Supporting statement vs cover letter: what each one is for

A supporting statement answers the person specification of a job, on the application form. A cover letter introduces you and goes with a CV. Some employers take only their own form, such as HSC Northern Ireland.

What each one is

Compared on	Supporting statement	Cover letter
What it is for	Shows "how your skills and experience meet the person specification for the post" (University of Huddersfield)	"introduces you to an employer and asks them to think about your application" (National Careers Service)
What it goes with	The application form: "part of your online application" (University of Huddersfield)	A CV: "always include a cover letter when you apply for a job using a CV" (National Careers Service)
Length	Huddersfield's guidance: "There is no word limit"	"usually 3 to 5 paragraphs long" (National Careers Service)
Layout	Headings "in the order they appear" in the person specification, with an example for each criterion under them (University of Huddersfield)	Addressed "to someone by name", ended with "Yours sincerely" when you know the name (National Careers Service)

The National Careers Service describes the cover letter in those terms. The University of Huddersfield's guidance describes the statement. North Bristol NHS Trust says its Recruiting Manager will "review each application against the person specification", so the statement follows that list. The guide to how shortlisting is scored shows how the marks are given, and the guide on how long a supporting statement should be covers length.

Who asks for which

What four of the sources say:

• HSC Northern Ireland says on its application tips page that "The HSC will only accept applications completed on the HSC Template. CVs are not accepted." Your evidence goes in its Job Specific Questions section, where you must "clearly demonstrate" how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.
• North Bristol NHS Trust treats the supporting information as a part of the application form, and asks you to include your "reasons for applying" in it.
• The University of Huddersfield asks you to include a supporting statement "as part of your online application".
• Schools in England "must have regard to" the Department for Education's statutory guidance, Keeping children safe in education 2026. It lists a statement of the applicant's "personal qualities and experience" and "how they meet the person specification" among what schools should require on the form. It says schools "should only accept copies of a curriculum vitae alongside an application form", and gives the reason: "A curriculum vitae on its own will not provide adequate information."

If the advert asks for a CV and says nothing about a statement, the National Careers Service advice is to send a cover letter with it.

Turning a cover letter into a statement

If you have already written a cover letter, you can reuse parts of it.

1. Keep the examples. The National Careers Service says a cover letter should show the skills and experience that "match what the employer is looking for", and should "back up any statements you make with facts and use the STAR method". North Bristol explains the method as situation, task, action, result.
2. Add the criteria. Make a heading for each criterion in the order of the person specification and put an example under it. Huddersfield and North Bristol both suggest headings from the person specification.
3. Cut the greeting and the sign-off. HSC Northern Ireland says "The first page of the application is where you provide your Personal Data such as your name and contact details."
4. Keep your reasons for applying where the form asks. North Bristol asks for them in the supporting information. The National Careers Service application form advice says a form's introduction box can be used to "say why you're interested in this job or training", on forms that have one.

Before you submit

• Look at the words the advert uses: supporting statement, supporting information, personal statement or CV.
• If it asks for a statement, check that each criterion in the person specification has its own example.
• Remove any "Dear" line and any closing line, and check the limit on the form.

You can also check your draft against the person specification.