SUPPORTING STATEMENT

What is a Supporting Statement?

 

A supporting statement is often part of an online application form. It provides an opportunity to show the employer how you meet the selection criteria (outlined in the person specification for the role you're applying for). Employers use this statement to evaluate candidates and decide who progresses to the next stage, typically an interview. 

 

Sometimes, employers may refer to a supporting statement by another name, such as a “personal statement” or “additional information.” Usually, the application form will have guidance like “please outline your skills and experience in relation to the criteria for this post.” If the requirements aren’t clear, reach out to the employer to confirm before completing your application.

 

Addressing the Criteria

 

To write an effective statement, cover each criterion thoroughly and systematically:

 

1. Follow the Order: Address each criterion in the same order as listed in the employer’s specification. This helps employers easily compare your application to their requirements.

2. Use Headings: Organise your statement with headings that align with the criteria.

3. Group Related Criteria: If you’re constrained by word count, group similar criteria and address them with shared examples, adjusting headings to reflect these groupings.

4. Mirror Their Language: Using the same language as the selection criteria is crucial. This improves readability, especially if the application is processed by an AI scanner that might not recognize synonyms.

 

Providing Examples

 

Use concrete examples to demonstrate your skills, rather than just listing them:

 

• Focus on details that are transferable to the new role, describing the actions you took and the skills involved.

• Include quantifiable details to add context (e.g., instead of “developed positive working relationships with my team,” say, “developed positive working relationships with all 12 of my team members”).

• Keep a positive tone throughout your examples.

 

For instance, if you’re applying for a management graduate scheme and need to show interpersonal skills, you might say:

 

"I demonstrated strong interpersonal skills by employing tact and diplomacy, explaining complex information clearly, building rapport with colleagues and customers, and defusing tensions during stock shortages, as part of a team of 4 supporting over 200 customers daily."

 

If you find writing examples challenging, you can use online websites/resources to get started.

 

If you’re dealing with a shorter list of criteria, consider using the STAR technique to address each skill required.

 

What If You Don’t Have an Example?

 

If you lack direct experience for a criterion, don’t ignore it or apologize. Instead, offer related evidence. For example, if the criterion is "experience in a sales environment," and you don’t have direct experience, you might write:

 

"My experience as a university ambassador with prospective students, working to targets in my part-time delivery role, and achieving results in my academic work have built skills relevant to a sales environment, allowing me to combine communication, influencing, and target-driven abilities."

 

Managing Word Count

 

If there’s a word limit, divide it evenly across the criteria. For example, if you have 1,500 words and 10 criteria, aim for around 150 words per criterion. Without a word limit, keep it concise—about 1 to 2 A4 pages with single spacing is a good length.

 

Final Checks

 

Most online applications don’t have built-in spelling and grammar checks, so always:

 

1. Copy and paste your statement into Word or a similar program for grammar and spell-check.

2. Proofread it, and if possible, ask a friend to review it too; they may spot mistakes you missed.

3. Save a copy of your statement—you may not be able to access the application form after submission.