what I can. “

A much better answer?  “I have no idea what other the candidates you’re considering might be able to do. My guess is you’re looking at some top people. But here’s what I can do for you and why I think I have a unique set of qualifications that I would certainly hope make me the best candidate for that job…”

Be sure to have a good answer to the “ Why are you looking for a new job? ” question. It’s the perfect opportunity to explain why you’re interested in the specific job you’re interviewing for. 

The answer should  never  be about problems with your current job but always about the opportunity the new position might offer.

Does it offer a great chance for advancement? Then my answer might begin,  “I’ve got a perfectly wonderful job, but with a small company like that, the opportunities for advancement are limited.”  

Does it offer more money?  “I love what I’m doing, but, to be frank, there’s really a limited opportunity for advancement. So I thought I should investigate what other possibilities are out there.”

Save at least one question for the very end

Remember, you’ll also be evaluated based on the questions you ask. I was involved in an interview where the first three questions from the applicant were, in order:

• “How much vacation time do I get?”
• “How long do I have to be here before I’m eligible for a vacation?”
• “How long before I start to accrue additional weeks of vacation?”

What had looked like a great applicant now looked like someone who couldn’t wait to get out of work. The questions applicants ask during the interview often reveal their priorities in a way that nothing else during the interview does.

Yes, it’s always a good idea to save at least one question for the very end. The best final question I’ve heard was,  “From what you’ve seen and heard so far, in what way do I fall short of being the perfect candidate for this position, and what would you like to see me do to correct that?”

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Related: How to Answer “What Interests You About This Position?” in a Job Interview

Remember, when two candidates are virtually equal, the final selection often simply comes down to who seems to want it more.

Valerie Fontaine

Legal Search Consultant | Founding Member,  SeltzerFontaine LLC

Find a need and fill it

The word “sales” makes many jobseekers uncomfortable, but when you’re looking for a new position, you’re the product you want the prospective employer to buy—and at the best price. 

As the sales mantra goes:  Find a need and fill it.

Know your product; clearly define yourself

First, you must know what you’re selling before determining who might want or need it. 

What’s your personal brand or Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?  It’s the combination of skills, experiences, and personality that is yours alone and makes you memorable. It’s what sets you apart from all other candidates in the marketplace. 

It can include your strengths, accomplishments, training, credentials, attributes, connections, industry knowledge, and cultural or language fluencies.

Take the time to define yourself  clearly  so others don’t define you in ways that may not be complete or accurate.

Find a need

Who would benefit from your product? Do your market research to identify target employers and their pain points. 

• Can you provide something that will help them better compete in the future? 
• What problems are they attempting to solve, or what needs do they want to fill by making this hire? 

Examine the job description carefully, study their products or services, and look for related news stories.

Once an interview is set, if possible, research your interviewer’s backgrounds and positions in the company and consider their relation to the position being filled. 

Remember that interviewers at various organizational levels may have different desires regarding the person hired for the vacant position. A smart job seeker also shows how their unique selling proposition fills those particular needs.

Fill it—craft your sales pitch

Now, it’s time to craft your sales pitch. Everything you write, say, or do during your job search/sales campaign should put the employer’s needs first. 

The fact that you might actually want or enjoy the job is vital to your target customer only to the extent that it may make you a more productive member of their team.

From the specific employer’s point of view, make a list of your selling points. Show, not tell, the prospective employer how what you have to offer can fill their gaps or solve their problems. 

Don’t just list your past duties; rather, provide stories and examples of what you can do for them and quantify your accomplishments. Emphasize the relevant information tailored to each prospective employer and the position sought.

Beforehand, practice in the mirror or with a friend so that you’re thoroughly comfortable with communicating your unique selling proposition (your answer to the interviewers’ “ Tell me about yourself “) and how it can meet the prospective employer’s needs.

Don’t over or undersell yourself but remember to sell.  Whether you like it or not—your job search is a sales job.

Lucyna Polok

Content Strategist, Europe Language Jobs

Show you have done your research

Questions such as “ What do you know about our company? ” or “ Which of our company values do you appreciate the most? ” are meant to verify the candidate’s knowledge about the company. 

The recruiters don’t expect you to know everything as well as they do, but you will be expected to have conducted thorough research before the interview. 

Things to look up include:  

• Areas of activity
• Products/services offered
• Company values
• The type of hierarchy promoted (tall vs. flat)
• The size of the company
• Competitors and collaborators
• Short and long-term goals
• Basic information about the key employees

Such information can be found via the company’s official website—pay special attention to the “ About us ” tab. It will usually briefly introduce the team and outline the values, goals, and successes of the business.

Another good place to look for information is social media. LinkedIn will provide you with the official, more personal kind of facts, while Instagram, Facebook, or even TikTok these days, might show you the more casual side of the business and employees. 

Some companies even make a habit of publishing case studies concerning their activity/successes/employee stories on their blogs or social media profiles, so make sure to look out for those as well. They may have published some press releases, too—they’re a goldmine of useful information.

A great way to get some inside knowledge about your potential future employer is to connect with someone who already works for them. 

You may know someone like that privately, or if not, you can always find the company on LinkedIn and go to the “ People ” tab. Reach out to someone in a similar position or working in the team you would potentially be a part of. They will likely be happy to share their insights on the company culture and the work itself.

Getting to know the company beforehand will also be beneficial for you. Not only does it show commitment and preparation to the recruiter, but it will also answer some of your own questions. 

Where and who we work for are important.  Imagine being hired by a business openly supporting abusive manufacturing by minors when you’re a dedicated human rights activist or working for an oil company being an environmentalist. 

Doing your research will help ensure you and the company’s values align. 

Don’t arrive too early

Most pieces of advice focus on being on time. However, the truth is, being too early can be just as annoying for a recruiter as coming late. 

Remember that conducting interviews is only a part of hiring managers’ and recruiters’ work. They do have other tasks they need to carry out during their day, and you arriving 15 minutes too early will throw them off and make everyone feel awkward. 

While bigger companies may have a waiting area and an assistant who can take care of you while you wait, smaller ones may not be able to offer such convenience. 

Arriving excessively before time might force your interviewer to realign their agenda and start early or make them feel pressured to pay attention to you during your wait. 

There is no need for both you and the person interviewing you to start stressed, as it might heavily impact the outcome of the interview.

The recommended time to arrive for your interview is no more than 5 minutes before the set time , according to the recruiters we have consulted.

Related: How Early Should You Arrive for a Job Interview

Ask questions or specific information about the role itself or the company

This is one of the points our users often find the most controversial. Many wonder whether asking questions doesn’t contradict the first point we made about always doing your research. The answer is:  not at all .

In fact, interviewers expect candidates to ask questions. Failing to do so might even negatively impact their impression of you. 

As much as doing your research demonstrates commitment,  asking further questions shows your motivation to know more.  A recruiter wants proof that you’re legitimately interested in the post you’re applying for.

Related: 50+ Good Questions to Ask Recruiters

Of course, one thing to remember is  not  to ask obvious, banal questions. Inquiring about something you can easily find on the company’s website or, even worse, about something already said during the interview is a red flag. 

You need to pay attention to every word the interviewer says to ensure you don’t end up asking about something they had previously explained.

However, asking them to elaborate or expand on something they have said is perfectly fine. You wanting to know more is  not  the same as you not remembering anything at all. 

In fact, referring to something the hiring manager has mentioned will demonstrate that you have paid attention and kept it in mind.

Other safe questions to ask the recruiter include:

• “Could you tell me more about who I would work the closest with?”
• “What is the size of the team I would be a part of? What are the other roles it includes?”
• “In general, what would my daily schedule look like in this position?”
• “How is success measured in the team/company? Is it more qualitative or quantitative?”
• “Which tools would I be required to work with daily to achieve my goals?”
• “Would you mind sharing what you personally appreciate most about working for this company?”
• “Is there anything about my application that makes you doubt whether I’m a suitable candidate for this role?”
• “Is there anything else I can explain about my skills or experience?”
• “Your website says x about your company activity/values/goals. I’d love to learn more/I found it interesting; could you please elaborate on that?”

As you can see, the recommended questions concern either  specific  information about the role itself or anything about the company you couldn’t find beforehand. 

You can also touch upon yourself—the interviewer will have likely asked anything they needed to know and voiced their doubts on their own, but it never hurts to ensure they are not left with any concerns at the end of the interview. 

Do not ask all the questions listed above. Based on what has already been said and what you would like to know,  choose up to 3  to ask.

Michael Samuel

Founder and VP, CEOMichaelHR

Selling yourself in an interview is essential for making a great first impression and getting the job you want. It’s about showcasing your skills, qualifications, and experience in a way that aligns with the needs and goals of the company. 

Research and understand the company and the role

Before the interview, it’s crucial to research the company and the role you’re applying for. Understand the company’s mission, values, goals, and key responsibilities of the role. 

Use this information to  align  your qualifications and experience with the company’s needs and goals. For example, if the company’s goal is to increase sales, mention how your past sales experience can help achieve that goal.

Prepare relevant examples

When answering interview questions, provide specific and relevant examples demonstrating your qualifications and experience. These examples can be from your past job, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities.

For example, if the interviewer asks you about your problem-solving skills, you can mention a time when you had to come up with a  creative  solution to a challenge at work.

Show your enthusiasm and passion

It’s vital to show your enthusiasm and passion for the role and the company during the interview. 

Related: Why Is Passion Important for Success in Life?

Express your excitement about the opportunity to work with the company and how your skills and experience align with the role. 

For example, if you’re applying for a customer service role, mention how much you enjoy helping people and how much you’re looking forward to doing so in this role.

Highlight your transferable skills

If you don’t have direct experience in the role you’re applying for, you can still sell yourself by highlighting your transferable skills. These are skills that are not specific to one job but can be applied to different roles. 

For example, if you’re applying for a marketing role and have experience in sales, you can mention how your sales experience has helped you develop your negotiation and communication skills , which are essential in marketing.

Follow up with a thank-you note or express your appreciation

After the interview, it’s essential to follow up with a thank-you note or email to express your appreciation for the interviewer’s time and to reiterate your interest in the role. This will help keep you top of mind and demonstrate your commitment to the job.

Related: How to Follow up After an Interview If You Haven’t Heard Back

In conclusion, selling yourself in an interview is essential for making a great first impression and getting the job you want.

Remember, it’s not about being perfect;  it’s about showcasing your skills, qualifications, and experience in a way that aligns with the needs and goals of the company.

Darren Shafae

Founder,  ResumeBlaze

The most important factor when it comes to selling yourself in an interview is being able to demonstrate that you understand the role, your experience and skill set align with the requirements of the position, and that you’re a good fit for the organization. 

To do this effectively, you should think about what the interviewer wants to hear from you.

Arm yourself with knowledge of the company and position

Research the company online to understand its mission, values, and objectives. Be prepared to discuss how your qualifications meet the needs of the role. 

How do you bring value to the organization? Do you possess any unique skills or experiences that make you stand out?

Practice and prepare for the interview

You are likely to get asked questions like: 

• “Tell me about yourself.”
• “What makes you a good fit for this position?”
• “How would your colleagues describe you?” 

Make sure you have  solid  answers to these types of questions. Developing your elevator pitch or a summary of who you are and why you’re the best person for the job can be very useful in this regard.

Here are two perfect examples of elevator pitches:

Example 1: “I am an experienced writer and editor with a master’s degree in journalism. I have extensive experience working with both traditional media outlets and digital channels and a passion for creating engaging content. My knowledge of the latest trends in communications makes me an ideal candidate for this role.”

Example 2: “I am a skilled software engineer with an excellent academic record. I have a strong understanding of coding languages and experience developing web applications in fast-paced environments. My passion for innovation and problem-solving make me an ideal candidate for this role.”

Come to the interview ready to talk about the company culture

• How do you fit into the organizational environment? 
• What kind of culture do you thrive in? 
• How would your personality and work style mesh with the team and company? 

Being able to demonstrate an understanding of the organization’s culture will allow you to stand out from other candidates.

Alisa Cohen

Managing Partner and Principal Executive Coach,  Close Cohen

An interview is your opportunity to demonstrate to the interviewer why you are a great fit for the role. Throughout the interview process, you will gain information about the organization and the position. 

While this is important so you can assess if it’s a match for what you desire in a job, it’s also essential to gather information to help you pitch yourself as a strong candidate. 

As you learn more about the desired traits and job responsibilities of the new hire, you will be able to share examples from your past that reinforce you are the best fit for the company. 

Research and rehearsal are vital steps to help you pitch yourself as the best candidate.

Arrive with deep knowledge about the company, role, and market

This signals how you approach any project, from this candidacy to the initiatives you will lead once you land the position. 

Learn about what has recently passed and what is next for the company—talk with employees and use LinkedIn, YouTube, industry news, the company’s website, etc., to your advantage.

Conduct the same research for your company’s competitors. Be knowledgeable about the products and industry to understand the company’s advantages and disadvantages. 

Also, take time to learn about the people you will be interviewing with. The more you know, the more equipped you will be to tailor your interview messages to your audience.

Remember that practice is key to performance

Even the most advanced leaders need support in getting comfortable telling the story of their candidacy. Multiple rehearsals help you confidently communicate your value. 

Brag about your achievements.  Know what the interviewer is looking for and speak directly to it.  Connect the dots between your experience and the role you’re discussing. Be  cautious  not to minimize or diminish your experience.

Remember that practice is key to performance. Partnering with a career coach specializing in interview preparation will provide you with the frameworks, space for practice, and direct feedback to build your interview performance.

As you learn more about the desired traits and job responsibilities of the new hire, you will be able to share examples from your past that reinforce you are the best fit for the company. Research and rehearsal are vital steps to help you pitch yourself as the best candidate.

John Livesay

TEDx Speaker | Sales Keynote Speaker | Author, “ Better Selling Through Storytelling “

Prepare, paint, and practice

Get ready for this question ahead of time. Prepare by brainstorming different answers.

In your answer, paint a picture of yourself. Use vivid, specific language which aligns your personality and professional experience with the job description. 

Then, practice responding “out loud.” This is not the time to “wing it” – unless you don’t want the job. Try your response out with friends or family to get their honest reaction. Do you come across as confident or “full of yourself”? Are you underselling your skills? 

Practicing out loud will also give you an edge. An actor would never consider going on stage without rehearsing.  Practice gives you confidence and allows your answer to roll off your tongue —especially important when nerves are at play. 

Have a beginning, middle, and end

Another frequent question is, “ Tell us how you solved a problem. ” 

Tell a story in the order. We’re all used to hearing them with a beginning, middle, and end. 

• The beginning  is setting the stage (Once Upon a Time) with a problem. 
• The middle  is identifying the  cause  of the problem and sharing how you solved it. 
• The end  (Happily Ever After) is the impact of the solution. 

Note that the “villain” in the story should always be an object or situation but  never  a person or organization. Again, prepare and practice ahead of time. 

“ Do you have any questions? ” usually comes at the end of an interview. 

Think above and beyond

This is your opportunity to stand out. Most people will say something about what the job entails. That’s fine, but it’s about skills. Instead, ask,  “What would it take for you to “exceed their expectations?”  This is about  attitude . You can train people, but you can’t teach an attitude. 

Kat Sabatini

Resume Writer and Career Coach | Founder, Tuesday Resume

Prepare examples in the Situation-Action-Result (SAR) format

I coach my professional clients to use the SAR format in their resumes, cover letters, and live interviews. This requires first thinking of a problem or challenging situation you experienced at work. 

Like a good Hollywood movie, this raises the stakes for hiring managers—it immediately hooks your interviewer with “ why they should care. ” 

This could be anything like declining performance, unhappy clients, inefficient processes, lack of information—any number of situations we all encounter. For extra impact, choose a situation that mirrors the types of problems you’d expect in the role for which you’re interviewing.

Second, what actions did you specifically take to resolve the problem? This ensures that you speak  directly  about your own involvement. 

It forces you to use “I” statements rather than “we” or “the team,” which is an unconscious tendency that female candidates use more in interviews, which can raise questions about an individual’s specific role in solving a problem. You want to avoid this and stick with “I.”

Finally, what was the result? This is where you get to feature key metrics, numbers, dollar signs, awards and recognition, and more. 

Quantifying is ideal, but if the results are hard to measure (or there is any sensitivity around sharing data), qualifying the results with client feedback, leadership approval, etc., is good, too. You want this to be a happy ending.

By framing your professional experience in the situation-action-result template, you are guaranteed to tell a  cohesive  story with a beginning, middle, and end. 

Prepare these examples in advance; I recommend writing them down as a cheat sheet for your interviews (or simply add them to your resume). After all, hiring managers are humans, too—the ability to tell an interesting story is sure to make you stand out in a crowded field.

Nuria Requena

Talent Acquisition Manager, Spacelift

Be true to your values and strengths

Remember that you’re hired for who you are. You’re not just selling your skillset or experience. You’re also selling your values, work ethic, and attitude. Your interviewer wants to get to know the  real  you, so be yourself and let your personality shine.

The best way is to be true to your values and strengths. Most employers are looking for people who will be a good fit for their company culture, so it’s important to emphasize the qualities that make you  unique . 

For example, when talking about your qualifications, focus on your actual strengths rather than what you think the interviewer wants to hear.

President,  Frank Recruitment Group

Respond authentically to the conversation

It might sound counter-intuitive, but if you’re approaching an interview determined to “sell yourself,” you may end up missing the opportunity entirely. 

Rather than attempting to deliver any pre-prepared speeches or get all your best anecdotes in, try to respond authentically to the conversation you’re actually having with your interviewer at the moment. 

Staying present to what’s really happening will allow you to pick up conversational threads and identify the spaces where you can bring in your experience more organically. 

Being  genuine  usually goes much further than a sales pitch when it comes to interviewing well.

AJ Silberman-Moffitt

Senior Editor,  Tandem

If you are reading this or are currently employed, you likely went on an interview at some point in your life. And if you  are  employed, it’s probably safe to say that the interview went well. 

However, now you are at the point where, for whatever reason, you are looking for a new job. This means more finding job postings, more applying for positions, and arguably the most difficult part— more interviews . 

When you go for an interview, you aim to show your best self to the company. It’s almost as if you are now a salesperson, and the item you sell is you. How do you sell yourself in an interview?

Practice makes perfect

Before meeting with someone, look up general interview questions you can prepare. You should also look up questions about the company’s industry. Then practice answering these questions in front of your mirror or a friend. 

When you are at the interview, you want your answers to sound and appear more  natural  and less forced.

Make a good first impression

Many have heard, “ A first impression is a lasting impression, ” and that’s because it can be quite true. To make a good impression, you must arrive at your interview on time, generally 10 to 15 minutes early. This might not be relevant if you are doing a remote interview or if you made prior arrangements. 

Whether in-person or online, you also need to dress to impress. This is a subtle way to let the interviewer know you are invested in the opportunity.

Be like a boy scout and always be prepared

Even though many corporations are going or have already gone paperless, you should have a copy of your resume available to share with the interviewer. 

This person might walk into the interview room having forgotten to bring their copy with them, or there might be another reason they want to review your resume again. 

It also helps to have paper and pen so that you can take notes or write down questions you want to ask when the other person is done speaking.

Related: Should You Take Notes During an Interview? (As a Candidate)

Bring out your inner Pat Benatar

In 1980, Pat Benatar released the song “ Hit Me With Your Best Shot .” You will be doing this during the interview with the interviewer – giving your best shot. 

If they don’t automatically ask about your achievements, you will still want to mention them. Illustrating what you have already accomplished is a great way to let others know what you can do in the future. 

When going over these items, do your best not to sound like you are better than others or to come across as a braggart.

Remember to be yourself

Above all else, it’s essential to be yourself. Of course, you don’t need to let a potential employer know that you play Pokemon Go during your free time, paint memes, or any other hobbies you might not want to reveal. 

On the other hand, you don’t want to suppress your natural personality because if you do get hired, the company and other employees will likely eventually see at least some of it.

Finding a job takes work, and going on interviews can seem like a job itself. But once you are skilled in selling yourself, you will find someone to make that purchase before you know it.

Andrew Lokenauth

Founder,  Fluent in Finance

Selling yourself in an interview is all about  effectively  communicating your skills, qualifications, and value to the employer. 

By providing specific examples of your past experiences and achievements, highlighting your unique skills and qualifications, discussing how you can add value to the company, and showing a clear understanding of the job requirements, you can increase your chances of landing the job you want.

Provide specific examples of your past experiences and achievements

One of the most effective ways to sell yourself in an interview is by providing specific examples of your past experiences, achievements, and accomplishments. 

When answering interview questions, try to give examples that demonstrate your skills, qualifications, and how you have added value in previous roles.

For example, if an interviewer asks you about your experience in project management, you could say: 

“In my previous role as a project manager, I successfully led a team of 10 people in completing a project that was $500,000 over budget and delivered it within the deadline by implementing agile methodologies and effectively communicating with stakeholders. As a result, we increased the team’s productivity by 15%.”

It’s always a good idea to have a clear understanding of the job requirements and how you match them. Use the STAR method — Situation, Task, Action, and Results to convey how you have handled a similar situation and what the result was.

Highlight your unique skills and qualifications that set you apart from other candidates

For example, if you have unique certifications or skills that align with the job requirements, mention them during the interview. If you have experience with a certain software or programming language, mention that and explain how it would benefit the company.

Be ready to discuss how you can add value to the company

Research the company prior to the interview and be ready to speak about your knowledge of the company’s products, services, and mission. Be prepared to explain how you can contribute to their success and growth.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can i ask about salary during the interview.

Yes, you can ask about salary during an interview, but it’s essential to approach the subject tactfully and at the right time.

Ideally, you should wait until the interviewer brings it up or until you have a clear indication that they’re seriously considering you for the job.

If the topic of salary hasn’t yet been discussed and you believe it’s the right time to bring it up, you can phrase your question diplomatically, such as the following: – “Could you please give me some information about the salary range for this position?” – “I’m very interested in this position. Can we discuss the compensation package associated with it?”

Remember that talking about salary is a normal part of the hiring process and that it’s vital for both parties to be clear about salary expectations. Ensure you approach the topic tactfully and professionally and focus on presenting your value and fit for the job before engaging in salary discussions.

What things should I avoid in an interview?

There are some common mistakes to avoid during a job interview, such as:

– Showing up late or unprepared for the interview – Making negative comments about previous employers or colleagues – Not showing enthusiasm or passion for the job or company – Interrupting or talking over the interviewer – Giving vague or unspecific answers

What is a pattern breaker?

A “pattern breaker” is a technique that breaks the monotony of an expected answer and breaks the “pattern” that the interviewer may have seen in previous applicants.

Essentially, it’s a way to make you more memorable and stand out from the other applicants. 

Here are some ways you can break patterns in your interview: – Share a unique or unusual hobby or interest that relates to your passion for the industry. – Tell about a life experience or chance encounter that had a positive impact and developed your soft skills that are valuable for the job. – Highlight a unique skill or educational background not commonly associated with the position.

Why is storytelling important during an interview?

Telling stories during an interview is a great way to illustrate your skills and experience and show the interviewer that you are a dynamic applicant.

Stories give a personal insight into the applicant’s personality and ability to handle situations. They help the interviewer get a picture of how you work and how you have developed into a more effective professional.

When telling a story, make sure it is relevant to the job, short, and detailed enough to highlight the skills you want to emphasize.

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How to Sell Yourself in an Interview: 12 Tactics

By Biron Clark

Published: November 8, 2023

Interview Preparation

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

You’ve probably heard the advice that you should sell yourself in an interview. But how? What’s the best way to sell yourself to employers?

Fortunately, after working as a recruiter for years, I’ve condensed everything I learned into the 12 most important steps to do this effectively.

Here’s how to sell yourself to employers in a job interview…

1. Focus on the employer’s needs

The first step in selling yourself to employers is to make the discussion about THEM.

Think about the advertisements you see on TV. It’s never about the company. It’s about you .

You won’t see a McDonald’s ad saying, “We’re hoping to sell more burgers. Please buy more burgers this month”.

They’ll never do it, because it would never work.

Instead, the ad shows a juicy burger and is all about how YOU’LL feel with their product. Satisfied, happy, full!

Yet, job seekers will go into an interview without knowing anything about the company, the person they’re speaking with, and even the industry.

That’s a mistake. You can’t sell yourself effectively without first understanding your audience and making your job interview answers about what they need.

So before you move on to the steps below, shift your mindset into thinking about everything from the employer’s perspective. What problems are they trying to solve? Look at the job description to get an idea of this.

What type of goals does this group have? For example, a sales team wants to generate revenue. A customer service team wants to handle customer requests quickly and efficiently, with a high customer satisfaction rating.

2. Have a great elevator pitch and understand what you can offer the employer

You should focus on making a good impression throughout the whole interview, but the first 30 seconds are most important.

So now you might be wondering, “How do I sell myself in an interview in 30 seconds?”

That’s where your elevator pitch comes in.

You can use this if they ask, “what can you tell me about yourself?” or even questions like, “can you walk me through your background?” or, “why should we hire you for this position?”

You want to show them early and often that you took the time to read their job description, and that you will be able to step into their job, learn the role quickly, and be successful.

This is the #1 thing employers are looking for in an interview, so it’s a key to selling yourself effectively.

So prepare a 30- or 60-second elevator speech highlighting your key experiences that fit in with this role!

Relate everything to their job. Don’t talk about random accomplishments that won’t help you in this position.

This is how you talk about yourself in an interview to stand out. Instead of mentioning everything you’ve done, be selective and think about what is most relevant to the employer’s needs based on the job description.

3. Get familiar with your own resume

The interviewer is going to be looking at your resume and asking about it during the conversation, with questions like: “This role that you held two years ago looks interesting, what did your day-to-day work involve here?”

And if you’re not familiar with what you put on your resume , it’s going to be tough to answer this with confidence. 

So if some time has passed between when you wrote the resume and when you got the interview, make sure to review your resume so you know what they’re looking at when they ask you questions.

4. Prepare examples of past successes and accomplishments

Next, brush up on the specific facts and accomplishments from past roles. What did you do for your last boss?

It’s always more convincing to be specific and detailed when talking about past work. It sounds better to say, “I trained six new team members in four months,” rather than just saying, “yes, I trained some team members.”

(This is true when writing about your past work on your resume, too, like in your resume bullet points ).

The bottom line is: You should be familiar with exactly what you accomplished in your two or three most recent roles so that you can go into more detail and respond confidently if they ask!

That way, you’ll be ready for a question like, “What’s your greatest achievement?”

5. Be ready for behavioral interview questions

More and more employers are asking behavioral questions (like, “Tell me about a time when you failed” ), so make sure you’re ready to answer these convincingly.

When you answer any behavioral question, walk them through the situation you were in, what actions you took, what outcome you achieved, and finally – what you learned from the experience.

You can use S.T.A.R. to remember this – Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Other common scenarios they may ask you about include a time you were under a lot of pressure, a time you had to juggle multiple tasks, and a time you had to use communication to solve a disagreement (with a team member or customer).

Also, be ready to describe how you make decisions . This is another common one you might hear!

6. Research the person you’re speaking with

The next step for how to sell yourself during an interview is to know your audience!

A CEO will care about different things than a manager, who will care about different things than a recruiter or HR person. So you want to talk about topics and details that will be relevant to the person you’re speaking with.

If you’re speaking with a CEO or Executive, you should expect more questions about your personality, your interests, etc.

For example:

• Why did you choose this career?
• What motivates you?
• What are you passionate about?

If it’s HR or a recruiter, they’ll be checking for basic qualifications. You can expect questions like, “How many years have you worked with X?”

And a manager will be somewhere in between. They’ll want to understand your personality and motivations, but they’ll also want to make sure you are a good fit for the day-to-day work. So they’ll ask a balance between both types of questions. 

7. Confident body language

What you’re saying is half the battle, but the other key to job interview success is your confidence and body language .

Make sure you’re sitting up straight with good posture, practice your handshake and eye contact, and avoid tapping your feet or hands or doing anything else that’s distracting.

You could say all the right things, but if you seem nervous or lacking in confidence because of your body language, it could still cost you the job offer. Interviewers make decisions based on “gut feeling” quite often, and this is one of the factors they’re going to be affected by (even if it’s subconscious). They’re going to feel more comfortable hiring you if you seemed confident.

8. Ask great questions

When most people think about their job interview, they’re focused on giving great answers. But the hiring manager also cares a LOT about whether you ask questions, and what you ask.

They want to hire someone who’s being careful and thoughtful in their job search and really trying to learn about job and company. Otherwise, they’re going to be concerned that you’re desperate and looking for any job you can find. That’s NOT who they want to hire, because it’s more likely you’ll leave or lack the motivation to do the work.

You’ll go a long way toward selling yourself by just asking great questions.

You can ask about the company, the job, the group, and opinion-based questions like, “What do you feel is the biggest challenge someone new will face when stepping into this role?”

Here are some additional resources to help you ask great questions:

• Master list of 105 questions you can ask
• 27 unique questions you can ask employers to stand out
• 10 good questions to ask recruiters

9. Show excitement for the role

Next, you should show interest and enthusiasm for the role . If something about the role sounds exciting, say so! If you’ve been following what the company is doing and are excited about the work they’re doing, say so.

As a recruiter, I’ve seen hiring managers decide to not offer someone the position simply because they didn’t think the person was excited about the work.

The candidate was 100% qualified. The interviewer had no doubt that they could do the job. But the issue was their motivation, and it cost them the position.

So make sure they know that you can do the work, but also that you want to do the work.

10. Be clear and concise in your answers

Clear communication is an art, and if you master it, you’re going to be more likely to impress the hiring manager in your job interview.

So don’t just focus on selling your skills by sharing lots of information, focus on being brief and clear when you communicate.

It’s okay to take a second to think before jumping in to respond. In fact, I recommend it. Take your time and focus on speaking clearly.

It’s also okay to say, “That’s a great question. Let me think for a minute,” in your job interview.

This won’t cost you the job. In fact, it will show the hiring manager that you communicate well and aren’t afraid to use a bit of time to make sure you get your message across clearly. That’s something most employers will value highly!

11. Create a 90-day plan showing them what you can accomplish

Next, consider creating a 90-day business plan for your interview . You can find a template at that link. In your plan, you should show the employer what steps you’d take to learn the role, get acquainted with the team and how it operates, and quickly start contributing to their efforts.

Very few job seekers are doing this, so you’ll stand out if you make the extra effort. 

12. Practice your closing statement

There’s one thing the interviewer is guaranteed to remember from your conversation: How you wrap up the discussion.

So take the time to practice an interview closing statement. Know what you’re going to say at the end of the meeting to leave them with a great final impression.

If you follow the tips above, you’re going to do a better job of selling yourself when you talk about yourself in the interview. This will help you make a better impression so you can get more job offers .

Further reading:

• Complete job interview preparation checklist
• 10 ways to stand out from other job seekers in your interview
• Why people fail interviews – common mistakes explained

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

Home › University › How To Write A Personal Statement? 10 Tips + Student Questions Answered › How To Start A Personal Statement: Tips & Examples

How To Start A Personal Statement: Tips & Examples

• Published January 20, 2023

We’re regularly asked the question “ how to start a personal statement ”? It’s a challenging task for anybody but worry not as we’re here to help guide you through the process. 

The introduction is the first thing the admissions committee will read. That’s why the first sentence of a personal statement should be a catchy, attention-grabbing hook or story that grabs the reader’s attention and sets up the main point of your essay.

A lacklustre introduction may lose your readers’ interest, preventing them from reading the rest of your personal statement!

But don’t worry, this article will guide you on writing a personal statement introduction, a few examples of opening sentences and how to captivate the admissions tutors. Without further ado, let’s get started.

Top Tip: Leave Your Introduction For Last

You know what they say, the hardest thing to do is  start . So skip the introduction for now and focus on the main body of your personal statement. If you’re not sure what your main content should be, read out how to write a personal statement guide.

After nailing down the main points, you’ll have a concrete idea of how your introduction can captivate the reader and stay relevant to the bulk of the writing. Go ahead and work on the rest of your personal statement.

Come back when you’re finished! And if you’re worried about your conclusion then check out our advice on  personal statement conclusions .

2. Cut To The Chase

You only have  4,000 characters  to sell yourself as an ideal student candidate. Make each character and paragraph count! That means forget about flowery words and directionless statements. When you start your personal statement, explain your motivations for choosing your course in one or two sentences.

Although you will discuss this in-depth in the main body of content, capturing your reader’s attention with a quick overview of why you’re enthusiastic about your chosen course is crucial. That’s why capturing the reader’s attention by jumping straight to the point is key to starting a personal statement.

3. Be Specific

Never give vague details when expressing why you want to pursue your course. “I always wanted to be an engineer since I was a kid,” or “I want to become a doctor because I enjoy science” isn’t advised. 

On that note, if you’re applying to medicine refer to our guide on  how to write a medical personal statement . We suggest being more specific than that, and you can include your academic achievements too. Here are a few suggestions that may help you:

• You witnessed an inspirational figure in your life solve a massive problem with a specific skill set (doctor, engineer, etc.)
• While you were at a charity event, you encountered a problem that kept people in deprivation. By pursuing this course, you’re a part of the solution.
• You’re good at, and you enjoy a specific skill set. The course you’re eyeing puts great emphasis on this particular skill.
• There was a moment in your life when you succeeded in solving a problem. You felt significant by doing so, and you want to keep doing that for the rest of your life (teaching poor children how to read)
• You watched a movie or read a book that ignited your passion for the course. After doing volunteer work or part-time employment related to your course, you’re determined to pursue it.

Craft a sentence or two that encapsulates the core of your “why.” Do this, and your reader will want to read more!

4. Demonstrate Knowledge In Your Chosen Course

An essential element of starting a personal statement is to express why you’re enthusiastic about taking your chosen course. You need to demonstrate that you’re aware of what you’re getting yourself into in the process. Answer any of these prompt questions for inspiration:

• What do you find interesting about the course?
• How do you believe the course will help you achieve your goals?
• How will you use your chosen course to contribute to society?
• What hurdles do you expect to encounter, and how will you handle them?

Decide which of these questions fits best into the main content of your  personal statement . Write your answer in a sentence or two, weave them into your application essay and think about the help you received from your tutors in the past.

5. Ditch The “Since I Was A Child” Line

We’re often asked  what not to put in a personal statement  and “Since I was a child” is a cliche statement that gets thrown around haphazardly. How many students have said this at least once in their personal statements?

Recalling your childhood passions is a weak “why” for pursuing your course. Why? Because the admissions committee is looking for a relevant and up-to-date reason.

When you were little, you had zero knowledge and little enthusiasm to become successful in your field. You had no idea what skillsets you needed or what other options were available to you.

But if you were to cite a recent event in your life that supports your determination to pursue your course, that screams “educated choice” right there. And  that  is what the admission committee is looking for after reading hundreds, if not thousands of introductions.

6. Brainstorm Several Versions Of Your Opening Lines

The desire to get it right the first time paralyses you from starting. So permit yourself to write freely. Write as many versions of your opening lines as possible.

Don’t worry about the grammar, spelling, or character count just yet. Type everything that goes off the top of your head. When you’re done, take a look at your list.

Cross out the ones you dislike, and encircle the ones you think have potential. Then start piecing the puzzle pieces together to check out if the intro lines fit with the rest of your personal statement. 

If you’ve found three potential opening statements, try reading them aloud together with the rest of your personal statement. Do they flow seamlessly into one another? Make the necessary adjustments. Play around with it until you feel you’ve hit the spot.

7. Make Your Opening Statement Error Free

Your opening statement is your hook line. Spelling or grammatical errors at the start discourage your reader from reading further. If you have errors at the beginning, you’ll most likely have them in your main content!

So make sure your English is simple, flawless, and straightforward. Run your personal statement through a tool like Grammarly to weed out most of the errors.

The Hemingway app is also a helpful tool for checking for passive voice and other writing problems. Take advantage of writing assistant tools, especially if you’re a non-native English writer.

8. Read Examples Of Personal Statements

Read as many personal statement examples as you can. Any that captivated you, keep them in your notes. Figure out  why  these statements stood out to you compared to the others. What elements can you place in  your  personal statement?

When reading personal statements that put you off, find out why. What characteristics do they have that elicit a negative reaction from you? List them down, and make sure you avoid them.

After this exercise, you should have a few more ideas about your personal statement introduction.

9. Ask For Feedback

Never underestimate what feedback can give you. Ask your family, friends, and acquaintances about your opening statement. Does your personality shine through? Is it straight to the point? Does it flow smoothly with the main content of your personal statement?

Listen to what they have to say. Jot down important points. You’ll need their feedback to get a second opinion on whether it works for you or not.

10. Give Yourself Time

Your chosen career depends on your college education. And a first crucial step is to convince the admission committee you’re worth accepting into your university. You have to give your personal statement your best shot. Give yourself enough time to brainstorm and think everything over.

You can’t finish a complete,  well-written personal statement  in a week. Much less overnight!

So make sure you set aside enough time to put your best foot forward. After finishing a complete draft of your personal statement, put it down. Forget about it for a few days. Then come back and reread it.

With a fresh set of eyes, you’ll notice details you may not have seen before! Revise as much as you need.

Do I Need To Write An Introduction For A Personal Statement?

Yes, we recommend writing an introduction for your personal statement as it provides context to the rest of your writing. The introduction is an opportunity to make a good first impression and capture the university admissions officer’s attention.

What is a good opening sentence for a personal statement?

Here are some examples of a good opening sentence for a captivating introduction. Note how it ties into the university degree almost straight away with first-hand experience:

• “Growing up in a small town with limited resources sparked my curiosity and drive to pursue higher education and make a positive impact in my community.”
• “From a young age, I have been fascinated by the intricacies of the human mind and the power of psychology to improve people’s lives.”
• “As a first-generation college student, I am determined to break barriers and pave the way for future generations through a career in law.”
• “My passion for sustainable design was ignited by a volunteer trip to a developing country, where I witnessed the devastating effects of environmental degradation firsthand.”
• “A chance encounter with a blind person and their guide dog inspired me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, with the goal of improving the lives of animals and their human companions.”

Please do NOT use these in your personal statements, use these to guide you on how you want to start your personal statement.

Can You Open Your Personal Statement With A Quote?

It is a risky move to open your personal statement with a quote and can come across as clichéd or insincere to the university admission officers. However, there are rare occasions when it can work, just make sure the quote relates to your degree and experience you’re writing about.

Get Ready To Write Your Personal Statement

How does one start a captivating personal statement? Take the time to think about what makes an effective introduction.

Read examples of personal statements from other students to glean ideas for how yours might stand out. Once you have read through some good ones, they should be more than just two or three!–look closely at what elements made them so successful. 

Then try applying those same principles on how to start a personal statement! Don’t forget to bookmark this post for future reference.

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How to Sell Yourself in Your Personal Statement – Creative Advice

The advertising industry understands the power of the right words in the right order – and that’s a power that can be very useful in  putting your personal statement together .

To get you started, here are a few useful ideas for your personal statement that copywriters and marketing experts are using to engage, inform and persuade people every day.

1. Grab attention

Great magazine articles and news articles all have a fantastic intro to get your attention from the outset, and your personal statement should be no different. 

Your first sentence needs to pique some interest. You could get there through humour or a clever play on words but one of the most effective techniques is simply to be personal. Being authentic is the way forward in your personal statement, they can quickly see why you will be a great fit for them. 

You’re already unique and one-of- a-kind so be sure to highlight that immediately, whether it’s the personal story of why you’re so passionate about your chosen subject, or mentioning a specific area of interest that you’re enthusiastic about.

2. Benefits, not features

When you are writing for marketing then you have to get people to buy into the idea so they want it. They see the benefit in it for themselves, so make the admissions tutor see why you are beneficial to the course.

If you’re bilingual, explain how that makes you an incredible communicator. If you’re a sporting hero, don’t forget to emphasise that it gives you discipline and makes you a great team player. If you have volunteer experience in your chosen field then lead with this. 

When you are talking about your experiences and skills make sure you pull it back to why they are perfect for the course.

3. Structure your personal statement to sell

In the academic world, we often get into writing habits that aren’t a great fit for persuasion. 

Think about the structure of your coursework: you start with an introduction and then build gradually to your big conclusion. 

When someone is reading hundreds of applications a day then you can’t expect them to wait around to the end for the big conclusion, you have to grab them straight away.

A good rule of thumb for structure would be:

• Start with why you’re the perfect fit for a place on your course
• Mention the most important aspects of your relevant skills and experience early
• Prove the points you’ve introduced – it’s here you’d talk about your current and previous studies, your skills, and your work experience

It’s your main message followed by the evidence; not the evidence slowly building to the message.

4. Remember you’re talking to a human

When you are writing your personal statement remember you are writing it for a person to read, not the institution. 

Think of your personal statement as a conversation with the tutor. Write how you would speak to someone you want to impress. Whilst you should be formal, make sure you make it more conversational by using I’m instead of I am and read it through out loud to make sure it flows.

Your tone of voice can also capture some of the points you want to get across without taking up any of your precious 4000 characters. For example, there’s no need to write about how passionate you are for your subject if you’re able to write passionately about it.  Aim to let your personality shine through in your choice of words.

Looking for more university application advice? Take a look  here . 

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• CAREER FEATURE
• 23 April 2021

Sell yourself and your science in a compelling personal statement

Andy Tay is a science writer in Singapore.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

You have full access to this article via your institution.

Credit: Getty

Personal statements — essays highlighting personal circumstances, qualities and achievements — are used extensively in science to evaluate candidates for jobs, awards and promotions. Five researchers offer tips for making yours stand out in a crowded and competitive market.

STEVE OH: Convey personal qualities beyond academic interests

Steve Oh is director of the Stem Cell Processing Group at the A*STAR Bioprocessing Technology Institute in Singapore.

As a principal investigator, I have read a good number of personal statements from students applying for science scholarships and jobs. The ones that stand out recount the applicant’s biography, bringing out their character as well as their professional qualities.Personal statements are often centred on academic and research achievements. But, in my opinion, a good scientist should also demonstrate social skills, be interested in making an impact on society through, for example, entrepreneurship, and have awareness of the world outside the country they live in. Memorable personal statements tend to bring out ‘soft’ skills, such as having macro-level thinking abilities and awareness of the impact that science can have on society.

Careers Collection: Publishing

To achieve this balance of professional and personal, consider two elements. First, explain your motivations to pursue a scientific career. These might include a family illness, an inspiring talk by a scientist, or great mentorship from a colleague. Second, describe how you have gone out of your way to get experience in science, such as proactively seeking opportunities for a laboratory internship, or what you have learnt from overcoming difficulties with your experiments. This information brings out qualities, such as curiosity and perseverance, that are crucial to being a good scientist.

I vividly remember the personal statement of one of my PhD students. He described his struggle with having only one healthy kidney — and how, despite this, he continued to do sports like rock climbing. He also wrote about how he did badly in his undergraduate studies: he had to take a year off to recharge before returning to school and excelling. His story shows resilience and honesty — traits that I love in a researcher.

SILVIA KARIUKI: Do not be afraid to defend your decisions

Silvia Kariuki is a postdoctoral fellow at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi.

When I was planning to return to Kenya, where I grew up, to start a postdoctoral project, fellow researchers, friends and family members all asked why I was choosing to go back. They felt my career would suffer because Kenya’s scientific infrastructure is not as advanced as that in the United States, where I spent 13 years working and completing my undergraduate and PhD degrees.

Two years into my return to Kenya, when writing my personal statement for the Wellcome International Training Fellowship to follow up on my postdoctoral project, I explained that the Kenya Medical Research Institute–Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi could provide a good research environment for me. I would be able to study human genetic variants that confer protective effects against severe malaria infection, and my research would have a real-world impact by informing the production of malaria therapies. In my personal statement, I wrote that I wanted to pursue my scientific career in Kenya despite the scepticism I had faced — and it convinced the fellowship committee that I had thought deeply about my career move.

I also seek advice from mentors when writing a personal statement. I usually send mine to two to three senior scientists who have had more experience writing them and who have been on review committees for fellowship applications. One suggestion I usually get is to be ‘more human’. The judges would like to hear your personal voice and read about your motivation, even if these might be unconventional.

KELLY CLANCY: Use stories to show who you are

Kelly Clancy is a postdoctoral fellow in neuroscience at University College London.

Stories can make a personal statement stand out. It’s hard, of course — I’ve heard colleagues say it’s a trope for neuroscience-related personal statements to open with something like “I got interested in neuroscience after seeing my grandmother suffer from Alzheimer’s.” But I think that cynicism is unfair: it’s a beautiful impulse to get into science for a personal reason, and having a personal connection to science can drive important new insights.

I included the story that inspired the project I’d proposed in my application to the Branco Weiss postdoctoral fellowship. My best friend from high school had lost three limbs to an improvised explosive device while serving as a medic in Afghanistan. I described how this incident led to my interest in the field of neuroprosthetic devices that can restore motor capabilities, and the shortcomings I wanted to address with my work.

My advice for writing a personal statement is to not get bogged down in technical details. Don’t just focus on what you want to study — explain why. Demonstrate how you think. What led you to do the work or research you’ve undertaken so far? What are the questions that drive you and your science, and why are they important? Perhaps most importantly (and this is for all of us, not just those writing personal statements): ask, “What drives my science? Is it a reflection of my ego, wanting to be right or smart and to get high-profile publications? Or is it an extension of my will to do good in the world, my curiosity and my love of understanding?” The world is full of questions and problems to solve. Using stories in personal statements can help applicants to explain what scientific questions they care about, and why they matter.

Collection: the PhD

With the support from the Branco Weiss Fellowship, my colleagues and I have since developed neuroprosthetic techniques that were just published 1 and used these methods to explore interesting basic neuroscience questions and less-invasive neurosprosthetic interfaces.

WEI GAO: Demonstrate ambition and don’t exaggerate

Wei Gao is an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Wei Gao, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. Credit: Wei Gao

A personal statement should highlight your aspirations and dreams. A CV can list all your publications, but they won’t all be read thoroughly, and members of the selection committee might miss the significance of your work.

Think of a personal statement as a document that complements your CV. I use it to explain the big problems my research is tackling and its impact. In my application to be a World Economic Forum Young Scientist, I described my concerns about worsening mental health in our society and discussed how my research on wearable sensors can improve early diagnosis of mental illness by sensing metabolites such as cortisol, a stress-related hormone, in sweat. It would be difficult to explain my aspirations clearly in a short, typically list-based, CV. In a personal statement, I can demonstrate my ambition in greater detail.

A good personal statement should avoid exaggerating your contribution. This is especially true for a multi-author paper on which you didn’t have a leading role. Focus on the work that you led and to not overstate your contributions to your field. Even if your contribution was significant, being humble in a personal statement is a good quality. Research is a culmination of the efforts of many researchers, and is never attributable to just one person.

ABHIMANYU VEERAKUMARASIVAM: Break the essay down and tailor it to your audience

Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam is dean of the School of Medical and Life Sciences at Sunway University Subang Jaya in Malaysia.

Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam in the lab. Credit: Sunway University

One way to simplify the writing process is to break your personal statement down into several key elements, including who you are, what you have accomplished, why you are applying for a role or award and how you will contribute to the organization.

When I was organizing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Science Leadership Programme from 2017 to 2019, my committee and I divided the application statement into a few questions focused on the ‘who, what, why and how’, which would help applicants to better structure their essays. I found this format particularly useful because, in Asia, our default culture is to not stand out, and many qualified candidates might be too shy to share their personal stories or too humble to share their achievements.

I found that creating a more defined structure around the personal statement allowed applicants to reflect on the experience they have gained from working in the region, which has many low-income countries and little investment in science. I would not always get these details in an open-ended personal essay.

One candidate discussed the huge disparities in science in the ASEAN region and his desire to bridge the gaps. By doing so, the candidate demonstrated that he had a good awareness of his environment and the unique challenges of working in that setting while highlighting his willingness to take action to bridge the gaps.

Applicants should also tailor their personal statements to their audience. For instance, students applying to graduate schools and scholarships will often send generic personal statements with their applications. If applicants want an academic institution to invest in them, then their personal statements need to reflect a genuine interest in the organization they’re applying to. The candidates with better statements usually include details of labs they are interested in working in and specifics about research topics they find fascinating.

Nature 593 , 153-155 (2021)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-01101-z

These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

K. B. Clancy et al. Neuron 109 , 677–689 (2021).

Article   PubMed   Google Scholar  

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How To Sell Yourself In A Cover Letter (With Examples)

• How To Write A Cover Letter
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• Free Cover Letter Templates
• Cover Letter Mistakes To Avoid
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• How To Sell Yourself In A Cover Letter

Find a Job You Really Want In

When sending in a job application, cover letters are your chance to show off your personality and why you’re a great fit for the position. It can be difficult to strike a good balance between talking about your qualifications and adding some personality and flavor to your cover letter . Making sure your cover letter shines is a great way to make your job application stand out and get noticed by hiring managers. So many of the cover letters and applications that pass through hiring teams are bland, so taking the time to perfect your cover letter can really impress hiring teams. Key Takeaways: Selling yourself in a cover letter is your chance to show how you are qualified, unique, and valuable. To sell yourself in a cover letter, first match your skills and values with that of the employer. Use the four paragraph, 250-400 words structure of a cover letter to demonstrate your skills and how they can be used for the employer. Use keywords from the job description to stand out. In This Article    Skip to section Why Is It Important To Sell Yourself In A Cover Letter? How To Sell Yourself In A Cover Letter Using The Cover Letter Format To Sell Yourself Tips for Writing a Winning Cover Letter Sample Cover Letter Why Are Cover Letters Important? Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs Show More Why Is It Important To Sell Yourself In A Cover Letter?

Cover letters are opportunities to promote your qualifications in a manner that is more personal and in-depth than a resume . You will want to use this opportunity because a cover letter lets you show:

How you are qualified. A cover letter gives you a chance to explain your skills and experience with more context. The reader should be able to see that you can back up your resume.

Why you are unique and valuable. You can use a cover to stand out among other applicants and show what you will be able to contribute to as an employee.

Personality. Inevitably, with writing, your personality and interpersonal skills come through. The reader can interpret a little bit more about who you are as a person and what kind of fit you would be for the company.

Combined, all these should impress the reader and make them want to learn more about you.

To sell yourself in a cover letter you want to:

Match your skills and values with the employer. You need to be relevant. What’s more, you need to be indispensably relevant. By aligning yourself to the needs of the company, you show that you have potential to be an invaluable asset.

Demonstrate your skills with an engaging example. Now that your skills are matched up, you need to back them up. Provide an example that shows how your skills were successfully put into action.

Show how your skills can help the employer. Underscore how your skills can contribute to success. You want to convince the reader that your skills are tools that would be best put to use within the company.

You are making an argument for yourself. Take the reader along, prove to them your worth, and convince them that you are exactly who they need.

Using The Cover Letter Format To Sell Yourself

A successful cover letter all comes down to how you structure your argument and what you focus on. The format of a cover letter should explore how your skills have been successfully put into action in the past and demonstrate what you can offer to your potential employer.

A cover letter is between 250 and 400 words long and is broken up into four paragraphs. Generally a cover letter follows this structure:

Introduction. This both provides context and is your hook that makes the reader want to learn more about you.

Previous experience. Explore one or two previous experiences that demonstrate how your skills were put into action and led to success. It is particularly helpful if you can provide quantifiable results.

What you have to offer. Match your skills and values with that of the company to show how you can fulfill their needs. You want to make yourself an asset to their success.

Conclusion. Wrap everything up in a logical manner and provide a call to action to prepare for the next steps of the application process.

However, understand that is is only a guideline. What’s more important is that you show how you are qualified and what you have to offer for your employer’s future success.

Tips for Writing a Winning Cover Letter

While there’s no sure-fire formula for writing a winning cover letter, there are a few things that you can do to make sure your letter stands out. Here are a few tips to help you get noticed and write the perfect cover letter every time:

Switch it up. When you apply for a new job , you should write a new cover letter. Not every job description and company is the same, so it’s best to edit your cover letter to specifically address each job posting and company.

Focus on the opening. Cover letters are often dull, so to really put your best foot forward you should make the opening extra interesting.

If you can pull your reader in from the beginning, you can make a great impression. If you want to make your opening extra attention-grabbing you can start by:

Showing off your passions

Connecting with the company

Telling a story

Writing a belief statement

Highlight a mutual connection

List your accomplishments

Avoid rewriting your resume. Cover letters get a bad rap since they often repeat what’s already written on a resume. While you can’t avoid repeating some things on the two documents, it’s a good idea to make them pretty separate.

Keep it positive. You should always have a positive tone and show that you love what you do. Talk about your favorite professional experiences or what you loved doing in past jobs.

Make it personal. If you can find the name of the hiring manager, you should personally address them in the salutation.

Talk about potential deal-breakers. Sometimes you might have something on your resume that would give an employer pause , so cover letters are the perfect time to try and calm their worries.

Leave your education behind. If you’re a few years out of school and you have your education history on your resume , you don’t have to detail your education. Only bring up your college or advanced degrees if it’s particularly relevant to the job.

Go short and sweet. You might think that the more you can pack into your cover letter, the more impressive it will be, but you should go for short and sweet.

Find job keywords. Job postings usually use certain keywords that are related to the skills employers are looking for and the responsibilities that they’re looking for someone to fill.

Highlight what you can do for the company. Often people write cover letters to express why the company is the best fit or what the company can do for them. Instead, you should focus on what skills and expertise you can bring to the company.

Pick the most relevant examples. Cover letters can get lengthy when you try to include everything that might be useful for a hiring manager to know. Instead, focus on what’s most relevant to the job description and the industry of the company.

Bring out stats. Whenever you can use numbers and stats, you have a chance to impress hiring managers. Instead of explaining that you boosted sales, find a number that expresses that better, like “increased sales by 125%” to give proof.

Sample Cover Letter

We’re going to show you a sample cover letter that will stand out from the rest of the applicants’ letters. You can use this as a starting point to make your cover letter the best it can be.

Dear Mrs. Smith, As soon as I learned that ABC Tech was hiring, I knew that I had to apply. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved working with computers . That has followed me into my professional life and I am passionate about connecting people with their perfect device, starting with my first job at ABC Tech’s New York City location as a sales associate . My extensive history in sales for tech companies uniquely positions me to excel with ABC Tech. I have worked in consumer-facing tech sales since 2009 and have worked in managerial positions since 2016. My first job was with ABC Tech and I understand the catalog extensively after working with you and keeping up with your new product releases. In response to the responsibilities that were listed on the job description, I have: Experience in customer-facing sales positions Experience with customer service Managerial skills A proven record of exceeding sales goals Award-winning leadership skills I am eager to hear back from you. If you have any questions about my skills or qualifications, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. Sincerely, David Baum

Why Are Cover Letters Important?

Cover letters are an important way to highlight how your unique blend of experience and skills matches the job description’s requirements. This gives you the opportunity to stand out among other applicants.

To really get the most out of your cover letter, you need to include experiences that aren’t on your resume or explain your work history , plus add a little bit of personality.

Since cover letters are more open-ended than resumes, you get a unique opportunity to really sell yourself to an employer . They can be especially helpful if employers don’t require you to fill out questions when submitting your application.

Cover letters are also a chance to show off your personality and help the employer determine if there’s a culture fit . These days, companies look for new hires who will not only contribute their skills to advance company goals, but also help them create a welcoming and vibrant company culture.

Finding ways to include personality in your cover letter can help you stand out and prove that you’d be a great culture fit.

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Amanda is a writer with experience in various industries, including travel, real estate, and career advice. After taking on internships and entry-level jobs, she is familiar with the job search process and landing that crucial first job. Included in her experience is work at an employer/intern matching startup where she marketed an intern database to employers and supported college interns looking for work experience.

Matt Warzel a President of a resume writing firm (MJW Careers, LLC) with 15+ years of recruitment, outplacement, career coaching and resume writing experience. Matt is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University.

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How to sell yourself in 25 words or less

Ever had to prepare an “elevator pitch” where selling an idea needed to be engaging enough to hit the mark within 30 seconds?

The online world has fast become the “elevator” of today, where we have just a few lines of text on a computer screen to make a striking impact on potential employers. With more pressure on people’s time than ever before, recruiters and employers can benefit from knowing your unique experiences, ambitions and strengths in 25 words or less. Creating a SEEK profile allows potential employers to search for candidates and get a snapshot of their experience via the new Personal Summary feature.

With more pressure on people’s time than ever before, recruiters and employers can benefit from knowing your unique experiences, ambitions and strengths in 25 words or less.

To make your Personal Summary the lasting first impression it should be, check out these tips to help you stand out from other candidates.

• Highlight your stand-out features.  Condensing your work history into 25 words or less can be challenging - it is a mere, short, single sentence or two, so make sure you have the right information in there to catch your readers’ attention. The goal is to include your most distinctive features, so that the reader is left with more knowledge and more intrigue about you. A good example of this: I’m a self-motivated, creative copywriter with five years of marketing and advertising experience, specialising in digital content with a keen interest in social media. A bad example of this: I’m an experienced copywriter with five years of writing experience in the online marketing and advertising sectors, having specialised in digital media for one year.  
• Ensure correct spelling and grammar.  Trying to fit as much information about yourself into a punchy sentence or two can mean a lot of word juggling which may lead to grammatical errors. Make sure that your 25-word summary reads well and is easy to comprehend. Consider your tenses and make sure they’re consistent. Once you have done your own spelling and grammar check, you may even want to run some options by a few friends to find out which one reads more clearly! A good example of this: I’m an in-house corporate lawyer with over eight years’ experience, specialising in mergers and acquisitions with a focus on South-East Asia. A bad example of this: Gloria is an in-house corporate lawyer with over eight years experience. I have specialised in mergers and acquisitions in South-East Asia.  
• Keep it directional with the most relevant points.  While you may have years of experience in various roles, it’s important to only communicate what will help you achieve the role you are presently seeking. There is no point including in your Personal Summary that you spent six years working in hospitality when you are seeking a new career in the construction management industry. Think of key attributes needed for the role you’re seeking and tailor your Personal Summary to respond to those needs. A good example of this: I’m a highly organised project management intern at a leading Australian construction company. I have a bachelor’s degree in construction management and strong analytical skills. A bad example of this: I’m a part-time waiter and organised project management intern with a bachelor’s degree in construction management. I have a keen interest in sport and surfing.

A final quick tip: practice makes perfect so try writing several personal statements until you hit the spot!

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Personal Statements: Examples, Do's and Don'ts

As the name suggests, a personal statement is unique to everyone, but that does not mean there are not specific personal statement rules and guidelines to follow. Being able to quickly showcase your skills, personality and job fit can be challenging, so we are here to shed some light on structuring a personal statement that’ll make you stand out from the crowd. 

In this guide, we will be looking at how to write a personal statement and the do’s and don’ts. By the end, you should have a better idea of how to structure a personal statement and impress your potential new employers.

💡 Note: We will be covering professional personal statements and not personal statements for University admissions in this article.

What is a personal statement?

Often confused with a cover letter or supporting statement, a personal statement is a small section on various forms of CVs. A personal statement is often no more than a few sentences where you can quickly summarise your skills, experience and job fit into a bitesize paragraph. 

A personal statement gives you the opportunity to briefly sell yourself to your potential employer and showcase why you are the best candidate for the role. It is important to note that not all employers will require a personal statement, but if done correctly they can help set you apart from other applicants. 

What makes a good personal statement? 

As a personal statement is essentially a summary of the rest of your CV and you as a person, you want to ensure you list all the most important things from your CV that are the most relevant to the job you are applying for. You should never use the same personal statement, when applying for multiple jobs you can use a similar statement for each, but it should be tailored to each individual role if possible. 

How to start a personal statement 

Start your personal statement by introducing yourself and set the tone for the rest of your personal statement.

You want to capture the employer’s interest and summarise exactly why you are a perfect fit for the role. Most personal statement examples start with saying the role you are currently in, how much industry experience you have and key achievements or relevant skills and statistics. 

How to finish a personal statement 

A good way to finish your personal statement is to summarise your overall goal or aim when moving forwards towards this job and your career.  This means you have spoken about the past, present and future, in just a few lines and gives the employer a good idea of you and your potential. 

How to finish a personal statement can vary from role to role, but this is a good rule of thumb and will stand you in good stead, as with any application, tailor it to the job, some may call for this, some may not.

Personal statement do’s

• Tailor your personal statement - utilise the job description to help you highlight exactly what the employer is looking for, highlight the skills and experience it calls for. The job description is the blueprint to your personal statement for that role, so try and signpost your abilities from the exact things the employer is looking for.
• Be concise - ensure that you keep your personal statement short and relevant, aim for the maximum of a few lines or around 200 words at most. Find the most important and relevant things that you can say within that word count.
• Highlight you - candidates have a habit of being too generic and not showcasing themselves, it is called a personal statement, so keep it personal to you. Personal does not mean talking about your dog though, but how you personally can succeed at this job.
• Include tangibles - always try to give additional details that add value to your application, for instance, quantifying something always makes it sound better. ‘Increased sales by 35%’ sounds better than just saying ‘increased sales’.
• Hit key points - a good personal statement will be able to give the employer a quick summary of you and entice them to read more or move you forward to the interview stage.
• Get a second opinion - having someone else read over your personal statement can be a real help, they may spot something you haven’t or not understand something the way you had intended. This will help improve your finished personal statement.  

Personal statement don’ts

• Use the same wording - you can actually hurt your own chances if you use an overly generic personal statement. You want to show that you have put effort into your application and impress the employer.
• Make it too long - candidates will often confuse their personal statement with a cover letter, this is a short rundown of you, focus on skills, successes, and statistics, things that can be quickly digested. Grab their attention with your personal statement, but do not bore them with an essay.
• Go too personal - this may sound strange, but remember you are writing a professional application, and not setting up a dating profile. Focus on what you can bring to the company, and how your skills would be perfect for the role.
• Send off your first draft - always read over your personal statement a few times to make sure it flows right and rolls off the tongue. Having a spelling or grammar mistake can ruin your chances of getting the job.
• Be too broad - showing that you understood the job description and are a good candidate for the role can be evident if you have a good personal statement, but being too broad will make you look like you copy and pasted the same response to 20 applications.

What next? 

Now you have a better understanding on how to structure your personal statement to increase your chances of getting your new role, you want to start your job search . Currently at Michael Page, we have over 10,000 live jobs on the site so submit your CV today to become discoverable for new roles added in your industry. 

For more CV and cover letter advice , read through our collective library of articles that’ll help you create a winning CV. 

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By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 18 August 2023 | 22 min read

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

Stand out from the crowd: here's how to write a good personal statement that will get you noticed

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Your personal statement forms a core part of your university application, and the sooner you get going, the better you can make it. You may think that your personal statement won’t matter as much to unis as your grades and experience but a great personal statement could make all the difference between you and a candidate with the same grades. Sure, your application might not reach that deal breaker stage. But is it something you want to leave to chance?  Here we’ll take you through the process of planning, writing and checking a good personal statement, so you end up with something you can submit with confidence. And to make sure the advice we're giving you is sound, we’ve spoken to admissions staff at loads of UK universities to get their view. Look out for video interviews and advice on applying for specific subjects throughout this piece or watch our personal statement playlist on YouTube .

• Are you looking for personal statement examples? Check our library of hundreds of real personal statements, on The Student Room

Personal statement deadlines

You'll need to make sure you've got your personal statement written well in advance of your application deadline. Below are the main university application deadline dates for 2024 entry.

2024 entry deadlines

16 October 2023: Deadline for applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities, along with most medicine, dentistry, and veterinary courses.   31 January 2024: Deadline for applications to the majority of undergraduate courses. After this date, universities will start allocating places on these courses –   but you can still apply after the 31 January deadline , as this article explains . 30 June 2024:  Students who apply after this date will be entered into Clearing .

• Read more: Ucas deadlines and key application dates

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a central part of your Ucas application, where you explain why you’ve chosen a particular course and why you’ll be good at it. It's your chance to stand out against other candidates and hopefully get that all-important offer. You only write one personal statement which is then read by each university you apply to, so if you are applying for more than one subject (or it's a combined course) it's crucial that you include common themes or reference the overall skills needed for all subjects. Personal statements are especially important if you’re trying to get on a very competitive course, where you need to do anything you can to stand out to admissions tutors. Courteney Sheppard, senior customer experience manager at Ucas, advises that your personal statement is "the only part of the application that you have direct control over. Do lots of research to demonstrate your passion, curiosity and drive to pursue your chosen subject." There’s a limit on how much you can write: your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter. This may appear generous (read: long) but once you've got going you may find yourself having to edit heavily.

• Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

1. Plan what you want to cover

The first thing you need to do is make a plan. Writing a personal statement off the top of your head is difficult. Start by making some notes, answering the following questions:

• What do you want to study?
• Why do you want to study it?
• What is there about you that shows you’re suited to studying this subject at university? Think about your personality, as well as your experiences.
• What are your other interests and skills?

These few points are going to form the spine of your personal statement, so write them in a way that makes sense to you. You might want to make a simple bulleted list or you might want to get all arty and use a mindmap. Whatever you choose, your aim is the same. You want to get it clear in your own head why a university should offer you a place on its course. Getting those details down isn't always easy, and some people find it helpful to make notes over time. You might try carrying a notebook with you or set up a memo on your phone. Whenever you think of something useful for your personal statement, jot it down. Inspiration sometimes comes more easily when you’re thinking about something else entirely. It might help to take a look at The Student Room for some sample personal statements by university and sample personal statements by subjects , to give you an idea of the kind of thing you want to include. 

• Read more: personal statement FAQs

2. Show off your experience

Some things are worth adding to your personal statement, some things are not. Firmly in the second camp are your qualifications. You don’t need to mention these as there’s a whole other section of your personal statement where you get to detail them very precisely. Don’t waste a single character going on about how great your GCSE grades are – it’s not what the admissions tutor wants to read. What they do want to see is: what have you done? OK, so you’ve got some good grades, but so do a lot of other applicants. What have you done that’s different, that shows you off as someone who really loves the subject you’re applying for? Spend some time thinking about all the experience you have in that subject. If you’re lucky, this might be direct work experience. That’s going to be particularly appropriate if you’re applying for one of the more vocational subjects such as medicine or journalism . But uni staff realise getting plum work experience placements is easier for some people than others, so cast your net wider when you’re thinking about what you’ve done. How about after-school clubs? Debating societies? Are you running a blog or vlog? What key skills and experience have you picked up elsewhere (eg from hobbies) that could be tied in with your course choice? Remember, you’re looking for experience that shows why you want to study your chosen subject. You’re not just writing an essay about what you're doing in your A-level syllabus. Use this checklist as a guide for what to include:

• Your interest in the course. Why do you want to spend three years studying this subject at university?
• What have you done outside school or college that demonstrates this interest? Think about things like fairs/exhibitions, public lectures or voluntary work that is relevant to your subject.
• Relevant work experience (essential for the likes of medicine, not required for non-vocational courses such as English )
• Skills and qualities required for that career if appropriate (medicine, nursing and law as obvious examples)
• Interest in your current studies – what particular topics have made an impression on you?
• Any other interests/hobbies/experiences you wish to mention that are relevant either to the subject or 'going to uni'. Don't just list your hobbies, you need to be very selective and state clearly what difference doing these things has made to you.
• Plans for a gap year if you’re deferring entry.

Read more: 6 steps you need to take to apply to university

3. Be bold about your achievements

Don't be bashful about your achievements; that’s not going to help you get into uni. It's time to unleash your inner Muhammed Ali and get all “I am the greatest” with your writing. Do keep it focused and accurate. Do keep your language professional. But don’t hide your qualities beneath a layer of false modesty. Your personal statement is a sell – you are selling yourself as a brilliant student and you need to show the reader why that is true. This doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and if you’re finding it difficult to write about how great you are it’s time to enlist some help. Round up a friend or two, a family member, a teacher, whoever and get them to write down your qualities. Getting someone else’s view here can help you get some perspective. Don’t be shy. You are selling your skills, your experience and your enthusiasm – make sure they all leap off the screen with the way you have described them.

• Read more: the ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement  

4. How to start your personal statement

Type your personal statement in a cloud-based word processing program, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word and don’t copy and paste it into Ucas Hub until it’s finished.  One of the benefits of doing it this way is that you can run spell check easily. (Please note, though, that Word adds "curly" quotation marks and other characters (like é or ü) that won't show up on your Ucas form, so do proofread it on Ucas Hub before submitting it to ensure it is how you typed it.)  Another big benefit is that you'll always have a backup of what you've written. If you're being super careful, you could always save your statement in another place as well. Bear in mind that extra spaces (eg adding spaces to the beginnings of paragraphs as indentation) are removed on Ucas. In your first sentence, cut to the chase. Why do you want to do the course? Don’t waste any time rambling on about the daydreams you had when you were five. Just be clear and concise – describe in one line why this course is so important to you. Then, in the rest of your intro, go into more detail in demonstrating your enthusiasm for the course and explaining how you decided this is what you want to do for the next three or more years. However you choose to start your statement, just avoid the following hoary old chestnuts. These have been some of the most used lines in personal statements over the years – they are beyond cliche, so don’t even think about it.

• From a young age I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
• For as long as I can remember, I have…
• I am applying for this course because… 
• I have always been interested in… 
• Throughout my life I have always enjoyed… 
• Reflecting on my educational experiences… 
• [Subject] is a very challenging and demanding [career/profession/course]… 
• Academically, I have always been… 
• I have always wanted to pursue a career in… 
• I have always been passionate about…   

5. Focus your writing on why you've chosen that subject

So you’ve got your intro done – time to nail the rest of it. Bear in mind that you’ve got to be a little bit careful when following a personal statement template. It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying someone else’s style, and in the process lose all of your own voice and personality from your writing. But there is a rough order that you can follow, which should help keep you in your flow. After your opening paragraph or two, get into any work experience (if you’ve got it). Talk about extracurriculars: anything you've done which is relevant to the subject can go here – hobbies, interests, volunteering. Touch on your career aspirations – where do you want this course to take you? Next, show your enthusiasm for your current studies. Cite some specific examples of current work that you enjoyed. Show off your relevant skills and qualities by explaining how you’ve used these in the past. Make sure you’re giving real-world examples here, not just vague assertions like “I’m really organised and motivated”. Try to use examples that are relevant.   Follow this up with something about you as a person. Talk about non-academic stuff that you like to do, but link it in some way with the course, or with how it shows your maturity for dealing with uni life. Round it all off by bringing your main points together, including a final emphasis of your commitment to studying this particular course.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement in an evening  

6. How long should a personal statement be?

You've got to work to a very specific limit when writing your personal statement. In theory you could use up to 4,000 characters – but you’re probably more likely to be limited by the line count. That's because it's a good idea to put line breaks in between your paragraphs (to make it more readable) and you only get a maximum of 47 lines. With this in mind, 3,500 characters is a more realistic limit. But when you’re getting started you should ignore these limits completely. At first, you just want to get down everything that you feel is important. You'll probably end up with something that is far too long, but that's fine. This is where you get to do some polishing and pruning. Keep the focus of your piece on the course you’re applying for, why you want to do it and why you’re perfectly suited to it. Look through what you’ve written so far – have you got the balance right? Chop out anything that goes on a bit, as you want each point to be snappy and succinct.

• Read more: universities reveal all about personal statements  

7. Keep it simple

8. Smart ways to end your personal statement

Writing a closing line that you’re happy with can feel as tricky as coming up with your opener. What you’re looking for here is a sign-off that is bold and memorable. The final couple of sentences in your statement give you the opportunity to emphasise all the good stuff you’ve already covered. Use this space to leave the reader in no doubt as to what an excellent addition you would be to their university. Pull together all your key points and – most importantly – address the central question that your personal statement should answer: why should you get a place on the course?

• Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang  

9. Make sure your personal statement has no mistakes

Now you’ve got a personal statement you’re happy with, you need to make sure there are no mistakes. Check it, check it a second time, then check it again. Once you’ve done that, get someone else to check it, too. You will be doing yourself a massive disservice if you send through a personal statement with spelling and/or grammatical errors. You’ve got months to put this together so there really is no excuse for sending through something that looks like a rush job. Ask your teachers to look at it, and be prepared to accept their feedback without getting defensive. They will have seen many personal statements before; use what they tell you to make yours even better. You’ve also got another chance here to look through the content of your personal statement, so you can make sure the balance is right. Make sure your focus is very clearly on the subject you are applying for and why you want to study it. Don’t post your personal statement on the internet or social media where anyone can see it. You will get picked up by the Ucas plagiarism checker. Similarly, don't copy any that you find online. Instead, now is a good time to make your parents feel useful. Read your personal statement out to them and get them to give you feedback. Or try printing it out and mixing it up with a few others (you can find sample personal statements on The Student Room). Get them to read them all and then try to pick yours out. If they can't, perhaps there's not enough of your personality in there.  

10. Don't think about your personal statement for a whole week

If you followed the advice at the very start of this guide, you’ve started your personal statement early. Good job! There are months before you need to submit it. Use one of these weeks to forget about your personal statement completely. Get on with other things – anything you like. Just don’t go near your statement. Give it a whole week and then open up the document again and read through it with fresh eyes. You’ll gain a whole new perspective on what you’ve written and will be well placed to make more changes, if needed.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say  

10 steps to your ideal personal statement

In summary, here are the ten steps you should follow to create the perfect personal statement.  

Personal statement dos and don'ts

• Remember that your personal statement is your personal statement, not an article written about your intended field of study. It should tell the reader about you, not about the subject.
• Only put in things that you’re prepared to talk about at the interviews.
• Give convincing reasons for why you want to study the course – more than just "enjoying the subject" (this should be a given).
• For very competitive courses, find out as much as you can about the nature of the course and try to make your personal statement relevant to this.
• Be reflective. If you make a point like 'I like reading', 'I travelled abroad', say what you got from it.
• Go through the whole thing checking your grammar and your spelling. Do this at least twice. It doesn’t matter if you’re not applying to an essay-based course – a personal statement riddled with spelling mistakes is just going to irritate the reader, which is the last thing you want to do. If this is something you find difficult then have someone look over it for you.
• Leave blank lines between your paragraphs. It’s easier for the reader to get through your personal statement when it’s broken into easily digestible chunks. Remember that they’re going to be reading a lot of these! Make yours easy to get through.
• Get someone else's opinion on your statement. Read it out to family or friends. Share it with your teacher. Look for feedback wherever you can find it, then act upon it.
• Don’t write it like a letter. Kicking off with a greeting such as "Dear Sir/Madam" not only looks weird, it also wastes precious space.
• Don’t make jokes. This is simply not the time – save them for your first night in the union.
• Don’t criticise your current school or college or try to blame teachers for any disappointing grades you might have got.
• Be afraid of details – if you want your PS to be personal to you that means explaining exactly which bits of work or topics or activities you've taken part in/enjoyed. It's much more compelling to read about one or two detailed examples than a paragraph that brushes over five or six.
• Just list what you're doing now. You should pull out the experiences that are relevant to the courses which you're applying to.
• Mention skills and activities without giving examples of when they have been demonstrated by you or what you learnt from them. Anyone can write "I have great leadership skills" in a PS, actually using a sentence to explain when you demonstrated good leadership skills is much rarer and more valuable.
• Refer to experiences that took place before your GCSEs (or equivalent).
• Give explanations about medical or mental health problems. These should be explained in your reference, not your PS.
• Apply for too many different courses, making it difficult to write a convincing personal statement which supports the application.
• Write a statement specific to just one institution, unless you're only applying to that one choice.
• Copy and paste the statement from somewhere else! This means do not plagiarise. All statements are automatically checked for plagiarism by Ucas. Those that are highlighted by the computer system are checked manually by Ucas staff. If you’re found to have plagiarised parts of your statement, the universities you apply to will be informed and it could jeopardise your applications.
• Use ChatGPT or another AI program to write your personal statement for you. Or, if you do, make sure you thoroughly edit and personalise the text so it's truly yours. Otherwise you're very much at risk of the plagiarism point above.

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How to write your university application.

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It might feel like it's taking forever for your uni offers to come through. Find out what's going on, and when you should hear back

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7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Selling Your Business

Ask yourself these questions to make sure you're ready to move on..

As someone who has sold a business and worked with numerous companies, leaders, and CEOs on business growth challenges , I understand the complexity and emotional weight of the process. It's a financial transaction and a significant life event that can impact your professional trajectory and personal life. Here are seven crucial factors you should consider before making this critical decision .

1. Why are you selling the business?

Before anything else, understand your motivations for selling. Are you looking to retire, pursue a new venture, or alleviate stress? Clarifying your reasons will guide your decision-making and help you focus on your goals. For example, if retirement is your goal, you might prioritize a buyer who can maintain the company's legacy, whereas, for a new venture, maximizing the sale price might be more critical.

2. What are non-negotiable terms?

Identify your deal-breakers early on. Whether it's the sale price, keeping certain employees, or maintaining company culture, knowing your non-negotiables helps in negotiations and ensures you don't compromise on your core values. For instance, if preserving the company culture is paramount, you may prefer a buyer who promises to keep the existing management team in place.

3. How much money do you really need?

Assess your financial needs versus wants. Calculate the amount required to achieve your post-sale goals, secure your financial future, and maintain your lifestyle. This clarity will inform your pricing and deal structure. For example, if your goal is financial security for retirement, determine your "number" that covers all expenses and leaves a cushion for unexpected costs.

4. How will this affect your employees?

Consider the impact on your team. Communicate transparently and ensure their job security, benefits, and morale are addressed. A smooth transition benefits both the buyer and your employees. For instance, providing severance packages or job placement assistance can mitigate employee anxiety and demonstrate your commitment to their well-being.

5. How will it affect your family?

Discuss the sale with your family. Understand their concerns and expectations. The decision will impact their lives, too, so ensure they are supportive and aligned with your plans. For example, if selling the business means relocating, it's crucial to address how this change will affect your family's daily life and future plans.

6. What are you going to do afterward?

Plan your post-sale life. Whether starting a new business, traveling, or spending time with family, having a clear vision for the future prevents post-sale regret and motivates the sale process. For instance, business owners who sell their company to travel the world are likely to find that having a well-defined travel plan can help them transition smoothly and enjoy their newfound freedom.

7. What type of deal are you willing to consider?

Determine your preferred deal structure. Options include all-cash, roll-over equity, earn-out agreements, or an executive position in the new company. Each has different implications for your involvement and financial outcome. For instance, an earn-out deal might provide higher overall value but requires you to stay involved in the business for a certain period, which could be a benefit or a burden, depending on your plans.

Selling your business is a complex process that involves more than just financial considerations. It's a major professional and personal decision that will impact many aspects of your life and those around you. These factors will help you make a well-informed decision and ensure a successful transition.

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