WEBVTT

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Hi, here are some tips to consider

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if you're writing a personal statement
for a Civil Service job application.

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Tip number one: Review
the Essential Criteria.

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What you write
will depend on the Essential

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and Desirable criteria
set out in the job advert.

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Your statement must address these criteria
and provide evidence

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that you possess these skills
and that experience.

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Tip number two: Provide Evidence.

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It's not enough just to list the criteria
and say I have these skills.

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A good personal statement must show

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how from your experience,
you have used these skills.

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When writing your personal statement

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you might want to consider
using the STAR framework.

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STAR stands for Situation, Task,
Action, Result.

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And can be a useful tool to help structure
your evidence.

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Tip number three: Use the word count

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If you don't use
all of the word count

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you'll miss the opportunity
to add detail to your evidence.

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One common mistake candidates
make is to assume

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that because they've included
a lot of information in their CV, that

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their personal statement
doesn't have to be that detailed.

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But actually, your personal statement
should be comprehensive enough

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to succeed on its own.

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Tip number four: Write clearly.

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To help us understand your examples

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avoid using acronyms
without spelling out what they stand for.

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Avoid using jargon.

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Try throughout your examples to use
active language.

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Tell us specifically what you did,
not what other people might have done.

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Tip five: Take your time

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You don't have to submit
your personal statement

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the very moment you finish writing it.

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Use the time

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before the application deadline
to edit it, craft it, polish it.

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Make it as good as it possibly can be.

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Writing your personal statement
well won't guarantee that

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you get an interview, but it will give you
the best possible chance

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of showcasing your skills
and your experience.

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Hopefully these tips will help. Good luck!