Despite having similar credentials or being a graduate from a prestigious university, there is no guarantee that an individual will have the chance to work for a specific company. However, with the perfect suitability statement for a job application form, individuals will have the advantage of showcasing why they are the ideal candidate. What is a suitability statement, and how exactly does it give a person an edge over other applicants for a similar vacancy? Find out more by reading the article below.

20+ Sample Suitability Statement

What Is a Suitability Statement?

A suitability statement, otherwise known as a personal statement, is a brief paragraph that highlights relevant accounts of merit. More than merits, it provides the individual with an opportunity to demonstrate an honest opinion of oneself, highlighting personal qualities with the hopes of growing in the company. It lists out and emphasizes valid reasons why a candidate’s skill set and experience set them apart to be the best candidate fit for the job. A suitability statement also includes a brief introduction of an applicant’s knowledge about a specific company by highlighting activities or achievements that caught their attention. Through this, applicants can showcase their research abilities with the ability to perform in-depth studies, attracting the attention of managers and employers. A suitability statement needs to capture the engagement of hiring managers to be able to move on to the next stage of a job application.

According to the 2019 Recruiting Benchmark Report by Jobvite.com, recruiters exhibit increased efficiency for 2019 when it comes to top to bottom recruitment. The conversion rate for employees is at 0.2 percent, averaging a single hire from more than 500 candidates compared to the conversion rate during 2016, equivalent to 0.6 percent. The results show that recruitment teams optimized selection processes. It is advantageous to indicate a suitability statement to increase the chances of hiring.

Types of Suitability Statements

Suitability statements or personal statements are helpful descriptions that enable an individual to display their achievements, interests, and experiences to secure a university scholarship application form slot or a coveted job vacancy at a top organization. However, these statements vary depending on the situation a person uses it. Below are the common types of suitability statements present in different institutions.

University Personal Statement: Suitability statements are not only prevalent and applicable in job application settings. When applying for different universities, utilizing the Universities and Colleges Admission Service from the United Kingdom, applicants write their statements as it is an integral part of their application form process. It helps to determine whether students get accepted into the university they choose. The best way to structure these statements is by using clear and concise sentences and paragraphs. It must include reasons why a student wants to study in their chosen university, their suitability to join, the relevance of current studies to the field they choose, related hobbies and interests, and finally, relevant skills and achievements. Graduate Personal Statement: The main idea of writing a suitability statement for a job is to boost the chances of hiring, most especially if the individual is a recent graduate with little to no job experience. Fresh graduate applicants must indicate why they chose to apply to a particular company. A graduate personal statement must also address why they are fitting to be candidates for a role with their current skills and experiences. Most importantly, they must describe their career plans and growth. Applicants must also indicate their soft skills for employers to identify their personality traits.Redundancy Personal Statement: Being a redundant candidate and applying for a job vacancy after unemployment is a tricky topic for suitability statements. However, with the right phrasing and effort coming from an applicant, creating a convincing and honest personal statement can safely land them a position in a company. Write the redundancy personal statement with emphasis regarding employment history and reasons for prolonged unemployment. List valid reasons relating to skills and experiences and translate them into strengths when joining the company.Gap Personal Statement: When writing a suitability statement for a job application, an applicant must exude confidence in indicating the reason behind taking a career break. Whether an individual took time off to travel around the world, concentrate on their family, or for physical and mental health. A resume or curriculum vitae does not provide ample space to discuss gap years. Complete the personal statement to employers by sharing the benefits of taking time off and emphasizing any skills acquired during the period.Career Change Personal Statement: An individual planning for a career change must present a resume together with a career change cover letter and statement. The personal statement must highlight transferable skills and unique selling positions fit for the applied position. Write no more than two job experiences, detailing their impact on the company and the job applicant.

Components of a Suitability Statement

Composing a suitability statement becomes difficult if you have no idea what to include in it. Remember that you are writing the suitability statement for the company to recognize your skills and how you can be the ideal candidate for a position. To help you create a suitability statement for your next job application, keep in mind the following elements must be present in your suitability statement.

Personal Story: Remember that a suitability statement showcases an individual’s uniqueness and becomes the main differentiator with other candidates. Accentuate a weakness and strength by sharing a personal story, specifically something that relates to the job position. Detail how the experience has shaped the individual personally and career-wise. Tell the story in the words of the writer, opening with an impactful statement. Writing the story as such will showcase the communication skills of the individual.Values: Most organization seeks employees who possess work ethics and compassion with their co-workers. In writing the values of an individual, prevent from inserting attributes and values for the sake of sounding appropriate. Instead, provide examples through work experiences, studies, extra-curricular activities, and personal commitments. It also helps to identify core values lists in the suitability statement.Motivations: There are instances when individuals pursue various passions and careers. It helps to indicate and carefully compose a person’s motivations from a personal and career perspective. In writing the passions and motivations for the desired position, make sure to expound on the reasons behind applying. Do you see that the company will help you achieve your professional and personal growth? Do you see the organization giving valuable attention to the skills you possess? Do they give importance to your personal, emotional, and spiritual well-being? Expound on these further to show motivations and passions. Aspirations: Lastly, indicate personal or career goal statements for the future. Express and illustrate how working for a company or joining a university help you achieve your goals. It is also advantageous to indicate how fulfilling these goals will help in long-term growth and development.

How To Write an Effective Suitability Statement

When you start composing a suitability statement for a job or university application, start by breaking down different parts into manageable steps for a comprehensive and understandable personal statement. A suitability statement has three essential sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. It is best to structure the statement that is most comfortable for you. Below are helpful steps in writing an effective suitability statement for a job or university placement.

  • Step 1: Write a Personal Introduction

    Draft the introduction in sentences and a paragraph that best describes your personality. It must indicate the reason behind your interest in a job vacancy or university opening. Include recent job experiences as necessary, and for new graduates, indicate extra-curricular activities to accentuate your personality and encourage the receiver to continue reading the suitability statement. In writing a Personal Introduction for a job position, address your interest in the vacant position. Begin with an impactful sentence and indicate relevant aspects of your qualities and interests for the role. In terms of a university application, expound on the school values and program aligning with your passions.

  • Step 2: Elaborate on Relevant Skills, Experiences, and Interests

    Indicate the suitable skills, experiences, and interests for the body of the suitability statement. Indicate personal information relating to the position or program. Write about your achievements, degree, certifications, awards, industry experiences, and held positions that have a direct link to the vacancy. Determine acquired skills and talents throughout the years that help fulfill specific tasks and activities. Discuss how you can be an asset to the company, including the willingness to learn particular aptitudes to accomplish Daily Tasks. Explain how applying for the vacancy help you reach your career or educational goals. As much as you want to indicate all these elements, ensure that you make your statement concise and informative.

  • Step 3: Conclude with a Lasting Impression

    The last section of the suitability statement must be an explicit restatement of the introduction. Leave a lasting impression that makes your reader want to read your application or Curriculum Vitae. For the final section of the statement, make sure to indicate your professional goals, discussing short-term goals and long-term goals. It is also beneficial to write a summary of the suitability statement, connecting your achievements, skills, experiences, and interests with qualifications. Don’t forget to show your enthusiasm for the possibility of joining the company or university in the future. Remember that the conclusion is one sentence so make sure to make your ending sentence is influential.

  • Step 4: Proofread Your Work

    After accomplishing the suitability statement, make sure you sit down and read through your work and make edits as necessary. Try reading your statement repeatedly and note areas for improvement, including grammar, passive voice, phrasing, and easily understandable language. Have a friend or colleague read your composition for Constructive Feedback.

FAQs

What does a supporting statement look like?

A supporting statement provides context or outline to a particular job position that allows applicants to see if they are suitable for the role. It allows the individual to align their skills with the accountabilities and specifications of a vacancy.

What is a behavioral statement?

Behavioral statements or behavior statements refer to observable traits, behaviors, skills, and attitudes that are essential parts of the job an applicant is applying for in an organization. These statements closely correlate competencies and proficiencies for job matching.

What is the average length of suitability statements?

Similar to a curriculum vitae or job sample resume, a suitability statement is a clear and concise document that details the skills and experiences of an applicant. The aim is to capture the attention of the reader before proceeding to read other documents with the statement. Typically, a suitability statement ranges from 75 to 100 words.

More than just presenting a resume for a job interview, attach a suitability statement to give your application a much-needed advantage. Before writing your suitability statement, ensure that you are writing accordingly to the purpose of your application. For university applications, highlight your academic achievements and extra-curricular activities, aspiration, and goals for joining the institution. For job applications, indicate job experiences, career goals, and corresponding soft skills to apply to the job vacancy. To get you started with your suitability statements, download the documents available above in PDF format. Grab yours today, and apply for your dream job soon!