Through a thesis statement, you can clarify your background as a candidate, what you want in a role, and how you’d fit in at a given company. This is, of course, valuable information for recruiters and hiring managers.  Your thesis statement for employment is used to demonstrate your interest in a job and show how you would benefit an organization. Learn how to go about developing one. 

What Is a Thesis Statement for Employment?

A thesis statement for employment is a one- or two-sentence statement of your qualifications. Crafting this statement may take some time and thought. (That was likely true back when you were routinely writing essays, too.) Once you have developed a thesis statement, it’ll come in handy at many points in your job search. You can use it: 

Within your cover letters—place your thesis statement in the first paragraph, where you explain why you’re applying for the role.  On your resume—include the thesis statement in your objective or summary section. During job interviews—to help explain why you’re the right person for the job. When you’re networking—with a thesis statement in mind, it’s easy to respond when someone asks what type of job you want. 

Your thesis statement should intrigue potential employers, so they want to learn more about you and your credentials. Keep in mind that your thesis statement should be dynamic, evolving to fit the needs of the role at hand. 

How a Thesis Statement for Employment Works

The first step to developing your thesis statement is to think about the positions you want to apply for, what you have to offer a company, and why employers should hire you. Here are some tips for developing a strong thesis statement:

Be direct: Your thesis statement should be simple and to the point, as hiring managers don’t have time to figure out what you’re trying to say. This isn’t the time to show off your extensive vocabulary. The same strategies you used to craft an elevator pitch will come in handy when you’re thinking through your thesis statement.  Tailor your statement: Start by developing a general thesis statement, and then tweak it to target the job you’re applying for. You may have an IT certification and also be a strong presenter, but if you’re applying for a job as a computer technician, the IT certification is more important to mention. If you’re applying for a position as a sales representative at a software company, you’ll want to emphasize your presentation skills. Frame your skills as benefits to the company: One goal of a thesis statement is to make it readily apparent to a hiring manager how hiring you will be beneficial. For example, you might say that your management skills will help you develop and train an exceptional sales team that will meet or exceed company sales goals. You may need to research a company to find its goals and priorities.

Examples of a Thesis Statement for Employment

If you’re not sure what to include in your thesis statement, these examples can help:

I’m writing to apply for the administrative assistant position at ABC company. My strong communication and organizational skills, and my ability to create order out of chaos make me an excellent match for this position.  My fascination with numbers, combined with my strong accounting skills and mathematics minor, enables me to make a solid contribution in this role. My ability to successfully implement current web design technology, as well as develop and maintain sites for start-up IT companies, enables me to contribute to XYZ company. My fluency in Spanish and strong marketing and communication skills would be an asset to your company, allowing me to build trusting relationships with clients. I have created sales strategies that have achieved 40% revenue growth per year. I can motivate sales teams and design incentive programs to achieve short- and long-term sales goals.