AO Communication Skills Personal Statement Examples

AO Application Help Communication Skills Personal Statement Examples
AO personal statements
Show communication skills through specific evidence the sifter can score
AO communication evidence should show how you made information clear and useful. The strongest examples identify the audience, explain why you chose a particular method, show listening or checking and end with proof that the message was understood or acted upon.

This page focuses on communication skills evidence. For the full advert-led method, use the AO Personal Statement Help hub.

How to show communication skills in an AO personal statement

AO communication evidence should show how you made information clear and useful. The strongest examples identify the audience, explain why you chose a particular method, show listening or checking and end with proof that the message was understood or acted upon.

What communication skills criteria can look like

1
“Good written and verbal communication skills”
2
“Ability to communicate clearly with customers and colleagues”
3
“Able to explain information in a simple and accurate way”

What your communication skills example needs to show

Evidence the sifter needs for communication skills
✓
Who needed the information and what they needed to understand.
✓
Whether you used email, telephone, face-to-face discussion or another suitable method.
✓
How you listened, asked questions or clarified the real issue.
✓
How you removed jargon, structured the message and checked written accuracy.
✓
How you confirmed understanding or saw the information used correctly.

Why a strong communication skills answer works

A strong answer gives the sifter evidence instead of claims. A weak answer might say, “I have excellent communication skills and can speak to people at all levels.” A strong answer shows the task, the applicant’s own actions and the outcome. The best answers also show judgement, such as choosing a method that suits the person, being honest about limits and adapting the amount of detail without changing the facts. For an AO role, the example should remain practical and believable.

Weak evidence
I have excellent communication skills and can speak to people at all levels.
Stronger evidence
I listened to the applicant’s concern, checked the record, explained the missing evidence in plain language, corrected a misunderstanding and sent an accurate written summary that led to the correct document being submitted.
Members can unlock three complete AO communication skills example sections below, each based on different advert wording and including a weak example, a strong example, an explanation of why it works and a shorter version for tight word limits.

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