How to write a supporting statement
A supporting statement gives you the chance to tie together the different elements of your CV from your skills to your experience as well as your reasons for wanting to apply to the particular role. Also referred to as a cover letter, it is bespoke and usually accompanies the CV. You can read our article on ‘How to write the perfect CV for jobs in the Education Sector’ however, below is a guide to help you along the process when writing your cover letter. Follow it and you’ll find drafting your supporting statement so much quicker, and easier.
Review and refer to the job description
When writing a supporting statement, it is important to consistently refer back to the job description in order to note down the specific skills in which recruiters/employers are asking for. This will help you to better represent yourself as you can identify the skills that are required in the criteria that you already have.
Provide personal examples
Scan through the job description and highlight the keywords, start brainstorming personal experiences you’ve had that demonstrate those skills. Consider a range of examples that cover several skills that you have. The examples should also show personal actions which you took as well as the results you achieved.
Introduce yourself
This is your opportunity to let the hiring manager know who you are and why you are the top candidate for the job. You want to make a positive impression right from the start, so use this chance to highlight the most relevant qualities about you. Remember to keep it relatively short and to the point as well as attention-grabbing.
Review and revise your work
Before submitting your supporting statement, make sure that you proofread your work. Look out for spelling mistakes and punctuation, grammar, and formatting errors. Asking for help is never a bad idea. Have more than one other person read through your supporting statement to check for any mistakes. You could also ask these people to review and critique your writing, ensuring that your examples do a good job demonstrating why you’re the best candidate for the job. If you don’t have access to help from anyone, Grammarly is a great tool that you can use to check it over.
Keep it concise and easy to read
Recruiters will be looking through an abundance of supporting statements every day, so keep your supporting statement as short and as to the point as possible, ideally no more than one A4 document in length. Again, making sure your formatting is presentable and the font used is clear and easily readable is a good idea.
Spelling and grammar
Just like when you create your CV, don’t spend hours crafting a perfect supporting statement only to have it dismissed within a few seconds because you’ve made spelling mistakes.
After you’ve finished writing your supporting statement, read it back carefully. Then read it for a second time, aloud. It’s easier to identify any mistakes or clunky sentences when you read them out loud. If you get the chance, ask someone else to read through your statement as well. A fresh pair of eyes is great for picking out a typo!
