A personal statement on a job application or resume is a great way to quickly highlight your special skills and flag the interest of potential employers. While encapsulating your professional experience and career goals in a short summary may seem daunting, it's not as difficult as you might think.

What to Include

"A well written statement can be between 50 and 200 words," says resume consultant Elizabeth Bacchus in The Guardian. Remember that you can always include additional information in your cover letter. Your personal statement should discuss who you are, what you offer and your current career goals.

Introduction: Who You Are

Envision your audience before you begin. Potential employers should be able to quickly identify your past experience and core transferable skills in your statement's opening. "Get straight to the point," says Bacchus, "avoid lengthy descriptions and make your testimonies punchy and informative."

For example, a communications manager might say, "As a marketing and communications expert, I consistently help leading media companies, such as Discovery and ESPN, build record-breaking marketing strategies."

Body: What You Offer

The next line in your personal statement should tell an employer what you can bring to the company. Discuss key projects or achievements, including outcomes, as well as any soft or hard skills relevant to the position.

For example: "During my time with Discovery Communications I helped rebrand the health division of their website, including developing a blog of more than 2 million readership and an award-winning, mini-documentary titled 'Bizarre Bodies'. I accomplished this through creative, collaborative leadership and clear, no-nonsense communication, as well as my extensive knowledge of online trends and audience targeting."

Conclusion: Your Career Goals

You've told employers who you are and where you've been, now it's time to tell them where you want to go. Close your personal statement by mentioning your immediate career goals, such as, "I am seeking a director-level position with a media company where I can bring immediate strategic leadership and continue to grow my marketing and communication skills."