Can I use volunteering or university examples in a Civil Service personal statement?
Using Volunteering and University Evidence in a Civil Service Personal Statement
Hello,
I am applying for AO roles after finishing university. My paid work has mainly been part-time retail, so some of my strongest examples come from volunteering and group projects.
I coordinated volunteers for a community event, handled a difficult issue in a student society and completed a research project with a fixed deadline. These examples seem more relevant than some of my retail duties.
I am worried that the sifter will value paid employment more highly or see university examples as weak.
Can I use this evidence, and how do I make it sound appropriate for an AO role?
Quick Answer
Use volunteering and university examples when they provide the strongest evidence for the criterion. Focus on the task, your responsibility and the outcome, while keeping the scale realistic for an AO application.
Read our AO Personal Statement Help for the full guidance.
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How I Would Turn Volunteering and University Work Into Strong AO Evidence
Continue reading to see which examples I would choose, how I would describe them and how I would avoid making them sound inflated.
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