Supporting statement guidance

This guidance will help if the job you are applying for requires you to submit a shortlisting statement.

About supporting statements

Only use this guidance if the job you are applying for requires you to submit a supporting statement.

The advert will tell you whether you need to answer shortlisting questions or provide a supporting statement.

If you need to provide a supporting statement, create a separate document with your statement and upload it when you are prompted in the online application system.

Your supporting statement is the most important part of your application. It will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements and to decide whether you should be offered an interview.

You should:

  • read the person specification for the job thoroughly before you start
  • think carefully about how you meet each of the job requirements by considering what you have done in the past
  • think about the transferable skills you developed at work, school, home, college, through volunteering or a hobby
  • provide practical examples of real-life situations of when and how you used the particular knowledge, skill or experience
  • write a response against all the essential criteria mentioned in the person specification
  • keep to the 2,000 word limit for your supporting statement
  • use the essential criteria points as headings 
  • use the STAR method to help structure your answers

If you have been asked to submit a supporting statement, you will need to create this as a seperate document. You should then upload this when prompted in the online application system.

Using the STAR method

Use the STAR method to show your skills and experience in answers to shortlisting questions or in a supporting statement as well as for interview questions.

What STAR stands for and how to use it

  • Situation - briefly describe the context this took place in, for instance work, school, volunteering or another setting
  • Task - briefly describe what you had to do and the purpose of the task
  • Action - explain what you did, how and when you did it. Tell us about the processes you used, the reasons for the choices you made and the key things you did to deal with the situation.
  • Result - tell us what the outcomes of your actions were and what difference they made

When to use STAR

You can use the STAR method to structure the examples you give in your:

  • answers to shortlisting questions
  • supporting statement
  • interview

More information on STAR

Visit the National Careers Service website for more information on how to use the STAR method.