In this competitive world of job hunting, the supporting statement can make a huge difference and set you apart from other candidates. A CV outlines your professional history and qualifications, and the supporting statement offers a unique opportunity to showcase your personality and suitability for the particular role. Here are some tips on how to write a compelling supporting statement example.
What Is A Supporting Statement?
A supporting statement can be a section in the CV, such as a professional summary or a document attached to the job application. This is where you can say why you are a perfect candidate while applying for a job. Writing a strong supporting statement means showing your skills relevant to the position you are applying for, your qualifications, and your experience in the industry. However, you must not confuse supporting statements with cover letters.
You can check out the Key Worker Cover Letter Example to understand better.
How Is A Supporting Statement Different From A Cover Letter?
Below are the key areas that make a personal statement different from a cover letter.
| Supporting Statement | Cover Letter |
|---|---|
| 1. Statement in support of application example shows how the applicant is fit for the job. | 1. A cover letter introduces the job seeker and summarises their relevant qualifications for the job requirement. |
| 2. A good example of a supporting statement should be within 500 to 650 words. | 2. The cover letter is usually at least 250-400 words long. |
| 3. Provide specific examples and evidence of skills, experiences, accomplishments, and personal qualities. | 3. Highlights skills, experiences, and motivations for the specific job you're applying to. Read the Hostess Cover Letter Example. |
| 4. A good supporting statement directly addresses selection criteria with detailed examples in a narrative form. | 4. A cover letter usually has an introduction, a body, and a closing statement. |
| 5. Examples of supporting statements should show how you are fit for the job through concrete examples. | 5. A cover letter should reflect your research on the company and employer as well. |
How To Start Your Supporting Statement?
Paying proper attention to writing a supporting statement when applying for a job is important. Ahead of starting to write your supporting statement, it is essential to read the job description. After this, you can tailor your statement to the position’s requirements by showcasing your skills and experience.
Once you understand that, you can start writing by introducing yourself and expressing your interest in the company you are applying to. Writing the supporting statement can begin with you giving your name and mentioning your current position or relevant experience. Following this, you can add why you are interested in that specific position in that particular company.
What To Include In A Supporting Statement?
Once you have introduced yourself and let them know about your interest in them and the position, you can highlight your expertise and why you are a good fit for the job you are applying for:
Therefore, things you can consider when formatting your statement are including relevant details like:
- Skills and experience
- Accomplishments
- Education and training
- Motivation for the job
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Future Goals
However, there are certain things that you should not include in a supporting or summarising statement. They are:
- Information, such as your age, marital status, or children
- Salary requirements
- References
- Negative information
An effective statement will never have information like gaps in your employment or disciplinary actions.
What Makes A Good Supporting Statement?
A supporting statement is your opportunity to highlight how your skills and qualifications fulfill the specific requirements. Hence, it should be a well-written document. There are a few guidelines for writing the supporting statement.
- A good supporting statement for a job will include relevant examples providing evidence of your achievements.
- You can use keywords and phrases from the job details to describe your previous experience in the career field.
- An excellent supporting statement needs a proper structure. It should be easy to read and not contain heavy words. Divide your statement into clear paragraphs.
- Proofread your statement mandatorily. A statement for a job application should be professional as well as free of grammatical errors or typos.
- To make a supporting statement stand out, you can include soft skills, such as motivation, work ethic, and teamwork.
When you submit a CV and supporting statement example NHS ensure you include your personal work and contribution in your previous role. You can also check out these NHS Booking Clerk Cover Letter Examples to give your job application that extra edge.
How Long Should A Supporting Statement Be?
When learning how to write, you must note that your supporting statement should be no more than 500 to 650 words. However, some companies provide word limits for writing supporting statements or ask applicants to follow specific guidelines. The word limits could be more than 650 words or even less than 500 words. It is essential to follow their lead and distribute words accordingly to include all necessary information.
How Do You Write A 500 Word Supporting Letter?
You must follow specific guidelines to write a supporting letter in 500 words.
1. Firstly, you must read the job description carefully and customise and format the draft properly to suit the job profile.
2. Secondly, ensure that your draft is divided tactfully. For instance,
- Write your introduction in 50-75 words.
- Highlight your skills in 100-150 words.
- Use 100-150 words to talk about your achievements.
- Do not use more than 100 words to state why you fit so well in that specific role.
- Lastly, in 50-75 words, express enthusiasm and interest in the post.
3. Thirdly, while talking about your skills and achievements, consider examples that show organisational skills.
4. Fourthly, proofread it. When employers ask candidates to submit a CV, it is the candidate’s responsibility to make it as perfect as possible.
5. Finally, once the rough draft is complete and a clear example of the letter is ready, make a fair draft.
How To Manage The Word Count?
Specifications regarding the length of your supporting statement provided by the organisation should be followed diligently. For instance, if a word limit has been given, you should use it to address all the criteria related to the job.
However, if no word limit is given, there is a knack for making job supporting statements lengthy. Remember that employers will not have enough time or will to go through the entire thing. The most crucial factor to consider is including relevant details that employers can see immediately. Therefore, instead of elaborately writing about all your expertise related to the job criteria, you can write a sentence to summarise the range. Last but not least, scan your application to fit within 1 or 2 sides of A4 with single line spacing if writing in Word.
Tips For Writing A Supporting Statement
Your supporting statement for job can give employers better insight about you. Design and make your supporting statement job application example by following these tips:
- Make your statements specific to each job application you submit so employers understand how you can benefit their organisations.
- Use the company’s name in your statement whenever applicable to help build rapport.
- Give specific examples of your achievements, such as percentages, amounts or numbers, to better show what you accomplished.
- Reiterate how you plan to help the employer so they understand your motivation to achieve results.
- Show what you understand about the organisation by mentioning a challenge or project to which you are excited to contribute.
Recommended Read: Case Worker Cover Letter Example
Writing Supporting Statements According To The Criteria
The supporting statement at the top of your application draws a lot of attention. Therefore, it is crucial to follow the criteria provided by the organization.
- Keep the order the same as specified by the employer, as they could mark using a list, which would make it easy for them.
- Use their given criteria as a heading to draw focus.
- If the word limit is too low to address all the criteria, adjust the headings to address groups of related criteria with similar evidence.
- Use their phrases as recruiters often use an AI reader to scan the applications.
Do's And Don't's Of Writing A Supporting Statement
Just like a CV and cover letter have specific criteria, similarly, supporting statement examples for a job application have certain do’s and don’t’s.
Do’s
- Recall specific examples of what you can do and why they need you.
- Have a professional approach.
- Try to get your supporting statement reviewed by a hiring manager.
Don’t’s
- Do not write down everything you are good at.
- You need not be excessively formal.
- Yes, the supporting statement example UK should be brief, but do not just stuff keywords.
Why Are Supporting Statements Important?
A Supporting statement is important in the modern job application process. Including a sample supporting statement for job application or CV writing is vital for showing an employer what you can contribute to the company. A supporting statement is supposed to gain the employer’s attention in a cover letter. Therefore, making it lengthy and not focusing on answering their queries about your essential qualifications, specific credentials, and required skills kills the function of what the supporting statement is supposed to do.
Supporting Statement Templates
Example Of Supporting Statements
An example supporting statement can be for a CV or Cover Letter:
Supporting Statement Example For Job Application
Example 1: Supporting Statement for a Healthcare Assistant Role
Example 2: Supporting Statement for a Marketing Manager Role
Supporting Statement Example For A CV
Example 1: CV Supporting Statement for an IT Role
Example 2: CV Supporting Statement for a Teaching Role
Writing Support Statements Without An Example
If you have never written or cannot get hold of an example of a supporting statement for a job application or a supporting statement on a CV, the worst thing to do is to begin with an apology. Instead, outline and write a statement to match the job role. You can use details to describe your experience that is close to or similar to the related aspects of that profile. If not, you can simply write about qualifications, internships, etc., related directly to the job.
Conclusion
A supporting statement shows why you are the perfect candidate for the particular job. Following these tips and a supporting statement sample to write a well-researched statement can increase your chances of landing your dream job.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you end a supporting statement?
Reiterate your wish for the position you are applying for. Most job applicants miss this important point when concluding their supporting statement. You only need to add a brief statement indicating that you have the combination of skills required by a company.
What should you include in a supporting statement?
A manager will shortlist you for a job based on your supporting statement matching the relevant person’s specification. It’s an opportunity for you to describe your qualifications in writing, including your relevant experiences and skills.
How do you start a supporting statement?
The first line should introduce you and briefly overview who you are and why you are ideal for a job. For example: ‘I am an award-winning organiser with strong business expertise.’ It’s crucial to leave an effective first impression and convey an optimistic attitude.
How do you sell yourself in a supporting statement?
Job interviews are like selling your skills to your potential recruiters. To sell yourself successfully, you must know the demand first. So, review the job description multiple times and determine what value you can add to this organisation. Present your skills accordingly in your supporting statement, and your chance of selection will be high.
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