personal statement examples for media communications

Guidance from our top admission experts — for free!

• Admit Finder

Discover Past Admits, Gauge Your Chances!

• Shortlist Builder

Personalized University Picks, Just a Click Away.

• Course Finder

Navigate Global Courses Tailored for You

• Scholarship Finder

Unlock Funding Opportunities Worldwide.

Get tailored study abroad advice.

Sign in for exclusive content!

Planning to study abroad?

Build your target shortlist and see your odds of getting into top schools with Ambitio's AI shortlist builder!

Heading Out Already?

Our Ivy League mentors and top admission experts can help with personalized tips to get you into your dream school

6 minutes read

Digital Media Personal Statement Examples: Crafting Your Communication and Media Journey

Dirghayu Kaushik

30 August 2024

Worried about the cost of Studying Abroad?

Sign up to access 25 game-changing scholarships that could cover your costs.

• Introduction to Digital Media Personal Statements

Creating a compelling personal statement for digital media and communication courses is a pivotal step in your academic journey.

This comprehensive guide will provide insights into crafting a statement that resonates with your passion and aligns with the expectations of universities and colleges.

Stuck on How to Pick Your Ideal College?

Sign up to access your tailored shortlist and simplify finding your ideal college.

• The Essence of a Personal Statement in Media and Communication

Understanding the Format of a Media Personal Statement

A personal statement in the field of media and communication is your chance to tell a story about who you are, your journey into the world of media, and why you are passionate about this field.

This narrative is not just about your academic achievements but also your personal experiences, skills, and aspirations.

Personal Statement Basics: Incorporating Passion and Professional Aspirations 

Your personal statement should begin by expressing your deep interest in the field of media and communication .

Talk about the moment you realized this was your calling – was it while watching a groundbreaking documentary, during a school media project, or while writing for the school newspaper? Use specific examples to illustrate your passion.

Next, delve into the experiences that have prepared you for a degree in this field. Have you participated in media-related extracurricular activities, internships, or projects?

Describe these experiences and how they have shaped your understanding and enthusiasm for media and communication . It’s also important to highlight your communication skills – whether it’s through writing, speaking, or visual storytelling.

Lastly, discuss your professional aspirations. How do you see this course helping you achieve your career goals?

Whether you aspire to be a journalist, a filmmaker, a PR professional, or any other role within the media sphere, make it clear how the course aligns with these aspirations.

Demonstrating Your Understanding of the Media Landscape

To make your personal statement stand out, it’s crucial to showcase your understanding of the current media landscape. This includes awareness of the challenges, trends, and technological advancements in the field.

Exploring Current Trends and Challenges in Media 

Begin by discussing the current trends in the media industry. Are you fascinated by the rise of digital journalism, the impact of social media on news dissemination, or the evolution of streaming services in entertainment?

Give examples of how these trends have influenced your decision to pursue a career in media.

Address the challenges facing the media industry today, such as the debate over fake news, the ethical considerations in journalism, or the challenges of content creation in an oversaturated digital world.

Show that you are not only aware of these challenges but also eager to contribute to finding solutions.

Additionally, discuss technological advancements in media. Whether it’s the use of AI in newsrooms, the rise of podcasting, or the impact of virtual reality in storytelling, demonstrate how your interest aligns with these technological shifts.

Personalizing Your Media Journey: Unique Experiences and Perspectives

Every individual has a unique journey into the world of media. In this section, discuss how your personal experiences have shaped your perspective and driven your interest in media and communication.

Sharing Your Unique Media-Related Experiences 

Reflect on any unique experiences you have had that are related to media and communication.

This could be an internship at a local newspaper, managing a social media campaign for a community event, producing a short film, or even running a blog or YouTube channel. Explain what these experiences taught you and how they have prepared you for further study in this field.

Discuss any challenges you have faced and overcome in your pursuit of media knowledge. Perhaps you had to balance schoolwork with managing a school radio station, or you had limited resources while creating a documentary.

These experiences show resilience and a commitment to your passion for media. It’s also essential to highlight any unique perspectives you bring to the table.

This could be related to your cultural background, life experiences, or an unusual approach to media that sets you apart. Universities value diversity in thought and experience, so don’t hesitate to share what makes your perspective unique.

See how Successful Applications Look Like!

Access 350K+ profiles of students who got in. See what you can improve in your own application!

• The Role of Academic and Extracurricular Activities in Shaping Your Media Aspirations

While your personal statement should focus on your passion and experience in media, it’s also important to discuss how your academic and extracurricular activities have supported your aspirations.

Connecting Academic Achievements and Extracurriculars to Media Goals 

Discuss how your academic achievements have prepared you for a degree in media and communication . This could include relevant coursework, research projects, or any academic accolades related to media.

Explain how these achievements have provided you with a foundational understanding of the field. Extracurricular activities can also play a significant role in shaping your media aspirations.

Whether you were part of a school journalism club, a drama society, a debate team, or even a tech club, these experiences can illustrate your interest and skills in communication, storytelling, and media production.

Also, mention any leadership roles you’ve taken in these activities. Leadership experiences can demonstrate your ability to manage projects, work in teams, and communicate effectively – all essential skills in the media industry.

Start Your University Applications with Ambitio Pro!

Get Ambitio Pro!

Begin your journey to top universities with Ambitio Pro. Our premium platform offers you tools and support needed to craft standout applications.

Unlock Advanced Features for a More Comprehensive Application Experience!

Start your Journey today

• The Importance of Research and Preparation in Writing Your Personal Statement

Writing a compelling personal statement requires thorough research and preparation. This section should guide readers on how to approach the writing process effectively.

Tips for Researching and Preparing a Standout Media Personal Statement 

Crafting a standout media personal statement involves thorough research and careful preparation. Here are some key tips to help you create a compelling and effective statement:

• Research the media and communication courses you are interested in.
• Understand the specific focus areas, course structure, and unique opportunities each institution offers.
• Tailor your statement to reflect how your interests and goals align with the course and institution’s ethos.
• Reflect on what makes your journey into media unique – be it your experiences, perspective, or personal challenges.
• Think about how your background, culture, or personal interests have shaped your view of media and communication .
• List all relevant experiences, including education, work, internships, projects, and extracurricular activities.
• Include both formal and informal experiences that have contributed to your understanding and passion for media.
• Highlight skills that are crucial for a career in media, such as communication, creativity, technical skills, or critical thinking.
• Mention any relevant achievements, awards, or recognition you’ve received.
• Structure your personal statement as a story that reflects your journey, challenges, learning, and aspirations.
• Use a clear, engaging, and authentic tone to connect with your readers.
• Get feedback from teachers, mentors, or professionals in the media industry.
• Use their insights to refine and strengthen your statement.
• Demonstrate your understanding of the current trends, technological advancements, and challenges in the media world.
• Discuss how you plan to contribute to or evolve within this ever-changing industry.
• Articulate how the course will help you in your long-term career goals.
• Show that you have a clear vision of where you want to go in the field of media and communication .
• Carefully proofread your statement multiple times to eliminate any grammatical or spelling errors.
• Ensure that the flow of thoughts is coherent and that your statement makes a strong impact.
• While it’s important to be professional, ensure your personal statement reflects your true self.
• Avoid exaggerating or misrepresenting your experiences and qualifications.

Remember, your personal statement is an opportunity to show the admissions committee who you are beyond grades and test scores. It’s your voice in the application process, so make it count!

Utilizing Digital Media Personal Statement Examples as a Learning Tool

One of the best ways to understand what makes a successful personal statement is to study examples. This section should emphasize the importance of learning from others’ experiences.

Analyzing and Learning from Successful Media Personal Statement Examples 

Look for examples of successful digital media personal statements, which can often be found online through university websites, educational forums, or resources like Studential.com.

Analyze what makes these statements effective – notice how they structure their narrative, the way they articulate their passion , and how they connect their experiences to their media aspirations.

Identify the key elements that resonate with you and think about how you can incorporate similar strategies into your statement. However, it’s important to maintain your authenticity and not simply mimic another’s style or experiences.

Reflect on how these examples balance personal anecdotes with professional aspirations. A successful personal statement often strikes a balance between showcasing personality and demonstrating readiness for a career in media and communication .

Crafting a digital media personal statement is about narrating your unique journey and showcasing your passion for the field. Use these guidelines to create a statement that not only meets the academic requirements but also reflects your personal story and aspirations in the media world.

Remember, your personal statement is your chance to make a lasting impression – make it count.

Q1: Can I include humor in my digital media personal statement?

While a touch of humor can make your statement more engaging, be cautious. Ensure it’s appropriate and doesn’t distract from the seriousness of your aspirations and experiences.

Q2: How do I balance talking about my achievements without sounding boastful?

Focus on being factual and reflective. Discuss your achievements in the context of what they taught you or how they shaped your interest in media, rather than simply listing accolades.

Q3: Is it important to discuss specific media figures or works that inspire me?

Yes, mentioning media figures or works that inspire you can be a great way to show your engagement with the field. Just make sure to connect it back to your own experiences and aspirations.

Q4: How technical should I get in my personal statement?

It depends on the course you’re applying for. If it’s a technically oriented course, showing your understanding of technical aspects can be beneficial. However, don’t get so technical that it becomes inaccessible to non-specialist readers.

Q5: Should I mention my long-term career goals in the personal statement?

Yes, discussing your long-term career goals can help demonstrate your commitment and vision for your future in the media industry. Just ensure it’s aligned with the course you’re applying for.

Spread the Word!

Share across your social media if you found it helpful

Table of Contents

• • Introduction to Digital Media Personal Statements
• • The Essence of a Personal Statement in Media and Communication
• • The Role of Academic and Extracurricular Activities in Shaping Your Media Aspirations
• • The Importance of Research and Preparation in Writing Your Personal Statement
• • Conclusion

Build your profile to get into top colleges

Phone Number

What level are you targetting

Almost there!

Just enter your OTP, and your planner will be on its way!

Code sent on

Resend OTP (30s)

Your Handbook Is Waiting on WhatsApp!

Please have a look, and always feel free to reach out for any detailed guidance

Click here to download

Meanwhile check out your dashboard to access various tools to help you in your study abroad journey

Recent Blogs

How To Write a Film and Media Studies Personal Statement 

Good Psychology Books to Read for Personal Statement

Good Economics Books for Personal Statement 

Find your Dream school now⭐️

Welcome! Let's Land Your Dream Admit.

Let us make sure you get into the best!

• 2024 Winter
• 2024 Spring
• 2024 Summer

Enter verification code

Code was sent to

• Our Experts

Connect with us on our social media

• Personal statement advice: media studies and journalism

Applying to university

• Getting started
• UCAS Tariff points
• Calculate your UCAS Tariff points
• Amendments to the Tariff consultation
• Offer rate calculator
• How to use the offer rate calculator
• Understanding historical entry grades data
• Admissions tests
• Deferred entry
• Personal statement advice and example: computer science
• Personal statement advice: English
• Personal statement advice: Midwifery
• Personal statement advice: animal science
• Personal statement advice: biology
• Personal statement advice: business and management
• Personal statement advice: chemistry
• Personal statement advice: dance
• Personal statement advice: dentistry
• Personal statement advice: drama
• Personal statement advice: economics
• Personal statement advice: engineering
• Personal statement advice: geography
• Personal statement advice: history
• Personal statement advice: law
• Personal statement advice: maths
• Personal statement advice: medicine
• Personal statement advice: modern languages
• Personal statement advice: music
• Personal statement advice: nursing
• Personal statement advice: pharmacy
• Personal statement advice: physiotherapy
• Personal statement advice: politics
• Personal statement advice: psychology
• Personal statement advice: social work
• Personal statement advice: sociology
• Personal statement advice: sports science
• Personal statement advice: statistics
• Personal statement advice: teacher training and education
• Personal statement advice: veterinary medicine
• Personal statement: finance and accounting
• Filling in your application
• Staying safe online
• How to write a personal statement that works for multiple courses
• The new personal statement for 2026 entry
• How To Write Your Undergraduate Personal Statement
• Fraud and similarity
• How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber
• How to end your personal statement
• Introducing the personal statement tool
• Personal statement dos and don'ts
• Personal statement week
• What to include in a personal statement
• Using AI and ChatGPT to help you with your personal statement
• Using your personal statement beyond a university application
• Carers, estranged students, refugees, asylum seekers, and those with limited leave to remain
• Personal statement guides
• References for mature students

Be clear and focused

The best personal statements are those that really go for it. Not in an off-the-wall kind of way, but by revealing something unique about you or your academic ideas or practical experiences. This is no place to hide behind waffle.

There’s a wide span of media courses, ranging from the theoretical to the practical, and your statement should focus on the specific type of course you’ve chosen to apply for.

When it comes to media studies courses , start by being clear about the kind of degree you want to study. Do you want to analyse media, produce content, or a combination of both? Whichever it is, demonstrate that you’re focused about this. Outline why you want to study the course, and the knowledge, ideas, or practical experiences you will bring to it.Similarly, journalism personal statements need to set out why you want to study it, and how your knowledge and experience supports this – particularly in the case of professionally accredited journalism degrees . A vague, unsubstantiated ambition to be a journalist will not suffice.

• If you're still exploring your options, see our guide to studying media studies at university .
• Our guide to studying journalism reveals more information about what journalism at uni entails.

Practical journalism courses

If you’re applying for practical journalism courses , competition for places could be fierce. Here’s a selection of tips, courtesy of Bournemouth University, the University of Sheffield, and De Montfort University:

• State clearly why you want to study journalism, and explain that you know something about the work of the central figure in journalism – the reporter.
• Demonstrate creative writing ability, a good presentational style, accurate spelling, correct grammar, and a sound grasp of the English language.
• Read quality broadsheet newspapers and follow major developing news stories. Show you're aware of current affairs.
• Maybe explain what you noticed about how the reporting of a topical event differed depending on which publication you were reading, and the impact this may have had on shaping public perception.
• Show you understand the power the media has, and the importance of reporting facts clearly and concisely.
• Show that you can express your own opinions and thoughts, and know how to tell stories to different audiences.
• Demonstrate your interpersonal skills, persistence, and an ability to dig deep into a wide range of topics.

Work experience in your personal statement

For practical journalism courses, some (though not all) unis will insist on work experience.

• If you can, try to gain some work experience within a media environment , ideally in a newsroom of a local newspaper office. Free newspapers, local or hospital radio, or a TV newsroom could also give you insights into the reporter's job.
• What did you learn? What skills did you observe as being particularly important? How has the experience impacted on your motivation to further your studies in journalism? See our guide for how to make work experience count in your personal statement .
• Alternatively, are there any other settings where you've written for an audience, such as your own blog or your school newspaper? If so, what have you learned from this about working towards strict deadlines, or how writing pieces for an intended audience can alter the language and style you use?

If you’ve already had journalistic work published or broadcast, produced a blog, vlog, or podcast yourself, had a great reference from some relevant work experience; or anything else that may be relevant, consider sending them a link or clip separately.

Sponsored articles UCAS Media Service

Do you need to take an english test to study at university in the uk, five reasons to sign up to the ucas newsletter, join swansea university via clearing.

• Ask a question Ask
• go advanced Search
• Please enter a title
• Please enter a message
• Your discussion will live here... (Start typing, we will pick a forum for you) Please select a forum Change forum View more forums... View less forums... GCSEs A-levels Applications, Clearing and UCAS University Life Student Finance England Part-time and temporary employment Chat Everyday issues Friends, family and work Relationships Health News Student Surveys and Research
• post anonymously
• All study help
• Uni applications
• University and HE colleges
• University help and courses
• University student life

Postgraduate

• Careers and jobs
• Teacher training
• Finance and accountancy
• Relationships
• Sexual health
• Give feedback or report a problem
• University and university courses
• Universities and HE colleges
• Life and style
• Entertainment
• Debate and current affairs
• Careers and Jobs
• Scottish qualifications
• Foreign languages
• GCSE articles
• A-level articles
• Exam and revision articles
• What to do after GCSEs
• What to do after A-levels
• When is A-level results day 2024?
• When is GCSE results day 2024?
• Studying, revision and exam support
• Grow your Grades

Exam results articles and chat

• Exam results homepage
• A guide to GCSE and A-level grade boundaries
• Year 13 chat
• Year 12 chat
• Year 11 chat

A-level results

• Guide to A-level results day
• Get help preparing for results day
• A-level retakes and resits
• Exam reviews and remarks
• Here’s what to expect on A-level results day
• Six ways to help results day nerves
• Understanding your A-level results slip

GCSE results

• Guide to GCSE results day
• How GCSE combined science grades work
• Stressed about GCSE results day?
• Understanding your GCSE results slip

Finding a uni in Clearing

• Clearing articles and chat
• UK university contact details
• Guide to Clearing
• Seven things people get wrong about Clearing
• How to make a great Clearing call
• Finding accommodation after Clearing
• How Clearing can help you prepare for results day
• All universities
• Applying through Ucas
• Student finance
• Personal statement
• Postgraduate study
• Uni accommodation
• University life
• All uni courses
• Apprenticeships
• Arts and humanities courses
• Stem courses
• Social science courses

Universities by region

• North of England
• South of England
• Greater London
• Distance learning
• International study

University guides and articles

• All university articles
• Applying to uni articles
• Personal statements
• Personal statement examples
• University open days
• Studying law at university
• Student life at university
• Careers and jobs discussion
• Apprenticeships discussion
• Part-time and temp jobs
• Career forums by sector
• Armed forces careers
• Consultancy careers
• Finance careers
• Legal careers
• Marketing careers
• Medicine and healthcare careers
• Public sector careers
• Stem careers
• Teaching careers
• General chat
• Relationships chat
• Friends, family and colleagues
• Advice on everyday issues
• General health
• Mental health
• UK and world politics
• Educational debate

Undergraduate

• Postgraduate Master’s Loan
• Postgraduate Doctoral Loan
• Disabled Students’ Allowances
• Taking a break or withdrawing from your course

Further information

• Parents and partners
• Advanced Learner Loan
• Media and communication personal statements

Media and Communications Personal Statement

I was once told that the key to get into the creative industry is to prove that I have a well-rounded knowledge to be able to handle any brief that is thrown at me. A successful creative director had advised me that and I found those words replaying in my head over and over again. I have always been told, ever since I was seven, that I am creative and now I want to put that creativeness to use.

Art, design and computing have always been my favourite subjects; they change, improve, renew and inspire. Taking Fashion in my first year of college helped me to develop my skills in clothes design and production, life drawing, fashion illustrating and modeling. I thoroughly enjoyed it but I felt like I had more to offer so I moved to a BTEC in IT the next year. There, I was taught basic animation, games design, computer networks, business and web design.

Having realised that the industry jobs are highly sought after and very competitive, I started doing voluntary jobs to put myself out there in the industry. I volunteered at Wick Information Centre where I was assigned as a Designer. I was also approached by a couple of overseas companies to create their website along with some graphic design work. Working with them has taught me how to overcome communication barriers, the importance of teamwork and that to be able to stand out in your chosen career path, you must be able to do multiple things as well as to demonstrate that you can master some. To advertise myself, I created an online portfolio, which can be found at [1] .

But my hunger for learning more doesn't just stop there. I love Photography and capturing moments that you can never recapture, the sides of people that they are not aware of, the natural beauty of landscapes, nature itself and the fascinating architecture of some cultures. Capturing images give me the satisfaction of being creative and it allows me to express how I feel visually.

Being a part of the audience on 'Britain's Unzipped', a program on BBC TV, I found myself curious about what goes on behind the scenes and how the media affects and influences us. It is encompassing and powerful. A few months back, I took part in a friend's filming project as an actress and learnt a few things about filming such as camera angling, clip editing and having never-ending patience and passion, which sparked my interest in Media more. The subject is ever-changing and I want to take part in that change.

This year has brought me a lot of surprises, both good and bad, and despite choosing an unsuitable foundation course, I have learnt a great deal of lessons about life and what I am really passionate about. My hobbies include occasional trips to museums, such as the Saatchi Gallery and Tate Modern for art exhibitions, blogging about my trips both abroad and locally, writing restaurant reviews, going to new places and discovering more about the different architectural styles of various buildings and cultures, photo editing, educating myself on graphic design and website programming, and travelling, which has taught me so much about different cultures and has opened my eyes to the world.

Going to university will undoubtedly expand my skills and knowledge further and push me to strive for the best. I will bring my creativity and drive to the learning environment and I hope to leave with a strong portfolio and great, new experiences that will help me to reach my dreams.

Universities applied to:

• Goldsmiths University of London - Unconditional
• University of the Arts London - Conditional
• University of East London - Unsuccessful
• University for the Creative Arts - Conditional
• Share this story :
• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Google+
• Share on Pinterest
• Latest Latest
• Trending Trending
• create my feed
• Edit my feed
• 0 new posts
• Started by: sdfj
• Forum: Forum games
• Replies: 5432
• Last post: 1 minute ago
• Started by: Anonymous
• Forum: London School of Economics and Political Science
• Started by: nathan1403
• Forum: Creative corner
• Replies: 8155
• Started by: miriamh0007
• Forum: Medicine
• Replies: 10
• Last post: 2 minutes ago
• Forum: University of Cambridge
• Forum: Grow your Grades 2024-2025 [New Competition]
• Replies: 58
• Last post: 4 minutes ago
• Started by: realMadrid.14
• Forum: Applications, Clearing and UCAS
• Last post: 5 minutes ago
• Started by: Rafakurt1
• Forum: Cambridge Undergraduate
• Last post: 6 minutes ago
• Started by: Sichwünschen
• Forum: GCSEs
• Last post: 7 minutes ago
• Started by: marsaria
• Started by: 04MR17
• Replies: 42
• Last post: 9 minutes ago
• Started by: Max_Y08
• Forum: Art and Design
• Started by: himik
• Forum: Money and finance
• Last post: 12 minutes ago
• Started by: islybh
• Forum: University of Leicester
• Forum: Friends, family and colleagues
• Started by: the bear
• Last post: 13 minutes ago
• Replies: 7318
• Started by: Alm_xo
• Forum: Grow your Grades
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Imperial College London
• Last post: 14 minutes ago
• Forum: Mental health
• Started by: Scotland Yard
• Replies: 651
• Last post: 20 minutes ago
• Forum: University of Manchester
• Replies: 821
• Last post: 32 minutes ago
• Forum: University College London
• Replies: 244
• Last post: 43 minutes ago
• Started by: Lazlay
• Forum: Civil service, public sector and public services
• Replies: 952
• Last post: 2 hours ago
• Started by: Lc627183
• Replies: 295
• Last post: 5 hours ago
• Started by: Chi chi5
• Replies: 944
• Started by: Saracen's Fez
• Forum: UK and World Politics
• Replies: 1144
• Last post: 8 hours ago
• Started by: maiarhysdavies
• Forum: King's College London
• Replies: 803
• Last post: 1 day ago
• Started by: reubenn05
• Forum: Medical Schools
• Replies: 1203
• Last post: 2 days ago
• Started by: KA_P
• Replies: 1125
• Started by: Sandtrooper
• Forum: Cambridge Postgraduate
• Replies: 8255
• Started by: PileaP
• Replies: 212
• Last post: 3 days ago
• Forum: A-levels
• Replies: 45
• Started by: emm4nuella
• Forum: Durham University
• Replies: 975
• Last post: 1 week ago
• Started by: Blinkr
• Replies: 387
• Started by: ma_they
• Forum: University of Bristol
• Replies: 120
• Started by: normaw
• Replies: 50
• Started by: Student294886
• Replies: 187
• Last post: 2 weeks ago
• Started by: unsure-student
• Started by: shooks
• Forum: Secondary school, sixth form and FE college
• Life skills (cooking, cleaning, laundry etc)
• What I need to take to uni
• Information on accommodation
• Information on commuting to uni
• Student finance advice
• Money management (paying bills, student discounts, bank accounts etc)
• Freshers activies/making friends
• Mental health and wellbeing at uni
• Academic support and study skills
• Something else (tell us more in the thread!)

The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group.

• Main topics
• GCSE and A-level
• Exam results
• Life and relationships

Get Started

• Today's posts
• Unanswered posts
• Community guidelines
• TSR help centre
• Cookies & online safety
• Terms & conditions
• Privacy notice

Connect with TSR

© Copyright The Student Room 2023 all rights reserved

The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd.

Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. 806 8067 22 Registered Office: Imperial House, 2nd Floor, 40-42 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3XB

• Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures
• School of Media and Communication
• Undergraduate

Writing your personal statement

As part of your application to study with us, you’ll be asked to submit a personal statement. Your personal statement is your chance to show your understanding of the course, your interest in the subject and how your current skills and knowledge are relevant to the course you’d like to study. Each course we offer is different, so please read your course content carefully.

Show your skills and interests

None of our courses is purely practical and all involve a significant amount of theoretical study and research. Your personal statement should, therefore, show your academic skills. If you're applying to study a course with practical elements (eg BA Digital Media, BA Film, Photography and Media or BA Journalism), you should also talk about any practical skills you have. You might also consider linking to examples of your work.

Your personal statement should also explain why you're interested in studying your course. To do this, you could discuss examples of media that have caught your attention and any readings you've completed.

Tell us what you plan to do after studying

If you have a particular career that you’d like to pursue, we’d like to know how you think the course you’re applying for will help you achieve it.

It’s also a good idea to mention any work experience you’ve done in the past, and how it’s relevant to your course.

Be specific

Include specific examples to explain general statements. Below are some of the types of questions to ask yourself when writing your personal statement:

• Which issues or ideas connected to the course do you find interesting and why?
• Have you done any reading around the subject?
• What academic skills do you have that makes you well suited to the course?
• Which type or examples of media have caught your attention?
• If the course you're applying for has practical elements, have you produced any media yourself? What did you use to create it?
• If you have a career path in mind, why did you choose it?
• How do you think this course will help you achieve your career aspirations?

See the UCAS website  for more advice on writing your personal statement.

Postgraduate Personal Statement Example: Communication

Reading examples of personal statements can be valuable when applying to a university or college course. After all, personal statement examples can teach you how to write and structure your application, and you can quickly learn how to write a personal statement by examining others.

But with so many university personal statement examples available, how do you know if you’re reading a good one?

Postgraduate personal statements should highlight relevant academic and practical experience, research skills and ambitions and their suitability for the course. This postgraduate personal statement example for Communication clearly illustrates these three critical elements.

Studying Master’s degree personal statement examples can be especially valuable. They’re sometimes referred to as personal mission statements or statements of purpose , so if you’re tasked with writing a personal mission statement, the following example will work for you.

I’ve broken down this personal statement example section by section, with a commentary on each element. 

That way, you’ll see its strengths and weaknesses and get some inspiration for your own personal statement .

Once you’ve read the personal statement example and analysis, you’ll be able to download a pdf of the whole document, to use as inspiration for your own!

Personal Statement Example: Introduction

“The power and value attached to the tools and processes of mass communication are incredible, to the extent that the exchange of ideas through digital media fills our lives. Contemporary social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook spread information and knowledge that affects everyone, impacting our unconscious thoughts and behaviours. 

As a graduate student of Communication, I aim to examine the strategies used in digital communications and understand how meaning is absorbed and actioned. I aim to continually acquire new skills, broaden my knowledge and meet new challenges. This philosophy motivates my decision to pursue a graduate degree in Communication and increase my competitive and professional edge.”

Commentary and Analysis 

The start of this personal statement is positive and immediately connects with the content and nature of the course, which is ideal. The writer also offers some opinion, although it’s uninformed and lacks a specific reference or source.

By writing “As a graduate student of Communication”, the applicant links themselves with the course in the reader’s mind. That’s a sophisticated approach that works well. There’s a general justification for the degree, but with no specific detail about a career plan or particular aspect of the course that would be of value.

If you’re struggling with your personal statement introduction, check out my article on how to write perfect opening paragraphs here .

Personal Statement Example: Academic Background

“Studying Management as an undergraduate, I understood how vital internal and external communication is to a business. Keen to develop this knowledge further, I intend to learn more about persuading an audience to receive messages and act accordingly. My academic management experience will be of direct value to courses such as Marketing, Ethical Business, HR Management and Labour Relations because it’s essential to understand an organisation’s context when formulating communication strategies. 

The undergraduate curriculum offered me numerous individual and group work opportunities, and these improved my academic writing, critical thinking and collaborative skills. Responsible for coordinating the division of work within a group, I established each member’s skills and allocated roles, allowing us to complete assignments successfully. Consequently, I learned to embrace the diversity of team members’ views and realised the importance of two-way communication and active listening. 

To add to my academic preparedness for this graduate course, I also completed two online courses in Communication on Coursera. This added to my in-depth knowledge of this challenging discipline and reconfirmed my desire to study this subject.”

Commentary and Analysis

This section outlining the writer’s academic background begins well. They have connected their undergraduate studies in Management with the focus of the master’s course, linking their experience with the course content. They’ve also referenced several of the modules in the postgraduate course, deepening their connection and showing the reader that they understand the course content.

They’ve also mentioned the opportunities for collaborative work gained as an undergraduate and implied that it would be of value to the postgraduate course. However, little detail shows the reader precisely what the quality or learning outcomes of these experiences were or what the writer gained in the way of tangible skills. It doesn’t connect the group work with specific elements of the master’s course, which is a missed opportunity.

Adding that additional skills were gained by taking extra courses shows a reasonable degree of independent learning and ambition. Again, it would be more effective to directly link the learning outcomes of the online courses with specific aspects of the master’s course, to strengthen the sense of connection and suitability.

If you’d like to learn more about how to structure your personal statement or statement of purpose , check out my awesome Personal Statement Template eBook here . It’s full of detailed examples of what to include!

Personal Statement Example: Practical Experience 1

“As a promotions assistant for a clothing studio, I run the official WeChat account. Having completed online courses in photo editing, I publish push articles on the official account, introducing product brand stories. One of our new lines was rooted in the goal of racial equality and used continental plate imagery as a concept, which I found very impressive. The brand hopes to call for racial equality through fashion, and I worked hard to plan a social campaign linking critical aspects of racial discrimination with potential cultural solutions. 

However, when I received the final details for content writing, I realised the design did not cover every country or follow the world map. I felt that this was a serious issue, so after communicating with the design team and the supervisor, I decided to add “only part of the plate shapes are captured, including design factors and non-political stance issues” as a statement in the post, helping the brand avoid potentially negative political responses and generating new interest and understanding in the audience.”

The first paragraph outlining the writer’s practical experience gives their application a sense of context, which is valuable. There’s a clear sense of professional connection with the course and a degree of subject-specific vocabulary, which is a positive. It’s very descriptive, however, outlining what was done but not what was learned or how it relates to the demands of the master’s degree, which should also be included.

The second paragraph shows motivation, clarity of vision, an understanding of professional communication strategies and some ethical integrity. It then needs additional content related to the course the writer is applying to, or the full value of this experience is lost.

Check out lots more examples of personal statements here , and see how they can inspire your application!

Personal Statement Example: Practical Experience 2

“During my experience assisting a fashion live-streamer, I witnessed the power of communication in live-streaming commerce. The live-streamer posts videos and pictures on social media platforms such as TikTok, while other viewers comment with feedback. After these communications, they build a relationship with that creator, become her followers and recognise her as an influencer. 

When the creator live-streams related products, they are more likely to reach an agreement with her and tend to view the products she recommends as in line with their own standards. She has learned how to engage, lead and compel an audience and, subsequently, how to capitalise on that process, which is reflective of the kind of power and profitability that an in-depth knowledge of contemporary communication strategies brings. 

In summarising and feeding back follower engagement, I improved my ability to extract meaningful information from qualitative data. Additionally, communicating with customers and offering them solutions enhanced my capacity for empathy, which is a highly effective communication tool.”

Commentary and Analysis: 

This section of the writer’s personal statement shows they have experience with contemporary social media marketing strategies, illustrating a sound knowledge base.  There’s a substantial range of relevant vocabulary in use and a sense that the writer is aware of the knowledge they want to improve on as a graduate student.

The content is mainly descriptive of the writer’s experience. While aspects such as qualitative data analysis are valuable, there’s minimal discussion of why this experience or knowledge is relevant to specific parts of the course they are applying for.

The writer hasn’t clarified why empathy will be a valuable skill in the course or how the course will help them meet a specific goal in relation to this content.

The one thing that all successful personal statements have in common is that they are concise, engaging and accurate in spelling, punctuation and grammar. Consequently, I always recommend Grammarly to my students and clients. 

It’s an outstanding tool for ensuring your personal statement is rich with detail whilst hitting those all-important word limits. Check out the free version of Grammarly here , or hit the banner for more information.

Personal Statement Example: Conclusion

“PLFU is an internationally renowned and culturally diverse university offering excellent teaching resources and high-profile, influential faculty staff. This, combined with a professionally and culturally diverse set of peers, provides an academically stimulating environment to draw on my experiences and gain new skills and networks. Providing students with the opportunity to apply for mentorship and internships at some of the top communication businesses in the field is another factor behind my application, as this will enable me to put prior learning into practice in real-world contexts. Additionally, studying Communication will help me strengthen my professional capabilities and increase my work prospects in the media, public relations and advertising fields, in which graduate-level data collection and analysis skills are vital.

A skilled PR role necessitates formulating communication strategies and building and maintaining strong relationships with major media. These skills can be acquired through PLFU’s rich curriculum, which includes courses on Audience Analysis, Crisis Management and Public Relations Campaigns and Cases. I look forward to developing my understanding of communication strategies and building professional skills within your respected faculty.”

This conclusion starts well. There’s a clear and concise rationale for why the candidate is keen to study this course and a sense that they have researched the faculty more broadly. The writer has also connected the value of the course to their career goals, linking to specific modules, which is an excellent strategy. 

No particular faculty members or teaching staff have been identified, and there’s no sense of wanting to participate in ongoing research projects or working with specific professors. That’s important for a postgraduate application, so don’t omit it. There’s no tangible explanation of how this candidate plans to contribute to the broader life of the university or how they will add value to the faculty. 

Overall, this personal statement clearly connects with the subject and gives the reader confidence that the writer is articulate and has researched the course. 

However, a deeper sense of the value of those experiences and a greater connection to specific elements of the course would strengthen it, as would more informed reasons for wanting to study this particular course. Including specific and relevant career aims and outlining a greater sense of the qualities they would bring to the faculty would also strengthen this application.

For more great advice, check out my article on writing an excellent final personal statement paragraph here .

Click here or on the banner below to get your free download of this complete personal statement example . 

Whether you’re looking for personal mission statement examples or an example of personal purpose statement, I hope this personal statement example has been helpful. Above all, I wish you every success in your academic career. 

If you’d like to work with me to develop your personal statement 1:1 and write a powerful mission statement, I’d be delighted to hear from you. 

Find out about my personal statement support services by clicking here or on the image below.

Research and content verified by Personal Statement Planet .

David Hallen

I've worked in the Further Education and University Admissions sector for nearly 20 years as a teacher, department head, Head of Sixth Form, UCAS Admissions Advisor, UK Centre Lead and freelance personal statement advisor, editor and writer. And now I'm here for you...

Recent Posts

Postgraduate Personal Statement Example: Environmental Policy

Studying examples of personal statements can be a valuable strategy when applying to a university or college.  That’s because personal statement examples can teach you how to write and...

Postgraduate Personal Statement Example: Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Examples of personal statements can be valuable to reference when applying to a university or college course.  That’s because personal statement examples can teach you how to write and...

Graduate School Personal Statement

The graduate school personal statement is your chance to show the graduate committee what it would be like to have you in the department. Would you contribute positively to the program, work well with others, and have the necessary skills to undertake important research? Convince them you are worth the investment and that you’re a good match for their program through a compelling story that’s based on your concrete experiences .

If you are in a hurry, you can also check out this short video for quick tips.

1. Before you start

1.1. Reflect on your experiences and goals

Reflect on your experience, motivation, and research goals. What drives your research motivations, and how do your motivations link to your background and long-term goals?

Think beyond the technical space when brainstorming ideas for your personal statement. What do you care about and value—besides getting a higher-level degree? Include experiences that demonstrate your leadership, organization, and communication skills as well. Whether it’s growing up on a farm, mentoring high school students, or leading a robotics team, these experiences can be used to demonstrate motivation, commitment, and a good work ethic. These are attributes that can help you be successful in a research lab.

1.2. Do the research on your target program

To demonstrate how well you fit with the program, you must know what they value and what they are working toward. Each department has different goals and missions; some might value fundamental science, others engineering innovation, and others societal impact. Here are initial steps to take while researching a graduate program:

• Read the program’s website —specifically their mission statement. See what language they use to describe themselves, and echo that language in your personal statement. This is also a good place to see what kind of research is currently being performed. Looking at MIT NSE’s mission statement, what can we notice?

• Look up recent publications from your target research group (if you have one). The department’s website might not be up to date with any group’s new research directions. This will avoid the scenario where you express interest in working on a research project that has been abandoned.
• Get in contact with faculty in your target program. If you have had a positive discussion with someone at the department, describe how those interactions indicate that you will be a good match.
• State which professors in the program you would plan to work with and why their research interests you. Show how their research areas align with your background and your goals. You can even describe potential research directions or projects. This is even more effective if you have contacted the professor beforehand and spoken with them about the possibility of doing research for them. However, not naming a specific group of interest is not an automatic “reject.”

1.3. Consider your audience

A graduate committee will review your application and determine if you would make a successful graduate student in the department. Although the determination varies from committee to committee, the reviewers will be looking for the following criteria, which you should specifically address in your statement:

• Your ability to perform high-quality and independent research
• Your readiness to complete the expected coursework for your program
• Your likelihood to be a match in the department (ex: If you are currently in a physics program, you will need to explain why you’re seeking an advanced degree in nuclear engineering).

A graduate committee is usually composed of faculty from the program of interest—and may be the same people who will spend years working with you if you’re accepted. They more than likely have the following:

• A strong knowledge of the program’s general subject areas and familiarity with your proposed research area
• Familiarity with the academic setting and some courses, but not necessarily the courses you have taken
• Access to the rest of your application materials.

If applying to MIT’s Nuclear Science and Engineering department, you can assume your audience knows what a tokamak is, but you cannot expect (all of) them to know every component. Likewise, you need not list all of your courses but could emphasize one or two advanced subjects if they are relevant to your past and intended future research.

Return to Contents

2. Structure of a personal statement

As long as you stay within the specifications set by your target program, you have the freedom to structure your personal statement as you wish. Still, you can use the structure shown on the right as a loose guide for demonstrating match.

2.1. Create a personal narrative 

Build a personal narrative that ties together your personal history, experiences, and motivations. In addition to a few paragraphs (2-3) at the beginning of your statement, you can weave your motivation and goals throughout your document to create a cohesive story. This cements your identity into the minds of the graduate committee. If they remember you, they will be more likely to accept you!

When crafting a personal narrative, consider the following:

• What research directions are you passionate about, and why?
• Was there a moment that sparked your interest in your proposed field?
• What do you picture yourself doing in 10 years?

Keep these questions in mind as you are writing other sections of your personal statement.

2.2. Your Experiences

This section is typically 2-4 paragraphs long, with examples to illustrate your point. To decide which experiences to share, ask yourself these two questions: In which ways did this experience help me grow? Why should the review committee care? One common mistake is to describe an experience in great detail and then fail to translate it into relevant strengths that the committee would care about. Therefore, explicitly say what that experience means for your future goals, including your work as a graduate student.

2.3. Specific research interest  

Spend 1-2 paragraphs describing your research goals. Briefly summarize the projects you want to work on (and professors you’d like to work with, if applicable), and how those fit in with your experiences. Describe how your past experiences have prepared you for working on this new project in graduate school. If you’re already in graduate school, you can spend more time on this section, as it is also a part of your past experiences.

2.4. Career goals 

Finally, your long-term career goals should be a logical completion of the personal narrative you’ve built throughout the document, and usually takes up one paragraph. How will this graduate program fit into your future career? How will graduate school in general allow you to pursue these goals? Because your personal statement should show that you are a qualified match, describe how your goals overlap with those of the department or program. Your readers will not hold you to these goals, but they will see you are forward-thinking and have ambitions.

3. Maximize Effectiveness

3.1. use concrete examples.

Make your relevant experiences tangible by stating specific outcomes such as awards, discoveries, and publications. Whenever possible, try to quantify the experience. How many people were on your team? How many protocols did you develop? As a TA, how often did you meet with your students? Here are some examples of vague and concrete experiences:

3.2. Explain the meaning of your experiences

• Why was this experience important to your growth as a scientist?
• What did you gain from or demonstrate during that experience?
• How will this make you a better grad student?

Even if it feels obvious to you, you need to explicitly answer these questions to your audience. Here are some examples experiences that have been expanded to contain meaning:

4. Quick Tips and Additional Resources

• Read the prompt carefully. Each school is unique, and will have unique requirements for their applications. If anything in those requirements contradicts with advice you read here or elsewhere, go with the application guidelines. Make sure your document meets criteria for length, formatting, font, file type, etc. specified in the application, and answers any specific questions asked.
• Double check your spelling and grammar. A well-written statement demonstrates your communication skills, which are essential for success in graduate school.
• Triple check that you have the right program and avoid accidentally putting the name of another graduate school into the document. Also check for specific labs or professors that you have mentioned in other statements. Using the search feature of your text editor will catch whatever you miss.
• Seek feedback from someone who’s not familiar with your work. Departments are diverse and your statement should make sense to someone in your field but outside your specific research area.
• Be strategic with letters of references. Do not go to professors who you think will write you the most positive letters. Instead, go to those who can write about specific experiences that demonstrates the skills that you want to highlight in your application. Each letter should bring new and complementing insights into who you are as a student and researcher.
• Check out other resources , such as The Key to Successful Applications (a blog post from MIT Graduate Admissions) and Apply to Grad School from MIT’s Career Development and Professional Development (CAPD).

5. Annotated Examples

Here are examples of graduate school personal statements from students who have been accepted into MIT NSE. Note that prompts vary from program to program, and sometimes from year to year within the same department. Be sure to follow the prompt for your program and your application cycle.

To get started or receive feedback on your graduate school personal statement, make an appointment with one of us. We would love to help you!

• Online Students
• Online Alumni
• Faculty & Staff
• African American/Black
• Asian, Pacific Islander & Desi American
• DACA & Undocumented Students
• First Generation
• Hispanic/Latinx
• Indigenous/Native/First Nations
• International
• Justice Impacted
• Middle Eastern/North African/Arab-American
• Military Members and Veterans
• Neurodivergent
• Students With Disabilities
• Liberal Arts
• Social Sciences
• Create a Resume / Cover Letter
• Earn Certifications & Badges
• Expand Your Network / Mentor
• Negotiate an Offer
• Prepare for an Interview
• Explore Your Interests / Self Assessment
• Prepare for Graduate School
• Explore Internships
• Search for a Job

How To Write A Personal Statement & Examples

• Share This: Share How To Write A Personal Statement & Examples on Facebook Share How To Write A Personal Statement & Examples on LinkedIn Share How To Write A Personal Statement & Examples on X

Whether you’re using the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or a school-specific application portal, it can be scary to come up with an essay topic that encompasses the complexity and vastness of who you are as a person. So to help you move past the intimidating aspects and focus more on the fun and meaning, in this post, we’ll describe what differentiates the personal statement from other college essays and what function it serves in your college application.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Applying to graduate school
• How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

• Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
• Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
• Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

• A personal experience that changed your perspective
• A story from your family’s history
• A memorable teacher or learning experience
• An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

• Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
• Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
• How does it fit into the rest of your life?
• What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

• Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
• Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

• What first sparked your interest in the field?
• Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
• Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

• Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
• Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

• Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
• Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
• Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

• If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
• If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
• If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

• Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
• Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

• Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
• Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

College essays

• College essay examples
• College essay format
• College essay style
• College essay length
• Diversity essays
• Scholarship essays

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Avoiding repetition
• Literature review
• Conceptual framework
• Dissertation outline
• Thesis acknowledgements
• Burned or burnt
• Canceled or cancelled
• Dreamt or dreamed
• Gray or grey
• Theater vs theatre

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, July 03). How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 3, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/graduate-school/personal-statement/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, how to write a graduate school resume | template & example, how (and who) to ask for a letter of recommendation, master's vs phd | a complete guide to the differences, get unlimited documents corrected.

✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

16 Communications Resume Examples and Templates for Your Successful 2024’s Job Search

Our Resumes are featured in

• • Managed production of three newsletters each month, selecting stories, collaborating on graphics, and ensuring timely distribution to over 10,000 employees.
• • Drafted and edited over 100 internal communications per year, consistently meeting deadlines and maintaining high editorial standards.
• • Assisted director in responding to media inquiries leading to a 20% increase in positive media coverage.
• • Tracked all media mentions and produced monthly reports, highlighting key trends and opportunities for improvement.
• • Coordinated with product teams to develop media pitches, resulting in a 30% increase in media pickups.
• • Supported the digital media manager in overseeing social media, achieving a 25% rise in engagement on key platforms.
• • Tracked media inquiries and disseminated them to appropriate departments, ensuring prompt and accurate responses.
• • Wrote and edited content for company website, including news posts and FAQs, which improved website traffic by 15%.
• • Assisted in creating weekly media coverage reports that helped fine-tune future media strategies.
• • Conducted research and drafted content for various digital marketing materials to support multiple product launches.
• • Translated complex technical information into easy-to-understand copy, which improved internal communication clarity.
• • Collaborated with senior staff to develop press releases and media advisories, contributing to multiple successful PR campaigns.
• • Assisted in monitoring social media platforms, resulting in improved customer engagement and feedback.
• • Supported internal communication efforts by creating engaging content for the company's intranet.
• • Applied graphic design skills to enhance visual aspects of communication materials, receiving positive feedback from internal teams.

Communication professionals hold the key to connecting people, businesses, and ideas. They're the vital link that turns messages into meaningful interactions, driving collaboration and innovation. Without their expertise, countless voices would remain unheard and opportunities would be lost.

These specialists must possess exceptional writing and speaking skills, razor-sharp attention to detail, and the ability to analyze diverse situations quickly. They’re valued for their creativity, strategic thinking, and ability to manage multiple channels effectively. Your Communications resume should highlight these abilities to showcase just how indispensable you are in any organization. 

Communications Analyst Resume Example

Communications Analysts have a vital role in crafting and managing internal and external messaging for a company. You need to ensure your resume highlights experience in social media management, crafting press releases, coordinating media outreach, and analyzing communication metrics. Don't forget to emphasize your proficiency in tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Google Analytics, and CRM systems. Additionally, strong interpersonal skills, clarity in communication, and the ability to work in a team will set you apart. Remember, your resume is your chance to clearly showcase why you’re the ideal bridge between a company and its audience.

Internal Communications Manager Resume Example

An Internal Communications Manager plays a vital role in bridging the communication gap within various departments of a company. Your resume should detail your experience with drafting company-wide emails, organizing employee events, and managing the company intranet. Highlight your expertise with specific tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and intranet portals, along with proficiency in content management systems. Equally important are your people skills, including active listening, empathy, and the ability to motivate and lead teams effectively. Remember, your resume should be clear, quantifiable, and tailored to showcase how your communication strategies have made a tangible impact.

Director of Communications and Public Relations Resume Example

A Director of Communications and Public Relations has the crucial role of overseeing the way a company interacts with its audience, both externally and internally. Your resume should highlight responsibilities such as managing media relations, overseeing content creation, and crisis communication. Make sure to showcase your expertise in software such as Adobe Creative Suite, social media analytics tools, and CMS platforms like WordPress. You should also emphasize strong interpersonal skills, leadership abilities, and emotional intelligence. Remember to tailor your resume specifically to the job at hand, making sure it speaks directly to the unique needs of the company.

Communications Coordinator Resume Example

Communications Coordinators handle internal and external messaging, ensuring the company’s voice is consistent and effective. Your resume should list responsibilities like crafting press releases, managing social media accounts, and organizing events. Highlight hard skills such as proficiency in software like Adobe Creative Suite, social media analytics tools, and basic HTML. Soft skills such as strong verbal and written communication, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork are just as important. Always remember that your resume should tell a compelling story about your achievements and how you drive results.

Communications Assistant Resume Example

Communications Assistants play a crucial role in a company by handling external communications, managing social media accounts, and creating content that boosts the brand's presence. It's important that their resumes include responsibilities like drafting press releases, assisting in event planning, and coordinating with different departments for promotional campaigns. Highlighting technical prowess with tools like Adobe Creative Suite, content management systems, and analytics software is key. Equally important are your interpersonal skills like effective collaboration, adaptability, and strong written and verbal communication. Remember, tailoring your resume to reflect specific job requirements and showcasing real-world accomplishments will make it stand out.

Corporate Communications Manager Resume Example

The Corporate Communications Manager at your company is responsible for crafting and delivering messages that foster a positive image and ensure consistent internal and external communication. Your resume should list responsibilities such as managing media relationships, overseeing internal communications, developing content strategies, and handling crisis communication. It's crucial to highlight skills in graphic design, content management systems, and social media analytics. Soft skills you'll want to showcase include strong verbal and written communication, leadership, and the ability to work well under pressure. Always remember that a well-crafted resume can set you apart by clearly demonstrating your unique contributions and specific value to potential employers.

Communications Manager Resume Example

Communications Managers in a company are responsible for managing the public image and messaging to both internal and external audiences. Your resume should highlight your experience in media relations, content creation, crisis communication, and social media strategy. Be sure to list hard skills like SEO, Adobe Creative Suite, and data analytics tools. Don't forget to include soft skills such as excellent verbal and written communication, leadership, and the ability to work well under pressure. Remember, your resume should clearly display measurable successes and relevant achievements.

Senior Communications Specialist Resume Example

Senior Communications Specialists oversee internal and external communications in a company, ensuring messaging aligns with corporate objectives. Your resume and responsibilities in this role should include content creation, media relations, crisis communications, and project management. Highlight your proficiency in software like Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, and social media management platforms. Soft skills such as effective communication, team collaboration, and creativity are equally important to feature. Remember to quantify your achievements wherever possible to stand out.

Strategic Communications Manager Resume Example

In a company, a Strategic Communications Manager is responsible for crafting and delivering clear, compelling messages to internal and external audiences. When working on your resume, detail your experience in managing media relations, developing communication plans, and handling crisis communication. You should highlight hard skills like proficiency in content management systems (CMS), data analytics tools, and social media platforms. Don't forget to include your people skills such as strong verbal and written communication, teamwork, and the ability to influence others. Remember, your resume should make it easy for the reader to see the direct impact of your work on business outcomes.

Communications Consultant Resume Example

A Communications Consultant plays a key role in crafting and executing the communication strategies within a company. You should detail several responsibilities in your resume, such as developing branding initiatives, managing public relations efforts, and coordinating media outreach. Highlight your skills with tools like social media platforms, content management systems, and email marketing software. Don't forget to include your people skills like strong verbal communication, empathy, and the ability to work well in a team. Remember, your resume should reflect your capability to adapt to different communication styles and emergencies seamlessly.

Communications Specialist Resume Example

A Communications Specialist in a company handles the creation and distribution of information both internally and externally. On your resume, you should definitely list tasks such as managing social media, writing press releases, and coordinating public relations activities. Highlight your proficiency in tools like Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and social media management platforms. Make sure to showcase skills in teamwork, active listening, and maintaining positive relationships. Most importantly, keep your resume crisp and relevant to make a solid impression.

Communications Executive Resume Example

Communications Executives are in charge of shaping and directing a company's messaging and public image. When crafting your resume, include job roles such as overseeing public relations, creating communications strategies, managing social media accounts, and handling crisis communications. Highlight hard skills like proficiency in digital marketing tools, content management systems, and analytics software. People skills like strong writing, listening, empathy, and a knack for networking should be evident throughout your document. Always remember: your resume should tell a story that shows how you can elevate the company's brand and connect with its audience.

Digital Communications Manager Resume Example

As a Digital Communications Manager, you handle the online presence and digital strategy for your company. Your resume should list responsibilities like managing social media campaigns, creating digital content, and analyzing performance metrics. Highlight technical skills like proficiency in SEO, Google Analytics, and Adobe Creative Suite. Make sure to include people skills like effective communication, team collaboration, and the ability to manage deadlines. Always remember to align your resume to the specific requirements of the job you're applying for.

Communications Director Resume Example

A Communications Director in your company steers all aspects of internal and external communications, ensuring your brand’s message is clear and compelling. Make sure your resume highlights key responsibilities like managing media relations, overseeing social media strategies, and coordinating public relations efforts. You'll want to spotlight hard skills and software expertise, such as proficiency in PR tools, graphic design software, and analytics platforms. Don’t forget to mention people skills like leadership, problem-solving, and the ability to collaborate across departments seamlessly. Always tailor your communications resume to reflect experiences that showcase your ability to create a cohesive and dynamic message for your brand.

Vice President of Communications Resume Example

Vice Presidents of Communications are responsible for developing and implementing the company’s strategic communication plans. Your resume should showcase your leadership in media relations, crisis communication management, and content creation strategies. Highlight your proficiency with content management systems, SEO tools, and social media analytics platforms. Soft skills like strong interpersonal abilities, problem-solving, and team leadership are equally vital for your role. Remember, clarity and directness in your experience description can significantly impact its effectiveness.

Looking for more specific tips? Check all related jobs’ resume guides here:

• Communications Assistant resume
• Communications Specialist resume
• Communications Manager resume
• Communications Director resume
• Senior Communications Specialist resume
• Vice President of Communications resume
• Communications Coordinator resume
• Communications Consultant resume
• Internal Communications Manager resume
• Corporate Communications Manager resume
• Communications Analyst resume
• Digital Communications Manager resume
• Strategic Communications Manager resume
• Communications Executive resume
• Director of Communications and Public Relations resume

The most important tips for Communications resumes:

Craft a compelling summary: A strong summary at the top of your resume can catch a recruiter's eye and give them a quick idea of your top skills and experiences. This section should be a snapshot of your qualifications, highlighting your expertise in Communication. Keep it concise yet impactful, ideally within four to five sentences.

Showcase measurable achievements: Instead of listing job duties, focus on what you have accomplished in previous roles with real data. Provide specific examples that include quantifiable results, such as increased social media engagement or higher event attendance. This makes your contributions stand out and demonstrates your effectiveness.

Highlight relevant projects: Projects that showcase your skills in communication strategies, media relations, or content creation can be a focal point. Use bullet points to clearly describe your role, the project objectives, and the outcomes. Highlighting these projects shows your hands-on experience and practical skills.

Utilize a clean and professional format: A well-organized resume with a clear structure makes it easier for recruiters to find key information. Use headings, bullet points, and consistent formatting to enhance readability. Avoid overloading the resume with text and maintain plenty of white space.

Feature technical skills: Include any software or tools you are proficient with that are relevant to communication roles, such as Adobe Creative Suite, Hootsuite, or Google Analytics. Highlighting your familiarity with these tools shows that you can handle various aspects of modern communication tasks. Be specific about your level of proficiency.

Limit the length: Your resume should ideally be one to two pages. Focus on the most recent and relevant experiences, and avoid overloading with less significant details. This ensures that recruiters can quickly scan your resume and find the most pertinent information without being overwhelmed.

Must-Have Sections on a Communications Resume:

A resume for a Communications professional needs to contain specific sections that highlight key skills and experiences. Here are the main sections you should include:

• Contact information: Start with your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile. This allows potential employers to reach you. Your name is the first thing they see, and the contact information provides quick access for follow-ups.
• Summary statement: Write a concise paragraph that summarizes your years of experience, core skills, and career goals. It captures the employer's interest right away. This section serves as a quick snapshot of what you bring to the table.
• Work experience: List your previous job titles, employers, and dates of employment. Include bullet points with specific achievements and duties. This gives a detailed view of your hands-on skills and accomplishments.
• Education: Detail your educational background, including degrees earned and institutions attended. Mention relevant courses if they apply to the communications field. This shows you have the foundational knowledge necessary for the role.
• Skills: Create a bulleted list of key skills such as social media management, public speaking, and writing. Highlight both hard and soft skills relevant to communications. This section helps recruiters quickly assess your capabilities.
• Certifications: If you have any certifications, mention them here. They demonstrate specialized training and expertise. This can set you apart from other candidates with similar experiences.

In addition to these main sections, some additional sections can further enhance your resume:

• Professional affiliations: List any memberships in professional organizations. This shows you are committed to staying current in your field. It also indicates you are active within the professional community.
• Awards and honors: Mention any awards, recognitions, or honors you have received. These accolades add credibility and highlight your excellence. They further validate your professional accomplishments.
• Volunteer experience: Include any unpaid work that relates to communications. This shows you are passionate and engaged, even beyond your professional duties. It can also illustrate a diverse range of experiences.

How to Write Your Communications Resume Experience Section

Crafting a communications resume that resonates with potential employers is vital for landing your dream job. Highlighting your work experience effectively can set you apart from the competition. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, showcasing your skills and achievements is key. Below are practical tips you can use to strengthen your resume’s work experience section.

• Keep your job descriptions concise and focused on notable achievements, rather than just listing daily tasks. Mention specific projects you managed and the outcomes. This approach helps potential employers see the value you bring.
• Use relevant keywords from the job description to match your experiences with what the employer is looking for. Doing this can help your resume get past automated screening tools. It's especially useful for aligning your skills with the job requirements.
• Quantify your achievements whenever possible, as numbers attract attention and add credibility. For instance, stating that you "increased social media engagement by 45%" is more compelling than simply noting "increased social media engagement." It provides tangible evidence of your capabilities.
• Focus on action verbs like "coordinated," "directed," or "spearheaded" to start your bullet points. These verbs demonstrate leadership and initiative. They also make your resume more dynamic and engaging.
• Include specific examples of how you solved problems in your previous roles. Problem-solving skills are highly valued in the communications field. Showcasing these can give you a competitive edge.
• Emphasize collaborations and team projects, as communication often involves working with others. Highlight your role in these projects and the positive outcomes that resulted. This shows you're a team player.
• Tailor each resume submission to the specific job you're applying for. Customize your experience section to match the company’s needs and culture. Personalization can demonstrate that you're genuinely interested in that position.
• Avoid jargon that might be unfamiliar to someone outside your previous workplaces. Stick to language that's widely understood in the communications field. Clear and accessible language will make your resume more appealing.
• Don't forget to highlight any awards or recognitions you've received. These accolades can serve as an external validation of your skills and accomplishments. They add another layer of credibility to your profile.
• For entry-level positions, emphasize internships, volunteer work, coursework, and relevant projects. Lack of professional experience can be mitigated by showing initiative and eagerness to learn. Demonstrating your dedication through these activities can impress potential employers.

Moving forward, let's show examples of how to quantify your experience, outline the common responsibilities that HR managers look for in your resume, and provide guidance on tailoring it to job descriptions more effectively. For those at entry-level or internship positions, additional strategies will be discussed to help you present your best self on your resume.

Examples of How To Quantify Your Experience

• Orchestrated a comprehensive media campaign that resulted in a 35% increase in brand visibility within six months, leveraging social media, press releases, and blog posts.
• Led a team to enhance internal communications, resulting in a 50% reduction in employee turnover over a year by implementing regular newsletters, town hall meetings, and feedback forms.
• Managed public relations initiatives that secured 20 media placements in top-tier outlets, expanding the company's audience reach by 45% in one quarter.
• Developed a content strategy that boosted website traffic by 60%, through SEO optimization and targeted content creation, within a period of four months.
• Conducted audience analysis and tailored communication strategies that improved customer engagement rates by 40%, as evidenced by increased open and click-through rates in email campaigns.
• Successfully coordinated a year-long corporate rebranding effort that increased brand loyalty by 25%, based on post-rebranding customer surveys.
• Spearheaded crisis communication protocols that minimized potential damages, maintaining a 95% positive sentiment score on social media during critical incidents.
• Implemented training workshops that increased employee communication skills by 30%, as reflected by performance review scores and peer feedback.
• Created an internal knowledge base that saved the support team 200 hours annually, improving information accessibility and employee productivity.
• Launched a targeted influencer marketing campaign that generated a 50% increase in social media engagement and a 20% growth in follower count over a span of three months.
• Authored and distributed 15 press releases annually, garnering a 70% media pick-up rate and enriching the company's public profile.
• Directed a video marketing campaign that accumulated over 1 million views and increased product inquiries by 40%, significantly boosting lead generation efforts.
• Organized community outreach programs that increased local partnership opportunities by 30%, enhancing the company's community involvement and social responsibility image.
• Enhanced internal newsletters that achieved a 75% open rate, significantly improving employee awareness of company news and initiatives.
• Drove the creation of a redesigned intranet portal, which increased user engagement by 50% and improved overall employee satisfaction with internal communications tools.

Job Description Bullet Points on Communications Resumes:

• Develop and implement comprehensive communication strategies to effectively deliver key organizational messages to diverse internal and external audiences.
• Draft, review, and edit content for press releases, newsletters, blog posts, social media, and corporate communications materials.
• Coordinate with marketing, sales, and other departments to ensure message alignment and effective dissemination of information across all platforms.
• Monitor media outlets and identify opportunities to enhance the organization’s public image and respond to potential reputational risks.
• Plan, organize, and execute high-profile events, including press conferences, media briefings, and community outreach activities.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for media inquiries and manage relationships with journalists, influencers, and other key stakeholders.
• Analyze communication metrics and KPIs to assess the effectiveness of communication campaigns and make data-driven improvements.
• Create and manage content calendars to ensure timely and relevant content is consistently delivered across multiple channels.
• Develop crisis communication plans and serve as the lead in managing communication efforts during emergencies or organizational changes.
• Conduct research to stay informed on industry trends, competitor communications, and emerging technologies to innovate communication strategies.
• Prepare and deliver presentations and reports to senior management on communication efforts, outcomes, and recommendations for future initiatives.
• Facilitate internal communication and employee engagement by developing and distributing internal newsletters, bulletins, and announcements.
• Ensure all communication materials adhere to brand guidelines and maintain a consistent voice and tone reflective of the organization’s values.
• Train and support organizational spokespeople and leadership in effective communication techniques, media interaction, and public speaking.
• Manage communication budgets and resources, including the selection and oversight of external vendors and consultants.

How to Tailor Your Communications Resume To the Job Description:

• Identify key phrases mentioned in the job description and integrate them into your descriptions. Highlight this skill or experience in a project you led. Your goal is to mirror the language used by the employer.
• Show how you have effectively communicated within different teams to meet objectives. If the job requires working closely with senior management, emphasize instances where this was crucial. Your narrative should reflect their priorities and collaboration needs.
• Choose specific examples where your work had measurable impacts that align with the job’s objectives. Use quantifiable results to add value. Employers appreciate seeing direct outcomes from your efforts.
• Illustrate your adaptability in different communication scenarios that likely mirror those of the potential employer. An example could range from crisis communication to content creation. Demonstrating versatility can resonate with recruiters.
• Emphasize technical skills and software proficiencies that match what the job ad seeks. If the position calls for experience with specific tools, detail your expertise with those applications. Seamlessly interweave these into your overall experiences.
• Contextualize your achievements by mentioning the sectors or industries where you gained your most relevant experience. If you’re applying to a tech company, focus on your related experience. Relate how those backgrounds prepared you for similar challenges at their organization.

How to Write Your Resume Summary/Objective Section

Crafting a compelling resume objective for a Communications role is pivotal, especially for a position targeting low experience applicants. Your objective needs to highlight your enthusiasm, foundational knowledge, and readiness to grow within the company. Think of it as your concise pitch, selling your passion and potential to make meaningful contributions. It's your chance to outline how your skills align with the job requirements.

The resume summary and objective cater to different job seekers; a summary highlights your experience and qualifications, whereas an objective focuses on your career goals and what you aim to achieve in the role. For Communications positions requiring little experience, an objective is fitting to express your eagerness to learn and your aspirations. On the other hand, seasoned professionals in Communications might prefer a summary to showcase their extensive background. Understanding which to use can greatly enhance your resume's impact.

• Highlight your passion for communications by mentioning any relevant coursework or projects. This shows that you have a solid foundation and are eager to expand your knowledge. Be specific about the skills you've acquired and how they make you a good fit for the job.
• Mention any internships or volunteer work related to communications. Even if your experience is limited, this signals your proactive approach to gaining relevant experience. Share what you learned and how it prepared you for a professional role.
• Showcase your goal of contributing to the company’s communication strategies. Employers like to see that you’ve thought about how you can positively impact their organization. Frame it in a way that reflects your ambition and readiness to take on challenges.
• Emphasize your willingness to learn and adapt. Acknowledge that the role will offer a lot of learning opportunities. This displays humility and an understanding that you'll grow alongside the company.
• Connect any personal qualities that make you an excellent communicator. Traits like being articulate, a good listener, and empathetic can set you apart. Provide a brief example to make it more relatable.
• Refer to the company's values or specific projects to show that you've done your research. This personal touch can make your objective stand out. It indicates genuine interest in the position and the organization.

Next, we'll provide some actual examples to help you see these tips in action, giving you a better idea of how to shape your own resume objective.

Resume’s personal statement examples:

• Exceptionally skilled communication specialist with over 10 years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, and content development. Proven ability to drive brand awareness and engagement through innovative messaging strategies.
• Dynamic communications manager with a robust history in digital marketing, social media campaigns, and stakeholder engagement. Adept at crafting compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.
• Results-oriented communications director with extensive experience in crisis communication, media relations, and internal communications. Demonstrated success in managing high-profile campaigns and leading cross-functional teams.
• Creative and analytical entry-level communications intern with a passion for storytelling and a comprehensive understanding of digital media trends. Eager to leverage academic knowledge and hands-on experiences to support organizational communication goals.
• Strategic communications analyst with expertise in research, data analysis, and performance metrics. Skilled in developing actionable insights to optimize communication strategies and enhance audience engagement.
• Enthusiastic communications assistant with strong organizational skills and a background in content creation and event planning. Committed to contributing to team success and providing exceptional support in all communication initiatives.

Top Resume Skills for Communications

In the dynamic field of Communications, professionals strive to excel in various core competencies. Being an effective communicator requires not only clarity in verbal and written skills but also an understanding of audience engagement. A strategic mindset, creative thinking, and media management expertise are pivotal. As the landscape of media continues to grow, these skills become increasingly valuable and interconnected.

Practical tips for your resume’s skills section

• Highlight your proficiency in various forms of communication such as public speaking, writing, and digital content creation. These skills demonstrate your versatility and capability to reach different audiences effectively. You should relate these skills to your past experiences to give them context.
• Emphasize your media management abilities by listing platforms you are familiar with, such as social media, blogs, and traditional media outlets. Providing examples of campaigns or projects you've handled successfully can make a significant impact. This shows your practical experience and adaptability to different media channels.
• Include any relevant technological skills, such as video editing software, graphic design tools, or content management systems. These skills illustrate your technical proficiency, which is invaluable in communications roles. Make sure to be specific about the software or tools to highlight your expertise.
• Detail your ability to perform audience research and analytics, which helps in crafting targeted messages. Mentioning tools or methods used for these tasks can provide insight into your analytical skills. This competency is critical for data-driven decision-making in communication strategies.
• Showcase your project management capabilities by mentioning any campaigns or initiatives you've led. Highlighting your organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines will add value to your resume. This aspect is crucial as it reflects your capability to manage comprehensive communication projects.
• Don't forget to list any language skills if you are multilingual, as this can be a significant asset in communications. It opens up possibilities for international communication and engagement. Be sure to note your level of proficiency in each language.

Now, let’s move forward to presenting a comprehensive list of skills tailored for a Communications professional.

Top Hard Skills for Communications Resumes

• Public Speaking
• Content Creation
• Media Relations
• Crisis Communication
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Press Release Writing
• Internal Communications
• Social Media Management
• Event Planning
• Data Analysis
• Copywriting
• Video Production
• Web Analytics
• Project Management

Top Soft Skills for Communications Resumes

• Adaptability
• Problem-Solving
• Time Management
• Emotional Intelligence
• Active Listening
• Conflict Resolution
• Attention to Detail
• Interpersonal Skills
• Collaboration
• Stress Management

Include a Communications Cover Letter for a Stand-Out Application

Cover Letter Writing Tips for Communications Applicants

Writing a solid cover letter for a Communications position is a critical step in your job search. This document acts as your personal marketing tool, showcasing skills and experiences directly to potential employers. A well-crafted cover letter not only complements your resume but also gives insight into your personality and suitability for the role. It's your opportunity to make that compelling first impression.

Practical advice for your cover letter:

• Start with a strong opening statement that grabs attention. Mention the job title and where you found the listing. Show enthusiasm for the opportunity and the company.
• Research the company thoroughly before writing. Highlight mutual goals and values in your letter. This demonstrates genuine interest and fits their culture.
• Use specific examples of your past achievements. Quantify results when possible, like improved engagement rates by 20%. Specificity makes your claims more credible.
• Acknowledge key industry trends or challenges. Explain how your skill set addresses these areas. Highlight your proactive approach to staying updated.
• Personalize each cover letter for the specific job and company. Avoid using a generic template. Tailoring shows you're detail-oriented and interested.
• Explain why you're the perfect fit for the role. Connect your background directly to the job description. Use keywords from the listing to strengthen your case.
• Keep the language professional yet engaging. Show some personality without being overly casual. It's about finding the right balance.
• Discuss your communication skills with examples. Mention successful campaigns, projects, or presentations. Demonstrate your ability to convey messages effectively.
• Wrap up your cover letter with a call to action. Express your interest in an interview. Make it clear you're looking forward to further discussing your fit for the role.
• Proofread your letter multiple times before sending it. Typos or grammatical errors can leave a negative impression. Consider asking someone else to review it.

Now, let's focus on aligning your cover letter with your resume, ensuring consistency and a strong narrative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should my communications resume be one page or longer.

Given your wealth of experience in communications, your resume can extend beyond one page. This allows you to showcase your diverse skill set, numerous roles, and significant accomplishments that one page can't adequately cover. However, it is vital to keep the content relevant and concise, ensuring that each section adds value and supports your candidacy for the job.

What is the best format for a Communications resume?

For a Communications Manager position, a reverse-chronological format is often the best choice. This format allows you to present your most recent experiences first, highlighting your career progression and the roles you've successfully undertaken. Employers can quickly identify your latest achievements and how your experience aligns with their needs, providing a clear and compelling narrative of your professional journey.

What should I highlight on my Communications resume to stand out?

Highlight your strategic communication planning, media relations expertise, and successful campaigns. Demonstrating how you've contributed to a company's branding or public relations efforts can set you apart. Include measurable outcomes of your initiatives, such as increased audience engagement or media coverage. Showcasing your writing, editing, and content creation skills will also make a strong impression.

What are some action verbs I should use on my Communications resume?

To convey your achievements effectively, use action verbs like produced, initiated, orchestrated, and developed. These terms frame your roles and responsibilities as proactive and impactful. Words like collaborated, led, and managed can demonstrate your ability to work in teams and lead projects. Highlighting your proactive stance will give potential employers confidence in your ability to take meaningful action.

For more inspiration, why not check out our free resource of job-focused resume examples?

Realtors are the lifeblood of the housing market, connecting people with their dream homes and investment opportunities. Their role goes beyond just selling properties; they build communities and create lifelong relationships. Without their dedication and expertise, finding the perfect home would be almost impossible. To excel in this field, one needs sharp negotiation skills and keen market insight. These professionals must be adept at assessing property values, understanding client needs, and maintaining clear communication. When you're crafting a Realtor resume, make sure it highlights your unique skills and experiences to show potential employers why you're the best fit for the job.

Digital Marketing Consultant

When creating a resume for a digital marketing consultant position in 2024, there are a few key aspects to consider: Length: Keep your resume concise and to the point. Aim for a maximum of two pages. Design: Opt for a clean and professional design that reflects your industry expertise. Format: Use a combination of headings, subheadings, ordered and unordered bullet points, bold, and italic to organize and emphasize your information. While the specific sections may vary based on your individual experience, there are several popular sections that are essential for a digital marketing consultant resume: Contact Information: Include your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile. Summary Statement: Craft a concise summary highlighting your key skills and qualifications. Experience: Provide details about your relevant work experience, using the Context-Action-Result (CAR) framework. Education: Showcase your educational background, including degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework. Skills: List both technical and soft skills that are relevant to the digital marketing consultant role. Achievements: Highlight any notable achievements or accomplishments in your career. Projects: Include any relevant projects you have worked on, providing specific details and results. While these sections are crucial, there are also optional sections that can further enhance your resume, such as: Professional Certifications: If you have obtained any industry certifications, be sure to include them. Languages: If you are fluent in multiple languages, it can be beneficial to mention them. Publications: If you have authored or contributed to any relevant publications, include them to showcase your expertise. The Context-Action-Result (CAR) framework is an effective way to demonstrate your experience and achievements. Here are a few examples of bullet points using this framework for a digital marketing consultant: Context: Developed and implemented a comprehensive social media strategy for a startup company. Action: Created engaging content, managed social media accounts, and ran targeted ad campaigns. Result: Increased the company's social media following by 150% and generated a 50% boost in website traffic within six months. Context: Led a digital marketing campaign for a global e-commerce brand. Action: Conducted market research, optimized SEO strategies, and created compelling email marketing campaigns. Result: Achieved a 30% increase in online sales and a 20% improvement in email open rates, contributing to a record-breaking quarter for the company. By using the CAR framework, you can clearly showcase your contributions and the positive impact you have made in your previous roles. When creating your digital marketing consultant resume, keep these key takeaways in mind: Keep your resume concise and well-organized. Include essential sections such as contact information, summary statement, experience, education, skills, achievements, and projects. Consider optional sections such as professional certifications, languages, and publications to further enhance your resume. Use the Context-Action-Result (CAR) framework to effectively describe your experience and achievements. By following these guidelines, you can create a strong digital marketing consultant resume that highlights your skills, qualifications, and accomplishments, increasing your chances of landing your dream job in 2024.

Branch Sales Manager

When creating a resume for the role of a Branch Sales Manager in 2024, it's crucial to pay attention to certain formatting aspects. Here are some important considerations: Length: Keep your resume concise and focused by limiting it to one or two pages. Recruiters often spend only a few seconds scanning each resume, so make every word count. Design: Opt for a clean and professional design that enhances readability. Avoid excessive colors or font styles that may distract the reader. Remember, simplicity is key. Format: Use a chronological format to highlight your relevant work experience. Start with your most recent role and work backward. This format allows recruiters to easily track your career progression. When it comes to including sections in your Branch Sales Manager resume, there are a few essential ones that you should definitely include: Contact Information: This section should contain your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile link. Ensure that this information is accurate and up to date. Summary/Objective Statement: A well-crafted summary or objective statement can provide a snapshot of your qualifications and career goals. Tailor this section to highlight your specific skills and how they align with the company's needs. Work Experience: This section should showcase your relevant professional experience. Use the Context-Action-Result framework to effectively illustrate your achievements. For example: Context: Increased branch sales revenue by 30% in six months. Action: Developed and implemented a strategic sales plan targeting untapped markets. Result: Generated $500,000 in additional sales and exceeded quarterly targets. Education: Include your educational background, focusing on relevant degrees, certifications, and training. This section indicates your level of expertise and commitment to self-improvement. Skills: Highlight your key skills, such as sales management, team leadership, strategic planning, and customer relationship management. Use bullet points to provide a clear overview of your strengths. As a Branch Sales Manager, your resume should be concise, well-structured, and tailored to showcase your relevant experience and skills. Remember these key takeaways: Format your resume with a clean design and use a chronological format. Include sections such as contact information, summary/objective statement, work experience, education, and skills. Apply the Context-Action-Result framework to highlight your achievements and quantify your impact. Showcase your strengths and skills through bullet points in the skills section. Proofread your resume and ensure accuracy in all details. Following these guidelines will help you create a compelling Branch Sales Manager resume that stands out to potential employers and increases your chances of landing an interview.

How to Write a Strong Personal Statement

by Ruth Gotian and Ushma S. Neill

Summary .   

Whether applying for a summer internship, a professional development opportunity, such as a Fulbright, an executive MBA program, or a senior leadership development course, a personal statement threads the ideas of your CV, and is longer and has a different tone and purpose than a traditional cover letter. A few adjustments to your personal statement can get your application noticed by the reviewer.

• Make sure you’re writing what they want to hear. Most organizations that offer a fellowship or internship are using the experience as a pipeline: It’s smart to spend 10 weeks and $15,000 on someone before committing five years and $300,000. Rarely are the organizations being charitable or altruistic, so align your stated goals with theirs
• Know when to bury the lead, and when to get to the point. It’s hard to paint a picture and explain your motivations in 200 words, but if you have two pages, give the reader a story arc or ease into your point by setting the scene.
• Recognize that the reviewer will be reading your statement subjectively, meaning you’re being assessed on unknowable criteria. Most people on evaluation committees are reading for whether or not you’re interesting. Stated differently, do they want to go out to dinner with you to hear more? Write it so that the person reading it wants to hear more.
• Address the elephant in the room (if there is one). Maybe your grades weren’t great in core courses, or perhaps you’ve never worked in the field you’re applying to. Make sure to address the deficiency rather than hoping the reader ignores it because they won’t. A few sentences suffice. Deficiencies do not need to be the cornerstone of the application.

At multiple points in your life, you will need to take action to transition from where you are to where you want to be. This process is layered and time-consuming, and getting yourself to stand out among the masses is an arduous but not impossible task. Having a polished resume that explains what you’ve done is the common first step. But, when an application asks for it, a personal statement can add color and depth to your list of accomplishments. It moves you from a one-dimensional indistinguishable candidate to someone with drive, interest, and nuance.

Partner Center

• Applying to Uni
• Apprenticeships
• Health & Relationships
• Money & Finance

Personal Statements

• Postgraduate
• U.S Universities

University Interviews

• Vocational Qualifications
• Accommodation
• ​​​​​​​Budgeting, Money & Finance
• ​​​​​​​Health & Relationships
• ​​​​​​​Jobs & Careers
• ​​​​​​​Socialising

Studying Abroad

• ​​​​​​​Studying & Revision
• ​​​​​​​Technology
• ​​​​​​​University & College Admissions

Guide to GCSE Results Day

Finding a job after school or college

Retaking GCSEs

In this section

Choosing GCSE Subjects

Post-GCSE Options

GCSE Work Experience

GCSE Revision Tips

Why take an Apprenticeship?

Applying for an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships Interviews

Apprenticeship Wage

Engineering Apprenticeships

What is an Apprenticeship?

Choosing an Apprenticeship

Real Life Apprentices

Degree Apprenticeships

Higher Apprenticeships

A Level Results Day 2024

AS Levels 2024

Clearing Guide 2024

Applying to University

SQA Results Day Guide 2024

BTEC Results Day Guide

Vocational Qualifications Guide

Sixth Form or College

International Baccalaureate

Post 18 options

Finding a Job

Should I take a Gap Year?

Travel Planning

Volunteering

Gap Year Blogs

Applying to Oxbridge

Applying to US Universities

Choosing a Degree

Choosing a University or College

Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Clearing Guide

Guide to Freshers' Week

Student Guides

Student Cooking

Student Blogs

Top Rated Personal Statements

Personal Statement Examples

Writing Your Personal Statement

Postgraduate Personal Statements

International Student Personal Statements

Gap Year Personal Statements

Personal Statement Length Checker

Personal Statement Examples By University

Personal Statement Changes 2025

Personal Statement Template

Job Interviews

Types of Postgraduate Course

Writing a Postgraduate Personal Statement

Postgraduate Funding

Postgraduate Study

Internships

Choosing A College

Ivy League Universities

Common App Essay Examples

Universal College Application Guide

How To Write A College Admissions Essay

College Rankings

Admissions Tests

Fees & Funding

Scholarships

Budgeting For College

Online Degree

Platinum Express Editing and Review Service

Gold Editing and Review Service

Silver Express Editing and Review Service

UCAS Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Oxbridge Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Postgraduate Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

You are here

Media, journalism and creative industries personal statement example.

While writing an article for my blog on the life of the singer Jim Morrison, I stumbled upon a quote by him "Whoever controls the media, controls the mind," which made me realize the colossal power media holds-to influence the opinions and attitudes of people.

This thought precipitated a realization for me that the field of media resonates with my communication skills, ingenuity, and intellectualism. Media's power to influence not only the social and political spheres but also an individual's day to day life, including my own, is what motivates me to study this course.

The social aspect of media, in particular, compels me because of its potential to amplify marginalized voices. Coming from an Indian background, the issue of oppressive patriarchal dominance in my society piqued my interest and the platform of social media has helped me raise awareness about the same through online petitions and campaigns.

Managing a social media account to promote feminism among the youth has not only enabled me to connect, critique, and share perspectives but also significantly enhanced my skills to investigate and present allowing me to have hands-on experience in social media management and networking.

To expand my knowledge, I participated in the Fortis Peer Moderator Program on Media literacy and Gender Sensitivity, which enabled me to become a wiser consumer and producer of media. To further augment my knowledge of the foundation of media, I completed a Coursera course through the University of Amsterdam on Media Ethics and Governance.

This course provided me with the knowledge of perspectives on media ethics as well as the dominant theoretical approaches that enabled me to reflect on ethical dilemmas and develop a well-substantiated argumentation in a variety of media-related contexts.

The case studies in this course made me realize that various dimensions like culture, psychological behavior, and statistics are also an indispensable part of media. Finding this multifaced element of media intellectually fascinating, I enrolled in a summer training program on Creative and Cultural Events through which, in addition to learning how to practically organize cultural events, I also learned how the mass media influences modern culture and shapes societal behavior.

While these courses exposed me to the basis of media and creative industries, my schoolwork prepared me for the academic workload. Throughout school, I have been awarded the scholar badge for eight consecutive years and attained proficiency awards in English and Mathematics which have upskilled my resilience. My extracurriculars have also prepared me for a career in media.

Competing in several essay writing competitions has enhanced my ability to write in a clear, concise, and professional manner which further enabled me to get an opportunity to co-author a published book - Crescent. I have also regularly written and edited articles for my school magazine. These projects allowed me to expand my writing, text editing, and compiling skills.

Having won an award at the UtopiaMUN and various debate competitions, I am equipped with confident public speaking skills. These competitions required me to have an intricate knowledge of current affairs which I've received by listening to Peter Kafka's Recode Media podcast weekly.

In addition to writing and public speaking, I also have a keen interest in community service. Being a zone leader at the Sankalp NGO and having successfully raised money through a social crowdfunding program for providing mid-day meals to underprivileged children, I realized the correlation media platforms have with the service dimension.

My other hobbies include reading suspense novels, writing poetry, and journaling regularly. Through my training and coursework, I have developed the necessary skills required for a successful career in media, and this bedrock along with my enthusiasm for the subject will facilitate me to productively learn this course at university.

Profile info

There is no profile associated with this personal statement, as the writer has requested to remain anonymous.

Author's Comments

got offers from into kcl, leeds and Cardiff and it's only dec:)

This personal statement is unrated

Related Personal Statements

Add new comment.