- Writing a CV is no easy task, and there are a great many pitfalls which you will need to avoid.
- One of the most important elements of writing a CV is the introduction. This is known as the ‘personal statement’.
- Your personal statement should introduce yourself and your skills to the reader. When applying for paramedic jobs, this is particularly important.
- Paramedics play an essential role in maintaining the well-being of the general public. They deliver crucial first aid, and are instrumental in keeping individuals alive. Therefore, paramedic employers will only be looking for the very best candidates.
- If you are writing a CV, you need to do your utmost to perfect your paramedic personal statement, and persuade your employer to read the rest of your application. In this blog, we’ll give 5 tips for writing a winning paramedic personal statement.
5 Top Tips to Consider When Writing Your Personal Statement
Keep it short.
- When writing a personal statement, one of the biggest mistakes that many people make is that they write too much. Remember that
your CV, in its entirety, should be 2 pages maximum. - Not only will a lengthy personal statement detract from the quality of the rest of your application, but there is a danger you will bore the reader. You need to put across your qualities in a succinct and efficient manner.
- Remember that your personal statement is a summary of your qualities. It is not a cover letter. Try to keep your paramedic personal statement to 150 words or less.
Outline your interests.
- The aim of your paramedic personal statement is to introduce yourself to the reader. Therefore, you need to introduce them to your interests, while keeping them relevant to the job role.
- For example, you could briefly introduce any key work or voluntary experience in this section, ‘I worked voluntarily with St John’s Ambulance service for 5 years, alongside qualified paramedics’.
Write in first person.
- Some people prefer to write their CVs in third person, but the danger of this is that you will come across as self-important to the employer.
- Writing in first person allows you to talk candidly with the employer about your skills and qualities. It is more readable and will make the employer feel as if they have got to know you, rather than a third person individual that you are describing.
- Look at the difference between the below two statements:
‘John Smith has worked and trained voluntarily alongside qualified paramedics for 2 years. He is interested in medicine and passionate about making a difference.’
‘I have worked and trained voluntarily alongside qualified paramedics for 2 years. I’m interested in medicine, and passionate about making a difference.’
You can see that the second statement has more of an impact on the reader, because it’s personal, and not detached.
Summarise the core competencies.
- The phrase ‘core competencies’ refers to the job-specific behaviours that candidates for a position will need to demonstrate, both when applying and when employed.
- For a paramedic, these are: the ability to stay calm in an emergency, the ability to learn new and technical information and the ability to work in pressured situations.
- You don’t have to describe exactly how you have these competencies, as your CV and Cover Letter should do this for you.
- Just summarise them, for example, ‘I’m a calm and collected person, who has a passion for medicine. I’m really interested in learning new technical information and have a wealth of experience working in difficult and pressured scenarios.’
Summarise why you want the job.
- This works best as the closer to your personal statement.
- In 2 or 3 lines, at the end of your statement, summarise why you want the role.
- For example, ‘After completing my studies and an extended period of work experience, I’m now looking to take the valuable skills and knowledge that I have picked up, and use it in a professional working environment. I believe I’d make a fantastic addition to any paramedical team.’
For more top tips on how to write your paramedic personal statement, and secure your dream job, purchase our guide on How To Become A Paramedic.
