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A personal profile is a brief paragraph or bulleted list that opens your CV and highlights:

  • who you are
  • what you can offer employers
  • your career goals

Here’s what a finalised CV will look like with a completed CV profile:

A CV personal profile on top of a curriculum vitae, showing where to add your personal profile on your CV.

Use This CV Design

Get inspired by checking out our 24 CV profile examples below. We’ve arranged them by experience level and industry so you can easily find the one for you.

CV profile examples by experience level

Whether you’re new to the job market or a seasoned pro, find a CV personal profile that fits your situation below. All you’ll need to do is copy and paste it into your favourite CV template and alter the wording to describe your individual situation.

No work experience

Writing a CV with no work experience? This is a good example of what your personal profile could look like:

Hardworking 16-year-old secondary school student with top marks and a passion for food service. Often contribute as a volunteer food server at a local homeless shelter, and regularly prepare dinner at home for a family of seven. Seeking to make an impact as a kitchen assistant at Hal’s Gourmet Haggis.

Mid-level candidate

If you’ve already got some work experience, this is how to write your CV introduction:

Innovative Video Designer with 4+ years of experience creating marketing videos for local and national brands. Integral part of multimedia campaigns for Tesco and Weetabix that were viewed by 20 million+ people and generated £6.5 million+ in revenue. Excited to apply my branding experience to the Lead Video Designer role at FabriCo to help increase your company’s market share.

Current student

Here’s a job-winning CV opening statement that would work on a student CV:

Ambitious undergraduate Marketing student with a strong foundation in student behaviour, market research, and digital marketing. Participated in a group marketing project that generated a 20% monthly revenue increase for a campus coffee shop. Committed to learning and collaborating within a dynamic corporate environment, and looking forward to helping Sainsbury’s achieve its goals as a Marketing Intern.

Graduate

If you’re writing a CV as a recent graduate, this is a good example to follow:

Recent BSc (Hons) Software Engineering (2:1) graduate armed with a strong academic foundation and hands-on experience in coding, problem solving, and software development gained through internships for Revolut and Deliveroo. With an obsession for clean code and a commitment to excellence, I’m ready to help CyberTec achieve its objectives as your next Software Engineer.

School leaver

This candidate’s school leaver CV personal profile statement highlights their academic accomplishments:

Diligent and enthusiastic individual from Perse Comprehensive School with 9 GCSEs Grades 9–6, including Maths, English, and ICT. Received the Duke of Edinburgh Award in 20XX for my academic achievement and volunteering efforts with Habitat for Humanity. An active member of the Perse football team, chess club, and chamber music choir. Excited to develop professionally and aid your company as a full-time Office Assistant at Loblaws Ltd.

Career change

If you hate your job, you’re probably thinking about switching industries. Highlight your transferable skills with a profile like this:

Customer-focused professional transitioning from marketing to hospitality, bringing strong communication, problem-solving, and multitasking skills. Experienced in client engagement, event coordination, and handling high-pressure environments with professionalism. Adaptable, detail-oriented, and skilled at building relationships — ready to deliver exceptional service and memorable guest experiences.

Returning to the workforce

After taking an extended break from work, explain why with an effective CV profile like this one:

Experienced retail professional returning to work after paternity leave with strong customer service, sales, and team leadership skills. Adept at creating positive shopping experiences and thriving in fast-paced environments. Organised, adaptable, and committed to delivering excellent service.

Academic CV

Begin your academic CV strongly by introducing yourself and your educational qualifications:

Dedicated politics lecturer and PhD researcher with a strong background in teaching, research, and academic writing. Specialise in international relations and comparative politics, with a focus on democratic governance and electoral systems in emerging democracies. Passionate about fostering critical thinking and engaging students in complex political debates.

CV profile examples for specific jobs

Below we have a selection of CV profiles by industry if you’re looking to impress employers in a particular sector.

Engineering

Take a look at this recently graduated engineer’s CV personal profile:

Attentive Civil Engineer with a proven track record of learning new skills and following industry trends. Graduating May 20XX with a BEng (Hons) degree from Newcastle University. Interested in building sustainable design solutions for residential and commercial spaces throughout Leeds as an Assistant Engineer for Matwick Construction Inc.

Retail

This personal profile statement from a retail worker’s CV highlights the applicant’s customer service expertise:

Friendly and customer-focused Sales Assistant with 2+ years of retail experience. Recognised by my supervisors for providing accurate product knowledge to new and repeat customers and exceeding monthly sales targets. Seeking a responsible sales position at House of Fraser to help maximise sales and enhance shopping experiences for customers.

Teacher

Show schools that you’re a top educator with a compelling introduction:

Dedicated secondary school Geography Teacher with 12+ years of experience creating engaging lesson plans using the National Curriculum and preparing students with helpful feedback and assistance as they explore our world’s landscapes, economies, and societies. Looking to use my teaching experience as your next Geography Teacher at The Morley Academy.

Customer service

Here’s a customer service CV personal profile that showcases the applicant’s people skills and foreign language skills:

Customer Service Representative with 5 years of experience serving clients of all ages and backgrounds. Sustained a 100% customer satisfaction rating from 20XX–20XX. Fluent in English, French, and Italian. Experienced with Microsoft Office Suite. Ready to establish positive client relationships and provide excellent communications for all queries and requests at Trescal Limited.

Accounting

Below is an example of an applicant’s profile statement for their accountant CV:

Fully qualified Management CIMA Accountant with 13+ years of experience working with global companies with revenues exceeding £5 million. Possess a BSc Accounting degree from the University of Manchester. Proficient in Sage Line 200 and Navision. Seeking to bring tailored forecasting and budgeting solutions to BDG International as your next Management Accountant.

Marketing

Look at how this candidate started their CV for digital marketing and how they presented one of their previous roles:

Results-oriented SEO Marketing and Communications Manager with 4+ years of extensive content marketing, social media management, and outreach experience. Worked as the sole marketer for BuzzWorths in 20XX and increased monthly web impressions by 125% and customer traffic by 92% within 2 years. Looking to leverage my consulting services and build your audience as a part-time contractor for Mazzi Digital Agency.

Graphic designer

Here’s an example of how to start as CV for a graphic design role:

Innovative Graphic Designer with 8+ years of experience. Equipped with an MA from the University of Bristol and a UX Design Institute certificate. Possess an intuitive eye for art as well as a strong knowledge of design thinking, UI/UX principles, colour theory, and information architecture. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, Affinity, Figma, Sketch, and Zeplin.

Architecture

Here’s a candidate’s architecture CV intro that describes their previous freelance duties and full-time roles:

Passionate architect with 2 years of experience working independently as a part-time contractor and 3 years of experience working with in-house and remote teams. Hold an Architecture and Landscape BA from the University of Sheffield. Looking to bring my high-quality designs to life and create beautiful homes through a hybrid Interior Architect position at Hunter Denning Ltd.

Project manager

This personal profile from a CV for a project manager makes an impact on recruiters by listing the applicant’s previous well-known workplaces:

Communicative Project Manager with 12½ years of experience in fast-paced tech environments. Previously worked at Google, Facebook, and Discord. Specialise in resource and budget management. Recognised by team members for bringing forth actionable results and clear communication and meeting key project deliverables on deadline. Applying for the role of Senior Project Manager at Twitter.

Footballer

A good footballer can demonstrate their skills with an opening like this:

Committed and tactical defender with a proven track record of success at Darlington FC, excelling in defensive positioning, interceptions, and tackles, with an 85% duel win rate. A strong team player with excellent communication and leadership on the pitch, maintaining a 90% pass accuracy to support fluid gameplay. Passionate about bringing resilience and strategic defending to Boxborough County FC, ready to contribute to a solid backline and team success.

Delivery driver

Show your commitment to delivery excellence with a strong CV profile:

Reliable and punctual delivery driver with a proven track record of timely and safe deliveries across the Tyne & Wear areas. Skilled in route planning, customer service, and ensuring goods are transported efficiently and securely. Familiar with the North East’s road networks and national safety regulations, with a commitment to providing excellent service and maintaining high standards of vehicle maintenance. Ready to contribute reliability and attention to detail to a fast-paced delivery role at FedEx.

Police officer

Highlight your public spirit and passion for public safety by introducing your profile as a police officer:

Experienced Police Constable with over 2 years of service at Tower Hamlets BCU, having successfully completed my probationary period. Demonstrated excellence in public protection and investigative skills, I am now seeking to apply for the open position within the Canley BCU CID, eager to bring my expertise and dedication to a new challenge.

Cleaner

Let employers know you’re a skilled and thorough cleaner right from the start with your cleaner CV profile:

Reliable and professional cleaner with 10+ years of experience in maintaining cleanliness across diverse surfaces and overseeing junior staff. Known for exceptional attention to detail and consistently high standards of work. COSHH trained and enthusiastic about applying my skills to the School Cleaner role at Greenfield Academy with Apex Facility Services.

Teaching assistant

Make it clear you care about kids and their educational performance by writing an effective profile like this one:

Approachable Teaching Assistant with over 7 years of classroom experience. Known for effectively supporting students with special needs in preparing for their GCSEs, helping 90% of students achieve grade 4 or above. Eager to contribute exceptional support to both teachers and students at Henley Grove Secondary School.

Barista

Here’s how a barista might introduce themself on their CV:

Skilled barista with more than 2 years of experience working with a range of espresso machines, including La Marzocco models. Proficient in both manual and automatic grinders, consistently delivering top-quality coffee. A dependable and adaptable team member with a Food Hygiene Certificate, recognised for my quick learning abilities and strong work ethic. Ready to bring my expertise and passion for coffee to a new opportunity at Costa Coffee.

Nurse

Start your nursing CV off strong with an introduction to your years of experience, medical speciality, and passion for patient care.

Compassionate Registered Nurse with over 5 years of experience in medical-surgical, emergency, and paediatrics care. Skilled in patient assessment, care planning, and working within multidisciplinary teams to deliver optimal care. Committed to evidence-based practice, patient safety, and continuous professional development. Ready to bring my expertise and dedication to the dynamic healthcare environment at Royal Oak NHS Trust.

How to write a personal profile for your CV

Starting your CV with a personal profile is simple. Just follow these three steps:

  1. Open with your years of experience (ex. ‘2 years of experience as a front-line case worker’). If you’re writing your first CV, you can mention your degree name or qualification details here instead.
  2. Add a couple of accomplishments or skills: For example, if you increased customer satisfaction by 5% at your current job, mention that here. You can also list key skills from the job advert.
  3. Specify your career goals: State why you’re sending in your CV to that particular employer. For example, state you want to ‘help put a smile on customers’ faces in the Associate role at Greggs’.

And here’s the proper CV format for a personal profile:

  • Keep your profile between 60 and 80 words — you don’t want to bore recruiting managers with long introductions, so try to keep your intro shortish.
  • Tailor your CV profile to the employer: Employers dislike generic CVs, so to show genuine interest, carefully read the job description, incorporate keywords from it, and include the job title and company name in your personal profile to tailor your CV effectively.
  • Avoid CV clichés: Words like ‘motivated’, ‘dynamic’, and ‘team-player’ have been used so much that they’re pretty much meaningless to most employers. Instead, pick a good CV buzzword that actually tells employers something about you.

Consider outside help to write your CV profile

It’s normal to find the idea of writing a strong CV profile overwhelming, but there’s help out there to do the hard work for you.

You don’t have to pay hundreds of pounds for CV services either — you can get an AI-powered CV maker to craft an effective application document for just a couple of quid.

A good example of a CV.
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Frequently asked questions

Here are the answers to three common questions about creating an effective personal profile for your CV:

1. Does my CV need a personal profile?

Yes, your CV needs a personal profile.

A good CV profile ensures you stand out from other applicants. Because your profile summarises your experience, skills, and goals in an easy-to-read format, it makes hiring managers want to keep reading your CV.

2. How long should a personal profile be on a CV?

Between 60 and 80 words is the perfect length for a personal profile on a CV.

This gives you enough space to make an ‘elevator pitch’ for why employers should hire you, without being too long that you turn off the reader.

3. Can I use the same personal profile for multiple applications?

No, you can’t use the same personal profile for multiple applications.

CV profiles tailor your application to one specific job by highlighting parts of your experience and education that are particularly relevant.

If you use the same personal profile for different job applications, employers will be able to tell because parts of your statement won’t be relevant to the vacancy they’re trying to fill.

Worse still, sending an employer a generic personal profile suggests you haven’t put much thought or effort into your application.

Samuel Johns
Written by

Samuel Johns

Samuel Johns is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Senior Editor on the CV Genius team, with 6+ years of experience in the careers space. He has helped countless job hunters craft high-quality CVs and cover letters, exceed expectations at interviews, and obtain their dream jobs. Born and raised in County Durham in the beautiful North East of England, he graduated with a BA (Hons) in French Language and Literature from the University of Bristol in 2013 and has worked in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, London, Paris, and Taipei as a French–English translator. He’s determined to use his native English and fluent French skills to help UK and French candidates get the jobs they deserve. In addition to the British and French versions of CV Genius, Samuel’s job-hunt advice has been published on numerous websites, including Careers.org, the University of Warwick, the Enterprisers Project, and HR.com. If you’d like to collaborate, please reach out to Samuel through LinkedIn. Please note, we don’t accept guest posts and won’t reply to such requests.