We’ll send you our company updates and latest news. Subscribe for free by completing the form below.
*Not in conjunction with any other offers
We get it – you’re dying to include your work experience in your personal statement, but how do you write about work experience in your personal statement? Work experience is an essential component of your personal statement. It shows that you are passionate and knowledgeable about your chosen course. Some courses require prior work experience before you can apply.
So if you’re looking for a way to showcase your work experience, this blog post is just what you need. Learn how to write about work experience effectively in your statement to help you stand out from the crowd and get into the university of your dreams.
Some courses require you to have work experience before applying (e.g. medical courses.) You may need to complete a certain number of working hours before you’re eligible. It’s best to check out the course requirements before writing your work experience personal statement. If you’re thinking of applying to medicine then check out our medical personal statement advice, likewise with our how to write a law personal statement.
With that said, other courses don’t require work experience. But it does elevate your personal statement if you have relevant work experiences to share.
Perhaps the greatest obstacle to writing your work experience personal statement is determining whether an activity counts as “work experience” or not. Here are examples of work experience you may need to include:
These are activities that are not included within your formal curriculum. Being a member of the sports team, debate club, Red Cross, or theatre group are good examples.
Formal work placements are exposures to real-world experience. These are often required as part of your curriculum.
There are tons of volunteer work you could’ve participated in. Maybe you helped out at animal shelters, environmental conservation activities, or feeding programs.
Part-time jobs are significant for your work experience personal statement. Working as a customer service agent, freelance writer, or salesperson at a local store demonstrates a sense of responsibility on your part. Mention what’s relevant to the course you’re applying for! Competitions. Look out for competitions in areas that interest you, for example, design, writing, maths, or business.
Your personal projects reflect what you love doing. That’s why there’s a high probability they’re related to the course you’re applying for.
If you love coding, you may have built websites. Love writing? Maybe you’ve set up your own blog! Write them down in your work experience personal statement.
If you occupied leadership positions in your organisations relevant to your chosen course, mention them! Universities are on the lookout for motivated individuals willing to take responsibility.
The list of work experiences to include in your personal statement hopefully helps, but make sure to check out our what not to put in a personal statement.
Writing down your leadership positions can take your work experience personal statement up a higher notch.
You now have a solid idea of relevant work experience you need to include in your personal statement. But how will you present it? Here are questions to eliminate writer’s block:
Make good use of these starters to kick off your writing. Brainstorm all relevant details of your work experience. We’ll sort them out later. And, if you’re wondering how to start a personal statement then wonder no more!
After stating the facts about your work experience, it’s time to get to the heart of the matter. You are writing your work experience personal statement not to brag about your achievements, but showing why you’re serious about your course.
That’s why discussing what you learned is essential. Beyond your role, share what insights you’ve gained that helped shape your character.
If you’re not sure how to start, let these questions unknot your ideas:
After answering these questions, craft a powerful paragraph that demonstrates how deep your understanding is.
The more interesting facts you share about yourself, the better. Bring your work experience personal statement to life with vivid details that convey essential ideas about who you are.
You may be unaware of skills you possess that are relevant and essential for your course. To make sure you won’t forget to mention them, here are skill ideas common across fields:
These are some of the common skills valuable across several fields of study. Among these, which describes you most? Go ahead and write about it!
Your work experience should deepen your understanding of the course you’re applying for. Dig deeper and reflect on these points:
To enhance your work experience personal statement, reach out to people who’ve been where you want to be. University students and practising staff are the perfect individuals you can approach.
Set appointments with them and ask them about their experience. What is it like to be in their position? What are the challenges that they see? What are they doing to improve their field of study?
Best of all, solicit advice on how to write your work experience personal statement. What skills do the admissions boards search for?
Then go back to your personal statement and write about your new connections. Mention how their insights and advice shed greater light on how your work experience will help you succeed in your course.
Do this, and you’re guaranteed to show a richer work experience personal statement.
Soak up knowledge on the current challenges and breakthroughs of your chosen field. Read journal articles, news websites, and featured stories. You can also visit blogs written by practitioners or university students.
Make sure to cite authoritative sources and figures when discussing the status quo. Then weave the information back to your work experience.
Do you have similar experiences with the figures you’ve mentioned? Have they discussed situations you experienced yourself? How are you making a difference in the field? Will your perspective matter?
What a perfect way to build credibility for your work experience personal statement!
You now have a rich draft of your work experience personal statement. But you’re unsure of how to word and structure it.
Why not check out work experience personal statement examples on the web? Examine how they presented their experiences and insights. Make sure to read as many examples as you can.
Choose your top 3 favourites and save them in your documents. If you’re short of ideas, go back to them. Don’t forget to highlight paragraphs, sentences, and words that inspire you.
Don’t be afraid of being vulnerable in your work experience personal statement. The admissions board needs to know if you are genuinely passionate about this course or not, so don’t hold back!
But remember to stay authentic. Don’t overdramatise mundane events. State events as they happened, and share your realisations as they are. Authenticity is a precious factor!
With the suggestions mentioned above, you’ll be able to craft a more compelling and impactful work experience personal statement. Understand that this is YOUR story. Don’t copy others’ work experience personal statements.
Make your own angle and spin, and rest assured that the admissions board will want to read about YOU in your chosen course!
We’ll send you our company updates and latest news. Subscribe for free by completing the form below.
*Not in conjunction with any other offers