Understand and apply the purpose of a personal statement for university or job applications.
Write a tailored personal statement and refine a CV to match a specific course or job role.
Reflect on and improve their application through self-assessment and peer feedback.
Summary:
This lesson supports students in exploring real-life career and education opportunities, aligning with the Careers Framework by helping them research courses and job roles (Gatsby Benchmarks 2 & 5), develop skills in creating tailored applications (Benchmarks 4 & 6), and reflect on their strengths and goals through self-assessment and peer feedback (Benchmarks 3 & 8).
Understand and apply the purpose of a personal statement for university or job applications.
Write a tailored personal statement and refine a CV to match a specific course or job role.
Reflect on and improve their application through self-assessment and peer feedback.
Summary:
This lesson supports students in exploring real-life career and education opportunities, aligning with the Careers Framework by helping them research courses and job roles (Gatsby Benchmarks 2 & 5), develop skills in creating tailored applications (Benchmarks 4 & 6), and reflect on their strengths and goals through self-assessment and peer feedback (Benchmarks 3 & 8).
What is a key section of a CV?
Why is the education section important on a CV?
What makes a personal statement effective?
Which section of a CV highlights job skills?
Meet Sara: Sara wants to study Computer Science at university and also hopes to land a summer job at a tech company. She knows a personal statement is her chance to stand out. It’s where she can show her skills, achievements, and what she’s passionate about — not just her grades. Sara spends time thinking about her favorite projects, her coding club experience, and what makes her unique. When she writes her statement, she explains why she loves technology, what she’s done to improve her skills, and what she hopes to achieve in the future. Because her statement is clear, specific, and shows her personality, Sara catches the attention of both the university and employers.
What does Sara want to study at university?
Good Vs Bad- Personal Statements:
Example 1-
“I have always been fascinated by computers and technology. During my time in the school coding club, I designed a small app that helps students track homework, which sparked my interest in software development. My A-levels in Maths, Computer Science, and Physics have given me a solid foundation in problem-solving and logical thinking. Outside the classroom, I volunteered at a local STEM summer camp, helping younger students learn basic programming skills. I am eager to study Computer Science at university to further develop my skills and pursue a career in software engineering, contributing to innovative technology projects in the future.”
Example 2-
“I like computers and want to study Computer Science. I’m good at maths and science. I did some coding at school and I’m interested in software. I think this course is interesting. I hope to get a job in tech in the future.”
Highlight strengths and weaknesses of both examples.
Discuss: What would make the bad example stronger?
For this task, choose one real university course and one real job role you are interested in. Your CV and personal statement must be tailored specifically to your chosen course or job. You may research real course requirements or job descriptions online to help.
Write 3–5 sentences about yourself highlighting your skills, achievements, and interests.
What university course/job role are you applying for? Include the exact course name and university.
Which industry or field does your chosen course/job belong to?
List 3–5 key skills, qualities, or requirements they are looking for.
Which skills from your CV will you include in your personal statement?
Which achievements will you mention to make your statement stronger?
How will your personal statement link to your CV?
Write short personal statement that matches your chosen course/job.
Peer Review: Share your statement with a partner and ask:
Is it clear why you are suitable for this role/course?
What could be improved?
What is Sara's goal for the summer?
What does Sara include in her personal statement?
Why is Sara's statement effective?