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Drop the "I": writing your CV without personal pronouns

The reader already knows your CV is about you. Save the space and start with verbs.

By CVPebble Editorial Team · Reviewed 25 October 2026 · 3 min read

Illustrative desk scene for the guide: Drop the "I": writing your CV without personal pronouns
Illustrative image. Decorative CV lines are not real applicant details.

This guide accompanies our short video "Drop the I from your CV" on YouTube. Standard CV style leaves out personal pronouns. It looks odd at first, but it makes every line shorter and easier to scan.

1. Why pronouns are dropped

Harvard's career center lists "use personal pronouns (such as I or We)" under its resume don'ts, and asks for language that is active and written for people, or systems, that scan quickly. Because the document is clearly about you, the "I" is understood. Removing it does not change the facts; it only removes filler.

2. Start with an action verb

The University of Phoenix bullet statements guide gives a simple formula: action verb, description of the task, result or purpose. It also says to avoid personal pronouns such as I, me, my, we, our and us. For example, instead of "I led a team of six", write "Led a team of six": same facts, fewer words. The verb carries the line.

  • Weak: "I was responsible for managing the team."
  • Stronger: "Managed the team."

3. Where this applies

Use the same implied-first-person style in your CV summary and your experience bullets. A cover letter is different: in our view, normal sentences with "I" are expected there, because a letter is written as direct correspondence. See our cover letter basics for that style.

4. Check before you send

Search your final file for "I", "me", "my", "we" and "our" and rewrite each hit as a verb-first line. Then read your CV out loud: any sentence that sounds like it is missing its subject is usually fine in CV style, as long as the verb is clear.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ever use "I" on a CV?

The convention Harvard describes is to leave pronouns out. Some people keep one or two in a summary; in our view, dropping them everywhere is cleaner.

Does this apply to the profile summary too?

Yes. Write the summary in the same implied first person: "Managed..." not "I managed...".

What about my cover letter?

Different rules. A cover letter is normal prose, so "I" is fine there.

Sources and scope

This guide, “Drop the "I": writing your CV without personal pronouns”, is original general guidance informed by the career-advice sources below. Reviewed 25 October 2026. Employer instructions take priority. No interview, hiring or ATS result is guaranteed.

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