You can quickly learn how to write a personal statement by examining others, and 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.
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 Advertising 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!
Postgraduate Personal Statement Example: Advertising
Personal Statement Example: Introduction
“My enthusiasm for studying advertising and branding began with a university lecture that opened my mind to the value and potential of strategic marketing. The content of this lecture reverberated with me, inspiring me to consider a future career in this industry. Working in an e-commerce marketing department, I currently assist in product management. I am most productive and valuable when collaborating with colleagues responsible for advertising and marketing. Still, I am conscious that to fully transition my focus to marketing, I require a developed skillset and an understanding of contemporary strategy and resources. Aware that a master’s degree is an invisible criterion for promotion in industry, I hope that this MA in Global Advertising and Branding will facilitate a change into this creative and fulfilling sector. I am confident that this postgraduate program will offer me the tools I need to achieve my personal and professional ambitions.”
Commentary and Analysis
This personal statement introduction begins convincingly. The writer links a specific moment in their academic studies with the inspiration to pursue this course and subject, showing a clear and relevant connection between experience and ambition.
The writer then briefly outlines their relevant professional skillset and connects it with a reflective passage that shows how the course would add value to their industry knowledge. They frame this in a way that doesn’t suggest weakness, which is rather skillfully done.
They then connect all of these elements together in a way that shows how clearly the course they are applying for will meet and match their needs. It’s concise, engaging and effective.
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 at Marshall University allowed me to develop valuable multicultural links, and I was fortunate to complete my undergraduate studies at the University of Buckley. This equipped me with a comprehensive and systematic understanding of knowledge acquisition, academic writing, critical thinking and relevant research practices. In addition to completing academic assignments, I collaborated with my peers to complete numerous teamwork tasks. For instance, in an entrepreneurship course, my peers and I had to work together to sell a product and earn a profit. During the process, I learned about the difference between actual sales and analysis and deepened my understanding of practical marketing approaches. Working on projects with my supervising professors, I assisted in designing and analysing the results of a Transport Mode survey, increasing my interest and skills in market research. Similarly, experiential knowledge of survey design, focus group analysis, and data visualisation means I have the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary to apply customer and client feedback successfully. Consequently, I am confident that I have already laid a solid academic foundation to support my graduate studies.”
Commentary and Analysis
The writer has made some effective statements about the transferable and academic skills gained as an undergraduate, and this is always a sensible and effective strategy to see in a personal statement example. They’ve mentioned research experience, which is particularly pertinent, as is critical thinking.
However, it would have been even more effective to have made reference to exactly how these skills could be used to support their postgraduate experience. By connecting skills and experiences with specific modules on the course being applied for, the writer would have deepened the evidence of their suitability.
The second half of this section is a lot more relevant and detailed, and the writer has identified knowledge in fields such as market research and data visualisation, both of which connect well with advertising. Again, it would have been even more effective to have clarified which aspects of the postgraduate course these skills supported, as it would have given the writer an opportunity to evidence knowledge of the postgraduate degree being applied for.
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
“In 2019, I joined the customer service department of an electric vehicle company as a user-experience specialist. My job was to increase and monitor app-user interaction and enhance positive customer experience. This highlighted customer service’s vital role in successful purchasing, consumer trust and client relationships. My team formed small working groups to operate service accounts, answer user questions and release news concerning strategic marketing goals. We also introduced incentives such as bonus points or badges to encourage owners to solve problems for new users, strengthening community connections and product value. Through this work, I recognised the importance of word-of-mouth strategy and network promotions in consumer marketing. This aspect of marketing will be an area of research interest throughout my master’s course, and I look forward to gaining a deeper insight into the discipline in the Strategic Advertising Management and Marketing module.”
Commentary and Analysis
The professional experience the writer outlines, whilst not immediately relevant to the subject they are applying for, gives the reader confidence that the applicant understands the demands of working in industry and, in particular, customer engagement.
There is mention of teamwork and marketing, and certainly, these are key elements within advertising. Again, it would have been valuable if the writer had made formal links with the course demands and clearly showed how and why these skills are valuable.
The last two sentences are ideal. The writer explains the value of this experience to them and makes a connection with the suitability it provides for course study by identifying a specific module. This shows suitability for and knowledge of the course, and is an excellent, concise and engaging model.
Check out lots more examples of personal statements here, and see how they can inspire your application!
Personal Statement Example: Practical Experience 2
“I joined Amazon as a marketing operations manager with a remit to promote digital product lines in October 2021. Working with product and program managers, I build networks through which Amazon’s sellers can choose third-party providers. This role allowed me to voice my informed opinion, contribute to marketing strategy and take the lead in decision-making and engagement. I am also responsible for implementing and optimising the standard operating procedure and ensuring the progress and success of the department. When helping service providers pass internal vetting before onboarding them within the network, I collaborate with colleagues from Amazon intern teams in areas such as Advertising and Regional Development. Consequently, my communication and negotiation skills have improved significantly, and I am confident in my ability to present complex information with clarity and value, which is a critical marketing skill. As our product was a localised one launched from a global version, I worked closely with the global team to manage providers and exchange operational data. Global and our CN team hold weekly meetings to monitor progress, review strategies and align on key topics, preparing me well for an advanced study of Global Advertising and Branding. This experience also improved my English and logical thinking skills, strengthening my capacity to manage my work to meet challenging deadlines.”
Commentary and Analysis:
This next example is more relevant, as it begins by making a connection with product promotion, which is an ideal grounding for advertising.
The writer then outlines an increasingly high level of responsibilities and skills, all of which show a growing understanding of the sector from a professional and practical perspective. This kind of content is critical in a master’s application, as the reader can see maturity, application of skill in a real-world setting and a sense of logical academic development, with the postgraduate course being the next logical step on the writer’s journey.
The writer then links these increasingly relevant experiences to another specific aspect of the course they are applying for. This is extremely well-written, convincing and engaging in style and rich with relevant 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
“My application to read for a master’s degree is motivated by my desire to receive the academic and professional knowledge that will enable me to develop my career to its full potential. Having already developed a range of contributary skills and experiences, I am keen to gain value from your Entrepreneurship and Global Marketing courses and to explore your faculty’s networks, resources and opportunities. I look forward to contributing to your learning community as an active and engaged student, supporting my peers during the course, and subsequently as a successful alum.”
Commentary and Analysis
The first sentence of this conclusion is very vague and generic, and while it reads well, it just doesn’t say anything unique or personal about the candidate. It would be far stronger if specific academic or professional knowledge was referenced and exactly what the writer’s career ambitions are.
Equally, there’s a mention of another course element, which is excellent, but none of the resources or opportunities are identified, so the reader won’t be convinced that the applicant really knows what kind of networks and faculty resources are available.
Lastly, the candidate mentions contributing to the faculty, which is an essential element to include but doesn’t indicate how they might do this. More detail here would have made the conclusion far more direct and compelling.
For more great advice, check out my article on writing an excellent final personal statement paragraph here.
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.
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