How to Write a Midwifery Personal Statement

Midwives play an important role in the health care provision of women. When applying to become one, you may need to write a personal statement in order to show your skills and abilities to an employer and explain why they might want to choose you over other candidates. If you're ready to start applying to midwife roles, you may benefit from learning how to craft an attention-grabbing personal statement that supports your application. In this article, we explain why you need a midwife personal statement and provide tips, steps and examples to help you craft your own.

Why you need a midwife personal statement

A midwife personal statement is a letter in which you explain why you want to work as a midwife and why you're a good fit for the role. It's an opportunity to detail all the necessary and exciting information about yourself that you want a recruiter to know. Personal statements need to always be specific to the job. Be sure to mention strengths and achievements that can show a recruiter that you're the perfect fit for the midwife role you applied for.

Related: How To Write an Attention-Grabbing Personal Statement

What to include in your midwifery personal statement

Your personal statement may include answers to the questions recruiters might ask you to learn about your qualifications and ability to handle this particular role. Therefore, when writing it, you can ask yourself the following questions and aim to answer them throughout your statement:

• Why are you interested in this midwife position?

• Why are you the best candidate for this role?

• What kind of education or training have you had that is relevant to being a midwife?

• What are the strengths you have that can help you excel in the role?

• What are your greatest achievements related to being a midwife?

Related: How To Become a Midwife: Steps and FAQs

Tips for writing a good midwife personal statement

The following tips can help you write an effective personal statement:

Consider the word count

Word counts are important for readability. It will be in your best interest to ensure that your personal statement stays within the given range. This is because a recruiter has many other applications to go through. By making your personal statement concise and following the recruiter's guidelines, you give your application a better chance of being considered.

Make a draft

To craft a strong personal statement, it's important to edit it thoroughly before sending it in. Before you can proofread and edit, however, write your first draft to get everything on paper that you want to say. After you've written your draft, you can focus on making it the best possible statement to send to recruiters.

Read other personal statements

Reading other personal statements can give you a better idea of how to structure your own. However, it's best to write your first draft before looking at other midwifery statements. This way, you can maintain honesty and originality in yours. When reading other example statements, you may discover important things you forgot to include and get ideas for how to improve your own writing.

Be honest

It's important to remain honest about your strengths and experiences. Thus, it's always better to admit your weakness in an area and express your willingness to learn. Recruiters appreciate the honesty, and it gives them an accurate idea of your capabilities.

Keep it interesting

Your personal statement can be memorable if you start it with an appealing introduction. Just like any good story, the body and conclusion need to be just as interesting. An active voice and a good structure can be factors that contribute to making your personal statement interesting.

Be conscious of grammar

Good grammar is equally important for readability. It's best to ensure that your personal statement is free of spelling and grammatical errors. Thus, make sure that you proofread your personal statement multiple times. Reading it aloud can help you get a better idea of how it sounds. It's also a good idea to get someone else to proofread it for you before submitting it.

Show passion and awareness

Expressing your passion about the role tells an employer how much the job means to you. One way to do that is by demonstrating a higher level of awareness. By reading the latest articles on midwifery, you can stay up to date on what's happening in the industry.

How to structure your midwife personal statement

Use these steps and examples to craft a strong personal statement as a midwife:

1. Start with an introduction

Your introduction is where you state your interest in the role. This is your chance to tell the story about how you found your passion for midwifery in one or two paragraphs.

Example: As a woman, I appreciate having female professionals in health care. I believe that a higher level of understanding and empathy comes with having a shared experience. This is a realisation I came to in the different times I have been a patient myself. Because I would like more women to feel just as understood, I have also decided to become a midwife.

The first time I really experienced what a midwife does was when my mother gave birth to my younger brother. I have been interested in their work ever since. I want to assist women through their pregnancies, and especially through postpartum, because I am passionate about the soundness of body and mind for all women.

2. Mention relevant education and training

You probably went to university to study midwifery. However, it's also possible that you got the training for it outside of the university. In your statement, make sure to mention how you gained your knowledge on the subject.

Example: It was because of my commitment to this cause that I eventually studied midwifery at the Midwifery School in Essex. In my three years there, I learned about the uniqueness of women's anatomy and the special care they require in different situations. I also learned about how a midwife's role is constantly evolving as practices are updated. The dynamic nature of the role is what keeps me interested.

In my final year at university, I was also in a part-time placement where I received direct training from other midwives. In that year, I was frequently involved in antenatal and postnatal care delivery for women and gained experience working with the different members of maternity care service providers.

Read more: How To Write a University Personal Statement in 4 Steps

3. Mention relevant extracurricular activities

Some of the activities you engage in outside of school may be able to express your interest further. For example, you may have attended events or volunteered in positions that demonstrate your level of commitment to the position. Think about what they are and include them in your personal statement.

Example: Outside of university, I am also subscribed to midwifery journals that keep me updated about the industry. One of the more interesting discoveries I have read about is how to provide care for women considered obese when they're in labour.

To be a good midwife, you also need to know how to communicate. From my understanding, this skill is what helps you build better relationships with the people under your care. One of the ways I have demonstrated effective communication skills is through public speaking. During my time at university, I was a member of the debate team. This was where I honed my ability to share information clearly and concisely while maintaining control and respect for others.

Related: How To Write a CV Employers Will Notice

4. Express why you want to work for that employer

You may have done some research on the company. When you do, make sure to look out for things about the organisation that you identify with. These are the things you can use to show the recruiter why you want to work there.

Example: I want to work at this practice because I admire your commitment to women and their health. As someone who is equally committed to the safety and health care provision for women, I know that I am a good fit because our core values align.

5. Conclude with what you can contribute if given the role

A good candidate typically has some qualities that make them unique. These are the things that can help them make an impact. Letting a prospective employer know what you contribute with your unique capabilities is one way to get them interested in your application.

Example: I expect midwifery to be challenging. Luckily, challenging situations aid my creativity. I also understand that providing medical care to people is a delicate and sometimes complicated job, but I have the patience to do it right. These are just some of the qualities that make me a good midwife.