Free guides
Supporting statement guides
Plain-English help with person specifications, NHS supporting information, Civil Service behaviours and public sector applications. Every guide has a fictional worked example and links to the official sources.
Getting started
New to person specifications? Start here.
- How to write a supporting statement for a UK public sector job (with example)How to write a supporting statement for NHS, council, school and university jobs: structure, length, a worked example and common mistakes.
- Person specification explained: how to read one and what each criterion meansWhat a person specification is, essential vs desirable criteria, A/I/T assessment codes, and how to read each line before you write.
- The STAR method for supporting statements and Civil Service examplesHow to use the STAR method in supporting statements and Civil Service examples, with a 250-word worked example and a short NHS version.
- Supporting statement vs personal statement vs cover letter: what is the difference?Supporting statement, personal statement or cover letter? What each is for, how public sector employers read them, and one example written two ways.
NHS applications
How NHS Jobs, Trac and NHS Scotland applications work, and how panels shortlist.
- How NHS shortlisting works: the person specification, essential and desirable criteria, and scoringHow NHS shortlisting works: the person spec, essential vs desirable criteria and how panels score your application against each line.
- How to write NHS supporting information: structure, length and keywordsHow to write NHS supporting information: a structure that works, how long it should be, and using the person spec's own words.
- NHS Jobs supporting evidence: how to fill in the essential and desirable criteria boxesHow to fill in the NHS Jobs supporting evidence boxes: qualifications, experience, the 5,000-character limit, anonymity and a worked example.
- Applying through Trac: writing your NHS supporting information on a Trac application formApplying for an NHS job through Trac? How the form is laid out, how long your supporting information should be, and a structure for the single box.
- NHS values-based recruitment: how to show the NHS values in your supporting informationHow to show the six NHS Constitution values and your trust's own values in your supporting information, with a fictional worked example.
- NHS Scotland applications: the supporting statement and application questionsNHS Scotland applications: how the process works, the four values, the supporting statement and typical questions.
NHS roles
Role-by-role and band-by-band guides with fictional worked examples.
- NHS Band 2 healthcare support worker: how to write your supporting information (with example)Band 2 healthcare support worker supporting information: what panels look for, a worked example and common mistakes.
- Applying for a healthcare assistant job with no care experience: what to writeNo care experience? How to apply for an NHS healthcare assistant job using retail, hospitality, volunteering or family caring, with a worked example.
- NHS ward clerk: how to write your supporting information (with example)NHS ward clerk applications at Band 2 or 3: reception, accurate records, confidentiality and calm with relatives, with a worked example.
- Mental health support worker: NHS supporting information with a worked exampleNHS mental health support worker applications: rapport, de-escalation, risk, safeguarding and boundaries, with a worked example.
- NHS Band 3 administrator or receptionist: supporting information that gets shortlistedBand 3 NHS admin and receptionist applications: evidence IT skills, accuracy and confidentiality, with a worked example.
- NHS Band 4 administrator or team leader: how to evidence the step upBand 4 NHS administrator and team leader: how to show coordination, judgement and improvement, with a worked example.
- NHS medical secretary: supporting information that gets shortlisted (with example)NHS medical secretary applications at Band 3 or 4: typing, terminology, diaries and confidentiality, with a worked example from a career changer.
- NHS Band 5 staff nurse: supporting information with a worked exampleBand 5 staff nurse supporting information: registration, clinical examples, escalation and values, with a worked example.
- Internationally educated nurses: writing your NHS Band 5 supporting informationTrained as a nurse outside the UK? How to explain NMC status and translate your experience for an NHS Band 5 application.
- NHS pharmacy technician: supporting information with a worked exampleNHS pharmacy technician applications: GPhC registration, accuracy, medicines knowledge and moving from community to hospital, with an example.
- Band 5 physiotherapist: NHS supporting information with a worked exampleBand 5 physiotherapy applications: HCPC registration, clinical reasoning, rotations and MDT working, with a worked example for new graduates.
- Band 5 occupational therapist: NHS supporting information with a worked exampleBand 5 OT applications: HCPC registration, person-centred goals, risk, capacity and discharge planning, with a worked example.
- Paramedic application: writing your supporting information for an ambulance serviceNewly qualified or experienced paramedic? HCPC registration, C1 licence, clinical decision-making and resilience, with a worked example.
- Midwife supporting information: newly qualified and experienced NHS posts (with example)NHS midwife applications: NMC registration, informed choice, escalation, safeguarding and preceptorship, with a worked example.
- NHS Band 6 specialist roles: how to evidence specialist knowledge and responsibilityBand 6 specialist roles: evidencing specialist knowledge, autonomy, supervision and service improvement, with an example.
- NHS Band 7 manager: writing supporting information for a leadership postBand 7 NHS manager applications: evidence leadership, people management, governance and change, with a worked example.
- NHS Band 8a: writing supporting information for senior manager and specialist postsBand 8a NHS applications: evidencing service leadership, budgets, governance and measurable improvement, with a worked example.
- NHS HR and finance jobs: supporting information for corporate roles (with examples)NHS HR and finance applications: CIPD and accountancy qualifications, accuracy, advising managers and moving from the private sector, with examples.
- NHS digital and IT jobs: how to write your supporting information (with example)NHS IT and digital applications: service levels, security, clinical context and explaining tech to non-technical staff, with a worked example.
Civil Service
Personal statements, the behaviours, grades, and what the end of Success Profiles means.
- How to write a Civil Service personal statementHow to write a Civil Service personal statement: structure, word limits, how it is scored, and a worked example.
- Civil Service CV: how to write it when the advert assesses your experienceHow to write a Civil Service CV when the advert assesses it: job history, achievement lines, anonymity and a worked example.
- Civil Service Success Profiles are being scrapped: what it means for your applicationThe Civil Service is scrapping Success Profiles for a skills-based model. What was announced, what is still unknown, and how to apply now.
- Civil Service grades explained: AA, AO, EO, HEO, SEO and Grade 7, and what each expects in your applicationCivil Service grades AA, AO, EO, HEO, SEO, Grade 7 and 6 explained: typical roles, behaviour levels, and how to pitch examples at the right level.
- Civil Service behaviour: Delivering at Pace (with STAR example)Delivering at Pace behaviour: what assessors look for at each grade, a 250-word STAR example at EO, and common mistakes.
- Civil Service behaviour: Making Effective Decisions (with STAR example)Making Effective Decisions behaviour: grade indicators, a STAR example at HEO, and how to show evidence, options and risk.
- Civil Service behaviour: Communicating and Influencing (with STAR example)Communicating and Influencing behaviour: grade indicators, a STAR example at EO and how to show real influence.
- Civil Service behaviour: Working Together (with STAR example)Working Together behaviour: grade indicators, a STAR example at AO level, and examples that show genuine collaboration.
- Civil Service behaviour: Leadership (with STAR example)Leadership behaviour for Civil Service applications: grade indicators, inclusion, and a STAR example at SEO level.
- Civil Service behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture (with STAR example)Seeing the Big Picture behaviour: how to link your work to wider priorities, with a STAR example at HEO level.
- Civil Service behaviour: Managing a Quality Service (with STAR example)Managing a Quality Service behaviour: customer needs, quality and cost, with a STAR example at EO level.
- Civil Service behaviour: Changing and Improving (with STAR example)Changing and Improving behaviour: what assessors look for at each grade, a 250-word STAR example at EO, and common mistakes.
- Civil Service behaviour: Developing Self and Others (with STAR example)Developing Self and Others behaviour: grade indicators, a 250-word STAR example at HEO, and how to show inclusive development.
Councils, schools, universities and police
Supporting statements outside the NHS and Civil Service.
- Council job applications: how to write a supporting statement for local governmentHow to write a supporting statement for a council job: how local government shortlists, what person specs ask for, and a worked example.
- University job applications: writing a supporting statement for professional services rolesHow to write a supporting statement for a university professional services job: A and I criteria, grades, length and a worked example.
- Teaching assistant supporting statement: what schools look for (with example)How to write a teaching assistant supporting statement: learning support, behaviour, safeguarding and SEN roles, with a worked example.
- Police staff applications: using the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) in your statementPolice staff applications and the 2024 Competency and Values Framework: the three values, six competencies, levels and a worked example.
General
Career changes, AI and other questions that apply everywhere.
- Using AI in NHS and Civil Service job applications: what is allowedCan you use AI for NHS or Civil Service applications? What the official guidance allows, what it does not, and how to stay honest.
- Changing career into the NHS or public sector: turning other experience into evidenceMoving into the NHS, Civil Service, a council or university? How to turn retail, forces, office or caring experience into evidence.