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11 Best Communication Skills for Your Resume (With Examples)

11 min read · Updated on February 13, 2024

Are you properly conveying communication skills in your resume?

When it comes to employment skills, few are more important than the ability to effectively communicate with others. No matter your profession, chances are that you'll need some level of communication skill to interact with co-workers, managers, subordinates, and customers. As a result, employers who are evaluating potential hires always want to see evidence of communication skills in a resume.

But which communication skills should you include in your resume to make the best possible impression on employers?

In this post, we'll explain why you need to highlight these skills in your resume, examine 11 of the top communication skills, and offer tips to help you demonstrate those abilities. We'll also provide examples that show you how to include this critical information.

Why should you include communication skills in your resume?

While your hard skills - specific, measurable, job-related abilities - typically form the core of any job description's required qualifications, soft skills cannot be overlooked in your resume. In fact, those interpersonal abilities can play a significant role in any hiring decision that involves two otherwise equally competent candidates. If you're competing for a job against someone with equivalent technical capabilities and experience, that difference in soft skills may determine who gets hired.

When you include communication skills in your resume, you're letting an employer know that you have interpersonal abilities that can make you a valuable member of their team. That's an important consideration for any employer, of course. Companies want new hires who can do more than just fulfill their duties; they want team players who fit well within their organization.

Related post : The Essential Steps of Your Communication Process

Types of communication skills

It's important to understand what we mean when we talk about communication skills. For our purposes, we can categorize these skills into three distinct types:

Verbal skills . These communication skills include everything from conveying information or persuading others to public speaking and dealing with customer complaints.

Written skills . Many jobs require the ability to write in a concise and informative manner. These skills can include everything from informal emails to professional briefs, client presentations, and detailed reports for superiors.

Interpersonal skills . The third type of communication skill involves all those abilities that you use to interact with others. They can include things like empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution.

  What are the top 11 communication skills employers want to see?

Below are 11 of the top communication skills for resumes. As you might expect, there are many others that you might want to consider as well. However, these 11 skills are among the most sought-after that employers are looking for in job candidates.

1.     Active listening

Active listening is a prized communication skill. This ability goes well beyond simply hearing what others say, and instead involves the ability to actively understand their message. People with these skills can connect with others, build trust, and participate in collaborative problem-solving efforts.

Active listening includes a host of other skills, including the ability to ask probing questions, provide nonverbal and verbal cues that show that you're paying attention, and paraphrase what you're hearing to confirm your understanding of the message.

Related post : What are the Types of Listening Skills? 8 Types Explained

2.     Empathy

Empathy is a vital interpersonal trait and one of the most important leadership communication skills. People with empathy tend to be more curious and open-minded, have a keener sense of self-awareness, and are less likely to be hostage to their own natural biases and preconceptions. They value other people's perspectives and are willing to entertain ideas that challenge their beliefs.

3.     Conflict management and resolution

Conflict is an inevitable feature of human interaction - including in the workplace. If you have excellent conflict resolution skills, it's important to highlight them in your resume. Employers will be interested in knowing that you're capable of resolving interpersonal conflict in your work setting, since that can have a direct and positive impact on productivity and workplace harmony.

4.     Presentation skills

There are many jobs that require the ability to make presentations to superiors, customers, shareholders, or even coworkers. Good presentation skills enable you to compellingly convey information to others, persuade them to consider your point of view, or simply keep your target audience apprised of relevant developments.

5.     Writing skills

Effective writing skills are important in virtually every industry and a wide variety of roles. Obviously, many jobs will require simple writing tasks like composing emails, but there are a whole host of other writing abilities that employers may be looking for. These can include everything from legal briefs or technical writing to advertising copy, marketing presentations, contract creation, and more. Depending on the job you're seeking, including these important communication skills in your resume could be vital.

6.     Team building

The ability to build and work with teams is another important leadership communication skill for your resume. Whether you're interested in a managerial or executive role, this skill set is something that you'll need to succeed in that leadership position. Effective team builders know how to work with others to solve problems, are skilled in delegating work to competent subordinates, and know how to help team members reach their full potential.

Related post : 20 Key Leadership Competencies for Success (Plus Tips!)

7.     Motivation

Employers also appreciate candidates who possess useful motivational skills. While the ability to set goals, maintain a positive attitude, and rally others to achieve a shared objective is essential for leadership, it can also be an invaluable skill for anyone who works in a collaborative setting. By including these communication skills in your resume, you can ensure that employers recognize your ability to inspire others and drive productivity in the workplace.

Related post : 6 Qualities of Managers Who Practice Inspiring Leadership

8.     Openness to feedback

Hiring managers also want to see that you're capable of receiving feedback, whether it's constructive criticism or praise. These skills reflect a commitment to teamwork and continual improvement, both of which are highly prized by today's employers. It's a bonus if you're also adept at providing feedback to others. That desire to develop as an employee and help others to reach their full potential can make you an attractive candidate for many jobs.

9.     Honesty

You might not think of honesty as a communication skill, but it is. Whether you're an entry-level worker or a manager, it's important for others to know that they can trust your words. Of course, honesty encompasses more than just being truthful. It also includes character traits like trustworthiness, responsibility, accountability, and reliability. Honest people are seen as authentic and confident, traits that all good leaders possess.

10.  Emotional intelligence

As the workplace has grown more complex in recent years, hiring managers have placed greater emphasis on employees' emotional intelligence. That's a fancy term that simply describes your ability to manage your own emotions, understand your own interactions with others, and use that knowledge and insight to control stress, relate to others, communicate in a clear and effective way, and manage conflict.

People with high emotional intelligence often excel at interpersonal relations in the workplace and tend to be competent leaders. Their ability to recognize their own emotions and the feelings of others around them can help them to make more informed decisions. Including examples of your use of emotional intelligence can help to highlight those critical interpersonal communication skills in your resume.

11.  Negotiating

Negotiation skills are also highly prized in most industries, so make sure that you highlight these abilities in your resume too. Successful negotiators are adept at problem-solving, persuasive communication, and conflict resolution - skills that are useful in nearly every industry. Include an achievement in your professional experience section that highlights your negotiation skills, demonstrating how those abilities provided measurable value to a previous employer. 

Tips you can use to highlight these skills in your resume

Of course, being familiar with these different communication skills is just the first step. You also need to know how to highlight them in your resume. The following tips can help you with that process.

Match your skills to keywords in the job posting

Always make sure that you review the job posting to identify specific communication-related skills that are listed as job requirements. Wherever possible, use those exact terms in your resume as you describe various communication skills that you've used in previous jobs. That will help to ensure that your resume is found by an applicant tracking system when an employer conducts a search.

Focus on measurable achievements

Don't just say that you have certain communication skills. Show that you have them by including them as achievements in your resume summary or professional experience section. Make sure that you describe how you used those skills to produce measurable value for your employer. Use real numbers to help the reader understand the type of value you can provide as a potential hire.

Always be brief and to the point

Brevity is important, since hiring managers often sift through dozens or even hundreds of resumes. Make sure that you highlight communication skills and other abilities as concisely as possible to optimize space in your resume. Remember also that your writing skills will be on full display as you create the resume, so you probably won't need to spend much time boasting about them.

Communication skills: resume examples you can use

As we noted, there are several ways that you can highlight communication skills in your resume. You can include mention of them in your resume summary, list several within your core competencies section, and highlight examples of their use in your professional experience section. Below are some examples to show you how this is done.

Communication skills in your resume summary

Detail-oriented Office Manager with 10 years of experience managing office operations and interdepartmental communications. Managed 21-person team responsible for accounts totaling $123 million a year. Researched, drafted, and implemented interoffice communication changes that reduced waste by 22%, expedited internal processing and increased departmental revenue by 19% in the first year.

Communication skills in your skills section

Including these communication skills in your core competencies, or skills, section is a simple matter. Pick the skills that most closely align with the job requirements, and list them in bullet point form alongside other key soft skills and your technical proficiencies. For example:

Copywriting

Email management

Media communications

Presentations

Team building

Training management

Office management

Organization

Time management

Decision-making

Communication skills in your work experience section

When it comes to including your communication skills in a work experience section, you again need to focus on notable achievements. Use real numbers that demonstrate value and create several bullet point accomplishment examples for each job listing in this section. You only need to include a couple of examples of how you used your communication skills, of course, since you'll likely also want to highlight other core job-related skills too. Here are some examples that show how to do this:

Reorganized office information flow to speed up client onboarding and account management, resulting in growth of 12% in client acquisition and an increase of 40% in retention

Created an innovative training program for new office transfers, focused on new skills and employee growth. Program resulted in 60% drop in employee attrition, contributing to a 13% increase in revenues in the first quarter of implementation

Negotiated resolution to client conflict that saved a $2 million project contract and led to a 30% expansion in business with the customer over the next two years

Related post : 47 Accomplishment Examples for Your Resume: Expert Picks

Achieve job search success by including communication skills in your resume

Much of your resume will be devoted to highlighting your job-related skills and experiences, but that's no reason to neglect these important soft skills. Conveying effective communication skills in your resume can be a terrific way to demonstrate that you're the best candidate for any job, and may be just what you need to differentiate yourself from your competition!

Are you still not sure if you've properly included your communication skills in your resume? Get a free resume review from our team of experts today!

Recommended reading:

Soft Skills Explained - and the Top 7 for Your Resume

What Are Skills? (With Examples and Tips on How to Improve Them)

These 14 Leadership Traits Can Fuel Your Career Success

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

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Graduate School Personal Statement

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

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

1. Before you start

1.1. Reflect on your experiences and goals

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

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

1.2. Do the research on your target program

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

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

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

1.3. Consider your audience

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

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

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

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

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

Return to Contents

2. Structure of a personal statement

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

2.1. Create a personal narrative 

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

When crafting a personal narrative, consider the following:

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

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

2.2. Your Experiences

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

2.3. Specific research interest  

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

2.4. Career goals 

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

3. Maximize Effectiveness

3.1. use concrete examples.

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

3.2. Explain the meaning of your experiences

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

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

4. Quick Tips and Additional Resources

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

5. Annotated Examples

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

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

How To Write a Personal Statement That Stands Out

Table of contents

Laura Jane Bradbury

A personal statement is a chance to highlight your unique qualities, skills, and experiences, all while showcasing your personality.

But whether you're applying for university, a job, or funding, it can be daunting to write about yourself. To increase your chances of getting accepted, it's important to know how to create an effective personal statement.

In my six years as a copywriter, I’ve written many personal statements that get results. In this article, I’ll guide you through what to include, what to avoid, and how to tailor a personal statement based on your application type.

Key Takeaways

• A personal statement is an opportunity to share your unique qualities, experiences, and skills.
• It should always relate to the course, job, or funding you are applying for.
• Include accomplishments and experiences that demonstrate how suited you are to the position or course you are applying for.
• Use clear and simple language to ensure your points are understood.

Your personal statement should be concise and demonstrate how you fit the position or opportunity you’re applying for. It’s important to keep information relevant, rather than listing all of your skills and accomplishments.

Follow these steps to accurately write and tailor your statement.

Understand your prompt

Before you start, make sure you understand what's expected of you. Are there specific instructions, keywords, or phrases that stand out in your prompt? Read through it thoroughly and note the requirements. You can then brainstorm ideas for each point.

Let's say I'm applying for a university journalism course. I've been asked to write a statement that shares why I'm interested and why I would be a good fit. I can use columns to plan my content:

Putting your ideas together first makes it easier to stay on track. Otherwise, you might lose focus and include irrelevant information. 

Show, don't just tell

Once you’ve listed your experiences, skills, and accomplishments, consider how you can demonstrate them with examples. Take a look at the list you created during the previous exercise and organize your points so you have clear examples and proof.

This technique helps you demonstrate your experiences and how they tie in with your application.

When telling anecdotes, use engaging stories that demonstrate your skills. For instance, a story about how I handled a fast-paced news internship proves I work well under pressure. 

Start strong

Recruiters, application tutors, and funders read lots of personal statements. You can make yours stand out with an engaging introduction.

Examples of a strong opening include:

A meaningful statistic

This draws readers in and increases credibility: 

"Communication is the key to marketing success, according to Business Marketing News. With five years of experience communicating and delivering campaigns to global clients, I have the skills and passion to add value to your team."

A personal story

Anecdotes connect the reader with the author’s real-life experience: 

"My first exposure to microbiology was during my time as a research assistant for a microbiologist. I was fascinated by the complex and intricate processes within cells."

An alarming statement

This piques the reader’s interest by making an issue seem urgent:  

“ The fashion industry churns out clothes at an alarming rate, causing mass production of synthetic fibers and harsh chemicals which have a detrimental impact on the planet. Funding my sustainability initiative is vital to mitigating this environmental impact." 

Avoid cliches such as "From a young age, I have always loved...." and "For as long as I can remember, I have had a passion for..."

Pro tip: Use Wordtune Editor 's Shorten feature to cut unnecessary fluff and make your intro sharper. Simply type in your sentence and click Shorten to receive suggestions.

Get Wordtune for free > Get Wordtune for free >

Admission committees and employers appreciate sincerity and authenticity. While it may be tempting, avoid exaggeration. You can better emphasize your skills and personality by being honest. For instance, rather than claiming I read every type of newspaper in my journalism application, I can focus on my dedication to reading The New York Times.

Your writing style should also feel genuine. Instead of trying to impress with complex language and fancy words, keep sentences simple and direct . This makes them more effective because they’re easier to read. 

Address weaknesses

Addressing weaknesses can show your willingness to confront challenges. It also gives you a chance to share efforts you have made for improvement. When explaining a weakness, exclude excuses.

Instead of saying "I didn't achieve my expected grades due to work commitments impacting my studies," try “While I didn't achieve my expected grades, I am now working with a tutor to help me understand my weak areas so I can succeed in your program.”

Wordtune’s Spices feature can help you develop counterarguments to weaknesses. In the Editor, highlight your text, click on Spices, and then Counterargument . Here’s an example:

Using Wordtune’s suggestion, I can highlight my eagerness to learn and provide examples to support my argument.

Highlight achievements

This is your chance to shine! A personal statement should highlight your best qualities — provided they relate to your prompt.

Ask yourself:

• What are your skills and strengths? Identify both academic and non-academic abilities such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork.
• What challenges have you faced? Reflect on how you have overcome significant challenges and how these experiences have helped you grow. For example, completing a course, learning a new language, or starting a business.
• What are your unique selling points? Consider what sets you apart from other applicants. For example, you may have a unique set of technical skills or experience learning in a different country.
• How have your achievements shaped your goals and aspirations? Sharing your goals shows that you think long-term and have taken the time to make sure you’re applying for the right opportunity.

Connect with the institution or company

Tailor your statement to the specific institution or company you're applying to — this shows you understand their values and have carefully considered where you want to seek opportunities.

To do this, head to the company or institution’s website and look for the About page. Many organizations include a mission statement on this page that conveys its purpose and values.

For example, universities often include their values under “Community” or “Student Life” sections. Here, Princeton University’s “In Service of Humanity” section highlights how they value using education to benefit society. Applicants can engage with this by explaining how they interact with their communities and seek to use their education to help others.

You can also research a company or institution’s social media. Look for similarities — maybe you both prioritize collaboration or think outside the box. Draw upon this in your personal statement. 

End with a strong conclusion

A strong conclusion is clear, concise, and leaves a lasting impression. Use these three steps:

• Summarize the main points of your statement. For example, “My experience volunteering for the school newspaper, along with my communication skills and enthusiasm for writing, make me an ideal student for your university."
• Discuss your future . Share your future ambitions to remind the reader that you’ve carefully considered how the opportunity fits into your plans.
• Include a closing statement. End on a positive note and offer the reader a final explanation for why you would be a great match. For instance, “Thank you for reviewing my statement. I am confident my skills and experience align with the role and your company culture.”

Tip: Learn more about writing an effective conclusion with our handy guide . 

Different types of personal statements

Now you know how to write a personal statement, let’s look at what to focus on depending on your application type.

The length of your personal statement will vary depending on the type. Generally, it should be around 500 words to 650 words . However, a university application is often longer than a statement for a job, so it’s vital to determine what is expected of you from the beginning.

Whatever the length, it’s important to remove and edit content fluff , including any repetition or copy that does not relate to your prompt.

Personal statement checklist

Use this checklist to ensure that your statement includes: 

• An engaging introduction.
• Clear examples of your experiences, skills, and expertise. 
• A commitment to improvement, if required.
• Any applicable achievements. 
• A direct connection to the company or institution’s values.
• A strong conclusion that summarizes information without adding new content.
• Authentic, simple language.

Personal statements are an opportunity to delve deeper and share who you are beyond your grades or resume experience. Demonstrate your ability with anecdotes and examples, address any weaknesses, and remember to use genuine and simple language. This is your place to shine, so follow our tips while displaying your unique personality, and you’ll be sure to stand out from the crowd.

Want to get started and create a powerful introduction? Read our step-by-step guide .

What is the difference between a cover letter and a personal statement?

A cover letter expresses your interest in a position and introduces you to an employer. It’s typically shorter and focuses on your qualifications, skills, and experience for a particular role. A personal statement, however, is common for a job, internship, funding, or university application. It explores your background, goals, and aspirations, as well as your skills and experience.

What is the purpose of a personal statement?

A personal statement is an opportunity to stand out by detailing your background, experiences, and aspirations. It should explain why you are interested in and a good match for the company or institution you are applying to.

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How to Write a Strong Personal Statement

• Ruth Gotian
• Ushma S. Neill

A few adjustments can get your application noticed.

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

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

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

• Ruth Gotian is the chief learning officer and associate professor of education in anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and the author of The Success Factor and Financial Times Guide to Mentoring . She was named the #1 emerging management thinker by Thinkers50. You can access her free list of conversation starters and test your mentoring impact . RuthGotian
• Ushma S. Neill is the Vice President, Scientific Education & Training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She runs several summer internships and is involved with the NYC Marshall Scholar Selection Committee. ushmaneill

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Many applications for jobs, college, school or university places, require candidates to submit a personal statement.

For some people, this may be the first time that they have ever had to write anything like this, and it can feel like a daunting prospect.

What should you include? What should you not include? And how do you promote yourself without seeming to boast about your achievements?

This page will help you to navigate these potential pitfalls, and create a personal statement to stand out for all the right reasons.

The Purpose of a Personal Statement

A personal statement has one simple purpose: to promote you.

In other words, it should be designed to make your application stand out for all the right reasons. When they read it, the recipient should be saying:

“Wow! We really want this one to come here!”

You do, however, need to be careful not to exaggerate, as this will quickly become clear at interview, and you will not get the job or place that you want.

Before You Start

Check the requirements carefully

There are likely to be some constraints set on your personal statement. For example, you may be asked to keep what you say within a certain number of words or characters, or cover certain issues. Check these requirements carefully both before you start, and when you think you have finished, and make sure that what you do is consistent with them.

Think about what you want to include

Make a list of the things that you really want the person receiving your personal statement to know about you.

You might, for example, want them to know why you want to attend this college, or study this course, or you might want them to know that you have recently been involved in an activity that has really helped you decide what you want to do with your life. List these things, and then check back when you have finished to make sure that you have included them.

You can add to this list as you go if you think of other things that should be included.

What to include in your Personal Statement

There are no hard and fast rules about what exactly you should include, or indeed, exclude.

It will depend on you, and what you are trying to demonstrate in your personal statement.

However, there are some simple rules that you should follow to decide what to include.

1. Show that you know what you are talking about

When you write a covering letter for a job application , you need to show that you understand the nature of the job. When you write a personal statement, you also need to show that you understand what you are applying for .

If it is a university course, demonstrate that you know about the course or subject, and what studying it will involve. If it is a sixth form, show that you are interested in your potential subjects, and the college or school. If a job, show that you understand something about what you will have to do each day, and that you have knowledge of the company or organisation.

2. Say why you want to study the course or do the job.

You may think this is obvious, but the reader does not know. It is worth explaining what makes you interested in the subject or job. You might, for example, say how you first came across the subject, and what interested you, then what you have done to explore it further.

3. Focus on what makes you unique and suitable, and include evidence

The purpose of a personal statement is to make you stand out from the crowd, for all the right reasons. It therefore needs to focus on what makes you unique, and why the employer/school/college/university should select you over and above all the other candidates.

Your personal statement should, therefore, explain what skills you have, and also why they are relevant to the course or job. Always include evidence to back up your assertions about your skills and, wherever possible, use independent witnesses. For example, instead of saying:

‘I have really good communication skills’

You should be saying:

‘I have really good communication skills, honed by a year spent as secretary to the Sixth Form committee and running an events group. Teachers commented that the notes of meetings and messages to others were particularly clear’.

You can include information from all areas of your life: work, home, school, extra studies, and so on, but do make sure it is part of explaining how you are suitable.

4. Make sure that everything you include is relevant

Focus on what you really need to get across, and make sure that is fully covered. Check that everything that you have said is relevant to the task in hand. This may well mean cutting down some of the explanations of what you were doing when you developed that particular skill, but that is better than excluding details of another relevant skill.

Deciding on the Structure of Your Personal Statement

You may be given guidelines on structure. If so, follow them.

If not, it is a good idea to decide on a structure before you start, and stick to it. Rather like an essay, a good broad outline is something like:

• An opening paragraph to explain why you want to attend that school/college/university, and why you want to study that course, or why you think you would be perfect for the job.
• A middle section , which provides all the evidence to back up your opening paragraph, broken down into some sensible order.
• A conclusion , which sums up your statement, and reminds the reader of your perfect fit for the course or job.

Some style rules to follow

Avoid clichés and jargon

A cliché is a word or phrase that is overused in writing. For a personal statement, it might include comments like:

“I have always wanted to be a lawyer”

“I just want to help people, and that’s why I want to study medicine”

Instead, try to use your own words. Read them out loud, and make sure that you don’t sound like a character in a bad soap opera. There is more about this on our page: Clichés to Avoid .

Draft, draft, and draft again

You will not get it right first time, or possibly even the second. Keep drafting and tweaking until you are sure it is as clear as possible, and says everything that you need. Be prepared to have at least two or three drafts before you are satisfied, and make sure you leave enough time for this before your deadline.

Use plain English and keep it simple

Plain English is always better than using complicated language. Keep it simple, and keep your sentences short. As a rule of thumb, sentences should not be much longer than one line. It is also a good idea to avoid sub-clauses, as these can over-complicate your text.

Reduce, reduce and reduce some more, until you are absolutely certain that you have used no more words than necessary, and the simplest words possible.

If you are not sure about this, have a look at our page on Plain English .

Reading something out loud is a very good way to make sure it is easy to read. If you find you are getting lost in your own sentences, you will need to shorten them, and make them simpler.

When you have finished…

Read it over carefully for any errors or inconsistencies

When you think you have finished, read your personal statement over carefully, and check for spelling and grammatical errors. The spelling and grammar checks in word processing packages are not fully reliable, but they will be a good starting point.

Ask someone else to check it over for you

It is a good idea to ask someone else to read your personal statement over for you as they may spot errors that you have missed, and also bits that are not as clear as they could be.

Check that you have included everything that was on your initial list of ideas

Go back to your initial list of ideas, and make sure that you have included everything.

And finally…

…remember that every personal statement is unique.

It is no good copying someone else’s, or using the same one for several different applications. Of course you will be able to reuse elements of previous versions, especially if you are, for example, applying to several different schools at the same time, or for several jobs. But it needs to be tailored: specific to both you and the situation.

Continue to: Graduate Employability Skills Writing a CV or Resume

See also: Personal Empowerment How to Write a Report 6 Great Skills to Demonstrate in Your University Application

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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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Postgraduate Personal Statement Example: Communication

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Personal Statement Example: Introduction

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

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

Commentary and Analysis 

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

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

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

Personal Statement Example: Academic Background

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

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

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

Commentary and Analysis

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

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

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

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

Personal Statement Example: Practical Experience 1

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

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

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

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

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

Personal Statement Example: Practical Experience 2

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

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

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

Commentary and Analysis: 

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

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

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

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

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

Personal Statement Example: Conclusion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Research and content verified by Personal Statement Planet .

David Hallen

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

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Communication Skills Personal Statements Samples For Students

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During studying in college, you will definitely have to write a bunch of Personal Statements on Communication Skills. Lucky you if linking words together and organizing them into relevant text comes naturally to you; if it's not the case, you can save the day by finding a previously written Communication Skills Personal Statement example and using it as a model to follow.

This is when you will certainly find WowEssays' free samples catalog extremely helpful as it includes numerous expertly written works on most various Communication Skills Personal Statements topics. Ideally, you should be able to find a piece that meets your criteria and use it as a template to build your own Personal Statement. Alternatively, our skilled essay writers can deliver you an original Communication Skills Personal Statement model written from scratch according to your individual instructions.

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Personal Statement On Physical Therapist

Providing this personal statement for admission into an academic institution with the caliber of challenges, opportunities, and focus offered by your organization constitutes a critical benchmark in my career goal of becoming a professional physical therapist. Both a passion for academic excellence combined with an extensive background in science underpins the scholastic and pragmatic foundation of what my admission to your institution offers to the expectations of the quality of learner you provide admission.

Admissions People Personal Statement Examples

Uc application #2, admission essay personal statement examples, admission essay, example of management and organizational behavior personal statement.

On most occasions, when I look at myself in a mirror I never cease to recognize a change in how look-not physically but professionally. In less than five years, I have transformed from being an individual who was by all means clueless of what he would want to become into an overly focused individual with an unfeigned interest in business administration. I graduated from college five years ago with a degree in MIS major.

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Understanding the 4 Basic Communication Styles: What You Need to Know

• The Speaker Lab
• June 22, 2024

Table of Contents

Have you ever wondered why some conversations just click while others leave you feeling misunderstood? The answer lies in your communication style . We all have our own way of expressing ourselves, but understanding these differences can be the key to building stronger, more meaningful connections.

In this article, we’re going to break down the four major types of communication styles so that you can identify your own. But we won’t stop there. You’ll also get practical tips for adapting your style to better connect with others, whether it’s in your personal relationships or professional life. So let’s dive in and start communicating with confidence!

Understanding the 4 Basic Communication Styles

If you’ve ever wondered why some conversations flow effortlessly while others feel like pulling teeth, it might come down to communication styles. The way we communicate is influenced by our personality, upbringing, and life experiences. And while we may adapt our style depending on the situation, most of us have a default mode we revert to, especially under stress.

So what are the different communication styles? According to behavioral experts, there are four fundamental types: assertive, aggressive, passive, and passive-aggressive. Understanding these styles is key to improving your own communication skills and working effectively with others, whether it’s in personal relationships or professional settings.

The Assertive Communication Style

Let’s start with the gold standard: assertive communication . This style is all about expressing your thoughts and feelings clearly and directly while still respecting the rights of others. Assertive communicators are confident in their opinions but also open to hearing different perspectives. They aim for a win-win outcome where everyone’s needs are met.

But what does it look like for a person to exhibit assertive communication? In team meetings, an assertive communicator would calmly state her ideas and rationale, even if they differed from the majority view. However, she would always listen attentively to others’ input and be willing to compromise or change her stance if presented with convincing arguments. As a result, her approach would create an atmosphere of openness and collaboration.

The Aggressive Communication Style

On the flip side, aggressive communicators tend to steamroll over others in their quest to be heard. They’re often loud, controlling, and dismissive of viewpoints that don’t align with their own. While aggression may get short-term results, it ultimately breeds resentment and erodes relationships.

Consider what a workplace would look like if the boss was an aggressive communicator. He would interrupt and talk over people in meetings, shoot down ideas with biting sarcasm, and make unilateral decisions without consulting the team. Needless to say, morale and productivity would suffer under his leadership. Aggressive communication might feel powerful in the moment, but it’s a losing strategy in the long run.

The Passive Communication Style

Then there’s passive communication , where people fail to express their true thoughts and feelings, often for fear of rocking the boat. Passive communicators may nod along in meetings even if they disagree, or take on extra work despite being overburdened, all to avoid potential conflict. The problem is, their needs go unmet and resentment builds under the surface.

It’s possible you know someone who struggles with being a passive communicator. This friend might agree to plans she didn’t really want to do, or stay silent when someone says something offensive. While her intentions are good, her inability to be assertive leaves her feeling taken advantage of and unhappy. Learning to voice her opinions and set boundaries would be a game-changer for this friend’s confidence and relationships.

The Passive-Aggressive Communication Style

Finally, there’s the style of passive- aggressive communication . This is when someone expresses their negative feelings indirectly, often through sarcasm, gossip, or subtle jabs. Passive-aggressive communicators may appear agreeable on the surface, but their true intentions leak out in subversive ways.

Working with a passive-aggressive team member can be very difficult. In meetings, a passive-aggressive communicator would say he was on board with decisions, but then send emails questioning every detail or miss key deadlines. His behavior would create confusion and slow progress. Passive-aggression might feel safer than outright confrontation, but it’s a toxic communication style that undermines trust and productivity.

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Characteristics of Assertive Communicators

Now that we’ve covered the four basic communication styles, let’s dive deeper into the one that’s most effective: assertive communication. What sets assertive communicators apart, and how can you develop this skill? Let’s look at some key characteristics to cultivate.

Express Feelings Directly

Assertive communicators are in touch with their emotions and express them in a clear, direct way. They use “I” statements to own their feelings, rather than blaming or accusing others. For example, instead of saying “You always interrupt me,” an assertive communicator might say, “I feel frustrated when I’m interrupted in meetings. Can we agree to let each other finish our thoughts?” By expressing their feelings honestly and respectfully, they create space for open dialogue and problem-solving.

Understand Their Personal Rights

Assertive communicators understand that they have a right to their thoughts, feelings, and needs, and they stand up for these rights in a calm, confident way. They set healthy boundaries and say no when necessary, without feeling guilty or apologetic. At the same time, they respect the rights of others and look for mutually beneficial solutions.

If you’re wondering what this looks like in real life, pretend for a moment that you have a friend who constantly cancels plans at the last minute. An assertive response might be, “I value our friendship, but it’s frustrating when you cancel on short notice. Let’s make plans that work for both of us and stick to them.” By standing up for your own time and needs while still expressing care for the relationship, you set a healthy boundary while practicing assertive communication.

Communicate Effectively

At its core, assertive communication is about getting your message across in a way that’s clear, direct, and respectful. Assertive communicators use active listening skills to fully understand others’ perspectives before responding. They speak calmly and confidently, even in tense situations. Finally, they look for win-win solutions that meet everyone’s needs.

Effective communicators can serve a vital role in resolving workplace conflicts. As a mediator, this person listens attentively to both sides without interrupting or taking sides. Then she reflects back what she’s heard to ensure understanding before brainstorming solutions. Her assertive approach creates a safe space for open, honest communication and helps people find common ground.

Traits of Aggressive Communicators

Now let’s take a closer look at the opposite end of the spectrum: aggressive communication. What does aggressive communication look like in practice, and why is it so damaging? Here are some telltale signs and traits of aggressive communicators.

Appear Passive

At first glance, aggressive communicators may seem like strong, decisive leaders. They speak loudly and forcefully, often talking over others or cutting them off. Additionally, they may use intimidating body language like finger pointing, invading personal space, or slamming fists on the table. However, this aggressive façade is often a mask for deep insecurity and a need for control.

Imagine a scenario where there’s a CEO known for his aggressive communication style. In board meetings, he would shut down dissenting opinions and make unilateral decisions without input. To close friends, however, he would admit that he feels like an imposter who has to project an image of strength and certainty at all times. His aggressive behavior is just a way of hiding his own self-doubts and vulnerabilities.

Communicate Passive-aggressively

While aggressive communicators may appear powerful in the short term, their approach ultimately backfires. Constant aggression creates a toxic work environment where people feel attacked, disrespected, and afraid to speak up. This leads to low morale, high turnover, and stifled innovation.

Moreover, aggressive communicators often resort to passive-aggressive tactics when they don’t get their way. They may give others the silent treatment, spread rumors, or undermine projects behind the scenes. This Jekyll and Hyde behavior erodes trust and makes it impossible to have an honest, productive conversation.

The antidote to aggressive communication is assertiveness—standing up for yourself and your ideas in a calm, respectful way. By modeling assertive behavior and setting clear boundaries, you can neutralize aggressive communicators and create a healthier, more collaborative environment for everyone.

Signs of Passive Communicators

Passive communicators tend to avoid expressing their thoughts and feelings, even when it’s important. They may feel like they don’t have the right to speak up or that their opinions don’t matter. This can lead to a lot of pent-up frustration and resentment over time.

You might be dealing with a passive communicator if they:

• Rarely express their own needs or desires
• Avoid conflict or confrontation at all costs
• Apologize excessively, even when it’s not warranted
• Have a soft voice and avoid making eye contact
• Use phrases like “I don’t know” or “It doesn’t matter to me”

Struggle to Be Assertive

Passive communicators often struggle to feel comfortable asserting themselves. They may worry about being seen as aggressive or rude if they speak up. In reality, expressing your needs and opinions in a respectful way is healthy and necessary for any relationship.

If you’re a passive communicator, it’s important to remember that your thoughts and feelings are valid. You have just as much right to be heard as anyone else. Start small by practicing assertiveness in low-stakes situations, like ordering your own meal at a restaurant instead of just going with what everyone else wants.

Avoid Conflict

Passive communication might feel good in the moment because it allows you to avoid conflict. But over time, it can lead to a lot of built-up anger and frustration. You might start to feel like people are taking advantage of you or that your needs are never being met.

Learning to communicate assertively can be uncomfortable at first, but it’s worth it in the long run. When you express yourself honestly and directly, you’ll start to feel more confident and in control of your life. Your relationships will improve as you learn to set healthy boundaries and advocate for yourself.

Recognizing Passive-Aggressive Communicators

Passive-aggressive communicators can be tough to spot because they often seem agreeable on the surface. But underneath that façade, there’s usually a lot of anger and resentment bubbling up. This can come out in subtle ways, like backhanded compliments or “forgetting” to do something they promised.

Make “I” Statements Disguised as Criticisms

One way to recognize passive-aggressive communication is to listen for “I” statements that are really disguised criticisms. For example, “I’m sorry you felt like I was ignoring you” instead of “I’m sorry for ignoring you.” The first statement puts the blame on the other person’s feelings instead of taking responsibility for the hurtful behavior.

If you find yourself using a lot of these kinds of “I” statements, it might be a sign that you’re communicating in a passive-aggressive way. Try to be more direct and honest about your feelings, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. Saying something like “I felt hurt when you ignored me” is much clearer and more productive than dancing around the issue.

Struggle to Express Feelings Directly

Passive-aggressive communicators often have a hard time expressing their feelings directly. Instead, they might express them indirectly through things like giving someone the silent treatment, procrastinating on tasks, or making snide comments.

If you notice these kinds of behaviors in yourself or someone else, it’s important to address them head-on. Encourage open and honest communication about feelings, even if they’re negative. It might be scary at first, but it’s so much healthier than letting things fester under the surface.

Identifying Your Own Communication Style

So, how can you figure out your own communication style? One way is to pay attention to your body language and nonverbal cues. Do you make eye contact when you’re talking to someone? Do you cross your arms or fidget when you’re feeling uncomfortable? Paying attention to your behavior is the first step in identifying your communication style.

Body Language

Your body language can say a lot about your communication style. Passive communicators might avoid eye contact, keep their head down, or cross their arms protectively. Aggressive communicators might invade others’ personal space, point fingers, or clench their fists.

Assertive communicators tend to have open and relaxed body language. They make appropriate eye contact, keep their arms at their sides, and have a confident posture. Pay attention to your own body language in different situations and see if you notice any patterns.

Facial Expressions

Your facial expressions are another nonverbal cue that can reveal a lot about your communication style. Passive communicators might have a blank or nervous expression, while aggressive communicators might scowl or sneer.

Assertive communicators tend to have a friendly, open facial expression. They smile when appropriate and maintain a neutral expression when listening. Try to be aware of your facial expressions during conversations and notice how they might be impacting the other person.

Eye Contact

Eye contact is a key part of communication, and it can vary a lot depending on your style. Passive communicators often avoid eye contact altogether, while aggressive communicators might stare someone down in a challenging way.

Assertive communicators make appropriate eye contact, looking at the other person when speaking or listening but also taking breaks to glance away occasionally. This shows that you’re engaged in the conversation but not trying to dominate or intimidate the other person.

Once you start to recognize these nonverbal cues in yourself and others, you can work on adjusting your communication style to be more assertive and effective. It takes practice, but it’s a skill that can benefit you in every area of your life.

Adapting Your Communication Style to Others

As a leader, one of the most important skills you can develop is the ability to adapt your communication style to different types of people. This means understanding how to communicate effectively with analytical communicators, functional communicators, personal communicators, and intuitive communicators.

Each of these communication styles has its own unique characteristics and preferences. By learning to recognize and adapt to these different styles, you can build stronger relationships, improve team morale, and drive better results.

Communicating with Analytical Communicators

When communicating with analytical communicators, it’s important to focus on the facts and data. These individuals tend to be logical, detail-oriented, and focused on the bottom line. They want to see the hard numbers and understand how decisions will impact the business.

To communicate effectively with analytical communicators, use specific language and focus on the issues logically. Provide step-by-step explanations and be prepared to answer detailed questions. Avoid emotional appeals or vague generalizations.

Communicating with Functional Communicators

Functional communicators are all about the process. They want to understand how things work and what steps need to be taken to achieve a goal. They value efficiency, organization, and structure.

When communicating with functional communicators, provide a clear roadmap and timeline. Break down complex projects into smaller, manageable tasks. Use visual aids like flowcharts or Gantt charts to illustrate the process.

Communicating with Personal Communicators

Personal communicators value relationships and emotional connections. They want to feel heard and understood. They also tend to be more focused on the people involved in a project than the technical details.

To communicate effectively with personal communicators, take the time to build rapport and trust. Show genuine interest in their ideas and concerns. Use a warm, friendly tone and avoid coming across as too formal or impersonal.

Communicating with Intuitive Communicators

Intuitive communicators are big-picture thinkers. They want to understand the overall vision and strategy behind a project. They value creativity, innovation, and outside-the-box thinking.

When communicating with intuitive communicators, paint a compelling picture of the future. Use metaphors and analogies to help them visualize the possibilities. Encourage brainstorming and be open to unconventional ideas.

Improving Communication in Personal Relationships

Effective communication is just as important in our personal lives as it is in the workplace. Whether you’re communicating with a spouse, partner, family member, or friend, the same principles apply.

Active Listening

One of the most important aspects of effective communication in personal relationships is active listening. This means giving the other person your full attention, without interrupting or planning your response while they’re still speaking.

Active listening also involves asking clarifying questions, reflecting back what you’ve heard, and showing empathy and understanding. By practicing active listening, you can build stronger, more trusting relationships.

Honest Communication

Another key to improving communication in personal relationships is honesty. This means being truthful about your thoughts, feelings, and needs, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable.

Honest communication also involves being open to feedback and willing to have difficult conversations when necessary. By creating a safe, non-judgmental space for open dialogue, you can deepen your connections and resolve conflicts more effectively.

Expressing Feelings

Many people struggle with expressing their feelings, especially in close personal relationships. However, being able to articulate your emotions is crucial for building intimacy and understanding.

When expressing your feelings, use “I” and statements to take ownership of your emotions. Avoid blaming or criticizing the other person. Focus on describing how you feel and what you need, rather than making demands or ultimatums.

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Enhancing Communication in the Workplace

Effective communication is the foundation of any successful team or organization. But with so many different personalities, work styles, and communication preferences, it can be challenging to get everyone on the same page. It’s especially important to communicate when making decisions, conveying workplace vision, and even writing emails.

Making Decisions

One area where communication often breaks down in the workplace is decision making. Too often, decisions are made without input from all the relevant stakeholders, leading to confusion, frustration, and lack of buy-in.

To improve communication around decision making, involve team members early in the process. Solicit feedback and ideas from a diverse range of perspectives. Clearly communicate the rationale behind decisions and the expected outcomes.

Conveying Workplace Vision

Another common communication challenge in the workplace is translating high-level strategies into concrete actions. Leaders may have a clear vision for the future, but struggle to communicate it in a way that resonates with team members.

To bridge this gap, focus on the hard numbers. Use data and metrics to illustrate the impact of initiatives and the progress towards goals. Break down complex concepts into specific, measurable targets that everyone can understand and work towards.

Online Communication

Finally, don’t underestimate the power of face-to-face communication in the workplace. While email and instant messaging are convenient, they can also lead to misunderstandings and lack of context.

Make an effort to regularly bring team members together for in-person meetings, brainstorming sessions, and social events. Use these opportunities to build relationships, clarify expectations, and drive employee engagement.

Understanding communication styles is a game-changer for your relationships. By identifying your own style and learning to recognize others’, you can adapt your approach for clearer, more effective conversations. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to communication. The key is to be flexible and empathetic, tailoring your style to your audience. With practice, you’ll find yourself building stronger, more authentic connections in no time.

So go forth and communicate with confidence! Now that you’ve got a grip on communication styles, watch as doors start opening at home, work, and beyond.

• Last Updated: June 12, 2024

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Personal Skills

Ai generator.

Personal skills are essential abilities that enhance an individual’s personal profile and contribute to personal and professional success. These skills include effective communication, time management, problem-solving, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. They enable individuals to navigate social interactions, overcome challenges, and achieve goals efficiently. Developing strong personal skills not only improves self-awareness and interpersonal relationships but also enhances career prospects and overall quality of life. Cultivating these skills is vital for personal growth and professional development.

What are Personal Skills?

Personal skills are abilities that enhance an individual’s interactions and performance in various aspects of life. These skills include communication, time management, problem-solving, adaptability, and emotional intelligence, helping individuals effectively navigate social situations, achieve goals, and improve personal and professional relationships.

Personal Skills Examples

• Effective Communication
• Time Management
• Problem-Solving
• Adaptability
• Emotional Intelligence
• Critical Thinking
• Conflict Resolution
• Interpersonal Skills
• Self-Motivation
• Decision Making
• Stress Management
• Organizational Skills
• Active Listening
• Negotiation

Personal Skills Examples for Students

• Self-Discipline – Maintaining focus and adhering to study schedules independently enhances communication skills for students by fostering self-discipline and effective time management.
• Goal Setting – Establishing and striving to achieve both short-term and long-term academic objectives while utilizing interpersonal skills for effective collaboration and support..
• Curiosity – Demonstrating a strong desire to learn and explore new subjects and ideas.
• Resilience – Overcoming setbacks and persisting in the face of academic challenges.
• Note-Taking – Effectively capturing and organizing information from lectures and readings.
• Public Speaking – Confidently presenting ideas and information in front of classmates and teachers.

Personal Skills for Work

• Effective Communication – Clearly conveying information and actively listening.
• Time Management – Prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines efficiently.
• Problem-Solving – Identifying issues and developing practical solutions.
• Adaptability – Adjusting to changing work environments and roles.
• Teamwork – Collaborating effectively with colleagues and contributing to team goals.
• Leadership – Inspiring and guiding others towards achieving objectives.
• Critical Thinking – Analyzing situations and using skills to make informed decisions.
• Conflict Resolution – Managing and resolving workplace disputes amicably.
• Organizational Skills – Keeping workspaces and tasks well-ordered.
• Emotional Intelligence – Understanding and managing your emotions and those of others.

Personal Skills for Resume

• Leadership – Experienced in guiding projects and motivating team members to achieve success, enhancing my personal profile in leadership and team management.
• Critical Thinking – Strong analytical skills for evaluating situations and making informed decisions.
• Organizational Skills – Highly organized with an ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently.
• Conflict Resolution – Skilled in mediating and resolving disputes to maintain a harmonious work environment.
• Emotional Intelligence – Proficient in understanding and managing emotions to foster positive workplace relationships.

Best Personal Skills

• Empathy – Understanding and sharing the feelings of others to build stronger connections.
• Creativity – Thinking outside the box to generate innovative ideas and solutions.
• Attention to Detail – Carefully reviewing tasks to ensure accuracy and quality involves applying active listening in communication skills to understand and execute requirements precisely.
• Resilience – Bouncing back from setbacks and staying motivated.
• Networking – Building and maintaining professional relationships for career growth.
• Self-Motivation – Taking initiative and driving personal development.
• Cultural Awareness – Respecting and understanding diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Why Personal Skills are Important?

• Enhance Communication – Effective personal skills, including soft communication skills , improve the ability to convey ideas clearly and listen actively, leading to better understanding and collaboration..
• Boost Productivity – Skills like time management and organization help in prioritizing tasks and completing them efficiently.
• Improve Problem-Solving – Strong problem-solving abilities enable individuals to tackle challenges effectively and find practical solutions.
• Foster Relationships – Personal skills such as empathy and teamwork build stronger connections with others, enhancing both personal and professional relationships.
• Adapt to Change – Adaptability and resilience help individuals navigate and thrive in changing environments and situations.
• Promote Career Growth – Skills like leadership, creativity, and networking are crucial for personal development and advancing in one’s career.

Tips to Improve Your Personal Skills

• Practice Active Listening – Pay close attention to what others are saying without interrupting, and respond thoughtfully.
• Set Goals – Establish clear, achievable goals for skill development and track your progress regularly.
• Seek Feedback – Ask for constructive feedback from peers, mentors, and supervisors to identify areas for improvement.
• Stay Organized – Use tools like planners, to-do lists, and digital apps to manage tasks and time effectively.
• Engage in Continuous Learning – Take courses, attend workshops, and read books related to personal skills development.
• Network Regularly – Build and maintain professional relationships through networking events and social platforms.
• Practice Empathy – Make an effort to understand others’ perspectives and emotions to build stronger connections.
• Stay Positive – Maintain a positive attitude and stay motivated even when faced with challenges.
• Improve Public Speaking – Join clubs like Toastmasters or practice speaking in front of friends to boost your confidence.
• Embrace Adaptability – Be open to change and willing to adjust your approach as needed to overcome obstacles.

How to Highlight Personal Skills

• Tailor Your Resume – Customize your resume to include specific personal skills relevant to the job you are applying for, using keywords from the job description.
• Use Examples in Cover Letters – Provide concrete examples of how your personal skills have contributed to past successes in your cover letter.
• Showcase in Interviews – During interviews, highlight your personal skills by discussing real-life scenarios where you effectively utilized them.
• Seek Endorsements – Ask colleagues, supervisors, or mentors to endorse your personal skills on professional networking sites like LinkedIn.
• Include in Performance Reviews – Regularly document and communicate your personal skills and their impact in performance reviews or self-assessments at work.

Differences Between Hard Skills and Soft Skills

Why are personal skills important?

They enhance communication, productivity, and relationships, contributing to personal and professional success.

How can I improve my personal skills?

Practice, seek feedback, and engage in continuous learning and self-reflection.

What is an example of a personal skill?

Effective communication is a common personal skill.

Can personal skills be learned?

Yes, personal skills can be developed through practice and experience.

How do personal skills differ from hard skills?

Personal skills are interpersonal and behavioral traits, while hard skills are specific, teachable abilities.

Why are personal skills important in the workplace?

They facilitate teamwork, problem-solving, and efficient communication, improving overall work performance.

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own and others’ emotions.

How do I showcase personal skills on my resume?

Include specific examples and achievements that demonstrate your personal skills.

What are some top personal skills employers look for?

Communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, and leadership.

Can personal skills impact career advancement?

Yes, strong personal skills can lead to better job performance and career growth.

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5 Ways to Improve Your Professional Communication Skills

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5 Ways to Improve Your Professional Communication Skills was originally published on Vault .

Success in any industry relies on developing strong communication skills, which are essential to sharing information with colleagues, managers, and clients. So, below are five easy ways to improve your professional communication skills and boost your career in the process.

1. Expand Your Industry Vocabulary

Every industry uses specific words and phrases. So, one of the easiest ways to improve your professional communication skills is to learn your industry’s jargon. To do that, you can join online industry groups, attend virtual and in-person industry events, and read industry-specific books. These actions will help you to become more proficient in your industry’s specific language, improving your ability to communicate with everyone you work with

2. Be Clear

Regardless of whether you’re communicating verbally or through the written word, it’s essential to be clear. Clarity is your best friend in the workplace; anything but well-thought-out communication creates confusion. So, if you want to be better at business communication, you must learn how to transfer information clearly.

The first step toward clarity is defining your goals and the audience you’ll be communicating with. This will tell you who you’re talking to and what you’ll be talking about. Second, avoid unnecessary words and confusing language, which only makes it more difficult for others to understand your message. Lastly, never repeat yourself. Only repeat your message if the other person needs more clarity.

Sometimes, you’ll need to make a presentation or explain your progress on a project. When that happens, it’s important to prepare ahead of time, thinking about what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it. Note that preparation is more than talking in front of the mirror for your big presentation. Preparation means researching the best way to get your message across. It means searching for the right words to use, the right examples to convey, and how to best use your body language to get your message across.

4. Get Better at Using Communication Tools

Of course, not all professional dealings are verbal. In fact, you’ll mostly communicate with colleagues, clients, customers, suppliers, and partners through email. But email isn’t the only communication tool you’ll be using. Communication through messaging apps like Slack is also quite common in the business world. And people are of course increasingly reliant on video-conferencing apps like Zoom. The bottom line is that you’ll be using plenty of communication tools in the workplace. Therefore, it’s important to get better at using these tools.

5. Learn to Listen

Listening is a core component of communication. In fact, modern workplace leaders are excellent listeners. Listening, which some believe is the most important social skill , helps in numerous workplace situations, including defusing workplace tensions. So, if you want to succeed in any sphere of work and take your career to the next level, you must learn how to listen.

One of the keys to becoming a great listener is becoming an active listener . Active listening includes deeply listening to others without thinking about what you’re going to say in response. It also includes paying attention to body language cues. So, it means listening with your eyes as well as your ears. Although learning to become a great active listener won’t happen overnight, the good news is listening in this way can be learned, and there are many great online courses out there that can help.

Erik Bergman co-founded Catena Media and helped grow it to over 300 employees and a $200 million valuation before stepping away to start Great.com , an iGaming organization that donates 100 percent of its profits to environmental charities. In addition to running a successful online affiliate business, Erik hosts the Becoming Great podcast, shares entrepreneurship tips with his more than 1 million social media followers, and contributes to sites like Entrepreneuer.com, Business Insider, Foundr, and Forbes.

How to improve communication skills

Ivan Andreev

Demand Generation & Capture Strategist, Valamis

March 3, 2022 · updated June 25, 2024

11 minute read

After reading this guide, you will understand how to improve your communication skills, and help others do the same.

Communication is a skill, and like all skills, you can get better at it through practice.

You will be able to effectively employ these techniques in your workplace, which will improve interpersonal relationships, allow for better problem solving, and ultimately lead to better business outcomes.

Why is good communication so important at work?

• The importance of listening
• Improving non-verbal communication
• Improving verbal communication
• Improving written communication
• Improving visual communication
• Recommended resources: books and online courses

It might be tempting to think that, as long as you do your job well, being a good communicator isn’t very important. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth!

Every aspect of your job depends on communication, and how well you can communicate directly correlates with how well you can do your job.

This has become even more relevant with the increase in remote work – bad communication skills have been highlighted by the increased use of messaging rather than face-to-face workplace communication.

If you’re in a client-facing role, your communication with them will make or break the relationship.

Think of the various aspects of that work that requires good communication:

• pitching your company to the client,
• building a trusting personal relationship with them,
• understanding what they want and clearly communicating that to the relevant teams,
• receiving feedback,
• communicating about updates or delays,
• and many more.

If you are unable to do this, then the client will lose trust and could seek another company that is better at communication.

If you’re in a management role or would like to be in the future, communication is key.

According to LinkedIn research , communication skills are the number one most desired soft skill that employers want.

Leading is all about being able to deliver your message well, explain concepts, give constructive feedback , mentor your team, and solve problems. How well you can communicate will be crucial to all of those actions.

Even in roles where you are mostly dealing with your own team, your communication skills will help you achieve success in your role.

Good communication will result in being able to explain problems, build solutions, form positive relationships with your department, and effectively collaborate on workflow.

Career development plan template

This template helps employees and leaders plan together for career growth: set goals, assess skills, and make a plan.

5 Ways to improve your communication skills

1. the importance of listening.

We cannot touch on the importance of communication without highlighting that a massive aspect of it is what you do when you’re not talking.

Being a good listener is the most crucial part of communication .

We’re not just talking about hearing the words that a person is saying; rather you should be tuned in to their non-verbal communication also.

• Is the person avoiding eye contact?
• Is their posture open or closed?
• Are they fidgeting with their hands?

All of these actions convey a lot of information.

How to be a good listener:

• When you are listening, give your full attention to the speaker.
• Set your phone face down.
• Turn away from your computer screen.
• Look at their non-verbal signals, and listen to their words.
• Use clarification questions to follow up on key points and then sum up your understanding to them, so they can clear up any miscommunication immediately.

By following the advice above, you demonstrate your engagement in the conversation, confirming to the person that you have heard, and understood, them completely.

2. Improving non-verbal communication

To begin improving your non-verbal communication, first, you must begin by paying attention to it.

As you go through your day, observe how you use the various types of non-verbal communication that we mentioned in our article about types of communication .

Observe yourself:

• Do you make consistent eye contact?
• How do you position yourself when speaking to people?
• Does it change based on who you are talking to?
• How do people react to you?

Observe others:

• Are there certain people who make you feel heard?
• What do they do that makes you feel like that?
• Is there someone who is unpleasant to communicate with?
• What actions do they do that make you not enjoy talking to them?

Think about the positives and negatives that you observe.

If there is someone who you find to be a particularly good – or bad – person to talk to, pinpoint why they make you feel that way.

Pay attention to the non-verbal signals that they are giving off.

You can mimic the positives, and be aware of the negatives.

How to be better at non-verbal communication:

• Don’t fidget! This is rule number one. Be still, and calm. This communicates that you are in control, confident and a force to be reckoned with.
• Use eye contact intelligently. Focus in on people when you want to drive home a point. Look people in the eye both when you are listening to them and when you are speaking.
• Be confident in your use of space. Don’t minimize yourself, instead relax into your space. It’s important that you do this intelligently! Don’t prevent other people from sitting comfortably.
• Strive to be non-reactive during stressful situations. Keep your emotions level and respond calmly.

Simply being more aware of non-verbal communication, and the power that it has will help you be better at using it proactively and positively.

If you observe that you tend to avoid eye contact during stressful negotiations, then you can make sure to put an emphasis on making consistent eye contact when speaking in the next meeting.

3. Improving verbal communication

To improve your verbal communication, you’ll need to get better at both what you say and how you say it.

It doesn’t matter how clear your message is if you are patronizing or rude when you say it.

As we recommend for non-verbal communication, begin by observing yourself and others in conversation.

• Are there times when they react more negatively than others, and can you pinpoint why?
• Are there colleagues who you particularly enjoy conversing with?
• Observe how communication happens in your work environment, and pay attention to which aspects are positive and negative.

Next, begin to think about the content of your verbal communications.

We all know someone who takes ages to get to the point of the story, and how frustrating that can be, or someone who never gets to the point at all.

Before you speak, know what you want to communicate.

• Begin with your stated purpose (‘I think we need to increase ad spending 10%’)
• Move on to your reasoning (‘The upcoming holiday season is a prime time to target our customers more effectively’)
• Review possible outcomes (‘We could increase sales between 20 and 30%’).

While this advice is best suited for more formal presentations, this is effective in informal settings as well.

Knowing what you want to say and having the facts to back it up will make you seem more professional, knowledgeable and decisive.

Use pitch to help captivate your audience

• A lower pitch tends to communicate gravitas and experience. Take longer, deeper breaths and speak from your diaphragm to lower your voice.
• Strategically use silence to capture, and keep attention. Pause and hook the viewer’s attention before dropping your pitch, your big reveal or your thesis sentence.
• Use a range of cadence, speed and style. You don’t want to speak in a monotone, you’ll bore your audience and they won’t be engaged in the content of your communication.

4. Improving written communication

In written communication, the first step to improve is to make sure that your spelling and grammar are perfect.

There are plenty of online tools that can help you with this. You simply paste your writing into the app and then you get valuable feedback on spelling, grammar, and even the content.

Now, this is not a perfect solution, AI is smart but can make mistakes, but it works very well for a quick check, especially if you are not the world’s strongest writer.

Read more about the written type of communication .

Take the time to re-read everything that you write

• Is your tone appropriate to the setting?
• Are there any mistakes, items not linked properly, or missing points?
• Have you covered the subject in enough depth?
• We often overestimate how much other people know about our specialist subjects, it might be necessary to write in more detail. At the same time, don’t write a novel!

Formatting is key

• Format everything, from a Slack message to a full presentation, to make sure that you are creating a readable text.
• Use bullet points and paragraphs to break up your message.
• Highlight your points in bold if you have a lot of text.
• Underline anything that you think is crucial.

More tips for improving your written communication:

• State your assumptions. This will help avoid miscommunications. Start by saying ‘I assume you have heard about the new policy change, effective June 1. Because of this, we will be adjusting x, y and z.’
• Read often. From messages to novels, read often and when you do, think about what you like (or dislike) about what you’re reading. Emulate what you like, and work to avoid what you dislike.
• Use framing to get your point across. Think about it from the recipient’s point of view, and what’s in it for them, and then frame the message to highlight that.
• Read your writing out loud to check for mistakes. Use this time to review grammar, tone, fact-check and to make sure that you have covered everything you wanted to in the communication.
• When possible, use clear examples and avoid using too much jargon.

5. Improving visual communication

An important aspect of using visual communication is to only use it when necessary.

A presentation stuffed full of visual aids that do not add to the content is messy, unprofessional and will distract from the overall message.

You want to be judicious about what you include, and why you are including it. Make sure that you are using the proper chart to show the data in the clearest way, or are including only the sketches that will add to the audience’s understanding of the ideas for a new logo.

Not all of us are graphic designers, but there are tools available to help us create professional-looking visuals.

Make use of those! You don’t want your presentation to look like it was created in 1995.

Default to clean, professional templates, rather than looking for something ‘interesting.’ Your message should be the star, not the font, color, or background image.

Tips for improving visual communication:

• Less is more! Pare back your design and resist the urge to stuff every fact, figure, font and color into a presentation.
• Utilize typography. If in doubt, ask for the brand guidelines for your company and follow those. They will help you create cohesive presentations in line with your company’s preferred look.
• Pay attention to balance and harmony. You can achieve this by using similar, rather than disparate, elements in your communication. The same style of clip art, the same font family, or the same pastel shades.
• Begin with the end in mind. Know what you want to communicate and start there.

Recommended resources

• Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life) , Thomas Erikson
• How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships , Leil Lowndes
• Influencer: The new science of leading change , Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler
• How to win friends and influence people , Dale Carnegie
• Skill with people , Les Gibli
• How to speak, how to listen , Mortimer J. Adler
• Communication strategies for a virtual age
• Improving communication skills
• Teamwork skills: Communicating effectively in groups
• Effective communication in the globalised workplace

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