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Tip 39 : Don't use "!"

This might seem like a no-brainer, but I do sometimes see exclamation marks in personal statements - Occasionally even for senior positions. Whilst I hesitate to say that there is never an excuse to use an exclamation mark in your personal statement (there are no rules, remember), I've never found an instance when I thought it would do anything other than hurt the applicant's chances.

Perhaps you could get away with an exclamation mark if you were applying for a creative position, but I'd suggest that there are probably alternative (and most likely better) solutions.

So beware, and refrain before you exclaim.

Tip 40 : Use bullet points if you think they will help

I'm not going to dwell too long on this one, but it's always worth considering. If you need to list a number of points, and you're struggling to do so effectively in a normal sentence, bullet points are a solid option.

Some experts will tell you that bullets should never be used. It is true that I rarely find it necessary to use them in a personal statement, but I would nonetheless recommend them as a simple, easy to understand way of listing several points.

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