Sample Supporting Statements
For Students and Newly Registered Nurses, Nursing Support Workers, and Nurses and Midwives.
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 tutorial to help you. We can also offer feedback on your supporting statement via email.
Different employers will have different instructions or expectations with regards to supporting statements, but generally they'll be looking to see if you're applying for the right reasons and that you meet the essential criteria.
If you haven't already done so, read the general advice on writing job applications first.
To help give you an idea, have a look at our sample supporting statements which have been written to correlate to a sample Person Specification.
In particular, 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 how the criteria is met
- Follow the order of the Person Specification as much as possible.
The samples should be used as a guide only. Your own supporting statement should be structured around the job and person specification you're applying for.
You may also want to watch the Supporting Statements tutorial below.
Top tips
- Apply for jobs that are right for you
- Never write a 'one size fits all' supporting statement
- Explain why you want the job, showing your passion/interest and motivation
- Demonstrate how you meet all the essential criteria from the person specification using examples or evidence
- Demonstrate how you meet any organisational/trust values if there are any
- Imagine you're being asked the question, "Why should we hire you?"
- Run a spelling and grammar check
Our Sample Supporting Statements are for RCN members only.
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