Is beginning your CV profile in the third person advisable?

This is an eternally debated subject in the recruitment world. "Should my CV be written in the first or third person?" You might be wondering if you should start your profile with something like, "Ryan is an experienced Software Engineer." The answer to this question might actually surprise you.

The correct answer is neither Technically, the correct answer is neither. You should absolutely not refer to yourself in the third person as "Ryan", nor should you pepper your profile with first-person pronouns like "I" and "my".

The correct style of writing for a professional CV is referred to as the implied first person. Using the example from the question, you would simply write, "An experienced Software Engineer..."

Sophistication and industry standards I will admit that this is not the easiest way to write. Many job seekers feel much more at home using "I" and "my" throughout their career history. However, the implied first person feels like a significantly more sophisticated way to communicate. Furthermore, amongst CV writing professionals and the wider recruitment industry, it is typically seen as the definitive correct format.

The AI influence As I mentioned in other articles, I certainly do not endorse using artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT to write your CV for a multitude of reasons. However, I must concede that AI does have a solid handle on what the correct writing style should be.

With a significant percentage of people now using AI to draft their CVs, this old debate seems to have died down somewhat. Large Language Models tend to use the implied first person by default, which is rapidly cementing it as the universally accepted format.

Q&A: First, Third, or Implied Person?

Q: Should I write my CV in the third person, like "Ryan is an experienced developer"? A: No. You should not refer to yourself by your own name in your CV or LinkedIn profile.

Q: Is it acceptable to use "I" and "my" throughout my career history? A: While many job seekers feel more comfortable writing this way, it is technically not the recommended approach. You should aim to avoid using these first-person pronouns.

Q: What is the correct writing style for a professional CV? A: The correct style is known as the "implied first person". Instead of writing "I am an experienced Software Engineer" or "Ryan is an experienced Software Engineer", you drop the pronoun and simply write "An experienced Software Engineer".

Q: Why is the implied first person the recommended format? A: It is viewed as a much more sophisticated way to communicate your value. It is also widely recognised by CV writing professionals and the recruitment industry as the correct, standard format for job seekers and contractors alike.

Q: Does AI write in the correct tense? A: Surprisingly, yes. While you should not rely on AI to write your CV, Large Language Models do default to using the implied first person. Because so many candidates are now using these tools, it has helped kill off the old debate and solidified the implied first person as the accepted standard.