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Writing an Administrative Assistant’s Personal Statement

Table of Contents

Administrative assistants play an important role in any organization. They are responsible for scheduling appointments, answering phones, managing emails, and providing administrative support.

The job of an administrative assistant requires good organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to multitask. Asides from your resume, a personal statement is a vital document employers typically require to determine your suitability for a job role. The  administrative assistant personal statement examples  in this guide will help you get started on the right note.

A personal statement is your chance to sell yourself to the employer and demonstrate your abilities, qualifications, and skill set. You’ll surely leave a lasting impression on the recruiting manager with a solid personal statement that details what you can offer to the company.

This article will take you through writing the perfect administrative assistant personal statement . 

What Is A Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a document you submit as part of your job application. It is a summary of your skills, qualifications, and capabilities . It details what you can offer an employer regarding your applying job. 

A good personal statement must convince the hiring manager that you’re a perfect fit for the role at hand. You may include your interests, life, and career goals. The personal statement is also a great way to demonstrate your written communication skills. This is because administrative assistants often interact with customers and other stakeholders via email. 

What to Include in an Administrative Assistant Personal Statement

For your statement to stand out, you must include some essential information. Here are some key details to include in an administrative assistant’s statement:

1. Relevant work experience

List any previous work experience relevant to the administrative assistant position you are applying for. This could include experience working in a similar role, handling office tasks, or using appropriate software or technologies.

2. Skills and Abilities

Highlight any skills and abilities that make you a strong candidate for the role. These could be proficiency in computer programs such as Microsoft Office, excellent communication skills, and the ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively.

3. Education and Relevant training

Include any relevant education or training you have received, such as a degree in business administration or a certificate in office management.

4. Personal qualities

In your statement, highlight any qualities that make you well-suited for the role of an administrative assistant. These could include strong attention to detail, a positive attitude, and working well in a team.

5. Career goals

Finally, include a brief statement about your career goals and how the role of an administrative assistant fits into your long-term plans.

How to Write an Administrative Assistant Personal Statement

Your statement should be written in a clear structure, with each section building on the point you made in the previous one. 

The following steps will guide your writing:

1. Begin with a Hook

Begin your statement with a brief statement that captures the reader’s attention. You may start by explaining why you are interested in the administrative assistant position and what makes you a strong candidate.

2. Highlight your relevant work experience

When listing your relevant work experience, include the names of the companies or organizations you worked. Also include your previous job titles, and a brief description of your responsibilities.

3. Mention your most unique skills and abilities

You might have several skills and abilities, but only mention those relevant to the administrative assistant position. Also include any skills that give you an edge over other job applicants, one that portrays your uniqueness. 

4. Highlight your personal qualities that make you stand out

This is where you sell yourself to the employer. Detail any unique qualities that will make you excel on the job. These may include strong attention to detail, a positive attitude, and working well in a team.

5.  Conclude

Bring your statement to a close by convincing the employer that you’re indeed the perfect fit for the job role. 

Administrative Assistant Personal Statement Examples

I am an experienced and organized administrative assistant passionate about using my unique skill set to provide exceptional service.

My career has been built on the commitment to providing excellent support services, which I have perfected through initiative and dedication. 

As a professional, I take pride in learning complex tasks while working efficiently under tight deadlines. I often display impressive problem-solving abilities by resolving issues related to day-to-day operations in a timely fashion. Additionally, I always strive to increase my productivity by exploring creative methods of executing my duties. 

My strong interpersonal skills allow me to interact easily with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and build meaningful relationships. Furthermore, I always ensure effective communication between all stakeholders, helping create a peaceful work environment. On top of that, I am skilled at negotiating favorable terms and achieving organizational objectives. 

Overall, my experiences and expertise make me an ideal candidate for any organization looking for competent and reliable administrative assistance.

I am an experienced and enthusiastic administrative assistant, passionate about utilizing my diverse skills to help organizations achieve their objectives. With my extensive knowledge, I juggle many tasks while working efficiently and effectively under pressure. I focus on delivering results on time with accuracy and attention to detail that is second to none. 

My technical proficiency includes computer use, data entry, record keeping, scheduling, filing, and other clerical duties. With these abilities and my commitment to learning new software applications, I offer a unique blend of energy and experience to any organization. 

Additionally, I strive to build strong relationships through my active communication skills and problem-solving abilities. I also have excellent interpersonal and organizational abilities.

I hope to be considered for this opportunity to serve as an administrative assistant in your organization.

I am an experienced and enthusiastic administrative assistant, eager to bring my organized and dedicated work ethic to any workplace. 

With a proven track record of handling clerical duties efficiently and accurately, I am confident I will become an essential part of your team. My drive is fueled by my creative problem-solving skills and willingness to take on complex tasks easily. 

Furthermore, I have excellent interpersonal relationship skills to collaborate effectively with colleagues while maintaining professionalism. I strive to improve processes within any organization and possess the organizational skills necessary for achieving streamlined operations. 

Additionally, I can easily prioritize tasks, reduce risks, and keep communication lines open between departments while maintaining confidentiality and topmost discretion. My dedication to superior customer service will be invaluable when interacting with clients or customers. 

Overall, I offer a unique combination of experience, energy, skill, and reliability that would make me an ideal addition to your office.

Administrative assistants are the backbone of every organization, as many things won’t function without them. When seeking the role of an administrative assistant, you must display your uniqueness. And capture the employer’s attention in a way no other person does.

A strong personal statement will set you apart from the competition. So it’s worth investing your time and effort to create a striking statement.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Administrative Assistant Personal Statement

• CV Templates & Advice

Have you found your ideal admin job, but are struggling to write a great personal statement for your Administrative Assistant CV?

Personal statements are the perfect opportunity for you to show your potential employer what you’re all about and where your talents lie. We recommend using this short personal profile to promote your strengths, work experience and key skills.

Use this 100-150 words at the beginning of your CV to provide examples of how you match the job specifications and why you are perfect for this role.

If you are looking for further information and useful tips, then read our expert guide on  how to write a personal statement .

What to include in your administrative assistant personal statement

Why you are applying for the role:

• Refer to the knowledge you have of the position to show awareness of the demands of the role.

Why you are applying for this specific role:

• What is it that attracted you to this specific role?
• Why do you want to work for this specific company?

Provide details about your education:

• Provide a brief overview on your previous education (School/University/Higher Education Courses)

Your admin experience:

• Where have you worked previously?
• What were you required to do in your last role?
• Did you have any additional responsibilities in your previous roles?

Your vision:

• What are your career aspirations?
• What are you hoping to achieve in this role?

Example Admin Assistant Personal Statement:

Organised and adaptable administrative assistant with four years’ experience working in various office environments. My attention to detail and excellent time management skills means that every task is completed efficiently and to the highest possible standard. I have a calm and patient disposition meaning that I am able to work effectively under pressure and focus on the task in hand. I am proficient working in a team, but also work well independently. In my previous role, I was responsible for providing administrative support to a large sales department reporting directly to the regional sales manager. To succeed in this role i had to be exceptionally organised and demonstrate strong communication skills. In my next role, I am looking to take on new challenges and additional responsibilities.

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How to Write Personal Statements for Administrative Job Application | Complete Guide

This post will give you a comprehensive idea of what you should include in a personal statement for an administrative job. Check out our examples of personal statements for administrative job applications in this post.

On reading the successful administrator personal statement examples, you will get to know what to do and what not while drafting these documents. This way, you would be on the right track while writing one of these applications.

You can post your doubts and reach out to us once you read this post. We would be glad to help you clarify the same.

What is Personal Statement for Admin Job Application?

Personal statement for admin job application can enhance your chances of landing on the lucrative administrative job you had been eyeing. This document serves as an excellent specimen to demonstrate your core skills and leadership abilities to operate in the administrative profile. With high-quality personal statement for admin jobs, you would have the advantage on your side during the recruitment process. Along with your cover letter, resume, and job application, a professionally crafted personal statement would help you win a job.

A personal statement for admin job articulates your abilities to perform well in the profile. So, you need to convey specific skills with examples in this document. In this post, you can check some of the best examples of personal statements for administrative job application.

NEED EXPERTS HELP FOR WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT? CLICK HERE NOW!

Why Do You Need a Personal Statement for Administrative Job?

A personalized personal statement for administrative job helps you explain your potential to a recruiter. A well-articulated personal statement would enable the recruiter understand your abilities. So, you can promote your experience, strength, and skills through this document.

Your personal statement for administrative role is important for the following reasons:

• It articulates your experience and competence in administrative jobs
• A customized personal statement gives you an edge over others
• The document helps the selecting committee to identify your skills
• Amidst competitive job environments, the statement strengthens your profile
• You can explain your specific skills in the administrative profile
• The personal statement complements other application documents like resume and cover letter

structure a personal statement for Administrative Personal Statement Job Application?

Formatting and structuring your personal statement for administrative role calls for expertise. With a proper structure to your personal statement, you can make the crucial information stand out. Besides, you can demonstrate your presentation skills, which also helps the employer assess your profile with ease.

Here’s how you should structure a personal statement for administrative job. An experienced personal statement writer can help you draft this document.

• Mention how long you have been a part of the industry
• Write about the specialized and transferable skills you have
• Mention all your areas of expertise
• Explain the relevant industries where you have demonstrated your competence                                                                                                                  
• The administrator personal statement examples show the relevant interests and qualifications
• Include all the personal qualities that complement your profile
• Include instances that explain your professional abilities
• Write about how you wish to adapt yourself to the new work environment

How Do you Write a Powerful Personal Statement Administrative Job Application in 6 Steps?

Writing a successful personal statement for an admin job requires prior experience. Besides, you might be applying at the entry-level or executive profile. Here’s how you should write a personal statement for admin jobs.

On scrutinizing through the best administrator personal statement examples, you would notice that the introductory paragraph in each document is unique. You can mention what motivated you to apply for the course along with your recent experience.

The body of your personal statement for an admin job should explain relevant skills, interests, and experiences. You might furnish some personal details to support your administrative fellowship, professional summary, or application letter.

Your personal statement should clearly indicate what you would bring to the table. So, you can touch your academic background and professional experience briefly before explaining your plans.

As you check out the best administrative personal statement examples, you would notice how experienced writers mention the awards, certifications, degrees, and industry experience of the candidate. You might also mention the positions you worked in and the corresponding responsibilities.

Before joining a new office, you would be submitting an essay and appearing an interview. However, these documents don’t carry specific examples to explain your skills. Your personal statement for admin job application brings you the right opportunity to mention these strengths.

Draft a strong conclusion for your personal statement that would leave a lasting impression on the recruiters. It should justify the relevance of your application, persuading the selectors to hire you.

Need Help for Writing Your Personal Statement? Click Here!

Sample for Personal Statement for Administration Job Application

Here’s one of the best administrative personal statement examples that you might check out. The experts can draft a similar personal statement for administrative job for you.

With three years of industry experience under my belt, I am willing to shoulder greater administrative responsibilities at your esteemed organization. As an adaptable and organized administrative assistant, I have worked in different office experiences over the years. My excellent time management skills and attention to details help me accomplish the tasks efficiently, adhering to the industry standards.

A patient and calm composure helps me work efficiently under pressure. Admin tasks tend to get complicated at times. On multiple occasions, I have shouldered stress efficiently, focusing on the individual task at hand. Besides, I have demonstrated my competence in working as a team and leading other employees. At the same time, I am comfortable working independently.

I had a gratifying experience operating as an administrative support staff in the sales department for the last two years. I had to report to the regional sales manager directly. Working in this profile, I was able to organize my working process and polish my communication skills. I look forward to embrace a progressive career and deliver the same kind of commitment to your organization. Hence, I look forward to take on additional responsibilities and channelize my skills to address the challenges.

Currently, I am working with an MNC as an operation and admin executive. The company has entrusted me with the responsibility of maintaining professional connection with our clients. In my profile, the responsibilities include making enquiries through emails and telephone. I also assist the team with events, meetings, and conferences. Besides, the company has entrusted me with the responsibility to carry out web-based research and make clear presentations. Besides, I am responsible to ensure that the content on our website for clients remains updated and relevant. At the same time, I am equally competent in maintaining the databases with client details. Evidently, I am well-versed in the core administrative processes, and brace up to embrace my next opportunity.

While I believe that maintaining a high level of professionalism is imperative for me, I also worked on my basics. Before integrating myself into the industry, I graduated with a three-year degree from the Amity University, finishing in the top 3% of the glass. Being practical minded, I believed that true professionalism in work comes from a calculative blend of my existing skills and industry knowledge. This explains why I switched my job twice in a span of three years. Besides, I strived to excel in my professional circuit wherever I worked all these years. I was happy to have delivered value to my organizations. At the same time, this professional exposure helped me evolve as a more competent candidate, with a refined knowledge in admin jobs.

I am willing to apply for the admin job in the marketing department since I already have experience in this field. This experience will come in handy while I take on the new tasks at your organization. I am eager to set my hands on new methodologies and carry on with the learning process. I am also well-versed with the leading software that office admins need to manage the back office. Having completed my B. Com program, I am familiar to accounts management. Besides, I have completed a Diploma program in Taxation and Accounts Management to streamline my profile.

Channelizing my existing skills and fresh knowledge, I would like to work in your esteemed organization as an office admin. With due diligence and commitment, I hereby promise to contribute to the productivity of your organization. I have always been eyeing a progressive career, and I believe that your platform would be the ideal pedestal for me to carry out my professional endeavors. With due diligence and commitment, I would take on the fresh set of responsibilities and deliver value to your organization.

Example – Administrative Assistant Personal Statement

I have had a keen interest in administrative jobs since my childhood. As a Class Representative and School Representative I enjoyed my administrative responsibilities. I like to lead and manage anything and I always took advantage of opportunities to showcase my leadership capabilities and management abilities. I had a strong desire to be part of the Indian Administrative Service. But despite a few failed attempts in the Indian Civil Service examination, I made the decision to be a part of top multinational companies and secure my dream job as an Office Assistant. I have 3 years of experience as an Office Assistant at XYZ and have managed several responsibilities. My excellent time management skills and attention to details has helped me to accomplish my tasks efficiently and fulfill my duties excellently.

As a vibrant person, I have always tried hard to maintain a positive work culture. My interactions with my fellow mates have always been quite decent and these have helped me to hone my interpersonal communication skills. Though at times I feel that administrative jobs get complicated, my calm and patient composure has helped me to work efficiently under pressure and tackle all the challenges. Working both as part of a team and independently, I had efficiently managed my responsibilities well. As a team player, I have demonstrated my skills efficiently. In my position as an Office Assistant, I have sometimes led my fellow mates and trained new joiners. As an Office Assistant, I have prepared reports, documentations, managed meetings and offered customer support. Working as a team, me and my team mates have also contributed towards the sales and marketing branch of the company.

Working in this profile has enabled me to be organized and polish my technical and communications skills. I am sure this job position also offers me the same kind of work environment where I can hold a progressive career and work efficiently for your organization. In order to better equip myself with contemporary techniques on administrative positions, I would look to take on additional responsibilities and polish my skills to address the challenges.

I am sure my perfect blend of professionalism and will to work hard will make me good as an Administrative Assistant. As a Bachelor of Commerce Honors graduate from the well reputed Amity University, I am adept in management and administrative responsibilities, accounting and taxation as well. As a competent candidate, I am ready to take up new challenges and whet my skills.

I am sure my work experience as an Office Assistant will come in handy during my Administrative Assistant job in the marketing department at your Company. I am eager to take up new responsibilities and channelize my talents for the benefit of your company. I am sure your company offers the right platform for me to carry out my professional endeavors. With great enthusiasm and diligence I would like to take up responsibility as an Administrative Assistant and add value to your company. This post will surely help me to better myself and the company. With great diligence and enthusiasm, I would like to take on the responsibilities and add value to your organization by my compassionate work ethics and professionalism.

How Do You Make Your Personal Statement Stand out?

Now, you must be wondering what should a personal statement include for a administrative job application?

• Explanation for applying for the particular role
• Details outlining your educational background
• Your past experiences in the administrative profile
• Your vision on how you can get going in the new organization
• Unique skills that give you an edge over other candidate
• Proper evidence on how your experiences and skills suit the job description
• Specific examples to demonstrate your competence
• Your future goals considering the industry
• The benefits you can bring to the table
• How you view your career progression in the organization

What Administrative Skill Should I Demonstrate?

While writing a Personal Statement for an Administrative job, don’t miss to mention the administrative skills you possess and have exhibited in your previous job.

Below are the top administrative skills you should have to be a successful Administrator:

• Effective Communication Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Responsibility
• Customer Service
• Multitasking
• Time Management

How Do You Demonstrate Excellent Administrative Skills?

It is very vital to include some Administrative Skills you possess in your CV to demonstrate your Administrative capabilities.

So don’t forget to include the following points in your CV:

• You can name some of the events you have organized
• You can give instances in which you have solved a conflict.
• You can demonstrate your technical skills by giving the names of softwares you are familiar with.
• Describe the situations in which you have managed the schedule of a team.
• Name any foreign languages you speak, if any.

What Should You Avoid in a Personal Statement?

Your personal statement for job is a crucial document where you cannot afford to make mistakes. Once you examine the best examples of personal statements for administrative job application, you would notice how flawless they should be.

Faltering with the contents, presentation, tone, or format in your job personal statement can lead to rejection. Therefore, you need to be careful about the common mistakes while writing a personal statement for job and avoid the same. To help you secure the desired administrative job, our writers with more than 10 years of professional experience have pointed out the common mistakes that you might commit.

• Don’t use cliches in your statement as it makes it generic
• Don’t be vague about the skills or write something that others would include
• Refrain from embellishments and exaggerations in your personal statement
• Don’t include buzzwords or unnecessary fluff in the document
• As the language you use matters, refrain from using a negative tone
• Your document shouldn’t include personal information like the number of dependants
• Refrain from making the document ambiguous by using disjoint sentences
• Don’t forget to edit, proofread, and check the document before submitting

To enhance your chances of bagging the job, make sure to have experienced writers on your side. The best administrator personal statement examples will help you understand the quality and tone that would break the ice.

Top 10 Administrative Jobs

Have a look at the top ten administrative jobs to apply for.

• Senior data entry specialist
• Facilities manager
• Medical administrative assistant
• Executive assistant
• Certified professional coder
• Call centre manager
• Customer service manager
• HR benefits specialist
• Contract administrator          
• Senior executive assistant

Pro Tips from Our 10+ Years of Experienced Professional Personal Statement Writers for Jobs

Our seasoned writers have explained how you should draft your personal statement for admin job application. Adhering to these guidelines, you can come up with a powerful and convincing personal statement. This can help you create a strong impression on the recruiting committee who would call you for an interview.

Seasoned writers use their industry experience to draft outstanding job personal statements . Here are some of the tips you would find beneficial.

Intent for application:

Mention your intention to apply for the administrative job. Here, you might include your professional philosophy.

Qualifications:

As you see in the administrator personal statement examples , experienced writers seamlessly draft these documents, mentioning the relevant qualifications of the applicant. 

Proper formatting:

Make sure to format and present the job personal statement properly. This ensures that the readers would find it relevant and inviting.

Editing and proofreading:

To ensure that you submit a flawless personal statement for administrative job, make sure to get the document properly edited and proofread by experts.

Focus on tone and language:

The tone and language in which you write your personal statement matter a lot. So, make sure to use the right tone in this document.

Customize your application:

Remember, each company has its own ethics and working style. So, you need to get your personal statement customized for each of them.

Did We Miss Anything?

Once you check out the personal statement examples for management jobs and CV samples, you will get a clear idea on what to include in these documents.

Hopefully, you are now better informed about how you must draft these crucial statements.

Well, we are at the end of this post, and you may contribute from your end with some ideas you would like to share.

Also, let us know if you benefit from our examples of personal statements for administrative job applications. We would be glad to help you with more of these sample personal statements for you.

What should be included in a personal statement for a job application?

A Personal Statement for job application must include why you are the best person for the specified job.

What are 3 categories of examples that define administrative skills?

Strong organizational skills, communication skills and interpersonal and teamwork skills are the 3 categories that define administrative skills.

What are the three top qualities of an administrative assistant?

Problem solving, Multitasking, Foresight and Anticipation are the three top qualities of an administrative assistant.

What makes you stand out as an administrative assistant?

Your positive attitude and communication skills

Mrs Jizah M

Mrs Jizah M has always enjoyed writing down her thoughts since school days. What just started as a hobby slowly transformed into a passion. Her writing skills were first acknowledged by few of her professors when she wrote content for the college website; this was a turing. Slowly she started getting freelance works and later on, a series of events led her to specialize in academic and higher education related documentations. In additional to personal statements, she along with her team writes LORs, SOPs, college application essays, admission essays and all similar types of documents.

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Personality Traits to Become a Secretary

How to write a resume for a school principal position, how to write a cover letter to reapply for my current job.

• How to Briefly Describe the Type of Career Opportunity You Are Seeking
• Good Examples of Why You Would Like to Work for an Employer

Landing an administrative job provides an exciting opportunity to use your leadership skills. Knowing how to write a personal statement for an admin job in school or business settings can give you a strong advantage in the hiring process. When drafting a personal statement for an admin job in school or any other organization, think of it as a homework assignment for writing a captivating commercial or a great campaign ad. All good advertisers know that their product must match the needs and interests of the buyer. In your case, you must offer specific examples of the qualities you possess that align perfectly with the main duties of the administrative position you are seeking.

A personal statement on a curriculum vita (CV) or online job application is a brief but interesting synopsis of who you are and what you can do for the organization.

Tailor Your Statement to the Job

Your personal statement must convince the reader as to why you are an ideal match for the administrative job. Demonstrating that you are highly qualified is not enough. Study the job ad, and speak with colleagues who are familiar with the organization for clues as to the type of person and leadership style preferred. For instance, the school board may be hoping for a fiery principal who can be a change agent; or, perhaps the board seeks an excellent communicator. If you are that type of leader, emphasize those specific qualities when writing your personal statement. Communicate a sense of who are and what you value. Do not simply restate your resume; emphasize the qualities they look for that you possess in abundance.

Highlight Your Leadership Style

Enthusiastically explain your leadership style and philosophy. You can write your personal statement in bullet points or in paragraph form directly below your name and contact information. You do not need to include a heading. Examples of bullet points for a business administrator could include descriptors such as “dynamic, results oriented leader who sets the highest standards possible for myself and my team.” Depending on your personal preferences, you may prefer to write a paragraph in narrative form.

I am a visionary leader with a collaborative management style. Education has been my lifelong passion. Nothing is more rewarding to me than creating inclusive and accessible learning environments, where all children feel valued. My extensive classroom experience, administrator license and special education background make me an ideal fit for the assistant principal job.

Showcase Your Qualifications

First impressions are powerful, so use your personal statement to dazzle a hiring manager. There should be no question that you can do the job if given the chance. For instance, when writing an effective executive assistant personal statement, start by making a list of what makes you a competitive applicant in relation to the position. Consider the work setting and the type of person who is most likely to fail or succeed. An efficient but unfriendly receptionist may not have what it takes to be the public face of the company, for instance. If the ad seeks an outgoing organizer for an admin job, mention directed related qualities in your executive assistant personal statement.

I am a friendly, high-energy professional who anticipates what the boss needs, sets priorities, communicates effectively and organizes meticulously.

Share Your Career Objectives

A good personal statement lets the employer know why you are seeking a new job. Mention that you are looking for a position that offers new challenges and additional responsibilities. You don't want to give the impression that you are unhappy with your current situation or just after a better paying job. Administrative roles require ambition, drive and self-motivation. For instance, the best personal assistant personal statement examples state that you are wanting to learn and grow as a professional.

I am a highly organized, efficient secretary, striving to take my career to the next level. I seek a position as a loyal personal assistant where I can utilize my organizational abilities and communication skills to the fullest.

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Mary Dowd holds a doctorate in educational leadership and a master’s in counseling and student affairs from Minnesota State Mankato. Helping students succeed has been her passion while serving in many areas of student affairs and adjunct teaching. Currently she is a dean of students at a large, public university. Dr. Dpwd’s writing experience includes published research, training materials and hundreds of practical online articles.

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Administrator CV examples and template

If you are hoping to land an administrator job, or similar office support position, it’s vital that you have an effective CV.

An administrator CV that stands out from the crowd, and highlights your most in-demand skills will attract recruiters and win plenty of interviews for you.

This guide along with 4 administrator CV examples, will teach you everything you need to know about writing a winning CV and securing top admin roles.

CV templates 

Administrator CV example

Sales administrator CV example

Contract administrator CV example

HR administrator CV example

The above CV is a good example of an experienced administrator who has worked in a range of office support roles across numerous firms.

It should give you a good steer on how your CV might end up looking, but the following guide will walk you through step-by-step, the process of writing your own admin CV ( curriculum vitae ).

Admin CV structure

Before you start writing your CV , you will need to plan how you will layout the information and style the document. This stage is very important because the structure and format of the document will help you to create a pleasant reading experience for recruiters, and give you a professional first impression.

This infographic shows you what sections are needed in your CV, how they should be ordered, and some tips on styling.

Formatting tips

• Try to keep your CV to around 2 pages in length – it’s just the right length to get enough information across without boring readers.
• Keep the style simple with a clear crisp font , and modest colour scheme – there’s no need to over-complicate your CV.
• Divide sections with bold headings and borders to allow recruiters to navigate your CV quickly.
• Break text up for easy reading, and don’t add images or logos – they will distract from the all-important content.

Structuring your admin CV

Once you have your CV well-formatted, the following sections need to be included in order:

• Contact details – Add these at the very top of your CV… You don’t want them to be missed
• Profile – An introductory paragraph to reel recruiters in and summarise your skills
• Work experience / career history – List your work experience in reverse chronological order
• Education – Academic record and qualifications
• Interest and hobbies – Optional section

Now that you understand how your CV should be structured, I will take you through the sections in detail, and show you how to write each one.

CV contact details

At the very top of your CV, list your name and contact details so that recruiters can contact you easily.

Quick tip: Reduce the top page margin to push these details right to the top of the page, and create more space for the body of your CV.

The only contact details your CV needs are:

• Telephone number
• Email address (use a professional sounding address – no nicknames)
• Maybe a link to your LinkedIn profile if you have one

These are the only contact details required – there is no need to include your full address, date of birth, marital status etc. They are not required at such an early stage in the application process, and you shouldn’t circulate too much personal information online for security purposes.

Administrator CV profile

The top of your CV plays a very important role, because it is the first thing a recruiter will see upon opening the document, and you only have a few seconds to get their attention.

To ensure you make an instant good impression, head your CV up with a punchy profile that provides a rounded summary of your skills, and ensures people will commit time to reading your CV in full.

Your profile (sometimes called a personal statement by junior candidates) should be an introductory paragraph of about 5-10 lines.

These are the keys to creating a strong CV profile:

• Keep it short and sharp, you only have a few seconds to get your message across
• Tailor it towards your target roles by researching the core candidate requirements before you start writing
• Avoid generic clichés like “hardworking team player” – they are overused and don’t tell readers anything factual about you

Quick tip:  If you worry that your spelling and grammar might not be correct, try using our quick-and-easy CV Builder  to eliminate the risk of making mistakes.

This is an example of a good admin CV profile.

You can see more CV profile examples here .

As an administrator, these are the types of content that should be going into your profile:

Where you have worked – What types of organisation have you worked for? Large corporate firms? Small high street offices? If you have no work experience, you can always draw on school or university experience.

Qualifications – IT, maths and English qualifications can be important in admin work, as can vocational administrative qualifications

Essential admin skills – Although every administration role will be unique, there are certain skills that are likely to be required in all of them. Skills such as data entry /management, reporting, typing, filing, diary management etc.

Types of people you support – Who have you supported in previous roles? Head of departments? Global directors? Large teams?

System/software knowledge – Many admin roles will require the use of common systems and software such as Outlook and Microsoft Excel .

Boost your profile with a core skills section

To create an even bigger impact at the top of your CV, add a core skills section underneath your profile.

The core skills section is a series of bullet points split over 2 or 3 columns which highlight your most valuable skills and knowledge for admin roles.

The effect this section has, is that it allows readers to gain a good overview of your suitability, from just a quick glance at the CV – great for ensuring recruiters notice you.

Your work experience

Once you’ve given recruiters an overview of your abilities with the top of your CV, it’s time to start detailing your career history to give them some more in-depth insight into what you can do.

( If you have no direct work experience , don’t worry – you can write about any other experiences that could be relevant like school/university projects, personal projects, school work placements, voluntary work, or anything you can draw relevant skills from )

List your work experience in reverse chronological order (latest to oldest) because employers will be more interested in your recent work to assess your current capabilities.

As you move down your CV, you can shorten older roles because they won’t receive as much scrutiny from recruiters or employers.

Structuring your roles

It’s important that you structure your role descriptions in a way that is easy for recruiters to read, and allows them to gain a quick understanding of your work and impact.

Don’t make the mistake of writing your roles as big unbroken chunks of text, they are a reader’s worst nightmare.

Instead, use a structure like the one below to create a pleasant reading experience for everyone.

Here’s how you should populate each section of your administrative roles:

Build context for recruiters by providing an overview of the company you work for, where you fit within the organisation for and a brief summary of the role.

“Working within business support team for global publishing business, providing administrative support to a number of busy teams and managing 2 assistants ”

Key responsibilities

List the responsibilities within your role in short bullet points, and demonstrate as many important skills as possible – showing who you interact with, and how your actions benefit your employer.

• Acts as first point of contact for email, telephone and in-person enquiries, responding professionally and providing information, referring on as appropriate
• Coordinating meetings, compiling agendas, taking minutes and distributing documents

Key achievements

To prove the impact you make in the workplace, finish the role with some achievements that have had a big positive impact on the business.

• Introduced new file storage system which allowed managers to access documents with more speed and accuracy
• Resolved all data queries within 24 hour time period, reducing wait time by an average of 50%

See our best CV templates  and Word CV template for more examples of role structures.

Add your full education towards the bottom of your CV, listing GCSE’s, A-levels, degree and any vocational qualifications.

Don’t forget that if you have any qualifications that are highly relevant to the admin roles you are applying for, you should also mention them at the top of your CV in the profile.

Hobbies and interests

It’s up to you whether you include your hobbies and interests in your CV or not – They won’t usually make a big difference in any hiring decisions (good or bad)

If you have any interests that are somehow related to the roles you are applying for, then it could be worth mentioning them.

Common interests such as watching TV or eating out , aren’t worth mentioning.

Essential skills for your admin CV

Although there are many different types of administrative roles, the following skills tend to appear frequently in the candidate requirements for admin staff.

Business/office support – Most administrative roles revolve around the support of senior figures in the business or the office as a whole. Your CV should contain examples of who you support, and how your input helps the business to run smoothly.

Data entry and management – Admin often requires staff to deal with large volumes of data , ensuring that it is properly stored, processed and distributed. Highlight your ability to handle business-critical data and any tools or systems used in the process.

Document preparation – Preparing letters, emails, reports and other important business documents is an essential part of administration.

Communications – Communicating with colleagues to provide updates and information is a valuable skill for any administrator.

Microsoft Office – In most workplaces across the globe, Microsoft Office is the go-to business tool suite. Your CV must demonstrate your abilities with Word, PowerPoint, Excel, PDF and any other widely used programmes.

Writing your admin CV – conclusion

Creating a strong administrator CV requires a blend of effective structure and impressive content.

If you are able to catch recruiters’ attention with a punchy profile, and prove the impact you make with well written role descriptions, you should certainly be able to land interviews for admin roles.

Remember that research and relevance is the key to a good CV. So research your target roles before you start writing and pack your CV with your skills that closely match the job requirements.

Good luck with the job search.

You can also check out our receptionist CV exampl e or find more CV writing tips across our blog.

Administration Personal Statement

Example Administration Personal Statement

In my current role as Administrative Assistant within the Marketing and Communications Department at the iCoCo Research Institute, I have gained a great deal of experience within Higher Education administration in general and within the University of Coventry specifically. I would relish the opportunity to build upon this experience in a new, challenging role.

In my current position I have responsibility for ensuring the maintenance of effective, professional relationships with colleagues, students and clients; dealing with telephone and e-mail enquiries; and assisting with conferences, meetings and events. In addition to these duties, I am also responsible for the clear presentation of web-based research, updating and uploading website content and maintaining client databases. As such, I am well versed in all of the core administrative procedures related to Higher Education and the University of Coventry, as well as use of the relevant IT packages.

As my CV demonstrates, I have worked with ambition and dedication to gain the relevant experience to ensure that I can perform to the best of my abilities within each role I have undertaken. Consistently pursuing a developing career in university administration from Receptionist to Admin Assistant, I have the proven ability to develop new skills quickly and efficiently when required and the drive and determination to push myself to perform to the best of my abilities.

In addition, my previous experience within customer service roles has imbued me with effective verbal and written communication skills, alongside experience of staff supervision, to ensure that I am equally comfortable in a leadership role, or offering support within a larger team. During my time as Shift Run Manager at McDonald’s, for example, I was jointly responsible for maintaining standards of customer service and ensuring employee well being. This experience offered an excellent opportunity to take on extra responsibility as my career with the company progressed and it is this proactive attitude that I have applied to all subsequent positions.

Building on a consistent performance at school, I have also shown the ability to complete written work to a high standard, within strict timescales. Having pursued subjects that foreground language and communication skills to A-Level and beyond, I have found it possible to translate this academic experience into valuable employment skills in my current position. Regularly tasked with undertaking and presenting research or writing website copy, I pride myself on offering the appropriate level of clear, concise information to ensure that the department continues to run smoothly.

In summary, my career in Higher Education administration thus far has proven that I am driven to succeed, consistently gaining new skills and taking on extra responsibility with each new position. While my specific experience within the University of Coventry obviously marks me out as a strong candidate for this role, I believe that it is my fundamental ambition, dedication and meticulous attention to detail that will ensure that I continue progressing professionally and pushing myself to perform to the same high standard in the more challenging role.

We hope that this example Administration personal statement shows you relevant content and structure to help write your own personal statement .

For help with applications, please visit Personal Statement Service .

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7 Outstanding MBA Personal Statement Examples

For top 5 mba programs in the world: updated.

Featured Expert: Hassan Awan, MBA

Reviewing MBA personal statement examples can really inspire your own! Before applying to competitive professional programs, many students review medical school personal statement examples or law school personal statement examples , as these can be a great way to gauge what is expected of you. And if you are applying to an MBA – you should certainly review MBA personal statement examples! In this blog, we will teach you what an MBA personal statement is and why it’s needed, the types of essay questions commonly asked and how to answer them, and provide 7 MBA personal statement examples you can study to craft your own. This blog will also cover some of the key elements of a winning personal statement and some of the biggest mistakes to avoid when writing your personal statement.

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Article Contents 26 min read

What is an mba personal statement.

An MBA personal statement is an integral part of any MBA application. But what exactly is it? Simply put, an MBA personal statement, sometimes called a goal statement or statement of purpose, is a summary of your goals and experiences, why you are applying to your chosen MBA programs and what you hope to achieve in doing so. It’s a document, written in essay form, that tells admissions committees the skills, experiences and fresh perspective you can bring to the program.

A personal statement convinces admissions committees that you are the most suitable choice for a position in a department of Business Administration. MBA personal statements work a bit like a great cover letter for a job interview. A good cover letter tells a hiring committee a bit more about you and your suitability for a job position. A great one will get you an interview or even a job offer from the chosen company. Similarly, your MBA personal statement should cinch your acceptance to a chosen program in the field of business administration.

For almost every application process, you’ll be asked to write a personal statement, and an MBA program is no exception. Schools want to know more about you. They want to know your motivations, your purpose in applying to business school, and any significant part of why you chose to pursue this degree. They’re looking for more than high grades and impressive resumes.

Admissions committees know that the competition is fierce, so they want to make the best decision possible. A personal statement is the best way to show them why your candidacy should be considered above others.

Your personal statement is your chance to shine. It’s a chance to make an impression on your business school’s admissions committee. It also shows committees that you have top-notch writing and communication skills, two things that are big assets to any future business leader. So, admissions officers aren’t just using your personal statement to measure how you stand out from the crowd, they’re judging your professional skillset as well. If you struggle with writing college essays for your application, consider reading some sample college essays to find inspiration and expert tips. Or, if you’re looking for a more holistic guide to the graduate school application grind, think about seeking help from an MBA admissions consulting service.

Still working on your MBA Resume as well? Here are some tips:

Common MBA personal statement prompts

For personal statements, MBA programs will usually pose a question to applicants, which the admissions committee expects to be answered in essay format. While the questions will vary from program to program and likely change from year to year, there are some commonly asked questions you can prepare answers for ahead of time.

These questions often seem a lot like common job interview questions, but it’s important to remember that the answers should focus on your personal, professional, and academic achievements that can relate to your MBA success. Admissions committees provide these personal statement prompts to encourage students to self-reflect on their motivations, goals and perspectives, and then to share their insights and discoveries with the school. Graduate school programs may also ask for a statement of purpose to ask you further questions about yourself, so review some graduate school statement of purpose examples and tips for extra help. The key is delivering a personal answer while tying it back to the skills and qualities needed to succeed in business school. It’s also good preparation for the MBA interview questions !

There’s no magic formula when it comes to writing the perfect personal statement, but there are some key elements that should be included to pack more of a punch. Aside from being well-written, MBA personal statements need to contain the content admissions committees are looking for, be presented in the essay format they want, and they need to keep the readers’ attention.

Below we’ve highlighted a few things to keep in mind when creating your personal statement.

Use essay format

Your personal statement needs to be organized in an essay format. A sentence or a short paragraph won’t do. Admissions committees are looking for a little more content, and a bit more structure. The typical word count of an MBA personal statement is around 400-1,000 words, so think one to two pages long. Some programs may have very strict word count requirements, while others may not specify the word count but ask students to answer two essay questions.

Craft your personal statement just as you would an essay, with an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. Start with a brief introduction that captures the reader. Use the introduction to engage the reader and keep them reading until the end of the statement.

Follow this with 3 to 5 body paragraphs that dig a bit deeper into your answer to the prompt in front of you. Each body paragraph should elaborate on how you came to apply to MBA and what makes you a great candidate. Remember to always use examples to support your claims- in other words, “show, don’t tell” them your story!

The conclusion

For the conclusion, wrap up your statement neatly, impressing upon the reader that you are the right fit for the program. Your reader should be left with the incitement to action, namely, they should want to extend you an interview invitation.

Being able to master the short essay format will also show admissions committees that you have the writing chops needed to excel in their business program!

Keep in mind that personal statements are usually between 750 and 1,000 words, so they don’t need to be long, meaty essays. Be concise in your statement and cut out any unnecessary information or fluff that isn’t needed.

Have a compelling story

When writing your personal statement, it’s important to leave an impression. Admissions committees will remember a great narrative over another student with high marks in all their classes. Crafting a compelling narrative is easier said than done, but it can be done.

Consider the question being asked. Are they asking for a moment of personal achievement? Your greatest failure? Do they want to know what motivated you to apply for business school? From there, choose a significant moment in your life that relates to the question.

Tell the story of this personal moment, using narrative story structure to deliver it with the greatest impact. Story structure means taking the reader—the admissions committee—on a journey.

For example, a story about the time you decided to run a marathon might start with a bit of background on the race and why you decided to run it. Then it would talk about any obstacles or setbacks you faced in preparing for this challenge, and how you overcame them. In your essay, you could write about the race itself, your mindset and any unexpected difficulties like a twisted ankle, finishing with the result of you completing the marathon anyway or beating your personal best time. Discuss why this moment of personal triumph was significant to you and how it relates to your decision to apply to business school.

Use your natural voice

When writing your personal statement, it’s key to maintain your authenticity. It is, after all, a personal statement, so use your natural voice and style in your writing. Admissions committees appreciate unique voices, and it will be noticeable in your writing if you’re trying to be overly formal or adopt the style of another writer.

Remember that committees are asking who you are as a person. Being honest and natural in your responses will shine through with way more impact than trying to sound like the smartest person in the room or the most business-savvy applicant.

Prove your leadership qualities, be introspective and honest

No matter the essay question, it’s best to showcase your leadership qualities. Show admissions committees that you can be introspective and honest with yourself. They want to see proof of self-growth and self-reflection in the experiences you share in your personal statement.

Demonstrate your leadership as part of a team environment by highlighting the ways in which you built up your team or encouraged them. Show the admissions team that you have leadership over yourself as well, in your commitment to your goals, writing about how you saw a difficult project through to the end, or a moment of personal self-development in which you learned from past mistakes.

Share how you will contribute, and how the program will help you achieve your career goals

Lastly, draw attention to what contributions you can make to the school or program of your choice. Pump up your strengths and the unique perspective or skills you bring to the table. Present compelling arguments for why you should be chosen over others.

Also mention how the program you’ve chosen will contribute to your business education or help you achieve your career goals. Mention specific elements in the school’s culture or curriculum that you feel will be an asset to your education in business administration or your future in business.

Worried about your MBA Interview? These are some of the question types you can start preparing for:

What should be left out of an MBA personal statement?

Just as there are elements that need to be included in your MBA personal statement, there are parts to avoid as well. Some common mistakes in poorly written personal statements are making it too long, not proofreading or checking your work, and not answering the essay question effectively.

Below we’ve listed some key mistakes to avoid when writing your personal statement.

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Below we’ve provided 7 examples of great introductions, body paragraphs and conclusions of MBA personal statements, each answering the common types of essay questions we talked about above.

1. What motivated you to apply for this MBA program?

My family owns one of the oldest small businesses in our tight-knit community. I have always been proud to be a part of this family tradition, and it is my dream to open a small business myself. During the pandemic, I witnessed my parents and their fellow small business owners struggle to keep the doors open and the lights on. Many businesses, some of which had been here for decades, were ultimately unable to and had to close their doors for good. This was difficult for me, as it is not just a failing business, but an individual’s dream being shuttered. There are many hard-working small business owners in my community who simply could not compete or adapt to the changes of the past year. And they had no system to guide them on how to get back on their feet.

My dream to become an entrepreneur has now evolved; in the future, I want to create a company which incubates local start-up businesses. In working with [Company], I have developed my leadership and organizational skills, but an MBA from [University] will allow me to grow into a community-minded leader. With [Company], I have been fortunate to be able to lead a team of like-minded individuals, and see how both my actions, and the actions of the team, can lift up us all. It would be my goal to view my community of small business owners in the same way: as one unit that can be raised out of the circumstances we are all mired in.

[University’s] MBA program was my first choice because its foundational values align with my goals. With the program’s focus on the operation and management of small business, I believe it will provide me with the proper toolset to serve local business owners and up and coming start-ups. [University] also focuses on entrepreneurial leadership and development, which will be a great class to augment my existing skillset. The curriculum of this program will provide me with the necessary professional skills I need to succeed as a small business owner myself, particularly with its foundation of management, finance and leadership. Since the program also holds a high standard for innovative, exemplary leadership, I feel it will augment my developing leadership style and skills and mold me into becoming the kind of leader my community and its business owners need right now.

The small business owners in my community are like members of a family, and when they were faced with difficult times, I was amazed to see how they supported one another, and reached out to one another. My goal as a business incubator would be to provide a space for these businesses who were struggling or had to shutdown to restart again and get back on their feet. To have a community support system to reinvigorate them. It would also be a resource for any budding entrepreneurs in the community, who were scared off by these challenging times or simply don’t have the resources they need to get off the ground.

After graduating, I will achieve my dream of running a business incubator with the full guidance of my experiences inside and outside the classroom. With the skills I will have learned, I will be able to give back to my community and make a true impact on the lives of its small business owners. I am passionate about my goals, and deeply committed to making a real, tangible difference in my community’s business sector. I will take the lessons I’ll learn at [University] with me throughout my life and career in business and pass along the tools and skills I will have learned to the small business owners, like my parents, for whom it makes such an incredible difference.

2. Who do you most admire?

The businessperson I most admire is not a well-known titan of industry. Her name is [Name]. She is the founder of a not-for-profit organization which provides stray animals in need with care and housing, as well as educates on proper animal care. She has been my mentor as I have volunteered for her organization for the last 3 years. My passion for animals led me to volunteer with [Organization], but it was the incredible example set by [Name] which inspired me to further my professional goals and pursue an MBA. With an MBA degree, I can pour my experiences, skills, and passion into helping other not-for-profits like [Organization] succeed and continue to help animals. The world, particularly the not-for-profit sector, needs more leaders like her. She continues to inspire me with the commitment and passion she has for her business.

The reason I admire [Name] is because of her dedication to her business, her sense of responsibility to her team and the animals, and her vision in creating a better solution to stray overpopulation and pet abandonment. Every day, she works to educate pet owners on the problems organizations like hers face, and the effect on the animals and communities involved. People often misunderstand the work done by animal shelters and organizations like [Name’s], and it’s important to not only raise awareness but educate others on the real problems we are seeing everyday, and the proven solutions that can be provided. Overpopulation of strays and inadequate pet care often mean our shelters are at capacity, stressing our already taxed resources. It sometimes means we’re not able to accept an animal in need off the street, because someone else has returned a pet they weren’t prepared to care for.

[Name] puts everything she has into her business to ensure it runs in a responsible, organized way, from caring for the animals, to managing staff and customers. She tackles problems head-on, and she is involved in every step of the process to see where we can make improvements. Every year, she organizes our Adoption Day event and fundraiser. She sets up pens for potential pet owners to interact with our animals safely, signs up new shelter volunteers and accepts donations. And then she is in charge of educational presentations and a thank you speech in front of the crowd of our supporters and donors. She truly makes being an organized professional an artform. As part of the team, she is our leader by example, showing our team how to organize and set up a safe, fun and successful event. She leads from the front and shows us how to properly care for animals and advocate on their behalf.

[Name] is not only dedicated to her position as the team leader and head of the organization, but personally takes the time to do the work around the shelter and can fill in for any position flawlessly. She proves the importance of being able to multi-task, and how crucial it is to know every part of the business, when she shows our shelter volunteers how to clean out cages, maintain our animals’ physical health with grooming or properly delivering necessary medications, and how to socialize our animals with structured play with other animals and humans. She uses her creative thinking and innovation to keep finding ways the team can work smarter, not harder, and brainstorm ways that we can improve the lives of our animals. When our resources aren’t enough, or a piece of equipment breaks down, there is always another solution. When we didn’t have enough proper feeding and water bowls for our pets, she took it upon herself to recycle pieces of PVC pipe and plastic storage bins from our storage room to create a feeding and watering system that saved us time in caring for our animals and provided space for everyone during busy feeding times.

My mentor will always be an inspiration to me in the world of business for her leadership qualities and the way she executes her vision. Not only is she a prime example of a not-for-profit business owner, but she also never lets herself forget why she’s there, and she always shows up for her business. Working in the not-for-profit sector requires a surplus of passion, patience, integrity and dedication. It also requires superb organization, knowing your business inside and out, creativity and innovation. She demonstrates these qualities every single day, and inspires others to develop these qualities within themselves, too. [Name] is the best example I can think of a leader, a not-for-profit business owner and someone who truly cares about their mission. I hope to emulate the qualities she has shown and instilled in me in my future professional life.

3. Describe a time you led a team and what challenges you faced, how you overcame them.

The bulk of my professional experience has been as a member of team. I have been fortunate to have experience both being a part of and leading a team of talented and dedicated individuals. Working at [Newspaper] as chief layout editor, I consistently lead a team of 5 layout editors in creating and publishing a weekly paper. Journalism is a fast-paced environment that requires focus and collaboration. My team edited, laid out and approved a large volume of pages each week, working under tight deadlines. Our work requires adaptation and perseverance, and a fair amount of commitment to see things through to their deadlines and complete a project to the best of one’s ability. In my role as chief layout editor, I had the invaluable opportunity to develop my leadership style, grow as a leader, and prove to myself and my team that I can lead.

Within a newsroom, there are multiple departments all operating with a degree of separation from one another, but all key parts of the overall team. Normally, the department heads are in contact with one another to fix problems quickly where they come up and stay in contact throughout the publication process. My team of layout editors would inevitably run into a roadblock or have a question they needed to pose to another department head about the copy. Communications between departments were usually streamlined by being communicated exclusively through department heads. If a team member had a request, it went through me and on to the appropriate department head. Since department heads were not always available at the time the issue arose, I took the initiative to make it easier for my team to get the answers they needed to work, even if myself or the other department heads were absent. Through a shared Slack message board, members of my layout team could post a request or question to the related department. All team members of that department would be able to see the request and respond. Or, messages could be sent directly to the individual to answer the request.

Another major hurdle was ensuring every page that came through our hands kept to our strict style and layout guidelines. As team leader, it was my responsibility to clearly communicate our style and layout guidelines to my team members, providing a comprehensive guide for them to follow. This guide became a staple in the office and part of the package prepared for new hires. The guide helped new hires onboard more quickly and increased the team’s self-sufficiency. All pages being worked on were also visible to the entire team, so everyone knew who was working on what and how projects were progressing in real time, without the need for constant meetings and updates.

Leading my team at [Company] was a challenging but rewarding experience. In my responsibilities as team leader, I learned valuable lessons about the importance of transparency, clarity and advocacy in the workplace. I learned the importance of fostering an environment where the entire team could excel and be self-sufficient. Being a leader is about much more than delegating, fixing problems and guiding team members. In an environment as dynamic and fast-paced as a newsroom, I learned how to use my creative skills to improve the work environment. By making these seemingly small changes to our communications and operations, the team was able to thrive. Through my time as leader, I believe my best accomplishments were removing the team’s hurdles to productivity and efficiency. Once I did, my team showed me how adept they were at leading themselves.

My greatest personal achievement was also the realization of a lifelong dream. This year myself and my water polo team won the gold medal for the Junior Olympics. It has been my dream to become an Olympian since I was young and being awarded a gold medal for competing in my sport has been by far my proudest moment. Not only was this a significant feat of athleticism, perseverance, and dedication, it was an affirming moment for me personally. It proved what I was capable of once I set my mind to something. It showed me what my passion and hard work could bring me.

My journey as an athlete has taught me many important skills applicable to every area of my life. Water polo is a team sport, and I could not have succeeded in this personal victory without the hard work, encouragement, and help of my teammates. The team’s strengths and weaknesses must complement each other to form the best unit it can. And thinking and functioning as a team helps keep us sharp and focused. Being a part of a team also inspired me to push myself and constantly improve upon my own performance. During training with my team, I often had doubts about myself and my performance. I never viewed myself as the strongest link, and saw only how I fell short compared to my teammates in speed, strength or maneuverability in the water. My teammate, [Name], noticed how hard I was pushing myself and encouraged me to share my self-doubt with her. I carried her following pep talk with me to the gold medal match. She told me that our teammates all relied upon one another, but that we were also there to support each other. To complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. And she reminded me that my strengths were knowing who was the quickest, who was the strongest, and who was the best teammate for any given situation in a match. She pointed out that I had a knack for analyzing a situation quickly and immediately moving into position to support the teammate that needed it to maximize our chance of success in the round. Having the team’s expectations of me, knowing they were relying on me, but also supporting me, inspired me to be my best. To challenge myself and expand the limits of what I thought I was capable of.

Water polo is also a physically demanding sport, and my long hours of training and practice have taught me diligence, patience and perseverance, especially when there is a goal I am striving for. But frustration bubbles up in you when you don’t see results or even a shred of improvement. Self-doubt might creep in, because you know that even your best might just not be good enough. Not to mention, when you’re in the arena and all eyes are on you, it’s easy to get distracted. My self-doubt was keeping me from seeing my personal strengths, and the improvements I had made. The mix of frustration at lack of progress and determination to do better pushed me too hard. After my teammate’s inspiring talk, I started to focus on my strengths, playing out different match scenarios in my head and in the pool and practicing drills with my teammates to improve my reaction times.

I remember walking out and trying to tune out the noise and distractions. You run through the mental checklist, and you’re so focused you almost forget what’s coming next. It feels a bit like sleepwalking, because you’re not aware of what’s happening around you, but you don’t miss a thing. Everything you have practiced comes rushing back to you and you’re waiting for everything to start. When it does, there’s the snap to action. All your training is remembered in a single instant, and suddenly you’re ready for everything. Your team is with you, all of them connected to you, sharing the same thoughts. You don’t need to tune anyone out anymore, because the only thing that exists in your world is your team and the game. It’s almost hard to believe when the game is over and you come back to the real world. It’s a surreal feeling. And then you realize: we won.

Although I have achieved this personal goal through hard work and dedication to my sport, it has opened my eyes to the other possibilities still ahead of me. In achieving this milestone, it has made me strive to reach for the next rung on the ladder and keep improving myself in my sport and in my personal development. In achieving something I wasn’t always sure I could, I’ve shown myself what I’m capable of, and taught myself the value of challenging myself and growing myself.

Want to learn more about MBA courses? Check out this video:

5. How will you contribute to school’s diversity?

As a female entrepreneur, I know the unique perspectives and value I can bring to the table. Growing up with a grandmother who started her own business had a huge impact on me, as it taught me what women in business are capable of. Now, as a proud business owner myself, I can see how my personal journey affects my approach to business. My grandmother owned a small hardware store, and hers was the only store around for miles in a rural area. She knew each of her customers by name, and took the time to chat with each one, providing advice or recommendations on their home improvement projects. As a child, I was astounded by her depth of knowledge and how she always seemed to have an answer for everything. It inspired me to follow her and soak up the information she had. As we worked, she also provided me with gems like ‘if they come back with a smile on their face, you’ve done your job’.

When I built my business, I was focused on one mission: to help empower my fellow female entrepreneurs and business owners. Now that I have been in business for a few years, it still amazes me how often my clients share stories with me that echo my own. We share so much of our struggles, triumphs and experiences, and yet we each have our own story to tell. We all have different reasons for going into business for ourselves. Some of the best interactions I’ve had are when my clients share their stories with me. When I was still working with my grandmother in her shop, I was helping a young girl with a school project. She wanted to construct a birdhouse and needed some help finding the right materials. Unlike her classmates, she wanted to construct the most unique birdhouse possible. Something the most colourful birds would call home. Together, we went through the store picking out flashiest glitter, buttons and faux feathers we could find. The following week, she returned to proudly show off her birdhouse, the most colourful I have seen yet. Seeing the proud smile on her face and seeing the result of what I had helped to build, ignited the spark that has never left me. Knowing I was a part of her passion project, of helping it become a reality, fills me with the same pride I feel now helping other women to succeed in their business. Whenever a client tells me that I’ve given them the tools they never thought they’d have access to or given them the advice they never knew they needed to succeed, I know I’ve done my job.

As a female business owner, I bring my own special brand to my business. My business was built on my personal passions and values, and it shows in every interaction with my stakeholders, my employees and my clients. My motivation to pursue my MBA comes back to my grandmother’s words of wisdom in doing my job. Doing the best job I possibly can for my clients. And I know I can’t continue to grow, and provide my clients with my best work, without continuing to develop myself professionally. In pursuing my MBA, I am filling myself up with even more knowledge, even more skills, that I can pass onto those who need my help.

6. Talk about a personal failure and what you learned from it.

Even as a child, I was never good at accepting failure. Whatever I did, I wanted to excel. And I quickly grew disinterested in activities I didn’t have a natural talent for. While in life it is inevitable to experience failures, there is one incident in my personal life that stands out. A few years ago, I was training for a national track and field competition. Track and field was something I was effortlessly good at, and I knew I would have no trouble competing when I qualified for the race. I would be racing in the 100 m sprint, a category in which I excelled and was sure to win first place. Even though I was assured of my victory, I devoted myself to my training. It was important to me that I show my best efforts and impress.

Before my defining race, I was warming myself up, preparing myself for the feat of athleticism. I also sized up the competition, taking note of the strongest runners, as I usually did. It became a pre-race ritual for me, to mentally catalog my opponents and consider how their strengths and weaknesses matched up to mine. There was one runner I noticed and dismissed immediately for being the smallest and weakest-looking of the group. Unlike the rest of us, he wasn’t warming up for the upcoming race. He was sitting quietly on his own, concentrating only on himself and whatever mental pep talk he was running through his head. Thinking nothing of it, I approached the starting line and waited for the gun blast. As soon as it fired, I took off, digging my toes in and launching myself ahead of the pack. I was pushing my body to its limits to reach that finish line. I could see my opponents falling back, on my heels but unable to catch me as I sprinted with confident strides. But to my surprise, the small runner I had dismissed so easily was a pace ahead of me in my sightline. Determined to beat him, I poured everything I had into my sprint, feeling the effort burn through me. But it wasn’t enough. The runner effortlessly flew over the finish line before me, nabbing the first-place prize I had worked so hard for.

While my defeat in an arena I excelled in could have brought bitter disappointment, it was also a good reminder for me that we all fail. Competition is inevitable, and we should never grow complacent in the areas where we excel. If we stop growing, our competition will catch up to us quickly and unexpectedly. If we want to stay ahead of the game, it’s important to keep improving. Because even the best athletes continue to train to stay at the top. My fellow runner didn’t care about their competition, and they weren’t concerned about comparing themselves to others. They were solely focused on their goal, as any top athlete should and will be. This is a lesson I took to heart.

During this race, I did also beat my personal best time, so it showed me that even if I excel at something, there’s always room for improvement. It taught me that complacency is the enemy of my success. I was so satisfied with what I thought to be my peak performance. I had thought I was at the top of my game. But this experience showed me how wrong that was, and how important it is to keep growing and developing myself. I’ve learned that even with our best efforts, we can sometimes still fall behind. Sometimes, someone’s strategy will be better. Or they’ll be better prepared. But mostly, it showed me that instead of focusing on how I measure up to others, I need to shift my perspective and ask how I measure up to who I want to be. My goal now shouldn’t be to be the best, my aspiration should be to become the best version of myself I can possibly be.

7. What are your career aspirations?

Brewing has been my family’s calling for generations, from my father brewing backyard beer to my ancestors’ colourful history of distilling illegal spirits. Recipes have been passed down through the family, and we each have our own favourites and specialties. Some of us add unexpected flavours to our home brews. Others swear by old or superstitious techniques. Still other members of the family have kept their ‘secret ingredient’ close to the vest. Something I want to change is the fact that the family hobby has never quite grown out of the backyard. Because the other family tradition is in the sharing of a cup, and I think with the growing popularity of micro-breweries and micro-distilleries, other families might enjoy a taste of our traditions, too. In applying for this MBA program, I believe it will help me to achieve my dream of opening a micro-distillery. It has long been my goal to own my own business and incorporate my passion for brewing. Being a small business owner requires supreme organizational and management skills, which [School’s] program will provide me.

In opening my own micro-distillery, I will be able to share my passion with my customers. The area in which I grew up has a unique history of locally made spirits, and the ingredients that grow in the area cannot easily be found anywhere else. They provide an inimitable flavour profile and a taste of the local land that cannot be matched. It is my goal to carry on the proud traditions of my hometown region by opening my own micro-distillery, to share our unique regional flavours with the world. Although my dad has taught me his home-brewing techniques, I also have experience working for [Beer Brand] as a brewer. Learning the modern techniques of brewing has definitely expanded my skillset, although brewing the same brand of beer, using the standard recipe, doesn’t have the same passion in it. My work experience has rounded out my technical skill as a brewer, and it has also given me some insight into the operations of a business. I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to operate a small business, and I know I have more to learn in this area. I know if I want to succeed in turning my family tradition into a real business, I need to build up my business sense. 

To achieve my goal of owning my own micro-distillery, it is important to have a strong business sense behind the passion and big idea. I believe with this program I will add the leadership, management and operational skills I need to see my micro-distillery off the ground. My business will need a team, and I will need to develop myself as a leader to be able to choose and develop my employees. I know I will also need to learn the management skills that will allow me to help them be successful. It is my belief that this program will instill in me the soft skills I need to become the leader and teammate I need to become to see this venture succeed.

Writing an MBA personal statement is tricky, but it is a must for any business school application. By following the above tips or studying the examples we’ve provided in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to writing an awesome personal statement. Finally, if you are looking for more inspiration, check out our Harvard MBA personal statement examples . This renowned institution is well-known for its standards. If you can write a personal statement like this, you can get into any MBA program out there!

MBA personal statements are typically between 750 and 1,000 words.

An MBA personal statement is almost like a cover letter for a job application. It is written in essay form and should explain why you are the right choice for an MBA program. Your MBA personal statement should also highlight why you wish to attend the schools you're applying to and what you hope to do with your MBA.

Yes. Most MBA programs will ask for a personal statement as part of their application process.

A general rule of thumb is to include a strong personal narrative, compelling arguments for your candidacy and qualities or strengths you will bring to the program you’re applying for.

Yes. Usually, schools will change the essay question each application cycle. Though this may vary depending on the program.

Some of the most common personal statement essay questions relate to personal achievements, motivations for applying to business school or how you will contribute to the school’s MBA program.

Yes. Admissions committees will be expecting your personal statement to be in short essay format. If it’s not, it may lead your application to the rejection pile.

The simplest way is to study the short essay format, read the essay question, reflect on your personal experiences, and answer the question being asked!

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How To Write A Personal Statement For Masters (17 PDF Sample Examples)

Published: 14 Mar 2022 Study Abroad 100,101 views

A personal statement for masters program is one of the most important parts of your college application and writing a good one is what’s the exception between receiving an offer and being rejected.

If you’ve been tasked with presenting a personal statement, you should keep in mind that whatever you submit must put you forward as the right candidate for the course. Additionally, it should convince the admissions officers that you deserve a place on your program of study.

Achieving the above, is a skill most postgraduate students are yet to acquire but thankfully this article on How To Write A Personal Statement For Masters covers everything you need to know on doing this.

In this article you’ll learn:

• What is a personal statement?
• Tips for making your personal statement for masters stand out
• How to write a personal statement for masters
• Personal statement for masters sample
• Examples of personal statement for masters
• Conclusion – things to avoid when writing a personal statement for masters

Read:  Admission Interview Tips .

What Is a Personal Statement?

A personal statement AKA admissions or application essay or statement of purpose is a type of essay or written statement a candidate presents to a college, university, or graduate school they are applying to, explaining why they want to attend that school, study a particular course, and why they would be a perfect fit for these things.

A personal statement for masters is an essay you submit specifically for your postgraduate application. Writing one presents the opportunity for you to promote yourself to a school and show the admissions teachers that you are the perfect candidate for a course.

Tips For Making Your Personal Statement For Masters Stand Out

Before we get into how you should write a statement of purpose for masters, we would first like to share with you certain tips to include in your essay to make it stand out from that of other applicants and be convincing enough to any admissions officer that reads it. The tips we have mentioned here, cover general things like starting and ending your personal statement, timing, length, and what to include and what not to include in the essay, etc.

1. Starting And Ending A Personal Statement

When starting a personal statement, you would want to right off the bat grab the reader’s attention. To do this, start the statement by writing about your degree of choice, next why you want to study it and then how you got interested in it.

The next 2 sentences after that should cover a summary of your background in the chosen field, and you conclude by saying what you plan to do once you acquire your graduate degree.

Also start with that the evaluators reading want to hear first, then every other information should come second. You will notice we’ve used in the sop examples for masters we will share with you later in this article.

2. Plan Ahead

A personal statement is not something you rush while writing, which means if you want to get something good before you application then you must start to decide things like the length and how long it should take to complete.

Let us throw more light on this…

For length, a personal statement should be brief ranging somewhere between 500 -700 words, although schools often detect how long it should be. So, this is dependent on the institution you are applying to.

In terms of what to say in a statement, you could include personal experiences like why you were driven to apply for the program, an experience you had with a scholar in your chosen discipline, a course you took that inspired you to pursue masters, or a key moment during your studies which further motivated you.

No matter what you decide to write, just keep in mind that you need to take your time to craft something good even if it means creating several drafts before the real thing and do not forget to proofread the statement for errors.

3. Research Your Program Of Study

Researching your program of study is one way to establish that you truly understand the discipline you’re getting into and prove to the admissions officer that you thoroughly thought about it before applying.

And because you want to put yourself forward as a serious candidate, one way to make you research easier is for you to visit the website of the department you are applying to. This page will contain information about faculty members, their specialisation, and publications.

From the intel, you gathered there you can now identify which professors match your interests and which ones you will benefit the most from learning under. After you’ve found this out, relate the same in a sentence or two in your statement of purpose for masters.

Example: “I would be honoured to study under the tutelage of Professor Nadia whose work I found resonated strongly with my beliefs and intended projects in this course”.

4. Avoid Clichés, Junks, And Many Details

When writing a statement of purpose for master degree try to avoid clichés, junks, and unnecessary details so that you don’t lose or bore your readers in between. Be as concise as possible, even if it’s your chance to express yourself.

A personal statement is an opportunity for the admissions committee to get information that tells the that you are suitable for the course. So, when you overpower your statement with too many words, stories, and useless details, you come off as someone who is just trying to meet the word count.

5. Include Your Personal History Only If It Adds To The Statement

Do not include your personal history in your statement of intent for masters if it is not relevant to your purpose of study. This means no need for you to tell that story about that time you helped someone treat a cut and immediately realised that you wanted to be a doctor or nurse or how you developed a taste for reading at a very young age.

We can guarantee you that the hundreds of other applications competing for the same spot you are felt the same way, so saying those things really doesn’t make you unique.

On the other hand, if you are going to add personal history to your statement, you can put in things like an internship you did and the experience you got from the job, a major research project you ran by yourself, publications you’ve read or published, conferences you’ve attended or presentations you’ve done. These experiences are more concrete and are directly related to your program of study. They also set you apart from other applicants.

6. Don't Use The Same Personal Statement For All Your Applications

One common mistake applicant make that you shouldn’t is using the same statement of purpose for master degree for all your applications. Using the same information repeatedly even if you are going to change the university names is risky and could land you in a big mistake on a day you forget to be thorough.

All programmes have their own unique set of questions they want to see answered and information they need in your personal statement.

And even if some of them like extracurricular activities, proposal for project, why you are applying to the school, your unique qualities, and research works you’re doing might appear the same, do not use one statement to respond to all of them.

Write a new unique personal statement every time you want to apply.

Check out:  How to Write a Good CV for Students - Resume Examples for Students (PDF).

How To Write A Personal Statement for Masters

When writing a personal statement for masters there are several steps and ground rules you need to follow to ensure that it comes out good enough to impress the admissions team of a school, and ultimately convince them to give you a spot on your program of study.

If writing one is something you are currently struggling with and can’t seem to get down the process of it right no matter what, this section on how to write a personal statement for masters, discusses in detail everything you need to get help with yours.

There are 4 parts to consider when writing your personal statement and we have listed them below:

1. Planning A Personal Statement

A personal statement is a piece of writing showing your academic interests and is only for application purposes which means there is no room for any autobiographical information in it about your personal life. Be as to-the-point as possible when writing it and stick to telling the school why you are the right person for the course, plus any other extra information detailing your achievements.

Before You Start:

Allot plenty of time to write your msc personal statement so that you don’t rush it. Remember, this simple piece of writing is your one shot at convincing a school that you are the best applicant they’ve seen and as such can either make or break your application.

Read the information expected of you from the university, rules and guidelines given, selection criteria and understand what they mean. Also research the institution.

Do a thorough research on the course you are applying for; this will help you explain better why you want to study it. The tutors interviewing you can tell when you are lying and presenting yourself as uninformed can cost you the admission.

Ensure that you don’t use the same personal statement for all your applications.

When Writing:

When writing the statement there are some questions to ask yourself that can help you plan it better. Those questions are:

• Why you want to study a master’s and how does it benefit you in future?
• How does the course you have chosen fit into your pre-existing skill set?
• How do you stand out from the crowd as an applicant - e.g., work experiences you’ve had in the same field you are applying for?
• What do you aspire to do or be as a future career and how will the course help you achieve that?
• How can your work or skillsets contribute positively to the department/ university you are applying to, or society at large?

On the other hand, if you are applying for the masters to change from the field you studied in your undergraduate to another field, you should tell the school why you decided to take a different path in your studies.

Questions to ask yourself for this include:

• Your reason for deciding to change your discipline.
• How your undergraduate degree will be material for bringing fresh insights into your masters course.
• How changing your study path will help you attain your future career.

2. Structuring A Personal Statement

Having good structure for your personal statement for master degree is important because it ensures that everything from the beginning, middle, and ending of the statement is written and equally falls in place perfectly.

We’ve left some tips for you below to help you:

Start your personal statement with an attention-grabbing introduction that is not dramatic or cliché. That means you should not begin with any of these over-used phrases we’ve listed out below:

For as long as I remember…

Since my childhood…

I want to apply to this course because I’ve always felt a strong connection to it…

All my life, I have always loved…

My interest in (course) always ran deeper than…

I’ve always been zealous about…

Ever since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in…

My past educational experiences have always…

You would want to be as snappy as possible with your opening because the admission officer has over a hundred applications to read and can’t waste all their time on yours. This means you should avoid overpowering it with unnecessary facts, quotes, and stories from your life.

The middle part of your ma personal statement is where the main content of the write-up should be. This is where you show your dedication to the course you’ve chosen, what motivated you to choose it, and why you are the right candidate for it.

When writing the middle part of a graduate personal statement, you should:  

• Give concrete reasons why you want to study a course at the University. The reason could be because of how the course is aligned to your future career or the University’s reputation in teaching that program.
• Mention relevant things like projects, dissertations, or essays you’ve done, and any work experience you have.
• Show proof of your core skills like and how they can contribute to the department.
• Prove what makes you a unique candidate.
• Discuss who your main influences for wanting to study the course are and why.
• Add experiences like memberships to clubs that are related to your field, papers you’ve written before, awards, scholarships, or prizes.
• Draw focus to how the course links to your past and future.
• Mention your academic and non-academic skills and how they fit the course.

For Formatting:

• Keep the statement length between 250 -500 words or as directed by the school.
• Sentences should be no more than 25-30 words.
• Use headings to break up the content – Why this university? Why this subject? Etc.
• Make claims and provide evidence to back each of them up. This can be done by discussing your work experience and academic interests.

Language and tone to use:     

• The tone for your masters application personal statement should be positive and enthusiastic, to show you eagerness to learn and so that you convince the evaluators that you have what it takes to succeed.
• Use exciting and refreshing language, and an engaging opening line.
• Ensure you grammar, punctuations, and spellings are accurate.
• Avoid exaggerated claims you cannot backup.
• Don’t use cliché generic terms and keep your focus on the course.

Keep the ending of your essay for master degree application concise and memorable, leaving no doubt in the admission officers mind that you deserve a spot on the program.

To create the best ending summarise all your key points without dragging it our or repeating yourself. The ending should be simple, end on a positive note and make it clear that the school will be lucky to have you on their program.

Personal Statement for Masters Sample

In this section, we have left a masters personal statement example for you, which you can use as material to write yours for any course of study you are applying to a school for.

Personal Statement PDF

You can also download this statement of purpose sample for masters degree pdf here and take your time to read it later – Personal Statement For Masters Sample .

See Also:  Student CV Template .

Examples of Personal Statement for Masters

We have taken the time to source for some of the best postgraduate personal statement examples, which you can use in addition to the personal statement for masters program example as a template to write yours.

While you scroll through our list, you will find the perfect masters essay example for any field you wish to apply for, from business administration, to Psychology, to information technology, and lots more.

1. msw personal statement

We have found one of the best msw personal statement examples out there for you.

social work masters personal statement .  

2. personal statement for masters in public health

mph personal statement examples

3. personal statement for masters in management

Personal statement for master degree sample for masters in management .  , 4. personal statement for masters in education example.

personal statement for masters in education example

5. psychology masters personal statement

psychology masters personal statement example

6. sample personal statement for masters in data science data science masters personal statement

7. speech and language therapy personal statement statement of purpose for masters sample: speech and language therapy

8. business administration personal statement personal statement for masters in business administration

9. personal statement for masters in cyber security pdf masters degree personal statement examples for cyber security

10. personal statement for masters in finance msc finance personal statement examples

11. statement of purpose for masters in information technology pdf msc personal statement examples for information technology

12. international development personal statement statement of purpose for masters example

13. msc international business management personal statement international business management personal statement examples

14. computer science masters personal statement

statement of purpose for masters in computer science pdf

15. personal statement for masters in economics statement of purpose sample for masters degree in economics

16. mha personal statement statement of purpose format for masters in health administration    

Conclusion – Things to Avoid When Writing A Personal Statement For Masters When writing a personal statement for university masters, there are some things you should avoid, so that you don’t ruin your essay. We have listed out those things below: •    Avoid negativity. •    Following an online template blindly. •    Do not include unnecessary course modules, personal facts, or extra-curricular activities in your personal statement. •    Do not lie or exaggerate an achievement or event. •    Do not include inspirational quotes to your statement. •    Avoid using clichés, gimmicks, humour, over-used word such as 'passion' or ‘driven’. •    Do not make pleading statements. •    Avoid mentioning key authors or professors in your field without any explanation. •    Avoid using sentences that are too long. •    Avoid flattering the organisation or using patronising terms. •    Do not repeat information in your statement that you have already listed in your application. •    Avoid waffling i.e., writing at length. •    Don’t start writing your personal statement at the last minute.  

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5 MPA Personal Statement Tips for Driven Applicants

Most graduate degree programs require applicants to submit a statement of purpose, sometimes called a personal statement, along with their other application materials. The statement of purpose is your opportunity to tell your story, describe your motivations, and explain why you would be a good candidate for the program. 

But as a future Master of Public Administration (MPA) student, you must tailor your statement of purpose to your long term career goals specifically in the field of public affairs and public administration. Here are five tips to doing exactly that. 

Make yourself a competitive leader in public affairs; learn more about Cornell’s dedication to career management and professional development within the MPA program.

MPA Personal Statement Tips

When it comes to graduate school admission, the personal statement represents your chance to truly shine.  In addition to providing a tremendous opportunity to convey the quality of your writing to admissions committees, the personal statement allows you to highlight your purpose for pursuing graduate studies."   Thomas O’Toole Executive Director of Public Affairs Programming at the Cornell Brooks School

From specific motivations for applying to exploring your goals in public affairs, here are a few tips to submitting a fantastic statement of purpose . 

1. Be specific about why you're applying to the MPA program

Why is this the right time for graduate study for you .

You have many graduate programs to choose from — and there are myriad MPA programs to choose from across the country as well. For this reason, It is important to detail specifically why you are applying to the MPA program of your choosing: what aspects of the program are you drawn to? Why do you think you are a good fit for this MPA program in particular?

Be specific and really dive into your personal reasons for wanting to join the MPA program you are passionate about and be sure to include details regarding what you will contribute to the community at large

2. Make it personal to your unique experiences

Knowledge, skills, and abilities you will bring to enrich our community (why are you the right person).

What are your personal motivations for obtaining an MPA? What personal experience have inspired you to pursue a mission-driven, impactful career in public affairs ? These are incredibly important questions to answer within your personal statement as they provide context for what is going to drive you throughout your time in the program and beyond.

Detail the kinds of challenges or problems you have encountered during your lived experience and connect those to your dedication to impact societal, systemic change.

3. Describe your long term career goals related to public affairs.

How can the brooks mpa uniquely address your academic and professional interests (why is this the right place).

Within the field of public affairs and public administration, there are nearly countless diverse and dynamic career opportunities. Whether you want to work in environmental , economic , infrastructure , or social policy , there is a public service career for you . 

Take some time to evaluate your long term career goals and describe the specific role or industry in which you want to transform peoples’ lives for good.

4. Include relevant professional experiences that will augment your time in the MPA program.

You will want to highlight your professional accomplishments within your statement of purpose. Be sure to include examples of volunteer work, positions of responsibility, and any other life experiences that have contributed to your interest in public affairs.

In doing so, you will exemplify your dedication to professional development , show your commitment to lifelong learning, and demonstrate how you are well prepared to continue gaining the skills needed to lead in the field.

5. Proofread

You are strongly encouraged to proofread carefully before submitting your personal statement. There are no additional writing samples within the application–this is the best way to show what you are capable of. 

Because public affairs is a writing intensive field, writing quality matters. So this should tell you something about the weight we place on these essays in our overall evaluation.”

Proofread your personal statement multiple times to be sure everything is correct before sending it our way.

6. Be proud; be confident; be passionate.

The field of public affairs and public administration is one of the most transformative fields in existence today. 

Our industry is a deeply ‘human’ field, and the more your passion and motivation come through in your writing, the more success you will have in the application process.” 

Armed with an MPA, you will enter the field with the marketable skills needed to make a difference, and for that reason, you should be excited, proud, and confident in your decision to apply to the MPA program of your choice.

Here’s How to Apply to Cornell’s MPA Program

At the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, we make applying to the MPA program as easy and as accessible as possible. Here are the six steps you need to take to apply.

• Complete Cornell’s Online Graduate School Application . For questions pertaining to any technical issues or errors, contact the Graduate School office at 607-255-4884.
• Submit unofficial copies of your college and university transcripts. Do not send official transcripts to the MPA Program. Before matriculating, all admitted students will be required to submit an official transcript to the Graduate School. Review submission parameters on the Graduate School’s website .
• Submit your résumé and three letters of recommendation (academic and/or professional are acceptable).
• Applicants for whom English is a second language will need to meet minimum scores on either the TOEFL or IELTS exams. Required minimum scores on the TOEFL exam are: writing 20, listening 15, reading 20, speaking 22. Our field requirements for the IELTS exam are an overall score of at least 7.0.
• Submit both a Statement of Purpose and an Essay. ( See this page for more information .)
• You will be sent email instructions to participate in an online interview to complete your application.

Check out our recorded webinar about applying to the MPA program!

Jumpstart Your Public Service Career at the Cornell Brooks School MPA Program

You have the valuable opportunity to obtain a Master of Public Administration degree that will prepare you to launch your career in public service. 

Are you ready to take the plunge?

Take the first step in your next career venture by requesting information or starting your online application today. You can also visit our Webinar Library or Resource Library for additional webinar recordings and downloadable guides.

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Cornell Brooks School MPA Application Tips: The Personal Statement

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• 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.

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Sample Public Administration Personal Statement (Columbia, Harvard, NUS)

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In personal statement samples by field.

The following essay is written by an applicant who got accepted to top graduate programs in public administration (MPA). Variations of this personal statement got accepted at Columbia’s SIPA school, Harvard’s Kennedy School, and NUS (National University of Singapore). Read this essay to understand what a top personal statement in public administration should look like.

Related Personal Statement:  Sample Public Policy Personal Statement (MPP)

Here is the example personal statement for MPA

Being part of the top Bureaucracy in Brazil, I have realized the importance of public administration and policymaking in serving the public better. Moreover, through my experiences as the head of town municipal administration, I have learned that robust policymaking is far too significant to overlook. Well-directed policies have always reaped great benefits – such as those by Enrique Penalosa, mayor of Bogota, who implemented several successful public policy initiatives.

Inspired by Penalosa’s bold measures, I initiated several sustainable administrative initiatives while serving as Commissioner in Pico Do Calcado, a small resort at Serra do Caparaó. Pico Do Calcado’s proximity to two major fault lines made it highly susceptible to high-intensity earthquakes. Yet, to my astonishment, no statistics or detailed evacuation plans were available from the Town Administration. Upon my inquiry, I discovered that a nearly dormant project aimed at the town’s Multi Risk Hazard Assessment was lingering. In collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), UNDP initiated it several years ago.

As the head of civil administration, I immediately grasped the opportunity, called in a meeting involving all the stakeholders, and expedited the project. The local community was involved in the process and was made aware of the importance of the project. I led all pertinent government departments to work fervently towards the project objectives. I also directed them to incorporate the component of micro-zonation and evacuation strategies for the project to be more meaningful and relevant.

The entire project took 14 months to complete. By the end, we had established a Municipal Disaster Management Centre within Commissioner’s Office. In addition, we devised a comprehensive evacuation plan for the entire city, advertised locally.

Alongside this, I imparted training to highly vulnerable members of society, such as children, women, and the elderly. I sent separate teams to schools and colleges to train students and sensitize the common citizens. Moreover, I also demarcated different areas of the city based on their susceptibility to hazards, including flash floods, landslides, snow, etc.

Furthermore, I also organized awareness seminars to inform people how to mitigate such disasters by making simple changes to their building designs. I then shared the most crucial information with the Federal Government, which used it to formulate a detailed master plan of the city.

Pico Do Calcado, the constituency of the Chief Minister himself, had always attracted special attention from the day this Government was sworn in. Various development schemes were initiated, and infrastructure projects were undertaken perpetually. These projects were required to uplift the area and the welfare of the people. But I realized there was a lack of proper planning and a shortage of prioritization. This desultory development posed a serious threat to the existing vulnerable environment of Pico Do Calcado.

I started taking up this matter during the Steering Committee meetings and persuaded the members to declare Pico Do Calcado an environmentally sensitive area. Having done this, I impressed upon an otherwise weary Forest Department to protect the forest land from the ills of the ongoing development. Seeing a lack of action on their part, I, without waiting any further, carried out a complete boundary of the forest land and handed over its possession to the Forest Department. My efforts were later recognized through a letter of appreciation from Secretary Forest.

Being a Public Servant and a public administration practitioner, I still have over 28 years of public service left. After putting in 5 years of service, I believe the time is ripe for me to get a formal education in the art of administration and management with a focus on development and related issues. Like other developing countries, Brazil is beset with financial mismanagement, distorted visions of education and health, and poorly laid infrastructure and communication networks. Ailing development priorities have led to a state heavily dependent on international aid. However, its marginalized population, widely portrayed as a drain on scarce resources, has the potential to be turned into an asset if the issues of bad governance are addressed through sincere policy review.

My future career plan is to continue public service with an enlightened mind that leaves indelible marks on the fabric of society. In ten years, I see myself as a Secretary to the Government, heading a department. The skill set acquired during my stay at Harvard will help me utilize my knowledge to successfully carry out government initiatives. In addition, I will be able to give advice based on my education and my own practical experience gained while working in different positions within the Government, which will help formulate policy frameworks.

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Master of Health Administration (MHA)

• Admission Requirements
• Career Outlook

How to Write an MHA Personal Statement

If you’re applying to a Master’s in Health Administration program, you must be passionate about helping medical facilities run smoothly and supporting life-saving care. You’ve also done a lot to prepare for this point in your career, having earned an undergraduate degree and likely held at least one position in this rapidly growing field. Now, you’re ready to advance your career with the right master’s degree. One thing stands in your way: crafting the perfect personal statement to include with your application.

Also called a statement of purpose, the MHA personal statement is your chance to make your application more than just a collection of data and facts. An effective statement of purpose will give the admissions office an idea of who you are, complete with a glimpse into your personal and professional goals and accomplishments. It should communicate why you’re a good fit for the university’s MHA program.

If you feel intimidated by writing your personal statement, you’re not alone. Many people find writing about themselves to be a difficult task. However, to gain admission to a top MHA program , you’ll need a compelling statement of purpose – and this guide will teach you how to achieve just that.

Step 1: Brainstorm

Your first step in crafting an effective MHA personal statement or statement of purpose is to brainstorm. Many people find brainstorming methods like freewriting, clustering, or listing useful. However, there’s only one hard-and-fast rule for this step in the process: Write down your thoughts. Brainstorming is most effective when you make notes or a visual representation of how you might answer the personal statement prompt. The questions below are a few examples that may be helpful to ask yourself during this step:

• Why did I decide to pursue a career in health administration?
• What do I want to accomplish in my career?
• What are my goals in earning my MHA?
• Why am I applying to this MHA program?
• Why do I want to attend this university?
• How do my accomplishments make me a good fit for this MHA program?

Step 2: Outline

Writing out an outline for your essay will save time later. Return to what you wrote during the brainstorming phase. Which parts of your notes are the most compelling? Which ones make you feel genuinely passionate about the MHA program you’re applying to? These are the pieces of information you should be sure to include in your statement of purpose.

If the application provides a prompt, use it when building your outline. For example, the MHA personal statement prompt at Methodist University is: “Complete a typed personal statement including your background, interest in attending Methodist University, interest in the program, and your career goals.”

Here is an example outline for an essay responding to this prompt:

• Explain why you chose to pursue a career in health administration.
• Describe your educational background.
• Identify details about MU that made you interested in attending this school.
• Point to specifics about this program that make it the right fit for you.
• Explain what you want to accomplish in the next few years.
• Describe how this MHA program will help you achieve your goals.
• Summarize your main points.

Step 3: Draft

After taking the time to brainstorm and outline your statement of purpose, the process of writing your first draft should go smoothly. Return to your outline, and use your brainstorming notes to fill out each section. Think of this as the part of the process where you tell a story. Add relevant details to make your personal statement more compelling to the reader, and include examples from your lived experiences to demonstrate the message you’re trying to communicate.

Step 4: Revise

Revision is just as important as the drafting stage. Read through your statement of purpose and revise it to make the essay more clear and compelling to the reader. Here are a few examples of questions to ask yourself during the revision process:

• Is anything I wrote unclear?
• Can I be more specific about any of these details?
• Does my personal statement directly respond to the prompt?
• If I worked for the admissions office, what questions would I have?

Step 5: Proofread

Finally, proofread your personal statement for grammar, punctuation, or spelling mistakes. It’s essential for your final statement to be professional and free of errors, as mistakes could cloud your overall message. Once you’re happy with your statement of purpose, you’re ready to apply for your MHA program.

MHA Personal Statement Example

MHA personal statement examples are useful tools in planning your essay. Read the example below, and use it as a guide or inspiration for your statement.

“I’ve aspired to work in the health care field since I was a teenager. For much of my adolescence, my mother, who lives with rheumatoid arthritis, was also a caregiver to my maternal grandmother, who was battling Alzheimer’s. Due to the medical needs of the entire family, we all spent a great deal of time in medical facilities. I soon learned just how lucky my family was to have access to top-notch care and treatment. The more I learned about the medical system, though, the more I realized that not all families are so fortunate. Since then, my desire has been to help improve the level of care offered to all families and individuals.

I have always valued the hard work of nurses and doctors who take hands-on responsibility for care. However, the more I interacted with the health care industry, the more I developed a growing appreciation for those who often work behind the scenes – the health service managers, clinic supervisors, and consultants who keep day-to-day health care operations running smoothly. When I entered college, I felt that my place in the field was among their ranks, working to expand access to quality care throughout my community. That’s why I completed the Bachelor of Science in Community Health, and it’s why I’m now applying for admission to Methodist University’s Master in Health Administration program.

Through my research of MHA programs, Methodist University quickly became an obvious choice. As a health administration professional currently working in the field, entering an online program that will allow me to study at my own pace without sacrificing the quality of my education is a top priority. That’s why the excellent reputation of Methodist’s online program and outstanding faculty stood out to me. I’m excited to apply to a program with a low student-to-faculty ratio and built-in support services to support me along the way.

Specifically, the MHA program at MU is unmatched. Its focus on preparing students with the strategies, tools, and techniques to lead teams, make important decisions, understand organizational effectiveness, and change processes to improve performance tells me that this program will truly prepare me to advance as a leader in my field. After reviewing the course list, I’m most interested in expanding my learning with two courses: HCA 5680: Global Health and HCA 5600: Health Care Policy Issues. Both will prepare me to support efforts to increase access to quality health care in all communities.

After several years working as an administrator in medical facilities, I’ve learned a great deal about how my work can support health services for patients. Completing MU’s MHA program will help me pursue my future career goals, including management positions. My hope is to graduate from MU with a solid understanding of health care administration and the skills I need to advance. Additionally, I look forward to completing the required capstone experience to solidify and showcase my skills for future employers.

Health care in our society relies on talented health administration professionals who can ensure access to care for each and every patient. I want to dedicate myself to becoming one of those professionals, and I believe my next step is to complete Methodist University’s Master in Health Administration program.”

Final Tips for Writing an MHA Personal Statement

You may find these tips helpful in writing your MHA personal statement:

• Ask a friend or family member to review your statement and provide feedback.
• Read your personal statement out loud to look for errors.
• Ask a colleague or close friend to list your top strengths and qualities from their perspective. Then, make sure your essay demonstrates these qualities.
• Avoid repetition. If you find yourself using the same words or phrases repeatedly, search for synonyms and other ways to express your thoughts.

Taking the time to learn how to craft your MHA personal statement or statement of purpose shows that you’re serious about preparing for advancement in health administration. Graduating from a top online program can make all the difference when it’s time to apply for leadership positions. Learn more about Methodist University’s online MHA program , which offers working professionals the opportunity to study at their pace with flexible online coursework taught by field experts. Request more information about this program or apply today .”Interested in other health care degrees? Explore all the online health care programs we offer at Methodist University.

• Ellis, M. (2022, June 2). How to Write a Powerful Personal Statement . Grammarly. Retrieved on October 21, 2022, from “ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/personal-statement/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw48OaBhDWARIsAMd966BK6sa3AFL2z6fBzcz2bOBtut8HUbTQD5_NRj1UJq6bAReWC057wBwaAtdlEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds .”
• McCombes, S. (2019, Feb. 12). How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples . Scribbr. Retrieved on October 21, 2022, from “ https://www.scribbr.com/graduate-school/personal-statement/ .”

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Business Administration Personal Statement

This is a sample personal statement written by our professional writer. Please note that our website is scanned by various anti-plagiarism software, so do not attempt to copy/paste this personal statement. You will get caught and your university career will be over before it has begun! To get a custom-written personal statement, just complete the order form and we will write an original personal statement, based specifically on the information you give us, which will never be published or resold.

Within every group, whether it be a group of friends, a team of work colleagues or sports team, each person has a role to play. Within my close group of friends, my role has always been the organiser. Trips, holidays, parties, days out…you name it, I’ve organised it.

I took on the unpaid, but much appreciated, role of “group activity co-ordinator” for my friends early on in our relationship, and I have stuck at it ever since. I have organised two holidays for us, including payments, transport and schedules. This is quite a task when it involves a group of eight, ensuring that everyone knows what time we leave, how we are getting there, where we are flying from and so on.

While considering what A-levels to study, I was in the process of organising an end of term prom. As secretary of the school council, I should have left this to the events and fundraising officer, but I couldn’t help but get involved. It was here that I began to draw parallels with my organisational skills and the world of Business Administration.

Looking back at the holidays I organised, I believe the principles of Business Administration were at the very heart of my actions – effective communication, critical thinking, financial management and human resources.

It was as if I had found my calling, and so around this time I began to take a serious interest in the world of business. I was in the privileged position of being able to have access to a fully operation business as my father runs a public relations company. I was able to spend time with the Business Accountant and Administrator, and see first-hand what it takes to do the job.

This led me to my choice of A-levels in Business Studies, Law and Economics, to equip me for a degree in Business Administration.

When I am not organising the lives of my friends or hovering over the Business Accountant and Administrator’s shoulder, I enjoy painting. I find this relaxes me, and while my work may never be hung in the Tate, it gives me enormous satisfaction to see something grow from absolutely nothing into what can be loosely termed art. I have recently taken up fencing, as I felt it was time I learnt a new skill. I am doing well and am up to Grade Three.

I would hope to take up other new hobbies during my time in university, and plan to be actively involved in student life. I enjoy writing and so would relish the chance to work on the student newspaper, and of course, I would be an asset to any group wanting to organise an event.

Business Administration is where I see my future, and I am hopeful that the future starts here.

Your personal statement is vital in ensuring you get the university place you want. Don’t take a chance with it. Secure your university place today!

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Pursue Your Doctorate: DBA Program Admission

If you’re pursuing admission to a Doctor of Business Administration program, you should understand the necessary qualifications and prepare the appropriate application materials to have your best chance of getting admitted to this prestigious doctoral program.

We'll share everything you need to know about DBA admission to increase your appeal as an applicant, including techniques for writing an impactful personal statement and managing financial aspects associated with enrollment in a business administration doctorate program—key strategies designed to aid you in securing your spot within a DBA program.

Navigating the DBA Program Application

A strategic approach is crucial when applying for a doctoral program such as a business administration program. The application process for a DBA program is more complicated than applying for a master's degree in business; it's a two-phase journey that starts with a preliminary application and may advance to additional materials submission and interviews.

Here's an overview of what's required in each phase of the application process for the Executive Doctor of Business Administration at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School:

• Personal Statement/Essay 
• Resume 
• Research topic proposal (one-page essay)
• Intellectual contributions (optional)
• Online application
• Official transcripts
• TOEFL, PTE, IELTS Score, if applicable
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Graduate degree from an accredited institution*
• Time management plan
• Research Proposal (3 pages)
• Optional: Recommendation letters

You'll also need a minimum of 10 years of full-time work experience as well as a business-related master's degree.

Preparing Your Phase 1 Application Materials

To make a strong case for your admission, you need to prepare your Phase 1 application materials meticulously and submit them before the application deadline.

Crafting a Personal Statement That Resonates

Your personal statement is a narrative that tells your unique story. It's where you connect your past experiences with your future ambitions, all through the lens of seeking a DBA. This document should weave together your motivations for pursuing a doctor of business administration, how it aligns with your career goals, and why you've chosen a particular institution.

Start by reflecting on your journey: what drives you, how have your experiences shaped your aspirations, and how will a DBA propel you forward? Be specific about the aspects of the DBA program that excite you and how they align with your professional development plans. It’s also beneficial to express why the chosen institution stands out to you, whether it's their innovative approach, faculty members, or the impact of its alumni network.

Showcasing Your Professional Journey With a Solid Resume

Your resume is a representation of your professional life and should highlight your achievements, leadership roles, and contributions to your field. For a DBA application, focus on experiences that underscore your managerial and leadership skills and any accomplishments that demonstrate your capacity for critical thinking and strategic decision-making. Tailor your resume to emphasize relevance to the DBA program, showcasing how your background equips you for the challenges and rigor of doctoral-level study.

Choosing a Research Topic

The research topic proposal is your chance to show the admissions committee your areas of interest and potential research directions. This one-page essay should clearly articulate a research question or area you’re passionate about, its relevance to contemporary business challenges, and how it aligns with the DBA program’s strengths. Your proposal doesn’t have to be a commitment to a specific dissertation topic but should demonstrate your ability to think critically and identify areas ripe for scholarly inquiry.

Showcasing Intellectual Contributions

Though optional, detailing your intellectual contributions can significantly bolster your application. This includes published works, presentations, or any projects that demonstrate your scholarly engagement and contributions to your field. Including these accomplishments shows the admissions committee your commitment to academic excellence and your potential as a researcher.

Completing The Online Application

The online application is where all the components of your application come together. It’s essential to ensure that every section is completed accurately and thoroughly. Pay close attention to application deadlines as well as the admissions requirements of each section, adhere to word limits, and recheck for any errors or omissions. The online application is also an opportunity to express your interest in the program and articulate your professional and academic goals succinctly.

Essential Qualifications for DBA Admission

DBA applicants are required to have a master’s degree, which comes after obtaining a business administration degree, such as a bachelor’s degree, from an accredited U.S. university or its international equivalent. An MBA or related graduate degree with a significant focus on business administration is often considered essential. The previous graduate coursework must be closely related to business administration to align with DBA program expectations.

In addition to academic qualifications, professional experience is given considerable weight, with a minimum requirement of ten years of full-time business or management experience. DBA programs, in essence, evaluate overall readiness for a doctoral program, encompassing factors such as previous graduate coursework, GPA, professional experience, and personal qualities.

Advancing Your Academic Credentials

An MBA or a graduate degree in a related field is often seen as evidence of the necessary academic foundation for DBA studies. Holding an MBA is a common entry requirement for DBA programs, positioning candidates with this qualification favorably. Discussing any relevant educational background helps establish the continuity and progression of the applicant’s academic journey towards the DBA program.

Demonstrating Professional Experience

Demonstrating professional experience is a significant aspect of the DBA application process. DBA programs often seek candidates with significant work experience, with a preference for those possessing substantial experience in business or management positions and a history in senior management or executive-level roles.

Highlighting managerial or executive roles, along with the influential impact made in these positions, showcases the applicant’s preparedness for doctoral-level business studies. Demonstrating leadership skills and the ability to lead transformational changes within organizations is a critical attribute that DBA admissions committees look for.

Financial Considerations for Pepperdine University's DBA Applicants

The prestigious DBA program at Pepperdine University, located in Malibu, California, promises not only a transformative educational experience but also entails specific financial planning due to its unique structure and offerings.

Pepperdine University's DBA program stands out not only for its rigorous curriculum and esteemed faculty but also for its comprehensive cost structure designed to support students throughout their academic journey. The program's tuition is calculated at $3,275 per unit, encompassing a total of 55 units throughout the three-year program. This pricing model is inclusive, covering more than just the tuition; it extends to fees, all meals during the six residential sessions, access to cutting-edge online course content and research resources, and software licenses necessary for a fruitful learning experience.

Paying For Your DBA at Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University is committed to supporting students through a range of financial aid opportunities, including scholarships, loans, and grants designed to make your doctoral journey more accessible and affordable.

Federal Loans : For U.S. citizens or permanent residents, federal loans can be a viable option to fund your DBA studies. The Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan, requiring credit approval, provides the opportunity to borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid, at a fixed interest rate of 8.05% for the same period. Federal loans come with various repayment terms and options, including income-based repayment plans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Private Loans: Students also have the freedom to explore private loans from any lender of their choice. While Pepperdine Graziadio Business School does not endorse any specific lenders, various online resources can help you review the terms and conditions of private loans favored by other students at the school.

The Yellow Ribbon Program : For veterans, the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program offers additional financial support for tuition and certifiable fees that exceed the benefits payable under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. This program allows eligible veterans, active service members, and spouses of active service members to receive matching contributions from Pepperdine and the Department of Veterans Affairs towards their unmet costs. It's a valuable resource for those who have served our country and are now pursuing advanced education in business administration.

Language Requirements for International Students

International applicants aspiring to join DBA programs must demonstrate English proficiency for admission, typically by providing TOEFL or IELTS scores. If your native language is not English or if you haven’t earned a degree from an institution where English is the language of instruction, you need to submit a TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS score.

The minimum TOEFL scores accepted are 80 for the iBT and 550 for the pBT, while the minimum IELTS requirement is an overall score of 7 with no individual module score below 6. TOEFL and IELTS scores that are two years old or older are generally not acceptable for application purposes. Getting a firm grasp on the language requirements is a key step for international applicants aiming for DBA program admission.

Contacting the Admissions Office for Assistance

While preparing your DBA application, it’s natural to have questions or require clarifications. Prospective students are encouraged to directly reach out to the admissions office with any questions they might have to gain clearer insights about the DBA program.

Keeping the lines of communication open with the admissions office and the admissions committee can contribute to being well-prepared and informed throughout the application process, including the admissions review process.

The Decision Process and Next Steps After Acceptance

At Pepperdine University's Graziadio Business School, each DBA application undergoes a comprehensive review by our admissions committee. This process involves a holistic assessment of your application materials, including your academic qualifications, professional experience, personal statement, and potential for research and leadership in the field of business administration. We aim to identify candidates who not only meet the program's academic standards but also demonstrate a strong alignment with our values and the potential to contribute significantly to the business community.

Admissions decisions are made with careful consideration and deliberation to ensure that selected candidates are well-suited to thrive in and contribute to our DBA program.

Next Steps After Acceptance

Being accepted into Pepperdine University's DBA program is an achievement that marks the beginning of an exciting and challenging academic journey. Here are the critical next steps you should take after receiving your acceptance:

• Confirm Your Enrollment: Upon receiving your offer of admission, you will be asked to confirm your intent to enroll in the DBA program. This step usually involves submitting a completed Intent to Enroll form and making a non-refundable deposit to secure your place in the program. The deposit amount and due date will be clearly stated in your acceptance letter.
• Plan Your Finances: Review the financial aid options available to you, including scholarships, loans, and grants. If you haven't already, now is the time to finalize your financial planning for your DBA studies. The financial aid office at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School can provide guidance and support in exploring the various financial resources available to you.
• Prepare for Residency Sessions: The DBA program at Pepperdine includes immersive residency sessions that are integral to the learning experience. Begin making arrangements for travel and accommodation if necessary, and mark your calendar for these important dates. The program office will provide detailed information about the schedule and expectations for these sessions.
• Engage with the Pepperdine DBA Community: Start connecting with your future classmates, faculty, and the broader Pepperdine community. Engaging early can help you build a supportive network and ease the transition into the doctoral program. Look out for invitations to pre-program workshops, networking events, and other opportunities to get involved.
• Set Personal and Professional Goals: Finally, take a moment to reflect on your goals for pursuing a DBA at Pepperdine. Consider how you plan to leverage this opportunity to advance your career, contribute to the field of business administration, and achieve your personal and professional aspirations.

Pursue an Executive Doctor of Business Administration Program at Pepperdine University

Pursuing a DBA program is a significant step in your academic and professional journey. With the right preparation and understanding of the admissions process, you can improve your chances of securing a spot in a prestigious DBA program like the one offered at Pepperdine University. Remember, the journey to a DBA degree is not just about meeting the DBA admission requirements, but also about demonstrating your unique value and potential contributions to the field of business administration.

Learn more about how to achieve your career goals with a degree from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School.

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Federal Court Enters Consent Decree Against Philips Respironics Following Recall of Certain Sleep Therapy Machines

FDA News Release

Decree Includes Key Provisions Aimed to Prioritize Patient Relief and Ensure Company’s Regulatory Compliance

Today, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Philips RS North America LLC (“Philips Respironics”), Respironics California LLC, and Philips Holding USA Inc., and Roy Jakobs, CEO of Royal Philips, along with several other individual defendants named in the decree. The consent decree , with limited exceptions, restricts the production and sale of new continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines and other devices at several Philips Respironics facilities in the United States until certain requirements are met. CPAP and BiPAP machines are sleep therapy devices used for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The decree also requires implementation of a Recall Remediation Plan, agreed to by the FDA and Philips Respironics, to help ensure relief is provided to patients impacted by Philips Respironics’ June 2021 recall of certain ventilators, CPAP and BiPAP machines, by way of receiving a new or reworked/remediated device or, for certain devices, providing the option for a partial refund. 

“The finalization of this decree is a significant milestone. Throughout this recall, we have provided patients with important health information by issuing numerous safety communications and have taken actions rarely used by the agency to help protect those impacted by this recall,” said Jeff Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Today’s action is a culmination of those efforts and includes novel provisions aimed at helping ensure that patients receive the relief they have long deserved. This also marks the first time a device company is providing a remediation payment option for a recalled device under a consent decree.”

The consent decree comes after Philips Respironics recalled certain ventilators, CPAP and BiPAP machines in June 2021 because of potential health risks—impacting 15 million devices worldwide. The polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) foam used in these devices to reduce sound and vibration can break down. If the foam breaks down, black pieces of foam, or certain chemicals that are not visible, could be breathed in or swallowed by the person using the device. Immediately following Philips’ recall, the FDA issued an alert notifying device users that problems reportedly associated with the PE-PUR foam breakdown could potentially result in serious injury and may require medical intervention to prevent permanent injury. 

The complaint, filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FDA, alleged that Philips Respironics violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) by introducing devices into interstate commerce that are adulterated because the devices were not manufactured in accordance with current good manufacturing practice requirements. In addition, the complaint alleged that the company introduced devices into interstate commerce that are misbranded because it failed to provide the FDA with information about specific corrections (or removals) the company made to devices, as required by FDA regulations. Both of these violations were noted in the FDA’s 2021 inspection of the company’s Murrysville, Pennsylvania, facility. The complaint further alleged that additional violations of current good manufacturing practice requirements were observed at Philips Respironics’ Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, facility in 2023, and during several inspections of its subsidiary’s facility in Carlsbad, California, which has ceased manufacturing operations.

With certain exceptions, the consent decree restricts the Defendants from manufacturing and distributing devices at or from the Philips Respironics facilities in Pennsylvania and California, until the Defendants have completed the repair/rework, replacement and refund activities set forth in the Recall Remediation Plan, and are in compliance with requirements applicable to current good manufacturing practice, reporting corrections and removals and medical device reporting. The company must receive written notice from the FDA that they are in compliance with these requirements before resuming operations. The company can continue to manufacture and distribute certain devices that the FDA has determined to be “medically necessary,” which are specified in the decree, as well as replacement parts and accessories to support the use of devices in customers’ possession.

“Medical device manufacturers have a responsibility to comply with requirements designed to ensure the safety and effectiveness of their products,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s action reflects our commitment to vigorously enforce federal law and prevent manufacturers from marketing adulterated and misbranded devices to vulnerable patients who need them.”

Recall Remediation Plan 

The Recall Remediation Plan outlines required remediation options based on device type, as well as timeframes for the company to complete certain remediation activities for patients impacted by this recall. More specifically, remediation options include a remediated device (either a new or reworked unit of the same model type, or a new unit of a functionally equivalent model type) with a renewed warranty or, for certain device models, issuance of a refund (factoring in depreciation of the device). As part of this plan, Philips Respironics is also required to make several attempts to contact a patient and/or Durable medical equipment provider within a certain timeframe regarding actions they must take (e.g., register the device serial number, elect a remediation option, provide prescription information, etc.) to help ensure patients receive remediation in a timely manner.

The FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) previously issued a notice proposing that an order be issued, under section 518(b) of the FD&C Act, requiring Philips Respironics to submit a plan for the repair, replacement or refund of the purchase price (less a reasonable allowance for use) of recalled devices manufactured after November 2015. The provisions outlined in the Recall Remediation Plan agreed to by the FDA and Philips Respironics are intended to provide the relief for patients that CDRH sought through the 518(b) process. 

Key Consent Decree Provisions 

In addition to the requirements noted above, the decree contains other provisions aimed at helping to ensure patients receive relief, and that the company completes necessary testing and follows current good manufacturing practice requirements. Examples include: 

Export Restriction for Commercial Distribution

With respect to CPAP and BiPAP devices that are being used to remediate patients impacted by the recall, the decree generally prohibits the Defendants from exporting those devices for commercial distribution unless: 

• All U.S. patients who registered by a certain date and who could be remediated with the device to be exported have been remediated; 
• The Defendants are meeting the timeframes for steps in the remediation process set forth in the Recall Remediation Plan; and
• The Defendants have enough devices in stock to address U.S. demand for that particular recall remediation device model for the next twelve months.  

Overall, this provision is intended to help ensure remediation of U.S. patients is prioritized over export for commercial distribution and patients receive the recall remediation devices that they are seeking from Philips Respironics in a timely manner. 

Testing Requirements

The decree also requires the Defendants to contract with an independent testing expert within 10 days of entry of the decree to review and evaluate their testing, including biocompatibility data, on the new, silicone-based foam the company is using to replace and rework some machines impacted by the June 2021 recall. This independent expert will assess, among other things, Philips’ plan for testing the silicone-based foam, including testing that has been completed, is ongoing, or is planned, to ascertain whether that testing will enable a determination that the silicone-based foam does not degrade during the labeled service life of the device and does not introduce any new or similar potential health concerns to the PE-PUR sound abatement foam. The testing expert will submit findings of this evaluation to the FDA for review. The company will be required to submit a plan to the FDA to address any gaps in testing, analysis or other information that may be identified by the expert. 

Assuring Regulatory Compliance of other Respironics’ Facilities

The consent decree also requires the Defendants to retain an independent expert to inspect their other Sleep and Respiratory Care facilities (other than the facilities in Pennsylvania and California) to evaluate whether those facilities are operating in compliance with the FD&C Act and to correct any deficiencies that are identified. In addition, the consent decree allows the FDA to subject other facilities owned by the corporate defendants to certain provisions of the decree if the FDA determines, based on a future inspection, that those facilities are not operating in compliance with the FD&C Act and its implementing regulations.

Patients impacted by the June 2021 Philips Respironics recall remain a top priority for the agency as the FDA continues to take steps to protect the health and safety of individuals using these devices. The agency continues to encourage individuals with a device affected by this recall who have not yet registered their device to do so, and those who have already registered to ensure their contact information is up to date.

The FDA has a dedicated response team that will continue to meet regularly with the company to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the Recall Remediation Plan and other related recall activities, as outlined in the consent decree. The agency also continues to assess the supply chain for this product area and believes there is adequate supply and that alternative manufacturers are able to handle patient demand for CPAP and BiPAP machines.

Related Information

• Court Enjoins Philips Respironics from Manufacturing and Distributing Adulterated and Misbranded Sleep and Respiratory Devices at or from Three Pennsylvania Facilities
• Consent Decree
• CDRH Provides Update on Philips June 2021 Recall and Maintains Recommendations Related to Potential Health Risks of PE-PUR Foam 
• Recalled Philips Ventilators, BiPAP Machines, and CPAP Machines
• FDA Activities Related to Recalled Philips Ventilators, BiPAP Machines, and CPAP Machines
• Recommendations for Recalled Philips Ventilators, BiPAP Machines, and CPAP Machines

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.