How to write a supporting statement for a job application

Supporting statement vs cover letter

A structure that works

1. A short opening: the job you're applying for and a one-line summary of why you fit.
2. One heading per essential criterion, in the same order as the person specification, using its wording.
3. Under each heading, a real example in STAR order (Situation, Task, Action, Result), kept to a short paragraph.
4. Desirable criteria afterwards, if you meet them.
5. A short close on why this organisation.

Tip: Shortlisters often can't award marks for evidence they can't find. Headings that match the criteria help them find it.

Example: teaching assistant

Experience of supporting pupils with SEND: In my current role at [school] I support a Year 3 pupil with an EHCP for 20 hours a week. I adapt worksheets with visual prompts agreed with the SENCo and keep a daily log of what works. Over the spring term the pupil moved from needing adult support for every task to completing short writing tasks independently.

Example: support worker

Ability to promote independence: I support a man with a learning disability who wanted to travel to his day centre alone. We practised the bus route together, made a picture card of each stop and agreed what he'd do if the bus was late. After six weeks he was travelling on his own three days a week.

Example: council administrator

Accurate data entry and record keeping: I process about 60 housing benefit change forms a week at [employer], checking each against the claimant record before updating the system. I created a checklist for the common errors we saw, and our team's rework requests fell over the following quarter.

These examples are illustrative. Use your own true evidence. For NHS jobs, see the NHS supporting statement examples by band; for the Civil Service, see the statement of suitability guide.