How to write a Civil Service personal statement

Updated · By the Tick the Spec team

A Civil Service personal statement (sometimes called a statement of suitability) is your evidence that you meet the essential criteria in the job advert. It is scored, usually by at least two people, against what the advert says will be assessed. The most reliable approach is to read the "Person specification" or "Essential criteria" section, take each requirement in turn, and give a short, specific example of where you have done it. Length is set per advert: it is commonly somewhere between 250 and 1,250 words, so check the advert and the form.

A note on changes (November 2026)

In July 2026 the Civil Service announced that it will scrap Success Profiles, the framework behind behaviours, strengths and experience assessment, in favour of a model that emphasises skills and expertise. At the time of writing we could not find a published replacement on GOV.UK, and adverts still set out what they assess. The personal statement is likely to remain in some form. Always follow the advert you are applying for.

Personal statement versus behaviour statements

  • Personal statement: one longer piece covering the essential criteria (experience, skills, sometimes technical requirements). Scored as a whole.
  • Behaviour statements: separate short answers, often up to 250 words each, one per named behaviour such as Delivering at Pace. See our behaviour guides.
  • An advert may ask for both, one, or neither (for example a CV and an online test). Only provide what is asked for.

How it is scored

Many departments score each element assessed at sift on a 1 to 7 scale, where higher scores mean stronger evidence; a Defra Digital blog post describes needing at least 4 on each assessment to progress. Thresholds and scales can differ, and the candidate pack will say if a pass mark applies. When there are many applications, some campaigns sift on the personal statement first, or on a "lead" criterion. Applications on Civil Service Jobs are usually reviewed without your name visible, so keep the evidence about what you did.

Structure that works

  1. A two-line opening: who you are professionally and why this role.
  2. One section per essential criterion, in the order the advert lists them, with a short bold heading or a clear first sentence that echoes the criterion.
  3. Evidence in each section: what the situation was, what you did, and the result. STAR (situation, task, action, result) works, but you do not need the labels.
  4. A one-line close if words allow. Do not repeat yourself.

Divide your words roughly by the number of criteria. With 750 words and five criteria, aim for about 130 words each plus a short opening.

Step by step

  1. Copy the essential criteria into a document. Note which are assessed by personal statement (the advert usually says).
  2. Read the job description for clues about level and context, such as "working with senior stakeholders".
  3. For each criterion, write down two possible examples and choose the stronger one.
  4. Write freely, then cut to the limit.
  5. Check you have used plain English, the first person, and the advert's language.
  6. Read it as an assessor with the criteria next to it. Is each one obviously evidenced?

Worked example (fictional)

Invented for illustration. The person and figures are fictional.

Applicant: Sam, a housing officer at a council, applying for an HEO policy adviser role. Criterion: "Experience of analysing information from a range of sources to produce clear written advice."

Analysing information and producing clear written advice. Last year my manager asked me to recommend whether our council should change how it prioritises applicants for adapted properties. I gathered our waiting list data, complaints about allocations, and guidance from two neighbouring councils, and spoke to our occupational therapy team about assessment delays. I found that applicants assessed as most urgent were waiting longest because adapted properties were being offered in date order. I wrote a four-page paper setting out three options, their costs and risks, and a recommendation. I tested a draft with a colleague outside housing to check it was clear to a non-specialist. The housing committee agreed the recommended option, and I helped draft the revised policy.

About 150 words, one clear example, and a result that shows the advice was useful.

Common mistakes

  • Writing a covering letter. Motivation is fine in a sentence; evidence earns the marks.
  • Missing a criterion. Assessors score what is there.
  • Jargon from your current organisation without explanation.
  • Using the same example for everything. Variety shows range.
  • Exceeding the word limit. Text over the limit may be ignored or the application rejected.
  • Using AI to generate the statement. Civil Service guidance says your application must reflect your own skills and experience and not be generated in full or invented by AI; misuse can lead to rejection. See our guide on AI in applications.

Tick the Spec's shortlisting sheet can show which essential criteria your CV already supports and which need an example before you start writing your statement.

Read next: Success Profiles scrapped: what it means for Civil Service jobs · Civil Service grades explained: AA to Grade 7 (what each expects) · STAR method examples for supporting statements (250 words)

Sources

All guides