The supporting statement is the most important part of your job application. This is effectively where you convince the employer that you're the right person for the job and explain why they should hire you.

This page offers sample supporting statements and a webinar to help you. We can also offer feedback on your supporting statement via email.

Do you need to write a supporting statement?

Check the application instructions carefully to see whether the employer requires a supporting statement or not.

Employers that commonly ask for a supporting statement include the NHS, public sector organisations, education providers, government bodies, and charities. Employers that commonly ask for CVs and covering letters include care homes, GP practices, nursing agencies, and private clinics.

Always double check the application instructions.

What are employers looking for in supporting statements?

Generally speaking, employers will be looking for:

• your motivation for applying 
• how and why your skills, experience, knowledge, strengths, or personal qualities make you well suited to the job
• specific examples that show you meet all the essential criteria (and hopefully the desirable criteria too) 

Where do you find the essential criteria?

Check the job advert or supporting documents such as the Person Specification for the essential and desirable criteria. 

Remember, every job will have its own unique Person Specification, and its own unique set of criteria.

How to structure a supporting statement

Begin your statement with an introductory paragraph. Explain why you're applying for this particular job and/or why you want to work for that particular employer. Highlight why you think you're well suited to the role and/or what you could personally offer. Imagine you're being asked the question, "Why should we hire you?" 

Then, aim to write a short paragraph to address each piece of the criteria. Don't just tell the employer that you meet the criteria, show them how with a specific real-life example so that they can see your skills in action.

The CAR technique

CAR stands for Context, Action, Result.

Using the CAR technique is a really concise and targeted way to make sure your statement uses context and/or specific examples that demonstrates exactly how you meet the essential criteria. Here is an example of the CAR technique with the criteria "experience of working within the MDT."

• CONTEXT: Over the last three years, I’ve gained experience of working within the MDT including HCAs, nurses, doctors, physios OTs, and radiographers. One notable example of MDT working was during a ward-based case review.
• ACTION: I identified that a patient’s delayed mobility was impacting their recovery and raised this with the wider team. Working collaboratively with the physiotherapist and occupational therapist, we adjusted the care plan,
• RESULT: which led to a better patient outcome and earlier discharge.

Sample Supporting Statements

Have a look at our sample supporting statements which have been written to correlate to fictitious sample Person Specifications.

Pay attention to the way the sample supporting statements:

• Cover all the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification
• Use examples or evidence to demonstrate your meet the criteria
• Follow the order of the Person Specification as much as possible.

The sample statements should be used as a guide only. Your own supporting statement must be tailored and structured around the job and person specification you are applying for.

Supporting Statement webinar

You can also watch our supporting statement webinar recording, which explains in more detail how employers shortlist, examples of introductions and addressing the criteria, common mistakes to avoid, and how to use AI tools appropriately.