As you move into senior and executive-level positions, the documents you need to include as part of a job application will change.
One document you might be expected to prepare is an Executive Supporting Statement. This document is typically 1-2 pages long and is essentially a personal statement that accompanies your CV and allows you to talk in detail about why you are the right person for a role.
Executive supporting statements are frequently requested when applying for board positions and positions in the third sector.
In some cases, recruiters and employers may even look at your executive supporting statement before your CV, as they will be grading you on the specific criteria they need to be filled. Therefore, it’s really important to get it right.
If you’ve never written an executive supporting statement before, you might not know where to start.
Here are our top tips for writing an executive supporting statement that makes the best first impression and illustrates exactly what you have to offer.
Be Specific
An effective executive supporting statement starts with a clear structure and plan.
The best place to find the key criteria that recruiters and employers are interested in is the Job Description. We recommend printing it out and highlighting all of the ‘Essential’ responsibilities and competencies that are required, and then turning this into a bullet point list. This helps you understand what you need to cover.
From here, go through each point individually and determine the examples of experience and achievements from previous roles that you should share.
These examples need to be specific. For example, statistics of results you have achieved, the names of awards you have won, or qualifications you have obtained.
Your examples also need to be relevant. Often it can be hard to narrow down what to include, as you have a lot of achievements under your belt at this stage of your career. Try and be as objective as possible, and, as much as you can, only include examples that are directly relevant to the organisation you want to work for.
Even if certain points seem to be related, it is important to cover them individually, as this is what a recruiter will expect to see.
Keep It Brief
Now that you understand the information you are going to include in your executive supporting statement, you need to get it across as succinctly as possible.
With so many applications to read through, recruiters and employers need your skills and experience to be immediately obvious. Otherwise, they will just move on to look at the next applicant, and you won’t make it through to the next stage of the hiring process.
Here is a simple framework to follow when writing your executive supporting statement:
- Mention the specific point from the Job Description
- Give specific and relevant examples of how you fulfil the criteria
- Circle back to demonstrate how this experience will benefit the company you are interested in working with.
It might seem time-consuming and repetitive, but following a formula will help you to ensure you are getting across the information that recruiters and employers need to see.
Cut Out Filler
When writing your executive supporting statement, resist the temptation to pad out sentences by describing yourself with generic language such as:
- Organised
- Efficient
- Driven
- Proactive
These words are overused and don’t help you stand out in a sea of applications. You should also avoid going off on tangents, as this can detract from the successes you are trying to illustrate.
Ask For Help
It can be hard to look at your own job application documents from an objective standpoint.
If you’re struggling to see if your executive supporting statement is presenting your experience most effectively, it can be helpful to get an outside perspective.
Talk to family members, friends, and even trusted colleagues. Ask them to read over your statement and be honest about whether you are answering the job description requirements.
They will be able to tell you if you have included any irrelevant examples.
Allow Editing Time
As mentioned previously, your executive supporting statement should be two pages in length at most. Your first draft is likely to be much longer than this!
Once you are ready to edit your statement, go back through every line and ensure the point you are trying to make is clear.
As with any job application document, you also need to ensure there are no spelling or grammar issues, as this could make the reader form a poor first impression of your accuracy and attention to detail.
Finally, we recommend reading your executive supporting statement at some point while you are editing, as this will help you determine if you have hit a professional yet natural tone.
We hope this blog has helped you to understand the key points to consider when writing an executive supporting statement.
The more specific you can be with your examples, and the more closely you can meet the criteria on the job description, the more likely it is that you will progress to the interview stage.
If you’re struggling with a job application and would like some support in creating an executive supporting statement, we would love to help. Here at The CV Guru, we offer job application bundles – including your CV, Statement, and LinkedIn Profile – so you are putting your best foot forward in your job hunt.
You can browse our packages here.