How to write a supporting statement

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About supporting statements

Putting together the information on your CV is one part of your application. You should also add a supporting statement. This will support your CV to help secure your desired job. 

A supporting statement is otherwise known as a personal statement. It is a small paragraph that sits at the top of your CV. It concisely and effectively displays who you are, your skills and strengths relevant to the sector or job role and your career goals.

Personal statements are like cover letters. Except, you will be selling your best points to an employer in about four to six sentences.

Is a personal statement necessary on a CV?

You do not need to have a personal statement. But, some experts claim you need one to sell your skills and others suggest they are a waste of valuable space.

Recruiters can deal with hundreds of CVs on a regular basis. A study revealed that on average recruiters spend 8.8 seconds looking at your CV. A personal statement may give them a reason to read on. if they spot that competitive edge.

If you are applying for a specific job or a managerial role it may help you give a little more detail about your characteristics, that may not come through in your employment experience.

Personal statements are the perfect way for you to grab attention and persuade recruiters to continue reading your CV because you are telling them exactly why they should hire you.

You should also consider writing a personal statement if you are uploading your CV to a job board. This gives you the chance to highlight your career goals and give your profile more context.

Personal statements for graduates

If you are a graduate, then it might be best to leave the personal statement out until you have gained some work experience. You could highlight that you have got a degree and outline the career path you would like to follow. 

If you have strengths and experiences during your time at university that link you to the job you are applying for, you should highlight these in a personal statement.

Structure of a personal statement

Statements are usually four to six sentences, between 150 and 400 words. A maximum of 6 sentences and 600 words.

What to include in your personal statement

When writing your personal statement, split it into four sections: 

  • who you are 
  • your values and strengths
  • what you can offer the employer
  • your career goals

Who you are

Usually no more than 2 sentences summarising your work experience, qualifications and ambitions. Some examples:

‘A recent graduate with a 2:1 degree in Social Work from King’s College London University seeking a newly qualified position in family services’ 

‘A highly-skilled Project Manager looking to resume a position’ 

‘An ambitious Finance Officer looking to progress’ 

Your values and strengths

You are selling your top skills, values, and strengths. You should also back them up with evidence. If you are changing your CV for a particular job, use the job specification to create your statement.

If your personal statement is more general, be sure to include key achievements that make you stand out.

What you can offer an employer

When writing your personal statement, remember who you are, why you entered the profession and what you can offer to the employer you will be working for. This alone may set you apart from the competition. 

Many managers will tell you that it is easy to find staff who can provide technical skills, however it can be difficult to find colleagues who can turn up every day with a positive smile on their face and the ability to drive confidence and calm across the department.

Your career goals

The final section of the personal statement is used to highlight your career goals. This shows the recruiter that you are a professional worth investing time and money in.

For example: 

‘I am looking for a challenging, fast-paced environment within finance to utilise my knowledge’ 

‘I am looking to re-establish a career in a progressive organisation which requires project managers, after completing the Prince II programme.’ 

‘I am looking to secure a challenging role in the community as a social worker where I can bring fresh strategic vision and value to children and families in the community.’ 

Dos and Don’ts

Here is a quick breakdown of the key points to remember when crafting that all important personal statement. 

Do 

  • get straight to the point
  • provide evidence of your skills and experience but be brief, offer just enough to hook the recruiter
  • remember that you’re marketing yourself
  • make the statement look purposeful, you need show you know what you’re talking about, without sounding too arrogant
  • reflect the job specification in your statement
  • be real, recruiters want to know you as a person and what you can bring to the table
  • proofread for spelling and grammar
  • read it aloud to make sure it flows properly. Get someone else to read it too

Don’t 

  • overuse buzz words
  • mix the grammatical person, remember either first person or third, not both
  • do not cut and paste the job specification and claim it to be your own
  • be boring, you want to sound unique with noteworthy qualities
  • ramble